"She gave her whole heart..." Mixed Media Canvas

(Click to enlarge)

I created this 8x10 canvas for my awesome, incomparable mom for Mother's Day.  The "she" figure looks like her, and I couldn't think of any more fitting phrase for my mom that "she gave her whole heart to her family."  My mom has given and sacrificed so much over the years and continues to do so.  Every element I used here symbolizes in some way what my mom means to me.  I think that's what I love most about doing mixed media -- it gives you an opportunity for so many layers of meaning.

I also have to admit that this was my second try at this canvas!  I started a different background and it turned into a hot mess.  I wanted to use old pictures from our childhood in the background and printed them off in black and white from our inkjet printer, but as soon as the mod podge hit them they turned all bubbly and turquoise and gross.  So I'm going to have to figure that one out some day...

In the mean time, here are a few close-ups:

I think this heart might be my favorite part.  I covered it with a gazillion layers of UTEE, then put it in the freezer, then cracked it.

I finally found a place to use my cool wax clock seal from 7Gypsies! I've had this for YEARS but hadn't found a way to use it until now.

If you're interested in trying out this mixed media art, you should really check out the She Art Workshop by Christy Tomlinson.  It's amazing!

Materials for this canvas:
Background -- vintage sewing pattern, illustration from the book "The Art of Homemaking," a book from the 50s I snagged from our local thrift store.  It is full of the awesomest illustrations like this.
Patterned paper -- from my scrap drawer, so I don't know who made it. Sorry!  Oh, wait -- I think it was Creative Imaginations
Stamps -- 7Gypsies, Hero Arts, Stampin' Up, Studio G
Punches -- Fiskars (butterfly, used as a mask), Martha Stewart (border punch)
Rub-ons -- American Crafts