How I Made My Mermaid Collage Shadowbox Picture

 
Since making my mixed media summer themed paper dolls and art pictures with sponge painted backgrounds I decided to try something a little different.  

I had bought some adorable summer themed scrapbook papers at Scrapbook.com, ASCsupplies shop on Etsy, and ScrapLifeShop on Etsy. 

One of the paper sets I bought at Scrapbook.com was "Reminisce - Mermaid's Tale Collection - 12 x 12 Collection Kit."  Since blue is my favorite color I couldn't help but fall in love with the blue mermaid. I knew I had to create something using her.

So, I decided to take a 6" by 6" unfinished wood shadow box and turn it into a picture that I could hang on my wall.  Instead of creating a mixed media collage picture within the shadow box I decided to create the collage on the back side of the shadowbox and hang it on the wall like a cube.

I wanted to utilize the sides of the cube for some of the sayings that I liked and decided to use a paper that had an abstract summer themed blue wave design that I liked and the sayings pasted in the centers of each side.

Unlike most of the mixed media collage pictures I've created I decided not to sponge paint the background.  The kit had some beautiful blue, teal and white wave paper that I loved and wanted to use for the background.

Before doing anything with the unfinished wood cube I sized the papers I wanted to use for the backside and sides so they would be perfectly sized for the cube and aligned with each other.  Where needed I used a Friskars paper cutter to get my edges perfectly straight.

I cut out the mermaid that I wanted to use and cut out the images and sayings that I thought would be perfect for this collage picture.  I wanted the mermaid to be the main focal point with the saying: "Always be yourself unless you can be a mermaid... then always be a mermaid."  

First I applied Mod Podge to the back of the wave paper I wanted to use for the background on the backside of the cube and then pasted it to the cube.  I did the same for the papers I wanted to use for the four sides.  

After testing the placement of the images I had cut out I brushed Mod Podge on the backs of the scrapbook images I had cut out and then pasted them on my collage.  When it was dry, I brushed matte medium on the backside and sides.  After everthing was dried I hung it on the wall.

I loved how it turned out and it is now hanging in my bathroom along with the other summer themed pictures I made.

I also found two beach themed scrapbook papers from the "Beyond the Sea Collection - 6 x 6 Paper Pad" I had bought at Scrapbook.com that I thought would be perfect for two other 6" by 6" wood summer themed cubes I wanted to make.

Unlike my mermaid collage I just wanted to use the two 6" by 6" scrapbook papers just the way they were as I loved the watercolor images.  I wanted to use one for the bathroom and use one on top of the desk I had in my kitchen. 

Once again, before doing anything with the unfinished wood cube I sized the papers I wanted to use for the backside so they would be perfectly sized for the backside of the cube.  Where needed I used a Friskars paper cutter to get my edges perfectly straight.

Like the mermaid collage I was going to use the backside of the 6" by 6" shadowbox wood cube.  Instead of collaging the sides I decided to leave them plain. So, I just painted the sides and front of the cube with white acrylic paint.  I only used one layer as I wanted the white to be lightly layered on the sides.

After pasting the two images to the backside of their respective cube with mod podge I let them dry.  Then I brushed matte medium on the sides and front of each cube.  After letting them thoroughly dry I placed one on my bathroom wall and one on the top of the desk.  Perfect!

Over the years I've made many holiday and seasonal themed pieces.  Mainly for the fall season and all the holidays that occur between October - December.  I only had a few summer ones so I was pleased that this summer I was finely able to create some more for this season.  

I definitely think I have enough now.  

Then again, I never have enough - do I......LOL

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