This is one of my very favorite photos of my grandmother. I love the summer party scene, everyone dressed in their best and having a good time. Maybe it’s a family reunion, a birthday party or a church social? I don’t know, but I feel like my grandmother (just right of center and looking at the camera) is looking right at me. Maybe trying to tell me something.

All of my memories of her are from after she had her stroke. She was paralyzed on the left side of her body and in a wheel chair but she always spent time with me and talked with me. We had a little game that we played, I think it was as much therapy for her as it was entertainment for me, where we’d pick up safety pins off the floor with our toes and see who could pick up the most.

I remember winning a lot.

She died when I was 12 and I was heartbroken.

Maybe she’s telling me to slow down and pick up safety pins with my toes, talk to the people I love and make time for summer picnics?

Maybe.

It would be good advice, something a grandmother would say. Don’t you think?

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to use this photo in a project for a while now but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. When Faber-Castell sent some amazing new products my way I knew that whatever I created, I had to start with this photo.

Supplies:

• PITT artist pen big brushes – May green, Pale Geranium Lake, Dark Naples ochre
• Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner
• Gelatos- From Mixed Media Samplers -green and blue
• Wooden picket fence from the craft store
• Mushroom cutout from Twiddly Bitz
• Silver wire Christmas ornament hangers – 3
• E-6000
• Photo – Printed with a laserjet printer
• Mod Podge and brush
• Ampersand Artist Panel 6×12
• Washi Tape in color/pattern of your choice
• Alphabet stickers or stamps of your choice

Scan the photo you want to use with the Flip-Pal™ Mobile Scanner. Edit as needed in photo editing software, print out onto heavy weight printer paper with a laser jet printer. Set aside.

Even though the Ampersand Artist Panel says it’s for Oil and Acrylics I found that it works really well with gelatos and water. First, put a little water in the area you want to work in and then scribble in the space with the gelato. Work the color around with your finger until you get the look you like. Tipping the board this way and that while the color is still pretty wet is great for blending the colors like I did in the sky.

It may take a while for the water and color to dry but you can use a heat gun to hurry the process along.

Once the background is dry lay out the elements where you think you’ll want them and move things around until you get a pleasing layout. Secure the photo with Mod Podge and let dry. Embellish two corners of the photo with washi tape.

Lay the fence in place and draw “scribble roses” with the red big brush pen. Draw leaves with the green big brush pen. Don’t forget to draw on the fence too so that it looks like the roses are growing over the fence.

To created the little dot flower “buttercups” draw larger dots with the Dark Naples ochre big brush pen and then bits of stem or leaves with green.

Draw in the distant trees with the may green big brush pen. Color them in loosely allowing some sky to show through. Once dry, go back in and add dots of color with the same brush to create darker patches.

Color the mushrooms as desired with the green and red big brush pens. Adhere the fence, mushrooms and Christmas ornament clouds with E-6000.

Use alphabet stickers, stamps or markers for the word “picnic”.

I think my grandmother would like this project and I hope that wherever she is she’s still enjoying herself.

PS. Here’s a link for you if you’d like to read the Craft Test Dummies review of Color Gelatos by Faber-Castell.  Jenny also made a project with the Gelatos and the Big Brush Pens