Altered Paintbrushes

This month, my ATC group decided to try something new- we altered paintbrushes.  I made three all together and traded two of them.

 This is brush #1
 I used Pink and Green paints after the brush was prepped (which is I will show below). I would paint on a color and use a spritz bottle and let the color thin out and run. I also used some modeling paste and a stencil to add some texture on the handle.
  The mushrooms image is Unity, the gnomes are Gerda Steiner for the Monthly Progressive challenge. I think these 2 images are perfect together : ) 

On to Paintbrush #2

 A close-up

The Birdcage is Prima, and it is paintedsilver metallic.  The birds are from a die as is the branch, and the flowers- from my stash. The ribbon is all hand-dyed from.....I have to check that.  I used alot of stickles on this brush. The bottom of the brush- the bristles are covered with paint and stickles as well- so it very shimmery.

Brush #3

   The findings on this brush are from Prima and Melissa Francis. The rhinestones are colored with Copics and wrapped around the handle.
 

 This brush was claimed by my mother : )

The brushes are 3" and were purchased at the dollar tree.  I did sand the handles lightly just to make sure the paint would adhere over the varnish.

Next, I painted the entire brush with white Gesso. After Gesso, I painted on Crackle paint, so all of the brushes have crackle look on them. This was quick and I painted all three at the same time.

This is a picture of all of the group brushes- we all exchanged one- my mom exchanged one of mine, so I traded the first two.

Challenges:
Gerda Steiner Progressive Freebie April

Thanks for stopping by!
Shelly