Art Journal Fun

A couple of days ago, Kristy and I got together to get messy and create some art. I decided to create another page in my art journal. I am still getting the hang of this art journaling thing and it seems that I am having a few more misses than hits. I am still learning how to use the paint and sprays together and in the humidity here in TN its hard to get things to dry properly in between.

However, I plan to keep all of my pages. They are examples of my progress and of everything that I have learned on my journey.

Kristy had some Dina Wakely stencils so I used them to help create this page.I used a hotel room key to create the pattern in the blue behind the photograph. If I had it to do over I would not have outlined the birds in the black and I wouldn't have tried to stamp the mustaches. Other than that I dig this page. Its kinda crazy and kinda fun all together. 

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are inspired! 

Tag, You're It!

Yesterday Kristy and I got together and got messy! We have been playing with mixed media and art journaling a lot lately. When we get together, its a blast for sure. The ideas are flying and art is being created!

I set the room up with all of our goodies and when she arrived we got to work!

I focused mostly on using Prima dolls by Julie Nutting to make a couple of tags. I find that as much as I adore the Prima dolls, they are so LARGE! I mean...the tags have to be HUGE but they are so awesome.

This first tag was made using Kristy's newest Prima Doll. She is SO adorable and I LOVE her skirt! I layered and created dimension with her skirt. the background on the tag was created with Tattered Angels "party pink" spray and acrylic paint that I mixed to match the papers. The papers are from Glitz "Uncharted Waters" and Paper House "Artist Paper Mix". The Quote on the bottom of the page is from Heidi Swapp.

Here is the other tag I made. I used my own Prima doll for this one. 

I used the same colors of paint that I previously mixed and used some random papers that I had laying around. The words are from Cosmo Cricket. I cut part of her legs off to create a smaller tag. 

I had so much fun crafting yesterday. After the week I have had, it was SO nice to relax and let my brain create something. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you are inspired!!

More Stencils!

So, since I started back to work this week I haven't had time to create like I wanted, but once we get into a routine it will be easier to carve out the time.

So, while browsing around in the stencil section at Joann (not in the papercraft section, back in the paint section) I happened on this pack of Plaid brand, "simply stencils".

I was so excited! It was just under or around 4 dollars for 3 sheets of 8 x 10 stencil material! WOOT! The possibilities are endless! I am all for cheap and easy! Let me tell you what!

I decided for this purpose to just use my dies from the Spellbinders Media Mixage (said, mix AH ge): the fleur de lis to be more specific. So, here is a quick video showing you how to make the proper sandwich for your cuttlebug. 

Also, here is a link to the metal shim on Amazon.com.

Once the video was done I played around some more using some arrow dies from the new Spellbinders line, Inspire, as well as hearts from the Mixage line. Basically just a nice sampling.

Then I used a couple colors of acrylic paint and some Heidi Swapp color shine. 

This was super fun and I can't wait to use my cricut to create more stencils and then I will be SURE to share any projects with you, of course! Be inspired, and happy crafting!

Fabulous Fairies

I discovered another stamp company this week and went ahead and bought a couple to play with. They were so fun to color! Aurora Wings. Check them out!

I am also entering this card into the Sprite Challenge over at the challenge blog for Aurora Wings!! http://aurorawingschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/07/challenge-5-sprite-delight.html#  Be sure to go join, and there is a bonus free image for participating as well! I can't wait to color it up!!

This one in particular is so delightful! I seriously couldn't wait to color her up! I used my copic markers to color her and then popped out the flower she is holding to add more dimension.

So, here is what I created with her! I used paper from Glitz, "Finnley" by Traci Smith. Also used a page from the Daily DIY double sided journaling cards from We R Memory keepers. The frame is from Jilli Bean soup. The stars are from Studio Calico. The other trimmings are Jilli Bean Soup as well as scotch washi tape.

I also colored another image. Love this fairy so much! I colored her using a new-to-me color scheme. I might be in love!! 

So, that's it for now! I hope that you enjoy these and are in some way inspired to get going on a project for yourself! Even if its just coloring!

Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose

So, I think I might have been pushing myself too hard since I have actually had time the last week or so. Sometimes, even when you want to craft, that doesn't mean you should push yourself too hard. I have been so obsessed with the idea of art journaling and after how much I LOVED my yellow flower and butterfly I tried again.

This time? It was meh. Not great, but not terrible. Just....meh. Maybe I am too much of a critic. On this page I just tried too many ideas all at the same time with no aim or goal in mind.

I did love the color combo and I liked the different techniques, they just maybe didn't all need to be on the same page, and the flower was a muddy mess compared to the previous day. I apologize for the photo too.

On THAT note, I did manage to make another video. This time, a quick DIY. A CHEAP way to make some stencils for all of your misting needs. It was fun, quick...and did I mention CHEAP? I will be making a lot more of these!

So, I hope you have the chance to get crafty today! Happy weekend!

Field Notes

So today, I decided to finally take Noah down to the nature area at Edwin Warner park in Nashville. He loved going there on a field trip last year and has begged and begged to go back. Since that strange cool front came through this week it was the perfect time.

It was GORGEOUS out there and all of the wild flowers were in full bloom. Huge June bugs, bumble bees, dragon flies and butterflies were out in full force.

We were in heaven! Noah was a trooper and we hiked all over, stopped and too pictures and sketched...it was the dream day out doors. No rush, no fuss, no whining (HALLELUJAH!).

So, among the tons of photos that I took I was really inspired to get painting with these two when I got home.

I got out my paints, gesso'd a page and got to work! I haven't really painted since I was a kid. Don't really consider myself a painter, but lately all I want to do is paint!

 All I used is walmart acrylic paint and cheap different sized paint brushes. Oh, and fingers. Lots of finger painting. How else was the background going to happen??

I seriously can't believe that came out of me. Like, seriously. Musta been some kinda craziness happenin!!

So, I got out my Balzer Designs stencil and a couple of other texture things I have laying around, used some Heidi Swapp gold mist and some circles created with paint and the bottom of the mist bottle. Got out my white paint pen and went crazy with some dots, journaled and this was the result.

Just a close up of the flower and butterfly with all of the shine and dots. 

I can't wait to see what else might be lurking in the back of my artistic side! I did go through a few renditions of the background. You can see the horrid black smudge with dots above....it got painted over in lieu of a more open airy feel.

Hope you are inspired! 

Finger Painting

So, I think I told you all about how inspiring Dina Wakely is and how excited I have been to get more into mixed media and the like.

Today, I was reminded, that Dina I am not. However, i learned a lot from the experience and I will keep this page to remind me of those things.

So, the first thing I did was use this electric pink paint I wanted to try that was on clearance at Hobby Lobby (no hate letters, please. I KNOW they are doing controversial things, however they are the ONLY store that carries what I use...so...there it is).

This paint is actually block printing ink. Its thick, and when I say thick, I mean like....almost gelatinous. The color, however, is FANTASTIC!

At first, I tried to spread it with my brush, but very quickly realized my fingers were going to be my best bet. FINGER PAINTING!!!!! After I finger painted, I kind of let it dry for just a bit to see what else I wanted to do. I had no plan at this point other than PINK. 

I decided to see what would happen if I used a stamp that I carved from an eraser and stamped it (bare, no ink) into the partially dry paint. The result was this fun pattern/texture! The sideways triangle/chevron-like pattern all over the page. I also dripped and spritzed some of my tattered angels chalkboard mist all over. 

STILL had no plan at this point. There was so much pink it was almost burning my eyes! lol SAVE me from the PINK! After that, I just winged it. Target had some bright colored tags with a boston terrier on them in their clearance section a long time ago and I thought he would be the perfect addition. Not really sure why. 

After that? I was stumped. I think I have over-created this week. The creative juices have run dry and my brain is fried. I used my star stencil and some more Studio G chalk based pigment ink and went crazy, and then again with the Heidi Swapp gold mist. I pooled it up and let it run down the page. 

Again I was stumped. What is wrong with my brain?!?! (AGAIN, no nasty notes. I KNOW already, lol). Then I remembered that fantastic Dr. Seuss quote, "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." It was PERFECT!!! 

After that it all started to flow. I found a camera by Uprintables by Rebecca and slapped that puppy on, used some of my fun cosmo cricket phrases and got out another of my home made chevron stamps and stamped with black paint and added black micro-glitter. For final touches the paint pen came in handy. 

It wasn't at all what I have envisioned, and in the end I made a lot of mistakes based off of not really thinking through to the end result. You should note that if paint is not 100% dry, mod podge will smear that color everywhere and result in a muddied mess. Also, with this paint, too much mod podge takes you right back to the base color white. Peels the stuff right off. Also, for some reason painters pens splurt? Like so the white splotches are from that. I just shook the pen and there it went. NUTS. And, lastly. Only put glitter where you want it cause when stuff is a tacky muddled mess, it will stay where its put. ::sigh:: 

HOWEVER. I really do like mostly the outcome and am keeping it to remind me of all of those things that I learned as well as the pleasant surprises you can learn when you just try something new. 

So, here is to learning and growing! CHEERS!