Art Journal - Heart and Mind

This is my second post today so I hope you will check out my card for icopic also.

I've added Art Journaling to my growing list of addictions. I used to paint a lot with acrylics when the kids were small. Birdhouses, hat boxes, home decor stuff.. all back in the day when one stroke painting was all the rage. Is it still? I may just be out of touch. But needless to say, I have a LOT of Acrylic paints, brushes and mediums and it's been so much fun to drag all those back and out.

  

Remember that book I talked about last week of my grandpa's that I stamped my Tilda on? Well, I decided to use that for my Art Journal, or I should say one of them because I've also made a copic one I will share sometime soon.

Well, I didn't take a pic of front of the book before I started altering it, but get ready... here's a bunch of the inside!

Because the pages are so old and thin I've glued several together (I think it was 3) before adding gesso.  Look at this front flap.. I just can't cover up my grandpa's handwriting so I've decided I am going to add as many of my families signatures as I can find! 

Here's the front after I started to alter it. I haven't done anything much with it yet, I can't decide what I want to do.

You wouldn't believe how many projects I've almost added that frame to in the past. I am so glad I hung onto it!  I also added some lace over the binding. I forgot how much fun Mod Podge is but I have heard for the inside pages it's best to use Golden brand gel medium because Mod Podge has a tendency to stick together.

Now, I've warned you that I really can't draw, but what I mess up with sketching I can fix with painting and pencils.. lol! 

I love how the "Chapter 1" is right above her head so I tried to leave it peaking through with my subsequent layers. Next I colored her with prismas and then some acrylic paints. I think I did that backwards, but you know what.. this is the whole point of my journal, to just play with all of these wonderful mediums!

The whole background is acrylic paints. Next all that was left is to just pull out some stamps and some Staz On and go hog wild! 

Wow!! What a bunch of stuff!! But it was fun to just stamp and doodle! Some of the stamps I painted some acrylic paint onto with a brush.

 I did learn one thing... I need some more of these Faber Castell Pitt pens!!

Look at that deal!! But my Michael's only had them in this set of 4 colors which is Black, gray, sepia and brown. They're india ink and they color on top of anything!!  (Oh, how I wish my copics could!!) 

Thanks for looking!

Hugs~

Crafthouse Press - Fabulous Lingerie

What an amazing stamp I have to show you today from icopic!! It is from Crafthouse Press and is called Fabulous Lingerie:

Is that not gorgeous?? All girly and feminine, you just know it had to have some pink and bling : ) I always want to jump to the "good" parts but you can't achieve good coloring without first good paper and Memento Ink.  I stamped the lingerie in Tuxedo Black and the sentiment from Amy R in Rich Cocoa Brown.  My designer papers are from the Wild Rose Studio Girly Polka Dot paper pack.
Our challenge this week is airbrushing and I airbrushed the background of my nestie shape. Since my stamp is all paper pieced I didn't have to do any masking.  Here's a close up:

You can see a tutorial on how to create that background using your airbrush and colorless blender by Jan here.
After stamping my lingerie pieces on my patterned paper I added some shading. I used R85, R83 and R81. I cut those out and them Mod Podged some actual lace over the top of it. Those layers ended up being glue to plain white card stock for a little more stability.  Once that was dry and transparent I did a little bit of relininig of the image with my copic multiliner. 
I hope you check out all the new products icopic is carrying and also join in the challenge this week. Show us what amazing things you can do with your ABS!!


Challenges:
Creative Craft Challenges - Create your own backing papers 
(Mine is the background on the nestie shape)

The Cheerful Stamp Pad - Your Fav Background (colorless blender stamping on Airbrushed background in nestie)

Crafty Cardmakers - Spots and Stripes

Make it Monday - Always Anything Goes

Hugs~

Your Next Stamp - Runaway Cake

You still have a few more days this week to get in our Colors of the Rainbow challenge at One Crazy Stamper.
This little guy stealing the cake just cracks me up!! Take a look:

That's Runaway Cake by Your Next Stamp. Too cute! I wish you could see how cool those candles and chipboard pieces cut from sizzlet dies turned out! Here's a close up:

Eh.. still looks better in person! The sparkle things were cut with an old sizzlet die I don't think they even make anymore out of plain white chipboard and then spritzed with Bahama Blue Fireworks spray. Forget about all the other colored mists you've tried! This stuff is intense!! I love it! You could also use them with the new glimmer screens that Lora is carrying!
Back to our little rascally rat ; ) He was stamped with Memento Ink, a must have for all of your copic work!  I colored him and the candles with my copics,  then I added some stickles.  Here's the copic colors I used:

 And I just have to mentioned an overlooked product, adhesive!! If you've not tried the X-Press It tape you need to! I love this stuff! It's strong, economical and earth friendly (not all those plastic parts to throw away)!
That's all for today but don't forget you still have a few days to get in our Colors of the Rainbow challenge!

Hugs~

The Outlawz Girlz "Red, White and Blue"

Our challenge for you this week the Greeting Cards group at The Outlawz is Red, White and Blue. That doesn't mean it has to be a Fourth of July card ; ) We realize we have a lot of people participating from outside the states. In all honesty, while we do fireworks and bbq I've never really decorated for the Fourth. We always have a flag out so that's a given. I decided to color up this adorable birdhouse drawn by my good friend and teamie Anne Fenton as a Welcome to the Neighborhood card. I thought the birdhouse was perfect for that:

Please don't think Anne drew this crooked! That's all me! I created my frame with Nesties Label Seventeen. The image layer is seperate and I must've glued it down crooked. Did you know this is why fine artists look at all of their work in a mirror? Things show up when you photograph them or look at them in the mirror that your eye doesn't catch! Well, that frame and stars and everything are on top of it, so it's staying crooked.. lol! 

I used crackle medium on the frame. Man.. I've had that stuff for literally 15+ years and was shocked that it was still good! Same with all of my old acrylic paints. Amazing!! 

I used white pigment ink and white embossing powder on the stars and here's a close up of both:

Last week I saw Mary Giemza post that she had tinted Polar White Flower Soft with her copic reinkers! I had white (it's the only one I do have besides the autumn and christmas mix) so I mixed up a few colors and added a flower garden at the bottom of the frame and to some of the flowers that Anne has drawn:

This was a lot of fun!! 

Hopefully you will get a chance to pop over to The Outlawz and join the Greeting Card challenge and show us your red, white and blue creations!

Hugs~

Altered Storage Bins

I started this project last fall and when I saw the new challenge in the Paper A La Mode group at The Outlawz, I just new I had to finish it!! The challenge is to alter a home decor item. Well, this "thing" didn't start life as decor, but it sure is now!! It was actually one of those hideous battle ship gray screw storage units. It belonged to my FIL and while functional, it sure wasn't purty!!! Here's a before shot:

And here's what it looks like now:

I knew I didn't want to paint this whole thing! My experience with spray paint on plastic is not the best, the slightest scratch and it comes right off. This is going to be working drawers in my craft room, so it's going to get some use. When I was in like 5th or 6th grade we did a project where we covered a bottle with masking tape and then rubbed it with brown shoe polish (way before Distress Inks were around..lol) and it ended up looking like worn leather. So I tried that:

I did that all over the outsides. For where the drawer fronts are I removed all of the drawers and covered those portions with Washi Tape.

I did add some distress ink to the outside. I am a nut for vintage images and I save a lot of them! You can find lots of great ones by starting in the two links I have in my sidebar for The Vintage Moth and The Graphic Fairy. I printed a bunch of them in little sizes, cut them out and distressed them. Those are collaged all over the sides and top using Mod Podge. (yes.. lol, it really is Mod Podge even though we all say Modge Podge)

Because of the lighting it looks like the background is still just masking tape but irl it has a gorgeous vintage photo hue! Now came the part I started last fall but then stopped. It was by far the most time consuming. Making all those beads for the pulls! 

To make the holes in the drawers I used another old florist trick. Heat up a piece of floral wire in a candle flame or lighter and burn it through the plastic. Works great but use the thickest wire you can find or you will end up having to drill it out a little like I did to make your jump rings fit.  On some like this pic below I used some old earrings that I only had one of:

How cool is that!! I even have a few on there that are post earrings and I just glued the back. Well, I hope you liked it! I know I love it and now it's getting filled up with all my goodies!

I think my FIL would be proud : )

And oh yea.. don't forget to head over to The Outlawz and join in the altered home decor challenge in the Paper A La Mode group!  

Hugs~

Kenny K and some Freebie Tags

Have you ever seen the sign that says, "I can't clean my room because of all the cool stuff I find" ? I know those of you that are on Pinterest have. It still cracks me up because it is soooo true of cleaning off my work station where I color. I came across a Kenny K I had gotten awhile back when I got the guitar player I had made for my son (you can see that here). To tell you the truth, I had forgotten I had purchased the drummer at the same time! I came across the sheet I had printed out back in April!  So being as I had entirely nothing else to do.. {snicker} I had to color him up and enter him in their challenge they have going on this week which is "Check it Out", have checks on your project. 

Yes, he does look like Tommy Lee doesn't he? I had a totally different background layed out but it didn't go with the tag so I had a do-over! I stamped the background on this one with my Hero Arts Misty Swirl stamp in simple black ink. This was purchased a while ago and I love that some of the newer background stamps are larger. I had to stamp this one twice to get it large enough for my 5.5 x 5.5" card. 

Here's a close up of Tommy Lee (lol.. he's really called Tommy Lean)

I know the real life Tommy Lee has dark hair but I wanted his dreads to be blonde.  Ain't it great to color your world how you want??

Here's the copic colors I used:

And here's the tag out so you can see the sentiment (and the funky random checks)

The bakers twine is laying over the "y", but it says Party Like a Rock Star!

And here's the freebie tags. The one I used above is the larger size and the smaller ones make perfect mini greetings!

They're not perfect but you can fix that when you cut them out.

As always, click before saving so you get this full sized. I hope you enjoy them and as always, if you use them I would love to see your project : )

I think that's all except to get him loaded in some challenges! Have a great remainder of the week and a fabulous weekend!

Challenges:

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz - Check it Out

My Mum's Craft Shop - Masculine

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Masculine Birthday/Anniversary

Creative Craft Challenge - Make your own background paper

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Use Red

Shopping Our Stash - Tools of the Trade (use something neglected. Are stamps considered tools? hhhmm. I used my peg alphabet stamps for the sentiment I always completely forget I have! 

Tuesday Throwdown - Masculine

Hugs~

Waiting Tilda for icopic

I cannot wait to show you what I've been playing with this week for icopic! Sometimes I like to share a technique or a new product but today I've got to say I was totally intrigued by this weeks challenge to Color on something other than smooth, white cardstock... hhhmmm.... I knew I wanted to try something totally different than something I've already done with my copics.  I've colored in the past on glossy cardstock, vellum, patterned paper (for paper piecing) but for todays card I stamped on vintage paper! Take a look:

I love the way she turned out! And it was so totally unplanned for hope and loved to be right in the middle of her face!! Seriously! The paper I stamped on is an old vintage book of my grandpa's that is a western. Pop must've been smiling down on me : )
This image is called Waiting Tilda and here's a close up of her:

Please note: if you try this yourself, please do not hold myself or icopic accountable for any damage done to your nibs. I knew I may ruin mine from the old ink. Luckily for me I just picked up a little staining that was easily scribbled off.  My curiosity at wanting to try something new far outweighed possibly having to replace a nib or two : )
Too me Tilda looks like she's praying so the sentiment from Lovely Labels by SP & Company worked perfectly and here's a close up of that:

I love all of those little journaling tickets and will probably add some handwritten notes before sending this off. That little itty bitty clothes pin was a great find at Michaels!!
I hope you get a chance to play along in our challenge this week to color on something other than smooth, white cardstock.
I can't wait to see what you come up with!
bonus pic of my kraft flower : )

Challenges Tilda will be joining this week:

Everybody Art Challenge - Anything Goes

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Ribbons and Bows

Catered Crop - Recipe 

The Corrosive Challenge - Ribbons and Bows

Crafts 4 Eternity - Embellishments that start with "R" (ribbon and rolled rose)

Hugs~

The Greeting Farm - Monday

Nope, you read right. Monday is the name of the stamp and you can pick her up here.  We still have our Colors of the Rainbow challenge going on at One Crazy Stamper. Yes, I've missed a few colors, but doesn't bright count for something? {grin}

I began by first stamping on X-Press It Blending card with Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black.  Monday was then colored with Copics.  My papers are by Bo' Bunny. While I'm not sure if this particular paper pack is available you will not be lacking for choices!! Check out these great paper packs!!!  The link at the lower left of the page will take you to the 6x6, 8x8 and 12x12 paper packs. (Love them!!)
The sentiment is from a set by Amy R of CC Designs.
How easy to add a few "buttons" punched with a 3/4" circle punch from my papers and added some black dots with my sharpie.
Here's a close up:

And here's the color swatches of the copics I used:

I love the pink tips in her hair and that pink combo is a new fav!! Don't you just love copics? I mean seriously, it never gets old! That blonde combo is a new one for me too. 


There's still time for you to join our Rainbow challenge this month!
Challenges lil' Miss Monday will be playing in:


Anyone for Anya? - Stitching (Can be faux)
Creative Stamp Friends - Birthdays
Hooked on Crafts - Anything Goes
Make it Monday  - Always Anything Goes
Stamps R Us - 1,2,3 Recipe
Creative Inspiration Challenge - Stitching, real or faux

Hugs~

The Outlawz Girls - At least 3 Squares

Our challenge for you this week at The Outlawz Greeting Card challenge is to have at least 3 squares on your card. This was the perfect opportunity to use my long neglected Inkadinkado Inchies!

I don't often make a card with no coloring but I really had fun with this one!! I created the background papers with Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey.  Then I stamped with a script background stamp.  I stamped the inchies on white cs too with black pigment ink and embossed with black embossing powder. Then I distressed them with the same three. All that was left was to layer them up on some hot pink cs and then black. I created the stamp look with a pair of cheapy (like $1.40!!) stamp edge scissors from Michaels. 

And you know me.. gotta doodle!! Here's a side shot that shows the clear Sakura pen doodles around the edges of everything:

I hope you'll gallop on over and join us. You don't have to go hogwild like I did. You only need 3 squares and all of your laying counts!

So be there, and be square : )

Hugs~

Squigglefly - Beachy Surprise

It is with sadness that I post this because it is my last card for my DT position with Squigglefly.  It was a very hard decision to not seek another term but with our daughter and grandson moving back home it was time to scale back on some of my commitments. I get to go out with a bang though because our challenge is "Playing Favorites". We want to see you using your favorite Squigglefly image. Well, that wasn't so easy because I have a lot of favorites. Here is one of my favorite summertime images though:

This is called Beachy Surprise from the artist Cheryl Alger. You get the image facing in both directions. I love that!! Here's a close up of her and her crabby friend:

And here's the color swatches of the copics I used to color:

I created the waves by tearing some swirly paper. It really looks great in real life because you can really see the "white caps" on the waves. It just didn't photograph so well. 

I created the summer fun stamp. Help yourself if you would like it. I created it in color but if you would like it in black you may be able to change the settings on your printer to print in just black. 

Remember to click before saving so you are getting the full-sized image. It's fairly large so you can resize it to whatever size you would like.  The "price" is actually the year the person who is receiving this was born. 

I hope to see you over at the challenge! 

It has been a joy working with this talented group of ladies! Much love ladies and I will be seeing you around blogland : )

Hugs~