PaperArtsy Challenge

PaperArtsy has a new challenge up and it's open to enter for 3 more weeks. Darcy UK shared a lot of really cool techniques for inspirations as well as her new stamps!!

This piece needed something at the bottom to sort of tie it all together and I really liked Darcy's flowers. Lacking her stamps I improvised with some doiley stamps and went to town. 

I hope to see you over at the PaperArtsy challenge and thanks for stopping by!

Hugs~

Poppies

If you watched my Gelli Plate with clear packing tape transfer video last week you got a sneak peek at the canvas I have been working on. 

I finally got around to taking some pics of the completed canvas.

I was lucky enough to have recently found a used copy of the complete works of Alphonse Mucha. This was inspired by one of his drawings. 

And here's some close ups:

 That's the packing tape transfer at the top. I absolutely LOVE DecoArt One Step Crackle! 

 Here I was trying to create a faux encaustic look. Not sure if I achieved that or not but I DO love the way it turned out. 

Thanks so much for looking! Now to catch up on some of my Soul Food lessons =0)

Hugs~

Documented Life Project Week 1

 After completing my new journal (thanks to Grace Howes lesson for Soul Food!!) it was time to start filling it up. So even though I got a late start, I am going to play along with the Documented Life Project. 

Week 1 prompt was to add a door.  OOhh Doors!!! I love them, as well as windows and frames. One of my other loves is antique hardware so I decided instead of drawing a door, just making the whole page a door and adding a keyhole. First thing was to find an image of an antique key hole and trace it onto tracing paper. I found mine in one of my Dover Publications  books.

Then I inscribed it onto metal foil with an empty ball point pen (or stylus). 

I taped the edges just to be safe and worked on top of a mouse pad. Working from the back with different sized stylus' I started raising the areas that will "poof" out on the front. Then I would turn it over and using a paper stump smooth the areas surrounding those poofed out parts back down. (sorry, no pics of that part). 

I used to really be into jewelry making and silversmithing so I really enjoyed the actual process. It took quite a few passes from back to front to get it to the dimensions I was happy with. Then I antiqued it with black acrylic paint wiped back with a baby wipe.  

I filled the back side in with Golden Heavy Gel medium and attached it to the page. 

Some acrylic paints, tissue paper, stencils, washi tape, paint splatters...  what fun! The final touch was to add a few pieces of those gelli prints on clear packing tape and voilá

I still have some space at the top to add some words or more collaging/art but still letting that brew for a bit. 

Thanks so much for stopping by =0)

Hugs~

My Soul Food / Documented Life Journal

This morning I finished my journal for Grace Howes lesson in Soul Food. The only thing more fun than creating a journal? Filling it up!!!

 Of course, bright colors. I used DecoArts American paints. 

 I added in some papers from a DCWV paper pad that have these awesome die cut edges.

 And some vintage bags I can use as pockets.

Here's a close up of the pendant hanging from the front. I had made it a while back and had it my stash. The "bezel" is the back off of a watch. I filled it with some little trinkets including vintage music papers and a rhinestone off of some vintage jewelry. 

I am going to have this double duty for my Document Life journal. I don't document to the extent that a lot of people do but that's just A Okay!! 

Hugs~

Freestyle Sketching

Were you afraid I was going to say "gelli" one more time this week? lol. 

Nope, only a quick post to share my Soul Food lesson with Gwenn Seemel. I love Gwenn's style and her lesson really helped me to "get over myself" like my good friend Dede says ;)  Dede is an AMAZING artist and teacher (she teaches FREE weekly on UStream). If you haven't seen her portrait she did of Mystele you can check that out here.

So back to Soul Food and Gwenn's lesson:

This was done with a $4.99 set of Crayola markers. Oh what fun! I am a huge sketcher BUT with graphite and an ever present eraser. Time to stretch some arty muscles in the new year, eh? 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will check out the links I posted above for Gwenn and Dede, you won't regret it :)

And once again, a reminder that if you are intrigued by this you can still join us in Soul Food. I believe enrollment is open until March. 

Hugs~

Gelli Plate Packing Tape Transfer

Hi guys!  While I was collaging the gelli plate prints on packing tape I created earlier this week I stumbled onto a happy little accident. I am sure someone else has too but it was new to me and of course, I'm bringing you along for the ride ;P

You also get a sneaky peak at my current canvas as a little bonus

Thanks for watching! 

Hugs~

More Gelli Tape Prints

Oh, I am so addicted...lol! Here's more Gelli prints on clear packing tape. 

Don't you love a post when you can read the pictures? 

If you missed yesterday's post you can see the video that inspired this fun and my first results here.

Geesh, I wish you could see how much more gorgeous these are in real life! What looks like dark brown is actually bronze mica powder and the orange is gold mica. 

Paints used were DecoArt Americana Acrylics.

Thanks for visiting =0)

Hugs~

Gelli Plate Prints with Packing Tape

All last year I put off getting a gelli plate thinking, pfft, I can do that with __________ fill in the blank! I tried it with everything and yes, I was able to get prints.  After Christmas I put some gift card $$ to good use and bought one. Geesh, all I can say is I don't know why I waited so long! 

Today I had a play at making some prints on clear packing tape after watching this amazing video by Gelli Arts

And looks at my results!!! 

I cannot wait to get these collaged onto some projects! They are so beautiful and shimmery in real life! 

I'm also playing along in Carolyn's Gelli Party! Head over and check it out!

Edit added 1/17/2014

I added some of these strips to a canvas and ended up with a very happy accident. You check out that vid  here.

Thanks for stopping by =0)

Hugs~

Soul Food Gelli Plate Fun

How is your 2014 coming along? I have to admit, I got a little overwhelmed for a bit.  So many fun projects out there to get involved in. I was finding myself a little stressed trying to figure out how to fit it all in and then I had a "DUH" moment. It was time to evaluate what was a good fit for me and what wasn't.  

One thing that is a perfect fit for me is Soul Food! Not only are the lessons amazing but the community is supportive and encouraging. After getting all of my ducks in a row over the weekend I was finally able to sit down and dig in! 

This was my take on Mystele's first lesson:

Soooo much fun!!! My grandson even got in on the act!

Thanks for looking! 

Hugs~

Finished or not?

I hate when I can't decide if a piece is done or not. On one hand I am satisfied with the way this turned and on the other I think it might need something. So I will let it sit for a few days, maybe even weeks until it comes to me. 

12x12 

I've been playing with the idea of working more digital stuff into my pieces so maybe I will try that. 

Products used:

DecoArt American Acrylic Paints

Caran dÁche Neocolor II watersoluable crayons

Prismacolor Premiere Pencils

and one of my very favorite new products,

DecoArt Glass Paint Marker. You can see how bright white it is and it doesn't slip and skip like some of them do on slick surfaces (like gel mediums).

Thanks for looking and hope you are having a wonderful 2014!

 And don't forget, you still have plenty of time to join in the fun at Soul Food! The amount of participation and encouragement among the students is truly spectacular! 

Hugs~