Happy Girls Canvas

I made a canvas for my daughter, Jordan, for her dorm room and decided to make a bunch of different ones to sell.  Here is the one I made for Jordan:

If you can't read the quote, it's a Dr. Seuss quote:

You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.  

I decided to change the quotes to black on the next ones I made so that it's easier to read.  

So here is another one that I made:

I love this quote, and black lettering really stands out against the background.  

Here is a detail:

I used a stencil and modeling paste and lots of layers of paint on the background.  

I'm entering this canvas in the "Autumn is in the Air" October mood board challenge at 

http://berry71bleu.blogspot.com.br/ .

I've got some more backgrounds that are ready for quotes:

Stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting me today!  Please comment below.  

Inspiration Is Everywhere

It seems I can't make a scrapbook page without modeling paste and stencils these days!!!  I used my favorites on this page:  watercolor paper, modeling paste, The Crafter's Workshop  Subway stencil,  Golden acrylic paints and homemade sprays, stamping, some random painted tags, and black fiber.

When I found this tag in my homemade stash, it was definitely serendipity.   

I wanted the layout to be a bit grungy, like the subway.

I hope you can really see the raised areas I created using the stencil and modeling paste.

I ran my Archival ink pad over them to really highlight them.

I also added the "graffiti" stamping to add more texture to the background.

I used a Cover-A-Card large, square stamp that looked like graffiti with black Archival ink.  

 When I do this technique, I don't have to add much else to the layout. I love the process of creating all those vibrant colors and patterns from a simple white piece of watercolor paper.  It's so much more enjoyable to me than buying matching pattern paper, stickers, and embellishments, then trying to figure out how to put it all together with my photos.  I guess you could say that my "muse" is the photo in this process. I'd love to hear from other scrapbookers and mixed media artists about what inspires you to create a certain layout or project. I love reading your comments, so don't be shy!!!

I entered this layout in the Boy Meets Girl Scrapbook Challenge Blog and here is the link:

http://boymeetsgirlchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/10/aag-october-15-texture-challenge.html

 Thanks for visiting my blog!  

More Creative Chemistry Technique Tags

I've had so much fun playing with all the techniques I've learned in Tim Holtz's online class. I highly recommend it, and it is still available.  Here is the link for more info about it:
http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/
Here are more technique tags:

Stencil Stamping

I used the stencil with molding paste

to create the background. 

Stencil Stamping Detail

Paint Monoprint using Distress Paints

Paint Monoprint Detail

The bee is a Tim Holtz rub-on.

Ink Monoprint using Distress Inks and stencils

Monoprint using Alcohol Inks

Rusting with Distress Embossing Powder

I used Tea Stain Distress EP and added some copper EP.

Rusting with Distress Embossing Powder Detail

Mixed Media Layering

Embossing Through Stencils

Embossing Through Stencils Detail

Eroded Metallic

The background is the technique but the

embellishment was a happy experiment of my own.

Eroded Metallic Detail

I used a die cut chipboard piece and randomly applied crackle paint.

After it dried, I applied black Distress Paint and then I sprayed it with copper

Perfect Pearls mist. I was surprised that the mist was so visible

on the black paint. I LOVE the effect. 

 

Chalkboard Technique

Faded Layers using alcohol inks

Shabby Chic

Tarnished Silver

Faux Patina

There are lots more techniques that I haven't finished yet!  Thanks for visiting my blog and make a comment below if you like what you see.    

Just one more!!!!!

Brayered Distress Stains

Don't know if the photo picked it up but I had to

"bling it out" with metallic stain here and there.    

Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry Online Class

I just finished a 5 day online class that is chock full of techniques using Distress and Ranger products.  For only $25 there was so much information that I think it might be the best value out there!  Below are some of the technique tags from the first day of the class using the Distress Paints. (yes, this was just the first day!!!)  There were more techniques that day but I forgot to photograph them. I have lots more to share, so come back soon.  Please comment below if you like what you see.

Industrial Technique

Using embossing folder and Black ink

Altered Surfaces (the letters)

 Colored Crackle (LOVE this technique!)

 Stamping Resist 

Mixing Mixed Media and Scrapbooking

I am a bad, bad blogger!!!  I won't bore you with how busy I've been, blah, blah, blah.......... From now on, my goal is to do at least one or more entries per week.  However, I have been busy creating and I would like to share some of my summer work. 

Lately, I enjoy incorporating mixed media techniques with scrapbooking.  My favorite thing to do is to add dimension by using molding/modeling paste through stencils to sturdy watercolor paper cut to 12 x 12 size so the finished product fits into a page protector or frame.  I used this technique in the following two layouts:   

Detail

Detail

I add lots of gesso, sprays, paints, even hot glue, and let everything dry completely before I add my photos and embellishments.  

Stay tuned for a tutorial on this technique in the near future! 

Cards

I've been making cards with my Gelli prints, adding some stamps and sentiments.  I punched out some butterflies from one of my prints, which is one of my favorite things to do with leftover pieces that I might have otherwise thrown away.  Hope you like them! 

May Tag

I love Tim Holtz's blog!  If you are not familiar with his tutorial series,  "12 tags of 2013", then visit his blog and I guarantee that you will learn some new technique and be inspired to go create something. There is a reason he is so successful! 

Tim Holtz May Tag

Here is the link to his blog:  http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-may/

And here is my May tag, inspired by Tim's May tag:

I used my Frida Kalo stamp that I recently got, instead of Tim's Mona Lisa.  I also had some old Bo Bunny rub-ons that I used since I did not have Tim's new ones.  I really wanted to put my own interpretation onto the tag, plus I'm using up old supplies!  

In Tim's tutorial, he pools the stain colors onto the craft mat, then drags the tag through them.  I found that this made my tag look muddy, so I applied some of the stain directly to the tag to cover some of the muddy color and make it more vibrant. 

Frida seemed to float on the tag, so I grounded her with some pink leaf rub-ons and added some stamps here and there with black ink.  I also added some gesso sparingly and distressed the edges of the tag, then inked them with vintage photo distress ink. 



I studied Frida Kalo in college and learned a lot about her interestng life.  So this tag has personal meaning to me.  I love when I create something like that!  My tag does not have alot of added 3D baubles on it that Tim's has but I really didn't think it needed anything else. 

 Hope you enjoy!  Now go create something personal!  Please comment below. 
Have a creative day! Kathy

Stencil Club Painting

I recently joined Stencil Girl stencil club, where I receive 3 exclusive stencils every month and a video to inspire ideas to use them.  Here is the link to join the club, or just check out their original, artsy stencil designs:  http://stencilgirlproducts.com/.  For March the stencils included images of flowers and leaves.  It was a rainy Sunday when I sat down to play with the stencils and this is what I came up with.....

The canvas is 16"x12" and I used acrylic paint, mostly Golden brand, which is my favorite. 

The poem was written by my daughter's friend and myself. 

Here in South Carolina for about 3 weeks in the spring, we get tons of pollen that just coats everything.  We were in the midst of this and it inspired the poem.  It just goes to prove that inspiration is everywhere!  We just have to open our red and iritated eyes and sneeze alot, in this case!   



Altered Book Art Journal

I have dozens of Gelli Arts prints so it was time to get creative! I wanted to share a little tutorial on how i made an art journal using some of my favorite prints. I believe that it's easier than it looks!

I altered an old hardback book to make an art journal by removing the inner pages and stitching the folded prints using a simple bookbinding stitch. When I choose a book to alter, I want to make sure that it has a stitched binding, not a glued one. Notice in the picture below the gap between the book cover and the binding. This is what I want so that I can remove the pages with ease. I use an craft knife to remove the pages from the cover. I save the pages for other projects. I alter the cover by glueing my Gelli prints on with matte medium, then reinforce the spine by adding duct tape. I fold my prints into signatures and trim to fit. The signatures consist of 4 prints stacked and folded. Depending on how wide the spine is will depend on how many signatures can go into the art journal. Using this method allows the book and the pages to lay flatter. The finished one pictured below has 4 signatures sewn in.

The last picture includes some of the supplies i use and is a journal that i am currently working on. I used my camera stencils for many of the prints that will go inside in addition to the cover. The spine is wider so I think I can fit 5 signatures. Incidentally, 1 signature with 4 sheets of paper folded in half has 16 pages (front and back.) So there is lots of opportunity to create an artistic scrapbook and/or art journal.