Beach time!

It's that time of the year, when the siren call of the water entices us to go to the beach, pool, run through the sprinkler, splash through puddles...

I made a beach themed shadow box as a gift for a friend, filled with shells, sparkle, flip flops.... Covered boxes with dictionary paper and patterned paper, then edged with washi. A coat of Mod Podge to keep it all in place, and some distress glitter to add sparkle.

To make my little bird feel more whimsical, I added a pair of sunglasses. The shadow box is set up on pearl feet. I hope she likes it, I know she loves going to the ocean!

 

Thank You Card

Simon Says it's time to say thank you with this week's challenge.

I decided to make a simple card in Kraft and do some paper piecing. This challenge came at just the right time, because I need to send out a thank you. I stamped the collage onto the card, then on to several different patterned papers.

Stamps: Phone Elements by Stampendous, Thanks by Hero Arts

 

Bird Song

I love to hear the birds in the morning. It seems to me that they sing the sun above the horizon to start the day.

Time for some art journaling, and I created this background with Dylusions sprays and stamps awhile ago, and now I have the perfect use for it.

 

I'd jotted my thoughts down on a piece of scrap paper, and with my crazy birds stamps, tonight is the time to put it all together.

I just love this stamp set by Tim Holtz! Stamp the birds on watercolor paper, then use my Peerless water colors to color them, and they are totally delightful, don't you think?

"Waking up to the sweet trills of bird song, singing the Sun above the horizon." Letter in my saying on the pages, and it is starting to pull together.

At odd moments and places, words come in to my head, and I need to write them down on whatever is handy. It may be weeks, months, or even years before I use them, so I really should put them all in one place!

I am happy with how this page came together. I am learning that it is ok to make backgrounds and save them for later. Just like the snippets of words, having a stash of pages or embellishments ready to go, makes it super easy to create on days when I don't have as much time. I need to do this more!

The LoraX speaks for the trees!

This week the challenge at Simon Says Stamp is "XYZ".

Alphabet letters get me thinking about Dr. Seuss, and that gets me thinking about one of my favorite stories, "The LoraX." Perfect combination to work on in my art journal.

I started by making my background with water colors, keeping it bright. It's easy with a water brush and Peerless watercolor papers.

 

Oh, I do love Truffula Trees! On a back road near me I pass a tree I call my Dr. Seuss tree - it reminds me of a Truffula every time I pass, and makes me smile.

Look how easy it is to finish these with some black pen doodling. Not perfect, and a bit different from the ones in the LoraX, but they are my take. I found a great quote that is perfect for my May theme of "grow" in my Artfully Inspired Life class.

I have very subtle hints of XYZ on my page, so I thought, why not add a letter to each of my trees. I think Dr. Seuss would approve.

Hmm, this would be a fun idea to spin off into an alphabet or number book for a child.

 

100 Days of Drawing Update

I am doing this! Drawing every day (well, with a couple of catch up days in there) and am having fun with this. I used to draw all the time when I was young, often sitting under a tree in the back yard and sketching. Thought I would share a few more from my Instagram account.

 

I love doing these sketchy ones of common objects.

The trees are in my yard, and I am sketching these to use in my art journal for May.

Inspired by the colors bursting forth in springtime.

It feels good to work on my own skills and see what I can do. Looking ahead, I want to incorporate some of my own drawing into the mixed media work I do. Right now, I am having a lot of fun with this. Some sketches take me just a minute or two, and others much longer. What I do know is that I am drawing a lot more now, and enjoying it. I encourage you to pick up a pencil or pen and try some sketching too. Please share if you do!

Ombré, Ole!

New challenge over at Compendium of Curiosities with Linda Ledbetter and the great crew of designers. Turn to page 57 in CC vol. 3 for all the details on this fun and easy techñique. Be sure to check out all of the great DT projects, prizes from Tim and Mario and this challenge's sponsor The Funkie Junkie Boutique! So much generosity!

We are working on an ombré technique, and here are my backgrounds that I began with, playing with some different colors and ideas.

I need some birthday cards, and was inspired by the hot weather we've been having to go with a beachy theme.

Stamping, charms, glittery sequins, distressed ribbon, stenciling with paint, layers, what more do we need?

Here they individually...

Love this set of stamps from Tim Holtz!

 

 

I am liking the soft cool look as well as the bright and fiery one. I have a few little gifts to make to go with these, and they will be ready for a birthday party next week!

Hope you join us in the fun!

 

Don't Abandon the Coral!

Abandoned Coral challenge at Simon Says Stamp using one of this year's lovely new distress colors!!

I used mine to highlight the hearts in this 4x4 women swap. I created the little pages using a variety of images, papers, stamps, colors, glitter and embellies.

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Celebrating women this weekend, especially mothers! Happy Mothers Day, hope it is a wonderful day with your families!

 

Nursery Rhymes Swap

 

Our swap theme this month is nursery rhymes! Boy, did this bring back memories, and perfect for this month when we celebrate mothers! I remember reading these stories to my little boys, long ago. I had fun layering up the dolls and making the tags.

Mary had a little lamb...

 

Peter, Peter, pumpkin eater...

 

Mary, Mary quite contrary....And it certainly is garden season in my neck of the woods.

 

Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn...this is the one I decided to keep. I'm glad the boy stamps were added to the Prima line!

 

So, for all the mothers out there, have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend celebrating Moms everywhere! Read a few nursery rhymes to your little ones, or reminisce about those times long ago. Happy Mother's Day!!

 

 

 

The 100 day project

A few more sketches to share with you from my Drawing journey.

 

Hope you all had a great day yesterday!

 

 

Eyes Tested!

 

It's challenge time at SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenges, so be sure to head over to see all of the fantastic projects by the design team, ready to awe and inspire you! It's all about goggles, glasses, monocles and eye charts, so please join in the fun with us! It's a great way to use your imagination, be recognized, and the Retro Kraft Shop is generously donating a prize!

I am excited about this challenge, because it is perfect for me to take these black plastic goggles, and transform them.

First step, paint them up! I used Dina Wakely's Umber (undercoat) and Penny (sponged on top) paints.

Next, I sponged on the DW Gilt paint, and I am loving how metallic these are starting to look! I find my pieces look best when I use several paints.

Working on my metallic look, I dabbed in some metallic green Lumiere paint, and Stream and Wild Plum Adirondack paints. Once again, I find I have reached for my go to colors of green, blue and purple.

Goop on some of Finnabair's Copper Crackle with a palette knife, in just a a few places, and time to let it dry overnight. I went over these areas with dark brown ink to bring out the crackle.

Working with the Eyes Tested theme, my Tim Holtz stencil is perfect to stencil in some parts of the eye chart with black ink.

Here's some of the stenciling detail...

At this point, my goggle base is done, and now it is playtime in Steampunk land. I dug through my stash and added pieces as I worked. I decided to use Rhino Glue to attach the pieces, as it has a very strong bond. (You just have to be really careful, because it instantly bonds your skin too)

In all its finished glory, from many angles...

 

I talked my son into modeling them, so you can see them in action. He mentioned one of the guys he downhill bike races with has some goggles like these...perhaps there will be two this season?

Put the goggles on and let your imagination fly...perhaps you are an airship captain of a pirate ship, or racing down the road on your velocycle, or building a small automaton in the laboratory...these Steampunk goggles will transport you into another world!

I hope the DT has inspired you to join us for the Eyes Tested challenge, I'll have my goggles on looking for your take!