MIXED MEDIA MONDAY

Okay, this one needs some work, but I enjoyed playing with the background colors. I call this Windswept Leaves.

Another Pinterest find. The technique calls for you to apply your ink to an acrylic blog, mist then swipe across your surface. Takes a little practice to not overdo the mist while having enough moisture to spread.

MISTED BACKGROUND
By Lori Vliegen at elviestudio

Create a background by putting inks on acrylic block, misting with water then swiping across surface.


RECIPE:
Ink: SU – Elegant Eggplant, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler,
      Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, More Mustard
      Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamps: Northwoods Rubber Stamps (Broom), Craftsmart (pumpkins & Oct. 31),
      Uknown (spider web, spider, Halloween)

Wanted to try fall colors for a ‘blown leaf’ of color effect.
I wish I'd taken this the step further and used the diluted gesso she suggests in the center before stamping the Halloween. But I'll do this again so can try that next time.

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY

Continuing from last week's Mixed Media playing, I think this one is my favorite. This is one of those I really think needs some hardware. Maybe a birdcage charm or something. But since these posts for now are all about the technique, I'm happy with it for now.

I started with something like this:

That is an up-close look at the condition of my Papier Paints by Folk Art. I've had them for about seven years so I guess they are allowed to be clumpy. But as you can tell from the finished product, they still work. I took the fine tip out of the bottle and squeezed out a blob. Then I spritzed it good with water. A junk mail credit card spread the color around in a haphazard fashion just as if I'd used a good acrylic. I'm determined to use up these gunky paints and get them out of the studio so they'll be my base medium for awhile.

RECIPE:

Ink: Memento Black & SU Perfect Plum

Stamps: SU Nature Walk

Paper/ CS: SU Rich Razzleberry & paper scraps

Accessories: Folk Art Papier Paints – Baby Pink, Cobalt, Sunflower

WOYWW #267

Not a lot has changed on my desk this week. We spent the weekend in Lincoln NE at our niece's wedding. I spent some time Sat. morning taking pictures of the university grounds and downtown. I like creating my own 'morgue file' for blog pics. The campus grounds were beautiful with floral and architecture.

The 5 reams of SU Marina Mist cardstock are for the little pocket notebooks and the stamp set was a gift from one of my SILs.

On our way home Sunday we stopped for the night in Springfield - which meant I got to go to Michael's. I found this beautiful suitcase for 50% off... then had an additional 25% coupon off total purchase. This is one of the base colors in my studio and I knew if I left it behind, I'd kick myself later. My initial plan was to put my Sizzix dies inside then slide it under my Project Life shelf. As you can see, that was not going to happen. So I'll tuck it away for another use. But, this did give me the idea to use one I'd purchased on clearance last year for the same thing... Now this is how my die-cutting area looks.

The wooden cabinet to the left started off on my writing desk upstairs but was just too cluttered looking. For now I've been putting pieces of white cardstock  inside for when I just need a small piece for something. The box underneath is my embossing folder files. 

That's it for me this week. I have something to share with you very soon so stay tuned, and I hope if you are not already, you will follow me so you don't miss out!

In the mean time, head on over to Stamping Ground where Miss Julia will have the pass to tons of other inspiring blogs for you to visit. Want to know more about what we do every Wednesday? Go HERE.

Creative Blessings!

Kel

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY!

Yay! Thanks to wanting some posts scheduled, I took an entire day to play in the studio. I started with Pinterest for some tutorials I had on my boards. Then I grabbed a 9x12 Mixed Media Journal I'd purchased on clearance last fall. I decided I was going to actually USE one of them to play with some of the techniques. Will the pages be fabulous? Not anywhere close. But I am playing. I'm getting inky and paint under my nails (yeah, just in time to need them done for a wedding LOL) So for the remainder of the Mondays this month, you will see my first three pages. None of them are done. I want to go back and add some hardware and little touches. These are all just beginnings.

This first piece was inspired by Donna Downey at Design Memory Craft. Donna has some great tutorials on using the Gelatos by Faber-Castell. I LOVE  Gelatos and if someone doesn't mind some gently used basic colors, I might offer them up as a give-away at some point. I think I'm going to need the complete set - meaning I'll have some duplicate colors. I could also put them in my travel art bag. We'll see. For now...

If you're not familiar with Gelatos, they are a water-color 'stick' that comes in a tube similar to chapstick. This makes them really portable. You can create a palette tray as the video shows, dab a wet brush on the end and paint from there or scribble in an area then spread with a water brush. I usually don't use the last method unless I want some lines for interest because the initial scratch of the crayon tends to show.

I titled this one GARDEN COLLAGE because I used the Garden Collage stamp (retired) from SU as my focal point. I used the gelatos and sprays to put color everywhere as my foundation. The neat thing with selecting this Mixed Media Journal is that I did not have to prep anything... just dive right in spreading color.
The background color, though still soft does show up better in real life.

VIDEO:    Faber-Castell Design
Creating a watercolor palette using slices of Gelatos in a watercolor tray

RECIPE:
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & SU Melon Mambo
Gelatos: Pink, Violet, Lavender
Stamps:
Hero Arts (heart & Eiffel tower), Stampede (Love), InkaDinkaDo (script & post)
SU Garden Collage

FRIDAY FREE FOR ALL - Pinterest

Today begins what I hope will become a series of Pinterest CASE cards. You know... all those cool things we pin to our Pinterest boards with plans to make or try... someday.

I decided needing inspiration for a wedding card was a good time and place to start.

This is the one I found on Pinterest... http://www.pinterest.com/pin/184929128422023878/

The original card was designed by Linda Gutierrez from Cypress CA. She is a StampinUp representative. You can see her blog with some great cool projects at StampingYearRound.

My layout is a bit different. Linda used the houndstooth embossing folder, which I don't have (guess what's on my to purchase list. hehe) So to add a bit of texture I had this darling spool of heart lace trip. Perfect for a wedding couple.

RECIPE:

CS: SU Lavendar Lace (retired) I really wish they'd bring back more purples! and GP White

Ink: SU Lovely Lilace (retired)

Stamps: SU Congrats, Around Array

Extras: 2 brads

I also printed the Mr & Mrs on the computer in Vivaldi size 8

I like how the card turned out. I hope my niece and her new husband like it, too.

Oh .. here's the inside with some marital advice and the envelope:

WOYWW #266

This is how I left my desk tonight (WOYWW eve). I got to spend all day in the studio working on mixed media techniques to schedule all of the remaining Monday blog posts for this month.

The tub to the left is a plastic shoe box of old Papier Paints by FolkArt. Although they don't mix up very well and don't come out of the bottle through the tip, I was able to take the tip out, squeeze a dob on the paper. From there it was just a matter of misting with water and taking the junk mail spreader. The sample I used them on comes up in a couple weeks and is my favorite piece I did today.

So yes, I'm scheduling this to post on auto in the morning. Bob comes home 'today' so I'm trying to get the house semi-presentable and taking care of last minute business things.

I have a wedding this week so not sure how many blogs I'll get to touch base with but will get to as many as I can.

A quick thank you to our friend, Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground. She graciously takes the time each week to give us all a road map to over 100 creative blogs around the world so that we might stop for a visit. If you'd like to know more about WOYWW, you can check out the DETAILS.

Creative Blessings

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - Day Off

I know I seem like I've taken a lot of days off lately. But I am making progress. My goal by Wednesday is to have gotten some things made and posts scheduled so I'm not absent the entire month of July.

Bob comes home Wednesday. Friday we have a weekend wedding to attend. Tuesday, family will be in for a 4-day visit. The good part of that is that my SIL whom I did the Virtual Stamping Night earlier this year is part of the equation so there will be some studio time. Yay! I'll finally get Cricut Craft Room up and running.

I also want to get my Christmas cards going. Only 4 months until they need to be in the mail. I have plenty of Christmas postage stamps. I bought them the last 2 years before prices went up. I've added a lot of businesses to my list this year so there will be some with more of an elegant flare than I usually do to design.

Yes, it's time to be thinking about Christmas cards. But more important... I just want to PLAY.
Creative Blessings!
Kel

WOYWW #265

First off, thank you to everyone for your well-wishes on my book. Yes, Julia, this is my first. I think the whole thing came at me too fast to be really excited. Probably be flying when my first 'print' book comes out. You know, that I can actually hold in my hands and cuddle like a new born :-)

Nothing overly exciting going on this week.. but thankfully that is about to change! 

To the left, a book on Nashville. I've been researching for an article I've been approached to do on the impact and importance of traditional country music. An art video by one of my favorite mixed media artists - Pam Carriker. The pile in the middle is  a collection of goodies I got from one of the Documented Life Project gals. Lots of little extras to incorporate into the journals. The 3 bottles of paint in the background are the colors I used to decorate the envelope I sent her in return, chock full of yummies I hope she can use as well. 

With today beginning the 2nd half of the year, I guess it's time I started thinking Christmas cards. I've been thinking about them a lot - just not enough time to get in the studio. Hallmark Channel is running Christmas shows all weekend so after my night out with Aaron Tippin on Friday night I plan to spend the weekend in the studio working on cards. Wish me Luck!

Have no clue what I'm talking about? Every week we gather at Stamping Ground to link the world to our creative blog where Miss Julia Dunnit gives us the opportunity to let everyone see what we're up to. This is not a secret club. Anyone can play. Just check out the details HERE. We love making new friends!

Creative Blessings!

Kelly