Busy, busy, busy...

I am so sorry I have been absent without a word.  Life can definitely get busy and sometimes unexpected events lead to adjustments.

I will be posting again soon.  In the meantime you can look for me on Instagram and Pinterest as well as enjoy a nice peek at some artsy goodness while you're patiently waiting.  And I really do appreciate your patience in all this.

 

 

Some stash busting tape I made using shipping tape, die-cuts, paint, and stencils.  I posted this and another photo on my Instagram page is you'd like to take a look!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you do to bust your stash!

For the Love of Texture

I'm so sorry I've been quiet.  Sometimes life gets in the way.  But I'm trying to rework things so it should be better in the future.

You may recognize some of these ATCs from previous posts.  This is a photo I took after I was having more playtime with my supplies.

I had ATCs leftover from a piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper where I didn't like the pattern side of it.  I also have old tags in my stash.  Unfortunately, some of my paint supplies dried out.  No they weren't open.  I had Dina Wakley tubes and some Dylusions tubs, so bright and colorful.  Very disappointing.  I can imagine a lot of reasons.  Air could have possibly gotten in at some point.  Life events, moving, or somple mistakes that you're not expecting can cause it.  I remember using them, but I went through a big dry spell due to life, so it's possible that dry spell affected my supplies.  On the plus side, my mediums seem to be okay for now.  And while I love a good psychic, or medium, that's not the type of medium I'm talking about.

Now I have not gone to art school, nor have I taken any strict art classes.  I've taken in person and online classes from several artists (Dina Wakley, Dyan Reaveley, Joanne Sharpe, and Dawn DeVries Sokol come to mind).  In taking the classes, reading blogs, magazines, all of that, I've learned techniques and terms.  Mediums in art are things like gesso, texture paste, and gel medium.

I like using paint with stencils, but .  Also, different paints have different thicknesses.  Some are heavy body so they hold form very well, others are free flow, so they are good for gelli printing.  But for this experiment I wanted more depth without compromising the color.  Most colors I don't mind them being lighter.  However, I'm not the biggest fan of pink.  I can handle it in certain cases, but I was using red, and didn't want pink.  So I know I couldn't use gesso.  Enter texture paste.  I grabbed some red paint, mixed it with texture paste, and used it with a stencil to add the mixtures to some ATCs and tags.  The picture is the result.

I also had some green/blue watered down paint that I didn't want to let go to waste, so I had some play with both stencils and freehand brush strokes.

When you play, do you have a plan or do you just see where things go?  What was the result?  I'd love to hear more!  Come back soon!

Be Bold

Do you have a huge stash you have to bust and use more?  I've definitely got that and I've been trying hard to use items in my stash.  There's one product on this ATC that I had grabbed to use for another project and it didn't happen.  So I worked, and made other projects and finally found a great spot for it.  Which item am I talking about?

The white asterisk sticker, which I believe is from an American Crafts Thickers set.  My background is paint applied with a brayer and through stencils, with some polka dot tissue paper adhered with gel medium, as well as rub-ons, stamping, doodling, and a few items from my stash.

I'm entering my ATC into the following challenge:

Creative Fingers Challenge

I'd love to know what you're holding onto in your stash that you want to use more of!  Comment below!

Hello

As you've seen I like using lots of supplies.  Sometimes things come together quickly, sometimes not.  This one was a bit of a challenge, and it's a bit different, but that's a good thing!  Less doodling in my usual ways, but sometimes a little different can be good.

The background has a bunch of layers.  Some paint, stenciling, stamping, then I added some die-cuts, doodling, and paint splatter.  I also broke in a new stamp, a big wood-backed rubber stamp of small dots; you can see it in the bottom left corner.

I'm entering my ATC into the following challenge:

Crazy is Our Fame Challenge

Do you struggle when creating?  What roadblocks do you come across?  Tell me in the comments below!

ATC 3 Star

Do you hoard supplies or half-finished projects, just waiting for the right finishing touches?  That was me with this.  I was trying so hard to find the right products to add to this ATC without covering up the background because I love it.

I think I solved my problem.  This ATC is one of several I prepped with a layer of gesso through a stencil.  Then I added some watered down paint to give a light background wash.  I was trying so hard to not cover up the color.  The red circles in the corner is red paint combined with texture paste and put through a TCW Punchinella stencil.  I added doodles, rub-ons, some stamping, a star pin, some thread, and Liquitex ink.

I'm entering my ATC into the following challenge:

Simons Says Stamp Monday Challenge

What are some of your favorite supplies?  Thanks for visiting and come back soon!

Ugh...Revisited

So I promised more information, and here we go....

I did a lot of stuff on this ATC.  Tried some new techniques and discovered something new about a stencil.  SO this ATC started out as gesso through a Dylusions stencil and then watered down paint colors added to it (the orange and yellow).

Then I added some darker teal, and then when I was playing with texture paste, I added what I was playing with to the ATC.  I'm going to post more about that soon.

I traced around a few of the numbers with a Sharpie pen as well as around the edge of the ATC.  I also had some ultramarine and purple paint mixed together and added to some projects with a sponge.  I decided to use a stencil that I call a pie chart stencil and only filled in two petal shaped sections with the paint.  I loved it, so I did it again on notebook paper and cut out the heart.

I stamped the star, added the paint bits, and sectioned off letters on another Dylusions stencil to create the word, before outlining the letters with my Uni Posca white paint marker.  I've seen that technique used several times.  I don't know if that's how it was done, but it worked for me.  I will say it took a looooong time.  I used washi tape to block off the letters, but between that and trying to add just the right amount paint to prevent bleed through, the whole process took time.  More time than I thought, though I like the effect.

Will I do it again?  Not sure.  Maybe finding a way to make the process faster.  The paint bits are that paint that spills out over the opening and dries.  You pull it off and save that part.  Those I really love.

I also entered the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

I'd love to know what you think.  Have a great day (or night) and come back soon!

Ugh

I was playing around making ATCs and I discovered something interesting with this one...

Come back tomorrow to find out more!

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Do you like this ATC?  Let me know and have a great day (or night)!

Meh

So I did a thing, I created an ATC heh...I was experimenting and it took a little while with what I was doing.

I used washi tape to mask off the letters and then outlined the letters in white.  And that red bit in the top right corner?  I don't know if there's a name for it, but it's when you pull the dried paint from inside the cap of a paint bottle.  I had done a few layers before it got to this point, and I really like it.

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge

Crafts Galore Challenge

Enjoy the awesome ATC and let me know what you think!  I hope you visit again soon!

Nope

I played around with some ATCs tonight.  Here's one to feast your eyes on!

I've included affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
• Ranger Archival Black Ink 
• The Crafter's Workshop Gel Medium
• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Caribbean 
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Arrow & Boardwalk
  

 

Lots to look at, lots to enjoy!  Come back soon!

Speak Up

It's kinda funny...I have lots of different kinds of adhesives.  I've got tapes, dots, foam squares in different sizes, fabric glue, tacky glue, as well as gel medium.  They all have their uses.  Art journaling, scrapbooking, mixed media.  And I find myself using at least a few in any project I'm working on.  But my current obsession has got to be gel medium.  Granted I have to brush it on, but it's great for working with so many different types of elements and dried pretty quickly so you can keep working.

Seriously, this stuff is amazing!  It works for tissue paper, book paper, magazine cut outs, mixing with paint for texture or using through stencils.  So well worth the price!

My previous ATC used tissue paper and I used The Crafter's Workshop Gel Medium to attach the tissue paper.  It worked great, both to adhere the paper and cover the edges so I could work on top without issue.  I used it again on this ATC with the same tissue paper, though it's hard to see.  There's a peek of it near the bottom by the words "SPEAK UP."  I also added some Craftsmart acrylic paint in Ocean Breeze; just swiping it on with my finger.  Plus some drips from Liquitex Carbon Black Liquid Ink.

The heart is cardstock I ran through my Cuttlebug in a Tim Holtz embossing folder.  I grabbed some lime green paint and my brayer, intending to add the paint to the raised image on the cardstock.  It picked up some of the OCean Breeze, so I added more then drew and cut out a heart.  I also stamped a Dylusions border stamp on the left.

I stamped the sentiments on cardstock and used a paint pen to fill in the larger letters.  And I used my Sharpie and paint pens to add the doodles and splatters.  My unicorn girl id a digi stamp from Oddball Art colored with colored pencils, as well as Tombow and Artist's Loft markers.

I'm also entering my tag in the following challenges: 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Creative Fingers Challenge

I've included affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
• Ranger Archival Black Ink 
• The Crafter's Workshop Gel Medium
• Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Caribbean 
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Texture Fades Arrow & Boardwalk
  

 

There's obviously lots of elements to this ATC, hehe.  Which one's your favorite? Let me know in the comments!  And stop by again!

What Attitude?

Anyone have a teenager in your life?  If so, then you can definitely relate to this tag, heh.  I think at some point in adolescence, everyone has to deal with a moody teenager.  Not that attitude is limited to teenagers, far from it!  So I wanted to pay a little homage to the sass we all can exhibit from time to time.

I covered a vintage tag in gesso and used my Dylusions sprays and my stencils to start a nice background.  Then I used more stencils and paint to add some more patterns.  I also smeared some watered down orange paint then added my other elements.  Inspired by my Dylusions border stamps, I doodled the border.  I grabbed some tissue paper from a package I had received and hand cut a star, and used The Crafter's Workshop Gel Medium to adhere the tissue paper star.  I stamped the word "ATTITUDE" with my alpha stamp and my Archival Black Ink, and colored an Oddball Art boy digi stamp with my Tombow markers.  I also adhered a couple Tim Holtz gears and colored some little chipboard alphas with my Uni Posca green paint pen and adhered them as well.  I threaded some yarn through the top and my tag was finished.

I'm also entering my tag in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

Through the Purple Haze Challenge

I've included affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
• Ranger Archival Black Ink 
  

 

What do you think of the tag?  Let me know in the comments and thank you for stopping by!

I Really Like Gesso

I really liked a bunch of ATCs that I found with gesso smeared through stencils and then color added to them.  So I grabbed a bunch of blank tags and a bunch of stencils and went to town.

 

I've done this with paint, and I don't mind it, but depending on the thickness of the paint, it seep through.  Now that's not necessarily bad, but it's not always the look I'm going for.  So in this case I went back to my gesso, which is definitely thick enough to make a great impression but not seep through.  Above you'll find three of my tags.  From left to right, I used a chevron stencil from The Crafter's Workshop, a Dylusions circles stencil, and a raindrop stencil from Prima Marketing.

And yes, I purposely didn't cover the entirety of each tag.  It's more fun that way.

I've included affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you, so it's a win win!  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
• Ranger Archival Black Ink 
  

 

How do you add texture to your projects?  Thank you for visiting and hurry back!!

Head in the Clouds

Do you daydream?  Did you daydream as a child and slowly fall out of the habit as an adult?  I can understand that, for sure.  It can seem silly to daydream as an adult, but I don't think so.  I find I can daydream when listening to music, reading a book, or just relaxing.

 

This tag is about daydreaming, and the fun that can be had when you're off in the clouds.  I pushed gesso through a stencil, then diluted Artist's Loft Turquoise and Tim Holtz Ripe Persimmon paint with water and used paintbrushes to put a wash of both colors on the tag.  Then I used a brayer to put black paint on the gesso circles from the stencil.  After that it was a simply matter of adhering all the elements: punchinella, a die-cut star from Oddball Art, and two handdrawn clouds made from underpaper and gelli prints.  I added a few beads to the end of the string as well.  I finished with Sharpie pen doodle outlining and white paint splatters.

 

I've included affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
• Ranger Archival Black Ink 
  

 

Does anything catch your eye with tag?  Let me now in the comments!  I'm really glad you came by?

Duct Tape Solves Everything

Isn't that what they say?  Anything can be fixed with duct tape?  Duct tape has come a long way from the wide, super sticky, heavy duty tape that could be used to fix pretty much anything.  Attached anything.  Seal anything.  I'm not sure when, but it went from the simple gray to colors and patterns.  I've even seen plenty ofcraft projects using colorful and patterned duct tape.

I don't know if it's done yet, but as you can see I was playing around, heh.  It's been awhile, but I see paint colors of red, neon orange, some aqua green, and some purple through a Dylusions stencil.  A bunch of stamping, including Balzer Designs, are at play, and the interesting addition, patterned duct tape.  I was experimenting with have bits and bobs of the tape in different spots on different tags.

I've include d affiliate links for items I use a lot for my projects.  If you click the link I get a small commission, with no price increase for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
  

 

What do you think of my tag?  Is it finished?  If not, what do you think I should add?  Thanks for coming by to visit!

Stash Away

I'm trying to use things in my stash in a fun way.  I've got lots in my stash, and some of it I wasn't really sure how to use it.  Maybe not a huge problem for some, but it can get overwhelming to have so many supplies, especially when you like to use a lot of stuff.  Trying to put the items together can sometimes be a challenge.

This ATC has a patterned paper base.  It's called WhiteOut, and I think I found it at the craft store.  The basic premise is it's colorful, but subdued.  Every color looks like it was lightened, or white was added to it, hence the name.  Even the red is lighter, but not pink, which I also like.  I like many things, but pink is not one of them.

I added some red paint through a small Balzer Designs stencil, and added some blue later.  That's how I found the ATC in my stash.  I added cros-stitch floss, a remainder of a die-cut I had, as well as a few other die-cuts, a paper clip, and some sticky punchinella type paper that I swiped some turquoise paint over to add interest.

I'm entering my ATC into the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge

Crazy is our Fame Challenge

I've include affiliated links for items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

• The Crafter's Workshop Chevron Stencil
• Balzer Bits Numbers in Arrow (last I checked unfortunately out of stock, but could have changed)
  
• Dina Wakley Chevron Stencil
• AlteNew Alphabet Die Set 
• Sizzix Framelits Circle Die Set
• Tim Holtz Mini Metal Gears 
• Tim Holtz Metal Sprocket Gears
• Cross Stitch Embroidery Floss 
• Blick Acrylic Paint
  

 

DO you have a stash of supplies you're working to get through?  What are some ways you use your stash?  Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Tag

 Good evening friends!  when it comes to die-cut dies, I feel like I do not have enough.  At least not enough of a variety.  There's cetain types som people may love.  Some people love alphabet dies, some may like occasion dies (like birthday, wedding, new baby).  I have some nice ones for sure, but I need a few more to fit other occasions or that can be used for different things.  Like a tree die, or a cat cit.  Can be applied to several different ideas, right?

So I'm still working on getting a few more holiday projects with my supplies.  And a new challenge that asked to use a die.  So I made it work.

I'm also entering my tag into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

 

My tag started out with a bunch of paint, stenciling, and stamps over it already.  So I added part of a Dylusions girl colored with Christmas colors, a cork star from my stash, and I used a long star banner die-cut that I used with an older gelli print as well another gelli print I used with an alphabet die.  Kaisercraft has lots of offerings.  One option is this sentiment die "so happy."  I also used a die similar to this Tim Holtz alphabet die set to cut out my letters for SMILE.  And I added a bunch of baker's twine matching the colors in the tag.

Please let me know what you think in the comments!  Thank you for stopping by!

Art Journal - It's So Me

Hello friends!  Is the weekend really over?  Yikes!

I have a great project to share today to enter into a challenge.

I'm also entering my tag into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

 

I had leftover from an experiment where I mixed Liquitex Gesso, Liquitex Bright Aqua Green, and Ranger Gel Medium and pushed the mixture through my Dylusions Trees stencil. I need to get some sleep, so I will update tomorrow, but please enjoy!

And if there's something you want to see me try or do, please leave me a note in the comments!

A Tag Full of Fun

 I wanted to share a quick post to give you some ideas for the holidays...

An important aspect these tags have in common is Dylusions.  I really love Dylusions, especially the color sprays.  They react with water, so spraying the paper before or after you use the sprays causes different effects and some really fun stuff.

Dylusions Postbox Red

Dylusions Calypso Teal

Dylusions London Blue

Dylusions Fresh Lime

Dylusions Bordering on the Edge Stamp Set

Dylusions Stars Stencil 

Enjoy and check these out!  Enjoy your crafting and let me know what you think or what products you love!

Another visit

Sometimes things deserve another visit.  That's this guy. 

And that includes a crafty wishlist.  Something on my wishlist? A Cricut 3.

And to remind you of some great products, the same picture below of the beginnins g my underpaper shwong an amazing supply, is Dylusions Calypso Teal, a delicious color if I do say so myself.  And I do.

 What's on your wishlist?

Fa la la la

Hey everyone!  Happy Saturday, for a little longer anyway.  I have a really cool tag to share with you for the holiday season.

There's quite a bit going on with this tag, and it's really cool.  I had been experimenting with my supplies and used the tag as a mop up page of sorts.  Then I added another layer and got stuck.  It can be difficult, even when playing, to do a step, then not know the direction you want to go in.  That was where I was.  I liked certain parts and didn't want to cover those up, but I still needed to do something.  Have you ever had that happen, when creating art or in real life?

I'm also entering my tag into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

 

 

I also have to remember I have a LOT of supplies.  So there's no wrong answer, it's more about how you're feeling.  So the tag had some Dylusions Calypso Teal and Postbox Red smeared on it, then I used some of a mixture of Liquitex Gesso, Liquitex Bright Aqua Green, and Ranger Gel Medium and pushed through my Dylusions Trees stencil. 

I used Archival black ink with a Dylusions corner arrow stamp.  The left side scallop border is from a gelli print done long ago.  Then I grabbed other goodies to add to my tag.  Some legs from a Dylusions stamp set that I colored with Tombow and Artist's Loft markers.  Alphabet stickers, a wood chip, a yellow chipboard star and two star stickers later my tag seemed to be ready.  I did raid my ribbon collection for trims that would work well with this tag.  I think I found some nice ones!

Please let me know what you think in the comments!