Weekend Re-Cap - Right at Home Scrapbooking

I was at one of my favorite places to teach over the weekend -- Right at Home Scrapbooking in North Attleboro, MA teaching one of my favorite art techniques -- monoprinting!

I just loved seeing the lightbulb come on for everyone as they watched my demos and then experimented with their own Gelli Plates.

It was a FULL day of printing -- in the morning I taught them all about the plate and lots of cool ways to get texture and use various tools with the paper and plate.

We laughed a lot. And got a lot of shoppers interested in what we were up to. We laughed a LOT!

In the afternoon I showed them how to create this lovely project. I think they all loved it. I know they all did an amazing job with playing and experimenting.

It was great fun -- can't wait to go back.

Next weekend I'll be at Kept Creations in Whitman MA teaching my Art Journal Toolbox class.
Check out their website here!

Have a great day -- hope to see you in a class soon! AND ps. if you are interested in having me teach in your store send me an email -- you can find my address in the Contact Me page listed on the right--->!

DIY Smash Art Journal

This week I'll be working with some girls art a local school to share with them how to make a smash journal from scraps of papers  and add paints and other elements. 

Here are some of the pages from my sample journal:

This is my favorite -- and the front page of the journal.

One with a little paint and stapled elements.

And a recycled Hallmark bag.

And what you can do with a few paint chips.

This journal was made with old scrapbook papers and my Cinch binding system -- so fun and easy! I think hope the girls are going to like it!

That's all for today, thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great day!

Right at Home Scrapbooking

For those local artists -- I've got two workshops this weekend in North Attleboro at Right at Home Scrapbooking! Friday night is an art Journaling Open House. We'll have a little snack and chat time and then make some art in our journals from 7 to 10.

On Saturday it's all about learning how to monoprint using the Gelli Plate -- from 10 to 4 with a break for lunch! I'll teach you everything you need to know to make beautiful collage papers. In the afternoon we'll create a beautiful project! 

For more information, check out their blog here or contact Lisa or Sharon at the store: 

Right at Home Scrapbooking
560 Kelley Boulevard
North Attleboro, MA 02760
508-695-9290

Or post a comment with your reply email and I will answer any questions you might have! Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by! 

RD 21 Challenge #2

Thought I'd share a fun art journal page I did a while back, it turned out to be a favorite from some of my recent pages. 

I started by collaging some vintage papers to my Mixed Media Paper from Strathmore and sketching my design. Once I had the design all figured out I traced over it with a permanent marker and painted the background areas white.

Once I was happy with the base art I used my Tim Holtz Distress paints to add some  color. My Gelly Pens were just right for some added details here and there. 

I do love the way it turned out. Thanks for stopping by today -- have an artful day -- and make some time to make a little art just for you today!

Weekend at Kept Creations: A VERY Late Re-Cap

I can't believe I forgot to post these fun project from my weekend at Kept Creations  in Whitman, Massachusetts. I had two classes of very FUN and inspiring ladies -- see for yourself!

The first class was a sweet Shadowbox ATC:

 

And I didn't get any photos of the second class -- but it was Watercolor Painting for Stampers and it was a HIT! I'll be  back on May 4th for an all day Art Journaling class -- so be sure to sign up while there is still space available.

Thanks for stopping by -- have a great day! 

It's Whatever Time -- April is here!

It's the time of the month again -- when Nat, Vic and I reveal the latest about what our Whatever Characters are doing! 

Check out what Nat is up to here!

Check out what Vic is up to here! 

They found the note scrawled in a scrap of wood that was covered in layers of weathered and crackled paint. The note might have been as old as the scrap of wood – but Grandma could tell it wasn’t. The scratches looked “too new”.

Grandma immediately started thinking. 

Who needed her help. 

 

Why did they need her help.
 

What

could
 

she 
do?

Stay tuned for May -- when things start coming together in this story -- maybe Grandma, her daughter and granddaughter (who looks strangley EXACTLY like Grandma) will help. But will they help Mother or Father or maybe one of the kids? hmmm. lots to think about this month.

______________________________________________________

Want to play along?? We have just a few things to let you know about: 

• Vicki, Nat and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
• Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
• If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you – just right click on it to safe it to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
• There are no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
• There are no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
• There are no rules on the art form you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an art journal page – WHATEVER
• Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
• These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
• If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
• You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page 

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a GREAT week.

the Happy Birthday Project

I love how serendipitous (the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident) things happen.

It's no secret by now that I'm a designer for Sizzix, and I think you also might know that the lovely and sweetest Tammy Tutterow is our fearless leader. I was more than a little bit ecstatic when I reviewed my work schedule for the week to see that I had penciled in that I would create one of my first projects for Sizzix and unbeknownst to me I would be posting it on her birthday. woohoo. happy dance.

And, it was also serendipitous that I happened to pick up this sweet carnation stamp at Kept Creations on Saturday, everyone needs a little something new once in a while.

Since today is Tammy's birthday AND I scheduled today to create something for Sizzix it seemed to make sense that I dedicate my first project to her. So, here's to you Tammy -- I hope you have a great birthday! 

I think (well I hope) it's everything that you will love!

I also thought I'd share some quick instructions to make the pretty carnations if you want to give it a shot! 

You will want to grab some tissue paper and the pretty Flowers #3 set from Stephanie Barnard.

Fold the tissue paper so you have at least 20 layers and use your Big Shot to cut them out. 

The stack of tissue paper flowers will look a lot like this when they come right out of the die. 

You really want them to look like this. I re-stacked about 10 of the tissue paper flowers into a random pile like this.

 
 I used some cotton pearl and a needle to sew one single stitch in the center of the stack. You'll want to tie a knot on the backside to keep them together and leave the tail about 3" long.
 
Next just crunch them up to make your carnation. 
 
To add some color, spritz with your favorite spray ink, I used Cherry Cola Chalkboard from Tattered Angels.

If you want to make your flower look like a bud, wrap some floral tape around the bottom and extend it down the tail a little bit and trim the tail off.

Then you can use hot glue or any type of glue you like to to attach them to your project.
 

Supplies I used for this project:

• Sizzix: Flowers #3 657901, Majestic #658693, Baroque #656633
• My Mind's Eye Madison Avenue Lost and Found 6x6 Pad: MAD6x6
• Stampendous Cling Carnation: CRP186
• Tim Holtz Stick Pin
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Pink
• Hug Snug Pale Pink Seam Binding, Martha Stewart Pink/Gold Ribbon
• Canvas Corp.: 7 Gypsies Tissue Paper, Cherry Cola Chalkboard Spray
• Other: Vintage Paper Doily, Watercolor Paints, Foam Tape, Hot Glue Gun, Black StazOn

Thanks for dropping by today -- and please join me in wishing the lovely Tammy Tutterow a happy birthday!

Day 21 of the 21 Day Challenge

Phew. I did it. 

21 Days of finding a little bit of time here and there to make some art in my art journal, just for me. It was awesome. And really, so easy to make the time for it -- I found a few minutes while the coffee was brewing in the morning, while the cake baked or the onions caramelized, watching a movie in the evening -- and so many other times during the day. Before I knew it I had a page that was complete. 

Some days took more than one day to complete -- but it was good. That meant that I was definitely going to find the time the next day because I loved what I was creating.
 
I've got a nice stack of pages to create into a new journal -- SEVENTEEN if them actually -- that I'm over the moon excited about. Today, since I'm nearing the end of a big project I thought I would share a few of my favorite pages from the last 21 days. 

I still need to find some time for today -- but I've got my drawing all ready -- it just needs some color.

 

Thanks for stopping by - have a wonderful day.

ps. If you haven't heard of or tried the 21 Day Challenge with Rhonna Farrer -- you should. It's a great way to make or break a habit!  

{The Monthly Word} for April

It took me a long time to decide on my word for April -- but here it is -- read more about my decision over on the TMW Blog -- link at the top of the left column!

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back in a bit with another post.

Proud New Member

I've been keeping a secret from you. 

I know. 

Not good. 

Secrets aren't good.

Unless it's so exciting and over the moon that you just have to keep it under wraps! 

It's been a tough one to keep from you that's for sure -- I may have spilled the beans to a good friend or two -- but they kept the secret too! Starting today you'll notice I have a new badge over on the right that I'm pretty proud and happy to be sporting.

You may remember back in the fall when I shared this fun tutorial that my sweet friend Tammy Tutterow asked me to create for the Sizzix Blog? 

I think they must have liked it, because they've asked me back FOR ANOTHER YEAR! I'm very honored to announce that I'm now a part of the: 

 

Thank you Tammy and congrats to all the others -- both new AND old that were selected for the team! We'll be sharing lots of beautiful and creative projects with you starting this month -- so stay tuned! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a LOVELY day!