So many changes

 I'm painting rocks now, well, two so far. Anyway, it is fun, I can see why people like to do it. The only thing that held me back from doing it, were the rocks themselves. Where I use to live, only ugly rocks lived there. lol You know what I mean. Then I moved to my new house and come to find out, the land my house sits on use to be a rock quarry. I now have a plethora of beautiful, smooth rocks to choose from, mostly round-ish, which is why I seem to be attracted to shaped rocks. I mean, I'm not happy unless I make it difficult on myself it seems. <insert sigh> So, I keep a look out for heart shaped rocks of any size, as long as it has a good natural heart shape to it.

This is the first one I painted, as a gift for one of my neighbors. 

Consider me hooked.

I had so much fun painting that one that I decided to continue and make myself one...

This is one I painted for myself to consecrate the buying of the house. On the front of the rock is my design along with the closing date of the house. 

On the sides I wrote a house blessing:

Cleanse this space,

remove the past,

I found my happy home at last.

Oh yes, I can see how this can be a fun hobby!

Believe

German Dresden trim

Vintage Vibe - German & English Scrap

Angels & Cherubs Double Sheet

Children with Signs

In December, Gwen's Artist Tribe is focusing on creative ways to use Dresden Trim and English/German Scrap. You can save 15% when you order any Dresden or Scrap during December. Details are on the coupon below.

Here is my box that I painted along with Kae Pea in her Let’s Get Makey Premium club using DecoArt paints, Rubbermoon stamps and Gwen Lafleur's

German Dresden trim

Vintage Vibe - German & English Scrap

I fell in love with the Children with Signs  (Vintage Vibe - German & English Scrap) because I have these small sentiment stamps from Rubbermoon which I immediately envisioned using with the pieces.

Embossed foil paper trims, also known as Victorian Scrap or recently as "Dresdens"
They are made of embossed, die-cut metallic foil paper.

These old-fashion styled Dresden trims are sooooooooo cool to work with. They have a fabulous metal look to them but in reality are easily bendable and mold around corners like butter!

And I am still crushing on this silk from Darn Good Yarn, love the colors, love the little frayed bits and bobs and especially love the feel of silk! I also adore the bronze Hamsa charm to the paint brush handle. According to Aristotle, the hand is the "tool of tools" so I figured it would be a perfect addition to the paint brush. 

I popped her up with some glue dots and added a small old and broken paint brush and then painted doodles along the edges.

It was easy to cut the background paper after stamping to fit the inside of the box and then glue a word bead along with a teeny tiny butterfly from the collage sheet just for fun.

Adding my painted box to the Paint Party Friday link up!

Be Merry holiday card

Welcome to the "Are you ready for the holidays?" blog hop...OK OK, it's not really called that, but seriously...

are you ready?

Well, have no fear, we have loads of inspiration waiting for you!

I love to send out personalized Christmas cards. 

I use to try and make everyone a one of a kind card but man, that's a lot of work! I've learned that I can make a unique card and then have it printed, this way they are still getting a custom card from me but with way less pressure...I mean I still have to decorate the tree, wrap presents and bake all those cookies...it's exhausting just thinking about it! So I hope this gives you the inspiration to make your cards but take some of the pressure off you!

Techniques that I used to make my card:

masking

layering different stencils

outlining

shading

accenting

reverse stenciling to get mirrored images

Check out my video so you can see how I incorporated them all!

We have a more than a dozen projects our Creative Team members made just to whet your appetite for the merriest season!

While you are busy oohing and aahing, take a moment to leave a comment on each blog and you'll be entered to win a $25 StencilGirl Gift Certificate!

Here are links to all the fantastic, magic, merry, holiday projects:

Karen Gaunt

Tina Walker

Torrie Gass

Cindy Gilstrap

Sherry Canino

🎄 Sandee Setliff 🎄

Kiala Givehand

Janet Joehlin

Belen Sotelo

Louise Nelson

Debi Adams

Carol Baxter

Comment by midnight CST in the USA on November 8^th and we’ll randomly choose a $25 StencilGirl Gift Certificate winner. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win. 
We’ll announce the winner on our Facebook Page on November 9^th.

Please feel free to share the hop with your friends!

Three Trees Stencil by Jessica Sporn

Holiday Sayings 6 stencil by Mary Beth Shaw

Holly Mistletoe Repeating Stencil by Jennifer Evans

Linking up to Paint Party Friday
Ho, ho, ho!

Silence

 Today is Throw Back Thursday over at StencilGirl and I am using the Chain Mail stencil  from StencilGirl,  Japanese Chiyogami Paper and one of my eco-printed papers in my Khadi journal from Gwen LaFleur's store.

I began by sponging some DecoArt paint through the Chain Mail stencil creating a rectangular grid across the 2 open pages.

Then adhered the leaf paper to the right side. I needed to trim off a bottom section of that paper to make it fit on the journal page.

I love pen work as it really brings out designs and draws your eye into the art so I detailed around the leaves and added dots to the stencil design.

Next, I added the Japanese Chiyogami Paper, along with the section of eco-printed paper that I had cut off earlier onto the left side into a geometric design of thirds. Finishing them off by outlining the edges and smudging them with the blender pen.

I also got to play with my "retro" typewriter which always makes me happy😊

Art supplies make me happy.
What makes you happy?

An afternoon of art without any focus

Planning (also called forethought) is the process of thinking about and organizing the activities required to achieve a desired goal.

This past week-end I opened up my journal to just play with no thought or planning, which is a heck of a lot scarier and stressful for me. I'm a planner, a take charge of an idea and run with it kind of person, so having an afternoon without any focus...well...it was diverting to say the least. It took many trips back and forth into the studio to finish it up too...but in the end, I really like it.

Gel Press® Petites set A ( round )
misc. dot stencil
Deco Art acrylic paints, 
decou-page paper and 
Peaceful words stencil
Old Film stencil

So what are you? A planner or a "go by the seat of your pants" artist? Do you prefer challenges and setting goals or to just take it one day at a time?

"A designer is someone who constructs while he thinks,
 someone for whom planning and making go together."
John Maeda

Free bear hugs

Simon Says: Animal Magic

Paper Smooches - Happy Camper stamp set ( I really need the matching die set! )

Joggles Woodcuts stencil, DecoArt Neon Light acrylics, along with my Gel Press™ plate made for a wonderful background for my images.

I masked off the bottom to the sign stamp so I could elongate it and then wrote in the word FREE over bear hugs. ( I love altering stamps and adding to them )

Ocean child

I've always loved drawing mermaids and fairies. 

This little mermaid was cut from my Cricut out of my Gel Press™ prints.

The background was carved out of corrugated cardboard. The seaweed was collaged with book print and then covered in gelatos. I love that they are sheer enough to let the print show throw yet still give a nice color. The ocean was painted using my DecoArt acrylic paints.

 I have come to embrace my handwriting and have learned 2 things. You need to focus on boldness and spacing and it usually works out fine. 

Her tail was covered with bead glitter, just love this stuff for sparkly dimension.

"I just love mermaids. I was a mermaid in my past life. I just feel it when I go in the sea. I just feel a connection there between me, and the water, and the fish - they speak to me - and the shells - they ring out to me."

 Ella Henderson

entering in The Mixed Media Monthly challenge #25

for their second anniversary

Gel Press + DecoArt SoSoft = T-shirt

I have Monarch's on the brain, it happens every spring. I begin to think of helping butterflies and other pollinators in my garden so I made a Monarch inspired T-shirt. It was so easy to print on a T-shirt using my Gel Press  and

DecoArt So Soft fabric paints.

I hope your fly on over to the Gel Press blog and see how it came out. It would make a great summer project to do with the kids and adults alike!

Packing tape + Gel Press plate = love

My first post with Gel Press!

I did an art journal page with one of my favorite technique...packing tape!

I hope you pop over and leave me some love, here is a sneak peek of my project. 

I also made a video in case you haven't heard of how to use packing tape along with your gel plate. It's really very easy and a lot of fun, plus it cleans your plate at the same time...win, win!!

Americana art rocks

Most of you know my little garden and how much I love the outdoors so it will come as no surprise to you that I created some Patriotic Wind Socks to hang up in my garden for the 4th of July. You can just see them hanging up in the back of my gardem. Well, if you would like to see them better then please click on the link and go over to the DecoArts Project and Tutorial page (a great place for ideas and instructions) to view my Patriotic Windsocks. You can't leave a comment over there but you can share it on FB, twitter and Pinterest and I sure would love it if you found it in your creative hearts to do so. :)

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Not true Americana art, but close enough is this card 

I am entering this card in Colourarte's Monthly Challenge #1

I used some Twinkling H2o's in Perewinkle to highlight the water and give it some sparkle.

Supplies used:

Luminarte Twinkling H20 – Periwinkle

Lawn Fawn stamp – Float My Boat LF654

Arches Water color paper – 140lb weight- cold press

Grumbacher Water Colors – Lemon Yellow, True Red, French Ultramarine (Light)

Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue

Stazon Ink

Grafix Frisket

#LOVEYAWHOLEBUNCHES blingy gift box

I made the most scrumptious gift box with The Buckle Boutique self-adhesive rhinestone sheets! 

First I traced the box onto the back of the Dazzling Diamond adhesive sheet and cut it out with my scissors. Then I painted the inside of the box with DecoArt's Americana Multi-Surface Paint, and yes...I should have done this step first because I also discovered a small area along the bottom of the box that had the sheet pressed right up to it and knew I couldn't paint that edge without messing it up, so I used my Faber Castell PITT pen to color it in. I also used a Sharpie to outline the edges and smudge them to really make the box pop.

Now I get to embellish the top of the box! I added a flower and a sentiment using my favorite glues, Helmar! They make adhering products to the rhinestone sheets a snap!

The sentiment stamp come from Susan K. Weckesser-Jillian Vance design called Love Ya Whole Bunches.

I decided it needed something on the inside cover so I decoupaged a magazine image cut into a heart shape using Earth Safe Finishes Decoupage.

I just love how my little blingy box turned out!

They are so easy to use and so much fun if you want to give them a whirl they have some Sample Packs that you can try out. 

upcoming show Press release

 Press Release:   Art MoB Studios Studio Artists ExpoHendersonville – June 11, 2015On Saturday, July 25, Art MoB Studios and Market Place in downtown Hendersonville is inviting art lovers to experience our studio artists first hand at our inaugural Studio Artists Expo. TheExpo will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and will include demonstrations and talks by each artist. Visitors will have a chance to learn some of the artist’s secrets and see works evolve.
Art MoB’s studio artists have been creating unique works at Art MoB for three years since Art MoB opened in 2012. Recently, they have been busy knocking down walls and quickly filling up their expanded spaces with more one-of-a kind works. On any one day a visitor may find one or two of them at work, but not often, all four. Each of them are involved in exhibiting in regional and national fine art shows. They are all award winning artists who enjoy creating their work in an environment where visitors can observe and engage to learn more about their techniques.
One artist hand builds pottery vessels – coil by coil. Another paints primarily with her fingers. An acrylic painter first creates a sculpture on the canvas surface before even beginning a painting. A mixed media artist works bits of hand-made papers and unique objects into her often whimsical pieces. To have an “Expo” where visitor can see all four artists at work, plus a special exhibit of their work, was the idea of gallery owner Michele Sparks. Michele said, “Pinning down these four busy artists to agree on a date was quite challenging. But, I did it!” Each artist will demo and talk about their techniques and process at scheduled times.
Music, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
The artists and schedules are:
Lucy Clark – Hand Built Pottery – 5:00 p.m. 
In addition to demonstrating her hand building method, Lucy will discuss how she embellishes and caves her surfaces, her firing process, and where she finds her inspiration.
Diane Dean – Representational/Abstract Acrylic Painting – 5:30 p.m.
The artist’s approach to creating an abstract textured surface will be demonstrated, plus Diane will show pieces in various stages of her painting process. She will also discuss materials and tools.
Sandee Setliff – Mixed Media Artist – 6:00 p.m.Sandee will show some of the secrets of how she pieces together her mixed media works. Her creative styles range from cute and fun to clean and simple. Paint and glue are always involved.Amy Perrier – Finger Painter – 6:30 p.m.
“No brushes!” Amy will exclaim as she demonstrates her “fingers only” technique for acrylic painting. She also will talk about the use of graphite and palette knives, plus what inspires her in her unique approach.
What: Studio Artists Expo
Where: Art MoB Studios and Marketplace, 124 4^th Avenue East, downtown Hendersonville, NC
When: Saturday, July 25   4:00 p.m. – 7 p.m

Sharing my secrets? If it was truly a secret I wouldn't be sharing it, lol However, I will be discussing my decoupage canvas which I haven't named yet. I want to have most of it completed before doing a live hands-on demonstration...I really don't like working in front of people, I don't consider myself to be an entertainment artist. ( I admire people that are comfortable doing that!)

So here is the first step to my canvas. First I drew in the shapes and then outlined everything with DecoArt's Gloss Enamel Writers. I also used some paint and crackle medium to create some texture on the tree branch. I like to mix a little bit of paint along with collaging, and I am thinking of sewing some beads into the center of the flowers too.

Silhouette style canvas

Well, here I go again. :)

I have an upcoming show scheduled at the Art MoB Studios and Gallery on Dec. 5th ( time is yet to be scheduled for the opening ).

They loved my "Wildlife Silhouette series" and I'm so excited that they do!

All the canvases are painted with ink backgrounds with acrylic silhouettes.

The following 3 silhouettes are painted with the same ink background and DecoArts Black Tie Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic paint, with the only difference in adding DecoArts Interference from their Media Fluid Acrylics line. I wish I could take better pictures to get the true effect because if you look at the paintings from head on you cannot see the Interference paint, but one the light hits it from an angle, the paint really pops. It's quite a cool effect. It also shows up better on dark colors, hence "Flight" shows the effect better and the other 2 are more subtle, but still lovely.

"Flight"

with Interference Gold

"Family"

 with Interference Magenta

"Heat"

showing Interference Magenta

"Patience"

showing Interference Gold

Here are more from the Wildlife Silhouette series, but these are without the DecoArt Interference paints.

"Searching"

"Waiting"

"Wanderlust "

"Falling"

"Nevermore"

Now I just need to come up with a name for the show, not sure if "Wildlife Silhouettes" is enough? I feel like it needs a little oomph. I have enjoyed naming each piece though as they have all "spoken" to me as I created them.

And framing, this series will all be framed in black.