Unconventional Christmas Cards

My sister asked for non-traditional, papers with no Christmas colors or icons and the theme of JOY. I started out with my computer where I printed out a couple of sheets of the word "JOY" in a circle.  Then I used my twinkling H2O's to swish color all over them.

I had some really old Basic Gray papers in a file folder.  Some of it was scrap, but there were several full sheets as well... enough to make the requested 30 cards.

Here are the completed cards in groups of six...

Every single card made me smile when I finished it. They are so fun and HAPPY!

Three Dimensional Art

I started out with a 12X24 canvas and silks acrylic paints.  I worked with a wash brush from both sides to the middle at an angle with various shades of blue and green.  Then I used a sponge to add more layers of color using mostly the same colors I used on the background.

Next I attempted to spritz on some glimmer mist, but the dark background was too overpowering and the shape of the stencil was lost.  I was disappointed, but it caused me to venture out a bit and try something new.  I mixed some modeling paste with some powdered minerals from Luminarte to get the dark brown color.  Then I applied it with a palette knife.  I had some issues, but overall I was more pleased with the results than I was with the spritz.  Then I added the paper and silk flowers, butterflies, google eyes, and beaded stick pins which I made expressly for this purpose.  All attachments are applied with Fusion glue.

Journals, Address Book and Note cards

I have been pretty busy in the studio lately...  Here are some journals,

 and an address book...

 and a couple of note card sets...

Three Dimensional Mixed Media Art

Today I got some silks and a canvas out and decided to experiment.  Here is what I came up with.

Below is the piece I made for Elizabeth from an old shirt she had worn out.  It was a favorite and now she can hang it up and remember the fun times she had while wearing it!

New Journals

In addition to the checkbook covers, tins and other things I made last week, I also covered some composition books.  The first is with an Africa: Countries of the Nile map from 1963.  The next is an aeronautical sectional map of Texas.  The last one is from some of my favorite papers and a pocket from a pair of pants my daughter wore out.  I like to recycle things...

New Tins, Clipboards and Checkbook Covers

I have been working on all sorts of stuff in the studio lately, but my husband has been gone with the camera or too busy to take pictures for me, so Saturday I got him corralled and persuaded him to take some pictures for me.  Here are the clipboards, checkbook covers and tins I put up on the etsy shop this weekend.

Address Book

I made this cute little address book for my daughter this weekend.  The back is covered with the same paper as the bottom right hand corner of the front.  It turned out all kinds of cute!

Cards and Tins

A sudden spate of muse action drove me to the studio this past week.  Eighteen greeting cards (mostly Thank you) and seven gift card tins are the result so far.

I used up all my purple scraps. :)

The New Studio!

Ever since we moved to Zoe Cottage my studio has been in a state of disarray or limbo.  I had grand plans and was so excited to have a whole dedicated room for my art and crafts but for some reason have had a difficult time getting it all set up like I wanted it to be.  After 13 months and setting up numerous times, I think I finally have the scheme I want.  Phew!  Here is a little tour!

This is the view from the door.  I just threw the window scarf up there to get an idea of what it will look like--I will adjust it later.  To the left is the little bookcase I have had for about 20 years that was unpainted until this weekend.  Here it is now...

On top of the table is a little stand and above it is a little shelf I bought at a garage sale.  Eventually I plan to paint it, but it needs to be sanded and I just didn't want to mess with it right now.  It is the only thing I have left to paint in the room, though.

I have all my glimmer mists and glue, as well as ink refills and other bottled stuff on it.   Behind the table are the Alex carts I bought from IKEA.

 Shoe shelves from Lowe's are on top, one with a bunch of baskets which hide all sorts of embellishments, and the other with trimmers, cleaning supplies and tools.

 The unit in the corner is filled with things for scrapbooking and card making, including all these embellishments, tools, adhesives, etc.

The second unit is more art themed, with paints, painting supplies, embossing, stencils, stamps and art journal materials.  None of the acrylic paints fit in here, so they are in a plastic storage box in the closet.

 This little vanity stool used to be in my studio at Miller Manor, but when we moved it went into the master bathroom.  It was never used (I don't spend any time in front of the make-up mirror!) so I brought it back into the studio again.  I spray painted it white, then changed out the cover.  It adds a spot for the third family member if we should happen to all be in here at the same time.

All that is left is to take out the carpet and put down a vinyl wood-look floor in here.  Carpet is not very art friendly...

Playing with Twinks

This week I have been working with hot colors--oranges and reds.  First I made a card for my beloved.

Then I did this copy of a picture I found on Pinterest.

My daughter is going to use pen and ink to do a loose outline and stems for the flowers.  I am really happy with the look so far!

Mother's Day Cards

These are the first of my original designs using Luminarte's Twinkling H2O paints.  Actually, they aren't really the first, but they are the first I have photographed...

You can sort of see the shimmer in the pictures, but it doesn't really photograph very well...

I was especially proud of this one.  The shading on the leaves turned out so pretty, I thought.

Elizabeth helped me with the shading on the card above and the one below.  She used Prismacolor pencils to shade, but the mica in the paints tended to repel the wax to some extent.  I loved the way the leaves on this turned out.

This blue card is my first one to actually draw myself.  The others are just traced around chipboard shapes.  I used the drapes in my studio for inspiration, although there is very little resemblance to the flowers on the drapes to be found on this card...

So fun to use lots of different shades of the same color as I did here with this purple card.  I have found that the angled flat brush is my favorite, and it made adding the lines on these petals very easy.