Inspiration Wednesday # 2

Here is my second Inspiration Wednesday journal entry and I'd like to name it, "Hot Mess!"  I am not a big fan of collage, at least when I try to create one!  Knowing this isn't my forte' I tried to keep the collage elements across a horizon line to contain it a bit.

I used ephemera, a clothing tag, old pictures, rub-ons, stencils and molding paste, inks, and paints with glazing fluid added.  Not really sure I am loving this one, but the whole idea is to try it and learn from it. Next time I do collage, I will keep it more simple. I wanted to use a blue and gray color palette, but it needed brightening up so I added a bit of transparent yellow.  What do you think?  Leave a comment below.  Thanks for visiting my blog!.  

Inspiration Wednesday Week 1

I recently joined the online "Inspiration Wednesday" class.  Every other Wednesday Donna Downey will do a video for members and work in her inspiration journal.  Click the following link for more info:
http://www.donnadowney.com/online-workshops/inspiration-wednesday-2015-membership.html

Here is the page that I created using inspiration from Donna's video:

In the video, Donna uses a number stencil for the date, but I had trouble because the numbers weren't in order and I kept smearing the molding paste.  So I used my Silhouette Cameo die cutting machine to cut out the date and the Eye of Horus image.  I used the negative of the die cut and it worked perfectly! Then we used more molding paste to make the word "artist" using old fashion stencil letters.  After letting all that molding paste dry, we used paint and glazing liquid to stain the pages.  I painted on turquoise paint and Golden's Glazing Liquid, waited a few minutes, then wiped it off with a baby wipe. I dried the pages, then added a second color, a mixture of bright green and green gold, using the same method.  After the paint was dry, I used archival ink and rubbed it over the surface to enhance the raised areas a bit more.

What is the Eye of Horus, you ask?  Well, it's kinda complicated, but in a nutshell The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. Here is more information about it: 
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/eye-of-horus-meaning-and-tattoo-ideas.html
I love the image and think of it as a symbol of protection, insight, and intuitiveness.  
I enjoyed this lesson and will definitely incorporate the techniques into future projects.  I'd love to hear what you think so leave a comment below!

Whales, Bees, and Sky: January Sneak Peek for Scrap n' Art

Happy New Year Card

Wow!  I completed lots of projects for this issue!  Along with Christmas decorating, shopping, and traveling, December was a busy month.  I trust that you all had a happy and safe holiday season and I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous new year!

I worked with some amazing new products including 7 Dots Studio and Blue Fern Studios, both providing the design team with beautiful patterned paper and chipboard.  I used 7 Dots Studio, "Destination Unknown" paper collection, featuring beautiful celestial and sea designs in teal, black and light neutrals.  It is stunning!

Destination Unknown

I LOVE these beautiful tags!

This is a bit off-topic, but I LOVE whales!  Ever since I read an article in National Geographic magazine when I was little, I've loved them.  What appeals to me about them is their size combined with their intelligence and gentleness.  The Blue Whale (click on the link for an interesting interactive) is the largest creature on earth, at 100 feet long, is larger than a basketball court or 3 school buses in a row. It weighs 200 tons, or the equivalent of 15 school buses. I've never seen one in the wild, but it is on my bucket list. 

With that said, I created a simple canvas using the Destination Unknown patterned paper, paints and this cute chipboard whale that came in the collection.  I don't think he is a Blue Whale, but I used my artistic licence and painted him with shades of blue paint and added a bit of white. I think he is adorable!  The quote on the canvas reads: "You are a rare and beautiful creature and you fill my heart with wonder and joy."

Rare and Beautiful Canvas

I also created a scrapbook page using the celestial pattered paper that I painted with Viridian (color) paint by Art Anthology.  It is very transparent so the pattern shows through.  Check out my tutorial at Scrap n' Art here: Destinations Unknown with 7 Dots Studio.

Blue Fern Studios offers a huge variety of laser-cut chipboard in every conceivable shape you can think of! Their patterned paper is very heavy and beautiful subtle colors and patterns.   I used some hexagon/honeycomb chipboard and pattered paper for an artistic tag.  

Indigo Blu is a wonderful rubber stamp company based in England.  I used the Snow Queen stamp to create a winter themed canvas for the magazine.  I used a 10"x 10"canvas that I started in November for a project and I didn't like the results so I put it aside and picked it up in December, painted it over with gesso, and blue paint and started over.  I kept little bits of the bright orange color from the original canvas peeking through, which added depth to the finished project.  If you are in the States and want to purchase Indigo Blu stamps, check out Joann.com or Paperwishes.com 

So check out the January issue of Scrap n' Art magazine for more projects and tutorials.  Learn and be inspired.  Thanks for visiting! Leave me some words below, as long as they are nice!  

Pantone Color of 2015 Revealed

Happy New Year everyone!  I have been busy creating for Scrap n' Art online magazine and since I have to wait 3 months to share any projects I do for them, so that's why I've been quite lately.

But with the new year, comes new resolutions, new words to motivate us, and a new color of the year from Pantone: Marsala. "A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls."

Now, I am not going to run out and paint my walls Marsala, but I may wear it on my fingernails or toes.  And I think I will incorporate it into my art work too.  What do you think of the 2015 color?