Always Be Grateful

No matter how you may feel, there is always something to be grateful for.  I recently saw a video where American olympic skater, Scott Hamilton, talks about how he is handling the return of a brain tumor. Watch the video Here.  His positivity is something to strive for!

I made this little accordion card to inspire myself to be grateful no matter how I may feel.  Find out how I printed with real leaves to make this card in my video.

Here are the quotes:

Find something to be grateful for today.  

“The first thing I teach skaters at my skating academy is how to get up — because we’re going to fall,” Hamilton says. “And that’s how I live my life: I’m going to fall down, I’m going to make mistakes, I’m going to do all kinds of things that I’m going to wish didn’t happen. But it’s what’s next — it’s how you get up … The more times you get up, the stronger you are to face the next thing, which will happen — because that’s life.” Scott Hamilton

Hope you are having a wonderful fall season! 

Kathy

Video Frenzy With Gel Press® and StencilGirl

Today is Video Frenzy Day with Gel Press® and StencilGirl and Gel Press® designers have been working hard to inspire you with their projects.  Look for the link at the end of my blog today to see the rest of the videos.  Here is my project.

Thanksgiving Card Made from Masterboard

Using a Masterboard to make backgrounds is a great way to start seasonal projects. I used the 12" x 14" Large Format Gel Press® Plate and StencilGirl stencils and printed on large mixed media paper to make my Masterboard.  What is a Masterboard, you ask?

Masterboard- a large mixed media background of various patterns and colors that can be cut into smaller projects.

I love StencilGirl stencils and have dozens of them.  Many leading artists design their unique stencils so there is something for everyone!  They even have a monthly club that I was a member of for over a year. I received 3 exclusive stencils every month, along with access to a private Facebook group and monthly video on how the artist who designed the stencils used them.  Find out more about the club here.

See how I made my fall themed Masterboard in my video.  

Masterboard Technique Steps

1. Place the stencils/masks onto the Gel Press® Plate. 
2. Drop fluid acrylic paints on top of the stencils.  I used 2 or 3 colors that would not make mud.
3. Remove the stencils.
4. Brayer one or two colors of heavy body acrylic paint onto palette paper.  Make sure that the brayer is covered with a thin layer of paint. 
5. Brayer over the fluid acrylic paint on the plate.  The heavy body paint will fill in the areas where there's no fluid acrylic paint. 
6. Pull the print.  

Tips:

• Overlap large patterned stencils/masks over smaller patterned ones (or vise versa) for interesting results.  
• Placed stencils in a tub of water to make cleanup easy.
• Add a touch of metallic or luminous colors for dramatic results.
• Use similar colored fluid acrylic paints and heavy body acrylic paints to avoid muddy colors.
• Use contrasting colors for the different layers. Just don't brayer over the same spot in Step 5 or you could get mud and ruin the stencil pattern.

Thanksgiving Card Using StencilGirl and Gel Press@

Place Cards Using Masterboard

Gel Press® Printed Avery Labels

Masterboard Projects

Ready for the Holidays!

Now go check out the rest of the videos on the Gel Press® YouTube Channel or on the Gel Press Facebook Page today.

I hope you are inspired to make something crafty with Gel Press® and StencilGirl stencils.  And when you do, don't forget to share it on Gel Press Junkies Facebook page! For more inspiration follow Gel Press® on Pinterest and Instagram.

Have a great Holiday Season!

Kathy

Shiny Happy Little Canvases

Remember that 90's song by REM, Shiny Happy People?  Here's a reminder.

Can it get happier than that? Yes. It can.

I think about that song when I look at these bright fun doodly little canvases! 

And how I made them is equally as fun! I shared the video a few days ago and thought I would give you a closer look at the canvases themselves.  Here is the video in case you missed it.

I sometimes doodle during meetings, church (don't tell) or when I am on the phone, but usually not in my art. I really got into it with these colorful prints. It was very relaxing!

And I have to admit, that cutting them up after all of that work was scary and a bit risky. I kept second-guessing myself.  But in the end, I listened to my intuition. 

These little canvases were screaming for some positive words.  So that's what I gave them. They are perfect sitting on a shelf because of the deep edge and are sure to brighten any space. I plan on doing more of this type of art because it makes me happy to create AND to look at!

Here they are individually.

 Wonderful Things

Wonderful Things

Impossible Things

Impossible Things

Never Give Up

Never Give Up

What Comes Next

What Comes Next

BE

BE

Imperfection

Imperfection

Timing

Timing

So there is my shiny happy blog post! Hope I have brightened your day a little bit! If you are interested in purchasing any of these canvases, I will be posting them on my facebook page, but you can also let me know below.  

4" x 4" Deep Edge Canvases

$15 each plus shipping

Till next time,

Kathy

Falling Leaves With Gel Press

Check out my tutorial about how I made these mixed media leaf streamers on the Gel Press® blog today.  

I had lots of leftover leaves and wanted to share what I made with them.

I knew these colorful leaves would make really pretty cards but I wanted to make art that I could hang on my wall. So I came up with this layered collage.  

I love this 12" x 12" shadow box frame I got at Michaels that allows me to pick the depth I need.  I get them on sale half off (about $10) and then grab a bunch in black and white to keep on hand for projects like this. I've done mixed media scrapbook layouts and given them as gifts ready to hang on the wall. 

So what kind of crafty fall projects are on your desk? Are you working on Christmas projects yet?Leave me some comment love below!

Till next time, 

Kathy

Fun With Bleeding Art Tissue

Over on the Gel Press® blog today check out my Bleeding Art Tissue Tutorial.  I made a beautiful butterfly canvas by printing on this special tissue paper.  I had so many prints left over that I thought I would share some more projects.

The fun thing about bleeding art tissue is that the color bleeds when liquid is applied.  You can purchased it here.  A search on Pinterest reveals lots of projects, many geared toward children.

The idea was to print on the tissue then add water and let it bleed onto the printed areas.  It was such fun that I couldn't stop printing.

Along with the butterfly canvas, I also made a mixed media scrapbook page.  First, I glued the printed tissue onto 11 1/2" x 11 1/2" watercolor paper using matte medium.

I sprayed the paper with water.......

....then placed another piece of watercolor paper over it to mop up the colored water.  The paper keeps the colors from running together and making mud.

 I'll use the extra watercolor paper for another project. Let everything dry before adding any other media or embellishments.

I mounted the paper to a 12" x 12" piece of white cardstock, layered some fibers, paper and tape, and did some sewing around the edges. 

The phrase is cut out using my Silhouette Cameo.

My last project is a set of six 4" x 4" canvases using the Stamper's Anonymous Crazy Dogs stamp set, gluing a different color of printed tissue on each canvas background.  The canvases are deep enough to set on a self.  I love how these turned out!

Lots of fussy cutting! Apparently, they are coming out with die-cuts for this set. 

Thank you for visiting my blog today! I'd love to hear from you so please leave me a comment below. Don't forget to check out my project on the Gel Press® blog too! For more inspiration, check out my art on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram.