ART GIVEAWAY!!! & Abstract Florals workshop with Donna Downey!

Hello Everyone!  I know its been a long while since I've posted but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy creating!  

Art makes me so happy!  From being inspired by others to creating it.  From the first thought I get in my head, to the finished product.  Even if I'm not in love with it, it's OK because I learned something.  And heck, we all know what a good coat of Gesso can do.  I love colour, I love art supplies and I love sharing my creativity with others.  I'm so happy to be back, sharing and exploring new things every day.

My most recent work has been from the product of an art workshop I took with the fabulous Donna Downey.  Abstract Florals is an amazing workshop that I recommend to anyone interested in learning more about acrylic painting.  It covers just about everything from perspective, color theory, layering, blending, shadows and dimension and the list goes on.  Not to mention she's crazy fun, inspiring and super encouraging!  You NEED to take one of her classes you won't regret it!  Just look at what you can create:

Check it out y'all!

I will be posting more pieces I created from the workshop, so stay tuned!  

Sooooooo, now that I'm back I want to do a little giveaway as a thanks for sticking around.  

This fun little 6x6 on 246 lb acrylic paper shown below could be YOURS!

All you have to do is leave a comment in the comment section below or over on my INSTAGRAM PAGE telling me what inspires you.  I will randomly select one lucky winner!  I will ship internationally so its open to everyone!

I will draw a name and announce the winner on Tuesday November 15th.  

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!  

Merry Christmas Star with Design Memory Craft...and a little birthday wish...

Hi Everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas yesterday!  I absolutely love Christmas, have since I was a kid.  I love everything about it!  As quickly as it came, its now over in our house as we move on to another birthday celebration around here.  Wishing my sweet little boxing day baby a happy birthday!  Here's a little art project I made for her, planning on using it on the outside of one her presents all wrapped up!  Just had to share, and as you can see I used a wide array of Design Memory Craft products.  I did video tape my process but I had a hard time figuring out how to edit it on my tablet so that will probably be another post to come...

    

Its also my turn to share over at the Design Memory Craft website today.  Take a look below!

I made this little wooden block painting, you can see the full post including a tutorial over on the

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Blog today!

Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday, and will see you back here in the new year!

As always, thanks for looking!

Paint parties everywhere!!!...it always starts with 4 magic words...

So I've been meaning to post this first series of pictures since the Christmas break.  My daughter had a couple of friends over for a play date and I had to keep them away from the older boys who were working on a project, so, naturally, I used the four magic words:

  'WHO WANTS TO PAINT?"  

After a few squeels, jumps, air kicks and twirls, they were in their aprons and ready to play!  They had a ton of fun experimenting with acrylic paints, stencils, sponges and glitter!  Because hey, glitter (that doesn't come off and mysteriously cling to every crevice in your face...haha) makes everything better, am I right?  I taught them some fun techniques, like how to apply paint using sponges and stencils, then also using baby wipes to remove some of the paint through a stencil (reductive stenciling), how to ground their paintings etc....I let them play and have fun and for the most part, you could literally hear-a-pin-drop it was so quiet!  It was a blast for me to watch their different creative processes!  

Here are their gorgeous mini masterpieces:

 

OH, and I apologize to my little artists who waited to so long and who were so very excited to hear their little masterpieces would be on my blog.  One of them exclaimed, "wow, these are gonna be on the Complooter?"....well yes, here they are, on your Complooter!!!!  You girls rock!

Now onto paint party number two!!!

On Friday night a group of wonderful ladies aka (the soccer moms's) got together for a fun girls night out!  When I got the email asking the four magic words (in a round about sort of way...lol) I, naturally was IN! We attended an art class through a venture called PAINT CLUB.  You can check out the website HERE, We all did the same painting 'Here comes the Sun', and was cool to see how everyone's ended up a bit different.  I advise you to go even if you've never picked up a paint brush in your life!  No experience necessary!

It was a TOTAL scream even though we were missing a 'player' ;) and we had some great laughs after, comparing our suns, 'flowers' and 'turkey butts'...lol!  Can't wait for the next one!  Everyone needs a night out with good friends!  Thanks ladies!

Owl love you forever...and a little tutorial...

Hello fellow crafty people!!!  I'm back today with a little tutorial on how to use a digital image in your mixed media art.  Today I'm using the adorable Owl-ive The Owl Digital Stamp from By Lori Designs.  Its 'Inspiration Tuesday over at the By Lori Designs Blog so make sure you pop over and check out the amazing projects the dt has to show you! 

Ok, so lets get started!

I started by using a piece of Mixed Media Paper 6x8 (strong enough to hold lots of mediums, water etc...).  I printed off Owl-ive The Owl and adhered her to the paper using some Faber-Castell Gel Medium.  (Gel medium is very versatile as its great for extending the colour in paints, adhering collage pieces and adding texture and dimension to your work).

Once dry, I used some Dylusions Ink Spray and laid down some colour around the image.  I then used some heavy body Golden Acrylic Paint in (Pink) and painted the body of the owl.

I traced the eyelids and belly and paper pieced them with some patterned paper just to add some colour, depth and interest.  I also added some green and blue acrylic paint to the background, then went over it with some white gesso to lighten things up.  I cut out a tree branch from some co-ordinating patterned paper and lightly gesso'd over it as well. 

I added some more texture to the background using some stencils and paint.  I found some rubber grip shelf liner and used it to add some texture to the body of the owl and branch with some white gesso.  Then I wrote the sentiment "Owl Love you Forever" with a black pen and then the fun part began!  I got out my stash of Pitt Pens and Gelatos and went to town adding some fun colours to the edges of the paper.  I also shaded around the owl and its features to make them really come to life.

I hope you like Owl-ive the Owl!  You can grab your own digital file of her HERE and make your very own mixed media painting!!!  Try it, you'll love it!  

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Products Used:

Gelatos Designer Colors - Tropical (#770162)	Gelatos Color BLACK & WHITE (#770150)	Stamper's Big Brush Pen LIGHT BLUE (#770007)	tamper's Big Brush Pen MAY GREEN
Stamper's Big White Pen (#770013)	Stamper's Big Brush Pen CHROME GREEN	Dylusions Calypso Teal	Gel Medium (#770303)
Gesso (#770302)	Heat it - Craft Tool	Owl-ive the Owl from By Lori Designs

InLinkz.com

Give hope a chance to float up.....

Hello folks!  Back again to share another art journal page.  

My inspiration today started with a quote from the movie Hope Floats.  

"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, 

But its the middle that counts the most.  

Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning.

Just give hope a chance to float up, 

and it will..."

Supplies used in this page:  Acrylic paint, book paper, gelatos, gesso, buttons, designer paper, unity stamp by Christy Tomlinson, Faber Castell Pitt pens, Caran D'ache Neocolors, mod podge.

I was finally able to play with my Unity stamp designed by Christy Tomlinson.  I love her She Art and thought this would be a fast and easy way to add a girl to a journal page.  I stamped her on multiple pieces of designer paper to get different colours for the skin (book paper), wings, shirt and dress.  Then I added some paint, Neocolors, doodles and Faber Castell Pitt pens. 

Here is a little list of where you can find some amazing artsy crafty inspiration!  They sure keep me motivated and inspired! 

ARTISTS IN BLOGLAND

BALZER DESIGNS

PAINT PARTY FRIDAY

CREATIVE EVERYDAY

{Dream}, wish, believe.....

 Hello folks!  Its been a while since I've postsed anything and now since things are starting to slowly wind down I've found a little pocket of time to get something up on here.  I started this little painting the beginning of last year and have just recently finished it. 

It started with a piece of 7x7 chipboard and acrylic paints and gouache.  I then went in with my Faber Castell Pitt Pens to add some stems and dimension/shadows etc...I finished it off with some rub-ons and stamps!!!  So fun! 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day!

True friends are never apart....

It's time for Kraftin' Kimmie's APRIL 2013 RELEASE!  We are kicking off the *New* APRIL Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps previews today and of course we're starting off with new TRINKETS!!

 

Today we’d like to introduce you to an awesome new set of….BFF TRINKETS!!   These circular sentiment stamps have been created and designed by the totally talented Krafty Girl, Nicole Aspinall!!  They are made especially to fit in your 1 3/8ths and 1 ¾ inch punches, for quick and easy cutting!

 

This month we are releasing the BFF Trinkets set which includes EIGHT trinkets in each set with four of each size and they come as both positive and negative images.  You will get the set as a completely unmounted full sheet of deeply etched grey rubber.  Today we have lots of inspiration from the Krafty Girls, so hop around....and be sure to comment at each and every stop because one lucky stamper is going to WIN the new BFF TRINKETS set!!! {All of this week's winners will be announced at the online party on Sunday afternoon!}

 

OH YES!  We are having another amazing ONLINE RELEASE PARTY!  It's happening this SUNDAY afternoon at our Facebook fan page....and you can get ALL the details HERE!  All the new stamps we're sharing over the next few days will be released on SUNDAY!

 

I created a few tags using two of the new BFF Trinkets.  These trinket stamps are so versatile, they can be used on any of your crafting or art projects!

 

This was another double tag project.  I love how you can have a different layer on the bottom and have the sentiment peeking through. 

 Here is a close-up of my hand drawn heart and the layers of watercolour and of course lots of glitter!!!

 

 

 For  this tag, I  used mostly acrylic paints and one of my favourite flower stencils. 

  

Here is a close-up of the sentiment, which was coloured using Faber Castell Pitt Pens.

Thanks for stopping by today!