I love my enablers...playing with the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons...

Today a friend asked If I had the new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons (I don't - yet).  She had recently purchased them and wondered how to use them.  So I said I would gladly play with them in my art/sketch journal.  I had instant regret though, because I had a faint feeling I might fall in love with them and then would have to add them to the never ending list of art supplies that I MUST have...

Right now I'm working in a Strathmore Mixed Media Journal.  So I wondered how it would work on a non-watercolour paper.

I quickly sketched out a face...

I coloured in her face using my copics...

 I applied the distress crayons straight to the paper without laying any gesso underneath.  I wanted to see how it would react to the plain paper.  I laid down some colour then dipped my finger into some water and blended it out.  I quite like the watercolour look to the areas where there has been more water applied.  These crayons are super creamy and slide on the paper like butter!  I want to try them with the rest of the Tim Holtz Distress line as they all perfectly play together to create some pretty cool techniques!

Still needs a few finishing touches and highlights, (and I now know the black Sakura pen I used to outline her face is water reactive), but I think I'm in love with these new Tim Holtz Distress Crayons!  They're now on the top of my 'must have' list!  

A big shout out to my biggest enablers Carola and Dee, my art supply cabinet would not be the same with out you!  ;)

Dina is in da house!!!

Well, not the actual human version lol (how cool would that be?), but I finally have her amazing new stamps now so I'll settle with that!  I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd show you another one of my favourite moments from CHA, meeting Dina Wakley!  This amazingly talented and inspirational woman was one of my favourite peeps to meet walking around the floor!  Its so much fun meeting the people who's work you admire and inspires you!  I asked her if she wouldn't mind signing my art journal...She said 'absolutely', took my journal opened it to a blank page and LOOK WHAT SHE DID!  Omg I was thrilled, (and just may have gasped with excitement along with some of the other ladies at the table).  It was amazing how effortless she made it look, seriously people, she did this page in only a few minutes!  Now I have an original signed piece....wow!  Not only was she a doll to talk to she's also very down to earth, she's one cool chick!!!  Thanks Dina, you made my day!!!

So the Ranger order from CHA finally came in at The Scrapping Bug and I just couldn't wait to get my hands on them and play!  These stamps make me so happy!!!  For the giant tag below I used Dina's new Media stamp set 'Face in the Crowd'...and lots of Tim Holtz distress paint and Crafters Workshop stencils etc...

I was really just playing around with a bunch of new paints and stamps, no plan in mind, I just cut loose and had fun!  The tag below was made using a Unity Stamp, some TCW Balzer Bits and the same Face in the Crowd set by Dina and my new Silk Acrylic Glaze paints.....they are so dreamy!  I loooove them!  

The Scribbly Bird stamp set from Dina is probably one of my favourite sets....because you just have to 'put a bird on it'....lol!  

 I used some acrylic paints, glossy accents (for the branch) and just played around!  So much FUN!

Well there you have it, my Dina post!  lol...I'll post some other pics soon where I've coloured up some faces with the 'All the Gals' stamp set using copics!  These stamps are very versatile and can be used with any medium!

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great weekend!

Supplies used:

Whipped Spackle Jar 100 ml (#770318)	Gesso (#770302)	Heat it - Craft Tool	Claudine Hellmuth - Studio Paints - Modern Red
Craft Tags - Manilla Tag #5	Ranger Craft Tags #10 - Manila	Stamper's Big White Pen (#770013)	TH Layering Stencil Schoolhouse
Stamper's Big Brush Pen LIGHT BLUE (#770007)	Ranger Glossy Accents	Tim Holtz Broken China	Tim Holtz - Distress Paint Salty Ocean
Tim Holtz- Antique Linen

InLinkz.com

Encourage your hopes not your fears....

I made this journal page a while back, just haven't had the chance to post it until now.  This was one of my first faces I tried to draw on my own.  Since then I've done some workshops and classes and when I look back at it I kinda cringe a bit.  BUT don't get me wrong, I do LOVE it and the Tim Holtz sentiment I added reminds me to 'keep at it' even if you don't think you can do it!  

This page was created using Gelatos and Peerless Watercolors.  I took some Gelatos and added a pattern of 'dots'  to one side of the page.  Then I took my water bottle and spritzed up the page pretty good, shut my book, held my breath, crossed my fingers and when I opened it I got the mirror image on the other side.  Fun!  Then I randomly added the Peerless watercolors around the dots to make this very abstract background.  I drew in my girl and painted her with some Koi Watercolors.  Added the Stampers Anonymous Sentiment by Tim Holtz and used my Copic Multiliner to draw in some little daisy's and a border and left it at that!

 I brought my art journal with me to CHA so I could have all my favourite designers sign it.   I luckily met Mr. Tim Holtz, had a quick photo opp and got him to sign it!  Very cool!  He's such a doll!

How cool is that?  Its like this page was made for him to sign!  I love it and also love how passionate he is about his work.  And he always has time for everyone - he's one awesome dude!

I can't help but share this too, another highlight of CHA for me was meeting Rupert from Survivor!  Who knew he would be working at the Tulip booth?  Being a HUGE fan of survivor I was super excited to meet him.  He's a big teddy bear!  He made my son a very cool pair of tie-dye socks - too cool!

Well that's it for today, I have more pics to show you from CHA which will come soon, (I know, its a bit late but that's how I roll...hee hee), I will show you the page Dina Wakley painted in my art journal (squeeeeeeeeeeeel - lucky me)!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great weekend!

More Art Tags from 2013!!!

Hello Bloggers!  So I think this is the last of the forgotten art tags of 2013!  It was a very busy year for me and sadly I just didn't have the time or energy to get "bloggy with it"!  BUT 2014 is a different story and I'll be back in action soon, YAY!  

This first tag is one of my favourites.  I used a bunch of acrylic paints, stencils, india ink, and a cool metal frame from Stampin UP painted with some white Tim Holtz distress paint.

I love this sentiment!

I ran this tag through my Cuttle Bug maching to emboss the surface.  Before I laid the tag inside the folder I added some distress paint so it would create a cool coloured background.  I then added more paint and went over the whole raised surface with some white distress paints.  I love this dry embossing effect!

 I did the same thing with this next tag and dry embossed it with a number embossing folder.  I added lots of paints and sprays, and a sentiment stamp to finish it off.  

This tag was made using some back ground stamps from Unity, different colours of sprays and inks, a cute fairy stamp from Unity, Faber-Castell Gelatos, and a sakura giltter pen to add some shimmer!

 I thought I would try to cover an entire tag with some Giltter Ritz that I have in my stash (that never gets used).  I forgot how awesome this stuff is!  Once you apply the glitter, simply burnish with your finger and the result is a glorious shimmery glittery finish you won't want to stop looking at.  The coolest part is that it feels like brushed suede and the sparkles will not rub off!  Added some glitter Thickers to finish!

This was a fun tag to do, lots of sprays, some fun Claudine Helmuth foam and clear stamps, washi tape and glimmer mist! 

 Not sure if you can see the sparkly goodness but its so pretty to look at in person.  You can never have enough sparkle!

 Well there ya go!  There will be many more to come in 2014 along with some journal pages, canvases, cards etc...I hope you enjoyed and found even a bit of inspiration!  Now go make something ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Art Journal Page

So I thought I'd share my very first Art Journal page just for the fun of it.  Since this one, I've done many more that I like better so this one has been pushed to the end of the 'blog' line.  

Being my first page, I was more or less just 'playing' with all my stuff.  Mainly stencils, sprays, stamps & gesso.  I did add some rub-ons at the end and did a wee bit of doodling.

Here's a close up of my favourite part of the page.  I used a Tim Holtz mask and gesso'd over it leaving the pretty background showing through.  I also added some coloured Conte Crayons around the edges to give it that soft antique smudgy look.  

I'm playing along with the 'Color this Quote' over at Artists in Blogland for June.  "May there be peace and prosperity within your walls." Psalms 122.7  I think this quote relates to this page and reminds me to just be at peace with what ever I am creating.  Sometimes I get too caught up with it being perfect or having to have this perfect plan/vision of what it is I want to make.  Just go with it I say!!!

Also, check out the inspiration over at Creative Every Day!  Lots of wonderful art to be seen!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great week!  I'll be back tomorrow with a cute little Fathers Day tag for By Lori Designs!  I know, its been a while huh?

Do more of what makes you HAPPY!!!!

Hi crafty peeps!  I had a small window of opportunity to pop on and post a new journal page I recently finished.  Have I told you how much I love the Art Journal?  Its such a stress reliever to just play around and finally get to use all the art supplies I have been hoarding over the years!  

This page started by simply ripping some dp (Pink Paislee by Christy Tomlinson) into grass blades and flower petals.  I created my background using Gesso, Golden Acrylic Paint (teal), Tim Holtz Distress Paint Daubers, The Crafters Workshop stencils, Faber Castell Pitt Pens, Glitter, Tim Holtz alphabet stamps, black marker, old book paper, & Mod Podge to name a few supplies ;)  I wanted to keep with the dp theme and I ripped some letters for my quote!!!  

Here is a close up of the flower!

If you are into Art Journaling, or have even just thought about it, you must check out the following blogs:  Julie Balzer's Blog, BALZER DESIGN,  There's a section called ART JOURNAL EVERY DAY, with a big linky list full of great inspiration!!!  ALSO,  ARTISTS IN BLOGLAND, you MUST check it out and play along!  Artsyville Blog is so much fun I played along for the GLUE IT TUESDAY challenge!!!  There definately was alot of glue used on this page!  Another fun and full of inspiration artsy blog is CREATIVE EVERY DAY! May's theme is flowers!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a HAPPY week!!!

Another Art Tag...

Here is another art tag from my slowly growing 'tag book'.  This is one of my favourites, and I was really pleased how it turned out.  I usually am drawn to different colours (like pink, purple turquoise etc)...but I decided to push myself to try something out of the norm for once!

 

 

Here is a list of supplies I used for this project:

Ranger Tag, Scroll stamp for the background, Blue Archival Ink, Dylusions Ink Sprays (I dropped a few big blobs and blew them around the tag with a straw to make those cool funky 'lines'.  Peerless watercolors, Tim Holtz stamp set.

 

This is also perfect for the challenge over at Sentimental Sundays the challenge is 'Tag You're it'!

 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!

Spring is coming with PJ Sara...

Welcome to another Inspiration Tuesday with By LORi Designs.  Today I'm bringing you a little taste of spring, because its just around the corner and I'm soooo impatient I want it here now!!!  So I pulled out one of my very favourite paper pads ever (Echo Park Country Drive) and created a pretty little card to match the adorable digi image Puddle Jumper Sara from By LORi Designs!

 Isn't she a cutie patootie?  I love the banner she's holding too.  I also used my new flower die that my mom bought for me.  Its a Tim Holtz Alterations Paper Rosettes die and I loooove it!  It makes 2 sizes of flowers and they are super easy and fun to make.  Thanks mom.

I also used the sketch over at Jen's Deconstructing Sketch blog.  Great sketch this week and worked perfectly with my new flower die.  BUT I seemed to have misplaced my beloved Bow Easy!  I was all set to create this perfect double bow and when the time came it was nowhere.  Talk about panic city...I've never rummaged through my stuff so fast and furious before...lol anyway, that explains the lame loopy button thingy where the bow is supposed to be.  I tried to make my own bow but it looked like a wet noodle so I had to put my thinking cap on....I still can't find it....I have to get a new one...def can't live without that!

I hope you swing by and check out the rest of the wonderful inspiration over at the By LORi Designs Blog. 

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great day! 

I can't pull it off...AND a Happy Vintage Valentine!

Ahhhh, I have tried and tried to create beautiful distressed, shabby chic, vintage looking cards like the ones I drool and oogle over on the bloggernet everyday and I'm never fully satisfied with my finished product! (hence the title of this post..lol). Although this adorable PJ - Ella Two from By LORi Designs makes any card adorable, I feel like my card is unfinished or missing something. I absolutely love the distressed, vintage, rustic, looking cards and projects I see...I have all the necessary tools to create such things...you should see my stash. I do have my own style which leans to the heavy side of CAS. But I love trying new styles and I can pull it off on canvas, so I will just have to keep trying! Anyway, today's card features Ella Two from BLD! One of the January releases! She is so cute in her boots and I love her pretty little dress!

I tried to make the panel with the image on it look like an old vintage picture (in colour lol) and went to town with my copics and Tim Holtz distress inks and sponges. I used a fancy spellbinders die and some stampin up flowers and antique brad, found some cream lace trim and tried to piece it all together. I know, we are all our own worst critics, its hard stepping out of our comfort zone, but well worth it in the end!

Anyway, I thought I'd post a 'non-traditional' type of card for Valentines day! I hope you pop by the By LORi Designs Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has to inspire you today! You won't be dissapointed!

Thanks for stopping by, have a great week!