Month: June 2015

Hero Arts: DIY wood blocks!

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This is seriously my EVERYTHING right now. Taking clear unmounted (under-used!) stamps + mounting them onto wood blocks. YES, in theory, taking more space. But the thing is I can store TONS of them waaay up high on shelves (high ones being less used/more obscure/holiday/etc) and then I can visually see what I have. So many of these stamps? SO CUTE and I just didn’t know I had them  or forgot about them.

No more!

Here’s my YouTube video to explain:

link to YouTube

I used Perfect Paper Adhesive (it is working GREAT!), and so far have mounted about 40 stamps – many of which I’ve done onto the side of a block like a small sentiment.

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I think this is going to work out really great – I hope more sizes become available!

ScanNCut: Bird inspired mixed media canvas

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Do you have time to make a fun mixed media canvas right now? Well, if you have about 30 minutes you sure do! The trick is to work in short quick bursts, utilize simple techniques, and have fun! Today I’m letting a new bird cut file inspire me and help me get creative with my ScanNCut machine!

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Here is my full video tutorial:

link to YouTube

This was such fun to make! I used the Home-Deco pattern collection #3 – really digging these designs! In fact you can expect to see several more canvases featuring these designs in the coming weeks of summer.

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What I love most about this one is that I was able to build texture, add detail, and have a lot of fun without a huge investment of time at once. Just a few minutes at a time and before I knew it I had a finished piece to hang up.

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product.

Camp Scrap 2015

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When Camp Scrap planning is in session, all things camping or S’mores are ok. Even these (prettier than they tasted) donuts!

I’m excited to announce even more contributors, and I hope to see you in class. You can get all of the information + register here. It’s going to be PACKED with content, inspiration, fun, and no-pressure creative environment. Thank you to everyone who is joining in – this is one of my favorite events of the year!

 

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Art Journal: Study of trees.

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There is nothing like nature itself to inspire me. This week “plants” is our theme at the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge blog and I couldn’t help but be inspired to practice my drawing skills on some lovely redwood trees while outdoors last weekend. I played first with Prima Watercolor pencils, then added some water (waterbrush), then went in with some KOI watercolor. Still not quite there, I went in with some of the new clean color pens.

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FYI – I like these pens and they are considerably cheaper than my own DIY watercolor pens (aka dylusions or distress mist in a water brush). But that said they’re not “better” than those in fact they are very similar in what happens which makes them my friend and this sentence too long. Moving on! I’m super inspired by all things green lately in my art, and I want to get better at bringing plants of all sizes big and small into my page. While not perfect or by any stretch of the imagination a superb work – I am happy with this creative play and I had a great time!

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Simon is offering a generous $50 voucher that will be randomly drawn from the eligible entries each week. Join the fun by creating a project this week – and for your chance to win a $50 voucher you should hop on over and join in the challenge here.