Royal We

I have two ways of working....fast where I finish quickly and then some pages take months (or dare I say years) to finish....this one was month to finish. The page was gessoed white and then swirls were stamped randomly using blue Lumieres paint (sorry not sure what company made the swirl). Then the page sat....for months

Til last week, I wanted to experiment with the lyra gel crayons I have. These are water soluble so i wanted o see how they would do as a wash over an image. They worked great. The princess image is from Lost Coast Designs and the lettering comes from Purple Onion Designs. I over sprayed with glitter spray because everything I worked on that day got sprayed. I still think it needs little bling on the bottom of the page, I imagine that will come soon.

My girl Patches

Here is an altered book spread I did of my John Wetzel Terrier. I painted a black and white picture of her using watercolors....the background is black gesso and metallic markers swirled around. The lettering is an soda can that I ran thru a die cut machine. Way to recycle huh? Quick and easy page

Path to Self

This page was a lot of fun I will share the techniques later. The image of the woman is from After Midnight Stamps.

Altered Book Swirl Page

This page I have been working on a few months. Yesterday, I decided to finally finish it up. There are three separate techniques here - the swirl main image, watercolor resist background and dry brush technique for the circles the letters are printed on.


Ingredients

• Two page spread - for this technique to work you need two page spread
• White candle - taper works best
• Watercolors - I used Dr Martin liquid watercolors
• Watercolor paint brush
• Water
• Two sided cardstock - both sides must be decorated.
• Circle Cutter
• Scissors
• Pop dots double stick
• Additional cardstock
• Stamps and ink - I used Bird by stampers anonymous, Flowers from Judikins, Letter unknown. Ink is my favorite Archival Ink by Ranger.
• Glue Stick
• Children's writing tablet
• Acrylic paint - I used orange
• Gesso
• Paintbrushes
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Circle Punch - 1 inch

Watercolor resist - I was just experiment candle was as a resist. I think the same effect could be achieved with a crayon.

1. Using white taper candle draw a design on the page. I did just swirls and wrote the word "spring" several times.
2. Using a paint brush wash clear water over the candle drawing.
3. With watercolor paint brush, wash watercolor paint over the page.
4. Let dry.

Swirl pop up - Just like the pop up books of my childhood.

1. Using a ruler decide what size you want your swirl to be. I decided a 4 inch circle would be best.
2. Cut out circle with circle cutter.
3. Using scissors, cut circle in a swirl
4. Place a pop dot at the center point. Attach it to one page.
5. Place a pop dot at outside end of the swirl. Close book and then open it. This make sure the end lines up nicely. Use more pop dots to line up the swirl as you wish.
6. Stamp bird and flower images. Cut out. Using glue stick, attach the to swirl. I put some backwards so that no matter what side you are looking at you can see birds and flowers.

Dry brush technique - This is a quick technique that uses up the left over paint from other projects.

1. Brush acrylic paint over children's writing paper. Use a light hand. Let dry.
2. Brush gesso over the paper. Again use light hand and they let dry.
3. Using a circle punch, punch out circles from the paper.
4. Stamp letters on each circle.
5. Cut pieces of scrapbook paper into 1.25 inch squares
6. Attach squares to page with glue stick.
7. Attach letter circles to the squares.

home sweet home

camping is great.....kicking back listening to skynard .....sunny and put tent up all on my own...i am woman here me roar

margaritas and mothers days gifts

For the last month I have not been blogging or creating art....real life is getting in the way of feeling creative.....no job, health insurance costs, taxes, medications, calling off a marriage, re working a relationship all got in the way of feeling creative. Not a good situation.....the remedy...pack up the car with art supplies and go to friends and create.

Sue is part of the Council of Muses, she is a pheno when it comes to art but sadly she is not a stamper....I am convinced it is my role in life to bring her over to the stamping side. We decided to plan a day to work with polymer clay and stamps to make some tiles like I learned at Artfest in Laurie Mika's class.

This weekend while estate saling I found a bag of poly clay with about 30 blocks of clay for $12.50. I took this as divine intervention.

I packed up the ECHO with the clay, mica powder, clay tools, acrylic paint and some picture frames as well a huge pile of stamps. Remember, my intent was to bring Sue over to the other side.

We spent the afternoon making tiles, singing to Janis Joplin and laughing. Here are my finished project. Gifts for my mom and grandmother for Sunday, Mother's Day.

When Sue and I scheduled the day it happened to be Cinco de Mayo, so of course that meant we had to include some Mexican culture in the day. We decided to go to On the Border for dinner and margaritas. Julia, Sue's daughter accompanied us. She busted open the pinta, go girl power. Denise met us for dinner. Food was yummy.

It was a great day and yes I believe Sue is closer to joining me in Stamping Obsession. hahaha