Tag Archives: glass bead gel

March 27, 2016 · 1:18 pm

Growing in Art–Part Two

Hello again and Happy Easter!

This piece seems like a fitting way to start. I was in a state of joy when I created it, in a place of geographic joy, and a with people who bring me joy!

Used lots of found and upcycled items in the construction–scrap wood, muffin papers, sari ribbon, and circuit board remnants.

Another piece on canvas panel. Experiments with dripping Izinks ink, acrylic paints, stencils, ink pens, foam letters on corrugated cardboard colored with Shiva Paint Sticks, also used heated molded plastic, and Pico embellishers. I am learning more about water soluble vs. non-water soluble as evidenced by smearing of some of my details.

I still like to upcycle certain used clothing tags and here is a batch I did at Christmastime. It is a good way to use up all those little bits and bobs I have leftover from other projects.

Because who doesn’t love a pic of art supplies??!!

A sweet and swirly Valentine!

My latest on a canvas panel. Mounted on an upcycled backing from a frameless glass frame. I used modeling paste, a Patti Tolley Parrish stencil, Silks acrylic glaze, glass bead gel, Shiva Paint Stiks, a frame I filled with resin (and a worry doll), heat moldable plastic, a fortune from a fortune cookie, Pico embellishers, and well over a dozen layers. At one point I was so disgusted with the whole thing that I covered 95 percent of it in black paint and then uncovered parts and continued on. I really think that you have to hate your project at some point before you really get to something. Or maybe that’s just moi….

In any case I wish you all a good day and I welcome all comments!

ArtOutWithYourHeARTOut

4 Comments

Filed under Doodlydoo, Flash Trash & Glitter, Mixed Media Mania, Musings

Tagged as black, flowers, glass bead gel, katyoparty, layers, mixed-media, paint, Patti Tolley Parrish, sparkle, texture

January 14, 2015 · 10:21 am

Fresh Start 2015

Hello hello blog world! Happy 2015! Who is ready for all that the New Year has in store? Well ready or not–here it comes! I’ve made some goals as I do at some point every year–not necessarily only at the new year. Several times over the years I’ve written down my goals and then never revisited the list until much later and I find I’ve realized those goals. I am now a firm believer in setting an intention and letting your subconscious/the Universe/whatever you call your Power, take over and guide the outcome.

It’s not that I don’t do anything and my goals just happen–it’s more like I’m in tune with the opportunities as they present themselves because my subconscious is on the lookout for them. Along the lines of never noticing pregnant women and then when you get pregnant you see pregnant women and babies everywhere.

I’ve set my intentions on a few art-related things this New Year: blogging regularly, creating art regularly, sharing my creations with others rather than stockpiling it, participating in an art abandonment project, and finding a volunteer opportunity which is art-related.

What intentions have you set with regard to your creativity? I would love to hear. Thanks for visiting today–I can’t wait to see you again!

12 Comments

Filed under Mixed Media Mania, Musings

Tagged as color, flowers, glass bead gel, intentions, new year, painting, stamping, tag, texture, transform

March 6, 2014 · 10:28 am

Swirlydoos March Blog Hop–I’m A Guest Educator!

Hello, hello Friends! I am so excited to participate in the Swirlydoos March Blog Hop as a Guest Educator for the Art Journal Starter Kit. If you have been interested in art journaling this is a fine place to begin. I know you will see many gorgeous and creative inspirational projects from all the designers on the Swirlydoos Design Team and there are fabulous prizes in store for the winners of the hop. Thank you for visiting today and please stop by again soon!

Art Out With Your HeART Out

Welcome to:

Swirlydoos Kit Club

March Scrapbook Kit Reveal & Blog Hop!

If you came here from Petaloo’s blog, then you are on the right track. If not, go back to Swirlydoos’ blog and start from there. We have some amazing projects for you to see today !! Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win!!! Make sure you have LIKED & FOLLOWED Swirlydoos on Facebook!!!

Swirlydoos is proud to bring you our beautiful March collection:

Salutations

And check out these coordinating add ons that perfectly compliment our March scrapbook kit!

Are you a subscriber? If so, your kit is on it’s way! If not, check out the Swirlydoos store to see if there are any March kits or add ons in the store!

***All of our monthly scrapbook kits are available in our store while supplies last!***

Has it sold out? – become a subscriber and not only will you never miss a kit again, but you’ll also pay less for your monthly scrapbook kits!

*Mention this blog hop and save 10% on your first kit*

We have some absolutely beautiful scrapbook projects for you to see today !!

Here is my project for the blog hop!

Swirlygirl Journal

Beautified butterfly

Loads of texture and mixed media!

Lots of goodness in the Art Journal Starter Kit at Swirlydoos.com

I also prepared a video to show you the basics on how to prepare your pages and get started with your own art journal practice! Visit Swirlydoos channel on YouTube to check that out (http:\\swirlydoos.youtube.com).

So, let’s get started! Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win!!!

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Friday 3/7 to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on Saturday 3/8. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.
2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down.
Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a sentence.
3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special words you collected. Can’t wait to hear from you.

My special word is : SHADOWS

The party continues over at Paulien’s blog. Have fun!

67 Comments

Filed under Art Journal, Mixed Media Mania

Tagged as art journal, color, glass bead gel, mixed-media, Swirlydoos, texture

May 10, 2013 · 6:02 pm

The Best of Both Worlds

I’ve been stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone and striving to learn new things. My mantra this week has been “where there is fear there is no creativity”. I first heard this statement years ago on a how-to decorating show on television. I think it was called “Interior Motives” and it was hosted by a delightfully funny man named Christopher Lowell. He shared so many skills and in such a non-intimidating and empowering way that I was able to decorate my whole house using his ideas. For someone with their first home and a limited budget and being paralyzed at the thought of making a bad decorating decision this was huge. It is not a stretch to say that by following his Seven Layers of Design and creating all sorts of home projects I was opening the door to my art creativity. I realized what a joy it was to use my hands to create things. From making cornice boxes and curtains and painting baseboards and draping fabric and becoming intimately familiar with my staple gun (that does not sound quite right does it?) I started to think creatively.

Fast forward a few years and I discovered scrapbooking. I always made photo albums of our family vacations and tucked in all the ephemera and room keys and little comments about our adventures. I never knew there was a whole UNIVERSE out there of people decorating these scrapbooks and creating layouts around all this stuff. I went into an Archivers store that I passed by dozens of times and it was GAME ON. I could not get enough of it–the paper, the stickers, the stamping–all of it. I would spend days working on a single layout. Agonize over every decision.

Fast forward another couple years and I had stopped scrapbooking and had moved on to a small and sporadic papercrafting business. I was using my scrapbooking skills on cardmaking, giftbags, bookmarks, and journals. I had small-scale success at holiday gift fairs and word-of-mouth sales. I took a stab at an etsy site but my heart wasn’t in it. It felt like I was forgetting how to create things with my own voice and I was becoming paralyzed by worrying about what other people would like. I was second guessing every idea. My happy creative mojo was nowhere to be found. During this time I started taking classes and attending art retreats that featured lots of mixed media art. I had my cool little art shack and every art supply I wanted but wasn’t feeling it. I was creating a whole lot of nothing…nada…zip.

Fast forward to October, 2012, and I saw an ad in the paper for a paper crafting fair on the weekend. I decided to go and see what was new in the paper crafting world. Well the answer was ALOT. The scrapbooking world has finally started incorporating more mixed media techniques and embracing more imperfection and less cookie-cutter-ness (new word!). It seems there is room at the table for both scrapbooking and mixed-media to co-exist comfortably. I’ve noticed mixed-media artists using some of the tools of scrapbooking and they aren’t even holding their noses! I’ve noticed scrapbookers embracing the drippage and splatters and textures of mixed media without frantically diving for paper towels! It is thrilling! There are throngs of artists who like me enjoy having a paintbrush and an inkpad in both worlds. Yippy skippy!

All that said–here are my creations from the past week.