SSS and First Mixed Media Project

This is my first challenge and my first (real) Mixed Media page for my Art Journal. I was going to enter it into the the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which was Food and Drink this week but I didn't start soon enough. However their Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge was Rain or Shine so I adapted it to the new theme. When I looked at the challenge again I thought maybe I was mistaken it does say any paper craft or altered art but nearly 100% of them are cards and my heart sunk a little.

I found another person who entered her art journal page and it raised my spirits, thank you http://artnewbiett.blogspot.com/2016/03/mini-art-journal.html. I just received my first Card Kit from Simon Says Stamp last week. When they talk about being green about a subject I as fresh as spring grass. Thankfully SSS doesn't require you to use the particular stamp makers products each week because I've never heard of them :)

Truthfully I was scared, it's one thing while you are learning to follow someone else's work as a tutorial but when you just think of something on your own well... I just started art journaling a little over a month ago. There are some truly talented people out there. I've practiced a few things I have learned and painted a picture but this was all me. I got over myself if cat's can make art by walking through paint I can make art too.

The initial inspiration came from the little tea bag thing on the string. I had bought some fruit tea last week and one flavor was blueberry which is my favorite. The challenge was food or drink, like I said I didn't start in time. Although I had sketched a rough idea of what I wanted I had no clue how indecision would play into it! The Wednesday Challenge was Rain or Shine so I added the words "Come Rain or Shine" which I just realized were their exact words, sorry didn't do that on purpose.

I started out on Carson watercolor paper and used my Gelli plate to make a background. I mixed white and dark green craft paint from Apple Barrel to make a light green and wanted to put a potato bag over it to make blue lines it flopped. So I moved on. I cut out a little teapot, cup and blueberries and put it on Resume paper. I put the I love Blueberry Tea on regular copy paper and rubbed it with purple chalk then wet it. I used my new stamp from the Simon Says Stamp April Card Kit and put it on white paper because it was brighter then on the ivory paper and placed it on both the cup and teapot.

I saw a combing technique on YouTube that I thought I would try. I had dark blue craft paint that I watered down and ran the comb down the paper it flopped too. So I kept trying and managed to get it to work sort of in a cross hatch style which turned out better. I used the rest of the watered down paint to color the blueberries. I also painted the letters which I cut from an old book. That takes forever why on earth would kidnappers ever do that? I think it's made up from TV. Although when I put it all together it looked sort of bland.

So I tried using an orange Sharpie on the letters and it looked really good on the one from the magazine. I went over the letters with the orange Sharpie but since I had used the blue on it first it looked so-so. I almost sent it in anyway but I wasn't happy even if no one saw it but me. I grabbed my orange paint and went over the letters, it made be feel better about the whole thing. And that is what a lady on YouTube said to do, stop when you are happy. 

I made a ton of mistakes but it was a great learning experience. My background didn't come out the way I wanted with my Gelli print so I tried something else. Combing it didn't work like it did in the videos but it turned out okay in the end. I had to redo my flowers cause I put the petals on the outside not underneath lol. I'm sure you have seen a ton of those in nature.

I plan on doing more challenges if you make cards or do art I would encourage you to give it a go. It's a great way to get journal prompts or fantastic ideas for cards. The artwork that is turned in is awesome you will be so inspired.

I Tried it: Polka Dot Stars Background

I tried it (modified) and here are my results: This evening I was on YouTube looking for a video on art journaling backgrounds and ended up watching this video. The woman I believe her name is Terri from PringleHillStudio was so easy to follow and did a great job of explaining what she was doing. Although I didn't use acrylic paint I used crayons instead.

I did end up ordering the Crayola Twistables Slick Stiks she used in addition to her Gelatos. They are very much like Gelatos but cheaper they come in a 5 or 12 pack and I ordered 12 for 9.98 from Amazon they will be here Tuesday along with my new stencil cutter!

Here's my background you will notice it's not nearly as vibrant and doesn't do hers justice as it slightly resembles the one she made. I will go back and do it in acrylic because it is a terrific background to use. It was late and sometimes it's hard for me to get around. Plus I couldn't find my paint palette thing to hold my paint. It was very good practice and I feel after watching the video a couple times and doing it I can go back and do it over again in different colors. I also have to admit I was watching the new James Bond movie at the same time. I still prefer Peirce Brosnan to Daniel Craig but that is for another post.

I used regular crayons in green, yellow, orange and lavender (purple no lavender out of 64 colors) the colors she suggested. I used a green marker to go around the circles and black marker for the crosses and a orange Sharpie for the dots. My new white paint pen I bought from Pat Catan's is defective so I used white paint and filled in the circles with the lines and I hollowed out a pencil eraser to make the small circles. I couldn't find anything close by to make the bigger circles with so I painted them with the white paint too. I also used a blue pencil to outline the circles, she suggests a watercolor pencil if you have one, I didn't so I used the nearest item I had to it.

Of course hers is much more vibrant and blended since she used paint and gelatos but it shows you what can be done with other mediums. The reason there is two is she was recreating the one on the left. She shows the actual mixed media page she made the background for. It was very lovely. I could use mine as a background perhaps for an art journal page but I think I will just leave it alone and use it as a reference. Last night I had fun making backgrounds with my Gelli plate, I still need to get the hang of that.

Here is the link to her YouTube video. If you need ideas for backgrounds give it a try. It looks hard to do but it isn't at all. Her video was just under 26 minutes so in less than that you could make a gorgeous background that looks like you spent a lot of time on. It will be our little secret! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kC2h7vnbi4

I hope this post helped. If you are on a limited budget and you see a background or technique you like on YouTube consider using your least expensive means of reproducing it first. One, it is great practice and two, you can see if you really like it or can follow the tutorial before you waste your time or more expensive materials. I knew after watching this video I wanted to try it, I just choose to do it in crayon and not acrylic.

Naturally as in this case the end result will not be the exactly the same but you will have a good idea if you want to pursue the technique further. Just a thought.

Great News from Doctor and Craft Projects Coming Soon

I haven't posted for a while but I have been crafting I just haven't got around to posting. I had some medical tests done two weeks ago and the results/scans came back with a good report. Praise God! My doctor and I were both happy she said I deserved good news. I agree

I picked up a few more craft supplies I have just about everything I need although I'm getting ready to order an embossing heat tool to make cards. My grandchildren are moving to England next month and my ex-husband was gracious enough to pay for the Simon Says Stamp Card of the Month Kit so we can send them each a card every month. I'll need the embossing tool for that reason. I'm so excited, so get ready for some postings. I've tried many new techniques the past couple weeks so I have plenty to show you.

I also joined the Simon Says Stamp Monday and Wednesday Challenges. They randomly pick winners so everyone has a chance to get a $50.00 voucher to spend at the online store. Everyone is so talented but I'm going to try anyhow. I've learned so much and have been inspired greatly. I've also picked up many craft tips from others and learned a few on my own just from trying new stuff. I hardly know where to begin.

Another mixed media art project you may be interested in is the Mixed Media Morsels by Cat Hand from YouTube. I'll do full postings and videos shortly. They are perfect for those of you who are new to art journaling like me or have been doing it a while too. I've noticed that many mixed media YouTubers with thousands of subscribers have joined in the fun.

That was Cat Hand's whole purpose to have fun and learn new things. She doesn't have a set schedule exactly but she has been posting for a couple months now she is on challenge 12. You can join anytime. She had this fantastic idea to get a wee small journal about 3 x 4 ish or bigger if you like and start at the beginning with background techniques then progressing.

She had the thought that many new folks are eager to get started but hardly know where to begin. Then they get intimidated by a huge blank journal and just never start if this sounds like you then by all means come join in the fun. It's a wonderful way to get your feet wet in Mixed Media you can watch video after video to get ideas but if you never put that paintbrush to canvas...you get my drift.

You don't need a bunch of stuff to get started and she lists the supplies at the beginning of the video. So far I've just need basic supplies like a little pad of paper for a journal, she used a mini composition book. Paint, glue, plastic wrap, waxed paper, a sharpie and a hair dryer if you don't have a heat gun.

I browsed ahead on a couple to see if I would need more supplies upcoming are stamps and stencils. I have made my own stamps from erasers and stencils from hot glue so if you don't have any store bought you can do the same. I took pictures so I will get those posted this week.

She also has a Facebook group if you want to post your pictures. I've also noticed many of the "stars" in Mixed Media are making their own videos showing their versions of the challenges which is what I plan on doing too. You will be so inspired to create just like I have, these folks are so talented I won't lie and tell you I'm not intimidated because I am but you can learn so much from their videos.

I'm on challenge #3 however I need to do a couple over. The first one she forgot an important step but the paper is still useful for another project and #3 looks like #1 hmm. Here's the link to the video playlist. Like I said I plan to do full posts on all of them and give you my tips. Well it's nearly 3:30 am so I had better get some shut eye. Well I did get some sleep I fell asleep before I finished editing now it's 5:30am  lol.

Craft yourself happy!

Been Busy in the Craft Room

Well actually it's a craft chair I have some unfinished posts to write. I did take some pictures so I'm gathering everything I can to finish several posts. They are of course the list of the items I bought, "Are You Mad Over Mandelas" which is about my learning experience, they are harder than they look. I definitely need more practice. I've been focusing mostly on DIY stamps and stencils so I will write about some of the techniques I've been trying out with different materials.

Like making Styrofoam plates into stamps. Stencil making with big plastic water bottles and foam stencils. I managed to paint two acrylic paintings (if you can call it that) I really have no idea what I'm doing but I'm doing it anyway. I also did a cool trick tonight I found on Pinterest with watercolors and a white crayon.

I told you I have been busy and I'm learning a lot. I found this website http://alisaburke.blogspot.com she is very creative and offers classes if I can come up with $75.00 I would really love to take one. I know you can learn so much free on the Internet but sometimes it pays to take a paid class.

There are so many different crafts you can do that keeping focus can be difficult. So you have to plan and another thing you have to do is not get discouraged. I really want to make stencils but I don't have the money for the machines that make it so much easier. So its called leg work or elbow grease spending time cutting stencils, and learning DIY tricks instead to save money. Nothing wrong with that.

I also have a big day planned tomorrow. I go for an MRI of my noggin and to the back doctor for a follow up. I'm looking forward to that I broke four ribs right before Christmas and the X-ray should show they've healed up and I can sleep in by bed again! I've been sleeping in an electric recliner.

But what I really I'm excited about is I'll finally be in the big city where I can go to the Crafts 2000 store which is now Pat Catan's and the big Dollar Tree store and possibly JoAnn's. That might be pushing it I'll be with my son and ex-husband crafting is not their thing.

But I might be able to swing a trip to Lowe's which is. There are crafts you can make with building supplies for cheap. Squeezable silicone caulk for stencil making, rubber gaskets for mats to paint on. PVC pipe to make paint daubers and a few others that will come to me. 

My wonderful ex-husband bought me a new walker with a seat so I can sit down and rest if I need to awesome for shopping so it's making its debut tomorrow. It's a bit wider than my other one and a lot less noisy. I hope it's not to hard to walk with.

Here's my shopping list for tomorrow again I'm stuck in the middle of not having what I need to make what I want.

Dollar Tree
rubbing alcohol to make watercolor paints
spray bottles to put the paint in
foam bath blocks for attaching stencils too if I cant find those I'll use cardboard
I also plan to ask my friends and family to save their bottle tops to affix foam stamps on
cutting board going to try it first for a self healing mat until I can afford one
soap dish to make my own ink pads
big erasers to carve out stamps
Kool-Aid for making water colors - you can also use Rit Dye or Acrylic paint
binder clips for making daubers with make up sponges (there are 2 different ways)
fine point sharpie mine bit the dust. I found a hack to revive your sharpies but it was to late for this one

Pat Catan's
what I can't get at the Dollar Tree
peel and stick foam
foam brushes
water brush for water color painting

Of course many of those items you can get a Walmart online or Amazon of course but then you have to wait it would be nice if I can just buy it and bring it home the same day.

Well that's it for now it's 1:30 in the morning better get some shut eye.

Initial Trip to Dollar Tree and Amazon for Crafting Items

I mentioned in my first post that I had just enough crafting stuff from my leftover crafting days to not get much done. So I went shopping at the Dollar Tree and at Amazon for crafting supplies. Here's what I had to start with. This was my very first trip to the Dollar Tree wow what a place it is.

- 2 scalloped edge scissors I have another pair somewhere
- 3 punches a star, a heart and an 8 sided badge?
- 2 packs of colored pencils I bought for my granddaughter
- half used sketch pad
- 2 glue guns and a half a stick of glue
- 1 tile for mixing paint on
- few paint brushes left from ceramics
- 1 dachshund stamp
- a slightly rusty X-Acto knife
- some random sewing supplies

Here's what I bought to help get me started and fill in the gaps

Dollar Tree
- glue sticks for hot glue gun
- colored markers
- a sketch pad I wanted a water color one but could only find a regular sketch pad
- glue sticks
- craft foam for making stamps
- scissors so I didn't have to use my good sewing scissors still need better scissors for small areas
- poster tack to hold down items to trace
- glass picture frame for making hot glue stencils
- binder clips for holding down paper (but found neat tip for making paint daubers with them too)
- laminated name badges, I didn't pay attention they were laminated I wanted them for the plastic for stencil making. But I found a good use for them they are just the right size to wrap around a toilet paper roll then you add peel and stick foam cut outs for stamping. Will do a separate post for this with pictures later.

Amazon
- 18 acrylic paints
- 18 watercolor paints (love these)
- stamp carving set for rubber stamps or linoleum stamps
- gesso for priming paper or canvas
- tacky glue
- corner cutter for making your own art journal
- 12 x 12 stencil with dots
- mod podge I was going to get gel medium but I read you could use it for this. wavering I may send it back and trade for the gel medium. Although I found out you can make all this stuff yourself.
- non stick mat 2 pack for making hot glue gun stencils and to wipe paint off easily. It wasn't exactly what I thought it was. I thought it was thicker and almost sent it back to get a silicone mat instead it is see through and thicker. The non stick pad is tan and very light weight you can see through it for tracing. I haven't tried painting on it to see if it would wipe off, so I may still send it back or use the extra one to bake with. If I had to do it over again I would go with the silicone mat.

I went though my old supplies a bit more carefully, I'm unable to bend over for now so it's difficult to go through drawers. However still believe God for total healing!

I found another dog stamp this one is a bit whimsical. A couple pieces of felt which I'm might to use to make my own stamp pad. I've found two different set of instructions one is with felt another is with sponges. A few more tiles to mix paint on. A dried out stamp pad which I revived with the ink that came in the stamp carving set. And still way to much material I may have to resort to making potato sacks again.