Sunday, February 19, 2012

Fun With Paper Bags...Blast From 2009!


I have been going through my electronic files, and came across instructions for my first paper bag album that I did in 2009! I am a lot better now with paper crafts, than I was then ... but thought it would be fun to share with you...maybe inspire a beginner out there!


List of Supplies

• 3 paper bags (lunch size)
• hole puncher
• Versamark ink pad – black
• Luminaries H20 Twinkling watercolors
• 6 sheets of plain cardstock
• 6 sheets of patterned cardstock
• glue stick or adhesive runner
• paper piercer or large nail
• glass cutting mat
• fiskars paper cutter
• assorted brads
• assorted flower piecing
• assorted ribbon
• small vellum envelope (ATC size)
• 6 blank ATCS
• 6 large paper tags
• black micron marker
• assorted rubber stamp sayings
• assorted rub-ons
• assorted Post It note pads


Basic Step by Step Directions – Assembling Your Book


1.Take your 3 paper bags and stack them with ends alternating.

2.Fold them to form crease line. With bags still folded, along the crease line punch at least 3 holes using a hole puncher.

3.At this stage, it is your choice as to how you “bind” your book. You can use either decorative brads or ribbon. I chose to use ribbon.



Basic Step by Step Directions


1.After deciding on a theme for your book, choose your color paper.

2.When you’ve chosen your paper, cut your cardstock down to size of paper bag pages. (I used a Fiskars Paper Cutter.)



3.With your glue stick or adhesive runner, begin to put your selected pieces of cardstock on the pages of your book.




4.I chose to begin with the cover, but you can start with the inside pages and leave the outside pages for last.





NOTE: Follow Steps 3 thru 5 to adhere the initial cardstock sheets to each page, before adding embellishments.


Basic Step by Step Directions – Embellishing Your Pages

1.I chose a large flower, but you can use any embellishment for your cover. For the center of the flower you can add cardstock, buttons, and glitter or jeweled accents. I chose a flowered jewel accent.




2.Since the theme of my book was Thoughts, for the inside of my book, I decided to use Post It notes, blank sheets of stationary and other things that would encourage the recipient to jot down their thoughts and ideas.




The most important thing to remember in assembling your book?- Have fun!! The ideas are limitless as to what you can create using simple supplies and scraps from around the house. You can paint your book, add ATCS & tags (as shown on the Idea Pages) – just use your imagination!


Additional Page Ideas from 2009 (don’t forget to stick goodies in those pockets!)



Saturday, January 21, 2012

2012 Sketchbook Challenge: Playing With Watercolors

Well ... I am still doodling ... deciding to add a little watercolor. I dug out my Twinkling H2O's, and decided to play a little bit. Still don't have the hang of it ... painting with watercolors does not come naturally - not like painting with acrylics does.

I had to walk away from it ... let it dry fully ... and I must say I'm not TOO unhappy with the blending of the colors .. they are vibrant ..and the Luminares always have that sparkly shimmer. All in all ... I think with a lot more practice, I'll get the hang of it.


Saturday, January 14, 2012

2012 Sketchbook Challenge: Playing With Color Pencils

I have never been a fan of color pencils ... I have never been a fan of sketching ... but the 2012 Sketchbook Challenge is slowly but surely changing that. It's all about the comfort zones we find ourselves nestled in .... and creatively - I've been tip toeing out of mine.

Still sidelined with this sciatic nerve ordeal ... but found myself trying, once again to capture what was in my head onto paper using color pencils.

While working on my piece, titled Faith, it suddnely clicked with me why I didn't like using color pencils ... I'm so used to painting and knowing how to perfectly achieve the look - the BLENDED LOOKS - I love .... that not knowing how to achieve this with the pencils is very frustrating.

But like all things...practice makes perfect ... so here is my most recent attempt with color pencils:



Pencils: Derwent

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2012 Sketchbook Challenge

Happy New Year Everyone!!... I hope 2012 is treating everyone okay. For me, I'm starting off the New Year in pain .... a sciatic nerve in my back has sidelined me from painting, working ... can't do a lot of anything until I work this pain out.

Before my back acted up, I had decided to challenge myself this year and work on my sketching. The 2012 Sketchbook Challenge was just what I needed to challenge my skills.

For January, the challenge is simple doodling....something I do well ... or thought I did until I saw the entries!!WOW . but then I got a grip and decided to settle down. This isn't about other peoples skills...it's about mine...so here is what I did for the Free Doodling ... this was done before my back went out:



Since my back has gone out, I decided to really take the time - since I can't paint - to work on my sketching skills ...so I pulled out my Drawing On The Right Side of The Brain Vol 1 ... and started going through some of the exercises:

Starting Point



Working it Through



Sketch Complete - not bad for my first go round!


Sunday, December 25, 2011

Back To Painting ....

I had a very quiet Christmas ... and I loved it. I didn't go into ANY stores the last week leading up to today ... not even the grocery store. I love this season, and not shopping, but the SEASON itself. I can spend hours just listening to music and looking at my trees..LOL

It's during the Christmas season that I find myself at my most reflective - not New Years ... and this Christmas I have decided to Let Everything Go ... and Welcome "ME" Back Again".

It's feeling like this that I started painting my journals again - something I used to do all the time. I love to journal .... love to doodle...there is something about a blank book that makes me all tingly!!LOL ... and while others are into scrapping and altering ... I itch to paint covers of journals... and here are some that I've done this month.





Thursday, December 1, 2011

Have A Wonderful Christmas Season!



I want to wish all my followers and fellow bloggers a wonderful Christmas! I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by....Christmas is 24 days away! From my house to yours, I wish you the best of seasons- Merry Christmas...and I will be back in full swing for 2012!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Holidays Are Upon Us ... and I've Been Busy


Hello All!

Can you believe it's Thanksgiving?? .... the holidays are upon us already - this year has certainly flown.

I've been so busy the last couple of months, I haven't had much time to do much of anything but paint. I was invited to do a local Small Business Expo ...and had a lot of stock to paint ... but it was a success.

I made a lot of local business contracts, and was able to secure 2 contracts to supply my hand painted glassware to a couple of concierge shops! So 2011 is going out with a bang for me ... and hopefully 2012 will come in with a ROAR.

Next up - December 15th I will be selling my wares - all Christmas - at a Christmas Expo ... I'll post pics after the event.

Until then ... take care ... and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.