Encourage Imagination

Just a quick journal page to show you. I was short on time but needed do some form of art before I went to bed.

The original journal page was something I drew but I didn't like it so I used TCW Herringbone stencil, markers and white acrylic paint to complete the page.  The stamped image I had in my stash.

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Karenliz

TAG YOU'RE IT! - Abstract City

I completed this tag in Chicago. I only had limited supplies so it was a challenge to complete. It didn't turn out like I would have liked. I had all the pieces all set to glue down but a gust of wind came through the window and blew all my pieces.  Windy city is right! 

This is my tag. Its full of spray inks and acrylic paints.

  

 

I was playing with stencils and watercolors and didn't like the outcome so I decided to use it for this tag.
 

 

Using a honeycomb stencil I traced it on the back and cut it it all out.

 

 

After taking this pictures I made a few more changes to the design then the wind blew in. I think I'm missing some pieces before it really didn't work out.  If you squint you can see the city!!!

 

 

The idea of playing with different techniques is figuring out a better way to do it. One thing I learned is close the window! 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

  

 

The Ink Pad, NYC - I finally made it!

I FINALLY MADE IT TO THE STORE!

 

 

I was in the city to meet family and we had time after to finally go see The Ink Pad.  We decided since it wasn't too hot and we needed the exercise to walk from Times Square to the store. It was a long walk but since I walk many miles for exercise every day it was a nice walk.

When we arrived at the store I saw this sign outside. I love it.

 

 

Here is the front of the store.

 

 

The store is tiny but full of rubber stamps. There is eye candy every where and my attention span to one area was nonexistent. Yes, I didn't leave empty handed. Here is my haul.

 

 

As you can see the stencil aliens showed up too and I bought three stencils two from Stencil Girl and one from Artistcellar.

 

It was a nice day. We roamed around Times Square and back to Grand Central. It's 100 years old.

 

 

If you are ever in the city go to The Ink Pad.

They are so friendly and full of information.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Stencils will travel

I'm in Chicago visiting my daughter and I always bring art supplies with me and a few 6"x6" stencils. While she works at night I sit and play.  This is a 4"x6" piece of watercolor paper which I used a black permanent pen through the stencil then used a watercolor pencil around the images. I always bring images and die cuts with me and found these in my travel stash.

 

 

I really love mixing vintage images with many things. You can't be afraid of mixing old and new together. Try it!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Quotes - Maya Angelou

Everyone knows I love quotes and I have many from Maya Angelou. This one was perfect for my new Dylusions stencil. 

Here is the tag. It's a very large tag, #12.  These also make great cards when folded in half.

 

 

Many layers of bright colors of acrylic paint. 

 

 

 

Stencils used:

 

The Crafter's Workshop

Herringbone (Fav!)

Chevron

Microbial

Sunburst

Flossy (Ranger Ink)

Star - I cut myself.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

 

 

TAG YOU'RE IT! Happy Endings

Hello. Sorry I'm late with this weekly project of mine. It's been awful hot and we don't have AC in the house. We only have it in the bedrooms.  I finally bought a fan for my art room so I can keep creating.  I'm going on a trip to see my daughter soon but I will try to have a few posts for you to read.

If you are not familiar with this project you can see my previous posts HERE and HERE. 

First, I thought I would show you all the tags I have for this project. I keep them in this metal tin.

 

Its getting tight and I don't have a lot of room so that's why I started this project.  Closing my eyes I picked this tag.

 

 

As you can see it has a layer of tissue paper and spray inks. I think this was a tag I was experimenting using tissue paper to see what it would look like.  I decided to use this tag with a stencil but I didn't add the stencil image on top I traced it on the back of the tag and cut it out.

 

 

Next I I used these stencils and a rubber stamp from Dark Room Door and made this background with acrylic paints.

 

 

If you click on the picture above to enlarge it you can see the name of each stencil.

 

 

I looked through my box of bits and found a little paper rose and I punched butterflies from the leftover bits of the original tag. The sentiment is a new stamp from Red Lead Paperworks.

 

 

 

Here is my finished tag!

 

 

It looks like she's looking up at the butterflies. Too cute!  Here is a close up.

 

 

 

Stencils are so versatile you can use them for anything. I find I like using them to cut out shapes for different projects espeically cards and tags.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not my color!

Here is another unfinished piece. These are not my regular colors at all. I decided to see what I can do in neutral colors although you can see a pop of green.

I haven't the slightest idea what my next step will be. I may just leave it as it is. This stretched canvas is only 10"x10" but I bet it would look really nice on a larger canvas.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Sometimes less is more.

I have a journal page to show you today.

I'm not sure if its finished.

I love it the way it is but I think it needs something.

 

Is less more?

What do you think it needs?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Not finished yet!

I have a few projects that are not complete but I thought I would show you them over the next few day. I have to walk away from them because I'm not sure what to do next or just leave them as an abstract piece. They are not in my regular bright colors so I think that's why I may change them up a little.

 

As you can see I used lots of stencil. I think my newest stencil called tiny dots (Balzer Designs) is one of my favorites right now.  I'm really bad at writing down what I use to create a piece. I get in a zone and when I'm done or have to walk away my desk is full of products that I used or didn't use.

 

This is all done with acrylic paints on acrylic paper (Strathmore 12x12), ink and stencils.

 

What would your next step be?

I would love to hear what you would do.

Please leave a comment.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

I will grow strong

A journal page for Julie's Art Journal Every Day.

You go check out the beautiful handmade journal she made for a friend's birthday. Gorgeous!

This page I tried to paint cherry blossoms.

Thank goodness it's in my journal but they aren't too bad for my first try.

 

 

 

i promise to love myself

HAVE FAITH

sprout my wings

leap forward

feel the wind in my hair

bit by bit

i will grow strong

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Filly and Funkie Summertime Challenge

Today I have a large tag to show you. I'm joining the summertime challenge over at Frilly and Funkie.   I have this great photo of some friends by the water and thought it would be perfect for the challenge.

 

 

I think this is a little funkie.  I used lots of stencils in the background with acrylic paints. The large tag is from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  I'm still not sure I like these large tags. The sentiment and picture are from Red Lead Paperworks. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Is there meaning to this page?

The answer is no. I haven't the slightest idea what it is all about. It just happened and I have a few step by step pictures of my process.

This is a page in my Dylusions journal. First I added gesso to the page and waited for it to dry. Usually I would use my heat gun but it was to hot in the house. I then added the shapes to the page through a stencil with a permanent marker.

 

I added green acrylic ink to the background and while it was still a little wet I used a roll of paper towel for extra texture.

 

 

 

 

With white acrylic paint I added more shapes with the same stencil.

 

 

I found this paper in my paper scraps along with the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland and attached it to the page. 

 

 

That's it! It was a simple page and what I love about it was that I didn't think about it. Those are always the best pages.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Who do you make art for?

I had a lovely long holiday weekend.  Having fun with friends and fun in my art room. I worked on a few experiments that when so wrong. In fact so wrong that I laughed so hard. I mostly worked in my art journal this weekend after my experiments. Art journaling is freeing for me. Some of my journals are for rantings, things I've learned about myself or some are just for fun. This is a page from my Dylusions journal. I realized this weekend that I need to make art for myself and not worry about what others think. I go through phases where I worry about it and it stops my mojo a little. Working in my art journals brings me back into perspective. 

This journal page just came to me when my perspective came back. I love paint and collage and it just came together.  After is was finished I realized the only quote I can put on it was "I make art for me".  I love quotes and have a collection of them but this one was perfect.

 

Here is a close up of the layers.

 

 

 

Julie from Balzer Designs: Art Journal Every Day asked the questions, how do we feel about using quotes in our art journals and do we use them.  A big YES, I adore quotes and use them in journals and many other things.  Go over and see every ones pages. I'm linking this page to Art Journal Every Day.

 

Do you make art for yourself or do you feel the pressure of making art for others expectations?

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

Be Fearless

Here is the final piece the stencil aliens made me create. You can see the original post here.  I decided that it needed more white and some words. 

 

 

I've been in my art room late at night recently because of the heat wave so the picture is a little dark. I starting to take picture in my art room so I can do my step by step posts of my projects. I'm on the look out for better lighting.  I found light bulbs for the ceiling light that keeps the natural color in a room but it's not a big light.  I'm waiting for sales on the OTT lights. They may do the trick for step by step photos.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Stencil Aliens!!!!!

AGAIN Stencil aliens took me over the other night. They took me over so much that I never took step by step pictures of how this piece developed.  You can see the aliens first creation HERE. I was so involved that I lost all track of time and if my house collapsed around me I wouldn't have noticed. That's aliens for you!

 

I love all the bright colors and the layers on the piece. I tried to draw my own flowers so I can cut my own stencil but I really can't draw. I do keep trying over and over. My mother and brother were artists but I didn't get the drawing side of it.  Stencils and rubber stamps are my friends in my art room. You can use them in so many way.  

 

There are so many new stencils coming out that I'm afraid I will be visited by stencil aliens over and over. So stay tuned!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!