-
Mixed Media Found Object Art Panel
Have you ever had objects that you wish you could incorporate in your art? Today we will be creating a mixed media found object art panel which includes these found objects into your art. By adding dimension to your projects, it can be very inspiring and is a great way of mixing up your creative practice. Found Object Art and Assemblage If you are new to found object art, it often goes by another name, assemblage. The dictionary definition of assemblage is “a work of art made by grouping found or unrelated objects.” This is exactly what found object art is. Where to Find Found Objects Found objects can be…
-
How to Create a Wine Bottle Flower Vase
As Mother’s Day is just a few days away, I wanted to share a creative project that is “off the page.” Most of us stick to flat surfaces such a journal to create in. But today I wanted to share with you how to create a wine bottle flower vase. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, this is a simple project that make a great gift for that special person in your life. The Inspiration The inspiration for this wine bottle flower vase came from a problem that I often have during the summer months. When working in my garden I often come across flowers that have been…
-
How to Design a Scrapbook Page
Do you ever struggle with how to design a scrapbook page? As it is National Scrapbooking Day, we will be talking about techniques for creating stronger layouts. If you have never tried scrapbooking as a creative practice, give it a try! It is a great medium that gives you an opportunity to reflect on memories and journal about your experiences. Looking back through scrapbooks is also a fun way to remember the amazing experiences of our lives. Designing a Scrapbook Page When learning how to design a scrapbook page, there are 3 things that help in the creative process. Tip 1: Using Coordinating Papers Start with coordinating papers…
-
Using Alcohol Inks with Stencils
Have you ever tried using alcohol inks with stencils on a large project? It can sometimes be challenging using stencils with alcohol inks because of the loose nature of the medium. If the stencil is smaller than the surface that you are using, it can leave harsh lines detracting from the overall design. Layering Alcohol Inks One of the ways to prevent harsh lines in your alcohol ink project is by layering alcohol inks. One thing to keep in mind when using this technique is that when you add more ink, it rewets and often resists the ink below. When it resists, the ink will push the previous layer of…
-
Coloring with Inks and Watercolor Crayons
Coloring with inks and watercolor crayons is an essential part of a creative self-care practice. By learning to color with these mediums, they will teach you many things. This includes how these mediums blend, how they react with certain papers and surfaces, and how you can incorporate them as layers within your mixed media projects. Caran d’Ache Watercolor Crayons A new product in my art practice is the Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Watercolor crayons. I had originally purchased these to use in my acrylic painting classes. They are a very useful when creating basic sketches on canvas. But watercolor crayons have many more uses than just sketching out images.…
-
Scrapbook Page Design Tips
Do you ever struggle with coming up with a strong design on a scrapbook page or art journal page? This week I will be sharing scrapbook page design tips that will help you create pleasing compositions with ease. Creating a Strong Layout Creating a strong layout seems simple. But it can feel like a struggle to get the photos, papers and mixed media elements work well together. Here are 3 tips that I use for creating a strong scrapbook page design: Tip 1: Rule of Thirds By using the rule of thirds when placing your photos and images, this will help create a stronger design. If you are not familiar…
-
How to Cut and Color Intricate Die Cuts
Have you ever had frustrations when working with small die cut images? This week we will be talking about how to cut and color intricate die cuts successfully. I will be sharing a few of my favorite materials and tips on how to get successful images every time. The Challenges with Cutting Die Cuts There can be many challenges when working with die cuts, especially delicate ones. It takes some trial and error to figure out the best way to run the die cuts through your machine so that they will cut consistently. Here are 3 tips that will help you get consistent die cuts. Using a Quality Die Cut…
-
Gelli Printing with Die Cuts
Have you ever wondered how to make those lovely Gelli print backgrounds and how to incorporate them into your projects? This week I was playing with combining Gelli printing with die cuts and Pan Pastels and had some fantastic results! Gelli Printing with Die Cuts Gelli printing with die cuts is a great way to combine and duplicate images in your art pieces, cards, and journal pages. I love using die cuts in my prints and then cutting these same images for use as focal images on my page. I find that using a repetitive pattern in my pieces bring cohesion to my art. What to do with Gelli Prints?…
-
Valentine’s Day Slimline Card
As Valentine’s Day is just days away, I wanted to share with you how to make a Valentine’s Day slimline card. Valentine’s Day cards are fun to make, but what if you want to move away from more conventional colors for these cards? In this tutorial we will be creating a card that does not use red or pink, but the more muted greys and greens. Slimline Cards Slimline cards seem to be everywhere. The style and dimension of these cards lead to some great creative possibilities. The panoramic style of them allows you to approach creativity and cardmaking in a different way. When used in an upright format, the…
-
How to use Watercolor Pencils
Have you ever wondered how to use watercolor pencils? If you have not tried using watercolor pencils in your artwork or crafting projects, they are a very easy and fun medium. What are Watercolor Pencils? What are watercolor pencils? Watercolor pencils look like a colored pencil and they write and color very similarly. The big difference is that they are also water soluble. What this means is when you draw and blend with a watercolor pencil and add layers of color to your work. You can come in after applying the color and add in water to blend and intensify the color. How are Watercolor Pencils Different than Watercolor Paints?…
The Art of Self-Care
