What I've Been Doing Creatively Lately

My focus has turned aside a bit from Scrapbooking, Cardmaking and such to more of a Multi Media Artist.  At a recent retreat I created the art posted below.  These first pics are acrylic paintings that I did from watching some youtube instructional videos.  Links with the photos.

Acrylic Painting:

 YouTube video found here.

Photo of this silhouette was found on Google Images by Kathryn Dow.

 This fun Van Gogh Sunflowers/Starry Night tutorial is found here.

The horse and the cat were done in pan pastel and are copies of one of my favorite artists Franz Marc, the other picture is a watercolor galaxy, I was trying it out, but wasn't very successful. The acrylic painting of the birch trees and moon is found here.

Currently Enjoying - Collage Art in My Midori Travelers Notebook

I haven't posted in a long time so I thought I would just update the blog and let you know what I'm currently enjoying.  I purchased this Midori Travelers Notebook a little while ago.  I am really enjoying having it next to me in my living room next to my recliner chair so I decided to use it and call it my Recliner Art Journal. 

Here is my Midori Travelers Notebook

I like to keep it next to me in the evenings to jot down whatever needs to come out creatively.

I love working with Collage. 

Fall Scrapbook Retreat 2013

Amtrak Train Trip Album WARNING: Photo Intense!

I made a little album for my niece from our 32 hour train ride on Amtrak.  We had fun and this album commemorates it. 

OUR ALTERED TINS

We had our scrapbook retreat the last weekend in September and as usual it wasn't long enough.  We challenged each other to alter some Altoids tins.  Here they are:

Mary's  1 outside

Mary's 2 inside

Annette's 1 inside -A Memorial to Her Mother

Annette's outside -Her mother painted these switch plates - nice tribute

Cyndi's outside 1

Cyndi's inside 1

Cyndi's inside 2

Cyndi's outside 2

side of Cyndi's tin

Cyndi made 2 tins - outside

Cyndi's second tin inside

Ruth's inside

Ruth's outside

My Traveling Art Journaling Supplies on Amtrak

These are the supplies that I took with me on my 32 hour train ride from Chicago to San Antonio in August. It worked out really well. Gelato's, Gray Scale Pitt Pens, white crayon (for resist), eraser pen, pencil, water brushes, small drawing pad, white correcting pen, stylus for scratching and making marks and a 1 qt size Baggie to hold it all.  I had everything I needed!

I Found a Fun New Way to Doodle - It's Called "ZENSPIRATIONS"!!!

Talk about fun!!!  This is extremely addicting and enjoyable!

Find the book here.

GELLI PLATE FUN

I just purchased a 6 x 6 Gelli plate yesterday at Blick Art Supply. I love that store!!!  It was hard to stop playing with it. I made these beautifully textured backgrounds for future ATC swaps by using acrylic paints and various stencils. FUN!!!

Playing With Pastels

I haven't played with my pastels in a very long time.  I did this portrait relatively quickly and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. First the sketch...

Not sure my son would appreciate this, but here it is all finished.

SUMMER OF 2013 - The Summer of Loss

I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since the beginning of July.

It's been a very sad summer for me and my family.   To start the summer off, our sweet 14 year old dog, a cockapoo,  Mr. Pookers, died.  Then a few days later my very good and dear friend, and also known as my mother-in-law, Lillian passed away after a struggle with COPD.  That same week, a favorite Aunt of mine died.  Then to top all of that off my father, whom we all thought would get better,  had a short struggle with colon cancer and passed away in early august while I was in transit to see him.

Needless to say, I'm grieving and in need of an emotional outlet.   I'm feeling very strong urges to play in my art journal.  I would've take pics and shared them with you but, my camera broke, so I haven't been able to upload any pics at the moment.

I'm just trying to keep my feet on the ground and smell the roses while thanking God for what I have and have had.

Arc from Staples

Re-organized Clear Cling Stamps

I had to do something to re-organize my clear cling stamps.  I didn't want to have to purchase anything, so I gleaned through what I already had around the house.  This is what I came up with. 

Originally I had stored these stamps in binders and also in a small accordion file.  That definitely wasn't really working for me, I couldn't find what I wanted and alot of these stamp sets were forgotten about.  So by re-organizing them I hope to use them. 

So, the first thing I did was I sorted the stamps by size and type.  For my Tim Holtz stamps I kept them on their cards that they came with and then placed them inside some cellophane bags that I had. 

After that, I found some large white envelopes that I turned into large pockets for the stamps that I had placed on 8-1/2 x 11 binder cards.  I stamped the images of the stamps that they contained on the fronts.

I already had 3 plastic cases for clear stamps that goes in a binder.  I stamped the images on a sheet of cardstock and placed it in the front of each case so I could easily see what's in them. 

I had purchased some Close To My Heart folders years ago, that I gathered up and placed the rest of the binder cards in, after making sure that all the images were placed on the card so that I could easily see what is there.

After re-situating these stamps, I placed them all into a turquoise colored large bin that fits nicely on my shelf. 

As for the smaller sets I found some cellophane bags that were the perfect size for the largest of the small sets so I decided to use those.  They'll work perfect as clear pockets.  I cut white card stock to fit perfectly inside these cellophane bags.  The size was 6 x 8-1/4.  After the white card stock was in place I filled each one with a stamp set.

I made indexes for sorting, and then I found this white basket that held the cards perfectly and now that sits on my shelf too. 

That was it, all finished!!!