Got my little crock pot plugged in...yeah!

I want to finish my little petite doll so I bought a mini crock pot for $5 @ Goodwill. The challenge came with trying to get a chunk of wax cut off that would fit. I ended up boiling some water putting the knife in to heat it up. I got a couple inches in & was able to whack it against the counter to brake it loose. I'm not sure how long this will take but I'll have reference for the future.  I'm so excited to get some wax on her! Hoping it turns out as great as I think it will...

Gotta tell you about my recent book purchase!

I ordered Journal Spilling by Diana Trout....wow! I'm having so much fun reading and trying some of her lessons out. I have watercolor crayons and watercolors but I haven't used them much. I love growing my knowledge and realizing what both products can do. I'm working on a page that's confronting my inner critic. I like doing the spill writing and just letting words go. It's very freeing! Part of the lesson is making a sort of self portrait, it's pretty rough right now but I think it will turn out ok. Even if it doesn't I'm learning that's just fine. I'm doing it and that's what matters!! If you have a art journal or you've thought about creating/making one I highly recommend this book. I've had my art journal for several months now and this book has truly inspired me to take it further. I've also learned a few things that I want to try to incorporate in my canvases. ~Peace

I've been busy with life!

These past few weeks have been crazy. Migraines & icky viruses but I'm trying to get back to my art.
Thanks to Suzy Blu (again I can't say enough good things about her Mixed Media Girls book) I've been playing with wax. I'm so loving how it looks the wax adds such a great finish and it smells wonderful!  For a test run I started with a 6x6 piece of paper, covered it with book paper used distress inks stamps & paint. I can use this on a canvas or put it in my art journal, I haven't decided. I bought an old iron at a local craft store and a block of wax.  After working with the block I'd like to try wax pellets they might be easier to work with.  I'm currently working on a petite doll that I will seal with wax. She's not done yet but I'll include a couple picture anyways. I'm excited to see how she turns out.  I'll post the finished canvas soon....

Women's retreat 2013

I learned a lot this weekend. The big ones are not to stress about how things will turn out and to go with the flow. I had plenty of stuff that's for sure! We had barely enough room to fit my daughter in the car and that's no joke!  I was expecting more people to participate but it turned out how it was suppose too. The point of the weekend was to do what you needed for yourself, make connections and have fun. Everyone did, so I couldn't ask for more.  I stayed up till 3am the last night completing a canvas that summed up our time there. I think this is my favorite canvas so far! I love how it turned out...

Working my buns off!

Getting ready for the Women's Retreat boy I have a lot to do. I'm trying to stay focused & get it done hate having a mad rush at the end. This is my front cover for my first sample signature. Showing tape transfers, bubble wrap stenciling, washi tape, stamping and a cute little fur baby inspired by the Suzi Blu book.  Gotta get back to work!

Have you ever wanted to draw faces in your mixed media projects?

If the answer is yes you need to check out this book. Mixed Media Faces with Suzi Blu. Her instruction is wonderful and her advice on using graph paper to help get your proportions right is spot on. I've already made a couple parties of decent eyes! I have no idea if this will lead to using faces in my art but I'm having fun doing it. Do you have a favorite book your working with? If so leave a comment I'd love to know.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I've been shopping with some gift cards at Michaels and Joanns. It's been fun getting a few things I've been wanting....for example I got a brayer. I just used it on the clipboard pictures posted today, boy do I wish I would have gotten one so sooner. It works so much better than the pampered chef roller I've been using!

I'm currently working on getting some things together for a class I'm teaching at a Woman's retreat. I'm really excited it's a great opportunity for me!! What could be better than crafting with your bff and teaching ladies some of what I've learned? Answer is not much....lol I'll be teaching them about art/visual journaling and how they can incorporate it into their lives. My goal is to show them you don't have to be an artist to do it and there are so many different things you can do to match your skill and or comfort level.  I want everyone to have fun!

I mentioned my clipboard here are some pictures. This was so easy I just started with a plain clipboard which was purchased at my local dollar store. I covered it with patten paper and Collage Podge (two of my fav things!) I then used my brayer with a two colors. After that was dry I used some Golden Airbrush white paint at the top sprayed with water for a drippage look. Over that I used paper, paint, stencils, stickers, washi tape and stamps.  I now have a cute clipboard to use it's a great place for those to do & shopping lists. It's going shopping with me from now on!