Cinnamon Pink

Vintage-Style Butterflies Art

Happy Memorial Day. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful holiday.

I created this mixed-media art piece today. It was done on an 8" x 10" canvas board with shadings of soft blue and cocoa brown inks.

Happy Mother's Day 2012

Wishing all the Moms out there a Happy Mother's Day. My wishes also extend to you Moms of Fur Babies. After all, they're part of your family too.

I didn't have time to create a special piece of art for Mother's Day. So I posted a mixed-media, art post card that I completed a while back. It's a reminder to take some special time for yourself, today, to follow your creative passion.

The post card is enclosed in vinyl - and stitched shut - so that the beads and sequins can be shaken for a fun effect.

Blue Bird's Nest - Dress Collage

Here is the third in my series of  Dress Collages. This piece was completed on a 5" x 7" canvas board. I've realized that more shades of blue are lately showing up in my art work.

As you may have noticed, much of my art work is done in various colors of pink. But lately, I'm finding blue to be a restful and calming color to use to create. I primarily used blue in my Inspiration Deck.

Yes, I know, I photographed the above collage on a pink background. I guess pink will always be with me.

What colors do you use in your art?

Numbers - Dress Collage

I took my inspiration for this second Dress Collage from the Idea House Journal Page that I recently completed and posted on my blog.

I used mat board for my substrate this time instead of a canvas board. I rounded the edges of the mat board and covered it with vintage ledger paper. I like the look of the numbers typography shaped into a dress form. The letters of the alphabet would probably also work too.

Dress Collage Completed

Here is the first Dress Collage that I just completed. I think I may try experimenting with other color and design themes. I like working in this 5" x 7" canvas panel format.

You may have noticed that I use the SOAR stamp quite frequently in my art work. To me, the word SOAR is encouraging and positive. It reminds me to continually strive to become my best in my creative endeavors.

What word inspires you?

Girl Dresses - Collage

A few years ago, I participated in a Greeting Card Swap and made the New Baby Girl Dress card that you see above.

Right now I'm working on Big Girl Dresses. But instead of cards, I plan to put the dresses on small canvas boards. As soon as I complete one of these dresses, I'll post them on my blog. Right now, they are works-in-progress.

 

Bubble Painting Art

Another technique that we explored at our TAG meeting was Bubble Painting. This would be a great activity for children. Here's what we did:

Bubble Painting

1. Mix a small amount of dish detergent with a few drops of food coloring in a shallow bowl of water.
2. Using a straw, blow bubbles into the water.
3. Press watercolor paper (about 4" x 6") onto the bubbles and remove. Let dry.
4. Repeat with various colors.
5. Use papers for handmade book covers, collage or greeting cards.

Notes: The next time, I will try food color paste instead of liquid food color to obtain more intense shadings. I also will try different colors of ink. 

Tissue Paper Painting with TAG

Yesterday, our Tidewater Artists Group (TAG) held a Techniques Workshop facilitated by Julie Armstrong and her lovely sisters.

One of the techniques we did was Tissue Paper Painting. A sample is shown above. It was a little tricky to photograph the piece due to the glossy medium we used. Lately, I seem to be working with a lot of glossy art pieces, don't I?

I'm sharing the technique so you can try it for yourself. I know I will experiment with this idea again. 

Tissue Paper Painting Directions

1. Using a Stazon Ink Pad, and various rubber stamps, fill your tissue paper with stamped images.
2. Tightly ball up a white kitchen trash bag then lay on a table protected with papers.
3. Lay tissue paper on top of the crinkled trash bag.
4. Spray tissue paper with water.
5. Paint wet tissue paper with a mixture of glossy fluid medium and a small amount of acrylic paint. You can make up different colors of this mixture. 
6. Set aside to dry. When dry, carefully peel the tissue paper off the trash bag.

Notes: I think I will try matte medium when I do this technique again. Gently paint your medium mixture on the fragile wet tissue paper so that you don't tear it.

 

Trusting the Process in Art

Today, I was experimenting with this image. First, I stamped the buildings - then enlarged them. I next put on a protective spray and added color with watercolor crayons and watercolor pencils. I have not finished the image but I didn't know what I wanted to do next with this piece. So I later worked on creating some more collaged hearts for my panel series. Then I pasted some papers in my Art Journal. 

I wasn't satisfied with my art making at that point which made me think of a book in my personal library entitled, Trust the Process written by Shaun McNiff.

McNiff says that "It is always hard to see that doubt, fear and indirectness are eternal aspects of the creative path....If we are able to stay with a situation, it will carry us to a new place."

McNiff goes on to say that "I have learned to accept the periods of frustration and blockage as an unconscious buildup for creation.....No matter what your style may be, impediments are an inevitable part of the creative process."

What do you think? When you make art, do you Trust the Process?

 

Studio Cleanup

 

For the past few weeks, I've been working on various art projects nonstop. In between the art projects, I have not stopped to clean up my messes. You know what happens then. The piles of papers, and clutter, continue to increase and before I realize it, I'm working on top of discarded layers of art residue. And I can't find anything like the scissors or ruler.

So today I had to stop the art making and clean my Studio. The cleanup took a good part of my day but once again order has been put into place and serenity prevails. Here are some odds and ends that I came across as I decluttered. I haven't seen these pieces in a long time.

What do you find when you clean up your Studio?

Hooked Rug - Work-In-Progress

Today I have another work-in-progress to share. This is a hooked rug that I'm currently attempting to complete. Finally, the background is almost done. My next step is to make a double checkerboard border in black and white. I'm talking a big checkerboard design - not those tiny little squares that you see on the linen.

A traditional rug hooking project takes a long time to complete. Since I belong to a Rug Hooking Group that meets weekly, it doesn't get boring. Chatting and eating treats makes the hooking go by faster.

The women in our group all create their own original designs. We use 100% wool and cutters to make our wool strips.

 

Art Journal Page-in-Progress

This week, I've been a little lax in my blog posts. My excuse is that I'm doing a lot of multi-tasking creating lately. Here's a work-in-progress Art Journal page that I began, on Tuesday, at our recent Angels on Fire Art Journaling session - and delicious Pot Luck Dinner.

I first gessoed the page with a small amount of light green acrylic paint mixed in to add background color. Then I gathered up some images and phrases from catalogs and magazines.

The collage-like flower images came from Catherine (our Journaling Session host for the evening). Earlier, she had gone through her ephemera stash and created goodie bags for all of us. There's nothing better than more ephemera for mixed-media artists. We were all thrilled with our new paper treasures.

After I glued down my collage pieces, I rubbed in some light blue, and green, oil pastels to add more color to the page. I still have some more work to do to complete the page.

Earlier, I mentioned multi-tasking creating. That night our group agreed that we all tend to work on a multitude of art projects at the same time. We decided that it had something to do with being women - and how we all have to multitask on a daily basis to get through busy days.

How about you? Do you multi-task create too?

 

 

Collaged Light Switch - Brag Monday at the Graphics Fairy

Over the weekend, I purchased some plain light switches to play with. Here's my first experiment. I used the beautiful Egg Prints image from The Graphics Fairy. I love this particular print because of the pastel and pink eggs.

First, I glued on a portion of the egg print on the light switch - and then lined the two vertical sides with old ledger paper. To finish it off, I distressed the edges of the light switch with pigment ink.

I added my light switch to the Link Up Party at Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy.  I also joined the Link Up Parties at:

• Homemaker on a Dime
• Under the Table and Dreaming

Photocopy Art Transfer Experiments

I was experimenting with Photocopy Art Transfers today. I used two photographs that my husband had taken when we were in Venice a few years back. First, I made laser photocopies at the local Office Max.

This is a transfer that I made using Golden Soft Gel Matte Medium. It's a little distressed but I can remedy that later on with some acrylic paint and/or watercolor crayons.

Next, I worked with Mona Lisa Omni Gel. Although this method took half the time (rubbing away those paper bits), the result is an image with a high gloss. The latter made it difficult to produce a good photograph for my blog. The dark clouds and rain outside were also not cooperating with picture taking.

I then decided to place a piece of wax paper over the image to cut the sheen - and take a second photograph. Hmmm - I kind of like the result.

But bottomline, I think I like the distressed image that I obtained with the Golden Soft Gel Matte Medium the best. It would meld nicely with various mixed-media art projects. If I do use the image produced with the Omni Gel, I will probably coat it with a matte finish first to tone down the sheen.

Little Mama Mixed-Media

Today, I finished this mixed-media art piece. The vintage childrens' image comes from Cathe Holden's blog, Just Something I Made.

The 'counting' text is from the Harrington's Spelling Book, copyright 1880. I love the worn and distresssed look of this book's pages and cover. I actually found the book in our local library's FREE Bin. And I was thrilled to save it from the trash. I will post an image of the book tomorrow when there is more sunshine.

This mixed-media piece reminds me of all the Little Mamas who took care of their younger brothers and sisters. I was one of those Little Mamas. Were You?

Do You Collage Fast or Slow?

I had been wanting to create a mixed-media collage with this vintage image (of bird with nest in envelope) from The Graphics Fairy for a while now.

I finally did create the art work but it took quite a long time for all of the pieces to come together. I added and deleted different images of ephemera. I arranged and rearranged the composition, all the while, not pasting any image down permanently. Finally I felt satisfied, completed the gluing and added some corner brads.

The collage was done on a 5" x 4 1/2" piece of cherry wood.

At times, the process of collage amazes me. Although this art work took weeks before I was finally ready to commit to a finished piece. Other times, I choose two or three different images that immediately speak to me and suddenly my collage is completed. It makes me stop and wonder at the magic - and power - of art making.

So how do you collage - Fast or Slow?

My French Heart Ornament Featured on Brag Monday (#110) - Graphics Fairy Site

I have Great News to share. My French Heart Ornament is featured on Brag Monday (#110) on the Graphics Fairy site.

Karen is so generous to offer readers FREE vintage printables and clip art on a daily basis. I especially love her French ephemera. I also admire Karen's elegant taste and that's why I am so thrilled that she featured my Heart on her site.

Cinnamon Pink Heart

Recently, I've been experimenting with Americana Triple Thick Gloss Glaze from DecoArt. I have used both the spray and the brush-on versions.

For this heart-shaped sign project, I decided to go with the brush-on glaze because I wanted to create an enamel-like finish. First, I covered a large wood heart (8" x 8") with vintage clipart, Paris Advertising Ephemera, from The Graphics Fairy. I distressed the heart with pigment ink.

I poured a layer of the brush-on glaze all over the heart shape. I found that it is tricky working with the glaze on larger pieces. The glaze that I had put on smaller hearts produced a smooth finish. The large heart has a mottled finish. But I think that it only adds to the overall distressed look that I was trying to achieve. The specks that you see on the ribbon are loose bits of silver glitter.

Only later did I realize that this is definitely a Cinnamon Pink kind of heart. I guess I really do like pink and brown.

I added this post to Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy (#44).

 

Yupo Paper - Techniques from Sandrine Pelissier

For the past year, I've had a pad of yupo paper languishing in my studio. I keep meaning to experiment with the paper but other art projects have taken up my time. Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Today, I googled yupo paper and came upon Sandrine Pelissier's Web sites. She provides a great overview on Painting with Watercolors, Acrylics and Mixed Media on Yupo paper.

In addition to Sandrine's informative Yupo Paper site, she maintains Web sites for Watercolor Painting and Mixed Media Painting. Sandrine also hosts a blog.

In each of her venues, you'll find a wealth of painting techniques, demos and inspiration. Now, I just have to get my Yupo paper back on the drawing board.

 

KOOL-AID® on Wool Experiment

I needed some additional colors of wool for future mixed-media art projects so I did some experimenting.

Using my microwave, I dyed this wool fabric with a mixture of two packets of Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade KOOL-AID® - and about 16 ounces of water and 4 ounces of vinegar. I used unsweetened KOOL-AID. It took a total of 7 - 8 minutes. I did check the wool about every two minutes. You'll know the process is done when the water looks clear.

The color is a little mottled because I used a small Pyrex dish for a 15" long x 11" wide piece of recycled wool. I do like the end result. What do you think?

Received My Moo Business Cards Today

YAY! My Moo Business Cards arrived today! I'm very impressed with the quality of Moo's products.

Etsy has teamed up with Moo.com to offer Etsy Sellers an exclusive FREE pack of Moo Business Cards. You can choose up to 50 different photos to display on your Business Cards. All you pay is standard shipping & handling (6.00 USD). The offer is limited to one pack of free cards per Etsy seller. Find out more details here.

Vintage Car Collage

Instead of a sepia tone, I decided to stay with a realistic photograph of the vintage car. The background consists of a vintage map - and an old neighbors stamp. The substrate is cherry wood.

I may add some tacks or nails to the corners of the wood.

Elegant Paper Mache Tea Cups from Ann Wood

Image from Ann Wood's blog

Via the Decor8 blog, I found these lovely paper mache tea cups, created by Ann Wood, to mark the 5 year anniversary of her blog,

Check out Ann's beautiful blog for the template and detailed instructions. I'm imagining a set of Alice in Wonderland teacups.

Don't forget to check out her shop to see her darling sweethearts.

Silk Flowers & Gesso Possibilities

Today, I was covering some boards with white gesso when I noticed this silk flower on my work table.

I applied two coats of gesso on the flower. I like how it looked when it dried. Big possibilities here. More gesso? Or maybe some pale pastel paint? Of course, the raw edges will have to be trimmed after all the painting is done. I know some artists dip silk flowers in spackle or wallpaper paste.

What did you experiment with today?

Use Your Completed Art to Increase Your Inspiration

To get inspired, many of us purchase mixed-media art magazines and books, read blogs and take courses. I also like to use my completed art pieces to jump-start ideas for new projects. Many times, it is my smaller works of art that help me to design larger art creations.

For example, I used my collaged Alice in Wonderland postcard to create a 9" x 12" mixed-media art & watercolor painting as shown below. Do you practice this habit?

If not, set aside some time to review your past art work. Look at your ATCs, inchies, postcards, greeting cards, paintings, chubby books, assemblage pieces and board books. Ask yourself how you can transform this completed art into different media.

Think bigger, think smaller, bright colors or pale pastels, simple designs or complex. If you already use your completed art to create new works, why not share your discoveries with us.

I'm Finally Back Online

Woo Hoo! I'm finally back online. My laptop crashed and it took two weeks (plus) to get it back in working order. I'll spare you all the miserable details. So far, it looks like I have all my files/images. I'm still working out the quirks. I'm happy to be back in blog land, Etsy land - and with you, dear readers.

Last week, I attended the Soldering for Virgins - Medaliscious class at the Art and Soul Retreat. I loved the class! Sally Jean Alexander is a dynamic and knowledgeable instructor - and a sweet lady too. She taught us so much in just one day! I highly recommend her class. 

Here's the pendant that I made in class. I still need to add some jump rings. Of course, I need a lot of practice but I'm excited that I created my first soldered art work.

For greater efficiency, I also plan to purchase a Weller soldering iron.

 

Received Two Beautiful Tags

 
I've been busy working on my new art pieces for the March 10th update of PFATT (Primitive Folk Art Trinkets & Treasures) Marketplace. The results? I'm a little behind in blogging. My home is littered with art supplies - and my two pampered Shih Tzus are feeling neglected. But I did make my PFATT Marketplace deadline.

I received two beautiful tags which I won from Kelly (host of Artsy Visions) via Lisa's Swifka One World One Heart 2011 Event. I'll be putting the tags up on my Inspiration Board. Thank you Kelly!

In case you haven't heard, Lisa will host a new event in 2012. The event will be called Our World Our Art and you can read about it, and sign up, here.

First Painting in 2011

I finished working on this mixed-media painting yesterday. I've been using Caran d'Ache Neocolor II crayons lately - and I'm really enjoying the process.

I would love to own the box set of 40 or 84 crayons. Heck, I'd even be happy with the set of 30 crayons. I need to put more of these crayons on my Wish List.

So far, what's your favorite art supply in this New Year?

My Shabby Chic Book-Page Wreath

For a long time now, I've been wanting to make the gorgeous, Book-Page Wreath which Living with Lindsay made famous. Well, I finally made one just a few days ago. It certainly was a labor-intensive project but I'm happy that I now have my own wreath to hang in my Studio.

If you decide to make a wreath, make sure you check out Lindsay's wonderful tutorial. It was a great help to me. There are so many variations with paper folding that you can try.

Create a wreath - You'll be glad you did!

 

New Mixed-Media Art Painting

I've been doing a lot of painting during the past few weeks. This afternoon, I finished my second assignment for my online course.  I really enjoyed working with all the bright colors.

Right now (as my painting suggests), it's important to me to Communicate with Art.

The Heart of Art - Course Update

We're now in Week Two of Tam's awesome online course, The Heart of Art. Here's my (work-in-progress) painting which was part of the Week One assignment. I still need to add some embellishments and text to the painting.

Tam, founder of Willowing.org, is a wonderful teacher. In fact, her course has exceeded all of my expectations. I've picked up new techniques and gobs of inspiration. You can still register for the course here.

 

 

Simple Mixed-Media Art Vignette

  

A while back, I purchased this shrine from ARTchix Studio. I thought that the shrine was so stunning by itself that I didn't want to add any paint or collage that would take away from its simple loveliness. 

I use the shrine as a frame by rotating a variety of images behind the glass. Sometimes, mixed-media art can be simple but effective. How do you use your shrines?

Postcard Holder as Artist's Tool

I recently purchased a wire postcard holder from Stampington & Company. I'm really pleased with my purchase and I plan to use the holder in a variety of ways, e.g., to:

• Display my new mixed-media/collage cards in my home.
  
• Use as a promotional display at Craft Shows.
• Display art pieces that are works-in-progress in my Studio.

I believe I will benefit most from displaying my works-in-progress on the postcard holder. Some Artists call these pieces starts. I've found that when I display half-finished works of art in my studio - and let them rest - my sub-conscious takes over.

During the next few days (or weeks), I might be working on an entirely new project. But I usually glance at my starts and new ideas begin to tug at my muse. Soon, I come up with the perfect way to finish one of my starts.In a way, I will be using my Postcard Holder as an Artist's tool.

Here's the postcard holder. What do you do to keep the creativity going?

Tussie Mussies for the Craft Show

I've been making vintage-type items for an upcoming Craft Show. The event happens in two weeks - and there's still so much to do!!

Although I enjoy dreaming up new products for the Show, I do miss my daily sketching which has been pushed aside lately. Here are some Tussie Mussies which I recently completed.

Have a Creative Day, Darlene

Mixed-Media Paperweights

Here are two paperweights that I created, and sold, at a Craft Fair a few months ago. The second image, of the girl, comes from the PaperWhimsy Shop. (Full Disclosure - I have no connection to the Shop. I'm just a happy customer.)

On another note, I think I'm getting better at sizing my blog images. Let me know!

Have a Creative Day, Darlene

Happy Spring

I really need to get more organized. I have not blogged in a week because I've gotten involved in too many activities. (I'm experiencing "Blog Guilt.") The Spring season is a good time to pare down one's schedule - and focus on the most important areas (or projects).

I think this ATC is appropriate for the Spring season. Happy Spring - and warmer days in the future!

Have a creative day, Darlene

Inchies - The Path to Greater Art

I've been out of town for the past few days so I have not been able to blog.

Each time I create a series of new Inchies, I usually come up with ideas for larger works of Art. I'm thinking of using the "Joy" inchie below as a springboard for a larger canvas. I might use a different word, e.g., "Dream" or "Create."

Since making Inchies isn't as demanding as developing a large mixed-media piece, I think it's easier to let our creative self go out and play. Why don't you try it!

Have a Creative Day, Darlene