MATCHBOX BOOKS - ART, INC.

Love these little art projects:

HALLOWEEN TAGS FOR CREATIVE BLOCK

One of my favorite Tim Holtz stamps on tag stock layered with a thin coat of gesso:

ACCORDIAN FOLD ALBUMS

I have made several of these over the past few weeks - most hold postcard-size art.  "The Moon" album will hold my artwork from  Roxanne Coble's Creatures class that I can't wait to begin!  The yellow album cover features one of my recent gelli prints and will hold artwork from Roxanne Coble's Lyrical class.  "Sprinkle Joy's" album cover features a postcard created by Sally Robinson and is one of a group from a past postcard swap.  The "Deer Man" album cover is from a digital art Tarot Card swap I participated in sometime ago - art by Michele Jackson.

FINISHED 30" x 30" PAINTING FOR LIVING ROOM

One picture is worth a thousand words!

MAYAN PRAYER FLAGS

July's stencils for Stencil Club members www.stencilgirls.com were an assortment of several different stencils using typical Mayan symbols.  Along with the stencils was a video (private for Stencil Club members only) featuring the designing artist making a set of prayer flags using the stencils and assorted colors of paint.  Here's my take:

Super easy to create using scraps of muslin fabric - torn edges - Tim Holtz Distress Paints - Mayan stencil collection and adhering all layers together with Wonder-Under iron-on adhesive.  No sewing!

ORDERED CHAOS LARGE CANVAS - STEP ONE

Below is my first large piece from Dina Wakely's "Ordered Chaos" online workshop - scribble practice painting large:

Scribble Drawing Large

ZEN PAINTING AND ORDERED CHAOS WORKSHOPS...

I signed up some time ago for Jodi Ohl's workshop "Zen Painting: Pathways and Connections" featured on Jodi's blog.

I've gathered my supplies and am planning on beginning Jodi's online class this week - this will be the first time I paint on four canvases at one time (6" x 6" each).

Also beginning this week is Dina Wakely's "Ordered Chaos" online workshop being taught on Jeanne Oliver's ning site.  Dina's supply list includes using 32" x 20" watercolor paper.

From Zen to Chaos and from 6 x 6 to 32 x 20 should be quite a challenge - here are two pictures of my BEGINNING Zen paintings - I flipped them as they can go either way.  The experience was very Zen!

WHEN SHE WAS BAD........

Another Dyan style journal spread - strengthened spine with turquoise duct tape.  Last thing I want to do is have my journal fall apart.  This one was constructed with a pocket tap opening on the upper right-hand side.

She Was Terrible

BOHO JOURNAL SPREAD

Here's another recent addition to my Dyan style journal using a magazine photo of a face which I altered with paint and collage bits:

BOHO

EYE CANDY JOURNAL SPREAD

I've been finishing some new journal spreads - this is Dyan Reaveley style and incorporates a jumbo tag in the middle of the spread.  Second pic shows the spread with the tag flipped:

Eye Candy

Tag Flipped - Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet

DYAN REAVELEY JOURNAL DONE MY WAY

I've been busy creating backgrounds with Dyan's Dylusions paints - love them!  Here are my completed (I think) hot pink journal spread and my under-construction Stephen King pages.  I used a combination of Postbox Red and Bubblegum Pink (yummy) for the spread.  As Dyan would say, "the colors are just brilliant."

Some Like It Hot

OMBRE ATC SWAP - ALTERED TATTERED TIMEWORN

Here's my effort for April's ATC swap using an ombre background.  Ombre means having colors or tones that shade into each other.  I'm loving the yellow fading into a yellow green at the bottom.  Truthfully, Tim's Crazy Birds make anything look good!

BUMPING A STENCIL

I found a YouTube video with a stencil technique that I really like - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nujTk7tGzM&list=UUs9MVeZCc8hFqi2_T7ygsfA - it's called bumping a stencil.  It adds a lot more dimension to a project.  See what you think:

Bumping A Stencil - #1

My second tag using the same technique is for my friend Dori who loves sugar skulls and Dyan Reaveley (not necessarily in that order):

Bumping A Stencil - #2

STEAMPUNK STYLE CHRISTMAS JOURNAL PAGE

I finally found some time to create a collage on a plain brown Kraft envelope for one of my journals.  After cutting the envelope down to size, I covered the front with clear gesso, added some stencils, some collage pieces and stamps. Going to go glue it into my art journal now and then on to the next:

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

PACKING TAPE TRANSFER - NO. 10 CHALLENGE

I just completed the final challenge of the year for Paper Traders' number and new technique every month challenge.  Here's my packing tape transfer of a magazine image of an altered Karl Lagerfield photo.  Fun and so easy!

Definitely A Perfect Ten

MY GOTHIC ART SUBMISSION FOR SOMERSET HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!!!!!

Somerset Studio recently sent out a call for Gothic art to be considered for publication in their upcoming September/October issue.  You can imagine how excited I was when I received a phone call from Stampington during dinner the other night asking me to verify my mailing address so they could send me a complimentary copy of the upcoming fall issue.  Two of my three Gothic inspired tags were chosen for publication on a full-page spread (page 116). However, I thought you might like to see the one they DIDN'T choose (which actually is a favorite of mine).  I wanted to keep my tags coordinated using a minimalist style so I stamped my chosen images on plain manila #8 tag stock with only black Stayz-on Ink; added a bit of white Gelly pen ink; weathered wood Distress Ink to add a hint of color to the faces; and minimal color on some of the accent stamping.  See what you think.....

The Plot Thickens

Most of the stamps are Michelle Ward's; main image is a LaBlanche stamp.  Be sure to check out the September/October issue to see my other two (Batty and Dark/Stormy Night) - I love their Halloween issue and can't wait to dig out all my Halloween stamps!

MARION'S POSTAGE STAMP PEOPLE ATC SWAP

Marion hosts an ATC swap every year about this time.  It's always a challenge, and this year was no exception!  Here are my ATC's for the swap - Marion, keep the one you like the best:

LATEST DYAN REAVELY STYLE JOURNAL PAGES

Here's yesterday's pages using glue gun stamps that I made myself as part of the background, then stamped in the foreground - my homemade flowers are filled in with Dyan's new white paint.  It's super creamy and unexpectedly (but happily) picked up some bleed through from her spray paints that I used:

Right Side of Page

Left Side of Page

THE BOYS' TAGS DYAN REAVELEY STYLE

The boys visited for an overnight earlier this week - using pictures I took of them on Sunday, here's what they came up with by juxtaposing their head shots with magazine images.

Jonah

Ari

ASIAN CARD CLASS

I taught an Asian card class at My Craft Room over the weekend - the cards featured strips of origami paper, a heart mask, Chinese book paper and Asian stamps.  Distress Ink was used with a make-up sponge for the masked heart and Stayz-On Ink was used for the stamped images.  Here are my samples:

Heart Mask w/Distress Ink

Torn Paper Heart w/Stamping

Mask and Torn Heart Collage w/Stamping