Pimp my Blog

Okay, so Cari Fennell got me thinking about redoing the look of my blog and well, I'm playing around with it. It's not gonna stay like this... I'm sure it will change tomorrow. I am just having fun with some backgrounds and maybe a new header! We'll see... I wiped out a few of my gadgets though in the process and am trying to figure out how to get them back... geesh! Be patient this is a work in progress!

Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker

I got my goodies from Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker on Friday and I must say that they are delish! I finished one page already and working on many more... Here's the line I worked with for this layout... Sweet as Cherry Pie.


Isn't it sweet??!!! I love the graphics and the bold colors together... modern and retro in one! Look for her at CHA this July! She has 6 lines total coming out there. I have seen 3 of them and can't wait to see more!

"Lucky Me"
I used the papers from the mini 6 x 6 pad to create the flowers and stamped the cute sayings and horseshoe to create a text paper with glimmer mist to add color. The brads are her's too and they are covered with cord! It's gorgeous! I love all the designs!

Detail of the flower and "stamped text paper"

Off to scrap some more before I have to go to school and finish packing my room up. What a pain! I have over half done (took me 5 hours to do that) and haven't even finished yet! I am getting anxious to just be moved already so I can start setting up my new room, but of course, the school year isn't even over yet... this is the last week. I'm sure Diane (who is the retiring teacher) is still going through things and packing up her stuff too. I am just getting ahead of myself. It's officially summer and Mark is chomping at the bit to get in Nonna and Grandpa Bob's pool... He would LIVE in the water if I let him. He's a little fish and the happiest when he's swimming! Lots of good photo ops there though. Can't wait to see little Christopher in the water soon! We will attempt to do that tomorrow I think. It's gonna get HOT this week and I'm sure a dip in the pool is exactly what we need.

I'll post this week with my new Black River Designs projects.. Again... YUMMY stuff. I am lucky to have the opportunity to work for 2 great companies!

Bad Girls Fun

There is so much going on at Bad Girls Kits right not that it will make your head spin!! Check out:

All you have to do to be eligible to win this blog candy is to leave a comment on the blog (the link is below!) and tell us what new happening at BAD GIRLS you are really excited about!!! Is it the new kit direction with teaching and education in mind? Is it BAD GIRL BLEUPRINT? Is it the CLASSES? Is it ARTIST OF THE MONTH? Is it our trademark TOTE BAG CHALLENGE? Leave your message on the BLOG post for June 14th. You have until Wednesday, June 17th to post and then Wendy will draw a random winner....GOOD LUCK

Blog Candy

Onto the next exciting challenge at Bad Girls... Bleuprint #1 We are so excited to present you with a fun way to be inspired. Check out this link for the whole scoop, but your project is due Thursday, June 17th to be eligible for becoimin the feature of the week!! Check out Funky Town (click here):

My class is in full swing now over there and you can join the printing madness all month!! The class is full of tips, steps for using a variety of innovative materials to print on using an ink jet printer! Don't miss out!! You can purchase my class over at Bad Girls in the Shoppes! Just because it started already doesn't mean that you can't join us!

Upcoming Classes:

As a compliment to my class, Jeni Boisvert is teaching a Photoshop class... not just any Photoshop tutorial like you find online, nooo... this one is full of useful how to's for making your photos to POP!!! This super simple and fun hands on approach to photoshop is a great starting point for beginners and intermediate users that want to bring their work to life! I will guide you along using Adobe Elements 7. I will share with you some tips and tricks that I use, as well as some of my "secrets" for getting custom color and having it do what you want it to do for the look and feel you are going for! Photoshop is as limitless as your imagination, and this class will open up a whole new world for you. You will learn Color Enhancements, as well as other looks for your photos such as Vintage, Color Splash, Color Wash, Black and White looks. We'll learn about blending modes and layers, as well as a cool trick for working with layer masks in elements that are otherwise only available in higher versions of Photoshop. We will also be making fun banners and blinkies! This Class includes a private forum as well as video instruction and a downloadable .pdf file. As a special bonus you will have access to some custom downloadable papers and brushes made exclusively for this class! June 25th - 27th, 2009 and will run for one month! It can be purchased over at Bad Girls! You can bet I'll be taking this class to learn how to make those darn cute banners she makes and to play with my photos in an even more artistic way!

Make sure you are around for reveal night over there too because I have another surprise that will be offered that night! Join us on June 30th at 12 am EST for the reveal party!

TOOOT!!!

I am thrilled to announce that I was chosen to join the first Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker LLC design team!!! I am so honored and excited to be on this list with all these amazingly talented women! Nikki's new and fun paper and embellishment lines will be coming out at CHA Orlando this July. I can't wait to get my hands on them and ohh and ahhh over each design!!! Nikki has shared one line with us on here blog. She will be revealing her site soon. I have to say that I felt so bad when she called... I was so shocked and my kids were yelling from the back seat of the car! We had just left the library and my son, Mark was yelling because whenever the phone rings he feels he must talk to the person. I was trying to tune him out and drive at the same time! LOL! Thanks Nikki!!! I'm so excited!

The Domestic Design Team:
(they are in no particular order)
1. Charity Hassel from FL
2. Nathalie Leonelli from CA
3. Julie Tucker-Woleck from AZ
4. Deana Boston from MO
5. Jennifer Matott from NY
6. Susan Dupre from TX
7. Jana Eubank from UT
8. Mimi Leinbach from PA
9. Michelle Lanning from CA
10. Laura Achilies form CO
11. Deanna Misner from TN
12. Abbie Torroll from OK

The International Design Team:
(they are in no particular order)
1. Hilde Janbroers from the Netherlands
2. Emeline Seet from Singapore
3. Nadhrah Maidin from Malaysia
4. Mette Kallander from Sweden
5. Kathleen Glossop from Australia
6. Anne Jo Lexander from Norway
7. Ria Mojica from the Phillippines
8. Mieke Nagtegaal from Holland
9. Malin Dahlstrom from Sweden
10. Claude Campeau from Canada
11. Jodi Wilton from Canada
12. Michele Beck from France

XOXO
Jen

Class Sneak Peek

I'm so excited (and a little nervous) about teaching the PREMIERE class at Bad Girls kits! It is all about my secrets and tips for printing on alternative surfaces with your ink jet printer. Some of these ideas are mine alone and I'm sharing them! Here is a sneek peek video of the class...

If you are interested in purchasing the class, just visit here: http://badgirlskits.com/store/

The class starts on June 15th -17th and will be up for a month for those students to view as their schedule allows. I will have downloadable PDF's available on the last day of class for those that paid.
This class will be easy to use, fun and full of possibilities, with feedback and lots of good banter! Join me and create something spectacular!!

Serendipity Sunday

Moving on... to Serendipity Sunday's finds. I took some time this morning to find mixed media loves

Michelle Chaplan
I love this artist! She has a great way to overlay images onto vintage papers, fabric, and other such media. She was featured in this month's Somerset Studios. I just have to do this with some of my old family photos... I LOVE IT!!! She takes commissions too. What a unique art piece.


Aspen Grove

				Felicity, a new mixed-media on canvas by Douglas E. Taylor. 30.5 x 24.75 inches overall in a simple one inch wide gold leaf frame $3,245: SOLD
	This collaged piece is amazing in color and pattern! I have a thing for trees anyways, but the whole piece is full of natural shapes and amazing detail. I'm so inspired to use my paper scraps this way!

Martin Brouillette
This is a great example of image transfer onto a painted background. I'm not sure that this is how this artist did this work, but that's what I immediately think of. It gives it such a moody and emotional feel to the piece.


Carol Archer
Skin to Work series, 1998, fabric, latex and paper on board,
approx 40 x 40 cm.

This artist has a whole series of "skin like" textural pieces. I love the colors and the subtle imagery of a nose and the distressed stripes. It's a feast of sensory overload!

I love to browse the internet for artwork that can jump start my creative juices when I'm feeling like I'm running low on mojo. I have lots of new ideas now and can't wait to go play with images today!!! Hope you were inspired...

XOXO
Jen

Apologies and Tone

I want to sincerely apologize to anyone that was hurt by my comments over at a certain message board. I certainly didn't mean my tone to come across as snotty or mean. I sometimes get so absorbed in my opinions that I forget that the means of communication in the digital age can be so easily misconstrued. If you know me, you know that I am passionate about art and kids! I love teaching, creating, and sharing with others. I would never intentionally hurt someone's feelings unless I don't think ahead of time... which is what happened. I put my foot in my mouth... I spouted defensive statements about art and kits that I shouldn't have voiced in written form because it can always be read in a negative tone. I should've known better! I should've thought and reread it... I shouldn't have been so "know it all"... It's horrible to have all these strangers saying horrible things about your personality when it's NOT your personality or intended message. I was wrong... I feel terrible. It doesn't matter what the initial reason behind the post was, nor does it matter if I still feel that some of my statements were truth... it just matters that someone's feelings were hurt. That I instilled defensive responses to art and personal creation... Art is art... it's whatever you create that means something to you. So, I have learned a HUGE lesson today. One that will have me posting my opinions less on public forums and more on my own personal space. This is MY space.. my blog. It's certainly viewed by some... more now because of my stupid fingers typing nasty remarks (even if they were provoked). BUT it is a place for me to share my art and get excited over things that inspire me. If you like it, great! Come back often and enjoy new art and new finds in the art and craft world, but if you don't like it or are offended, well, I'm sorry. However, it is my blog. I want to speak my mind here... share my passions, excitement, joys, family, and memories. I sometimes share funny stories about my boys. Sometimes I will share student work that inspires me or makes me smile. I will keep it positive as best I can because ultimately I want a positive atmosphere around me. Ultimately, I want to inspire others and support artists. I should remind myself that it doesn't feel good to have someone insinuate that you are not an artist... it hurts and I should've known that being an art teacher. Whatever I THINK in my mind (and don't voice verbally) is MY thoughts for good or bad and can't be held against me. IF it ever comes down to that in our country that our THOUGHTS are censored, well then I don't want to live here anymore. My private thoughts about art or other artists are PRIVATE... AND I'm keeping it that way unless those thoughts are positive in nature. SO, i have learned my lesson. I have begged foregiveness from those that I angered or hurt. That's all I can do... and go on creating!

Kits, Classes, and More!!

Club Bad Girls is back and totally revamped!!! The site has a new look, a new mission, and brand new limited edition kits!We have turned more towards the Art side of things in hopes that people will get more out of their kits than just layouts... they will want to try new techniques and materials. There are some new features too... Challenges, like the featured Elite Artist of the month's challenge and class that will teach you how to create with the kit or something in the kit. Speaking of Elite Artists... I am one! Wendy graciously invited me to stay on as a DT member for his exciting new venture! SO excited about this new approach. It's all about the art and that is so me!

Bad Girls Kits are also offering huge classes! These classes are full of fabulous projects, techniques, and skill developing to help you become a better artist or just allow you to learn something new that you can use to enhance your artwork. My class is being offered for 3 days... June 15-17th. It is only offered on Bad Girls and you can purchase and sign up for your exclusive password to join in on this class now at the new site... Click Here.

Alternative Photo Printing
Online Class taught by Jen Matott
June 15th -17th

$29.95

Class Description:
Are you bored with regular photographs on photo paper? Do you long to add more texture and interest to your artwork and pages? This in depth class is for you! I will show you how to print photographs and images onto alternative surfaces. Basically, any surface that will fit through your printer is free game! I will walk you through from simple photo editing to getting the most effective image from your printer. Forget the traditional way of using photographs... this class will have you recycling materials, playing with digital techniques and using media in a whole NEW way!!! I will share my secrets to printing on ribbon, metal, transparencies, and even sandpaper! You will not find this class anywhere else except on Bad
Girls! Join me for a fun and addictive technique class!

Sound exciting???!!! I am so pleased to have this opportunity to do this! Sign up today!!! I have not posted a tutorial lately due to this new development so I'm going to see how this class goes and if it is a success then I will offer more and hold off on the tutorials for now. There will be more free tuts in the future but for now, I need to focus on the new classes.

On another note, I have to drag my Fr*#ing computer to the Apple store to have it fixed. The screen is getting these dead pixel lines and it's starting to really bug me! I'm afraid it will just die soon. They said it is the video card... hope they can fix it there and not have to order parts so that I have to go back to pick it up... I don't know how long I can leave that computer and not have access to it! YIKES!!! I guess I'm really addicted! So, if you don't hear from me soon, it's because I have no computer yet. Groan....

I'll leave you with a few shots from last weekend of my boys
...
Mark at Oswego... it was sooo cold there!! and his funny face! Why do little boys feel the need to make goofy faces for every picture? It's cute, but I have a million photos of him doing this when I could just settle for a smile!

Christopher after his cereal.. he took the spoon from me and is chomping on it happily. He is definately teething! How cute is he???!!!

Brothers

Have a great day!
XOXO

JEN