Wednesday, July 23, 2014

UmWowStudios and Susan K Weckesser Summer Blog Hop


Hello Friends!! Welcome to the SUMMER BLOG HOP between UmWowStudio and Susan K. Weckesser Inc. We'll be sharing gorgeous bright and shining inspiration with you from both teams all week long. Be sure to keep visiting, hopping and commenting to enter to win one of TWO prize packages. Each day is chock full of goodness and we don't want you to miss a thing.
THERE ARE TWO PRIZES so be sure to leave me a comment here at the end of this post! 
It's my 14th wedding anniversary and I found this photo of my hubby and I from a family wedding many years ago.  We were expecting our second child at that point.  It was a great night!  So, I thought it would be fun to document it with lots of fun color.  Susan K Weckesser's Live in Color line is so vibrant and fun!  I knew I wanted to use the papers that looked painted on as accents.  So, I spray, brushed and splattered until my heart sang! 
 The Grandma's Needlepoint stamps were just darling!  The lines of stitched looking borders were perfect as accents here.  I usually love to sew on my pages but this allowed me to add some of that without dragging the sewing machine out.  I also used her Live in Color Stencil with some Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Whipped Spackle to create some texture accents.


 That chipboard feather from UmWowStudios is divine!  I adore the shape of it!  I used lots of different Glam on it (I had a ton in my stash and hardly ever drag it out but this was too tempting!). 

 Then, on the slightly stickier parts, I rubbed some gold leafing.  It stuck to the sticky parts and gave a bit of gold shine/ bling!

 This page is so fun and it was definitely my favorite kind of day... well, any day I create is my favorite kind of day!

Now be sure to visit the Susan K. Weckesser blog to see what's happening on their side! Leave comments for your chance to win a prize pack full of UWS and SKW by July 26th!

Materials:
Susan K Weckesser:  Live in Color Collection, Grandma's Needlepoint stamp set,  Live in Color stencil

UmWowStudio: Feather Solid


Other:
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Moonlight, Turquoise, Sunflower, Apple, and Cinder
Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze in Oil Slick
Tattered Angels Glam in Bordeaux, Palm Leaf, and Turquoise
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Stamper's Big Brush Pen in black
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Textural Accents Whipped Spackle
Gold Leaf
Studio Calico stickers
American Crafts Studio Calico Thickers

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

ComposiMold and The Mixed Media with Gelatos kit!

Hello my artsy friends!  I am sharing my necklace that I made using our product feature, ComposiMold and the Mixed Media with Gelatos kit that I designed for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft!  Since I have created the original artwork in this kit, I decided to challenge myself and create a wearable piece of artwork.
http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/.a/6a0134896f7ad2970c01a3fd319c57970b-pi 
 ComposiMold was a new product to me but I immediately knew I wanted to create something with wings.  I loved how easy it was to use... just heat, stir, and pour over items (make sure the items are adhered to the bottom of the container before pouring).  I put the mold in the refrigerator to cool faster.  You know me, I hate to wait!
 Here's what it looked like when firm and removed from the container.
 I took the Cold Porcelain clay from the Mixed Media with Gelatos kit and mixed some with the Gold Champagne Gelato® and pressed it into the wings.


 I used some of the map tissue paper to cover some beads that just weren't that pretty!  I used the Textural Accents Gel Medium to adhere the paper.
 Next, I spread I light layer of the Whipped Spackle with the palette knife on a section of the wood veneer board and then placed the stencil over the layer and added more Whipple Spackle. 
 Once dry, I added the three Gelato® colors and stamped with Stamper's Big Brush pen over a rubber stamp. I coated the entire thing with more Textural Accents Gel Medium.
 Here is a good photo of the texture created with the Whipped Spackle.
 I cut out the main shape and adhered it to the back of a chipboard doily shape from UmWow Studios.  A gear, brad and the molded wings were added.

 See that bead I covered?  So cute!
 I used a hinge and stamped on it with the Stamper's Big Brush Pen.  Just a fun accent.



I can't wait to wear this with a fun outfit and show off these colors and fun products! I have a blast creating this unique wearable art and I hope you enjoyed it today!  Leave a comment on the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft blog about how you plan to use both products, and you'll be entered in a giveaway to win a set of the ComposiMold and the Mixed Media with Gelatos Kit. 

BUT also, I have a Mixed Media with Gelatos kit to giveaway here!   You have to leave me a comment on my blog here for a chance!  I will choose my winner on Friday, July 18th at 8pm.

Supplies:
Gears: Tim Holtz
Brads: Prima Marketing
Beads
Hinges
Jump rings: Prima Marketing
Chain: unknown source
Beacon FabriTac adhesive


Monday, July 14, 2014

Questions and Answers

Hi readers...  A week ago, I got a challenge from DeeDee Catron. She invited me to a blog hop sort of thing. The key is to answer a few questions and then challenge some fellow crafters along. Her post can be found here and at the bottom of this post are three incredible creative geniuses that will answer the same questions next monday, the July 7th! Hopefully you'll join them then!
Thank you for the challenge, DeeDee! And here we go...
I got involved in the craft industry with a group of good friends and my local scrapbook store (that is no longer open!).  I started with albums but now I have merged my love of Fine Art with crafting.  I am a public school art educator and am certified both in New York State and Nationally K-12.  I have a BFA in Fine Arts with a focus on Sculpture and Painting and a Masters degree in Art Education.  I love teaching and creating!  I am still learning new techniques and have taken many workshops and classes.  I just love creating anything!
1) What am I working on?
I am working on several projects right now.  My art studio is a MESS!  I always seem to have many projects started at the same time.  I get inspired and start things but often move on to other things as my mood dictates.  Sometimes I don't finish projects I start and sometimes I come back to them days or months later to finish.  Right now, I have some Design Team work going on and working on my layouts for the August kit with Scrapbooking From The Inside Out!  I also have 2 encaustic projects in progress.  I am a little ADD so I have to have multiple things going on at a time!  I get distracted  easily...LOL!
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

 
 

Oh, this is a hard one! I think my work varies from piece to piece but overall I think my work is heavily influenced by my sculptural, mixed media, and painting background.  I tend to always add a pop of color and usually have a emphasis on one part of the work.  I have to say that I was painting on my scrapbook pages early on before it was a popular thing to do.  I just love paint, texture mediums and often I include techniques that I teach to my kids at school.  I am always including printimaking, painting, and even drawing into my work.  I do see more and more crafters  adding elements of this nature but I think it's always been a constant for me. 

3) Why do I create what I do?


I create because it is an extension of myself.  It is not something that I must do but rather something that I am driven to do.  It feeds my creativity, my imagination, and my soul.  I would like to say that I make successful items each time I create but the reality is that sometimes I create and it is awful! BUT it is the process rather than the product that is satisfying for me.  Many times I sit down and just play with materials... see what new things I can do with them, what new color combinations come together, and what images appeal to me.  When I'm feeling stuck, I go to Pinterest, visit a gallery or museum, take a workshop or class to learn something new or just play with no stress on producing something.  There are times that deadlines for my DT work come up on me and I have to make something amazing in a short time period.  I think I work best under pressure and with short deadlines.  I get crazy and grouchy but I'm always surprised at what I create and how my intuition takes over.   I love symbolism and after I create, I'm usually surprised to see images, words, and colors that work to tell a story together.  Often I just grab and create and later analyze what it all means.  It just flows out of me sometimes!
4) How does your creating process work?

 



What drives my process is usually a photo, a material or just the assignment I'm given. Sometimes I am inspired by something I'm given in a kit or found in my stash.  It might be the trigger for the project and then I search out media, colors, photos, or papers based on my idea.  I 'm always inspired looking at other's work and often I keep a collection of ideas at my fingertips in case I need a starting point.  Once I have my focus for the project, I start laying out everything on my desk space.  I start building layers on the paper or other surface. 
 
I often intuitively grab things and add them to the page or project.  I am impatient but also fickle... I change my mind many times! It's sort of like a whirlwind of color and materials.  It's comical when my husband walks in because he is such a neat freak and I'm more of a creative mess.  When I am done with my project of the moment, I have to take time to clean up my disaster of a space so I can move on to new projects!   

My creative process for scrapbooking starts with looking through my inspiration files and deciding what technique or imagery I'm going to start with.  Once I decide what my focus is going to be, I start pulling out materials, papers, embellishments, and photos.  I have so many areas of storage that I may have to take a while to find what I want. 
Then, it's the laying out of items and once it looks interesting, I start moving things off and do my painting or media mess!  Finally, I glue down all elements and take photos!
 
If I'm creating something with dimension or sculptural, I tend to start with layers and images.   Lately, I have been obsessed with encaustics and have been working with wax and embellishments.  I get lost in the process when I am creating.  Time flies, materials are everywhere and every surface is covered with stuff!  I love all kinds of art and often bounce from one to the other. 
 

Thank you for stopping by today! And here's some of my favorite crafty ladies joining the hop next Monday! 
 
Melissa Elsner:  "Hello! My name is Melissa Elsner and I hail from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. When I'm not working at my day job as a preschool teacher, I am usually having coffee with friends, shopping, walking through art galleries, traveling and, of course, scrapbooking. I've been doing paper crafts in some shape or form since the early 2000's when I took a class at my, now closed, LSS. So I began to fervently make cards. Then, during a therapy session, my counselor suggested I use scrapbooking to journal about things. I hate writing. I hate keeping a regular journal. So I tried it and haven't turned back. Most of my layouts are about me and my inner thoughts, struggles, triumphs and such. And I still make cards! I have had the complete honor to work with some amazing folks in this industry. People who know how I scrap and support it!"


I've met Melissa in person and she is so sweet and fun!  I just adore her honest and beautiful style.  Her scrapbooking is so different from mine but I admire her clean and fun style.  She is not afraid of color and how she combines her embellishments on a page inspire me!

Tiffany Johnson: "My name is Tiffany Johnson. I’m a SAHM, an Army wife, Army daughter, avid paper crafter, music lover, dancer wannabe, runner, and pseudo-chef! I’m a very eclectic person and will try anything at least once! I love the great outdoors as much as I love curling up with a book in my club chair. As for my family, they are #1. My husband is in the Army, CJ is all about movies and video games, Liam is a professional helicopter maker (legos), and our newest addition, Lillianne Marie, loves dancing. Our family also includes 2 furry friends, Sandy (our little dog) & Bella (our puppy)."
 
Tiffany has not only inspired me with her amazing technique videos and cardmaking, but also her dedication to her family and running.  She inspired me to start running and I love seeing what she is up to in exercise and crafting!
 
  Cari Fennell:  "My heart is my family-they come first and foremost. My friends keep me sane-love them! My hobby is scrapbooking-can't get enough of it"  Cari designs for Prima Marketing and teaches workshops all over the world!
 
Cari is my girl! She has been one of the first crafters to inspire me to evolve as a scrapbooker.  She is classy, hysterical, and a blast to hang with.  I have been friends with her since 2009 and whenever we get together, no matter how long it's been between, it's like we pick up right where we left off.  She has a classic style and layers elements perfectly!