Top Ten Blog Hop of 2015

Can you believe 2015 is coming to an end? This year has flown by!  I couldn't even catch up!  My blog posts were few and far between but I swear that I am going to try to do better this year... a sort of resolution.  I accomplished so much this year in my art and also in my life.  So many changes, so many positive choices, some mistakes and lots of laughs!  

For this blog hop, you just need to leave a comment on each of the posts (links below) up to 24 entries!  

We are giving away an $80 USD to the online store of the winner's choosing. To be entered you need to leave a comment on my blog by 11:59 pm CST on January 3. Then hop around to as many blogs as you want! Christine will choose a winner on the 4th and then I'll post it later on the 4th here.  You can get up to 24 entries for commenting on each blog.  Many of us have individual giveaways too - so make sure to check out those requirements. I will have details on my individual prize at the bottom of this post!

2015 was a crazy year for sure.  Time flew by and I found myself scrambling to finish projects but I also made some of my favorite art ever!  Sometimes deadlines help get me moving and creative juices flowing! Here are my top 10 favorites this year:

 This is an encaustic piece that I won 1st place at the New York State Fair Art Exhibit this year!  I love this piece an plan to create more in the series! It's made on drawing paper, beeswax, Pan Pastels, oil pastels, Gold Leafing, charcoal, and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Stamper's Big Brush Pen.

 An art journal page with lots of Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft products!  Love the Cicada stencil from UmWowStudio!

 Another art journal page with lots of Steampunk Gelatos colors! 

 There are not many scrapbook pages here this year... I just love my mixed media projects, but I do love the colors and techniques on this page.  My gorgeous friend, Nicole from NicoleJames Photography took this photo.  It's a symbol of womanhood to me... strong and soft.

 This little mini album was so fun to make with UmWowStudio's tag book and stencils.  LOVE the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft products on here too!

 Even though my Ustream video cut out due to an electrical storm that cut my power during the filming, I still love this mini canvas!  Someday I'll re-tape the process.  I just haven't had the time lately!

 This tote bag was a favorite of mine to create and I love the mediums and stitching that I did on here!  It's gorgeous and I always get complements wherever I wear it!

 This box was made for the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and Graphic 45 blog hop... I love this ATC box so much!  All the little details with mediums, Gelatos colors, and metal accents!

 Another Ustream project... a canvas bib necklace.  Love wearing this!

Another project that I did for a blog hop on Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft blog... clutch purses are so fun to make.  I think I'll be making more to match different outfits!

These last two are more encaustic work that I love.  I make the above when subbing for a professor at a nearby University this summer!  I was so honored to be asked and enjoyed the time to make art with students who inspired me! The below was a gift to my mom and dad for Christmas.  Empty nest symbolism but the colors were so soft and the nest was from a photo I took of a nest in the Adirondacks this summer.

So a few more than 10 but that's okay... I love looking back at how much I did accomplish this year in art making.  Even if I didn't share it all here, I love reviewing the past year and looking forward to a new artsy year!  Leave a comment here and on the other blogs and you could win a gift certificate of $80 for a store of your choice!  I am also giving away a Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Steampunk Gelatos set!  

Comment here by 12:01am on 1/5/16 and I'll choose one lucky winner!  Check back on 1/5/16 at 8pm and I'll post the winner!  Happy New Year and happy blog hopping!!

Blog Hop List 2015

Christine Meyer http://scrappingwithchristine.blogspot.com

Mendi Yoshikawa http://snippets-of-mendi.blogspot.com/

Cathy Harper http://alteredplayground.blogspot.com

Nicole Nowosad http://justnicks.blogspot.com

Chantalle McDaniel http://copasetique.blogspot.com/

Becki Adams http://beckiadams.blogspot.com/

Wendy Antenucci http://antenucci.blogspot.com/

You are here---->Jen Matott http://arttalk-sigmagirl.blogspot.com/

Katrina Hunt http://paperscissorsandglue.blogspot.com/

Michele Kovack http://chelemom.blogspot.com/

Kelly Holbrook http://kellyrholbrook.blogspot.com/

Rhonda Van Ginkel http://snapwhiz.blogspot.com/

Jennie McGarvey http://jenniemcgarvey.typepad.com/

Suzanna Lee http://lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Monique Liedtke http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Haggerty http://livethemoment-jen.blogspot.com/

Marcia Dehn Nix http://onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Keppel http://www.myclutteredcorner.com/

Kelly Jean Guzlas http://www.kelsterjean.com/

Melissa Elsner http://www.theprofoundbrunette.com/

Shannon Morgan http://designsofapaddymack.typepad.com/

Juliana Michaels http://www.17turtles.com/

Monika Wright http://www.iloveitallwithmonikawright.com/

Audrey Yeager http://audreysreflection.blogspot.com/

2014 Top Ten Blog Hop

It's my annual Top Ten of my projects from this year!  I love looking through my artwork/ paper projects and picking my favs.  It's a way to wrap up the year and look forward to the new year! So, if you having joined the Blog Hop, make sure you see the other talented artists in the list below and leave comments on each for a chance to win a $75 Gift Certificate to Paper Issues!  WOW!

So in no particular order, here are my favorite pieces this year:

My Sketchbook Project journal from this year! Lots of Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft on this!

Love this layout... I used some dress patterns, doilies, and LOFT tag that I stitched on with my new sewing machine!

An Inside Out Art Journaling kit layout! 

A guest DT project with UmWow Studio and encaustic!

Ice Resin and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft necklace.

Another wearable art piece... UmWow Studio and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft!

Encaustic piece that won Honorable Mention at my NYSATA conference member show!

Love this page from November's Inside Out kit!

Just a fun page about my little man with lots of media and color!

Another Encaustic piece... this time a drawing on encaustic that SOLD at my NYSATA conference!

A recent layout for UmWowStudios!

** Okay... yes, that was #11.  Whoops... just can't pick only 10!

How to Enter: You can get an entry for commenting on blogs up to 24 entries (no more than one comment per blog will be counted). The comments will close on January 4th and a winner will be announced on the blog that the comment came from on the 5th.

Top Ten Blog Hop for 2015
Juliana Michaels
Michele Kovack
Chantalle McDaniel
Christine Meyer
Mendi Yoshikawa
Kelly Holbrook
Laurel Seabrook
Katrina Hunt
Wendy MorrisSaponaro
Becki Adams
Suzanna Lee
Melissa Elsner
Monika Wright
Wendy Antenucci
Jen Matott  (You are here!)
Marcia DehnNix
Ashley N Newell
Kathy Skou
Linda Auclair
Kelly Jean
Monique Liedtke
Rhonda Van Ginkel
Jennifer Haggerty
Cathy Harper

Happy hopping!   Have a Happy New Year!

 

*** Double whoops... I think an even dozen is even better!  LOL!  Just couldn't resist a New Year's layout in here!

It's a Blog Hop! Spellbinders + Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft= Fa la la!

It's a Blog Hop!  Spellbinders + Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft= Fa la la!  I was lucky enough to get some fun dies to play with in my project. Here is the pretty holiday card I made with these fun dies...

 I got the Spellbinders® Nestabilities® Card Creator Elegant Labels Four dies.  They are not only pretty but layer beautifully to create gorgeous cards or projects! This holiday card was super easy to put together with the help of this set!

 I used DCWV Adhesive fabric paper to make the tag on top and wove a fun holiday ribbon through the openings.  So easy!  Stamp a fun sentiment on it with some of Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's Stamper's Big Brush pen and you top off the card with a gorgeous look!

 I also used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's Stampers Big Brush pen to stamp some of the word stamps on the cork.  I used some text paper printed in red for the bottom die layer.

 Underneath it all, I used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos® colors in Metallic Mint, Lime Green, Green Tea, and Iced Chai.  

Don't forget to hop along with the other fun designers... Check out the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft blog and Spellbinders blog!  There are prizes involved!  Leave me a comment here and I will pick a winner for a set of Steampunk Gelatos® color set on Monday, November 24th by midnight.

Materials:
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos® colors in Metallic Mint, Lime Green, Green Tea, and Iced Chai
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Stamper's Big Brush Pen in Chrome Green  and  Scarlet Red.
Spellbinders® Nestabilities® Card Creator Elegant Labels Four die
American Crafts cardstock
7 Gypsies paper
DCWV adhesive fabric paper and cork paper
Stamps: Studio Calico
Bling: Queen & Co. & Prima Marketing
Ribbon: May Arts
India Ink and Gold ink

Taylored Expressions and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Hop

Hi friends!  I am going to share a card I made using Taylored Expressions stamps and dies and Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft PITT Pastel Pencils and Big Brush Pens!

I was so inspired by the Taylored Expressions Light As A Feather Die and stamp set... I knew I wanted to create some kind of feather wreath project.  I decided to try to add one to a card.  I am finally thinking Spring is here in my hometown so I wanted to make a card to celebrate!  These stamps and matching dies are perfect for a feathered piece of art!  Here's some detail shots of the finished card and how I made it:

 First I used the PITT Pastel pencils from the Red/Yellow set (#113, #109 and #106)

 I taped the edges with masking tape and colored in an Ombre style, starting with orange and fading to light yellow.  I used a blending stump from the Essential Tool Set  to create a smooth gradation look.

 Once I removed the masking tape, I got a clean border around the area I colored.

 

 I cut out an arrow design using the Taylored Expressions Chevron Cutting Plate.  Oh my!  I knew when I saw this die that I was in love!!!   I actually cut the design on DCWV cork paper and used half of the design.  I saved some of it for another project and of course all the punched out arrows are perfect for embellishing!  It is awesome!

 

I stamped feathers using Stamper's Big Brush Pens in Neutral, Subtle Tones , Cobalt Blue, and Aqua. I die cut the feathers and layered them along with some die cut from music paper into a circle shape.

Embellished with a nest, bird and text, I love how it captures a spring feel!  Hello Spring!!
Check out the previous projects listed below and today's batch!  Make sure you leave a comment on each for a chance to win some awesome prizes listed below! Good Luck!!!

April 24
Faber-Castell Blog: http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/
Sankari Wegman: http://sunnysankari.blogspot.com/
Mou Shaha:  http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Cassie Trask: http://cassietrstamping.blogspot.com/
Rita Barakat: http://ritabarakat.com/2014/04/24/blog-hop-with-faber-castell-design-memory-craft-and-taylored-expressions/
Keia Shipp-Smith: http://www.confessionsofapaperholic.blogspot.com/
Taylored Expressions Blog: http://tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/

April 25
Taylored Expressions Blog: http://tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/
Jen Matott: http://arttalk-sigmagirl.blogspot.com/
Courtney Kelley: http://courtneykelley.typepad.com/
Limor Webber: http://www.limorwebber.com/blog
Amy Crockett: http://www.scrappingmommy.com/
Tiffany Johnson: http://iheartartblog.com/
Emily Lanham: http://createserendipity.blogspot.com/
Faber-Castell Blog: http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/

Giveaway Details:
Simply comment on any (or all!) of our Blog Hop posts from April 24-April 25. For each comment, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of two fabulous prizes: One lucky winner will receive a $75 Faber-Castell prize pack of Gesso, Glaze, Gel Medium, and 10 new Gelatos Double Scoops and one lucky winner will receive a Taylored Expressions stamp set and die of choice! Comments close Sunday, April 27 at 8pm PST.

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and DCWV Blog Hop!

Are you ready for our first blog hop with DCWV?  We’ve been fans of their products for a long time so we’re excited that we’re finally doing our first blog hop with them.

We each got a bunch of their brand new stacks!  I absolutely adore these textured papers... they are so perfect for me!  Here is the project that I made using some of each of the papers I got:

I made this layout of my husband and I in Siena, Italy ("Insieme" means "together" in Italian) by  cutting some of the papers into banner pieces and using the triangle pieces left over too!  I added
Gelatos® Colors in Snow Cone, Metallic Mint and Black Licorice to the background and to some of the pieces.

Of course, I had to use some of the Whipped Spackle through a dotted stencil (from UmWowStudios!).  This stuff is amazing!  LOVE the texture of it and how it makes the shapes stand out.

 The cork paper is so fun!  I ran it through my Cuttlebug with Memory Box Doilies dies and Viola!  An adorable embellishment that is self-adhering!  WOW!

You can see the textures up close are just amazing!  Thank so much DCWV!  It was so fun to work with these!

There’s some great prizes too- Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and DCWV will be giving away $75 in product at the end of the hop.  To win, follow the list below and leave a comment.  The hop will end at 5PM EST on Friday, March 28th.  The winner will be announced on Monday, March 31st on each of the company’s blogs. 
For extra entries, follow Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and DCWV on Twitter!

DCWV- http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/ 
Erin - http://dcwvinc.blogspot.ca/
Mou- http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Sara - http://www.sarawandrews.com/
Thomisia - http://thomisia.blogspot.com/
Amanda - http://oldenough2beakid.blogspot.com/
Rita - http://ritabarakat.com
Britt - http://pinkpapercrowns.blogspot.com/
Tiffany- http://iheartartblog.com/
Tessa - http://precociouspaper.blogspot.com/
Karen - http://scrappycanuck.wordpress.com/
Limor - http://chicscrapbookdesigns.blogspot.com/
Karla - http://madebykarla10.blogspot.com/
Jen- http://arttalk-sigmagirl.blogspot.com/
 Angela- http://paperprojectsbyangela.blogspot.com/
Rachel - http://www.rwkrafts.com/
Jill- www.studiosessionsart.blogspot.com
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/