Top Ten of 2016

Hi artsy friends! It's been a long time since I've blogged. 2016 has been a very busy and somewhat distracting year. It's been full of personal goals being met, but also a year of making tough choices. One of those tough choices was letting my design team obligations go and just create for me. This means that I haven't been under the gun to create and have sort of let it go by the wayside. Not that I haven't created art. I have! I just work on art over a longer period of time and with no deadlines. I've been running, working, teaching, and parenting. I've had an emotional roller coaster of a year and learned a lot about myself and people around me. My family is busy too... sports, performances, a child in middle school, a child still in elementary and loving it. It's been a heck of a year. So, as a tradition, here are my top 10 pieces of art created this year.

If you leave a comment on my blog, I'll pick a random winner for a small prize of a pack of Steampunk Colored Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos. Leave a comment by midnight on January 1st!

1) 2016 Canvas: I created this for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and did a second one for them to display at trade shows. It was slightly different in color but same design. I displayed this on my mantel for the New Year and I'm thinking I need to do another or change the year for this year!

2) Altered Canvas Sneakers: Another fun project for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and love wearing these still! They always get a lot of questions and compliments. I love unique shoes!

3) Journey Mini Album using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft's mixed media kit.

4) Encaustic Painting with Image transfers

 5) An art journal page... we did a swap for the art teachers in my district. We all trade sketchbooks and do pages in them each month and pass them on. At the end of the year art show, we display them!

6) Another Altered Shoe project... wedges this time!

 7) Die cut Encaustic necklace: Using a chipboard die cut, I created a monoprint with wax crayons and adhered it from the back. Lined with felt and a necklace attached. Love wearable art this year!

8) Nature's Playground: An amazing ceramic tile mural project that I worked with my students in grades Kindergarten through 6th grade and a visiting artist on. Deb Walsh helped kids create these relief tiles and created two huge murals outside facing our playground. So, while I didn't actually create the whole thing, I help design and facilitated the project and I'm so proud of the kids for this work!

 9) Blackbird Fly Away: Encaustic Mixed Media piece that won Honorable Mention at the New York State Fair Fine Arts exhibit.

10) Beehive: Encaustic Mixed Media- Won 2nd place at New York State Fair.

 This piece is an Intuitive Painting piece that isn't done yet, but I created in an amazing workshop at the NYSATA Conference this year. I'll post when I think it's finished.

 I hope 2016 treated you well and you created some work to be proud of. If you had a difficult year, I wish you all the best in 2017! Happy New Year!

If you leave a comment on my blog, I'll pick a random winner for a small prize of a pack of Steampunk Colored Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos. Leave a comment by midnight on January 1st!

Please visit all of the blogs in this Top Ten hop and leave a comment for a chance to win a prize on some of them!

Mendi Yoshikawa

Audrey Yeager

Christine Meyer 

Juliana Michaels  

Wendy Antenucci 

Suzanna Lee 

Karen Hunter

Monique Liedtke

Kat Benjamin

Jennifer Haggerty

Jen Matott

Missy Whidden

Marcia Dehn Nix 

Heather Leopard

Rebecca Keppel 

Traci Penrod

Melissa Elsner

Monika Wright

Laura Whitaker 

Chantalle McDaniel 

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!

Blog Hop with Scrapbooking From the Inside Out... Intention

It's blog hop time!  To celebrate this month's kit, Intention, we are sharing a layout from this month's kit that features our One Little Word for this year. One Little Word: Do you set an intention for the year, using the one little word concept or perhaps by making New Years resolutions? My word is CREATE and I "created" this layout with my intention to create a more healthful life, create more family time, create comfort and peace, create time for myself...

 

 Each year I pick a word, but I don't usually get very far exploring that word (or at least documenting it).  I lose interest after a month.  I am really going to try to stick with this word because it means so much to me.  I want to CREATE more opportunities for making art.  It applies to so much in my life.  I really am trying to create more healthy choices, family memories, and a more loving home.  I hope that it will stick with me this year.  This word just resonated with me right away.  I knew it was perfect for 2014!

Now, go forth and visit the other blogs listed below and leave comments for more chances to win an awesome prize!  SFTIO owner, Rachel is giving away a lovely eco-friendly SFTIO tote bag with artsy surprises inside.

Hop in this order:
Melissa
Me... you are here!
Stacey
Heather
SFTIO Blog Rachel

Leave a comment on here to be eligible for a prize. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win. You must comment by 9 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday and the winner will be announced Monday.  

Helmar and May Arts Blog Hop!!! Come Hop with us!

Our team has been excited about this hop. We love playing with ribbon and May Arts always has gorgeous ribbon for us to play with. What is even more fun is that Helmar and May Arts are giving away TWO chances to win some great product on this TWO day Hop!

 

Helmar will be offering two Arts & Crafts Starter packs! 1st winner will be selected 11/21. Second winner will be selected after Thanksgiving weekend.

***Please note that picture above is a graphically representation. Actual products provided are listed on Helmar’s store websites***

  May Arts will be offering two prize packages of winner’s choice of 2 spools of ribbon!  So, how do you enter to win a chance at one of these grand prizes? Hop through with us and visit each designer’s blog and leave a comment on their Helmar and May Arts Blog Hop post. The first winners will be chosen on the 21st and the second winners will be chosen after the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend! So let’s get started!
Here is my project using Helmar Adhesives and May Arts ribbon! I made a wall hanging using Basically Bare canvas, felt and chipboard, book paper, Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft products, May Arts silk ribbon and Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA glue and 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

 I covered the chipboard page with map paper using the Helmar Craft Glue, added a doily and then covered a mini canvas with book paper also using the Craft Glue.  I glued the canvas down with the 450 Quick Dry adhesive.

 The wings and canvas were colored with Faber-Castell Gelatos.  I glued the fabric and felt down with the 450 Quick Dry adhesive.  I added the silk May Arts ribbon as the hanger here.   The silk is beautiful and makes gorgeous bows!

I hope you enjoyed my little project and will follow along with the blog hop for a chance at winning one of those awesome prizes!
Day 1 – November 19th

• Charlene Driggs: http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/
• Letitia Grace Lauer : http://www.gracesscrapattic.blogspot.com
• Alexcia Patterson-Schroll: http://makeandmingle.wordpress.com/
• Kate Vickers: http://www.scrapsation.com
• Christina Colón: http://www.thetwistedmuse.com/
• Jen Matott:  <------ are="are" br="br" here="here" you="you">
• Gini Williams Cagle: http://www.ginicagle.blogspot.com/
• Carisa Zgloblicki: http://ladyguineveresinkyfaeries.blogspot.ca/
• Emily Lanham: http://createserendipity.blogspot.com/
• Jen Shears: http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/
• Jingle: http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/

Day 2 – November 20th

• Karen Baker: http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/
• Martha Richardson http://themermaidscloset.blogspot.com/
• Kendra Wiggins: http://scrappincricut.org/
• Lisa Wilkinson: http://www.createfor7.blogspot.com
• Leah Farrar-White: http://1alabasterowl.blogspot.com/
• Sally Lynn MacDonald: http://www.sallylynnmacdonald.com/
• Monica Edwards: http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
• Amy Lassiter: http://sparklinggnome.wordpress.com
• Nicole Martel: http://www.nicolemartel.blogspot.com/
• Virginia Fynes: http://www.fynesdesigns.com/