Salt and Watercolor

I love making backgrounds!

Sometimes I spend whole art days doing just that!

My latest play at that was using watercolors, lots of water, and salt for some really fun effects.

This is the paper I was using:

And here's some of my results:

These two I used rock salt.

The rest were just regular table salt.

 

So fun because you never know for sure what the end results will be.

Just be sure to get your watercolors really wet and saturated with color.  Apply to your paper anyway you want - designs, color patters, etc.Then generously sprinke with salt with spots or lines of heavier applications for varying designs.  

The hardest part is you HAVE TO LET IT DRY COMPLETELY before you can scrape the salt off.  I let mine sit to dry overnight.  I use an old credit card or bone folder to scrape.

And then you get the delightful surprise of seeing what you got!

Pretty cool, huh?

THANKS for taking a look!

Journaling Washi Tape and Zentangle Inspired Art

I had such a good time and liked the results of tangleing over the scraped on paint in my journal (see previous post) that I decided to do another page.
Sooooo - I chose a page with green acrylic paint wiped off on it and drew a few pears.

Then I tangled inside the pears.  I was going to tangle a border but thought it might be too heavy and distract from the pears.  Then I remembered my latest and one of my favorite washi tapes of pears.  Perfect!  So I used that and a couple other green washi tapes to make a border.
Here's the finished journal page:

You can learn all about Zentangle and the creative people that started this trend by checking out their website Zentangle.com by clicking HERE.

Thanks for taking a look!
Hope you have a creative weekend!

Journaling Zentangle Inspired Art

I have a Canson Mixed Media Journal 

 that I've been using to use up leftover paint, or ink on stencils.  The cover looks like this:

And the pages I used to use up leftover paint and sprays look like this:

 SEI Tumble dye on a Crafters Workshop stencil.  You get the reversed image when using up the ink left on the stencil.

 Acrylic Paint.

 

Here's a tangle I started on a page with some acrylic paint wiped off on it.

This is the completed tangle.  Designs were inspired by patterns and gallery examples in the following Zentange Books.

Joy of Zentangle  - you can check it out on Amazon by clicking HERE.

This book has 101 patterns to learn and use.  Plus lot's of great Zentangle examples to inspire.

and

Zentangle Untangled - you can check it out by clicking HERE.

This book has about 12 Zentangle patterns but lot's of info and great examples to inspire.

You can learn all about Zentangle and the creative people that started this trend by checking out their website Zentangle.com by clicking HERE.

It's alot of fun and very relaxing if you let yourself give it a try and truly enjoy.  You don't have to be creative - just need the desire to relax and let it stop all the thoughts flying around in your head!

Works for me!

Enjoy!

Thanks for taking a look.

Oh Christmas Tree

I've been busy making little Hershey Kisses Trees for my mom to give out to the staff taking such good care of her at the rehab facility (Timberview) she's currently staying at.
Thought I'd share a photo of a forest of them with you!

I learned how to make them from a blog my friend, Diane, shared with me Qbee's Quest.  You can find the tutorial HERE.  They are alot of fun to make!
I used Wahi Tape on mine instead of ribbon (I'm terrible at tying bows!).

Thanks for taking a look!

H A P P Y   H O L I D A Y S !!!

It's beginning to Look a Bit Like Christmas

Well, Thanksgiving is over.  I hope a wonderful and thankful time was had by all.

Now it's on to Christmas.

I made a few cards this weekend to share with you.

Here they are:

 

 

Me and my Big Shot have been busy die-cutting!

Thanks for taking a look!

H A P P Y   H O L I D A Y S !!!

A bunch of Mini Books and Etsy shops

I've been having too much fun making mini books out of candy boxes (as a bonus had to eat some candy too!).

Here's the latest:

All these books and what to do with them???
I decided to list them on Etsy.  Since I'm not working I need to come up with a way to have some $$$ for Christmas.
Also listed a few owl ornaments I made.  Here's a couple of them:

You can check out my ETSY shop HERE.

Also, be sure to check out my friend, Debbie's ETSY shop.  She has lot's of great Christmas decorations and gift ideas.  You can check out her ETSY shop HERE.  Her hand dyed ribbons are especially wonderful!

     



Thanks for taking a look!
Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Washi Tape

My current art supply obsession is Washi Tape.  As you can see above I have a pretty good selection.  My favorite place to shop is Etsy - the shop is The Washi Shop.  You can see the selection they have HERE.

Here's a few tags I've made recently using Washi Tape and Cuttlebug leaf dies.

Front and back.

And I've also been having fun making little books with candy boxes.  I've been using Washi Tape to line the inside and to finish off the edges.

And where's the inside:

I tell you, this Washi Tape is fun stuff!  And the colors and patterns are seemingly endless!  Be careful if you start looking - once you start buying you might not be able to stop!
Enjoy!
Thanks for taking a look!

Happy Halloween!

I've been making Halloween cards.  

Here's a few to share with you:

Wishing you all a very Happy Halloween!

New Composition Book Journal

I recently started a new journal.  This one I'm going to devote to one of my favorite things - OWLS.

I'm using a Composition notebook I got a couple months ago during back to school supply sales..

I'll decorate the cover farther along in the process when inspiration for the cover strikes me.  I've been gluing pages together (I use a good glue stick and put glue on both pages before pressing together) and gessoing pages in preperation for creating.  I've also put a few pockets in the book usung washi tape.

The first page has a pocket holding very special postcard my friend Barb sent me.

The postcard is made from a series of collages Barb was doing and posting on her blog HERE.   I loved the owl so much I asked to trade her postcards.  Here's her postcard front and back, as well as the ATC she created to tuck in the belly band she put on back of postcard:

The last image I have to share with you today is a journal page I did using one of my favorite owl quotes.  The background was done with watercolor pencils.  The owl image is cut out from a catalog (I believe it was Pottery Barn).  The letters were printed out on white cardstock, cut out and edged with ink.  All were glued in place with a glue stick.  Last step was to cover with Golden Matte Medium.  In between the phrases looked like too much space, so I found a brown pen and added some scribbles.

  
Thanks for taking a look!