Baby Shower Gifts

My sister had a baby shower over the Thanksgiving holiday. Since I live out-of-state, I was not in attendance.  However, I wanted to send a personalized item versus purchasing something from a store.  So... the wheels began turning when watercoloring and drawing in my art journal.  I knew I wanted to make a framed artwork that was simple, delicate, and CUTE!

So I began by preparing my work surface.  Simply cover two(2) 5x7 flat canvases with blue paper (She's having a boy!)  Apply gesso in area of drawing as well as use punchinella to make dot details.

Once dry, I sketched out the images.

Next, I applied Neocolors II Watercolor crayons to the picture ...and watercolored.  I, then, let it dry overnight before applying a coat of ModPodge to avoid smearing.

Final step is to simply add in details and whimsical charm. 

When complete, you can place in a frame or simply add a piece of ribbon to hang.

Simple handmade idea with heartfelt sentiments behind it.

Happy Creating! 

DECEMBER DAILY: Inside Covers + Book Spine 2012

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy December Daily Creating! 

After adding a few final details to the outside, I was finished with that section. 

Small details were added to the spine: 1) reindeer (Oriental Trading Company) & 2012 (Hobby Lobby) silver charm , 2) "Celebrate December"  saying covered with Glossy Accents (at first I tried crackle, but you could not see the words, 3) metallic and glitter fabric paint around the design with a star added.

 And to the JOY ornament: 1) used ornament stamp with Dove Grey Staz-on, 2)cut out ornament stamp into shape of circle, 3) placed inside "o" of JOY, 4) covered with Glossy Accents

 Embracing the color palette, I wanted to add another pop element to the inside covers of my December Daily album. 

1)  I took the other image (left) I opted not to use on the cover and cut it out.

 2) Placed the shape on the front inside & coated it with pink paint + glass beads mixture.

3)  Reversed the image and placed it on the inside back covering with turquoise blue paint + glass beads mixture. The pink from the shape rubbed off, and  I embraced it.  Thus, taking the shape back to the front side and rubbing off some turquoise onto the pink.

*Note: If using basic copy paper, you must move quickly as elements will start to stick and tear.

Not gonna lie, I sort of wish the inside was my outside now...but nonetheless, it is fun to open and look at.

DECEMBER DAILY: Cover 2012

Every year, Ali Edwards (nice name :) creates a scrapbook/journal of the 25 days leading up to Christmas.  It is so creative, fun, and great way to document your life for that year.

I start the process in November as does she, to set the foundation and layout ...saves much time during the actual month and allots for more "play" time.  I selected a simple Craft Ready photo album from AC Moore; it allows for about an 8x11 page.  I used the same size last year and loved it.

  

Since I kept the cover white last year, I wanted to add some color, but nothing bold as that would be provided by my accent colors.  I painted the entire cover (inside and out) with Apple Barrel 21392 "Granite Gray" acrylic paint.

Coming up with a main item to appear throughout the album, I opted for a reindeer. (Last year was stars.) Hence I scavenged through my art stash and online for images to grace the front cover. And ended up with several; ultimately, picking between these two.

The one on the right was more ornamental to me, and I want my reindeer to appear that way throughout vs. the cutsy ones.  (The image is a sketch of the Hambly overlays I plan on using in the foundation pages.) So I cut the image out, traced it on the cover, and outlined it with metallic silver puffy paint.

Once dried, I played around with some ornaments I got at Target for $1.  Since JOY is my middle name, I wanted to add that aspect to the theme as well.  The pink JOY stood out, so I chose to go with turquoise, pink, red and silver for my colors. (Last year was more traditional red/green)

Since the colors were decided, I glued inside the antlers and added bright turquoise blue glitter. To make the reindeer more prominent but still subtle, I applied UTEE inside the puffy paint area.

I sealed the entire front with ModPodge and placed the JOY before it dried.

2012 Front Cover

Now onto the back.  This was a bit of a disaster at first.  I used a mixture of tar gel and pink paint; applied over one of Martha Stewart holiday cake masks. The result looked good, but wasn't what I was wanting so.....

I mixed dark turquoise paint with tar gel and applied over another cake mask.  And this was the result....:(

So I walked away for the night....and the next day I decided I needed to add white over top. So I got out a few other stencils/masks, mixed together glass beads and white paint, and applied. The white dried and looks like snow...and I knew I was happy with the back. I even snuck a JOY into the back as well.

I plan on adding an element on the spine. Most likely a foam reindeer sticker

with the words "Celebrate December" underneath. I will post once I decide.

Hope everyone has a JOYful weekend!

 I get to escape to an Art Day with some girls on Sunday...Can't Wait! 

Nature Journal

Inspired by a online art class The Art of Wild Abandonment 2 with Junelle Jacobson, I started my "Nature Journal Project".  AND I TOTALLY ADORE IT & Can't get enough of the fall scenery! 

On a gloomy day, I ventured out to Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, SC for inspiration and leaf gathering.  I found amazing leaves; some I have no clue what they are, but I like 'em. (Mind you...I tend to feel a bit like the girl from Hunger Games documenting herbs and roots etc. minus the loverboy to sketch them for me.)   Plus I captured some great pictures - especially using the Panoramic option on my iPhone :)

You can get ideas ANYWHERE...your backyard, tree-lined streets, movies, old photos, holiday decor, etc. ...Nature is EVERYWHERE!!

 After nature collecting, I wanted to find a perfect book. So off to Barnes & Noble clearance section.  You can use whatever kind of book...I just happened to come upon a $3 book relating to my theme. Some friends went to a used book store which is a great idea.

Next, go through the book gluing together 3-4 pages at a time, then ripping out 3-4 pages and repeat until book is finished.  Apply Gesso to random areas you would like to draw on. 

 I decorated my cover, but learned ...ya might want to prep that surface first...OOPS. 

It tends to peel & scratch off easily, so I ended up applying masking tape all around the edges.



"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus



Then I added a burnt page element to the entire book. The prep part probably took the longest due to the fact you have to wait for things to dry...(not helping if you are combating with old, clumpy gesso :( 

.......BUT on to the next...,,,

Take the leaves and trace onto the page in whatever form and fashion.  You can also freehand sketch which I did on some while looking at a photo.  Then apply whatever color you desire. I used Neocolor 2 WaterColor crayons plus added a small photo or wording (TOMS new catalog had awesome sayings) as a final touch before detailing.

NOTE:  Let the work dry for a night before apply generous amounts of sealant to avoid too much smear/smudge of your watercolors.  I used ModPodge before detailing....

Yes Virginia...you have to wait again.

 THE FINAL STEP:  I used a Scarlet Lime pen, Sharpie Paint Markers and went to town detailing. On some pages, I found words from the text and embraced those.  Some just spoke for themselves.  But I did finalize each page with a tiny, simple heart.

added the saying from back of a Shutterfly envelope "Good things come in orange packages"

Inside book cover = me trying to work on my handwriting...I love Junelle's whimsy in her writing...gotta practice that.

some leaves turned brown already, but I embraced it...and love their simplicity as well.

The book has so many pages left, and I can't wait to finish it.... If only this ModPodge would dry faster :)

HAPPY NATURE HUNTING EVERYONE!

PINTEREST PROJECT: Decorative Plate Wall

Through the past year, I have collected various holiday related dessert plates

to display on my wall plate rack. 

Until ....the amount of plates I collected accumlated to the point I wanted to see more than 2 at a time. 

(Hint: West Elm sells the cutest plates for holidays....and cheap $6 a plate with free shipping. Love 'em)

So I went to my Go-To Source for ideas - Pinterest.  I found various layouts and designs, but ultimately decided on an arch shape in a corner of living room area.  Also, I thought the plates would look great on the brown paint (most of my plates are a majority white)

First,  I cut up a magazine into circles the shape of the plates.  And used painter's tape to place my layout.

Once happy with the overall look, I nailed over each paper circle the place where my hook would appear on the plates.  About 2 inches from the top.

Next,  the adventure of gluing on my plate hooks a.k.a. paper clips:

  a) take a metal paper clip (Do not use the color coated ones, they don't stick as well) 

b) push the smaller section downward - this will be the part glued down

c) hot glue the area of the plate for the clip. (It is best to have the top of the paper clip hit where the bottom edge starts to lay flatter against the wall)

d) place the clip and hold in place for a few seconds.  I used a chopstick so I wouldn't burn my fingers. 

e) add glue to cover all metal on the part of the paper clip attached to plate.

f) let dry for a few minutes.

not the most glamorous, but it does the job...and you can't see it + it doesn't bother me :)

sidenote:  I don't mind if my plates get glue on the back; none are antiques or would be devastating if they fell and broke.  Each plate is still stackable, so I can store when the plate doesn't represent the season. 

However, my mom found an add in Better Homes & Garden Magazine for plate hooks that fit into the entire plate's center and are removable by water for $2.50 each.

THEN HANG AND ENJOY!

Start of the Fall Layout (waiting to receive a few more Fall plates I ordered from West Elm) 

And the finished Fall Version. (Ended up shopping for plates one day and found quite a few in clearance at TJMaxx, Pottery Barn, & Target) 

 I will post the Christmas/Winter season as the time comes...in less than a month...yikes :~(