WHAT A DAY: August 24, 2013

How HAPPY does this image make you!!!  I am not a huge Starbucks fan, but do love their Refresher drinks (and this image).  So that is how I started the day after a few errands at Wal-mart......because I was headed to the studio to complete a special belated birthday project for a friend, Teresa Kepler, with my artsy friend Melissa McClary. YAY!!!

And then it was a double bonus that day when I arrived and sweet little Kharma was at Donna Downey Studios.  This is Donna's newest pup.  Complete adorableness...and Holy Tinyness (yes mother, I know those are not real words) 

I couldn't resist taking pictures of her Sweetness! 

Doesn't she look like a baby fawn in this picture.  ADORABLE!!

Well since the day was all about Teresa....we got started after Melissa finished working.  I ended up buying a few new goodies they had in store: horse & feather roller stamps & US stencils and got set-up/began my own projects while waiting. 

The goal was to complete a journal inspired by Donna.  Hence I purchased these mini SMEAD 9x6 manilla folders and we gelli printed on each one using various colors and techniques.

These are the result in order they will be placed in the journal for Teresa to craft/journal/art over.  I loved the results and hope she does too. 

Here we began the prep work for awling holes in the journal using Donna's as inspiration.  Melissa plans to use fabric and canvas to cover the folder.

And off our mailer goes to sweet Teresa.  We used a male figurine and decided to go with a "David" style art piece with a little "Chippendale" attire. :)  HAPPY MAIL (MALE)  GET IT!!

And the meal for the night was a White Pizza from Mama's Pizzeria.  Delish/Garlicy/Greasy....but I loved it.

PAPERCLAY: Apples & Pear

Based on an inspiration on Pinterest, I wanted to make some fun Fall characters. So here is the beginning of the process I started last year...to be finished I hope this year. So far I adore the way they turned out...Stay tuned.

PHOTOBOOK: Electric Run 2013

I adore Shutterfly's Photobooks....especially when there is a discount for a free one.  Here is my latest and greatest creation of the Electric Run 2013 which CJ & I ran in. 

Love IT!

 

Charlotte, NC Electric Run 2013

I have also created books for my parent's anniversary, a yearly summary, the beginning of CJ & my relationship, and Barkley (my dog).  All turn out great and Shutterfly does a fabulous job producing and offering embellishments.

FABRIC FUN: 2013 Autumn Journal Foundation

 

I have fallen in love with fabric journals.  So for the Fall season, I decided to create one adapting the woodland creatures as my theme (squirrels, foxes, deer, etc)

 

To begin, I created foundation pages with various backgrounds using gelli plate, Silhouette, stencils, gesso, texture plates.  Added various embellishments and ribbon plus started a few drawings on some pages.  So far, I am completely smitten with it.  Let's hope the momentum keeps up. 

 

used a stencil to create a colorful leave over another gessoed stencil

metallic paints with the United States stencil

burlap, ribbon and gelli print with leaf stencil on feed bag

Fox drawing page including burlap ribbon and letters atop gelli printed page

used a feed bag for this page I got while at The Depot in Concord, NC

some pages were created with upholstery samples

FAVORITE RIBBON - found at vintage store...LOVE.

attached some pinecone charms to this page

used a deer stamp repetitively on this page, adding other stamps on the tag
(you can't really tell, but I stamped "September" & "November" in a light ink above/below October)

used a gelli print on vellum paper as well as a squirrel charm and wooden heart embellishment

many pages are made from feed bags which I love the feel and texture of

added HELLO DEAR wooden tag, plus used the outline of a texture plate with gesso + puffy paint to outline (plan is to watercolor the background of the mountain and forest/stream)

FAV PAGE:  I used a feather stencil applied with gesso.  Then did multiple colors on a gelli plate to create the look.  Added THANKFUL in a pink from a Silhouette cutout.  Just adore it..and will leave it as is.

2ND FAV: Used an owl placemat to create the stenciled look on my gelli plate.

added a mistable feather embellishment I found at Marshall's....yes they now have art supplies.

Adore this vintage napkin, so I will leave this page alone as well...may add a word or something, but it reminds me of growing up in Nebraska and picking strawberries at my grandparents' house

Another page done on a manila folder using textured plates and gesso; then gelli printed.



Attempted to gelli print on fabric...result was a duller effect, but once I added the leaf stencils...Perfection.  The final touch was adding two fox charms. TOO CUTE ...if I say so myself.  The small end of the napkin will have the word HARVEST embroidered on it.

I plan on using this spread for an embroidered grid I am making titled "I LOVE FALL"; however I haven't decided if I would rather frame it.  TBD I guess.

I used a stencil with Venetian plaster and then once dried...sprayed inks to define the stencil more.  It is a heart dangling from a tree branch.

The feathers are a stencil used on a gelli plate then cut out to create an edging to the pages.  Another favorite moment in the book.

(notice the little fox sleeping ...ADORABLE) 

Another attempt at gelli printing on fabric plus a few stickers and wooden embellishment.

 

Once the album was complete and bound, I glued it in place inside the album cover which is found here.

 

If you are interested in your own Fabric Album, please let me  know and I would be happy to create one for you based on a theme or just for any use.  ETSY STORE - Ali Gitt

 

DONNA DOWNEY STUDIOS carries a majority of the supplies I used in this project.  It is like a stencil heaven plus ribbons galore.  Go check it out.