Monday, April 29, 2013

Some Art House Lovin....


Take a peek at these!!!
I was so blown away with what these two fabulous ladies created and brought to ScrapFest for my studio's  "Art House" wall!   They are 3 dimensional and uber fantastic!

I hung them up in the studio as soon as I got back from ScrapFest and everyone who comes in and sees the wall they comment on them right away!  Stunning!

THANK YOU Lydia and Alice.   You girls ROCK!!!

I am back from the CreativFestival in Toronto.  Had a wonderful experience representing the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine at the show with one of our co-founders, Katharina Doyle.   So wonderful to see so many of you there and having a chance to speak with some pretty great new subscribers too!   Hope to see you at the next show in the fall!


Have a creative day!!


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Take a look at these Beauties!!!!

These are the journal books created by some VERY talented students from the The Ernest C. Drury School who came to the studio last month with a couple of their teachers to play with the Gelli Plates and learn a bit about mono printing.   Loved having them at the studio.  Such a wonderful group of teens.

Aren't these fabulous??  I don't think I can choose a favourite!

Hope you're having a creative day!


Monday, April 22, 2013

It's official! Anna is coming to The Art House Studio


Yes, I am so excited to be finally able to share (and confirm) - Anna Dabrowska will be here at the studio on JULY 13 & 14, 2013 teaching 3 fabulous workshops...  and here are the details!

All classes will include the supplies and mediums....   yay!  just bring some photos, an eager mind, a paintbrush and heat gun..... *smile*

Saturday Workshops
9am - 1pm   IMAGINE Canvas Workshop

 Mixedmedia Canvas Class (with fabric, gel mediums, gesso, glitter sprays ...and more!)
Do you want to create really artsy, dimensional and grungy collage, but you don’t have “suitable supplies?” That is not a problem! The most important thing in creative process is using imagination. We are surrounded by inspiring objects, which we can use for creating art of different kinds. Try to look around – and you’ll find real treasures in your own house! Remember there are no boundaries: you may give as much or as little elements as you want, you may use medias, paint and inks…and whatever comes to your mind too! Don’t be afraid to mix and blend and let your imagination free – it is pure fun!
During this workshop I will guide you to create your own mixed-media canvas, including my favorite set of embellishments and textures, colored with my favorite paints and mixed-media products. I’ll demonstrate possibilities of mixing different supplies such as gesso, gel medium, spray paint, scrapbooking embellishments and found objects to get layers, details and unique, grungy look on your project.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and advanced students (really!) – let’s get our fingers dirty together!

2:30pm - 6pm Industrial Baroque "Tea for 2" Workshop

Industrial Baroque - range of classes
Paper Layout Classes based on mixedmedia and scrapbookintg techniques. Their common part is multi-layering, richness of techniques. using a wide range of mediums and loads of  elements to create one-of-a kind, personalized project. Industrial Baroque is time for making your fingers dirty, creativity flowing and pushing the boundaries of your imagination. 

Grunge is a style, which is, in my opinion, the essence of creative fun and freedom: you can put almost everything on your project and be happy with the effect you got. You may give as much or as little elements as you want, you may use medias and inks… Grunge is usually considered as “boyish” or “men” style, but I'd like to convince you that it also as the more feminine, crazy, eclectic side – let's call it “industrial baroque”.
 During classes I will try to convince you that creating a grungy, eclectic layout is not hard at all - and the only boundaries you have are those made by your imagination! I will make you look again at your embellishments and how you possibilities of using everyday objects as a part of your composition, giving them the uniqueness, personal touch and grungy style. I will show you finished projects and share my experiences from the creative process. On each class I will create with the students a full size layout including products from well known manufacturers and demonstrate possibilities of mixing different medias, scrapbooking supplies and found objects to get baroque look of your project.
"Industrial Baroque" is a perfect combination of fun, experiment and playing with composition, color and texture.


Paper based mixed media class with layering, stamping, sprays, tea stain and a touch of metallic paint together with a wide selection of inspiring embellishments which will provide lighter, but the most "vintage" look in the range. 

Sunday Workshop
9am - 6pm (please note, lunch will be served) Grungy Spell Book Workshop


Mixed media class (with creating heavy texture, spraying, shading, using gels, metallic paints...and more!)

Journals are not only about pages – altering the cover of the book is an important part of the creative process, making the frame, closing (or opening?) the composition. Cover should reflect the owners emotions and personality as well as the book's content – which is a great reason to try some inspiring techniques and create something unique, magical and 100% fun.
During this class I'll tell you about my ideas for journaling, and share my ideas how to alter a raw journal to get appealing and durable mixed media cover based on a bunch of my favorite techniques such as creating texture with gels and stencils, grungy embellishments and found objects, painting and spraying. I'll show you different effect you can get using media such as pigments, acrylic paint and common soft pencils together with multipurpose glues or varnish.
After the class you will have your own art journal which will reflect your taste and a big dose of inspiration: I'll do my best to share my experience, give tips and I'll try to convince you to leave traditional, conventional thinking and go more bold and artsy. It is possible you will be surprised what you can do with medias and tools which you already have in your kit or at home!

THEN we will make pages!!!!!
During this full-length class I'll share with you some of my journal projects and a bunch of my favorite techniques based on using masks, stamps, embossing and layering. 
Together we will create different texturized background gathering information about using such mediums as heavy gel, gesso, pigments, sprays and embossing powder. We will focus on techniques useful both for journalers and scrapbookers tips and non-conventional ideas such as using thread or tea builiding 3 double, technique-packed pages- all with a touch of grungy, artsy style. 
This class is one big creative, messy fun! You may be surprised what you can do with the supplies you probably already know... or you never thought about before... Let yourself play and think outside the box – why not?

Hope you can join us!!   REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN  



Saturday, April 20, 2013

Holy _balls! I love how this turned out!


I am doing a little (okay BIG) happy dance over here in the studio!   LOVE, love, love how my "Estee Lauder" girl canvas turned out.  (I called this face "Estee Lauder" in my ustream broadcast because she reminded me of some of their magazine ad's "commercial faces"  *smile*)  She is on a 16x20 gallery mounted wood canvas and she just "jumps" right off the wall!   Yippee!!

Best part?  I not only LOVED the face I drew using some of Kat McBride's tips from her free online class offered this moth, I loved the paper towel flower bouquet I did too...  with Silks!   YUM!    Off to do another canvas with those alone.  I am "smelling" a flower canvas class in my future!

Hope you're having a creative weekend
Here is the video from last night's broadcast of me collageing her hair and making that bouquet!!  Enjoy



Friday, April 19, 2013

Internationally Inspired - Congratulations Jo-Ann!

I love being a part of this FABULOUS international online workshop hosted by Donna Downey!

It's such a spectacular program with 5 designers from different parts of the world coming together to show you 15 PROJECTS using Donna's product line from Prima Marketing.   Stencils, albums, flowers, oh my!!

For those of you who missed it ...  Here's a short vid by Donna introducing the workshop.

 
Now -- are you getting excited??

5 Designers, 15 projects and only $65!!!   Wowsers!!
Here are the projects I will show you how to create in this workshop:
A Mixed Media Album using Donna's "Script Album"

A Coffee themed burlap bag using Donna Canvas Coffee Cup Album

A 12x24 canvas using lots of Stencils and some of her tissue flowers
We gave one registration away at ScrapFest this past weekend.  Our Lucky Winner is Miss Jo-Ann LeBlanc.  Congratulations Jo-Ann! You'll be hearing from Donna very soon with your email link to the workshop.  ENJOY!!!   And please share what you create with all the ideas from the designers!

Internationally Inspired is OPEN NOW.  Once you register, the class is yours to download an keep forever or stream for your convenience.  HAVE FUN!!!!
To register - please visit Donna Downey's site.

Have a creative day!!!  See you on USTREAM tonight!



Wednesday, April 17, 2013

It's all about the face!


Many of you  know that I have been working on "face techniques" in my faces journal this year.  Well, I stumbled on a FABULOUS free class that was offered this month by the lovely Kat McBride and I jumped at the chance to take it.   Love the tips she offered, the detail in the class and I cherish the opportunity to learn and watch her paint.   GREAT CLASS.  She has a new class (for purchase) coming up soon!!   I'd recommend her classes for sure!!

This is my first face done with some of her techniques.   I went ahead and made a couple of my own little touches but was definitely influenced by her techniques.   I NEED  to play some more!

Art Journal Night is tomorrow (Thursday) ...  guess what I'll be doing? *smirk*
Want to come play in your journal?    Love to have you join us.  Give me a call to reserve your space 519 267 6620 (thearthousestudio@rogers.com)


Thursday, April 11, 2013

We decided to TAKE IT ALL! hehe


SO PLEASE NOTE...
The studio will be closed this weekend while we are at ScrapFest!  We will re-open

TUESDAY APRIL 16 at 11 for a return to our regular hours
See you there!!! :)


Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Art Journaling with PanPastel


Having a wonderful day creating with the girls in our Art Journaling with PanPastel class in the studio day.  Love this medium!!!

Having another class after ScrapFest on April 20th.....  only a spot or two left.   Let me know asap OR....  Book your own time with me instead!   So much fun!!  Online course will be LIVE SOON!


Have a creative day!


Friday, April 05, 2013

"Echos" of Colour - USTREAM

"Echos" of Colour
I so enjoyed creating this canvas on USTREAM tonight!  THANK YOU to all who joined me live and I see that quite a few of you have also watched it recorded too!  Fabulous!

LOVE how it turned out.  I wish you could see it in person.  So lovely.   It was inspired by a technique I saw used by Alex Skinner that removed white paint to reveal some fabulous colour under it  ...  I immediately envisioned trying the technique with my favourite Crafter's Workshop Stencils.  There are LOTS used in this canvas but featured is "Echos" designed by Julie Balzer.

I uploaded the recording to my youTube channel and embeded it here for you too!
Enjoy!!  And thanks for watching!!!
Have a creative weekend!



Thursday, April 04, 2013

Samples, samples, samples...

One of the things that I love to do at ScrapFest is to offer a series of mini classes IN my booth.  That's right, mini classes - not just make n takes, but a little tidbit - an intro if you will - into some of my classes offered in the studio and online.   I will be offering 3 classes this year.   Here they are!!
Monoprinted Envelopes using the Kreate-a-lope and Gelli Plates
Kumihimo Braiding - Make Your Own Keychain 

Sprayed and Inked Decorated Envelopes using the Kreate-a-lope, Ink Sprays, Stencils and Dimensional Pastes
These mini classes run on a first come, first served basis.  Interested students need to come by my booth EARLY to pick up a complimentary ticket at the booth.  A minimum of 10 spaces in each Saturday class will be given out Saturday morning so don't worry...  those of you only coming to the show on Saturday will still have opportunity to to take a class.   But come early...   I can't stress that enough.  I "sell out" fast.

There are two other "ticket rules" you should know - Tickets are very limited so I need to reserve them for people who paid to attend the show.  No vendors, vendors helpers or children under the age of 12 please.  Thanks so much for your understanding there.  Also, along the same vane... there is one class per person.  Rush tickets will be available in case of any no shows.  So, if you don't get a ticket, come by the booth before the next scheduled class - you never know ;).

Didn't get a ticket?  Don't worry -- You are MORE THAN WELCOME to come watch and ask questions too!!  The 12 person classroom has open sides and located in the middle of the show floor so everyone can watch and learn about all the products used in the classes.  All are welcome!

VIDEOS will be made any posted on my website for future reference and to share with those who are unable to attend ScrapFest in Kitchener next week.   BUT...  let me just say...  if you're a paper crafter... this is a MUST show to attend.    Fabulously run, lots of people, inspiration and some great products all under one roof.  More info -- check out their website www.scrapfest.ca

Have a creative day!



Wednesday, April 03, 2013

More colour for the studio!

Take a look at this YUMMY box of colour that arrived at the studio today.

YES!!  Silks and Twinks are now BACK IN STOCK - Woo HOO!!!    We're working on updating the online store...   watch for quantities to be updated.

Hope you're having a creative day!



Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Spring?

It might not look like spring outside ... but it sure does in the studio!

We've been busy making these 3' - 6' + free standing flowers for our booth at ScrapFest April 12 & 13th.   Thanks Miss Donna Downey for pinning them on Pinterest -- it got the juices flowing!!

Hope you're having a creative day!