UStream Follow Up

Hi everyone... THANK YOU to those who came online yesterday to join my USTREAM feed. So fun to "play" with you and I hope you enjoyed it! I hope you come back and join me next Friday Night at 6:30 and LOG IN to chat so we can "talk" as we play -- you can ask questions, make commennts, etc etc :)

I played with a couple of ideas from Pam Carriker's Book - Art at the Speed of Life. I really liked the two small canvases that I created using her "Care Free Paint-Over Technique". Not so sure of the "paint under" technique though -- might not be for me -- just another "floportunity" ...to use my gesso! *wink* LOL

I did love our Toilet Paper Mold experiment... Here are the results I promised.

Using Pam's directions (details found in her book) I mixed some matte medium and water into a spray bottle and made toilet paper molds by layering sheets of TP over a rubber stamps and spraying the mixture as I went..... we tried this VERY SUCCESSFULLY with the TP but then also got inspired to try it with other fine papers.... Paper Towel and Dress Pattern Tissue. Here are the results:

Love the TP one. You can see the detail and I can't wait to use it on a future project. The Paper Towel one (which I also spritzed blue to see how it would come through) was too thick to really get into the crevasses of the stamp but you can sort of see the effect. And the Pattern Tissue -- NOPE! But it's cute *wink*
Here are the other TP ones we did. Sorry for the photo but I'm sure you can see that they all look great! THANKS PAM!! hehe

Have a creative day everyone!!! And enjoy this fabulous weekend!

Congratulations Donna

I heard some fabulous news today and I had to share.

Donna Funnell, Mixed Minded 2011 instructor and artist from the Milton area, found one of her creations of the cover of the current issue of Cloth, Paper Scissors! Congratulations Donna! I was so happy to hear that from some of your fans today!

Can you see her HOUSE? (be still my beating heart).....

perhaps this image found on page 78 will help -- Donna's is the one the arrow is pointing to.

How fabulous is that?

I was THRILLED to see so many Canadian pieces in this article. Go Canada!!

To celebrate I have ALL ISSUES of CLOTH, PAPER, SCISSORS on sale at the studio and online for $7.99 (that's 20% off). Get them while they're here!!

IF YOU GET SOMETHING PUBLISHED in a magazine, let me know -- I'm happy to spread the word!! Congratulations again, Donna.

New Books & Mags Available in the Studio

In this issue: Meet Ivan Lovatt. Make your own Steampunk dolls. Carve a reduction print. Make your own custom paper. Print a cyanotype journal from an vintage photo. Build a deconstructed assemblage. Enjoy the results of our "Wild Wire" Reader Challenge. Take a Look At: Water-soluble Art Supplies. Get ready for our " Carve It Up!" Reader Challenge. Don't miss our On Our Radar artist spotlight.

Love Cloth Paper Scissors? You will LOVE this!! a book!!! And it's Gorgeous!

• CLICK HERE for a sneak peek

AND.... Cause I love this lady's art... I had to pick up "Art at the Speed of Life"

I know you'll be inspired too!

Click here for a preview of this book

We now have the new issue of Somerset Studio in stock.

LOVE this Mixed Media feast for the senses *smile*

As I was checking out the issue I came across a 4 page article/reader challenge that used one of my favourite Suzi Blu Stamps - PARTY LOVE Check it out (these and other samples can be found on pages 106-109 in the current issue)

LOVE LOVE LOVE how these turned out .. and the idea to "play with" the stamp hairstyle... Fabulous!!. Thanks for the inspiration, Stampington!

Also Now In Stock - The new issues of:

Take Ten

Stamper's Sampler

Holidays and Celebrations

Somerset Apprentice

Character Constructions and Somerset Studio

I fell in LOVE with Character Constructions Stamps the very first time I picked up a copy of Somerset Studio. They are fabulously fun to use and play with - make Art Dolls, Cards, Canvas, whatever.... AND I am never disappointed when I open up my new issue of Somerset Studio -- there is always something to behold.

Case in point -- there are 2 projects in the current issue that use the same CC Stamp (Mannequin Cafe 6) pictured below. Gets this mind turning *smile*

So.... to celebrate Somerset Studio and Character Constructions ...

for the rest of the month of July I will offer

25% off Character Constructions Stamps with the purchase of any of the Stampington Publications

INCLUDING Somerset Studio

For a list of "in stock" stamps - please contact the studio.

Have a creative day everyone!!

Don't fall in love with your backgrounds.....

That's what I keep reminding myself and my students when we layer paint to create textural backgrounds.... AND ... just let it evolve.

Remember the background that I made with Janine last week (in the video)? Well, this is what I did with it after seeing Lisa Ferrante's (LOVE her work by the way...) article in the current issue of Somerset Studio that finally arrived last Thursday. Recognize it? yep -- Loved that painting and I just had to make one for myself and that background we made was PERFECT!! Note... I still added that crazy bird I've been dreaming about :) It was just used in a different way. It evolved thanks to the inspiration.

I LOVE the Somerset Magazines for inspiration. There are a couple of projects that I'd like to try in the current issue... hummmm... what to do next? :)

Happy creating everyone! Hope you had a GREAT WEEKEND!!

Vintage Slippers Anyone?

I created these two paper slippers using some Graphic 45 Papers and the new pearl embellishments that arrived by Tim Holtz. So sweet. Love how they turned out!

I got the idea to create them after seeing samples in the current issue of Stamper's Sampler. See..... *smile* I envision them with a gift card tucked in it for the holidays or perhaps as a fun tree ornament. There will be a template posted on the Stampington Site soon (here's the link to their template page). I encourage you all to make one for yourself and PLEASE drop me a line so I can see what you created! I love sharing art ideas!!

TODAY IS NATION CARDMAKING DAY!! We are having a celebration in the studio today and hope you do something creative (like making cards) to celebrate too!! I'll post about our activities soon.

Have a great day everyone!!!

Hold the fort!!

Canada Post is here!!

And they have a box for me!! HURRAY! Part 2 of the Prima Order finally cleared and shipped! Now I'm chomping at the bit to DIG IN!

So Donna Lovers!! The Iron Ons are HERE. The Canvas Albums are HERE, the Canvas Embellishments are HERE!

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

Also in this week.... Somerset Memories and Stamper's Sampler!

I opened up the Somerset Memories Mag -- cause I had to be nosey :) - and what do my eyes spy? A few pages dedicated to Donna Downey's Canvas Pages/Album. How timely!!

They look like SUPER issues!!!

See you soon!!!!!! ....back to my cards :)

Art Dolls!!! Character Constructions have arrived!

Please let me introduce you to the wonderful world of Character Constructions and "Art Dolls". Those of us who LOVE the Somerset Studio Magazines (and other Stampington Mags) that I carry in the studio already know and love these fabulous stamps! I'm super excited to carry them AND I'm super excited that they have come into the studio the same week as Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutant Line -- Can we say a marriage made in my fantasies! LOL Well, that's what steampunk and the world of Art Dolls is all about -- it's fanciful and imaginative --PLAYFUL! And I can't wait to play!



I invite you to drop on by the studio to take a peek.

I will ship these to those who live out of town and must have the play stamps. Just contact me at the studio - exact shipping fees apply.


Here's a closer view....

Samples to come - PROMISE!







Oh, And did I mention that Character Constructions stamps are also on the cover of the current issue of Stampington's Stamper's Sampler!!!


And have I told you I'm excited? *big smile*

It IS Christmas!!!

The July/August issue of SOMERSET STUDIO has ARRIVED in the Art House Studio! HURRAY!!!!! I so love this art mag!!! And the artists and articles are incredibly inspiring!! Can't wait to discover it!!!

The Art House will be carrying Somerset Studio, Stamper's Sampler, Somerset Apprentice... and more. Eeeeekkkk... can you see me doing a happy dance?