15 minutes of mixed media

New to the blog? This has turned my time in the studio around.

For this layout I started with a gelliprint background and had the following supplies at the ready before I started the timer---> *3 paint colors *black & white paint pens *permanent marker *a few scraps of painted deli paper *scissors *glue stick *number stamp set

Want to see some of my other creative exercises like this? Here you go! --->

 

Enjoy!

december daily: re-purposing & catching up

December Daily, with Ali Edwards. I decided to play along this year thanks to the friendly nudging of my pal Sandi. She has been playing for years and has the most awesome collection of memory books to prove it. There are a million different way artists, scrapbookers and journalers are interpreting this project. I chose to keep it real. No buying new pretty stuff. No staging photos. Just good ole' daily life in December and a whole lotta leftover papers and trims from projects past.

I didn't want anything too big either. In my mind I was thinking coffee table book. SMALL coffee table book. MINI coffee table book. Short, squat and chunky. I love the way this book feels so much I decided to create a quick mini workshop on how to make one. It will be available sometime after the New Year.

I stitched vintage style papers the base of each page of my book and added nature cut outs, stamped tags, fabric tabs and punched words. A little bit of doodling and paint plus some sparkle made it more "me" and less "scrapbooky."

I have to admit. I jumped on board for this project with more than a little skepticism. I just wasn't sure I would stick with it. What I should have been more worried about was actually STARTING the project. In all honesty I didn't start it on the 1st, but I DID start it and am now playing catch up.

I have enjoyed working in a small format, with everyday photos of "us" AND re-purposing the art supplies I had in the studio. As far as catching up- well I will be there soon! But the very best part of this project of all is the VIEW!

I will post more page peeks soon. Hopefully in December, wink wink! Have a very Happy Christmas and a Merry Merry New Year! Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

So my journal is filling up and I am still loving it. This is keeping me honest- getting me into the studio, onto my stool, paintbrush in hand.

This is what I had on the table ready to go: a few colors of paint, a scraper, two paintbrushes, a fine tip sharpie, two fat tip acrylic paint pens- black and white, one roll of washi tape, scissors, a glue stick, and a sheet of painted deli paper.

I allow myself to have a few supplies on hand so that I do not cut into my 15 minutes looking for stuff. I never spend more than 5 minutes gathering these things, to keep the challenge honest- which is to say, QUICK!

Pre-selecting some supplies also adds to the challenge. I must work with what is in front of me- no sneaking into the paint drawer without cutting into my time. The clock is always ticking.

I love how this one turned out. The colors, the design, all of it. I am loving those glossy blue dots. If you haven't given this a whirl yet, I hope you will hop on board! Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

Here we go again. 15 minutes of mixed media is the best thing to ever happen to my journal.

Same routine. Set the timer to 15 minutes. I had a few supplies out and ready, but tried to keep it simple today. A few paints, a permanent marker, some spray inks,  a few paint pens and a little washi tape.

I continue to work in my small Dyan Reavely Journal. I like the smaller page layouts when I am setting the timer.

This is a fantastic creative exercise. I encourage you to set the timer and try it yourself. I think you will be pleased with the results. Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

- wait, make that 10. Ten minutes of mixed media. Today I chose to make the challenge a bit harder. I set the timer for ten minutes instead of 15. I am still working in my small Dylusion Creative Journal.

I began today on an un-prepped page. I did have a few supplies laid out.

My supplies for this shorter challenge included some paint, inks, pastels,  and a permanent pen. I dried layers with a heat embosser and finished the layout off with a sealer. Start to finish - ten minutes. This just keeps getting better and better!

This all started here! You can see a few other examples of 15 minutes of mixed media here.

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

I started this a few weeks ago and it has really made a difference at how I look at a few minutes of art time.

Just choose a medium, set the timer and go to work!

I am more inspired than ever to take that time and make it mine! Today I am working in the small (5" x 8") Dylusions Creative Journal.

I created this page from start to finish with the timer set to 15 minutes. I had a few supplies laid out and ready to use, but nothing precut. I also used a heat embosser to help speed up the drying time in between layers.

Not only am I working on a journal layout, I am finishing it. This is the best idea I ever came up with! Enjoy!

15 minutes of mixed media: an exercise in art and time management

You might remember reading here that I have to sometimes give myself small amounts of time in the studio, as opposed to none. I'll take it.

Some days are great and I get in there for hours on end. Others, not so much. I have been debating on how I could make those few moments more productive. This is what I came up with. - set a timer. That's it. Nothing monumental, nothing life altering. Just simple time management.

It works for violin practice. It works for silent reading. It works for time out. Why couldn't it work for art journaling? painting? project planning?

And so I bought a cute timer and I set it. This is what I got on day one. A beautiful art journal page. I worked quickly and diligently, but with no pressure to finish. After all, I get to set the timer again tomorrow.

For those inquiring minds- I set the timer for 15 minutes for this layout and I completed it in that time frame. I worked on foundation page that already had a base print that I created using the gelli plate. (my favorite tool of all time) Sorta like beat the clock only better, and prettier.

art stuff: more fun with ART POPS

I continue to play with Roben-Marie Smith's new ART POPS! These pretty little cards are so inspiring and fun to create with...just look and see--->

ART POPS allowed me to journal over the fabric on my cover. I am in love. Here are a few more peeks at this yummy journal.

More of these recycled beauties coming to my ETSY SHOPPE soon! Just another way to make old junk pretty.

To read more about the new ART POPS and see my first project click here! Want to play with ART POPS in your next project? Get them HERE!

art stuff: playing with these--->mixed media essentials

I confess. It has been a long time since I really USED rubber stamps.

That is not to say I don't have any - I do, but they never really jumped off the worktable and said "play with me please!" Recently a friend of mine, Roben-Marie Smith, asked me if I would be interested in working with her new line - MIXED MEDIA ESSENTIALS. Holy Moly is all I can say!

These stamps were calling my name! I knew the minute I laid my hands on these I would be stamping on more than just paper. I had to put these puppies to fabric. WOW! They rocked!

I absolutely fell in love with all of the combinations I could create with this set. I can't say whether it is the doodled nature of this line - I love to doodle, or the whimsical feel they lend to a piece of art that I love more.

It has been great to work with such a versatile set of stamps too - you can reach for anything from a funky alphabet to a scalloped edge to a doodled dot or circle!

I stamped on fabric, paper and board canvas- each and every project turned out so awesome!

I can't wait to experiment some more with these funky and modern, MIXED MEDIA ESSENTIALS stamps! Who knows what will come off the worktable next! Stay tuned! And don't forget to visit Roben-Marie Smith here for more inspiration and to see what other artists are creating with the great set of stamps!

art stuff: art journal collaboration

I experienced something new and fun at a recent art retreat. Art Journal Collaborations. Here is a peek at one of mine that I created with Sandi Keene, Lorraine Bell, Roben-Marie Smith and Barabara Moore - all talented ladies!