art stuff: carving some stamps

A talented and sweet friend of mine showed me how to do this at her lovely retreat a few years ago and I have been hooked ever since. Have I perfected it? Hek no! But I love them and their bold imperfections.

I think it's time for a new ink pad, but you get the idea. NOT perfect, but perfectly chunky.

I love using them in my art journal and on pretty mail art. Like this ----->

Funky and chunky. I love it!

the process: sometimes mini canvas

...because lately I love anything new and tiny. (If you follow my instagram you will know why) --->

Tiny and Pretty. Enjoy the process!

on the worktable: art journaling

Working on this  ----->

tutorials: plastic fused notebook

Today I have another tutorial for you using the same simple steps we used to make THIS PRETTY PLASTIC FUSED CANVAS AND COLLAGE PIECES.

If you had fun making your PLASTIC CANVAS COLLAGE PIECES I think you will enjoy making the easy pocket notebook. JUST GO HERE TO MAKE A PLASTIC FUSED CANVAS. Once you have your  CANVAS hop back over here and follow a few more easy steps to create this pretty, recycled pocket notebook.

STEP ONE:  Trim your plastic canvas to the desired size and shape, using your paper pad as a template. Be sure to allow for a half inch seam allowance around the edges of your paper pad. Stitch all the way around the edges of your canvas a few times with pretty thread. I added some zig zag stitching at the last minute too!

STEP TWO:  Grab some notebook paper or a small tablet- a sticky note pad works great. If you are using note book paper you will need to trim it to size, allowing for folding to create a signature.

STEP THREE:  Stack your trimmed paper, creating a signature. Fold in half and score. Now stitch down the score line with pretty thread. ( If you are using a ready made tablet you can skip this step! )

STEP FOUR: Once your signature is stitched, position it slightly off center on the wrong side of your PLASTIC FUSED CANVAS. Check that both sides will fold in toward center of notebook, overlapping. If positioned correctly, open to middle of signature and restitch down the center. Double back for added strength.

STEP FIVE:  Fold in your notebook flaps and mark both sides where you will need to punch a hole for your ribbon tie and button.

STEP SIX: Attach your ribbon and knot. Add a button or bauble on second flap. Fold & Wrap!

What a pretty little notebook to pull out of your bag for all those LITTLE NOTES AND LISTS. And the best part? It is recycled!

Enjoy!

tutorials: plastic fused canvas = pretty collage pieces

I make a lot of collage pieces to use in my art journals, but lately I am hooked on these pretty pieces. They are so full of wonderful texture and color. Since I have had so many questions about them I decided to do a little tutorial.

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

<--- plastic bags and wax paper
<--- towel to protect your surface
<--- iron and ironging board or flat surface
<--- inks paints and gesso 

STEP ONE:  Cut bottom seams and handles off of your plastic bags. Lay a towel on ironing surface to protect it, followed by a piece of wax paper that is larger than your plastic bag. Next, lay out one plastic bag ( print side in to protect your iron ) followed by another sheet of wax paper. Iron. Continue layering and ironing until you have a four to eight ply stack. Add a final piece of wax paper to your stack and iron one last time.

STEP TWO:  Apply a layer of gesso to your finished plastic canvas. Use an old credit card to move the gesso around. Let dry completely.

STEP THREE:  Start layering your canvas with inks and paints. Spray, brush or dab on your colors to create dimension and color, making sure to let each coat dry completely before adding another layer.

You can mix a little glossy mod podge with your favorite acrylic paints to create a beautiful color that dries with a shine.

STEP FOUR:  Add pops of white and black using a fine tipped brush or the end of a pencil. Add inspiring words or phrases.

STEP FIVE: After your PLASTIC FUSED CANVAS has dried completely, add a final coat of glossy gel medium or mod podge. Let dry. Now your canvas is ready to cut into shapes.

They look so pretty stitched to your favorite card or journal page.

Look for another cool way to use your PLASTIC FUSED CANVAS soon!

on the worktable: favorite upcycled stencil

Every once in awhile do you find yourself going back to one tool over and over again? Well this is my favorite go to stencil right now. It is an upcycled piece of I don't know what from an ancient bin of scrapbook stuff I purged a few months ago...

It is started life as a  heavy duty papery sort of material. Once it was inked, stained and gessoed a dozen times it built a tougher outer shell. Now it is the perfect tiny circle stencil. I love it so much that I only allow myself to use a tiny piece at a time - at least until I stumble upon some more!

21 secrets: christmas in july SALE!

Yea! Summer is in full swing! I hope that you all have been making time to learn and create! To make things fun and offer some freebies - 21 SECRETS is going to be on sale for just $49 this month! Please read all about this exciting and informative workshop, featuring myself and 20 other artists. A year long, self paced workshop, 21 Secrets is packed with new techniques, exciting projects and amazing instructors. READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE. WANT TO SIGN UP? YOU CAN DO THAT HERE!

Watch this sneak peek video to see what I am teaching! Have fun creating!

sneak peek: art journal page

Combining a little book paper, some sketching and inks, upcycled stencils and a white out pen.

studio storage: accordion files & collage papers

It is no great secret that I love to be organized. And it is obvious by looking around here that I love containers and storage systems, but until now, I just hadn't found the perfect filing system for my collage papers. You know the ones? Those odd shaped and indeterminate sized scraps that we just have to keep! Enter these awesome little accordion file jackets. Oh my- is that a CHEVRON PATTERN I see? They are the perfect size for storing all of those odds bits and pieces I want to hang onto for collaging, mail art and card making. Have bigger scraps or a need to file your larger book pages and paper? I love these accordion files by Martha Stewart Home Office! Do you want to know the very best part about this little studio storage project? These little puppies were only $1 each in the Dollar Section at my local Target. Now making this will be a snap!

art stuff: a new stencil & chevron pattern love

The Chevron Pattern is hot right now! I love this fresh and funky motif and gravitate to it over and over again. No shock then, when I saw this Heidi Swapp stencil, and I had to have it! This pattern is modern and chic and just plain yummy when added to an art journal page.

I have spotted this pattern all over this week. A few of my favorites are these colorful bouncy balls, I found here, and these delicious folding step stools that caught my eye here!

I think I will explore how I can incorporate this new favorite pattern into my home decor. Stay tuned!