15 minutes of mixed media

It's Tuesday, so here is this week's take on my 15 minutes of mixed media - a lesson in art and time management! 

This week I started with two colors I rarely use. Blue and Green. I tried. As you can see though,  the pink took over. As usual. Oh well. In the end I liked it because this is what I love to do!

 I am still working in this art journal and love it! I don't LOVE starting with a blank page, but since I didn't have time to create a new batch of backgrounds this week, I had no choice. I prefer, as you know, to start with some color on the page, something I usually create using the Gelli Plate. It is so easy and fast for creating beautiful backgrounds. I hope to work on some of these this week!

SUPPLIES THIS WEEK -------> Golden Heavy Body Acrylic in Pink Fluorescent, Apple Barrel White Gloss, Apple Barrel Lime Gloss, Dylusions Spray Ink in Calypso Teal, Painters Brand Paint Pens in Red, Black, White, & Orange, Ink Joy Ink Pens, Water Brushes filled with Dylusions Inks in Bubblegum Pink, Lemon Zest, & Funky Fuschia, Sharpie Oil Pen in White, Sharpie Mean Streak in White, UHU Glue Stick, Scissors, TUL Fine Tip Permanent Black Marker, ( I buy these in bulk because I love them so much and use them so often! ) Collage Papers from my stash of art journal papers, and both homemade and store bought stencils. I used this one and this one. I also used paintbrushes, an old gift card and a heat embosser.

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Here are a few other journal pages I created using this technique-------> Click on the images below to see how these journal pages were created using 15 minutes of mixed media.

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15 minutes of mixed media

Welcome to this week's 15 Minutes of Mixed Media !  It is a bold one this week! I mentioned I have been experimenting with color, specifically those I shy away from- so this is what happened when I set the timer. !5 minutes and counting....Go.

I started with a simple background- two oversized swipes of bright color. I like the FolkArt Neons in pink and orange. They are nice, inexpensive paints to use for backgrounds, as much of it get painted over later in the process. I also grabbed some paint pens, a few collage papers, a glue stick, scissors, two Golden paint colors - Ultramarine Blue and Diarylide Yellow,  two ink pads - ripe persimmon and seedless preserves , a few stencils and a water brush filled with a mixture of water and Dylusions ink in Bubblegum Pink.

I began by adding a few pieces of collage paper using the glue stick, followed by several swipes of white paint. (I failed to mention that I also used my go to paint for everything - Apple Barrel White Gloss Craft Paint. ) Next I stenciled several shapes and dried them quickly with my heat embosser. I journaled large words with a paint pen and made several more small marks and swirls also using the paint pens, drying layers with the embosser as I went.

I stamped my ink pad directly to the page in several areas and moved the color around while still wet with my ink filled water brush. I added some small marks using the same brush and dried again with the heat embosser. I laid a stencil down and rubbed white paint over it in several areas to create some texture.

I hope you are enjoying the process. Setting your timer doesn't have to be stressful. I used to find that my teeth were actually clenched when the buzzer went off. I got over that. Once I realized no one was grading me, testing me, watching me- the tension slipped away and it became an enjoyable creative exercise. Need more time until you are comfortable creating this way? Set the timer for 30 minutes and have those supplies at the ready!

Here are a few other journal pages I created using this technique!

Want to see more simple background ideas for your art journal pages created using 15 minutes of mixed media? Read here----->

Click on the images below to see how these journal pages were created using 15 minutes of mixed media.

go to paint and ink colors

This little post is in response to the dozens of requests I have had about my favorite paint colors. I have so many - but these are the few I seem to go most often!

In order from top to bottom, left to right ------>

LIQUITEX INKS - pyrrole red. quinacridon magenta. cadium yellow light hue.

GOLDEN ACRYLIC PAINTS- teal. quinacridone red. diarylide yellow.

ASSORTED ACRYLIC CRAFT PAINTS - I like the glossy colors too!

FolkArt- neon orange. Craft Smart- ocean breeze. Craft Smart- neon pink. Apple Barrel (gloss)- dandelion yellow. Craft Smart- neon yellow. Craft Essentials- apple tart. Craft Essentials- neon purple. Plaid Shiny- ultramarine blue.

GOLDEN HEAVY BODY NEON ACRYLICS - Fluorescent Green, Fluorescent Chartreuse, Fluorescent Orange, Fluorescent Red, Fluorescent Pink.

I hope this helps. As I choose new favorites I will post them here to share with you! Happy Creating!

sewing stuff: she loves pretty too

When my sweet friend, and other NO. 1 fan, Lorraine at Serendipity Studios wanted me to create a painted pillow for her I knew it had to be special. She is special. She laughed when she read this - so here you go Lo- because you loves pretty too!

Can't wait to visit her beautiful studio again- it is amazing! This will fit her bright and beautiful personality perfectly!

If you haven't stopped by here and met her - do it today! She is beautiful, kind and wickedly talented! AND SHE LOVES PRETTY TOO!

art stuff: tiny canvas magnets

Seriously. I love these things. I have made several this week with the intention of putting them in my etsy shoppe. Something keeps happening and I can't part with them. My magnetic board is going to fall of the wall one day. These two are going into the shoppe. For sure. Like yesterday.

art stuff: pretty painted pouches

Just a little peek at some of the new and pretty painted pouches headed to my Etsy Shoppe!

Stop by the shoppe and see what else is new!

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!

art stuff: teeny tiny painted notebooks

Who doesn't love teeny tiny things? These notebooks are my favorite lately. They feel so great when they are all finished and look so much cooler to pull out of your bag or backpack than a regular ole' notebook.

These notebooks are just the right size for those little lists and reminders along the way.

And since I can't remember anything these days, I always have a few of them tucked away here and there - my bag, backpack, the car and of course, one on my nightstand, for the middle of the night - because THAT is when I remember everything I forgot during the course of the day!

Oooh and these make the sweetest little stocking stuffers! Check them all out here! BIG ones coming next week! (you know- for all those BIG IDEAS and LONG LISTS!)

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: she loves pretty

My number one fan loves PRETTY and so I always find myself creating things for her.

This painted pouch found it's way to her most recently and she did what she does best - applaud and drool and make me feel really, really good.

She has a gift for making someone feel like they are worth what they are doing, giving, creating. She has a gift for making someone feel cherished and loved.

I trust her judgement and I value her friendship. She is a gem and she deserves all the pretty she can get. I love you SK.