Be BOLD.

27 Wednesday Mar 2013

Posted by Sara in Art Journal, Mixed Media

Tags

Art Journal, Dina Wakley, Donna Downey, Dylusions, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Mixed media, The Crafter's Workshop, Unity Stamp Co.

As soon as The Paperie received the Sally Carly stencils by Dina Wakley for The Crafter’s Workshop, I had to give them a test run – along with the Tiny Circles and Pie Chart stencils designed by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and Ronda Palazzari, and a couple of Dylusions ones too.

To begin, I re-enforced my journal seam with gold chevron washi tape and I love, love, love how it resisted the mist on the gold parts! That was completely unexpected because I just grabbed the first washi tape at hand and stuck it on – awesome surprise!

I used both the positive and negative pieces of the stencil to get different layers of colour with Dylusions Ink Sprays and black gesso. I also did a lot of outlining with my white Uniball Signo Gel Pen, some stamping in black archival ink, and layers of white gesso, Inka Gold, and shimmer mist through the other stencils.

I love how all the layers turned out , especially the Tiny Circles on the head of the first girl:

And the Perfect Pearls Mist through a Dylusions stencil on the second:

Finally, I added Donna Downey phrases from her Art & Possibility set, available through Unity Stamp Co. This may be my new favourite stamp set – the sentiments are fabulous!

All in all, I’m pretty happy with the results – and I really love all the stencils and media that came into play!

What fun things have you done this week? Link me up in the comments – I’d love to see it!

Summer Life

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Sara in Mixed Media, ScrapBook

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Martha Stewart, Scrapbook Layout, Simple Stories, Tim Holtz

I was doing some organizing – or attempting it anyway! – when I came across this LO and I’m pretty sure I’ve never shared it here. Plus, it’s a sunny and warm picture and I could cry right now I want warm weather so badly!

Most of this came from a Paperie kit – the snippets of Simple Stories paper, the Dear Lizzie tag, the alphas stickers, but I added the gold Martha Stewart doily:

the Ali Edward’s for Technique Tuesday stamp:

and some awesome Teal Silks and Tim Holtz filmstrip ribbon:

Love the white space in this one, empty of even mist spatters. Sometimes, it just needs to be a little cleaner than usual!

Hoping to get my YLA2013 LO’s done this week so I can post what I’ve done with them. I’m also working on finishing up the February LO’s of Krista’s Keeping Track of Life (KTOL) class. I have the main one finished off with silver thread, now I just need to do the pocket pages and they’ll be ready to share as well!

Cross your fingers you see something completed and posted in the next couple of days!

I saw the moon more clearly….

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Sara in Art Journal, Mixed Media

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Art Journal, Dyan Reaveley, Dylusion Ink Sprays, Dylusions, Gesso, Mixed media, Ranger, stamping, Stencil, The Crafter's Workshop

I have to say, this art journal page didn’t turn out as I envisioned. Probably because it started out all wrong, and then got covered up, and then…… You know, everything snowballed and the end product was vastly different from what I had originally been going for.

However, I did get to play a lot and what’s not fun about that? 🙂

The original page had a lot of Dylusions Ink Sprays, which I love, but it just went all wrong. So I covered it all in gesso, played with the texture a bit – ran a fork through, that type of thing – and then let the gesso work its magic as it dried:

And I ended up with the same colours I started with, just much more subtle and with a lot more interest and texture.

I added some Viva Decor Ferro, which my kiddies say is like mud, so they love it, through a Dylusions Letter Jumble stencil:

And I used a Pearl paint dabber sprayed with gold mist for the moon and quote:

I also stamped some of my favourite leaves, added some more mist through the Dotted Flowers stencil, and paper pieced some houses on vintage book paper.

All in all, I’ll live with it. After all, isn’t experimenting the main thing here? I also learned to put tape on my journal seams, as you can see from the colour that seeped through from a later page.

Luckily, I don’t mind the extra pop of colour here but I won’t be taking that chance any more and am having fun now playing with different washi tapes. You’ll see some of that next week!

What have you done this week? Any fun things to link me up to and show me? You know I’d love to see it!

YLA2013 | Album Cover

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Sara in Classes, Mixed Media, Techniques, Yearlong Album

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Album cover, Luminarte, Mixed media, Ronda Palazzari, Silks, Stencil, The Crafter's Workshop, Yearlong Album, YLA2013

This may be one of my favourite projects ever. The colours, the texture, the dimension, the shine and, hello! That stencil.

Seriously people, that stencil may be my favourite of all time, maybe even edging out the Pomegranate one. Yes, it’s that good. It’s so good that I could even say I’m in love with Ronda Palazzari for designing it and Jamie at The Crafter’s Workshop for making it. I love it so much that I made sure everyone in my Yearlong class got the 12×12 one as well.

Moving along, this lovely project also happens to be the album cover we are making for the Yearlong 2013 class. Obviously, as it is a mixed media album no one will have the exact same cover but I’ll be teaching all the techniques I used and showing how I got that awesome texture (hint: teabags may have been involved!).

I also used modeling paste which made the hearts pop:

And gave fabulous dimension to the spine:

The paints I used were Luminarte Silks to give it that awesome shimmer and shine:

And for those who don’t have Silks yet (I stress the word yet, they are a necessity!) I’m working on a way to use your regular acrylics and make them into a faux shimmer glaze. If it works, I’ll do a tutorial some Tuesday soon.

If you can’t already see the reason I love the Confetti stencil, here’s why:

It’s like paint spatters, and blobs of molding paste, and quirky hearts all thrown together with great, but still imperfect, border to tie it all together.

And here’s a closeup of the front so you can really see how it all came together:

The back is very similar, but the paints blended a little differently. Plus, I still think I’m going to add a small camera stamp and my signature:

I had truly planned to do an album title and some decoration but I couldn’t bear to cover this up so… I guess we’ll have to go with Happy as an album title! 🙂

I’ll be back next week with the LO for this month, so look out for that later and keep an eye on Instagram (#YLA2013) for sneaks of it!

No Journey is too Great…

11 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Sara in Art Journal, Mixed Media

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

Art Journal, Dylusions, Dylusions Ink Sprays, Ranger, Stamper's Anonymous, Tim Holtz

I mentioned quite a while ago that I planned to start art journaling. And I did plan to start, really.

But it never happened.

Until recently! I finally opened up my Dylusions journal and put some stuff on the page. I have three or four started now but here’s my first one:

I love the bright colours – the Dylusions Ink Sprays are amazing!

This is actually the second take on this page, the first one was a mess of some stars that didn’t work out the way I had envisioned so I covered it up and went for it again. I still kept the stars:

But I added my beloved Tim Holtz car and Dylusions leaves:

And a great quote:

Plus some Dylusions stencils, metallic paint, and a bit of white gel pen.

I really like how it ended up, and am loving the more recent pages I’ve done even more. Playing with product just never gets old, does it?

I’ll be back next week with another page – trying to keep this regular and being held accountable here will help!

Weekend of Fun | Dylusions Technique Tag Album

18 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by Sara in Classes, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Techniques

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Archival Ink, Dylusions, Ink Spray, Mini Album, Mixed media, Ranger, Weekend of Fun

Well here it is, the last sneak peek into this weekend’s classes!

And this might be the class I’m most excited to teach – the tag mini album! I made a similar one in Orlando but amped it up and added a few more techniques especially for this class – I hope people are ready to get inky and messy!

I stuck with red, pink, orange, and yellow for mine, and added one of my favourite Dylusions sentiment stamps to the front:

Along with the main manilla Jumbo #12 tags, we are also using kraft:

and black:

And just for fun, here’s some little sneaks of a couple more pages!

We’ll be stamping, with my favourite waterproof ink, Archival:

And colouring with Ink Sprays:

Have you signed up for any (or all!) of the classes yet? You should, we’re going to have a blast! And, as a bonus, you get to go home with some great product, especially in this class! 😉

I’ll try to find time to tweet and instagram some pics over the weekend so if you’re too far away to attend or have to work all weekend (we’ll miss you Lori!) then check out my feeds to see some of the fun!

Weekend of Fun | Ranger Mini Canvases

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by Sara in Classes, Mixed Media

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Canvas, Classes, Ranger, The Paperie, Valentine's Day, Weekend of Fun

I’m back again with a look at another one of the classes this coming weekend – Ranger Mini Canvases!

The ones in Orlando were Hallowe’en themed and since we’re well past that now I redid them in a love theme. These can be used as Valentine’s decorations, or as Valentine’s to give, but they can also just be pretty pieces to hang in your craft space, or a nice friendship “just because” gift.

I went a bit grungy with this first one, making the canvas and rosette a bit distressed, and then added word flags:

love

Lots of fun layers and dimension too:

The second one I decided to keep a bit cleaner and brighter:

flirt

And added to the sparkle of the tinsel twine with a glittery heart!

We still have some space available in these classes so be sure to check out the class descriptions and then call The Paperie to sign up for any or all – we really are going to have a great Weekend of Fun!

Dear January,

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by Sara in Cards, Classes, Mini Album, Mixed Media, Yearlong Album

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Canvas, Classes, Impression Obsession, Mixed media, Ranger, The Paperie

Please don’t kick my ass.

I know you’re going to be a busy month.

Hugely busy.

Remember in December when I did 5 new classes in 10 days? Well January, that is kind of what you’re going to be like.

On top of the 6, count ’em, 6 new classes I’ll be teaching at The Paperie, I have my regular Design Team work for Simple Scrapper and am working on a special project for them as well.

And I still have Paperie Picks posts to write and of course, this place here.

So please be kind to me, January, I’m going to need it!

I’m looking forward to the final Yearlong 2012 class and to just being able to say goodbye to that one after a year.

2012 Album Cover (& Ella!)

I’m already planning, planning, planning for the new one and can’t wait for all the fun techniques we’re going to do in the 2013 class! I do know that brand new Crafter’s Workshop stencils and mixed media gels and gesso will be a small part of the new kit!

And I’m really excited for the 4 classes I’m teaching in one giant fun-filled weekend. Ranger, Impression Obsession, Dylusions, canvases, cards, mini albums, and more on January 19 and 20 for what I call the Orlando classes. There will be great products included, awesome techniques, and fabulous projects. I know I’m going to have a blast but boy oh boy, I have some major prep work to do!

But first, I’m teaming up with Cathie once again for a Designer Duo class in Mixed Media! She’ll being using those techniques on a LO while I’ll be teaching a canvas. This is my favourite type of project to do so I’m stoked to get everyone else loving this art form too.

Happy Memories

So yes January, I’m excited and looking forward to you but please, don’t throw anything else my way for a week or two!

You can learn more about all of my January classes at the Paperie here and call them to sign up for any or all. Sign-ups are still open for the new technique filled Yearlong Album 2013 too but call quick if you want to be part of that always sold out class!

Mixed Media Guest Post!

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by Sara in Mixed Media

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

canvas, Luminarte, Mixed media, Silks, The Crafter's Workshop

I’m guest posting over at Krista’s blog today – go check out how I made this beauty!

Happy Memories

An update, brownies, and a class I took…

17 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Sara in Baking, Mini Album, Mixed Media, ScrapBook, Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

7 Gypsies, Baking, Basically Bare, Bazzill Basics, Bo Bunny, Book of Me, Brownies, Canvas Corp, Classes, Creative Imaginations, Graphic 45, The Collins Rep Group, The Paperie, Viva Colour

Sorry for the little blog break here – I’ve been crazy busy since returning from Orlando and there just aren’t enough hours in the day…

I’ve been completing the few unfinished projects from the show – I made 7 mini albums plus other items so there was a lot of little odds and ends that needed a final touch or two!

Bazzill – Christmas Lickety Slip Album

Creative Imaginations – Beautiful You Mixed Media Album

Basically Bare and Graphic 45 – Nutcracker Suite Easel Album

7 Gypsies and Canvas Corp – Epicurean Library Drawer

Creative Imaginations – Holly Jolly Altered Album

I’m only showing you the sneaks here of a few things but if you want the full reveal, all the details, and to hear about the fun we had then you need to sign up for the Show and Tell at The Paperie on Tuesday, October 23! I think there may be some giveaways too…. 🙂

I’m heading over to have wine and chit chat with a friend tonight so I thought I’d bring some goodies with me – brownies!

Brownie Batter!

I took two of my favourite recipes, made a change or two and combined them to make gluten free mascarpone brownies with ricotta topping. They look and smell yummy and I’ll post an update later with how they taste! I already know the batter was good….

And they really should be good because if there’s one thing I know how to bake well, it’s brownies! That’s not ego my friends, it’s just the simple truth! 🙂 But I can’t roast a chicken to save my life…. UPDATE: They are the bomb…. 🙂

yummy, yummy in my tummy!

Finally, I carved out a little time on Saturday morning to take a class from my friend Rae Lynn, the queen of clean and simple LO’s – her work is always gorgeous! She has started a new class series to do a Book of Me and the two LO’s we did are awesome!

I only took one picture with me for the class but the sweater I was wearing was the perfect colour for the papers and since Miss Smarty Pants Rae Lynn brought her camera and Canon Selphy printer, we took a snap, printed it and I was in business! It always feels good to go home with a completed LO!

i am…

I changed this second one a little – the background paper was a light tan/brown and I had a piece of Bo Bunny Vintage Double Dot paper that was the exact shade of my shirt so I used that instead. Also, I think I’m going to change the title to “An unexpected pleasure” and do my journalling on one thing rather than do a list of several “simple pleasures.” I could have had this one done but I was really uncertain about the journalling and decided that focusing on one unexpected pleasure – my camera – would work better for me for this LO. So now that I’ve settled on that, it will be done tonight, RLOK, I promise!