Art Journal Journey

Howdy Candy's!  Have you seen it yet?  Dina Wakely's brand new book..."Art Journal Courage", it has become one of my go-to's for learning more on how to have courage on my own heARTistry journal journey.  If you haven't, I highly recommend checking it out. 

Confession...Bare with me as I finally embrace owning my space hither.  Whilst I've had this lovely blog for many years, I'm not very consistent in posting or sharing over the last couple for many reasons, which for me & the 'real world', that's alright.  However, for those of you who have dedicated to following me, I feel it's time to write this out.

I Love creating heARTistry!  I've spent years making all sorts of crafty goodness, from handmade cards, gifts, and home decor to painting and now working with mixed media using all sorts of mediums.  It's no surprise that as an Artists, I've found that I tend to go through phases.  I've found myself in the past trying to find a way to identify my own personal style.  That very 'thing' that when someone sees it, they see me!  However, in all honesty...I'm going to admit that the search within, for that very 'thing' that defines me is over.  

I'm so over the endless search of finding my personal style & while that may seem contrary to posts past...it's so very true!  I realize that I have no specific style, I create to create because I enjoy doing it.  Art soothes my soul, gives me a place to go that is my personal safe haven.   Why in the world would I want to try to define that!?!  If I see it, I teach myself or learn to just do it!  I also use to be so afraid of posting to my bloggy blog because I was worried about what others see, how I would be perceived, giving plugs to everyone else but denying my own credibility.  I don't think that it's beneficial to anyone including myself that I'm not sharing what I create or writing anymore.  

Currently I have several different heARTistry journey journals in progress.  The first two pieces of heART mixed media pages, are from Dina Wakely's new book.  The rest are just me playing around with Dyan Reeveley's new Christmas sets.  I just want to share at this point what's on my creative mind.  I'm still in progress on my 'Portrait' page, however, it's a lot of FUN learning techniques and certainly how to mix paint to create a flesh tone with (which I'm still processing) Dina's vibrant paints.  One thing I've learned is that Gesso is not the same for each medium & it is like underwear for acrylic paint.  

Enjoy!
HUGS
xoxo

Pin It

Creative University Journey Re-Cap 1

Howdy Candies…it’s been nearly a month since I’ve shared with you & I can’t tell you how much it makes me smile to see that you faithfully still visit & gander through my other storied shares.  So what’s kept my heART & hands busy!?!  Why CU2013 of course.  I will be doing a couple re-cap posts through until the end of the month.  That’s about how long it takes to share all the lovely things I adore about CU & honestly no words can express what an incredible journey this is been. 
I feel so truly blessed to of been apart of the Professor Team this year.  These women are sooo talented and so inspiring.  So I wanted to start out by sharing a project we did for the Student Body members.  Of course my Sorority was Megaha Inky – Since I’m an Inky kinda gal it was very fitting.  So without Further Ado, here we go with My Inspiration Board project: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)
One of My Favorite Spots at Camp Lutherhaven I stumbled upon my first year & re-visit each time & Melody’s Typography Inspiration Board along with an assignment we had during Brave Girls Art School, Inspired me to use Nature to accent the middle of the heart since of course, we see hearts in nature everywhere…:
Name Tag We Got To Decorate & the Flower accent was a Gift:

Inspiration Board:

Here are some Close Up Photos I took when I got home of each piece that I Loved:

 

“Lady of the Leaves” – One of My Endearing Pieces using Dyan’s Spray “Bleach Out” Technique:

My Team Professor Linda Shores & My Personal Secret Sister, I Love Dr. Suess & Her Talents Always Inspire Me so of course I wanted her to always have a Wocket in her Pocket:

A Fabby Group of SMILES Enjoying the Technique Boutique that Linda & I were blessed to be a part of:

I had so much FUN creating these pieces to share and was oober excited to come home & finally have a chance to show you what my INKy Fingers have been up too these last few weeks that was a surprise for the CU Sorority Sisters .  The Inspiration Gallery was chock full of Amazing Ideas, heARTistry, Inspiration, Mojo Boosters & more!  My Personal Secret Sister & Team Professor for the Technique Boutique was just so Ah-Mazing!  I can’t begin to tell you the wonderful things I learn from her heARTistry every year.  Not only was she my Team Professor but the one I was given to treat all weekend long.  We truly had an amazing time in the Technique Boutique and I absolutely love her Teaching Style.  Plus we had some FUNtabulous SMILES as one of our fellow Sisters used my cam to take a shot of me with some really oober talented women.

  
I just adore the inspiration that surrounds Creative University too.  It is a place of tranquility that one can find solace when in a moment of reflection or two.  For me I actually ventured out a bit to capture a couple of memories while learning to play with various settings on my camera.  So I would love to leave you this Re-Cap Installment One, of Inspiration with something that we all could use from time to time. HUGS & Thank you so much for Stamping By…(To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

I fell to my knees to pray to Him above…His answer to my prayer had me look to Mother Nature...For all Her Love!:

 

Happy New Year Candies!

Howdy Candies…I just wanted to stamp by to share a really FUN playful time creating some Dylusional Tags for our New January Challenge at CC101 FB Group.  This amazingly talented group came together from our first ever online Creative Chemistry course with Tim Holtz that we took back in March of last year.  It’s been an incredible journey & I wanted to start our new year off with a bitty of ‘Chemistry’ that we learned along the way with a twist.  So I created some samples & one that fit our lovely Linda Ledbetter over at StudioL3 (who has an on-going challenge in Celebrating Tim Holtz Birthday! You won’t want to miss this one). 

You can join in Creative Chemistry at any time & have access to the online content for life.  That is such a steal of a deal as I know what & how to use the products I have & couple them with Ranger products all the time.  The cost of the class is only $35.00 but the content you learn & in the way Tim teaches it is absolutely priceless.  Just click the green Creative Chemistry Link to be directed to sign-up.  Once you’ve completed it you will then be able to join in our continued ‘Chemistry’ journey via our online FB Group. (Verification process to ensure you’re a paid student is necessary to protect class content) So without Further Ado A Happy New Year to You!: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Happy New Year “What appears to be the end is usually the start of a new beginning” & Simple Floral Pleasure:

I also found some time when I took the rest of the week off during the Christmas Holiday to “Doodle” a bitty & LOVE how it turned out! I’ve become addicted to Zentangle so if you see more in the future it is helping me on my journey with Art Journaling.  LOVE IT “Paisley Bird Love”!

Stay tuned for more News & Updates!  Thanks for stamping by…(To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Tis’ The Season Dylusions My Reason…

Howdy Candies…Just stamping by with a quicky post today.  I’ve been whipping up some inspirational goodness in the Studio as of late & most of what I’m working on are gifts, cards, & dare I say “I’m Ornamental” at the moment!  I’ve seen so many inspirational Holiday heARTistry lately that I’m trying to keep up with a personal list of idears, LoL (Lots of Love!).  I reckon you must be too? 

So I tried my hand at my own very first configurations by Tim Holtz & mixed it up with a bitty of Dylusions of course!  Who would of thunk it…’Festive Berries’, ‘Fresh Lime’, & ‘Cut Grass’ along with some ‘Red Pepper’ (acrylic paint) would be such Delicious Eye Candy!?!  I mean honestly when I was playing around with this of course it is still “UNDER CONFINGERATIONS CONSTRUCTION” but that’s because we’ve had a little side-track this past week in the Studio.  Take a Looky Loo:  (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Tim Holtz Configurations “UNDER CONSTRUCTION”: (I can’t wait until it’s completed!)

I know right…I have seen a few but never thought to myself that we can make moving parts!  That was my Darling Husbands idear…how smart is he, eh?  Whilst I shared on my last post the hilarious video of Dyan sharing how to make these amazing paper Ornament Stars from her Dylusions Art Journal paper in under 5 minutes, I also had to laugh a bitty because in true candy style I’m so not a quicky creator by any means. 

It was two inspirational dear Friends of mine that offered a bitty of journaling insight as I’m just doing this off a whim that lent a hand in going over the quicky mark.  Thank you so much Mz. Donna & Mz. Sue for your input!  I used liquid pearls, sprays, Glaze Pens (I’m in love with these) – & my opaque pen.  Did you know???  That there is a little trick in using the inkssentials opaque pens!  I doubt that it is a discovery but anywho…I found that after you doodle or write it seems not so bright…however, if you go over it again very lightly it writes almost like paint!  LURV IT.  So here is a gander of my un-ribboned pile of Stars to finish off:

Tis’ The Season as Dylusions is My Reason:

These are just splendidly FUN to do!  My Darling Husband got into the spirit & did a couple & added the smaller ones to a dowel (He wanted me to put one on my Configurations)  I’m sorry Loveee but I have other ideas for those.  HUGS xx  I’m quite sure that our little Gurl will love these as gifts to her class too.  You truly can make these with your Children, Grand-Children, Nieces, Nephews, Neighbors…& they have tons of possibilities. 

I’ve also done a few surprise mini cards for some special gals that I will be seeing at Creative University 2013!  I sooo can’t wait to get them finished & mailed off for a bit of Christmas Love!  Thanks to Heidi Swap for her generosity of her 12 Days of Printable Christmas Freebies.  *NOTE: I did purchase her Adjectives Digital Brushes to add a bit of flair…though I can’t share them now, watch for it!  Here is a sneak peak & NO they surely are not the way they appear Tee-Hee!:

Heidi Swapp – Christmas Ornament Free Printable! (Click the Photo To Go To Her Post!)

So without Further Ado…We have some Blog Candy to Give-Away from our post on “One BRAVE Evening…” & Let’s give a warm Congrats too:

Drum Roll….The WINNER IS: Christine!!! Congrats Christine, please submit your information so we can get your “Wear Your Words” & “Twinchie Ornaments” out to you.

As always it is deeply appreciated that you have followed along with me in this creative journey!  There are more things on my plate as of late & it is no surprise that from now until February you will see a lot more posts regarding my Journey to Creative University 2013!  I’m a wittle sad that this is going to be our very last year but I’m super excited that it’s going to be most SPECIAL!  There is still time for you to join in the all the fun.  Just visit Mz. Fabulously Artsy herself for more information.  CREATIVE UNIVERSITY 2013! Along our journey we got to have a LIVE online class with Tresa for the Holidays!  I’m sooo excited to share what I did too.  Thanks for Stamping By…:  (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Creative University Live Project November Create-N-Take!: (Click the Photo To View More Info!)

Ornamental Dylusions Christmas

Howdy Candies…So I’m completely smitten over some gorgeous shares lately & I would say they are just stunning Eye Candy heARTistry!  I’m very certain that you will find them to be too!  Along my journey I decided that I wanted to dibble a bit and combine a plethora of products together to create some ornaments that I’m in a swap for & admittedly I also wanted to join in this months Inspiration Emporiums “Joyful Creations” challenge.  I will say that I’ve officially incurred the “Dylusionsenal Syndrome”…Warning: The voices in my head say there is no cure!   Of course it’s no wonder that I’m experiencing an Ornamental Dylusions Christmas lately. 

Whilst I’m inspired by the lovely shares from the Design Team at IE, I’ve also seen many handmade Christmas Cheer along the way from those I admire deeply & personally follow along in the Blogosphere.  They are more then just Designers but heARTists that truly create to share their love of the crafts as much as I do.  Along my journey this past year they have also become Friends!  I’m so excited to share some of their heARTistry with you in what is dubbed “Blogworthy Eye Candy!”  I’m so thankful to them as their inspiration touched my heART & they are some of the most amazingly generous souls I know.  So Stay TUNED for the end of this post for a list of my Favorite Holiday Creations that inspired a bit of mine.  (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Dylusions Ornament – Configuration Style: (Crushed Grape, Bubblegum Pink, Vibrant Turquoise Dylusions sprays, Tim Holtz – Configurations, Ideo-ology Findings, Tinsel, & Woodland, Claudine Hellmuth – Sticky Back ATC Canvas)

Top: Color Ready Ribbon, Tinsel, Broken knob, & Fabric Glue

Inspiration Emporium “Joyful Creations” Challenge Submission: (Click the Photo to Join the Challenge!")

 

Edited FB Cover “Ornamental Dylusional Christmas”

 

Instead of mass producing Christmas Cards this year I wanted to make one single card for each recipient that is a quality handmade card with a small ornament to hang on their tree from the Candy Studio. I thought it would be a Fantabulous way of using these treats & also play around with various techniques along the way. I’m so excited to share each of them in posts leading up to Christmas, Yay! (Doing the Happy Dance) I will also be including one of my treasures in the give-away from my blog post “One BRAVE Evening” isn’t this just exciting!?!

These were also inspired by our CC101 Continued Journey Challenge this month for “Vintage” and/or “Christmas” creation.  This Christmas Card with “Twinchie” ornaments was created using a multitude of different techniques & products.  I was just playing around with different things I received as gifts from Heidi Swap, Inspiration Emporium, Tim Holtz, StudioL3, Ellen Hutson, & Ribbon Carousel.  First I want to say that I love masking!  It is a FUN technique & the trees are not a stamp.  It is actually a 6x6 cardinal thin chipboard set that I punched the pieces out & used the reverse of the inside to spray Heidi Swaps ‘Chartreuse’ Color Shine.  (Love the glimmer effect, just blingy to me!) I also used Tim Holtz Coordinations Distress paper, Paper Stash “Holiday’s Past” & my FAV Glassine, to cover the “Twinchie” ornaments along with some fragments, findings, & glossy accents.  

 

Christmas Card:

Christmas Card Back:

Christmas Card & Ornament Set #1:

I also found myself playing a bit with backgrounds because I plan on making a few of these gorgeously quick Star ornaments that Dyan Reavely shared a video about that you can do in 5 minutes!  Yes that’s right 5 minutes.  Can you imagine them all over your home?  I mean I can get totally Dylusionally Ornamental & that will be my next post!  (Click The Photo For the Video, It’s pretty Hilarious!)

Reverse Image “I love not having to waste a single drop of ink with my craft sheet!”:

I want to thank each of you for your outpour of support & response in my last posting.  It’s not always easy to put yourself out there but it did free my spirit enough to find my muse & just have FUN creating!  Of course I had quite a bit of inspirational help from some Fantabulously heARTistic Friends along the way….so without further ado…”Blogworthy Eye Candy”:

1.  The Gentlemen Crafter – “The Joyful Jetting Santa”

2.  StudioL3– “Updated Tim Holtz Configurations Holiday House”

3. Annette’s Creative Journey - “The House That Annette Built”

4. Trash To Treasure – “White & Gold Christmas”

5. The Little Shabby Shed – “Dylusions Cuff”

6. Inky Obsessions – “My Favorite Art Journal – Dylusions”

7. Tim Holtz – “12 Tags of 2012 – December”

8. Dylan’s Blog – “Catch Up At The Studio”

Wowza…those are some seriously creative inspiration flowing through these talented hands.  I hope you have some time to take a gander at those who are inspiring me this Holiday Season!  From different uses of Configurations, Canvas, Sticky Back, to Tags, Cards, & Backgrounds…there is plenty of Eye Candy to rave over.  I’m experiencing Holiday Cheer this year & can’t help but spread it about.  Remember to enter the Candy Give-Away for a personal set of these handmade treasures along with the “Wear Your Words” bracelet from the “One BRAVE Evening” post.  Thanks for Stamping By…(To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Candy Curiosity

Howdy Candies…I’m not a very good bloggy blog attender as of late & I do realize how long in between my posts that I’ve taken through these fall months.  I know there is something about getting caught up in all the heARTistry that’s had me a bitty pre-occupied.  I’ve truly been blessed on my personal creative journey lately that I’m thinking my Curiosity in dabbling in mediums is gotten Candy Curious for certain.  I have so much to share and I’m working on a re-vamping of sorts with some really big changing news to share very soon.  As always keep reading more to find out where this is going…(smiles): So without Further Ado…Candy Curiosity Works: (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)

Dylusions Art Journal Pages: (I started venturing into this wonderful & inexpensive therapy that is truly soothing to my soul.)

Let’s start off with a bit of Holiday Cheer…These were inspired by taking a journey following along with Dyan Reavely’s Video Tutorial – This is my rendition that led to a personal invite into the world of talented AJ (Art Journaling) “Dyan Reaveley’s Society of Art Journaling”.  I enjoyed them sooo much!  (Tip: if you do not want your pages to have blended color in them you can purchase micro glaze to seal them)

 

Pages Inspired by the 2012 Elections & Love of America “Heartbeat of America”

Lead Page “Reflections Inside My Heart”: I loved the new Tim Holtz mirrored sheets so much I had to incorporate them into this page

The tag at the top flips open to hidden journaling. (Love ranger collage glue)

Remember the canvases from my last post?  Well…they didn’t have any added glitz or pieces since I loved the backgrounds so much my Darling Husband decided to Frame them for our Home Studio!  So on a trip to Michaels he found the perfect frames that are metallic and actually fit what it is that I wanted to have on my walls.  (I’m working on the Hot Pink 8x10 to share soon) Now my 11x14 was intended to be flipped the other way but my Mumma’s interpretation along with tons of feedback brought this gem to life “Live in Colour”.  The Frames are from the Brights collection & range from $24.99 – $9.99 or 60% of with coupon in this case.

 

I still have tons more heARTistry to share but wanted to break from these delicious colours to share that after spending many hours on these creations my DH took us on a much needed break with one another on an overnight.  I know that I’ve posted before about one of my FAVORITE get-aways over here on the west coast of the U.S. but let me tell you, if you ever get a chance to travel out this way The Anniversary Inn has 3 locations and each of them are unique and Fabulous in their own way.  So here are some photos taken from the Boise - “Fire & Ice” location.  (Click the link to book you getaway: Boise, ID. – Logan, UT – Salt Lake City, UT)

Wasn’t that just the sweetest surprise!  The thing is we have a special buy back get-away and members rewards.  That helped tremendously!!!  Now…back to Candy Curiosity.  Dabbling around with some Dylusions, Distress Stains, Crackle Paint, Flower Soft, & Color Ready Ribbon, this made for a wonderful gift for one of Creatique Candy FB “Holiday Dylusions Stencil Give-Away” Plus of course I threw in some “Altered Metal” bracelet I created just for the winner too.  I hope she enjoys all her goodies as I don’t always just give-away what the posted prize is.  I love surprises & honestly, who doesn’t?  

  

On Thanksgiving I also decided that I would dabble a bitty in a past time Favorite since it was posted & provided by the Tip Junkie…"Paper Dolls”!  I mean really, who doesn’t enjoy playing with paper.  If your reading then I know You do!  This was a project, though it didn’t have to be but I wanted to put in my own rendition into it so that my darling Daughter would actually play with me.  I don’t think I will ever totally escape my love for past times since I adore the old fashioned way of ‘playing’. 

When I was growing up we didn’t have all this technology to engage in and my Mumma an avid reader in her own right, insisted on Books, Books, Books.  To this day when I visit home her stairwell is filled from floor to ceiling with Books & now she owns a kindle but still buys the paper back versions (lol).  I’m thankful that I could pass this tradition of reading a book in our hands as every single one of my children are avid readers (It’s in the genes I tell ya!)  You can click on the PaperDoll rendition to print your own copy.  I used CTMH white daisy cardstock for mine, gelly glaze black & white pens, liquid pearls, & enamel accents for dimension.  It’s FUN I promise!

  

This truly is a very long post & I have more to share but it truly does deserve it’s own posting all in itself.  I will be working on that posting here very shortly so whilst I’ve been away for a couple of weeks I’m really looking forward to sharing twice in one day, with the next one having a Give-Away! 

There is one other thing to finish off this post that I wanted to share that I know my CTMH Sisters will adore and I sure hope that YOU find yourself thinking whole-heartedly in joining in with me.  It’s no surprise when you look back on my blog posts about Creative University how much these last four years have meant to me in going to this Fantabulous Retreat!  So if you see this photo again it’s because it will be apart of explaining a bit on my next post. 

This IS officially the last year that Creative University Retreat of Relaxation, Inspiration, & Education will be held.  So it’s going to be extra special!  I’m also the “Twinchie Swap Mistress” which is a wonderful piece of heARTistry that I will be working on over the next few days.  (watch for an upcoming post).  Mz. Fabulously Artsy herself has also added to our curriculum this year a monthly LIVE Create-n-Take to add to all the excitement leading up to the official event that will start on Valentines Day!  How incredible is that?  I mean it is one of my all-time Favorite Holidays of the year and what a better way to spend it, then with those I love & owe this last years journey of loving heARTistry too…Here is the gorgeous November 2012 Create-n-Take we did just a couple of nights ago.  Don’t miss out…if your interested in joining us all the details along with 6 incredible reasons for coming will be linked into this photo!  (click photo to read more & Join in CU 2013!)

HUGS & Thank You all so much for enduring my looooooong posts.  Again as stated from the start Candy Studio is got some huge re-construction & changes coming up so you will want to continue to Stay Tuned…Thanks for Stamping By! (To leave a comment, thoughts, suggestions, or feedback - just click the title to this post & scroll to the bottom)