Join me in an ATC Swap...

Happy 2015...

With a busy 2014 behind me,  I'm so looking forward to this year!  I couldn't wait for 2014 to finish.  I over-stretched myself last year taking on way too many commitments.  Does that ever happen to you?  You take on too much for one person, because you don't want to say "no" or because you want to participate in every event know to man-kind?  You think, 'hey that sounds fun...I can definitely do that..no sweat I can easily do a 3' x 6' mosaic of a Dia de los Muertos scene in a day or two before I finish writing the essay for a prior commitment.'  'You need 100 glass soldered pendants for a fundraiser...I'm your girl!'  What was I thinking?!?  Seriously, this year I was doing too many things just to step out of my comfort zone...to participate more, be a part of things.  In doing this, I found myself drowning in an infinite hole of activities I once loved doing and missing out on the fun stuff because I was too exhausted to care.

In taking on so much, I realized I was neglecting the beauty in life.  I wasn't taking time to appreciate artwork I made, or words I'd written.  I simply became a machine of making 'to-do' lists...and quickly moving on to the next commitment.  Being 'too busy' ended up taking a toll on my health.  My doctors recommendation: slow down...sleep more...enjoy life at a comfortable pace.  I was so busy wanting to be a part of life's activities, I lost myself and put my health at risk.

No more.

After November, I started to reflect on what I wanted to do.  I no longer felt the a need to rush.  I spent all of December doing things that made me happy...some involved artwork, others were simple things like taking my puppy on field trips with me.  I even made mini-movies on my iPhone of random things that made me smile and feel safe....at peace.

That's what life should be about.  Feeling safe, at peace, and happy.  This year is the year I calm down and take things in stride.  No more rushing.  Just doing what feels right at the pace that feels comfortable.  I invite you to join me to just slow down.  Breathe.  We can write, draw, sew, sing, whatever make us feel happy without schedules and deadlines.  Live the life you want and the pace you need.  Life is precious.  It's time to enjoy it!  Who's with me?

My ATC Swap for July

I just uploaded the pics of another fun ATC Swap by the Paper Collage I participated in this month.  July's theme was to pick either "Thanksgiving" or "Paris" and being that I don't care much for Thanksgiving (I never like the food...and everyone seems to be more into a football game than actually gathering around) I chose "Paris."

I made 5 cards for the swap and 1 for the host (total of six cards).  I love how ATC's push the limits of keeping things confined to such a small space while still telling an interested story.

Here are my Paris themed ATC's...

Thinking of hosting my own ATC swap...let me know if you're interested!!  I have a ton of creative themes that I hope vary from the norm.  Who doesn't like getting free things in the mail?!

New Supplies Coming this Summer...

I'm pleased to announce that the Studio Art Head ETSY Store is now carrying Creative Paperclay!!!  For this of you who have always wanted to dabble in clay but don't want to go through the mess and fuss of using a pasta machine to roll out your clay or an oven to bake your clay I highly recommend Creative Paperclay.

This stud is amazing!!!  Very easy on the hands, and is very flexible.  Air dries overnight and can be sanded and painted.  This clay can be used like paper mâché and applies to base surfaces, such as brown paper kraft figures and styrofoam.  Build on to them or just create anything you want....skies the limit!!

I carry the clay in three sizes... 4 ounce package, 8 ounce package, and 16 ounce package.

A must try!!  Visit the store to purchase your pack of clay.

Also coming this summer are beautiful papers and embellishments from 7 Gypsies, alcohol markers from Spectrum Noir, and tons of other item!!  Be sure to check the blog and ETSY store for new items coming in the weeks ahead.

My First ArtDoll Tutorial...

I did it!!!  I finally finished this beautiful doll that I've been working on since last year.  I did have step-by-step pictures of the process of making this doll, however; when my phone crashed a couple of weeks ago I lost everything.  Sorry.  But I will give you the skinny of how the doll came to be.

I started out with a cloth muslin stuffed doll I carry in my ETSY shop.  (see below)  The first thing I did was cover the entire doll with a coat of gesso and let dry over night.  One coat is all that is needed.  The more gesso you apply, the cloth picks up the brush strokes.  I also removed the undergarments.  Since I didn't need them for the design of this particular doll, I placed them aside.  I also removed the tag that comes on the side of the doll with a pair of scissors.

After the gesso dried, I did a light pencil sketch on the doll.  I mainly concentrated on the facial features and hair style  since I had an idea of what she was going to be.  To be honest, the face and head of the doll intimidated me.  I kept thinking, 'oh no...what if I ruin her?!' so I left this part last and I'm glad I did.  Painting the body made the doll come to life and I was able to relax about her face/head.

I knew she was going to be a ballerina and she had to have some pink.  I used my favorite acrylic paints... Amsterdam Standard Acrylic Series in the colors Quinacridone, Light Rose, and Zinc White.  I l-o-v-e these paints.  They're highly pigmented, not heavy body or too fluid, and they mix well with other colors.  I mixed all three colors to get a shabby dark pink that I wanted for her shoes and body/torso.  I mixed the Light rose and Zinc white to get an even lighter shade of pink for her tights and sleeves.

After the body was completely painted I started on the facial features and hair.  I wanted her to have a black little bob with a flip and whispy bangs.  The bangs kinda got away from me because I couldn't find a thinner paint brush, but over all I was pleased.  For the face I used a combination of some paint for the eyes and mouth and Derwent Inkintense pencils for the checks and shadowing of the eyes.  (see below)

When her face was complete, it was time for wardrobe!  But before the clothes came, I completely sprayed her (front & back) with one coat of spray sealer.  This helps seal the doll, especially her face, and keeps her face from smudging if too much touching.

I used two different widths of a pretty light pink tulle ribbon with dark pink glitter specks for her tutu.  After cutting them to the size that fit around her waist, I used a needle and thread to sew them in a scrunchy way to give the tutu form.  Trust me, that is as much sewing that I know how to do.  So after the tutu was formed I hot glued it around her waist.

Then came the fun part...the bling and embellishments!!  I wanted to keep her simple yet make her stand-out.  For her ballet slippers, I used a darker pink/magenta sequins trim and hot glued it around both her legs.  I used a ribbon that had sparkly beads and glued it around her waist to add bling and keep her tutu seems from showing.  I found the cutest rhinestone clip to accent the tutu and a pearl and rhinestone embellishment for her hair barrette that I attached via EGlue6000 and voila....my art doll is complete!

As I mentioned this was my first time making and painting an art doll.  I had so much fun with her, I'm think of making her a friend.  The doll was made for my other website www.scarlettedove.com  

The lesson I learned while making this doll was to 'just let yourself go...and not worry about ruining anything.'  Remember you can always cover-up and mistake or re-do anything with the help of a little gesso!

Leave me a comment or email me with your thoughts on the ballerina.  I also need to come up with her name, so if you have any suggestions...leave me comment.

Until next time!

New Year....new look....new format

Happy 2014 everyone!!  I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year and was able to spend it with friends and family.  My family and I continued our tradition of going to one of our favorite restaurants and having a delicious meal.  We later came home and spent the evening playing board games, cards, and sipped hot cocoa.  The night was peaceful and enjoyable.

This summer I had a part-time job which kept me pretty busy most of the time.  I was helping a friend set-up her boutique and her art/crafts shows.  We traveled to tiny towns in Texas.  I helped her manage her booth and set-up.  Being around so many artsy people made me miss creating my own art.  I've seen so many amazing techniques that I'm dying to try.  I decided this year has to be about art...all the time.  If I'm not creating I'm challenging myself to write, which is something I had such a passion for but unfortunately let it go.

To further on my creative process, I've changed the look of my blog and ETSY Shop. Why not start the year off with a new look?   I like the crisp and colorful look.  I've also decided to write product and craft book reviews and have an open Q&A session on my blog.  If you have any questions about using a particular product or technique, please contact me.

Here's to a new year filled with coloring outside the lines!!

Sping Break!

Yup, it's that time of year again where just about every academic person is on hiatus! *SPRING BREAK* Do you have any plans for the break?  I've decided to try my hands at making an art doll.  I think Art Dolls are so pretty.  You can apply combinations of beads, inks, rubber stamps, and just about anything.  I'm going to try to paint one.  I've done my research and feel confident to begin the task.

If you would like to try your hand at learning a new craft/technique, or brush up on your current skills I have several 'how-to' books in my shop on various different crafts.  

The books have beautiful images with clear instructions and great project suggestions.  For those of you who love to solder or have always wanted to try...I highly recommend Sally Jean's book, 'Pretty Little Things.'  For those who adore vintage items and ephemera this book it total eye candy!

Well for those on Spring Break...have a safe a fun week!

Until next time....