Thursday, October 31, 2013

Kakorrhaphiophobia: noun

An abnormal fear of failure.

I hope you enjoyed this months phobia words :)
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So, I'm taking a course called Draw Your Awesome Life by Joanne Sharpe and the first thing I learned is....it's good to have a nice artist eraser! lol I haven't water colored in years so I admit to doing quite a bit of erasing, especially on the page on the left. Heck, I had so many problems with it, I actually gessoed over a third of it, and then learned that pencil marks do not erase well at all on top of gesso.
 My first thought...are they ready? lol I'm a little fun loving and kooky ( ::gasp::...I know, right? ) and this is a new group who does not know me. 
There is only one person I know so I am wondering...
should I behave? ...
probably, for awhile anyway! lol
 Who would have thought that steam would be so hard to do? Not me, but this was the second attempt 
( after gessoing the page over)...I went for whimsical art colored steam this time. lol
 Then I was real disappointed that Snoopy looks like he has a pink mustache! lol Oh well, the best laid plans sometimes go awry! But I have had this Snoopy mug since I was in college, which is like 30+ years ago and I really wanted it in there. Stubborn, aren't I? Go ahead, it's OK to nod your head yes!
 If you check out the post from the day before, that's when I broke in ( literally ) my Faber Castell water  color crayons. I have fallen in love with them...( notice what I wrote on the yellow one? ) I can either draw directly on the page with them, or rub my wet paintbrush against them and use them in a more traditional way!! BONUS!

also used:
Pens - Sakura, Sharpie, Reminisce

Happy Halloween!


Winner for the Mixed Media Kit will be announced later today, please come back to see the video announcing the winner :)

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Helmar is spider-licious!

Happy Hallow Eve!

A short, quick and easy post for Helmar today!

I love making little spider web doilies for my Halloween decor! 
Take a piece of wax paper and "draw" your spider web design on top of the wax paper with your Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue.

After "drawing" your spider web pattern, dump a whole lot of glitter on top making sure all the glue is covered. Set it aside to dry. I usually leave mine alone for a couple of days just to make sure that even the thickest part of the "strands" are completely dry.

Next, peel off your web and take it outside to spray with Helmar Crystal Kote Gloss Varnish to seal all that wonderful glittery goodness so that you don't leave glitter everywhere...unless you like that...lol

Next, every web needs a glittery spider to go along with it, after all who's going to guard the treats? I "painted" the plastic spider first with Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue with a paintbrush ( you can use your finger too ) !

Next, the glitter application! ( that is one glittery mess!! )

And then comes the sealing process!

Last but not least,  a few pearls for eyes....all the better to see with you with!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Brontophobia: noun

An abnormal fear of thunder.

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I'm taking an online class which starts tonight called Draw Your Awesome Life with Joanne Sharpe so I thought I'd do some random wording and play with my pens and markers. This is what happened...it's messy, unorganized chaotic goodness. It was fun to intentionally be loose and just let things flow. It doesn't matter if it's perfect, it's in my journal...it's for me....it's about me.
It is me.

I used everything but the kitchen sink I think; acrylics, watercolor crayons, sharpies, PITT pens, Sakura pens and paint markers. Even a real Sugar Maple leaf that I was using as a stamp on my gelli plate. 
( I used a gel medium to cover it and it stayed extremely flexible, I'm very pleased with the result. )
The other leaf, in the top left corner, I used from the gelli print making process, while it was covered with paint I pressed it ( using a paper towel ) onto my journal.

entering this hot mess in:
Simon Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

Monday, October 28, 2013

Paper Playtime - google eyes

I love googlie eyes, they just make me smile and can deliver even the snarkiest statements in a friendly and fun way, like this birthday tag saying, "you're how old? "...lol

I used my paper which had a cute little monster to create a balloon shape and added the goggle eyes to it and some twine for a bow.

I filled in the negative space with glossy accents after filling in the centers of the A's....( not sure what this says about me, but I don't deal with negative space very well, I guess I want happy space )....::eye roll::

Reminisce white pen
CardsTv - stamp
Ranger - glossy accents
Really Reasonable Ribbon - twine
Cricut - Stretch Your Imagination, p. 60

also entering my birthday tag in:
Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Sundays with Sandee


Hi everyone, here is my very first art journal page using the awesome Dylusions Journal.

 I am finally taking some "me time" and just making pages for me to enjoy and not sell. If you want to see what I make and sell you can click on the tab at the top of my blog where it says "Mixed Media signs at the Art MoB"....but this....this is for me! As a matter of fact, if you look through my signs you will find one that is similar to this journal page, it was one that I would have liked to have kept for myself!

I thought this quote, which is one of my favorites would fit the theme of the journal. 
I added this to the front chipboard piece, it's the inside cover, when you open up the journal. 
( I'll wait until the journal is completed before working on the outside cover.

Here is the foam brush that I show you in the video over at Frosted Designs, if you want to watch it, then please follow this link.

Here are the scissors, pencil and brushes that I made using the exact same technique.
I enjoy adding inspirational words to the tools.

I used an eclectic lettering mix; of stickers, handwriting and cut by my Cricut.
( big hint: do NOT use coconut oil on your hands and then touch your work, because the Sakura glaze pens will not stick!! Hence the wobbly looking "great"...lol  rolling eyes at myself, this is what I get for being a touchy/feely person when it comes to my art...)

Sakura - glaze pens, waterproof pens
Reminisce white pen 

I hope you take this "journey" with me and we can share our journal pages on the Frosted Designs Facebook page!


Friday, October 25, 2013

Helmar makes Halloween a "snap"

It doesn't have to say Halloween in order to be considered spooky, take this fabulous quote by Morticia Addams, the fictional matriarch of "The Addams Family" created by cartoonist Charles Addams
( This was one of my favorite shows as a kid!! Did you watch it? )
To get you in the mood, feel free to trip down memory lane with by watching this:

Are you snapping your fingers and singing along with me? 

Helmar Craft Glue worked beautifully adhering the pearls and rhinestones to the plastic spider.

I added glitter over the glue to add more sparkle.

Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots was perfect for adhering the spider's body to the board. Since he was hollow, I filled up the space with the Liquid Scrap Dots and then smooshed him down to the board and released. When it was released the Liquid Scrap Dots filled in the gap between the board and the spider's body.
I used the Helmar Crystal KOTE Gloss Varnish
to seal in all the inks and sprays that I used creating the background.


other well enjoyed products:
Really Reasonable Ribbon
Want to Scrap - pearls
Martha Stewart - glitter

I love it when I make something and it sells within 24 hours, 
it was barely hung in the shop before it went home with someone!

entering this snappy sign in:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - spooky
Rhedd and Rosie's challenge blog - #18 Anything Goes 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

TIOT - Halloween

Challenge - Halloween

Our sponsor for this month is  Smeared Ink
They are offering a $10 store voucher
to our monthly winner.

Mr. Kooky Grungy Pumpkin


I used lots of distress ink on this, just playing around and trying to "loosen" up a bit.

Ranger - distress ink
Copics - marker
Faber Castell - PITT pen
joint tape
Cricut - Stretch Your Imagination p. 44

also entering Mr. Kooky Grungy Pumpkin in:
Sparkles - #49 Halloween or Colors
Jo's Scrap Shack - FFC#22 "Anything Goes" Challenge
Bitten by the Bug - Pumpkin Time Challenge

Monday, October 21, 2013

May Arts - Halloween Challenge

I have to say that I was very excited to be in the top 20 that gets to compete in the Halloween Challenge over at May Arts. It's an honor to be chosen and I sincerely hope I hold my end up because there are some AWESOME ladies over there designing some amazing projects with ribbon. We got to choose 4 ribbons to work with, these were my choices:
http://www.mayarts.com/halloween-craft-challenge/
I made the center of my flower by knotting the black silk ribbon repeatedly until it formed the size I needed. I stamped 'hocus pocus' onto the wide orange ribbon accenting between the words with white pearls, I just love the tiny pom pom trim on it!!
The sheer spider web ribbon was looped into a big bow and then shredded for texture. The fuzzy black burlap string was wound around the box and knotted on the sides with orange pearls accenting the knots.
A big dangly spider hanging from the burlap string guards the treats within!


Cricut Craft Room - free cut -spider
BugBites - Magic Spells stamps
StazOn - ink
Tim Holtz - grunge paper
Helmar - 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Craft & Hobby Glue, Gemstone Adhesive
Frosted Designs 2013 October Mixed Media Kit
( Deco Arts - Orange, black paint, Fancy Pants corrugate paper )

Entering my Halloween treat box in:
Anything but a Card - #28 Orange and Black
Craftin' Boutique - #12 Halloween

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Hypnophobia: noun

The morbid fear of sleep.
( This would have to be a hard one to have! )
( For all my new followers, I occasionally like to learn new words, and this month, being that it is Halloween month,
 I am working on phobias....yes, I'm weird like that!! )
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Seems like an explosion of Prayer Journals lately, doesn't it? But they are selling well at the Art MoB so I am having to restock my supply of them. On this one, I tried to focus on creative writing, something I struggle with, so I am taking my first online class from Whimspirations to hopefully free me up a tad more and learn some new styles. I am so glad I joined Bubblews, which paid for the class. (Thank you!!) If you want to earn a little extra cash ( you won't be able to retire on the income, lol ) each month, I highly recommend it! It's fun, easy and they pay you!


The rub on was so old that I struggled to get it to transfer and had a couple of gaps that I filled in with my marker, and happy to say, you can't tell :)

Sakura - Pigma Sensei - black
Reminisce - white pen
Ranger - distress stain
Copics marker

entering my chickadee Prayer Journal in:
Craft Room Challenge - Our Feathered Friends

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Frosted Designs - Playing with Paint



1.Adding paint splatters using a foam brush and a stipple brush.
I used Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to hold up the curve in the banner.

2. Adding paint splatters to wet watercolor paper.

3.Using the pre-existing paint splatters from the pattern paper and using paint
to doodle around the edges.

And Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to suspend the spider just slightly off the page.

When you sign up for the monthly kit, you will get your FREE Dylusions Journal!
( order from the USA store )

Friday, October 18, 2013

Ergophobia: noun

A fear of or aversion to work.

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Since my divorce back in 2010, I have been working on this philosophy of letting go...letting go of the hurt, anger and betrayal...not an easy task, and some days are better than other. Even after 3 years, it's a daily reminder that acceptance and moving on is a better way to live your life than a continual pity party.

So, here in my bible is a Prayer Journal that I made. Although it's made to be sold in the Art MoB, it still reflects my attitude.

And then, there is the "letting it go" when it comes to art. Here I was having issues with my PITT pen, it was drying up and I was trying to coax the last bit of ink from it. So the hand could have looked a little better, but in the end I accepted it for what it was and then threw the pen away and trudged off to the store to buy a new set.

So in both my personal life and in my art, I need to "let it go" sometimes and move on...

entering the Prayer Journal in:

Fab 'n' Funky - #189 - Spot's and Stripe's
Inkspirational - Anything Goes

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Frosted Design Mix Media Kit

It's finally here, the day I can shout from the blogger rooftops that I am so excited to be on the
Frosted Design's Mixed Media kit team!!
Have checked out my give away?
You can find it HERE.

This is my project that I created with the 2013 October Mixed Media Kit, a pin cushion gift box!

The deets to how I made it are on this slideshow:


Here is a close up shot of the closure, which is held together with Velcro.

And this is the way the box hinges open.

These bright colors in this kit just make me smile!
I'd love to know what your favorite thing about the kit is!