2018: 109/365

As I sit looking at the Spring snow out my window,

I wonder if May flowers will ever really arrive...

Even though my friend Christine has assured me that warmer weather will be coming soon, I thought I might have to take matters into my own hands...

Luckily, I remembered that I know how to make my own flowers!

(I even created a tutorial so you can too.)

Hopefully I'll see some flowers (or even the grass!) soon...

But in the meantime, it's good to have a back-up plan!

My Very First Video Tutorial!

I am so excited!!!

I am a BIG believer that creating art doesn't have to cost a lot of money.  I believe in saving money where you can, so that you can splurge where you want.  I am also a huge fan of sharing ideas.  (I have even created some written tutorials in the past.)

Today, I am so happy to share my very first video tutorial that combines my belief in saving money, and my love of sharing ideas... How to create a professional looking wrapped gallery canvas using things you probably already have laying around the house!  

I've shared the video over at the Willowing blog and I really hope you'll check it out... Who knows, maybe you'll end up saving so much money on canvases that you'll finally be able to get the supplies you've been wanting to indulge in, or sign up for the class you've been dreaming about taking...  Either way, I hope you enjoy!

Playing with Papers: Love Notes

For my final Playing with Papers, I wanted to create something that would be meaningful far beyond the walls of my studio, something that combines my passion for art with LOTS of kindness, and something that would be fun and easy to do...

I immediately thought of this post that was inspired by the amazingly enchanting Patience Salgado.  Patience is the kindness girl behind "guerrilla goodness":

"So much kindness you just can't help but smile and cry happy tears at the sheer joy of it all. The best part? Being kind, purposefully kind, is really so simple. Anyone can do it!"

(Taken from my post last year)

(click to enlarge and print)

For this week's project, I started by using last Friday's "Paper Love" FREE collage papers to create a template of blank mini note cards.  (Please feel free to use my template too!)

Then I cut out the cards, wrote words of encouragement, and headed out to spread the love around town...

In a dressing room,

In a library book about interviewing for a job,

In a friend's mailbox,

At a bus stop,

In the "self-help" section,

In the waiting room at the hospital,

And in the suitcase of my sweetie!

I am carrying the rest of the blank note cards that I printed with a pen at the ready - Opportunities to offer words of encouragement and share some kindness are everywhere!

Won't you join me for a little "guerrilla goodness"?!?

Playing with Papers: An Ornament

Last Friday, I shared "Mosaic Madness" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers I created an ornament for all seasons...

I started this project with a wooden heart that I purchased from my local craft store,  then printed out the red and light blue mosaic papers on cardstock.  (I printed the light blue on both sides of the paper.)

I painted the wooden heart red, cut out 2 wings from the double-sided light blue mosaic paper and 2 hearts from the red mosaic paper.  (I used the wooden heart as a template and traced it.)

I glued one of the paper hearts to the front of the wooden heart using mod podge.  Then I attached the wings to the back.  After the wings were in place, I glued the second heart  on top of them.

I gave both sides of the heart and wings a coat of mod podge to seal them.

When the mod podge was thoroughly dry, I applied paper glaze to each of the individual squares on the heart to add dimension.  (I started with the back side and let it dry overnight, then I did the front.)

After the heart was completely dry, I added an 18 gauge wire that I curved into a spiral hanger.

The final step was adding a ribbon to the hanger.

The result?  An ornament that is pretty enough to display all year long!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

The very talented Heather Foust is guest curator over at the Cresendoh blog this week, and I am honored to be one of her featured artists!  Please be sure to stop by!

Playing with Papers: Scrabble Tile Necklaces

Last Friday, I shared "Feelin' Groovy" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers I created wearable art... Scrabble tile necklaces! 

I started by cropping my papers using Picnik, then printing them to fit the scrabble tiles.  (I used my printer's contact sheet setting.)

Next I cut out and glued my paper to the scrabble tile using Mod Podge.  (I also brushed a layer of Mod Podge over the top of the image to seal it.)

I added paper glaze to give the tile dimension.

Then I attached a jewelry bail to the back of each tile using E-6000.

The final step was adding the chains...

Now I have a couple of totally fun & far out necklaces!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

Playing with Papers: A Paper Flower

Last Friday, I shared "Papers In Bloom" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers I created a paper flower... What better way to play with flower paper than to create a paper flower? 

I started by printing my flower paper on card stock.  I printed it on both sides - the light yellow daisy paper on one side and the deeper yellow flower paper on the other.  (I also printed two sided green stem paper.)

I cut a strip of the yellow paper and made slits along one edge. I also cut petal shapes in two different sizes using templates I created.

Using "Aleene's Tacky Glue" I wrapped the strip of yellow around a green pipe cleaner.

After the center was finished, I began gluing on petals, one at a time, starting with the smaller petals first.  (I switched to hot glue because of it's strength and quick drying time.)

I kept adding petals, deep yellow side up, until the inner ring of petals was complete.

Then I added the larger petals around the smaller ones (lighter side up).

I cut a strip of green stem paper and made slits along one edge, then wrapped and glued it to the base of the flower.

I cut thin strips of green stem paper and wrapped the pipe cleaner a little bit more.

The vase I made in a previous post was the perfect place to display this beautiful bloom!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

Playing with Papers: A Wildly Colorful Frame

(Beautiful text created by Liv Lane)

This week's tutorial was inspired by the amazing Liv Lane's fantastic download at the Choosing Beauty blog.  (I needed a fabulous frame to go with her fabulous words!)

Last Friday, I shared "Papers Gone Wild" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers! I created a wildly colorful frame...

I started with an unfinished wood frame I purchased from my local craft store.

I removed the string and painted the frame portion black.

Then I printed out my "papers gone wild" in 4x6 format and cut them into different sized rectangles and squares.

After they were cut, I glued them onto my frame (be sure to use mod podge or matte medium or they will peel up in the next step).

Being sure to allow adequate time for the glue to dry, I added a dimensional paper glaze to make them look like leopard tiles.  (Before adding the glaze make sure to poke holes where the string was so that you are able to thread a ribbon through later.)

I let the glaze dry overnight, then I created a black and white check pattern along the edges using a paint pen.  The final step was adding a fun black and white ribbon where the string had been.

And of course, the finishing touch was adding Liv's inspirational text - Thanks Liv!

This framed word art is such a fun addition to my studio!

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!

Playing with Papers: A Super Simple Celebration Bunting

Last Friday, I shared "Celebrate!" collage papers for CareFREE Fridays!  (If you haven't already downloaded them, you can get them here.)  For this week's Playing with Papers! I created a super simple (no-sew) celebration bunting...

I started by printing out "Celebrate!" (and more) papers in 5x7 format on cardstock.  (You can see all of the previously offered papers here.)

I cut the paper into triangles.

After I cut the paper, there were lots of scraps...

So I cut them into smaller triangles.

Next, I added letters to the larger triangles.  You can use stencils, stickers, stamps, hand paint them, or do what I did - print your letters from the computer, cut them out, and glue them on.

I finished the bunting by hot gluing the triangles to a decorative ribbon.

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Graduations, and even Everyday Joys are all great reasons to celebrate... Why not do it with a colorful, fun, and easy bunting?

*This step-by-step process is intended for personal use only.*

Please do not sell this image or teach/post this tutorial as your own. 

It is totally okay to use the FREE collage papers to make your own unique images to sell. (I actually think that's pretty cool, and I'd love to see them!)

But, please do not sell re-creations of the image I've made.  (That's not cool.)

Please be sure to check back for more FREE collage papers (and ideas to go with them)!