A Quick Valentine How to

I  am so glad you stopped by! Thank you for reading my blog yesterday on traditions and leaving such great ideas! I love hearing about you and all the creative things you do! It's beginning to look a lot like Valentines around here! Last night I actually made a valentine skirt for myself. My sweet husband came in and tried not to laugh, but be an encourager and sweetly asked where I was going to wear it? ( He just texted me and asked me out for dinner tonight...I think I'll wear it tonight! IF I knew how to put a smiley face right now I would! I'm dying laughing!) Anyway...obviously we are making fun things around here and I will post some of them over the next couple of days.

I have actually been getting my studio ready for a couple of valentine art classes. I'm so excited! I have a few different groups coming to my studio to make handmade valentines. How fun is that? I will definitely post end results. I've been gathering goodies lacey, pink, and sparkley for the occasion. I've also made some things to help inspire creative thinking. This is one of my designs. I wanted to share it with you to hopefully get your creative wheels turning! Let me know what you think!



The class is actually coming to make Valentine cards, but I worked on a 6x6 piece of MDF. I covered the board with book pages using a gel medium like mod podge. It does not have to be perfect. In fact the less perfect the better. Then I cut different strips of patterned paper to paint on and create a border. Don't grow attached to anything you choose, because when you are doing mixed media the key is to layer layer layer.



Here you can see that I covered everything in paint and gel medium. I left a little of the book page showing because I liked it. However, I have no idea if it will even be recognizable when i'm done. As you can see I cut hearts out of patterned paper and painted them. Remember, the hearts aren't a perfect shape. Be brave, just cut and have fun. Try to cut different sizes. When everything is a different shape and size, it's much more interesting to look at. Keep layering.



Once you've layered all your paper, paint, and whatever else you choose, add detail with stamps, markers and pens. I think this is my favorite part. I add paint, pen, ink...the list is endless. Don't be afraid, keep adding stuff! It's so much fun. Someone asked me one time, "How do you know when you're finished layering?" Great question. Sometimes you just have to step away from your work and decide, "I'm done!"



I really love the way this turned out! I added a lot more paint than I intended too, but I think it works in this situation. Like I mentioned earlier, the beginning stages are almost unrecognizable. That is the really cool part. You don't always know what you're going to end up with when it comes to mixed media! I love that! I did print out a little love note and attached it with gel medium. You can put whatever you like or not at all. I hope this inspires you to create your own valentine today! I love all your ideas, post your creations and let me see! I'd love it!!  Thank you for stopping by! I loved creating with you today! Leave me a comment or picture of your designs! I cannot wait to see what you come up with! Happy Creating! love love love Ruthie

Sweet Art Journals

 I am so glad you stopped by. I have not forgotten that I told you I would post my "dance tips." It's just I worked in my art journal a lot this weekend and I thought it would be a fun thing for you to see and maybe do in your own art journal this week. A friend of mine challenged me to paint a big painting in oil every week. Of course I took the challenge. I started by sketching in my art journal some things that I was thinking. I worked on a few color charts finding the perfect color. I painted a big painting for the week and then back to my art journal. I love playful, fun, whimsical collage as much as I love my oils. I decided to take a break this weekend and play in my journal. Maybe I was hungry or needing some sugar. I'm not sure what led me to cupcakes, but I painted, collaged, glued, sketched, and  cut fun cupcakes in my studio this weekend. So enjoy!



I absolutely love working in my art journal. If you don't have one you need to buy one or make one. It is a fabulous place to think, sketch new ideas, try new techniques, and keep notes of future ideas. Some of my must haves in my studio besides my journal are gel mediums, markers, paint, ink, stamps, gesso, and paper made or bought.



Here I took a blank page in my journal and covered it in old book pages and bordered it in paper of my choice. I showed this paper because by the time I'm done this will be unrecognizable. Layer layer layer.



I then began to cut all different types of papers into shapes and collaged them onto my journal page. I made cupcakes out of collage paper. I then added paint to everything. The key here is layer layer layer. When you think you're done, layer some more! Be brave! Keep going. Layer with markers, pen, and ink as well as paint and paper! 

This is my journal page. Am I done? For now. I layered everything from paper to ink. I even printed my favorite words "love love love" and glued them down with a gel medium. Who knows, tomorrow I may come back and layer more. For me the process is the most fun part! The more you experiment the more you learn.



I love this picture because it shows you that my journal page inspired my canvas. I took the idea from my journal and put it on canvas. My art journal inspired a line of cupcakes to put in my etsy shop. So this week I will be designing cupcakes in my studio.

I hope this inspires you to play in your art journal today! It is a fun and easy way to be creative and try new things. Send me your pics of your pages! I'd love to see what you create! Thank you for stopping by! This was so much fun! Go create!!                                               Love love love Ruthie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MaryCam's Banner

I am so glad you stopped by! Yesterday I was headed to the post office and I realized I didn't remember getting from point A to point B. I wasn't on the phone, I wasn't singing to the radio, I was deep in thought creating things. Honestly, I can't get to sleep at night and I'm up way too early because my brain clicks about 100 miles an hour. It's not with a normal to do list of things I could write down and clear my head. It's a thousand projects I create all day in my head. I can see the most insignificant thing and it spark an idea that sparks another idea that sparks another idea.... you get the picture. Anyway, MaryCam started her first "big girl" job Tuesday and I wanted to do something special for her. Probably most people would do a fabulous dinner out to celebrate or maybe meet for lunch, but not me, I had to make something. I decided to decorate the kitchen and have fabulous dinner at home with some yummy dessert. The cooking was easy it was the decorations that I enjoyed the most. I decided to make her a banner that she could keep and use again. While I was making this in my head, I decided to take a few photos so you could make one too! It was super easy, great looking, and of course so much fun! I hope you enjoy!



The first thing I did was to go through all my scraps of fabric. You need very little fabric to complete this project so scraps are perfect! I picked seven different fabrics in the pink and green family.



I chose seven fabric pieces because I wanted a triangle for each letter of MaryCam's name. Then I eyeballed a nice size triangle. No measuring, just eyeballed it.



I probably should have opened up the triangle to show you that I cut it on the fold. I hope you can see that the top of my triangle is on the fold so I only cut down the sides. I only had to make two cuts. In other words, double your fabric and cut the triangle on the fold putting the top of the triangle on the fold.



Once you've cut one triangle, rather than "eyeballing " them all, use the first one as your pattern to cut as many triangles as you need. That way you are sure to have them all the same size. But now as i'm typing this I'm thinking different sizes could be cool looking. Nonetheless, mine are basically all the same size.



I starched and Ironed all seven shapes mainly because the fabric had been waded up in a cabinet. However it does make it a little stiffer so it's easier to sew. I recommend ironing. It doesn't take but two seconds and you'll be glad you did!



I sewed all three sides about a presser foot width. This is important, when you sew the top next to the fold, leave an opening on the right and left so the string for your banner can go through it. Get it? So basically you created a little tube or pocket on the top of the triangle for the string to pass through and hold the banner up. I thought about those of you who don't have a sewing machine and I feel sure you could use a fabric glue or even staples to do the same thing.



I took this pic to show you my stitch lines. Can you even see them?



Arrange the triangles the way you want them to hang. This is kind of important to me. I did a pink then green then pink then green... If you like the way they are arranged before you hang them then you won't have to take them down and rearrange. Just put them in an order that you like before you hang them up!



I used a twine to string my banner. I tied my string to a safety pin and used the pin to help thread the string through the pocket you created at the top of the banner. Once I strung each triangle I got some old burlap and cut a few strips and tied in between each triangle. I loved the way it looked.

I have to say it looks so darling without letters on it, however I couldn't stand it. I was having so much fun that I pulled out my cricut and cut MaryCam's name out in hot pink vinyl. You could leave it plain, or paint letters or stencil letters or buy alphabet stickers at the craft store. Possibilities are endless.



It turned out so adorable. Honestly it only took me about 45 minutes. I love it and I would do it exactly the same way again! I hope you try it and send me a pic. If you have any questions email or comment! I'm dying to know what you think!!!!









Thanks for stopping by! Happy Crafting! love love love Ruthie

Spray Paint (November Challenge)

 I'm so glad you stopped by! Today I'm thankful for spray paint! Don't you just love spray paint?! It's fast, easy, comes in tons of colors, and paints on just about anything! I love it! My twins have started calling me "vacation barbie" because every day this week I have been on "vacation!" I have patiently waited for them to get home from school and then we do something fun. I have not allowed homework or phones or computers, just fun. So yesterday I was reading a blog by artist Alisa Burke and she marbleized paper with spray paint. I have paper, I always have spray paint, all I need is the twins. I could hardly wait for them to get home and tell them about my idea. I will say Fox had a big test today so he was a little hesitant to get excited, but I needed a photographer and I think curiosity got the best of him. So here are the fabulous photos and directions of the paper KK and I painted. (Fox fabulous photography, and you know this was way more fun than AP U.S.!)



I got a plastic tray that I usually put food in and filled it with about three inches of water. Clearly this one has paint in it, but just fill it with water. (I'm guessing you figured this out already, but just in case you didn't, you can't clean this and use it for food ever again. So be sure and use something that you don't need or love. It is now your paint tray)



Spray paint into the water. Spray paint should be used outside where it is well ventilated.



You can use any color you have. We tried all kinds of things. Spray at least two colors and allow them to blend. Then get a stick and swirl the colors together. The paint dries quickly so you can't waste time once you've sprayed your paint.



Isn't that cool? We sprayed green and gold together thinking it would make a great Christmas card or tag for a gift. Experiment with how much or how little paint you spray. Don't be shy, you can't mess this up.



Once you have sprayed your paint have your paper ready to lay on top of the water. I used water color paper because it absorbs water well and is a sturdy paper. Card stock would do the same.



Wah Lah!!! How cool is that?! Easy, fast, and fun! As you can see swirling the paint is key. We also never changed the water. We just kept spraying and adding paper.



I thought I would add, when I put the paper into the water I lightly pressed the back of the paper into the paint. I did not totally submerge the paper. You only leave the paper in the water for a few seconds and then lift it out and let it dry. You are going to love it!



Is that gorgeous or what?! In this one KK and I sprayed pink, gold and red. The white you see is where paint did not adhere. So cool!



This was my favorite I think. I love pink and green together. Swirling the paint before you drop your paper in is huge. Don't you love it? Is your mind racing right now with a million ideas?



I loved this fun project! It took no time and the results were fabulous! We are going to cut these up and make note cards, gift tags, place cards, and calling cards. The possibilities are really endless. I hope you will try this and send me a picture! I'd love to see what you come up with! Today I'm thankful for spray paint! This afternoon we're making salt clay! KK's chemistry test is going to have to wait! I'm on "vacation" and loving it! See you tomorrow. Love love love R

Project: Journal Page

 I am so glad you stopped by. I have been playing in my art journal today. My art journal is a place where I try new things and journal the process and what I learn and whether I like it or not.  I was experimenting with a new technique, and I really likedit and thought you might enjoy it too. It was very simple and tons of fun. All I did was use my printer to copy a page from a magazine and then I glued it into my journal and painted it. It was so creative and very easy!  I think it is a technique you could really use your imagination and come up with some amazing ideas. So this is what I did.



I first found a picture in a magazine and made a black and white copy of it using my printer



Then I used mod podge to paste the copy in to my art journal.



Then comes the fun part. Grab your acrylic paints and paint. Use any color you like and bring the black and white photo copy to life.



This really was a fun exercise! I will say I used a very limited palette when I painted this. I would recommend using only a few colors but lots of different values of that color. For example, I used multiple shades of sap green in my trees by adding cad yellow and white. I used cerulean blue for my sky and dress and added yellow and white for multiple values of that color. I really love the way it turned out.



For those of you who are familiar with my style know I could never leave something so plain. I had to stamp and doodle all over it! In my opinion, It gives life to the piece! Then I journaled the process right on top of the page. Remember to use permanent pens and inks when doing all these projects. Once you're finished you can seal it with a coat of mod podge if you want to. I love this journal page! While I was working on it I thought how adorable it would be to use a photograph of my own of people or places that I love. I could add personal things like letters and art and all kinds of fun ideas. Really the possibilities are endless! Try it and have fun with it! It reminds me a little of paint by number. Send my a picture of your art work! I'd love to see what you come up with! I love a fun project! Enjoy!

love love love Ruthie