Rural Joy - A Tutorial for Soul Journey

Thank you so much to the beautiful girls @ SoulJourney for asking me to be a part this year!

 I took a moment for some reflection & it has seriously helped me be at peace with my struggle to connect with a higher "being." I put being in quotes because it could (and does) also mean IDEA. just.. something OTHER than what we know physically here on Earth.

:)

Here is the little art journal I created :

I'm REALLY excited to move forward putting celestial & other worldly things inside!

Here is the video :

Here are closeups & supplies:

——— S U P P L I E S ———
Canson Watercolor Paper : https://amzn.to/2sjk5qa
White China Marker (Sharpie 12 pk) : https://amzn.to/2LGvYye
DecoArt Media Cobalt Fluid Acrylic : https://amzn.to/2shT3zw
DecoArt Media Payne's Gray Fluid Acrylic : https://amzn.to/2LKD59a
DecoArt Media Cerulean Fluid Acrylic : https://amzn.to/2sr2T10
Masking Tape : https://amzn.to/2LLM49R
Heat Gun : https://amzn.to/2sr7Sib
Uhu 12pk : https://amzn.to/2LKDisY
Sewing Machine : https://amzn.to/2Jhy21u
Black Thread : https://amzn.to/2LGwuMG
White Sharpie Paint Pen 12pk : https://amzn.to/2L4bmz1
Paper Artsy / Everything Art Stamps : http://www.paperartsy.co.uk/
May Arts Black Grosgrain Stripe : https://amzn.to/2siV1zh
DMC Floss : https://amzn.to/2LGxrVg
Kraft paper, paint brushes, black soot archival ink,

Fairy Tale Inspirations - A Mixed Media WORKSHOP ♥

I really enjoy teaching and spreading my love for mixed media. I started teaching locally with tag classes that evolved into art journaling classes. Then I sprinkled in a few OTHER mixed media classes like junk journals & gelli printing.

For the past couple of months I have been working on harnessing my artsy brain into a full day mixed media workshop packed with TONS of info. I am super excited to say that today it all comes together and is ready for presentation!

Introducing : Fairy Tale Inspirations

It's a mixed media workshop JAM PACKED with tips & tricks that will make your mixed media arsenal EXPLODE. see what I did there? haha.

We'll be talking about stenciling, stamping, chipboard, stamping ON chipboard, stamping WITH a stencil, stamping on texture, altering chipboard, using modeling paste, using gesso, image transfers, foiling, collaging, glazing, binding and much more.

We have paper, cardboard, chipboard, glitter, resin, foil, plastic and more on this sweet little project. 

We'll start with altering a paper mache box. Then we'll move to creating a tag that doubles as the embellishment for the front cover. 

And lastly we'll create a sweet mini book full of its own techniques to fit inside our book cover. Here's a quick flip through of the project : 

Now for the nitty gritty:

Early Bird Price : $99 (by September 1st)
Regular Price : $119

-3 Projects (most non basic supplies included)
-Verbal Instructions + Demo on a projector
-Written Instructions & photographs (to take with you)
-Lunch & Dinner included
-Select vendors on site

Location : 3560 East Russell Road Las Vegas, NV 89120

email or private message me to register : deedee430@gmail.com

You'll be emailed closer to the date with a super small list of supplies to bring with you ♥

Wings Tag {May Arts & Graphic 45}

I love when things just come together... I really do! This baby is a triple.. quadruple.. UNCOUNTABLE threat..

It was born in my head as a solution to our May Arts / Ribbon Resource & Graphic45 hop, so it's got tons o' both! Plus it's got recycled packaging, vintage images, coffee, layering, stamping and more! And.. to top it all off.. it's a birthday gift for a dear friend ♥

The tag base is a piece of Graphic45 packaging -- it had a set of vintage label holders from their Staples line in it. After I pulled the plastic off and had the drawer pulls on my desk... I noticed how clean the packaging still was. SCORE. I added some gesso to ground it out and give me a space to create on. The swirls and vintage tones of the backdrop made for a gorgeous border. 

Then I did an image transfer of this adorable little vintage boy. I splattered a bit of instant coffee around the tag and heat set it. The boy has been layered up with a May Arts Puffy Sequin Heart in GOLD and a vintage price tag from my stash. To finish him off I stamped my Pair Of Butterfly Wings stamp for VLVS! on cardstock, fussy cut them out and glued them down with UHU.

I also stamped The Road Not Taken by VLVS!.. this time directly onto the tag using Archival Ink in Black Soot by Ranger / Tim Holtz. To give my sentiment some OOMPH I used some Metal Brads from G45's Staples line. They're so vintagey and cool! 

To finish everything off I layered up three more May Arts Ribbons (Blank Canvas, White Crochet & Silk Crush) to create some texture. Did you know? You can stamp on the Canvas line of ribbons! So I stamped WINGS from a VLVS! Sentiment and then gave it some character with those gorgeous Label Holders by G45 that used to be on the packaging. I added a tiny bit o' stitching around the edge of the tag and.... it's done. ♥

Other people today on the hop! 
Amy Rysavy
Christina Colón

Be sure to hop back to the Ribbon Resource and visit Graphic 45, too! there are prizes up for grabs and tons of inspiration ALL WEEK LONG!

Christmas Tags -- full disclosure

I think I'll start off with the full disclosure... I had a really great class this last November with the local group of girls based on 12 tags of Christmas using my Yuletide collection through 7 Dots Studio. I had really great intentions of offering the class online via video access and optional kit purchase. I had filmed all the videos and was ready to edit when my tablet decided to stop working. EEK. 

I tried a few different things to get it back up and going and it still might happen... but now the time has run out and we're four days PAST Christmas. So... instead of offering a class I will put up all the info in this post about the tags! YAY! :) 

I will be offering another set of tags via class in a Valentine's LOVE theme. I DID get a new tablet and should be able to move forward easily from here. I apologize to those of you who were waiting for the Christmas tags, but here's to other stuff soon! 

Now ---- onto the tags!

The base for all 12 tags (as mentioned before) is Yuletide -- my fun Christmas collection for 7 Dots Studio. I also used three white tags of watercolor paper. All tags have been cut using the #8 tag die by Tim Holtz / Sizzix. I will link all products that I can via each tag below, but I've also used Ranger's Stickles, May Arts Ribbons, UmWowStudio chipboard, flair and stencil, Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps, threads, inks, fabric, doilies, watercolor, cheesecloth... and more. <3 Some of the products from UmWowStudio were new... and as the year sort of got away from me, they'll be available next year.

The first tag (and my favorite!) was cut from Gingerbread and layered with strips of muslin. Hint : I tear my muslin for the great vintagey raggedy edge it gives. There's also a layer of cheesecloth that has been distressed by pulling the fibers apart. The chipboard rocking horse is the same shape as UmWowStudio's Rocking Horse, but has been scaled down. They'll be available next year in a multi-pack. It's been stamped with the Sheet Music BG from VLVS! and distressed with Ranger's Walnut Stain distress ink. I tied the whole tag with some May Arts Burlap twine and a vintage shell button.

The second tag was cut from Figgy Pudding. It's been stamped with the Skyline Silhouette and Sky of Stars Background stamps, both from VLVS!. I do the majority of my stamping in Archival Ink BLACK by Ranger. The tag has been outlined with a permanent black pen and tied with May Arts Burlap Twine. Hint : When drawing a border, draw one line from top to bottom... and then again from bottom to top. It will keep your line purposely playful without much work. As a final bit o' goodness I used a sentiment sticker from Yuletide.

The third tag was cut from watercolor paper. I loved the stark white contrast against the distressed bits of the other tags. It made a great compliment! I also incorporated a bit of vintage text paper and a paper doily. The chipboard zigzag shape is from the Floral Collection chipboard set by UmWowStudio. The flair is also from UmWowStudio... from the matching Yuletide products : Yuletide Flair. I stamped the Large Bird Flying Left from VLVS! to tie up the whole bit.

The fourth tag was also cut from Figgy Pudding.. this time the green side. The tree was cut from vintage sheet music by hand. Hint : Don't be afraid of doing things by hand... it makes them feel more personal. The tree was glued with UHU and topped with some distressed May Arts Crochet ribbon and some baker's twine. I used a black pen to draw the border using the same tip as before.

#5 was cut from Mistletoe. It's been layered with a paper doily, a strip of wood from the Chestnuts paper, and a chipboard word. UmWowStudio will be doing LOTS of words from here on out! Hint : Your tags don't have to be FULL of product, leave a few a little bit more sparse. The contrast will make the whole set read wonderfully.

#6 is back to watercolor paper.... and I used watercolor paints on it this time, too! I used a really great pan set from Grumbacher. First I stamped in watercolor using the Numbers Set from VLVS!. Hint : when stamping in thinner things like watercolor paint, mists, etc... dip your stamp into the liquid, then blot once on a scrap of paper. From there your stamp should produce a more clear image instead of little blobs. Then, using the same watercolor, I swiped it across the middle of the tag. There's a bit of layering with some more distressed cheesecloth and a piece of flair from the same Yuletide set as before.

Tag #7 was cut from the backside of Chestnuts.. a nice deep red. The background has been stamped with the Music Sheet Background in various places. I created a hill using some white cardstock and gesso. While the gesso was still wet I dipped it in some nice chunky glitter. The trees are from the Yuletide MASH set by UmWowStudio. The star is also from UmWowStudio, but the Sketchy Stars set. The trees were treated the same as the hill. I also trimmed up the bottom of the tag with some handmade scallops and vintage book text. Hint : scatter in pieces from the other tags to make the whole set coordinated. The J O Y are alphas from Tim Holtz, and the tie at the top of the tag is another piece of torn muslin.

Whew - making pretty good headway here. The 8th tag was cut from Chestnuts. The pretty pattern in the background comes from the Flurries stencil by UmWowStudio. I used a nice heavy gesso through the stencil. After it was dried I tied a huge bow out of May Arts ribbons and wrapped it around the bottom. I also glued some Jingle Bells to the end of the big bow. 

Tag #9 is clean and simple in the most perfect way. It was cut from the Warm Cider sheet. Because it has the big thick stripes I felt it didn't need that much more. I started by drawing the border again. Then I watered down some gesso and splattered it across the background. Hint : Use a smaller brush to splatter.. it's easier to load up and drop from without wasting product. Sweater Weather is a fun stamp I designed fro VLVS! last year. The chipboard snowflakes come from the Yuletide Mash by UmWowStudio and the tag has been tied with a fun t-shirt type yarn.

Tag #10 was also cut from Warm Cider, but this time the back. This chipboard piece is a brand new one that will debut next year from UmWowStudio : a miniature Holly Vine. The vine has been covered in gesso and glitter... and the berries covered in Ranger Stickles. Then it was layered with distressed cheesecloth another piece of the Yuletide Flair set. Hint : Move your embellishment clusters around the tag. You don't always have to work in the middle or the bottom. I worked the top of this tag and the result is awesome.

Tag #11 is cut from Figgy Pudding. The top has been embellished with a paper doily and a Junque bow made from scraps of May Arts ribbons. I learned about Junque bows from the talented Margie Romney-Aslett! The giant chipboard star is from the Yuletide Mash and has been covered in gesso. Hint : create depth with dimensional adhesive. I layered up the two parts of the snowflake and the adhesive with a piece of Tissue tape and paper scrap. The paper has been punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.

The final tag, cut from watercolor paper, has also been punched with the border punch. Then it was backed with a scrap of red paper. I wrapped some red twine around the center of the tag and layered up a scallop circle cut from sheet music. There's a ring of May Arts Burlap twine and the chipboard Elk Head from UmWowStudio's Yuletide Mash. The tag was finished with Ranger's Stickles and May Arts ribbon.

WHEW >>> Did I miss anything? Let me know if you have any questions! I look forward to the next set of tags... and them working out for a class! ♥

Your Wings Are Ready {Tag and video tutorial}

Hello hello hellooooo!

I am trying like hell to record more of my processes and get them up on youtube. At this point I'm still struggling with remembering to hit play and pause in all the right places. I also can't talk during the video due to my little guy, our dog, local noises, tvs and just a whole bunch of other things that never.work.out. It's ok though because it offers me the opportunity to voice over at a later date (usually very late at night whenever everyone is asleep, lol) and last night I got a little gutsy and went in search of some MUSIC to use in dead spots of the video. It makes me giddy :)

ANYWAYS >>> that's all to say that today's post includes a video tutorial basically from start to finish on a tag I made in duplicate for a tag swap that Viva Las VegaStamps! hosted in our facebook group.

I invite you now to watch the video tutorial

And following here are some closeup shots and product details.

The base is canson watercolor paper -- have you tired of me saying that yet? I love starting on watercolor paper because chances are I'm going to cover it up anyways. It's heavy, thick, and can withstand just about most things I throw at it. It's been layered with music note paper, Golden matte medium, Blick Gesso, drywall tape and two Viva Las VegaStamps! rubber stamps I've designed in Archival Ink by Ranger: Numbers Set and the Waybill/Invoice Background.

More layers : some craft acrylic paints with Liquitex Glazing Medium, another layer of Blick Gesso and some coffee staining. Tip : keep a bottle of instant coffee like you do other sprays and mists. I reach for it the most! It adds the greatest vintage tone to all my projects. The dress from is the brand new chipboard Wire Cage Dress Form from UmWowStudio; it's been covered in VerDay paints to achieve the delicious rust and sprayed with a  Krylon fixative to hold everything the paint in place.

The dress form is attached to the tag with a pamphlet stitch using some basic natural colored muslin. TIP : I always tear my fabrics for a little extra grunge. The Your Time As A Caterpillar sentiment from VLVS! sets the perfect tone for my entire tag; it's been stamped on plain white card with Archival Ink by Ranger (my go-to ink.) I glued it down with some basic Scotch two way adhesive.

And finally -- my little butterfly. It's been created by stamping the Small Gossamer Butterfly stamp from VLVS! on 3 different papers. They've been layered, sewn together, and adhered with Gel Medium to the knot on the muslin bow. To finish the tag I tied it with some May Arts Ribbon Silk in a carmel color. I adore the chunkiness / 3d aspect of my tag.. and really almost all my work ends up like this! Thank so much for joining me today -- let me know what you think :)

Travel The World {Hazel and Ruby & UmWowStudio}

We are HOP HOP HOPPING between Hazel and Ruby and UmWowStudio this week!

Get more details here. 

At UmWowStudio we designed a new product line just for the talented Makery team from Hazel and Ruby to use! Some great CHIPBOARD FRAMES that will be super uber duper cool to alter, turn into home decor, use to mat photos and would even make great mini album covers. (There's an intro video on the UWS blog) They will all be posted to the UmWowStudio site soon... for now we're inspiring you with ways to use them! 

I created this little "mantra" style frame to hang up in my room amongst my gallery wall. I really do have this weird sort of desire to travel the world, and where I know a lot of people want to, I have no idea where mine came from. It sort of just crept up on me. So to remind myself not to forget, I have this little cutey hanging up now! 

It uses the one of the brand new frames... this one in a Speech Bubble form! The frame back was covered in Prima Gesso BLACK and the front panel was adorned with Hazel and Ruby's Wrap It Up Maps of the World. I just applied a bit of UHU to the chipboard frame, overlaid the paper and then cut to size. I gave it a quick sand with  my Prima distress tool. 

The center embellishment of my frame is made up of two sized doilies (one from Michaels and one Doodlebug Designs mini,) a layer of black thread and then a little chipboard concoction. The tag comes from UmWowStudio's Blank tags and has been covered in the Pass The Tissue Chevron by Hazel and Ruby. I tied the top with some May Arts Ribbon and finished it off with a piece of Chipboard from the Love Tags set and some Heart Confetti.

 And the whole bit was finished off with a sentence to keep me focused. The end! :)

Paint Stick Swap

♥

Hello sweet sweet friends! I haven't posted in so long, and for that I am sorry. but I've been working on some really great things in the background and sometimes there just isn't a way to show them. 

I will be debuting two new paper lines for 7 Dots Studio along with coordinating embellishments from UmWowStudio in just a short few days!! 

I also DO have a few other Mixed Media projects to show you over the next couple of weeks, so that's great, too! 

I've been doing some filming behind the scenes to update classes and a million other things. 

BUT >>> For TODAY I get to share with you a really delicious Mixed Media project I just finished.... an Altered Paint Stick! I joined this Paint Stick Swap with a few other really talented ladies and you should definitely visit all the blogs today to see what they're up to. 

The full line up:

Brianna Marshall

DeeDee Catron

Melissa Johnson

Michele Kosciolek

Sara Vukson

Susan Brown

Tina Walker

Truly the best part of this is how different and unique each piece turned out. We all started with the same thing... just plain ol' paint sticks from your local hardware store! Then we were encouraged to just.. DO 'EM UP! any way we wanted and that made us happy. No theme was given or anything... my sticks turned into this sort of Magical Night Sky themed little beauty:

Because we're each paying for postage to the designated destination, our sticks could be as heavy and 3D as we wanted.... and of course I love some dimension! 

The background for my sticks are several layers of goodness. I started by covering my sticks in Gesso. Any gesso will work if you're willing to put in the hours for extra coverage. I did two coats for the fronts of my sticks and a lighter single coat for the back. 

After both coats of gesso were dry, I applied a third, but this time through an UmWowStudio Star Confetti Stencil. It allowed me to really start bringing in the theme of my sticks and simultaneously start the dimension portion. Before that was completely dry I embedded some UmWowStudio Star Confetti Chipboard pieces into the gesso. Gesso itself is not an adhesive and shouldn't be used AS an adhesive... but if you're working in the background and are planning to build up some dimension WHILE working with gesso, it can certainly substitute. I just wouldn't recommend using it solely for adhesion. 

I let everything sit and REALLY dry, then I layered up some watercolor from my brand new Grumbacher pan set. The watercolor gave me a really great fluid base to build upon, and because I was already working with water based products I grabbed my Tim Holtz / Ranger Distress Stain Sprays and helped really add some night sky colors. I dabbed my chipboard stars with a bit o' gesso to help them stand out and sealed everything with a gloss acrylic sealer. The shine to these beauties mimics star shine :) 

Then it was just a bit o' layered! My little German Charlotte Dolls are vintage replicas. I picked up a set from an etsy shop a year or so ago, and them molded them with Amazing Mold Putty. Now whenever I want one (or four!) I just cast them in Amazing Casting Resin and I have as many as I need forever. The vintage ones sit on my shelf all pretty like. 

The wings have been stamped using a new stamp I designed for Viva Las VegaStamps! : Pair Of Butterfly Wings, and they've been stamped using Archival Ink by Ranger in black on my first paper line for 7 Dots Studio : Nature Walk. The frayed bit behind them is one of my favorite ribbons from May Arts Ribbon, crocheted lace, and to finish it all off there's a teeny tiny little paper doily by Doodlebug Designs I picked up from Paper Issues. My little fairy (as Gabe calls it) assemblage was put together with Prima Marketing / Finnabair's 3D Gel Medium.

What do you think? :) 

Paint the sky {Tag}

I was on the 7 Dots Studio blog last week with this little baby:

7 Dots Studio Thoughts Keeper
Viva Las VegaStamps Lady Painting At Easel and Miracle Tape, UmWowStudio Chipboard Butterfly
May Arts Ribbon, Ranger Archival Ink in Black, Prima flower
Watercolor paper, cheesecloth, adhesive, eyelets, gel medium, coffee