Christmas Boxes Make Over

While traveling earlier in the month I was able to take advantage of some after Christmas sales at Tuesday Mornings in Pigeon Forge. I bought 3 Christmas storage type boxes with the intention of re-making them into family photo and memento boxes for our library. The pictures were in ugly cardboard boxes and needed a new home badly.

Here are the pictures and products used for the make over.

I have removed the big red bow on all the boxed and fixed a few corners that made them even less expensive. :-)

First coast was chalk paint and then I added the craft acrylic turquoise paint to it for the second dry brushed layer

I used the burnt sienna color to rub around corners and give it a vintage feel and then a little gold rub on never hurts to brighten things up

Tim Holtz tissue paper and also made my own tissue paper using Stampin Up roller stamps. I decided on teh smallest box to just use the wheel stamps right onto the box. Each method gave a different look. Loved them all.

The third wheel did not have it's paper tag any longer with it's name.

close up of Tim Holtz tissue paper

All filled and in their new home.

Thanks for stopping by.

See you next week!

2016 Journal ... inside pages

Inside the front cover of my 2016 Journal Book.

Fun book page from my stash and a cool black envelope to stick things in.

The left side is an image from the text book I left. I created the calendar pages using an online site and sized it perfectly to my book pages.

I bought a 2016 weekly planner from the Dollar store and took it apart to inset into my book so I can jot down events and appointments. I inserted using a tip in method with washi tape. I am planning on doing a video soon showing how I did my pages.

A pocket page.

Another page using an image from the book. I found there were not a lot of cool, fun images in the back of the book.

Since it is a history book ... lots of war pictures.

I pieced together odd pieces to cover this page. 

I left the small image in the corner.

Not sure what my next project will be.

Check back with me next Wed. to see.

2016 Journal from college text book

Winter is here and I am in my art room full time it seems.

I had set aside this textbook to use as my 2016 Journal.

It is a real good size and has some pretty cool old images in it. So I started it last week.

I found a paper pack of cardstock to use. Always makes things look nice without a lot of effort to use a pad of coordinating cardstock. It also had some punch out tags and cut outs. I think I will use this for the cover.

I tore many pages out to keep the book so it will close correctly. It may get a little fat when I add some photos or other memorabilia.

Next week I will share some of the inside pages. I used washi tape on the edges. I really like the finished, colorful look it gives to the closed book.

I will be on the road next week so hopefully blogger will let me post from cell phone. It isn't always the friendliest operation to use the cell phone. We will see  ... if not two weeks from now I will have the inside pages posted.

Thanks for visiting!

 

Old Art Journals finished and bound

I have had these signatures of partnership art journals since 2010. I actually had to finish a few pages on the one. I shared one in a previous post.
http://www.alteredartstudio9010.blogspot.com/2015/12/live-laugh-love.html

I decided to do a book cover binding technique I have seen many others do. So I took the "guts" out of this old atlas and then used hemp to bind each signature into the spine of the book. I used some binding tape I had on had and a few pieces of card stock to reinforce the binding before sewing in the signatures.

Here are a few pictures:

 I added some buttons and beads to the hemp threads that were left hanging

 I may add some embossing to the cover, it is such a cool old book ...

 Inside front cover

 a few pages ...

 I added a piece of wax paper to keep the pages from sticking together.

I used glass matte medium back then. Sometimes sticks together.

Live, Laugh, Love

I am so happy to be back into my art journals. This is the last page of a journal signature I started back in 2010. It was a partnership journal that didn't get finished. It has a few pages from another I knew online. I feel very privileged to share my art with other artists over the years.

I would love to start a new collaborative journal in 2016. One of my classes in the new year will be about trading art and working in partnership journals and altered books.

I will show you next week how I took an old book cover and sewed 3 signatures of art journaling into it.

InSpIRe Post

I have been very busy creating art and enjoying the holidays. Posting has been put on the back burner.

But I do love my first blog and all the memories it contains.

I am going to make myself a promise to post one time a week moving forward. It may just be a picture of new art or sharing something I find worthy of sharing. But I am going to post once a week.

Here is a link to my more commercial blog.

http://inspirewomensretreats.blogspot.com/

Trying to break through as an artist in an art saturated community is not easy. I still enjoy my online world of friends and followers. So that is why I am committing to more interaction with you.

If you are on FaceBook and want the whole story about the art journal spread here is the link.

https://www.facebook.com/InSpIRemixedmediaart

on Google+
https://plus.google.com/+debis7860/posts

Gallery Sign is Up!

My art studio & gallery sign is up!

I am finishing getting the inside ready for my first

ArtWalk in the Twin Villages.

for more info check out their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/TwinVillagesArtWalk

My facebook page is:

https://www.facebook.com/InSpIRemixedmediaart

 

I am so excited to be living my dream!

 

Thank you for all your support & encouragement.

My First Art Show !!!

Say it With Colours ~ 16x20

I am over the moon happy to be included in my first art show. River Arts Gallery exhibition  "The Natural World" opening reception was last night. My artwork was sold last night!!!
The exhibition will be through May 21st. River Arts gallery is on RT 1 in Damariscotta.
I am looking forward to showing more art and doing workshops in the near future. The workshops will be at my home art studio which faces the Damariscotta River.
My first workshop will be an adaption of this piece. Everyone will go home with a finished piece of art and each will have their own individual flair.
For the most up to date info follow me on facebook, in my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/InSpIReWomensRetreats/. You will have to ask to join as this is a private group.

Developing New Workshop for Summer 2015

Where Flowers Bloom Workshop

all day (includes lunch)

all supplies included

Learn how to:

• make "gelli" prints
• peeled paint techinque
• add doodles for a finished look

Each participant will go home with your own original 11x14 piece of art.

Each creation will have it's own personal touch.

I am so excited to share my love of mixed media with you.

We will spend the day in my sun-room over looking the Damariscotta River in Maine.

There are lots of fun shops to visit in town and lovely little restaurants for dinner.

Dodge Point for a hike later in the day is just a few miles from us.

B & B's and small Inns are very close to us too.

Many more details soon.

Contact me at debis7860atyahoo.com with any questions.

Sign-up will be on http://inspirewomensretreats.blogspot.com/

I also have a closed community on Face Book you may request to join to keep up to date.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/InSpIReWomensRetreats/

Altering a Book into a Travel Journal

Check out my newest video tutorial ...

Entering a contest

Halcyon Yarn store in Bath ME
My wishlist https://halcyonyarn.com/wishlist/1417781182-sxIOis7CA-1417781227
Sign up yourself at: https://halcyonyarn.com/news/win-your-wish-list-so-easy-to-win/14034

Art Studio coming together

I found a few great pieces for my art studio. This cabinet still needs a little work. but I can't wait to get it against the wall and start filling it up.

This one is for on the wall hopefully above this one. Love all the cubbies!

Dirty Footprints Studio: Art Journal Wisdom :: Day 1 :: Gathering Supplies...

I wanted share this FREE 10 day workshop. Just looked at day  and love what she is sharing. Take a look and tell me what you think ...



Dirty Footprints Studio: Art Journal Wisdom :: Day 1 :: Gathering Supplies...: So 21 SECRETS Fall comes out on October 1st and I know that some of you have been waiting literally for months!! We thank you for your...

Doodling

Had to leave art supplies in storage while we travel this summer. Watercolor crayons in a hot car do not work too well.
The picture is from a window in our new home in Newcastle Maine. We will be back to close on the purchase late August. Until then we are going to travel to see my youngest in ND and friends in TX. So we are putting some miles on this summer.
Can't wait to get back and get my art studio all organized. And next year we will see about a few art retreats! Really more like late fall so everyone can make plans. So stayed tuned and follow my retreat blog. www.inspirewomensretreats.blogspot.com

More art for DLP book

Decided to venture out to my little art studio on the porch last night. The wind was blowing and the loons were singing ( I don't really like to say they are crying). It did get a little chilly by 10 so I finished stamping the zentangle inside.
Pages didn't load in order so here is a description as you see them:
Inspirational Quote ... "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail." I started with torn pages from a book I had altered in the past, then added some tissue paper and blue scrap pieces, then added some white gesso over it, and added the quote. Used a mask of barbed wires to add some interest to the right side, still didn't look finished, so I added some circle doodles and a few flowers and lastly the bird stamped image.
Next was a page using magazine images. I have a stash of these as I could not bring many magazines with me. I liked the fishes and stack of books with statements about how to handle life. I started with a painted background, then added the images with gel medium. I have started to use a brayer to smooth the images and get them to adhere better. I spritzed some glimmer mist, then I added some charcoal around the images and smeared it. Then added my text and a Tim Holtz stamp.
Next my shoe page. Used watercolor crayons in the pink to purple range and washed over it with water. Added some dots and slashes of gesso. Then my magazine image and my picture of my new hiking boots. Added the details with charcoal both white and black. Also used mask letters to add the word shoes.
My last page started by adhering a piece of scrapbook paper and then drawing circles. Then I was to use a stamp in an unexpected way. So I got my set of small alphabet stamps out and used them to create a type of zentangle pattern in each space.
Before I knew it is was 10pm and getting a little chilly so I cleaned up and headed in. We will be leaving the cabin this Saturday. Hopefully I will have a little space in our next place to set up an art studio.

DLP pages

Getting caught up. I have made myself a little art studio on the covered porch of our little cabin we have until the end of May. It's been a bit cool and rainy. So I paint and then come inside to do finishing touches. First pic is of birdies on a line. I took the photo one morning while in Rockland at the harbor during sunrise.
The second is my name. My husband gave me the words to put on the letters of my name. He's a sweetie. I have been in a mood to do zentangles.
The last is using one color family. Used watercolor crayons and then added some details. My pens didn't like writing on this. Ended up using sharpies and a gel pen.
It's been a fun day doing art.

Week 8 TDL project

I had a lot fun looking at the 5 artist's blogs that created this group. I took a little from each. I started on my flap first. I like to use envelopes so i can tuck my journaling in later. I added a quote from one of the artust blogs and stamped some images. (Side note: I am going to have to decide which stamps to take with me on our adventure. I have limited myself to a plastic tote and one bag. It's not going to much ... but that is part of the challenge. :-)
Then I did the other side with some punched out stamped scraps and credit card gesso smears, some spritz of glimmer mists. Found a pad of K & Co. Tags and used this for my 2nd flap. Used wasbi taper to put them together. Then i moved onto the actual page in my book. Decided to use the idea of pasting one of my catch all papers. Decided to add some patchwork flowers. Added some details and a few stamped images. Taped the flaps in place. Really happy with the way it turned out.

Week 7 TDL Project

The prompt for this week was to use a shape multiple times. I have so much scrap paper so I went with free hand circles. Painted the background with a credit card in pink & red. Glued down shapes and had fun outlining them. Using these colors is different for me. I like the way it turned out.

Week 6 Inspired art ...

I love this artist. HEARTFELT on facebook. Haven't found her on pinterest yet. But I had to do a page inspired by her art. I love the patchwork feeling and the quote says it all. My dreams are coming true ... stay tuned for where I end up ...