the many adventures of a painter girl

Happy Life

there's a girl I know, she is a sweet friend that makes me smile daily...she brings so much JOY into my life...she is a blessing...and today, I am wishing her a very happy birthday...and a happy life...

i colored this Inky Antics image using Copic markers...

you don't have to be an artist to bring your image to life...i'm an example of that...i just have fun and do what i like, you can't take yourself too seriously...

all of the paper layers (This n That Echo Park 6X6 pad) were inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink with a Blending Tool...a few pieces of foam and vintage buttons, completed the card...

May is my favorite month, with all the flowers and spring happiness...it's almost over...but you do have a few more days to enjoy it and head on over to the emporium to add your project for the May Monthly Challenge: Flowers...hurrrrreeeee

life is a song...

i have another card that i made for my guest appearance for Inky Antics...

i just love this stamp set! it's sweet and simple...

i inked my clear stamp with walnut stain and peacock feathers distress ink pads directly to the stamp and stamped it onto kraft card stock...i then used a water brush and pumice stone distress marker to shadow the stamped image...

i cut out my image with the sizzix mini baroque die...i used a my mind's eye be amazing 6 X 6 paper pad for the patterned paper ( i ADORE this collection!!!), trimming out a few hexagon strips for a layer...i inked the edges of all my paper pieces with walnut stain using an ink blending tool...then  assembled my card and added a few messy stitched areas and a deam binding bow with vintage button...the sentiment was added last, again using walnut stain ink...

it was quick and simple with lovely results...

enjoying the journey...

some days i am overwhelmed by the amazing journey that i am on...i have come across some incredible people in this industry...some, i have never met, but i feel that i know them through their blogs...

others, i have the wonderful privilege of calling friends...

along the way, i have worked with amazing products from incredible companies...

i struggle with feeling worthy of it all...the only way i know to show my gratitude is by giving back...

when i made this tag, i was reminiscing about my most recent stop on this fantastic journey...

i had to pinch myself...several times...i have dreamed of this opportunity for years, and i am incredibly grateful for the experience...

it all began with a little plane ride with someone i simply adore...oh the F.U.N. we had!!!!

       

and, then...i arrived...

be still my little heart...

we had three phenomenal teachers...Tim Holtz, Claudine Hellmuth, and Dyan Reaveley...each was genuine, funny, and so very inspiring!!!

one of the things i really, really needed help with was melt art...i have to admit, i have owned a melting pot for a long time...but i was so intimidated!!!

now...i can't wait to play...that was some SERIOUS fun!!!!

from the melting pot, to dylusions, to studio paints, to distress...we got to dip into it all...and we left with some unbelievable inspiration and knowledge...

i just can't wait to share it here with all of you...little by little, it's now my job to give back...

and...give back i shall!!!

enjoy your journey...

...thank you to M.J. for his great BTS (i borrowed a few of his pictures!!) and great food (the square pizza is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!)...

 

 

 

Inky Antics Fly Banner

one of the things i love to do when i get a new stamp set is to do something unexpected with it...so when i started playing with the Floral Faith Clear Set from Inky Antics (i'm the guest designer this month...yay!), the idea to make a banner came to me immediately...and, i love the results!

after i stamped the image several times on card stock with memento tuxedo black ink, i colored all the images with copic markers...

I trimmed each image to create toppers for banners that i cut out of patterened paper using the Sizzix Banners & Keys Set...i also punched several butterflies out of the paper using a martha stewart punch...

i assembled the banner using glossy accents...and taped jute to the backs to hang each banner piece...i hope you enjoyed my fun project and find yourself thinking outside the box the next time you get a new stamp set!

Inky Antics May Guest Designer

guess who is the guest designer for May on the Inky Antics Blog? yep, yours truly...hop on over to the blog here to read all the super sweet things Jackie had to say about me...makes a girl blush!

this is one of the cards  i made for the blog...i used Distress Markers to color the stamped image from the Guided Path Stamp Set then i cut the colored image out using a spellbinder's die...i stamped the sentiment onto craft card stock and trimmed into a banner shape...i stamped the trim image from the Ravishing Ribbons Stamp Set onto craft paper using peacock feathers distress ink... 

i cut out a rosette from patterned paper and a mini banner using a sizzix die...i inked all the edges of all the paper pieces using pumice stone distress ink and assembled the card...

i hope you enjoy exploring the Inky Antics Blog...they have super cute stamps!!!

 

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge

the fabulous Linda Ledbetter does the most fabulous challenge...The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 2...each week she challenges us to make a project using a technique from Tim Holtz's second book, Compendium of Curiosities...

this week, the challenge is from page 58...Faux Patina

i love this technique...it's perfect to make new metal look old, just the way i like it!

last week, the challenge was to make your own Foam Stamps from page 66...

i love this technique for simple silhouette stamps made from my favorite dies! i stamped the sewing edge and the dress form from the mini sewing room die set...this tag is seriously all me...my favorite colors, favorite stamp and die sets, vintage touches...tattered and shabby...L.O.V.E.

go play along...you'll love it!!

if you don't have the book yet...run...and grab a copy here!

Distress Marker VIDEO Tutorial

hold on to your seat...it's a VIDEO tutorial!!!! oh.my.word.

have to tell you, it's unedited and all me...enjoy!!

 

now, go buy 'em!!!! 

sweet bird tag

i confess...i can't get enough of my distress markers...and, i ain't sorry...

i stamped the Bird in a Circle Hero Arts stamp on to a #5 tag with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink...after drying it with my heat tool, i water colored the image with the detail water brush and my beloved Distress Markers

i used the Pumice Stone marker for the shadow around the whole image and inked the edges of the tag with my blender tool and Vintage Photo Distress Ink...topped it with a seam binding bow...

sweet little thing...don't ya think? i think i will make 20 more...to send out to our Inspiration Emporium customers...cause we like to surprise 'em!

Tim Hotlz Creative Chemistry 101 Graduate

a creative journey is full of inspiration...you find it all around you...a book, a vintage button card, a sunrise, your grandmother's quilt...and people...my rock star where that is concerned is none other than Tim Holtz...he is genuine, gifted beyond measure, and the most amazing teacher...

i just finished Tim's Creative Chemistry 101 Online Class...

i found myself each day of the class more and more excited to try every technique and to play with the supplies...a few nights my mind was reeling with possibilities and i couldn't sleep!

i decided to make mini tags...size 5 vs 8...as i created, i found myself using colors i normally don't use and loving it!

and, doing new things with old favorites...i loved having a book to jot down notes in while i played...

some of the techniques stood out right away as a favorite...L.O.V.E.  this one!

i fell more and more in love with my little tags, each one finding it's way into my heart...

i love having this book and sample tags to flip through for inspiration when I am creating...

it was well used when i made this card...

the culmination of all my learning the past few weeks...i just loved pulling it all together using different techniques and supplies and playing...it was so inspiring...

and so fun to see it all come together...

every technique and detail together on one project...

thank you, Tim...for the inspirational journey...

it was truly amazing!!!

happy easter

happy easter! i hope your day is full of family, friends, easter egg hunts, jelly beans, cabury eggs, and peeps!

enjoy this glorious day,