Playing with Paper Dolls Again!

This is what I've gotten done this month! I am chipping away at my long "to-do" list. Luckily, I enjoy checking off art-related items! I finished the first two pages for a color themed round robin. Sarah's colors were black, white, and RED! I had drawn the face in my sketchbook and then I cut out her hair from the sparkly diamond dust paper.
I made the two paper dolls to tuck into the pocket on the facing page. The stickers are from an ARTchix sheet and the colors were perfect!
I created the paper dolls below for an ARTchix contest/swap. Each artist creates a set of 6 dolls using something from one of the ARTchix paper doll collage sheets. I had fun mixing and matching and searching through my collection of metal charms.


Each doll had some type of metal charm adorning her body. I think they came out pretty cool and they each have their own sassy style!


Now, I am off to put together a NEW color themed round robin book that will be sent out into the world October 1st. Oh yeah, I have to make 14 Halloween ATCs for my Paula's Kit Club swap. I'll keep you posted...

More Mixed Media Madness!

Here are a few more pieces I worked on this weekend. I am having fun with the backgrounds and layers.

I did the portraits on paper and then glued them to a piece of plywood,

I collaged the background with paint,

various papers, stamps, rub-ons, stamps, metal charms, trims, and glitter. To finish the pieces I used different products. I melted beeswax on one, used a glossy varnish on two of them. I used a matte mod podge

on the pieces that I wanted to have

more texture on the surface. I even dug through my ancient stash of broken costume jewelry for some

larger embellishments.

Portrait Class Progress

I promised I would continue to update my progress in Suzi Blu's on-line class. Here are some of the projects I completed this weekend. I had drawn, colored, and painted the faces in my sketchbook. I finally got some plywood cut into 12 x 12 inch pieces and glued the faces to them. Then, I painted the backgrounds and added rub-ons, stamps, inks, glitter, tissue, etc.

Because my scanner won't scan a 12 x 12 image you can't see the whole piece. I'm not sure I'm done with these yet. I want to coat some of them with beeswax.

The second picture is a journal spread I worked in for my I Dream In Color round robin group.

The part of the class I had the most trouble with is actually spending time writing and adding my own words to my portraits. I am so comfortable expressing myself in visual images. I love adding words I have an emotional response to such as song lyrics or quotes. I am a little hesitant to put my own words on my artwork because it seems more personal. I am working on getting past that point of resistance and being bolder with my words.

I will post any new additions as I finish these up.

They say it's your birthday!

I want to wish my better half a very happy birthday today!

Happy Birthday Dave!!!!

I am always grateful to have you as my partner and I'm thankful every day for your love and support.

My sister, Melanie, celebrated her birthday Saturday. I made her this card and little wall-hanging.

Happy Birthday little sister!

On Your Newsstand Now and a New Song

I was pleasantly surprised to get these two lovely magazines in my mailbox this month because it meant I've had some artwork published! It's always so exciting that is really a private little thrill that no one else really understands.

Stampington's Handcrafted magazine reprints projects and articles from it's HUGE line-up of publications.

I have bought stacks of these magazines in the past few years and I found many projects I must have missed the first time around. I have an altered book on page 168.

Lots of inspirational art and cool project ideas and instructions in this book!

In the new issue of Somerset Home I have an altered frame on page 53. I am amazed at the

wide range of artistic items with functional uses. I love all the ideas for framed art and stitched

art. I will be using this book as a jumping off point for some new projects!

My husband e-mailed me a song while I was at work last week. He said he heard it and it reminded him of me! I am going to add it to my playlist, so click on Follow Me and have a listen.

Adding color!

This week I added color to my graphite pencil sketches. I layered colored pencils and acrylic paint. I am trying to go with a distressed look but still show the shading to get some depth.

In my class, this is the middle step. Next, I need to work on a layered background and add
poetry. I thought I'd post these and get some feedback on this stage. I loved how the pencil drawings looked and they really changed when I added color. What do you think?

It's a Beanie- Baby!

Take a look at what my sweet cousin Tina made for me! I told her I liked the color of some of her yarn and she made me a perky orange beanie! I love it and will love wearing it this winter.

Even though it's swelteringly hot here, I couldn't resist trying it on for size. What do you think?

I started back to school with a brand new class of second graders today. I think it's a very nice class, but it's such a slower pace at the beginning of the year. I'm still working on my portraits for my Suzi Blu class and I'll post more later.