art supplies

I love art supplies.

When I hear about something new I can't wait to get my hands on it & play!

I also love it when I can replicate the results with things I already have on hand.

A couple of weeks ago I bought this amazing tissue paper by 7gypsies.

As you can tell by the price tag it's not cheap, but just a little bit in the right project is beautiful.

I used some in the windows on this journal page.

When I finish I think it will look pretty cool.

I like to make my own tissue paper using this simple method I learned from Hanne Matthiesen.

Tape a deli sheet to a piece of copy paper.  Make sure to tape it down carefully so it doesn't get caught in your printer.

I copy book pages, journals, anything, it's awesome!

At Paper Cowgirl fellow teacher Shelley Massey introduced me to PenPastels.

I think they've been around for awhile, don't know how I missed them!

I love the consistency & the way they blend on so many surfaces. 

I waxed my homemade tissue paper onto cardboard, then applied the PenPastel over the top.  

It works go great on wax!

Next I copied this gorgeous picture & used color pencil to add highlights.

Using beeswax I covered her with my tissue paper & added even more depth with the PanPastel.

I'm really happy with the results.

I switched it up on this one, placing the photo on top.

I know this was a short post but the kids are about to explode with excitement. 

We're on our way to Broken Bow, OK for a week of camping!

Have a great week!

20 Days!

Okay, I have a reoccurring dream. It begins with my class this month at Paper Cowgirls. I walk into the room, which is filled with anxious artists, waiting to be taught some cool projects. The only problem is.... I have nothing.

NOTHING!

This dream is worse than the one you had as a kid, the one where you show up for school naked.

This nightmare takes place in someones store, I don't remember whose. As a stall tactic, I give the students paper & a pencil & tell them to sketch something. In the meantime, I'm frantically running through the shop trying to find things that will work for our class. I look over my shoulder to see the disgruntled looks on their faces....

I get back to digging through boxes, looking for a piece of lace, anything!

I wake up in a cold sweat & realize it's time to get my act, crap, ideas, 'IT' together.

My kits are done, & they are pretty cool, if I do say so myself. So my focus is working on swaps & vendor night. I went through my sweet stash & started assembling piles for collages.

A perfect mix of pretty & dirty.

Just like a cowgirl.

Wait till you see what I do with the bullet casings,

& the pretty whites....

& some resin bobbles.

Oh, I finally ordered the Ice Resin, the result is awesome. I do love the amber ghost like effect you get with the regular 2 part resin, but this stuff is crystal clear! See if you can tell the difference. The 2 blond girls were done with the Ice Resin, the others with my old stand-by.

I will defiantly be demonstrating this in class.

If you don't hear a lot from me in the next month, now you know why. I'm trying to make sure my nightmare doesn't become reality.

Between Paper Cowgirls & no Mothers Day Out, I'm in a big mess.

At least I have live-in help.

My Agapanthus are blooming at last!

When they are finished in the garden.....

For dinner they are preparing a nice pasta primavera.

Oh, don't go calling social services!

I'm good to 'em.
If they do a really good job, I let them split a Popsicle 3 ways.
Hee Hee

100 & A Give-Away!

I can't believe I'm sitting here writing my 100th post! I started my blog in July 09, & I think it took that whole month to work up the nerve to push the 'publish' button.  When I look back at those first posts I cringe... I sounded like such a goober!   As a thank you for hanging with me & inspiring me everyday with your blogs & comments I'm going to give away some goodies.

I was making a pair of altered ballet shoes for my dear friend Rose, I decided I'd go ahead & make another pair for you!

No need to become a follower, just leave a comment on this post & I'll draw the winner Monday March 22.

Not only will you recieve this pair of sweet slippers...

I'll wrap them up in this little gift bag!  They just look so cute together.  Dont' you just love getting a 'gift' in a gift? In NoLa we called it lagniappe, right Jodie? 

So while I'm on the subject of presentaion.....

 I was blog hopping last week & happened upon a post by Lana at Honeysuckle Lane.  She had some great advice on a simple packaging technique for sellers.

The busier I've become with selling, the more time I've wasted trying to find creative ways to ship my items. I wanted to find a consistent & relatively inexpensive way to send things. I copied my banner & uploaded it to Picnik where I added some text.

inked the edges & used decorative scissors on the bottom.

Then I just stapled it to a clear bag, I buy them in bulk online. They're priced well & have every size you could ever need.  

More lagnaippe.....

Lynda from The Crow's Corner sent me these cool, grungy envelopes, she thought I might like them for packing. She was right!

Each one is a little piece of art.  Wouldn't  you love to get one of these as a special treat?

Lynda makes some really wonderful primitive style art, check out her blog!

I found more inspirational packaging at the grocery store, one of my favorite places to find art supplies. Look at this awesome soap!

 I went crazy when I saw the little window in this corrugated box, can you imagine a little picture in the window & an assemblage inside?  Guess what, the soap smells pretty yummy too!