Punkin the Cross- Dressing Cat

He's an Orange Tabby...He's a BIG boy... and he LOVES frilly dresses...He's Punkin the Cross-Dressing Cat.

Making my own Embellishments

   I LOVE to make my own embellishments. Gives me something small to work on when I'm watching TV. AND they are original !
I like to use them on cards

  and mail

   I saw a version of this somewhere, but here's my take on it:
1. Select an old book with absorbent paper. Using inexpensive watercolors (Prang are nice), lay down a wash of 2 or 3 colors. Wrinkles less if you leave pages in the book.
2. Once dry, doodle, rubber stamp or trace a stencil.
3. Coat shapes with thick coat of Heavy Gel Medium.
4. Once dry, cut out, a little outside the shapes.

My new FAVORITE Art Journal

I'm a BIG fan of Gulfsprite's Art on Youtube and saw this video on turning a hard cover book into an Art Journal- Video
I am oddly particular about the size journal and the texture of the paper I like to work with. And this idea was PERFECT for me! Older books have a rougher surface to the paper and are more absorbent. Some books have a slicker surface on the paper and don't really need to be gessoed. It also solves the problem of a blank page staring at you :)

 This book is fabric so I just did some splattered acrylic paint and duck tape on the binding.

Journal Artista's Stencil Saturday

   A year ago I discovered a YouTube video that has changed my life in many ways. I was a collage/ mixed media artist looking for inspiration and BOY OH BOY did I find it! Paula Phillips-aka Journal Artista took collage/mixed media to a whole NEW level via Art Journaling.  It wasn't just Paula's AMAZING work that attracted me but her easy going teaching style and art philosophy.
   A Year and DOZENS of new friends later, I am grateful to say that rarely a day goes by that I don't do something creative.
   Paula devotedly shares her skills and philosophy twice weekly with a live Ustream broadcast. Each Saturday the broadcast is about stencils! For my pages I used Dover Little Activity Books - Fun With Butterflies Stencils. Dover has tons of these little stencil books for $1.50. I love the simple children's designs and they hold up pretty well !

   I'll journal on the page tonight and no doubt add some more doodle details.
 Here are some of Paula's links: Blog   YouTube   Ustream

Colored Pencils on Kraft Card stock with WHITE highlights

Inspired by the Wonderful Jennifer Mcguire's card  http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2011/05/krafty-goodness.html/051711-kraft-coloring-jenmcguire-1wm

I am so in love with this technique! The white colored pencil highlights really make the color POP.

Cardmaking Fun

As a beginner Card maker I am thrilled there are so many FABULOUS card making galleries out there. Such a great source for inspiration. I think I am also discovering "my personal style". As with Art Journaling it just seems to take time and practice. I seem to like a simple clean look. Here are a few I've created lately:

I have also discovered I need to work on my photography skills!!