Art House Co-op Mystery Project

Hi everyone!

I participated in the Mystery Project by Art House Co-op and Prismacolor. The idea was to create a project based on a prompt sent by Art House Co-op, using a Prismacolor Brush l Fine Art Marker. Then, you had to leave your project in a public place and send them a photograph of it.

My prompt was "Lines Have Been Drawn" and I took the literal approach:

I took a piece of cardboard, covered it in wallpaper from Gauche Alchemy and then scored it with my scissors. I added the prompt card, some mists, a little GA Washi Tape and of course my "lines". See? :P

I decided to leave it in an empty store front. Maybe I'll hear from someone that picked it up?

I really enjoy doing these projects from Art House Co-op. It makes you step out of your creative comfort zone and regardless of whether you think a project is "good enough", sometimes it's just about getting out there and simply participating.

Happy Birthday Zippy!

Hi everyone!

Today my little Zippy turns 1 year old. Can you believe it?! Me either.

I'm a year old. Now where's that cake?

Happy birthday my little Zippy!

Life Is Beautiful Canvas

Hi everyone!

This canvas makes me laugh. After finishing my LE Sketchbook Project, I really wanted to create something but didn't know what and wasn't even sure I was in the mood to make anything. (Especially since everything I thought of making featured a big "F%$& You" on it. Hey, we all deal with grief in different ways. lol)

So I purposely set out to create something that was the exact opposite of what I was feeling. I reached for bright colors (normally my "must have" on any project) and a bright happy fun time title. I'll probably get around to making that deep, dark, morbid piece of something or other but for right now, making something that showed an emotion I wasn't feeling at the time was actually pretty freeing. Go figure. lol

I started with an 11x14 canvas and Mod Podged a sheet of scrapbook paper to it. BTW, I've always used gloss Mod Podge in the past but decided to give matte a whirl and holy crap, it is AWESOME and I'm not using gloss like, ever again. Once you go matte, you never go back!

Anyhoo, after that was done I added some Dylusions Ink Sprays (these are so fantastic) in various colors and decided to play around with multiple styles of Gauche Alchemy's Washi Tape. (Did you know we have washi tape in the store now? At amazing prices???) I really wanted to use this glittery ornament I got on clearance after Christmas so he made a home in the bottom corner there.

Next I decided to use some modeling paste with a circle stencil and didn't feel like that showed up enough so I added some Pearlex powders to it. Once I added the title, "Life is Beautiful", I felt that it and the washi tape was sort of fading into the background so I outlined all of it with a black pen. Done and done!

Life is beautiful?

**BTW, I do recognize the blessings in my life: 2 great kids, a loving husband, etc and so forth. This canvas is just a reflection of what I was feeling at the time so there you go. :)

2012 Sketchbook Project Limited Edition

Hi everyone!

Well, believe it or not, I actually completed (and mailed!) my sketchbook for the 2012 Sketchbook Project Limited Edition. I had big plans for this thing. I was going to do this whole Jane Austen-esque theme but I got derailed by other projects and my poor little book sat by neglected.

Cut to early April when Ty died and in the aftermath of that I realized that my sketchbook wasn't close to being finished and the deadline was approaching. My first thought was, "Nuts to that, my brother just died, I'm not making anything!" Then it occurred to me that by changing my theme and making my sketchbook about my brother, he could be a part of the Brooklyn Art Library forever. So I got down to work.

Actually, I got my due dates mixed up and thought I had less time so I did the whole book in one day. Then I discovered that the due date was April 30th and I had an extra week I've could've worked on it. *face palm* So I must admit that this is not my best work but Ty will be a part of a world tour and have a home in the art library so I'm proud of myself for that. :)

I've already signed up for next year's Sketchbook Project so I may be bringing the Austen in that one. :D

A special thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, e-mails and cards during the difficult time, they were such a blessing to me and my family!