A Peek into My Sketchbook

I took a little time to step out of my studio are and get up from my desk this weekend. I decided that I really need to get back into my sketchbook and just draw. not with a pencil and eraser but with a pen. This made me not look for perfection but just let my brain dump all the ideas I had bottled up inside onto the page. I really have been in a creative block for the past few weeks and I just need to let the ideas flow and not stress about if the lines were just right or if the shape was just so. 

I really think that I learned something from this and I hope to incorporate it in to my weekly schedule and just brain dump into my sketchbook. 

I now feel like I have a whole bunch of inspiration that I can put into my "have to" work. (ie things that have a deadline)

I would love to hear your take on getting past your creative blocks. Just leave a comment below and let me know how you work past them. 

Silhouette Sketch Pen Photo Album June Promo Post

Use Promo Code "RAMBLINGS" to take advantage of this offer.

Add your Favorite Photo Album and you have a great project. (I Purchased this photo album at my local Dollar Tree)

I chose an image from the Silhouette Online Store that was a Sketch File and used the black Sketch Pen to draw the camera design. One it was complete changed out the pen for the cutting blade and then let the machine cut out the image. 

30% OFF SILHOUETTE MATERIALS AND ACCESSORIES

Right now is a great time to stock up on all types of Silhouette materials and accessories and save 30%*! Buy as much or as little as you’d like. Just remember to use your blogger-supplied promo code during checkout. Use Promo Code "RAMBLINGS" to take advantage of this offer. 

*Offer ends July 5th, 2014 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time (MDT). May not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Discount valid only at silhouetteamerica.com. Shipping from silhouetteamerica.com is available within the United States and Canada only. 30% discount excludes Silhouette CAMEO®, Silhouette Portrait®, downloads, download cards, subscriptions, and gift cards. Limited to stock on hand. Rain checks not available. Shipments made outside the United States may be subject to import duties, taxes, and/or customs fees which may be imposed by your local government when you receive your package. You are responsible for paying any additional charges for customs clearance. Use Promo Code "RAMBLINGS" to take advantage of this offer. 

Disclosure: I received the sketch pens used to create this project at no charge from Silhouette America in exchange for this post. 

Upcycled Storage Containers

All you need is a few supplies: 

I used DecoArts Americana Multi-Surface Satin paint for this project in the following colors: 

• School Bus
• Chartreuse
• Deep Turquoise
• Lipstick
• Cotton Ball

Instructions: 

Make sure that the surface of your container is clean and dry.

Apply 2 or 3 colors of your base color to the surface of the container with a foam brush. Let each layer dry in between. 

Using the daubers make a repeating pattern of circles. I also used the daubers to make stripes. 

Once every thing is dry apply a thin coat of DuraClear Satin Varnish let dry and apply one more coat. 

Disclosure: I received the paint used in this project at no charge from DecoArts as a part of their Helping Artist Program and this post includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so it helps to support this site, so thank you!

DecoArts Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint DIY Paint Chip Book

Last week I received a shipment of the DecoArts American Multi-Surface Satin Paints. I have every color that comes in the 8 oz size. There are 20 colors in this size and they have a wide range of colors as well as some great primaries that can be blended into many different colors. 

I had been gifted a stash of Avery address labels and thought that this would be the perfect way to create my own paint chart. It is great to have exact samples of the paint once it has been painted and dried. Using these bright white labels are a great way to get a true color sample. 

Photo Credit

I then took one sheet of  watercolor paper and made a one sheet folded book

Next I  placed them in the book while organizing the color into color families and stapled the top and bottom of each page so that it would not open up all the way. 

Disclosure: I received the paint used in this project at no charge from DecoArts as a part of their Helping Artist Program

Zippered Art Pouch

A little bit of fabric and some paint and a few hand carved stamps make for some fun custom fabric.

I decided that it needed a little bit more so I added some doodles and a little graffiti words. Sewed a zipper on it and made a cute little zippered pouch that is perfect for carry a

Here is one side of the bag with the words Hope and Joy.

This side has the words Love, Trust and Peace. 

I have anther one ready to sew up and a some more fabric that just needs the doodles added to and I might add these to my Etsy Shop soon. I really like this one so I think I will keep it. 

A Peek inside my Art Journal

Whole Wheat Chicken Pizza

This is a very easy pizza to make and I love the rich nutty flavor of the crust. I use a crust from a local market that sells fresh pizza dough for this so that I would really test the waters with homemade pizza making. I have made pizza at home before but I used packaged dough from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. 

Ingredients : 

• 1 fresh pizza dough for crust
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (for Sprinkling on the sauce)
• 1/2 to 1 cup premade sauce. Use your favorite here (I used Wolfgang Puck Classic Vodka Sauce)
• 1 cup Shredded Chicken (I used some leftover chicken)
• 1/4 cup diced Purple Kalamate Olives
• 1/4 cup Sliced Roasted Yellow Bell Peppers
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mexican Cheese 

Preheat oven to 375 F 

Press dough onto pizza pan and add toppings in this order.

1. Sauce
2.  Parmesan Cheese
3. Shredded Chicken
4. Olives
5. Yellow Peppers
6. Shredded Mexican Cheese

Bake for 12 min or until crust is puffy and golden. 

Art Journal Peek

Mail Art Online #eClass

Here is a preview of my mini class titled Mail Art Gelli Style. What you see in this video is just a sample of the types of mail art that we will be creating.

This is a mini class and we will cover a few basics about using the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate, as well as a some of my favorite techniques that I use in my mail art pieces.
This mini class will run for 2 weeks on a private blog and will include:
videos with detailed instructions
Daily posts with how to's and more . . . . . . .
Cost $30 Registration will open on June 18th and class will go live June 25