Making Washi Tape

Last night, I was trolling on YouTube, watching some DIY Washi Tape Videos.  I came across this one, and was excited cause the tape ended up looking like Washi Tape - and, I had all the supplies on hand! (paper tape - get this in the first aid aisle -, plastic placemat, straws)  So, this morning, I made some, using Lindy's Stamp Gang spray paint for the backgrounds, then stamping and stenciling.  Then, rolled each strip up on a straw!  How easy is that!

 

Now, I'll make some more, but I think I'll use regular acrylic paint for the backgrounds, to get a little more color on them.  But, I love that the sprays really keep them transparent.  I'll play around.

 

Anyway, I think you should go look at the video - maybe you can come away with something more to do!  Have fun!

 

 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

We'll be having a quiet little Christmas at home this year.  Just Bill and me, plus all the animals: Barney, Penny and Henry!

 

I hope the Season brings you Joy and Peace!

Art seems to be on hold for now!

 

 

As much as I would love to be working on some art, other things have been taking all my energy!  First off, I adopted a new kitten, Henry.  Here he is at the bottom of the tower, with my older cat, Penny, keeping an eye on him.  He's such a sweetie!  And, Penny has finally stopped growling and hissing whenever he is near!

 

Then, I went to the Quilt Shop to purchase some more Batik fabric for my coasters and bowls.  The owner showed me a huge box of strips of Batik (which is how I cut them) that they had from making some kits.  So, she offered me this box at a terrific price - how could I say NO?  Well, this has been the project from H**L!  So many different fabric strips - I'm trying to put them all together in baggies, but it looks like a never-ending nightmare! 

Then, of course, there is shopping for Christmas, and all the stuff that goes along with that!  But, I'm starting to itch to get back into the Studio - maybe soon!

Collage Class today at She Scrapbooks!

Once again, an amazing day with some really great ladies!  They were all a bit camera-shy, so I just took photos of their wonderful work!  I really appreciate how involved they were with this process - and love the way they worked with their creativity!

Linda

Marsha

Sue

Jackie

Sherry

Cathie

New Classes at She Scrapbooks!

 

I'll be teaching a couple of classes at She Scrapbooks in the Villages, soon.

 

First up is "Creative Collage".  This will be the third time I've taught this class there.  It's always a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the class comes up with!  This class will be on Friday, November 22, from 1-5pm.

 

 

Next will be a new class for me - "Collaged Christmas Ornaments".  I've been making a lot of these and selling them at Under the Cherry Blossoms in Mt. Dora.  So much fun to make!  This class will be on Monday, December 9th, 1-4pm (also at She Scrapbooks in the Villages)

More Ornaments

 

Last Saturday, Serena and I went to Mount Dora for the Craft Festival.  How wild is that?!  They estimate that during the weekend, 400,000 to 500,000 people are in town!  It sure seemed that way - it was so crowded - and, I've never seen so many booths - I think it was around 200!  So, I took 14 of my new collaged ornaments to put in "Under the Cherry Blossoms" - and before the day was over, I had sold 5 of them, as well as a lot of other things that I have there.  I'm making a lot more, in hopes that as the Holiday nears, they will sell!  Here are a few of the most recent ones:

 

Collaged Christmas Ornaments

 

So, I played all day, making some collaged ornaments.  I had quite a time finding things small enough to collage onto the playing cards!  I downloaded some images from Etsy, and then I went to Walmart (where Christmas is already there!), and found some cute little gift tags that I could cut up!  So, some are cute and modern, and others are grungy and vintage!  Not sure which I like better!

 

 

 

 

 

 

52 Card Pick-Me-Up

This weekend, I found this great site on Pinterest!  Stephanie has an online class about making these darling collages on playing cards!  She uses them to give her a "Pick-Me-Up" when she needs one - lots of hearts and positive expressions.

So, of course, I had to try to make some myself!  I decided to use them as ornaments - something you could hang on a hook or a nail to make you think positive thoughts -- (and, of course, to sell them hopefully in Mount Dora!).  Here's the first 2 that I made today.  The backs are collaged, also, but no big heart or words.

Now, I'm thinking that I will also make some Christmas ornaments in this same way -- and I've already contacted She Scrapbooks in the Villages to see if they would like me to teach a class sometime in the near future!  I'm so happy that I have another new idea to work on!

Tissue Paper Layering

 

 

 

Last night, I was trolling around on YouTube and found this video by Suzi Dennis.  Her technique is to layer tissue paper on top of collaged papers and things, and keep doing several layers, so it looks kind of washed out and vintage.  Then, you can cut it up and use parts of it in your collage projects.

 

So, this morning, I thought I would give it a go.  I really like the finished product, but I think I would like to do this on a canvas or board, as a finished collage piece.  I might play around some more with it, though, and see what I can do with it. By the way, the orange piece on the right is part of a mesh from a bag of oranges.  I like having it encased with the tissue layers - it gives it a really cool look and feel!

 

A Quick Sale!

 

Today, I took a little trip to Mount Dora, with a lot of inventory for Under the Cherry Blossoms.  While I was in the shop, I had a fun time with a lady who was shopping there.  I left before she did, and Lynn called me later to tell me that the lady bought this "Little Girl" right after I left, saying that she reminded her of her little granddaughter with the bright red hair.  How wonderful - it had only been hanging for less than 30 minutes - and now she lives in a new home!

 

Sunset

So here is my second palm painting on a 6" x 12" piece of wood.  Not sure what to do next - maybe another beach scene.  Oh well, if it's only two, it's only two!

By The Sea

I finished making all of the "Little Girls" that I wanted, and I still have some wood pieces left.  So, I decided to make some Palm Tree art on them - and hopefully sell them in Mount Dora.  I used some sand and glass beads texture in this painting - and I think it turned out really cool.  You can feel the texture - and the palm fronds wrap around the sides.  Now, how to figure out how to make more that will be different, but the same!

Another successful class!

I gave another "Creative Collage" class at She Scrapbooks in the Villages today.  We had one student call in sick, so there were only three -- but, three very fun and creative ladies!  Once again, I'm amazed at their work.  Take a look!

It was so much fun to see Carolee again!  She was a customer at the Cottonbelle!  And, she had a fabulous stash of cool photos to work with!

 



 

 This is Sheila - what a delight!  And, she knows her way around a paintbrush!

 

 

And, Sylvia - what a fun lady!  Love her "Eat, Pray, Love" Collage!

 

Thanks for a fun day!

 



Believe That You Are Special!

My newest "Little Girl".  I think I've got one more to make, then I'll get them down to Mount Dora early next month.

Now, I need to take some time to make more bowls!  And read!

Be True To You

I can't believe that I've made four of these "Little Girls" in four days!  But, it's so cool to get started, not knowing exactly what will happen.  They each start speaking to me - and I can't stop till she's done!

Listen To Your Heart

My latest "Little Girl".  A good friend just told me that she "listened to her heart", and she's making some changes that will make her life happier!  I think we could all use this little reminder!

Don't Forget

I made another "Little Girl" today.  So much fun!  Of course, my day is getting away from me.  I try to do so much every day.  My goal always is:  Make a bowl or two, paint something, knit on my daughter's dishcloth collection, and read some chapters in a book!  Then, there's grocery store running, laundry, breakfast and lunch - and let's not forget going on Facebook every so often to play my games - and check out Pinterest!  Whew!  When did I ever have time to work?

Share Your Love

Yesterday, I picked up the book, "Mixed Media Girls" by Suzi Blu.  Love her take on the little girl look!  So, today, I went to the lumber yard, and they cut a bunch of 6" x 12" pieces of wood for me to play with.  This is my first one - and a lot of it is taken from her example.  But, now, I think I can go on and make a series of these cuties - hopefully to sell in Mount Dora!

Fun Class!

Last Friday night, I was supposed to go to Lynne and Kelli's Friday Night Painting Party.  I really wanted to go, since they were painting abstract!  Well, of course, this being summer in Central Florida, about the time I was to drive about 45 minutes on the highway to get there, it started pouring rain and about a zillion lightning/thunder strikes!!  I even lost my internet connection for the rest of the evening. 

Long story short:  I was supposed to go, but couldn't.  So, Carlynne let me come to her regular painting group today and do the lesson!  So excited!!  It was fun, being in a room with other people, all doing their own thing - there was colored pencil, acrylic painting, watercolor painting, and oil painting going on all at once.  This group was how I got my very first start in learning all about painting, and it felt so good to be there!  Hope I can manage to get there again.

Anger Management

This morning I got caught up watching a YouTube video by Peter Dranitsin.  I hope you watch it, if you are interested in Abstract Art.  So, then I decided to try some of his techniques on a canvas that I had really textured with molding paste, but didn't like where it was going paint wise.

I call it "Anger Management" because I got so frustrated with it, I was ready to kick it to the curb, but finally just pronounced it DONE!  Who knows - I just might paint over it again!

PS:  Maybe I like it better this way!

Tissue Paper Painting

During my last collage class, I showed some of the tissue papers that I painted - we even used some of them!  I promised the ladies that I would make a tutorial on how to make these beauties, and I've finally done just that!

So, if anyone out in blogland would like a free copy of this tutorial, just send me an email at nbeaton (at) bellsouth.net, and I'll send it right out to you.  It's a great way to have pretty papers to play with!

Collage Class at She Scrapbooks

 

Today was another Creative Collage Class!  This time it was at She Scrapbooks in The Villages, FL.

And, once again, the students were amazing!  I never get over how creative people are, once you give them the opportunity to show you!  I hope if you click on the photos, you can get a better look at their wonderful collages!

 

 

 

In this photo: Back left to right -  Denise, Ann, Barbara

Front left to right - Melanie, Suzanne, Cathie

 

Terrific job, ladies!

Sisters

I decided to make a little collage in preparation of my upcoming "Creative Collage" class in the Villages on Friday.

I took pictures along the way, and will make a little lesson plan, showing my process and what I was thinking as I did the piece.  That way, I won't have to do a collage while I'm teaching --  those usually don't turn out very well!

The Summer of the Birds!

 

This has been a very strange Summer!  It seems we have been infiltrated with birds!  Several weeks ago, I started hearing little bird noises coming from the fireplace.  Now, they are great big bird noises!  Every time Mom and Dad come into the chimney to feed their little ones, they scream pretty loudly!  Looked them up on the Internet, and they said that when they're at their loudest, they are about 1 week from flying away - hope that's true!  And, no, this isn't a picture of MY birds, just an example of how they live in the chimney.

 

Then, about a couple of weeks ago, I realized that a little bird (now I think it's a wren of some kind) kept flying in and out of my garage.  We keep the garage door up so we can get some light in the kitchen.  So,  one day, I saw her fly out of a pot I store on a shelf above my washing machine.  Low and behold, baby birdies appeared!  Now, we can't put the door down during the day - poor babies might not get their food!

 

 

 And, to top it off, my neighbors asked me to keep an eye on their Tropical Birds that they keep in their back sunroom.  They had to go out of town for three weeks!  At least, these guys are in cages - but that pretty yellow one has a mighty loud screech!  The neighbors come back tomorrow, so then I'll just have to put up with my "houseguests"!

Collage Class

What a great day I had in Mount Dora today!  Here's Lynn - our Hostess and Owner of "Under The Cherry Blossoms".  We were setting up in her brand new classroom!

 

 The ladies in this class were just awesome!  Full of fun and ideas - they all did such great work!  Here's a look at their finished canvases!

 

Clockwise from the left:  Rosie, Nicki, Amber, Toni and Mary

 

 

From the left: Kristin, Leah and Rebecca

 

Thanks for such a fun day, ladies!!

Collage Class Tomorrow!

I'm packing up and getting ready to teach "Creative Collage" class at "Under The Cherry Blossoms" in Mount Dora tomorrow!  It's always such a challenge to figure out just what to take!  There are so many fun things to use in collage - I wish I could take my whole studio!

I'll be doing it again at "She Scrapbooks" in The Villages on Friday, August 16th.  Give them a call at 352-259-6226 if you're interested in signing up!