Baby Boy Layout

   First, I apologize for the lighting. Its been rather dark and dreary outside for the past week. For this layout I used a picture of my firstborn. He will be four in two weeks.
    I followed along on a Prima
Ustream class taught by Finnabair. Her style is unlike any I have ever seen and I am in love with it! It is colorful, crowded and facinating to my eye. You must check her out. I think I am starting to like this layout thing.
Happy Weekend,
Kate

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Birthday Layout

   Recently, my Best Friend celebrated her birthday. In an attempt to make a more personal gift I decided to try my hand at a layout. I am sure many of you are like me and can say there is at least one type of medium that you dislike or are afraid of trying. Mine is layouts. In fact, this is my first one. Perhaps it is all that blank space on the paper that intimidates me. Not only is it intimidating, but I hate wasteing all that space. I am a hoarder and a saver. Every project must have a meaningful purpose.
    To get back to the layout, (because somehow I have digressed) it is mounted to a chipboard background to add strength. The background is Webster’s Pages. For the paints I used gesso and Lindy’s. Embellishments are a mix of all sorts of junk lying around my room.
Happy Wednesday!
Kate

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Romanic ‘Grunge’ Canvas

   I am finally getting around to taking more online classes. It is nice to have a project laid out for you that you don’t have to come up with yourself. This canvas was made using an ustream Prima class. I did not have any of the products used in the class so it was a challenge for me to improvise with items on hand. I am loving the background texture and dripage.

    I made this flower spray by staining and gluing curly gardenia on a floral branch. The large pink flower was made from Webster’s Bloomer trim.

   The embellishments are made from those clear stones (I have no idea what they are called, moonstones maybe?) and clay flowers. I also added some WP sparklers.
     Happy Tuesday,
           Kate

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Adorn Giveaway!

  

     

     My friend, Lynne, over at Adorn is having a giveaway to celebrate her blog anniversary. She has some wonderful prizes so head over there and check her out. Her style is  beautiful and romantic. Her art is a constant inspiration to me. I appreciate her blog and friendship. Please show her your support and become a follower if you like her work.
     I was busy this past week with only one post. I have a lot of half completed projects I am hoping to share with you this coming week.
Later,
Kate
      

  

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‘Romance’ Journal Page

    For this page I broke out my new Graphic 45/Hampton Arts stamps ‘Le Romantique,’ that I recieved for Christmas from my honey. I almost forgot about them but stumbled upon them as I was browsing my stamp storage. I must say they stamp beautifully and clear!
     Of course I had to make the theme romance for this layout. For the rolled paper background I used a technique that I found on Youtube. Christy Tomlinson demonstrates it Here .
      I used various paints, sprays, molding paste, lace and stamps to aquire my background. I am a bit addicted to texture and color at the moment! Can you tell? Thank you for looking. I hope your are enjoying your week.
Kate

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Eclectic Art Banner Class

               

    I took the ‘Eclectic Art Banner Class’ over at Roses On My Table. I learned so many great techniques. At first, I debated taking the class because I knew there where a lot of great YouTube tutorials that are free.  When I looked at the pro’s and con’s I knew if I paid to take a class I would force myself to create and I was right! I am looking forward to taking more classes. If you have any suggestions of classes you have enjoyed I would love it if you would let me know. Just leave a comment. If you have never been to Roses On My Table check it out! Christinia is a great teacher, easy to follow.
    Here are the individual pieces.

                     

                     

    Thank you to all my followers for sticking with me! I appreciate each one of you!
Kate

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Melissa Frances Card

   Hello Everyone! Happy friday. Just a quick share today. I made this card for the 2012 challenge over at the Flourishes blog.
    I love shabby chic but I don’t do it very well, especially when I am limited in colors and layers, as in this challenge. I finally got to break out my ’5th Avenue’ paper from Christmas so that was very exciting. What a beautiful paper line! Well, thats all for today.
Kate

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Steampunk Card

    While I was in the steampunk mood I made this card. The paper is from the DCWV ‘Tradewinds’ collection. The stamps are Artistic Outpost and Stampers Anonymous. The image was a free download but I do not recall the site. I got to try out my new alcohol inks on the metal bookplate. Those inks are so cool. I sense another addiction coming on. Short post today. I am having company for dinner. Off I go to prepare my ‘panko encrusted dijion tilapia.’
    Thank you for coming by.
Kate

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Beautiful Times Journal Page

                

Wow, this week I have been on an awesome creative streak. I have made so many projects (not all complete) incorporating new techniques that I have just learned. I even broke down and took an online mixed media class. I’ll be showing my end result sometime in the next week! It was so relaxing. And fun!!!!
    Today I am sharing a journal page that I started several months ago. This afternoon I started off with another journal page, which is still incomplete, and got bored so I moved onto this one. More than once I have tried to finish this page but to no avail. Today, something clicked. So I ran. I used so many different textures in this layout. The color scheme was mainly burgendy but by adding several other colors I achieved the finished look. I am learning not to be afraid of color. I am surprised at how many different colors look good together.

  

Thank you for stopping in. I appreciate your kindness, support and comments.
Blessings,
Kate

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Steampunk Themed Altered Book

              

Every year I write a list of projects to complete during the year. I add to the list as new ideas come up. An altered book has been on my list for a year now. I recieved the Tim Holtz ‘steampunk’ stamps over Christmas. I love them so much that I went out and bought the steampunk stamps by Artistic Outpost. I decided it would be a great opportunity to try out all my new stamps. I had so much fun I completed this page in an afternoon. Who knew splashing in paint and glue could be so fun!
    Check out the details:
                      

               

    Thank you for looking. I hope you like it.
   Kate

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Steampunk Easel Card

   Can you believe I have never made an easel card? Surprisingly,  are so fun and easy to make. I used a great You Tube tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.
   I made this card especially for Happy Birthday, Tim Holtz over at Grungy Monday.

   The above picture is the card opened up on its easel. How fun! I would like to enter this card in the challenge over at Gingersnap Creations. The theme was to use a stamp set and I used the Steampunk set by TH.  
    Well, here is another new project to check off my list. I love putting checks next to acomplished tasks. Isn’t it such a great feeling? Happy Thursday!
Kate
   

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Mixed Media Grunge Canvas

    I am not much for making a lot of goals for the New Year. I rather make them throughout the year and fulfill them as I go. However, I did make several when it came to my art. I really want to be on a design team and I have come to the conclusion that my art just is not good enough. I don’t say this at all feeling sorry for myself but more as a challenge to myself to do better. I am really excited about all that I can learn.

My main goal throughout the year is to grow the style and technique of my art so that in the future I may qualify for some DT’s.

    On to the project..I started out with these supplies and a few others.

After adding my background paper, stamps, paints and sprays the canvas looked like this.

At this point I chose my photos and embellishments. I used lace, burlap, flowers, diecuts, shells, metal, gears and beads. I placed everything where I wanted it and glued it down with hot glue.

Light molding paste was added to and around the embellishments for texture. Once dry, I started adding color with sprays. This part was fun! Here is the completed canvas.

Some close ups…

   Thank you for viewing my first project of the New Year!

    I would like to enter this in the challenge Simon Says Stamp and Show. The theme is Something Old, Something New. Everything on my canvas is old stuff that has been sitting in my stash for a while. I used all of it to make a new canvas. Well, that it for now.

Kate

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