A Birdhouse for Grandma…

Welcome! The tea-pot is on, so stay awhile.

Sorry but I did not realize how long it has been since my last write-up. The last few months have been busy but not very creative.

Just before Christmas, our 6-year-old neighbor asked Jim to help him make a birdhouse for his Grandma. So, Jim decided upon something more on a simplistic design.  Then a few weeks ago, “Grandma” asked that I paint something on it so she could use it on her patio.

Again, wanting to keep the “art-work” more on a youthful nature, I started trying to think of something fun. For several days (weeks) I have been pondering this challenge. I have not painted in years!

My sister-in-law was visiting and I mentioned the birdhouse project. She through out several unique projects but I just could not wrap my mind around some of them. Last night she called and said “Q-tips!”

Well, that got this old mind going. I had not done anything using Q-tips in over 25 years. One of our daughters has my first Q-tip project in her home so she sent a few pictures over to refresh my memory. So grateful for the internet.

Well, here we go. I double-loaded a rake brush for the greenery using Thicket and Italian Sage enamel acrylic paints by FolkArt. When comfortable with the greenery, I then puddled FolkArt’s School Bus Yellow, Berry Wine and White Pearl on my palette. Jim helped me bunch a few Q-tips together, and proceeded to apply the very random “flowers.” It was just too much fun.

Now that that is complete, I was just thinking of doing this technique as a background but with softer, pastel colors, maybe for a few cards.

Huuummmm...

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed this very simple and brief technique description.

Till next time.

May God Bless You and Yours.

The Great Acrylic Experiment…

Hello there – hope you are having a most wonderful day. I have something a whole lot different than my normal to share with you today…My Great Experiment.

If you watch YouTube, you have probably seen numerous artists doing something called Dipping, and some call it Dumping or Pouring. Of course, they are mostly using a larger canvas and their results are breath-taking. One lady used a drizzle technique with probable a dozen colors or more creating an excitingly breathtaking freeform design, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eseuXyNUfs from McE Art. The artist is Michelle Edhouse is based in Rotorua New Zealand).

Well, that video was so inspiring that I decided to give it a go. I did try this on paper first and was somewhat surprised and impressed with my results. So, I continued.  This time with just a few pieces of scrap White Foamiran. (Thus my small flower.)

For this experiment, I puddled Liquitex Fluid Medium onto a glass work surface. This medium has a long drying time. Then using watercolor mixing cups, I poured a small amount of the medium. To the first cup, I added a few drops of one color of an Acrylic Enamel craft paint, then spritzed a little water on top, stirred till well blended. Do the same for a second color. The color should be thin and runny.

From these mixtures, use a pallet knife to dip into your first color mixture and add a few droplets to the center of first Fluid Medium puddle on your work surface.  Do the same with the second color but do not overlap the first color.

Because this was an experiment, I used scrap pieces of foam. Lay the foam onto the puddle and gently pressed down. This spreads the color. When I lifted the foam, I was pleased to see that the color did not absorb all the way though. I lightly patted the excess color with a paper towel.

Then I took a second scrap piece and laid it on top of the painted piece to sandwich the color. At that point I selected a flower petal die and cut the foam. When I pulled the pieces apart, the color transferred to the second piece but, like the first piece, the color did not go through. Again, I patted the excess moisture and let the petals dry.

Next, I used my iron to heat the pieces and scrunched mostly the outer edges. Hot glued the petals per usual and assemble.

There is a different, somewhat like shaved velvet feeling to the Foamiran. Seems to be holding its shape. Maybe I will do this technique to a larger flower with more fullness.

Have you ever tried something like this? If so, want to share?

Thank you for stopping in.

Till next time…May God Bless You anf Yours

When Birthdays are Close…

Hello there. So pleased that you stopped by today. The tea pot is steaming so, please, pour a cup and stay awhile.

Jim and I have been blessed with two daughters. Their birthdays are just 6 days apart. Watching them grow into the exceptional ladies they are today was such a joy. We are proud of them both.

For the last few months, I have watched Facebook and personal blogs of talented Silk Foam flower artists. Their results have been so impressive. So naturally, I had to try for myself. Technique is slightly different yet still exciting. Pictured here are my first 2 Silk Foam Flowers.

I still have a lot to learn with both Foamiran and Silk Foam (guess we never really stop learning) however, I am eager to pursue this avenue.

During the next few months, I hope to show some of the different results of creating paper flowers and foam flowers cut from the same dies. Hope you will check back then.

Thank you for the visit today.

May God continue to watch over you.

A Golfer’s Birthday…

Oh, I’m so happy that you stopped by. The coffee pot is on, so please, stay awhile.

We have been blessed with a wonderful son-in-law. His warm-weather passion is Golf. From what we understand, he has a great “swing” and does well on his outings. For his birthday, this week, I have tried to create yet another card with a golf theme.

This year’s card was fun and a little of a challenge. I wanted to show a “green” but my husband suggested that I also show some sand. Talking with friends who often use glitter paper, I was worried about the sand dulling my cutting blades. So, I took a sheet of light brown card stock added a sheet of double-sided adhesive to it and cut it to my desired size. Then, the fun part, I poured silica sand over the glue.

For the “green,” since using scissors is difficult for me, Jim cut an abstract form out of adhesive-backed green felt and we applied that to the sand. Then I found the adorable Jolee’s Golf Embellishments to attach to the “green.”

Pictured here are two of the cards from the past few years.

Hope you are having a fantastic and creative week. Please stop by again.

May God Bless You and Yours…