My ARTistic Life

New Art Challenge & New Specials!

Art Challenge of the Week: Just Add Turquoise!

For this week, add the color turquoise to your artwork. After enjoying the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean Ocean, I'm obsessed with this color and can't wait to dig out my turquoise paints and pens.

When I got home from my trip, this fabulous decorated envy from the talented Gena Boone-Curtis was waiting for me. Isn't it cool??!!

How to play in this art challenge: Make a piece of art (any size or shape) using the color turquoise as your main color. Then scan and post it to your blog, flickr account or website. Next, click on "comment" at the bottom of this post and leave a note with a link to your art challenge post so I know where to see it online. In addition, please link back to my blog. 

If you don't have a website or blog or anything, please post your artwork for this challenge to our YahooGroup: Photos: Helga's Blog: Weekly Art Challenge.

Deadline: Tuesday morning, August 4, 2009.

Prize: My favorite will receive a goodie bag filled with our gorgeous Turquoise Scrap.

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ARTchix Special of the Week: Her Words Collage Sheets

I just love these sheets! The phrases are so fun and uplifting! Get these 2 fabulous sheets at half price for this week only! Go to this special link to purchase them.

If you get one or both of these sheets, you'll also automatically receive this fun bonus gift:

ARTchix Bonus Gift of the Week: Cool Inchie Stickers!

I added fun words from the Her Words sheets above to some of the cool photos from my trip and turned them into these fabulous little stickers for you! I just love them! They're so bright and colorful! Add them to your art journals, envies and more! Get them by ordering our special above or by simply typing "SPOIL ME" in the comments section of your order and we'll be sure to tuck them into your order.

Cuteness + Vacay Pics!

Weekly Dose of Cuteness: Bruno Is Happy We're Home!

Bruno was so happy when we got home from our trip! It wasn't long before he stretched out on the couch for some supreme relaxation.

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Vacation Pics!

We had such an amazing time in the Bahamas. The colors of the island filled me with such joy and pleasure. I can't wait to play in my studio! Here's a few snapshots:

James and I. Gorgeous green coconuts. Harry the Heron. And the path to the beach. Look at all of the glorious shades of bright green, so beautiful!!

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Some gorgeous shots of the ocean. Love the bright yellow coral ball! And on the top right, you can see some of the fun beach treasures I collected on this trip: coral heart rock, little urchin, sand dollars, shells and amazing seaweed. What a heavenly place!

Greetings from the Bahamas!

Greetings from the Bahamas!

Cheers!!! I'm on vacation in the beautiful Bahamas and having an incredible time! I'm just in love with all of the bright colors everywhere. Let me show you some of the gorgeous things that have caught my eye...

The gorgeous turqouise waters...and my honey!
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Adorable birdies along the shoreline.
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Beautiful blooming hibiscus!
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Isn't this amazing?!!
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Weekly Dose of Cuteness: Sweetie!

I fell in love with this wild dog. She followed me everywhere for a day and I was on cloud 9. She's such a sweetheart...which is why I named her Sweetie. That night, I talked to my parents on the phone and told them all about her. We agreed that I would to take her to the vet and get her all taken care of and she'd have a new home with them but when I got up the next day, she was gone. I'm so sad but am still holding out hope that she will come back.
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ARTchix Special (July 15 - 29): Our Mermaidens Collage Sheet


As you can see, I'm feeling mighty beachy these days. So, I thought this collage sheet was perfect to put on special for you! Get it for the next 2 weeks at half price! Go to this special link to purchase it: http://www.artchixstudio.com/mall/xblog.asp

Keep in mind that if you order this special collage sheet....you'll also get:

ARTchix Bonus Gift (July 15-29): An Ocean-Themed Goodie Bag!

Happy, happy, joy, joy! Get this awesome fun-packed goodie bag by ordering our special above or by simply typing "SPOIL ME" in the comments section of your order when ordering online.

I will see you next time on Wed, July 29, when I'll be back with a new art challenge, new specials and lots more inspiration! Hope you're having a wonderful Summer!

Going on a Trip + ARTchix Specials

Turquoise waters, here I come!

Today I'm flying to the Bahamas! Lucky me, my parents live there so we're doing a house swap. They're staying here while we stay at their place. James and I are going to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary! How exciting! I'm so looking forward to relaxing with my honey, playing in my mom's art studio, looking for beach treasures, swimming, reading books and more.

So, for this week, there's no art challenge. But I will be back next week when I'm in the Bahamas to share some of the fun I'm up to.
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ARTchix Special of the Week: "Bright Eyes" ATC Kit
(continues for another week, yay!)

Great news! You have another week to snap up this awesome special kit at half price. Here are 2 fun ATCs that I made using the products in our special kit. So fun!
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ARTchix Bonus Gift of the Week: Cool Stickers + Button!
(continues for another week, yay!)

Jackie McColl made this awesome ATC using the stickers and button in our bonus gift for this week! Cool! Get this bonus gift by simply placing a $25 order or more (before shipping) this week. Offer good only while supplies last so get 'em while you can.

Cuteness, Inspired by Gail Kohl & Winners!

Weekly Does of Cuteness: MoMo Gets Busted!

What a little rascal MoMo is! Recently, I caught her drinking out of my water glass! And look at her face afterwards, "What me? I didn't do anything."
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Inspired by Gail Kohl

Recently, I received some beautiful artwork in the mail from Gail Kohl. Gail, if you're out there, please email me. The email address I have for you doesn't work.

She sent me:

This beautifully decorated envelope! I love it! Look at how she cut the butterfly out of the Papillon Post and then included the remaining cut out separately. So clever! I also love seeing the eggs stamp from the Feather Your Next Post behind the handsome gents head...looks excellent!

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What a fun collage! Love how Gail played with our Party Hats in this piece! It's got me itchin' to play around with this idea with More Party Hats!
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Another fabulous collage from Gail! I love how she combined rubber stamps with our Seaside Faux Post. Looks so elegant!
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Winners from our Last Weekly Art Challenge: Play with Pink and Blue!

Wow, this was a popular one. I received lots of gorgeous pink and blue entries for this challenge. It was way too hard to pick one winner, so I picked 4! Here they are:

BECKY BENIGHT! What a bright and cheery collage! And I spy lots of cool ARTchix images: Art Fairies, Black Baroque Borders, My Art Challenges, Pink Dot Borders, Garden Collection and more!

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GENA BOONE-CURTIS! Wow, love how Gena used the black and white polka dot strips from the Chixies Art Flourishes Stickers! It's like they're radiating from the Seaside Cutie. Wow, great idea!
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LENNA ANDREWS! Love these twinchies and their uplifting phrases! I spy lots of ARTchix too: Pretty Bird, Her Words, Imagine and more.
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SHANNON SAWYER! This is just breathtaking! The Victorian Roses make a lovely frame around the central image. And the words from Tell Me Another Story are so perfect for this.

Congratulations chixies! You all win the new Chixies Art Blast Collection! Way to go! It will go in the mail to you ASAP. : )

New Art Challenge & New Specials!

Art Challenge of the Week: Play with Pink and Blue!

I made these fun ATCs for our recent Art Blast swap (inspired by our Art Blast Playing Cards). You can find them in the new Chixies Art Blast Collection. And you can also get them in our new bonus gift that's being offered for the next 2 weeks only.

To make them, I simply cut out ARTchix images (the ones that are available in our special kit) and glued them down to our ATC blanks with a glue stick. Lastly, I added a few rub-ons and defined my edges with watercolor crayon. These were so much fun to make and they came togther really quickly! Now I've decided that I'm in love with pink and blue! I can't wait to play with this color combination some more!

How to play in this art challenge: Make a piece of art (any size or shape) and play with pink and blue. Then scan and post it to your blog, flickr account or website. Next, click on "comment" at the bottom of this post and leave a note with a link to your art challenge post so I know where to see it online. In addition, please link back to my blog. 

If you don't have a website or blog or anything, please post your artwork for this challenge to our YahooGroup: Photos: Helga's Blog: Weekly Art Challenge.

Deadline: Tuesday morning, July 7, 2009.

Prize: My favorite will receive the new Chixies Art Blast Collection. I will announce the winner on Wed, July 8.

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ARTchix Special: "Bright Eyes" ATC Kit

These are the fabulous products that I used to make my ATCs above. I've put them all together for you so that you can enjoy making some fun, colorful ATCs too! Get them all bundled up for a special discounted price for the next 2 weeks only.

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ARTchix Bonus Gift: Colorful Stickers + Cool Button!

Prepare to be spoiled!!! If your ARTchix order is over $25 (before shipping), we will tuck in this super bonus gift! You'll receive colorful faux postage stickers featuring art by Helga, 2 "I love ARTchix stickers" by our talented featured artist: Sanna Burgess, AND a cool button that says "glamour girl."

Offer good only while supplies last so order today! : )

Cuteness, Winners, New Goodies & New Swap

Weekly Dose of Cuteness: Cute Couple!

A big congratulations to my adorable little brother, Peter, and his beautiful bride, Jen! They got married last weekend...it was a fabulous wedding! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness together! And great news, now I have a sister!!! : )
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New goodies, yay!

Introducing the new Chixies Art Blast Collection:

Treat yourself to this phenomenal collection of gorgeous art by our dear chixies! You'll find 2 sticker sheets...perfect for arting up your cards, envies and journal pages...plus, 1 cardstock sheet of ATCs...instant tags!...AND 1 paper sheet with various sizes for all of your mixed media projects.

See our website for lots of fun, new goodies and inspiration!
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New Swap: "Royal Bird" ATCs!

Join me in making fun ATCs with birds and crowns for our new swap! We have lots of brilliant, new sheets for this swap: Royal Inchie Birds, Royal ATC Birds, Bird on a Wire and more! Deadline is mid October. This is going to be a fabulous swap that you won't want to miss!
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Art Challenge Winners from Last Week: Art Up an Uplifting Quote!

We had lots of wonderful entries for this inspiring art challenge. I couldn't possibly pick just one winner....so I picked 4! Here they are....

You may remember that I picked Cheryl Carraway last week. I just love this piece and her quote "Renew Your Passions Daily" is so inspiring!
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Bonnie Ashurst! I love this colorful collage! And her quote from Moms around the world: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." It's excellent! And wowza, do I ever spy tons of great ARTchix items in this piece: ATC Inspirations, My Art Challenges, Handmade with Love, Buttons, Purple Baroque Borders, Turquoise Stars, Pink Flowers, and Inchie Love...just to name a few. : )
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Linda Kunsman! I love this quote and the clever way she transformed the butterfly into a kite. So cute! I spy Irridescent White Baroque Borders along the edges too. : )

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Lisa Robinson! Wow, I love this quote: "All that you love becomes a part of you." And I LOVE ARTchix! It really touched me to see so many cool ARTchix images incorporated into this piece. I spy Pretty Bird, Flying Inchies, Heart and Soul, Spoil Me, Chixies Crowns....just to name a few.
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So, what did these fabulous artists win???

A fabulous goodie bag filled with samples of some of our new products: Chixies Art Blast Collection, Royal ATC Birds, Royal Inchie Birds, Beachy Paper Dolls, More Wonderful Wings, More Party Hats and even more..... : )

Thanks so much for playing! Hope to see you in my art challenge that's due next week: Play with Pink and Blue!
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Happy Days!!!

As you may know, I'm an American living in beautiful Canada. This means I get to celebrate 2 holidays this week: Canada Day and 4th of July! Hooray! Wishing you all great days celebrating with your families and friends!