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Hooray, we've got awesome new art goodies for you! Red Coral, Seahorses, Elephants, Triptychs and Accordion Books (perfect for displaying your ATCs) and more!
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With your order over $30, get this limited edition collage sheet featuring my Summer 2011 Inspiration. (Digital orders will receive this special sheet as a digital download.)
Last week, I made some cool Inchie Earrings with crackle paint. I'm happy to report that the complete class is now up on our website. Hooray! Also, I couldn't resist showing you this: I added one of our new Waffle Windows (inchie size) to the earrings. Love this! I just added a touch of Gilder's Paste to our Waffle Windows and glued it into place. Sweet!
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This week, I decided to whip up some Flying Seahorse Earrings using our Classic Photo Charms (1" with 2 Loops), new Red Seahorses, Small Wings and background images from our new Dress Me Up Doll collage sheet.
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Ta da! Here they are! Check out the new Flying Seahorse Earrings Class on our website for detailed step by step instructions.
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Bruno thought they were totally cool!
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And lookie what I have for you this week!!! Flying Seahorses Gift Packs...5 of them!!! That means 5 chances for you to win! Woohoo! Each pack includes our Dress Me Up Doll collage sheet, Small Wings, Classic Photo Charms and Red Seahorses. Wow!!! I've wrapped them up with festive ARTchix ribbon, they look so pretty!
To enter to win, simply comment on this post and answer this question:
What animal would you like to see ARTchix feature in the future?
Currently, we have cats, birds, butterflies and new seahorses and elephants. What would you like to see next?
See you next week with more fun and creativity! : )
Look what I have for all of you this week! I've made a special seahorse themed faux post sheet featuring some of my artwork that I've made recently with seahorses. Woohoo! Get your free, high resolution digital download by simply emailing blogfreebie@artchixstudio.com.
I hope you enjoy it! You're welcome to use it in your personal artwork, jewelry, journals, etc. Or just hold onto it for a future project...I'm dying to make some Shrinky Dink charms with this sheet. This item is not for resell though.
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Great news! Bruno licked his lips and picked the winner of our Special Blog Giveaway from last week. Congrats #24 Elizabeth!!! I will be mailing you this tin of beautiful treasures.
Last week, I asked if you'd be interested in some fun jewelry ideas. I'm so happy that all 75 of you enthusiastically said, "YES!" I feel like you've given me the green light to jump into making some fun jewelry projects that I've been wanting to turn my attention to for awhile. So, thank you. : )
Today, I thought it would be fun to share these super fun earrings with you...using Ranger Crackle Paint which I've been playing with lots in my paper arts lately. To start, simply give your bottle of crackle paint a good shake and then dab it onto 2 pieces of thin cardboard that are 1" square each. When dry, rub some charcoal into the cracks to bring them to life. (My talented friend, Kathy Cameron, told me about combining charcoal with crackle paint... love it!)
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Next, cut out 2 inchies from our Nature Silhouettes transparency sheet. And glue them to the crackle background with a strong glue that dries clear. I like Crafter's Pick Ultimate, Ranger Glossy Accents or Diamond Glaze. Press down firmly to adhere the pieces together. When dry, adhere them into the Inchie Photo Charms with the same glue. Push down firmly and be sure to have a slightly damp paper towel on hand to wipe away any excess glue.
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Now to add a bit of bling. On the left is a completed earring. And on the right, it shows the supplies I used to make it: ear wires, jump rings (2 so that they will hang correctly), long head pin and pretty bead.
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Ta da! All done and ready to wear! I'll be posting this as a class on our website next week. It'll show each step in more detail.
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Here I am wearing them. I thought it would be nice for you to see me in them so that you can see what they look like on a person. : ) They match with just about everything I own...black, white and pink...always a good thing. Hmm...these would make nice gifts too.
See you next Wednesday or Thursday with another fun jewelry idea. And hopefully, fingers crossed, some beautiful seahorses, coral and more! (We're still waiting to announce our gorgeous new products until our postal strike is over. Thanks for your understanding.)
Oh, I had so much fun doing a little shopping at the Bead & Button show. I couldn't resist arting up an Altoid tin and filling it with some beautiful treasures to share with you.
You can win these treasures by simply leaving a comment here on my blog and answer this question: Would you like to see some fun jewlery ideas here on my blog?
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Here's what you can win: An arted up Altoid tin filled with: ARTchix mini red seahorses (coming soon!), a tiny, vintage tin filled with mini seahorses encased in glass from Chase Designs, a little, vintage tin filled with chili blown glass chili pepper beads from Ancient Moon Beads, "joy" beads from Priscilla Beads, vintage ornament from Sandy Schor & Co, handmade ceramic bead from Earthen Wood Studio, upcycled flowers from Beadin Path, vintage pink lucite flowers from Trinkets by T, little felt balls from Lady Bug Beads and more.
Leave a comment and tell me if you'd like to see some jewelry ideas here on my blog. My kitty might pick you as the winner! Winner to be announced next Thurs.
While I was at the amazing Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, I took a wonderful class on Resin Jewelry from the fabulous Linda Larsen of Objects and Elements. She taught us how to mix Ice Resin and fill photo charms, bezels, frames and molds to make beautiful jewelry. Ice Resin is the perfect way to seal and protect your favorite images and it's so easy to use.
If you're interested in learning how to work with resin, I highly recommend this book: Explore, Create, Resinate by the incredibly talented Jen Cushman. The jewelry pieces in this book are out of this world and the step-by-step photos and instructions are sooo well done and super easy to follow. I LOVE this book!
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While in the class, I made this cool resin piece. Linda Larsen taught us to put packing tape on the back of a frame (this cool little Stage Frame is coming soon to ARTchix), and then add resin, glitter and images (I couldn't resist adding this butterfly). When the resin was dry (approx. 6-10 hours), I applied a touch of Gilders Paste in a lovely color called "Patina" with my just the tip of my finger. I love this look and now I'm dying to carry Gilders Paste in our online shop because it's soo awesome! It's basically like shoe polish in a variety of great colors. For now, you can get it at Objects and Elements.
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Bruno apparently likes Gilders Paste too. lol.
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While at the Bead and Button show, I was so happy to meet the wonderful Diane Hyde of Desinger's Findings in person. She is such a sweetheart! Recently, I designed some beautiful collage sheets (coming soon to her website) to fit her extensive line of metal blanks. She is making the most amazing jewelry with them! Do check her sites out when you can and tell her I said "hi." Be prepared to be blown away by her incredible jewelry!
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On our Facebook Fan Page, I mentioned that I have some wonderful new goodies that I'm dying to show you! BUT due to a postal strike, I'm waiting to post them until I'll actually be able to ship them to you. : )
Gena and Eugenia asked for a sneak peek so here's a little something to tease you with. This is a collection of ATCs that I made with our new seahorses and coral. I am LOVING these new items and can't wait to share them with you! Fingers crossed that I'll be able to share them with you next week. : )
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Not only is Sunday, June 19th, Father's Day....it's also Butterfly Day! So, we're pleased to offer a fantastic selection of our digital Butterfly Sheets at half off! Sale ends June 20th so get 'em while you can! Also, we're including this awesome digital Butterfly collage sheet free with your digital order too! Woohoo!
See you next Thursday with more fun and creativity..and hopefully some beautiful red coral and seahorses too! : )
Mmm....Cake Pops make Art!
I recently bought a cake pop from the local farmer's market. This one's red velvet cake on a stick. Soooo yummy! I enjoyed it with my current favorite tea: Tazo Refresh. After savoring it one tiny bite at a time, I was left with a nice stick....
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Which inspired me to create this fun cupckape topper using our newly redesigned Circus Tents. I painted the tent with acrylic paints and added part of a paper drink umbrella to spice up the top. The elephants (coming soon!) are holding a fun banner made out of our Mini Party Flags collage sheet (back in stock!). Lastly, I used some decorative packing tape to affix the tent to the cake pop stick. Voila! Mmmm....how I love upcycling. : )
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Uh oh, Bruno has his eye on the cupcake...or is it the cupcake topper that he really wants? lol.
I'm heading off to the Bead and Button show tomorrow morning. I'll be back next week with a bit of Bead and Button show & tell! Have a great, art-filled week! : )
Greetings!
The current art challenge is BLUE...which has got me seeing blue everywhere I look. Yesterday, I went around my house and pulled together a few of my treasured blue items...
From my grandmother's blue and white cachepot to the pretty glass heart I purchased years ago in Spain....I just love my blue treasures. Do you have some lovingly displayed blue treasures in your house? Why not take a photo and share it with us on your blog or Facebook?
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With all of this focus on blue, for today's Weekly Dose of Cuteness, I couldn't resist sharing this pic of my adorable kitty Bruno with his spectacular BLUE eyes.
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I must admit that I'm feeling blue today. It's possible that our postal system may go on strike tomorrow which would not be good for ARTchix. I recently stumbled across this vintage sheet music..."Who wouldn't be blue?" My sentiments exactly.
I will see you next Tuesday, June 7, for a bit of fun and creativity before I take off to the Bead and Button show! : )
