My ARTistic Life

An Altered Book Collage for You

Look what I have for you this week! I'm going to be teaching an altered book class next month so I've been playing in books lately. Sooo much fun! This page spread is devoted to wishing ARTchix Studio a happy 10th birthday next month.

I recently read the new copy of Stampington's Take Ten. They have a feature called Masterboard. Have you seen it? An artist makes a collage, copies it and then adds pieces of it to cards, tags and other projects. Such a great idea!

Want to make something with my collage? Download a copy and make something with any part of it.  Post your creation to your blog or website (and leave a comment with a link to it) or email it to me by next Tues, Nov. 1. Participants will get a $10 gift certificate to ARTchix. Woohoo!

Get your free, high resolution digital download by simply emailing blogfreebie@artchixstudio.com.

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Here's how I made my altered book collages:

First, I rubber stamped the number 10 onto 2 pages in my altered book. I highlighted 2 words that stood out to me with a yellow watercolor crayon: elevate vision.

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Next, I started digging through my drawer of scrap papers. I pulled out some random paper bits that spoke to me...and started cutting them up and placing them on my altered book pages.

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Next, I moved the paper images to the side and painted a layer of white gesso in vertical and horizontal stokes. I was sure to leave some areas without any gesso.

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I pulled out some watercolor crayons in colors that matched my images.

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Then I scribbled the watercolor crayons onto the page, blended them with a damp watercolor brush and then wiped some of the color away with a paper towel.

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When the background was dry, I glued my images into place using a UHU gluestick. Bruno watched as I added the paper "Bruno" into my collage. So cute.

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And here's just a close up of the ARTchix muse with her compass and Eco Chunky Heart. Once the images were all glued into place, I added some final touches with watercolor crayons and Sharpie marker.

Can't wait to see what you make with my collage! : )

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Wishing you a very Happy Halloween!!! This  collage was made by Dianna Rapp (my aunt). Isn't it adorable?

See you next Thursday with a delightful collection of new goodies! : )

 

Jewelry Inspiration from My Mom & Aunt and Winners

Last week, I asked you for ideas on how you'd like to use our new Wood House Pendants and Ornaments. Wowza, you blew me away with your fantastic ideas!!! I said I'd pick 3 winners but I picked 10!! And believe me, it was hard to narrow it down to 10.

Here are the winners:

Lelainia
Idea: showcase favorite pics from online photography classes

Suzie
Idea: create a sweet Christmas village all dressed for the holidays

Kim Sirak
Idea: make mini christmas collages, add snow to the rooftops and give them as little gifts or special gift tags

Sandy Alsfasser
Idea: place holders for my Thanksgiving table that my guests could take home with them - would use snippets of photos that would be personal for each guest

Carole Kurth
Idea: mini-quilt with four types of fabrics in each window and with lace embellishment on the outside

Sallie Rodman
http://salliesartjourney.blogspot.com/
Idea: make a banner of pictures of my husband who passed away last Christmas to hang this year on our tree

Susan G
Idea: make an awesome advent calendar all mounted on a canvas

Lisa M
Idea: add them to the cover of an art journal

Shelly Kane
Idea: make a necklace with special family photos my grandmother

Cindi
Idea: a year round ornament/wall-hanging for my dad with photos of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren

A big round of applause for all of your great ideas! I hope you'll email me photos of what you create. For now, can you please email me with your mailing address? : )

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Recently, my Mom (Karen Strauss) and aunt (Dianna Rapp) had a fun girls art day together. My aunt wanted to make some gifts for friends but she loved everything so much that she had to keep a few for herself. lol. Here is a lovely owl necklace that they made with Large Baroque Photo Charm, Birds & Branches collage sheet and Large Oval Acrylic Bubble.

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Here is another cute necklace that they made with Large Baroque Photo Charm, Birds & Branches collage sheet and Large Oval Acrylic Bubble. Note: they said that they used Beacon's 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue: Crystal Clear, Instant Grab, Fast Dry Glue (purchased at Michaels Craft Store) to attach the acrylic bubbles. They said it was similar to E6000 but lighter. Hmmm...I think I'll need to get some of this glue. : )

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Super cute earrings to match! These are made with Medium Dot Oval Photo Charms (should be back in stock any day now), Birds & Branches collage sheet and Medium Oval Acrylic Bubble. The yellow discs are actually vintage czech buttons. Love!

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Love these happy earrings! These are also made with Medium Dot Oval Photo Charms, Birds & Branches collage sheet and Medium Oval Acrylic Bubble.

Thanks for sharing these with us, Mom and Aunt DeeDee! : )

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Next month, ARTchix Studio is turning 10! Can you believe it?! I'm so proud, excited and over the moon! Thank you for supporting me to do what I love for 10 whole years. I have a favor to ask of you. Right now, I'm focused on designing some fantastic new products and planning out some special handmade gifts that I want to make for our 10 year birthday.

You all have such excellent ideas. Can you please help me with some ideas on ways we can celebrate together? Perhaps ideas that play off the number 10? An online party of some sort? Are there party games you can play online? Help! lol.

Please leave a comment with your ideas on how we can all celebrate together. Really appreciate it. : )

 

New Digi Freebie, Ornaments and Lovely Gena

Look at the new digi freebie I've made for you! Last week, I asked what you'd like to see on our next sheet. Guess what? I did my best to get most of your requests on this one awesome sheet: witches for Marion, red riding hood for Char-D, feathers for Lenna, a peacock feather for Janet, kitties for Lisa, a vintage pumpkin for Gena, a heart with leaves for Carole, Theda Bara as a witch (boo-tiful glamour girl) for Sandy, leaves for Linda, children dressed up for Halloween (see the cute witches) for Shelley, a touch of red and green for Peg, a frog for Sid, a raven for Anna...woohoo! Even more good news, all of you will get a $5 gift certificate to ARTchix!

Get your free, high resolution digital download by simply emailing blogfreebie@artchixstudio.com.

Enjoy! : ) You're welcome to use them in your personal artwork, jewelry, journals, etc. Or hold onto them for a future project. This item is not for resell though.

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Introducing the lovely Gena Boone-Curtis and her adorable doggie, Junie. Just look at Gena's amazing art in her studio...so colorful and happy! She recently told me that she rarely makes art in her studio...she usually drags her supplies into her living room so that she can be with her hubby and kids while she's creating. Great idea!

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Gena has been making some awesome jewelry and ornaments with our new Wood Jewelry Line. I asked her to tell us how she made them.

For this necklace, first, trace Medium Wood House onto thin, sturdy cardboard or heavy watercolor paper, make sure you trace the inner windows too.  Cut out and find images you like to fit into the window spaces (cut slightly larger) glue onto template. (Or another option would be to trace the windows onto a Medium Wood House Tag/Back.)

Next, paint your Medium Wood House with white gesso and sand.  Paint a layer of black paint over entire house and let dry.  Lightly sand to expose some of the white underneath.  Add crackle paint here and there...when dry rub a charcoal pencil over the crackle paint to enhance.

Lastly, glue your house template to your Medium Wood House.  Add a ribbon flourish, jump ring and chain.

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For this necklace, first, trace Medium Wood House onto thin, sturdy cardboard or heavy watercolor paper, make sure you trace the inner windows too.  Cut out and find images you like to fit into the window spaces (cut slightly larger) glue onto template. (Or another option would be to trace the windows onto a Medium Wood House Tag/Back.)

Next, find a piece of vintage paper (thin is better) and glue over your Medium Wood House being careful not to get glue on top of your paper.  Let dry and then push the paper through the windows and trim all of you edges.  You can use scissors or sandpaper.

Paint your house using light washes of watercolors, watercolor crayons or watered down acrylic paint.  I painted my edges black.

Lastly, glue your house template with the pics onto your Medium Wood House.  Add a little splatter paint, a jump ring and chain.

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For this ornament, make a mini-collage on the XL Wood House Tag.  Cover with matte medium.

Paint your edges of the XL Wood House Tag and the XL Wood House Frame black.  Let dry.

Cover your XL Wood House Frame with white glue, then loosely place a piece of gauze over the top  and let it drape over the edges.  Press the gauze lightly into the glue making sure to cover your edges.  Let dry. Snip away excess gauze as you see fit.

Glue your XL Wood House Frame to your XL Wood House Tag.  Let dry. Paint entire piece with watered down black acrylic paint....dabbing away excess paint.  Let dry. Sponge on metallic paint.  Add a jump ring, ribbon bow and hook to make an ornament.

Thanks for sharing all of this with us, Gena! : )

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I couldn't resist making some quick and easy ornaments with our new Wood Jewelry line too. Check out my new class. I'm just dying to put a Christmas spin on these ornaments!

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What would you like to make with our new Wood Ornaments?

Leave a comment with your idea.

Three of you will win a Wood Ornament Pack that will include 3 wood ornaments (fronts and backs) and our new transparency that's sized to fit.

 

Sweet & Stylish 10 Minute Handmade Gift

Hey chixies, hope you're having a great week! : ) I must confess that I have been the queen of last minute gifts lately. I had just 10 minutes to pull together a special gift for my friend, Krista, this weekend. So, I made her these stylish earrings using our new Dark Cherry Wood Tags, 1 Hole and Feather Charms.
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I had to find a nice way to display them. Luckily, I had this pretty Watercolor Shrine on hand that I had rubberstamped and painted with Golden's Fluid Acrylics.

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I sewed the earrings onto the shrine and wrote a nice note with a white gel pen.

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Inca acted all coy while Bruno leaned in for a kiss. Aww, how my kitties keep me entertained while I'm arting. : )

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Only a few minutes before we need to head out the door. I add a Mini Eco Chunky Heart that I had painted with lime green to jazz it up. No time for giftwrap so I wrap it up in tissue paper and into a brown bag it goes.

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I add a big "K" for Krista and staple it up and it's ready to go. Phew!

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And here is lovely Krista wearing her new earrings, so cute!!

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I must say that I'm loving our Dark Cherry Wood Labels. They're so chic and elegant and made from sustainable birch. I used the 1 hole to make the earrings for Krista. And then here I used the 2 Hole Labels to dangle Green Leaves...these are aching to be a new pretty pair of earrings. And for the 3 Hole Labels, they'd be awesome as necklace pendants. Learn how easy it is to make these in my new Owl Charms Class.

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Speaking of charms, I whipped up a fresh batch of dazzling charms for you! Order today and spend at least $30 and receive one of these gorgeous charms. I'm including 1 for every $50 that you spend with us. How cool is that?

Hope you have a wonderful, charming week! See you next week with more creative fun and a new digi freebie.

What would you like to see for our next Free Digital Download?

Leave a comment with your idea and if I pick your idea, I'll give you a $20 gift certificate to ARTchix. : )