Aileen's Musings

Painted Backgrounds

2013-04-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

I created some backgrounds this weekends with my

Art Menagerie group. They're still a work in progress.

Next month we'll be turning these into flag books

like this one HERE

Spring Has Sprung

2013-04-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

My yard has never looked so bloomin'

beautiful as it does this year! I'm so

loving it!

New Additions

2013-04-02T08:54:00.002-07:00

Meet our newest addition to the family

Jake Allen Hicks

3-28-2013

8 lbs 1 oz

21 in

Mr Kevin is thrilled to have his new brother

home with him :-)

While I was watching Mr Kevin, I gave him his first

haircut. He did such a great job sitting still for me.

Easter Bunny

2013-03-23T17:47:00.000-07:00

I created this Easter card by hand drawing the

bunny and the egg. I first sprayed some white

cardstock with Brite Lights Color Mists

then drew an egg shape and cut it out.

I used gel pens and glitter to decorate

the egg.

Celestial Art

2013-03-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another new celestial chunky 6"x6"

canvas I finished and...

one of my favorite pieces

I've done...Mr Moon Man!

both pieces can be found

on in my Etsy Shop

AR Designs

Edible Easter!

2013-03-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

If your looking for something fun to make

for Easter this year check out some past

edible projects of mine.

Chocolate Covered Peeps!

Click HERE

Easter egg Cake pops and basket cake

Click HERE

Collaborative Canvases

2013-03-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

This past month our local art group met up and

we did collaborative canvases together.

Above is my canvas after everyone worked on it.

I had added scrapbook paper on the left bottom

corner and then added paint and stamped into it

while still wet. I also added some pieces of

old sewing patterns then passed it on.

Here it is as of yesterday after I did some shading

with an oil pastel. I then added a few more

details along with some metallic silver paint

swiped over the high points on the canvas.

Click HERE to see some

of the other canvases.

New Art-Dreamer

2013-03-07T12:07:00.002-08:00

I finished a new piece of art and

have it posted in my shop

on Etsy, stop by and

take a peek.

Glitteratti Easter Card

2013-03-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, each time I bought ink for my printer, I would get a free pack of photo paper. I have an abundance now and every so often (I don't use it to print my pictures on) I like to pull it out and use it to make postcards.

The photo paper takes the Color Mists really well even though they're watercolors. *Because the paper has a coating you do need to be careful that you don't touch the paper until its all the way dry. I use the heat gun to help speed up the drying process but you have to be careful that you keep the heat gun moving so the paper doesn't bubble

Supplies Used

Glossy Photo paper

Color Mists

Tulip Fashion Glitters

Laminate Glue (Diamond Glaze, Crystal Lacquer, Beacon Laminate)

Heat Gun

Scissors
Decorative Paper

Xyron Adhesive

Sharpie Markers

Gel Pens

Wax Paper or Teflon Mat

Step 1: Spritz the photo paper with Color Mists. Careful not to over saturate.

Step 2: While the paper is still wet sprinkle with various colors of glitter.

Step 2: Continued

Step 3: Dry the card using a heat gun, making sure that you keep it moving so the coating on the paper doesn't bubble up.

Step 4: pour a liberal amount of lamanent adhesive over the card.

*Once dry add one or two more layers until smooth.

Step 5: Spread the adhesive evenly across the card and allow it to dry in a level area (I use wax paper or a teflon pad to dry it on)

Step 5: Trim away any excess that has hardened along the edges.

Step 6: Once dry add your message using Sharpie, Pitt or paint pens.

Step 7: Use gel pens to add highlights.

Step 8: For this step I prefer to use my Xryon to run my card through to add an even adhesive on the back. If you don't have a Xyron machine you can use two way sticky sheets (a dry adhesive works better then wet adhesive).

Step 9: Add decorative paper onto the back of your postcard and leave a space for the mailing address, return address and stamps. *I mailed my postcard as is without putting it into an envelop and it arrived no problem.

I wish the pictures could truly show you just how sparkly they truly are!

Help Needed

2013-03-03T17:52:00.001-08:00

Traci Bunkers, has recently been diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst on her brain which is pressing on her left eye - if it grows, it could damage her eye.

Because this is a rare brain cyst, she is currently undergoing many medical tests, doctors visits, and seeking out specialists who are familiar with this type of cyst. The only treatment for this is brain surgery, which would likely need to be repeated several times in the future.

The good news - these treatments should help alleviate her life-long battle with sleep deprivation and migranes that traditional, prescription medications have been unable to curb - and significantly improve her quality of life and overall well-being :)

Traci is an amazing, hard-working artist who has held her own for years. Of course, as an artist in Kansas, she's not living the high life but she has made quite a career sharing/teaching/writing/making her art. If you'd like to read more about Traci, her art or her battle with this condition you can check out her blog at;

https://www.tracibunkers.com/blog/home

I hope you will help Traci with medical bills, utilities and living expenses in this time of need - it is a great opportunity to build up your karma and help out a fellow artist, Kansan and all around great human being!

Click HERE to donate

Every little bit adds up.

Blissful Birds

2013-02-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to share my Blissful Birds Series that I finished!

Love Song

2013-02-14T17:34:00.000-08:00

LOVE SONG

I finished this piece I previously posted about

(click HERE to see my post) the day before

Valentine's Day.

Playtime

2013-02-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

PLAY

Here's a new mixed media piece I finished.
12"x12" Canvas-Paper, Color Mists & Acrylics

Hope Flags Carry 'Bits of Love to Newton

2013-02-07T01:00:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to say that the prayer flags I created,

along with so many other artists across the

country for the The Hope Flag project are

now on display in the Sandy Hook Library

in Newton, CT.

Click HERE to read the nice article

Click HERE to view the flags I created.

Paint Brush Swap

2013-02-06T08:29:00.001-08:00

I previously posted about

an altered paint brush swap

I'm participating in you

can read the post HERE

Here is my other paint brush

I altered using the Brite Lights

Color Mists set and paint pens.

I can't wait to see what

I get in return :-)

Here's the brush I previously posted
with the tag I made from a paint
chip sample.

What's on my work space...

2013-02-01T15:05:00.001-08:00

a Valentine inspired piece.

Torn music note and script paper background.

The heart stamp came from just bending an empty

toilet paper tube-pretty easy and cool!

A little Punchinella stamped with red paint along

with a florish stamp was added also.

Its still a work in progress so stay tuned...
Click HERE to see it finished.

Non Traditional Valentines

2013-01-27T11:15:00.000-08:00

I previously posted (click HERE to view post) pictures of some of my deli paper backgrounds I made. I'm often asked (not sure why) what I do with the backgrounds, so I thought I'd show you just one of many ways I use them. Some other ways are in journals, on canvases, wood ATBs, and as wrapping paper the possibilities are endless!

(Click Pictures to enlarge)

Here is the deli paper background I started with. It measures 11"x 11"	I folded it as small as I could to fit the heart shape die I was going to use.
Here you can see the Spellbinder heart die I used with my Sizzix BigKick. FYI: You do not need a die cut machine just free hand cut or use a cookie cutter and trace around the shape you want.	I can't remember for sure, but I believe I counted 16 hearts I cut out of this one piece of deli paper just by folding it.
I wrote on the paint chip with a plain white gel pen. For my base I used a Valspar color paint chip sample from Lowes. This particular brand is the only one I've come across that is this large.	I hit the gel pen with my heat gun just to make sure it was dry then I adhered my two deli paper hearts with some semi gloss gel medium. You can use what suits you. I prefer matte or semi gloss over gloss just because I don't like how the gloss makes things stick to it.
On another card I stamped some white gesso with a rubber and foam stamp both.	Once the gesso was dry I spritz it with some of my Color Mists and dried it again with the heat gun. I then adhered the hearts and wording to the card.
Finished Postcard 1.Here you can see that I added some edging around the hearts with black Pitt pen and the white gel pen.	Finished Postcard 2.
Finished Postcard 3.	Finished Postcard 4.

Background Bonanza

2013-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

I had fun playing the other day

creating backgrounds using

Deli Paper

Color Mists

White & Black Gesso

Foam & Rubber Stamps

Click HERE for a link to some

other deli paper backgrounds

and a how to

Here's an up close shot where I used black

gesso. I think it has a sort of batik look to it.

Altered Wooden Spools

2013-01-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

I recently finished up a couple of

altered wooden spools

for a swap I'm participating in.

Science Cake

2013-01-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

Beaker Flask Cake

For my chemistry major son.

I started with Wilton's giant cupcake pan.

inverted. I then cut it to taper and added

2 cupcakes on a lollipop stick stick into the middle.

Once everything was lined up I added a thin crumb

coat of frosting then added the white fondant.

The blue was painted on using food coloring and

small paint brush. The bubbling over was malted

balls dipped into melted frosting.
This was definitely one of my more
creative cakes I've made!

The Prayer Flag Project for Sandy Hook

2012-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Painted canvas prayer flags for Sandy Hook

What a great response this project received from

artists all across the country, over 700 flags

were sent! Click HERE to read more about

The Prayer Flag Project

by Leighanna Light and Diana Trout.

Christmas Tags

2012-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Finished up a couple more Christmas shipping tags.

(Click HERE to view my other tags)

I used regular shipping tags and embossed a

snowflakes background onto them with my

Sizzix BigShot. I then painted them with

white gesso and once that was dry I spritzed

them with Purple Haze and Azurite Blue

Color Mists.

All That Glitters Christmas Craft Challenge Giveaway

2012-12-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Check out my projects over at

May Arts Ribbon and leave

a comment for a chance to

win some ribbon of your own!

May Arts Ribbon

All that Glitter's Challenge

Bottle Brush Forest

2012-12-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've been having fun bleaching and

coloring more bottle brush trees

using Outside The Margin's

Color Mists

See my glitzy Crystal

Lacquer Tree tutorial HERE

You might remember the

vintage tart tins I picked up at a

garage sale awhile back

(read post HERE)

I drilled holes in the center of the tins

and removed the tree bases that they

were originally on and mounted

them onto the tins.

Calling all Modesto, CA area Art and Craft Peeps!

2012-12-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

For all you Modesto, Ca

area Arts & Crafts Peeps

Come join me for my

Make and Take Workshop:

Holiday Bracelet Gift!!

Saturday December 15th from 10AM-2PM!

Just $5.00 for supplies!

Nasco Arts and Crafts Store

4825 Stoddard Road

Modesto CA 95368