Creative Ruminations

Working 3D on a 2D Surface

2012-02-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

As you know, I'm quite drawn to the whole idea of creating dimension on a flat surface. I've been experimenting with this concept for years now and I'm still not done. There are quite a few pieces that I've created in the past that explore the idea of 3D on a 2D surface.

I've done this with fabric and batting on paper...

in my art journal.

on cards...(This card appeared in an article in Somerset Studio. What an absolute thrill for me. A dream come true, really.)

I've also experimented with Creative Paperclay...

You might remember this cupcake from Somerset Apprentice. (Another dream come true!)

These hearts are now in my Etsy shop.

This piece now resides in the home of a good friend. It feels like a piece of my heart lives somewhere else now.

This one lives in my boy's room. It fits.

The next two appeared in Somerset Studio.

And of course with paper and DecoArt textures...

For some reason, these textures have me hooked on the bird theme.

This one won Second Place in the Laveen Art League Gallery Show a few weeks ago. (I couldn't have been more excited!)

This one not only won Honorable Mention in a Laveen Art League Gallery Show in September, 2011, but it is also an advertisment for DecoArt in Paintworks magazine (Feb 2012) and it is on the back cover of DecoArt's 2012 catalogue.

This one is a favorite and therefore I gifted it to one of my BFFs.

I think that the concept of 3D on a 2D surface has become a part of my style because I recently created these little works for friends. (I used the newest DecoArt acrylic paint colors. I love how bright and cheery they are.)

Obviously, I love dimension! I can't wait to experiment further! I was recently directed to a bloggy friend's (Daniele Valois) exploration of dimension using styrofoam. This might be my next medium!

Happy Creating!

xoxo

Bethany

Getting to Know: Jana Holstein

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been lucky to work with Jana Holstein, managing editor of four amazing Stampington magazines: Somerset Memories, Somerset Digital Studio, Art Doll Quarterly and Somerset Apprentice.

Photo courtesy of Jana Holstein

From her first email, I felt totally embraced by this wonderfully talented woman. She is not only kind, well-organized and intelligent, but she is also thoughtful, authentic and easy-going. Then, I had the pleasure of meeting her in person and everything I thought about her proved to be true. It was an absolute pleasuring spending time with her. I knew when I heard her story of how she became involved with Stampington, that it needed to be shared with others. I love her positivity and her can-do attitude. May it be an inspiration to you in reaching your lofty goals.

On with the interview!

BK: Please tell me about yourself. Where did you grow up?

JH: I’m a mid-western girl, born & raised in Illinois. I grew up in Rockford, about 90 miles northwest of Chicago. My mom was a stay-at-home mother; my dad the production superintendant at a local factory. Two and a half years after my parents adopted me, they adopted my sister, Lee Ann, rounding out our perfect little family. Lee Ann & I remain extremely close. I had a wonderful “Leave It to Beaver” childhood. After high school, I attended Western Illinois University and graduated in 1977 with an education degree in Home Economics. Two weeks later, I married my husband, Mike. We’ll celebrate 35 years of marriage on June 11, 2012!

As “corporate gypsies”, Mike & I have lived all over the United States – Oconomowoc, WI; St. Joseph, MI; San Antonio, TX; Herndon, VA; Dakota Dunes, SD; and now Mission Viejo, CA. We’ve lived here 12 years and plan to stay! We love California.

We have two children: Jason, 31, who is in marketing & business development, and Christina, 28, who is an industrial designer. Christina has been married for 2½ years. Both our children live near us here in Southern California. No grandkids yet, but I do have a grand-kitty from Jason, and a grand-puppy from Christina and her husband Preston.

BK: Please tell me the story of how you got involved with Stampington. (I know my readers will LOVE to hear it!) What Stampington publications are you editing? Which one is your favorite? Which one is the most challenging? Why?

JH: The story of how I ended up working at Stampington … well, I guess it was fate. I was working on a scrapbook for Jason and looking online for supplies when I came across Stampington & Company. I’d never heard of them before, so I spent some time looking over their site and realized they were located in Laguna Hills, California … only 10 minutes from where I lived. A banner on their site said they were hiring for an editorial position. I’d been a freelance writer for years, but with my kids both in college, the idea of working in a real brick and mortar company and interacting with people face-to-face every day appealed to me. So I thought, “What the heck,” spiffed up my resume and sent it off. I was hired as an Assistant Editor, and then became an Associate Editor. When the position for Managing Editor of Somerset Memories opened up, it was offered to me. It’s snowballed from there and I now manage 4 titles.

I don’t really have a favorite because they’re all so different. Digital Studio can be the most challenging because I have to do so much back and forth with the artists regarding images. Not everyone is familiar with the image sizes we need for print publication. They need to be much larger than for a blog or website. But wow, the magazine always turns out so beautiful when it’s all put together. Our art department here is amazing.

BK: Tell me about a typical work day at the Stampington offices.

JH: I start my day by going through my emails & trying to get caught up with correspondence. After that, there really is no typical day. Everything depends on where we are in the cycle of our magazines. In addition to Somerset Memories, I’m the managing editor of Somerset Digital Studio, Somerset Apprentice, and Art Doll Quarterly, so I am constantly juggling one publication or another.

The life of a magazine starts with submissions coming in, then a rigorous art selection process, followed by deciding which works of art could be developed into articles, which fall into certain categories (like in Somerset Memories we have the Family Album, a Special Book Section and the Virtual Gallery where we show digital layouts). Once the art is chosen I contact the artists, and set up an appointment with our photography department. Once the articles come in, I do the first round of formatting and editing them. Next, the copy & images are turned over to our art department where our designers begin the magic of putting everything together. During this time, we continually edit, edit, edit. Each editor here reads every other editor’s magazine, so that for each publication we finish, all editors have proofread it. Once the magazine is complete and shipped off to our printers, I tie up loose ends like sending the compensation list to accounting so the artists who wrote articles get paid and complimentary copies are set to be mailed out. Finally, our art management department processes the art to be returned to the artists. Then it starts all over again. I typically work on one publication at a time, but there are a few months when I have two in production at the same time so it can get pretty hectic! We have a wonderful team here though, and we all work together to help each other as much as we can.

BK: How do you choose artwork for your publications? What do you look for? Are you looking for any specific trends right now? How do you find artwork? Does everything come in via email and snail mail or do you actively search for new artists?

JH: First and foremost, the art has to be stunning, artistic, well executed and have that “wow” factor. We’re always looking for new cutting-edge techniques. Work comes in both ways ̶ some are emailed submissions with attached images and some are mailed directly to our offices. If we see something we like sent electronically, we ask the artist to send it into us. And yes, we are always actively searching for new work and new artists. We do a lot of online recruiting by blog surfing, and through Etsy, Pinterest and Flickr.

1. BK: Do you have any advice for upcoming editors? Upcoming artists who want to be published?

JH: My best advice is my personal mantra, “Never give up.” Work hard, prepare well, do your research and go for it. If you want to be published, you have to submit. If your work isn’t selected right away, keep at it. Read our magazines, look at what gets published, take workshops, or online classes. And most importantly, keep trying.

BK: Once published, what can artists do to maintain a good relationship with the editor?

JH: Follow directions. Send your work in clearly labeled with the inspiration for it, techniques, and credits attached, as well as your full name, address and email information. Please understand that editors are very busy and may not get back to you right away. I try to always answer emails within a week’s time. And continue submitting! If selected to write an article, do your best to stay within the word count we give you, don’t use fancy fonts, and ask questions if anything seems unclear.

BK: With the increase of ezines, where do you see the print magazine industry heading?

JH: We’re getting more involved in our online exposure, but I don’t ever see our magazines going totally electronic. There’s something very special about the textural feel of a printed magazine, turning the pages, earmarking a page... Many of our artists have bookshelves filled with our issues and return to them time and time again. After all, what’s better than curling up with a hot cup of tea and flipping through the latest issue of Somerset Memories?

BK: How do you deal with the pressure and time-crunches at work? Do you have specific tips for busy women to stay sane? How do you maintain balance?

JH: Personally, I start every day with some quiet time at home in prayer and meditation. Then I grab a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. (I can’t do it online. To me, there’s something sacred about walking outside every morning to get the paper.) In order to deal with work pressure and time-crunches, I make a daily to-do list and try to stick to it. Sometimes I succeed; many times I don’t, but I do my best and know that there’s always tomorrow. I stay sane by having a busy life outside of work. I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive. We travel often, gather with friends often, have date nights, and both try to leave work at the office on Friday nights.

BK: What are your creative pursuits outside of editing and writing? Are you an artist? If so, how do you maintain your own style while working so closely with other artists?

JH: Outside of work I love to read, spend time with friends and family, travel, and cook. I dabble in simple jewelry and occasional mixed-media pieces, and get this: I just made my first two art dolls!

Photo taken from Jana Holstein's facebook page. Isn't she lovely?

BK: Tell us about some of the challenges in your life and how they've shaped your character today.

JH: As I mentioned earlier, Mike & I have moved a lot. At first it was scary, but as I matured I’ve come to realize that it helped me learn to be resilient, more outgoing, make friends, and “bloom where I was planted.” We’ve lived in a lot of wonderful cities and I love it when I end up publishing an artist who lives in a place where I once did.

BK: What do you feel is your greatest personal accomplishment?

JH: Learning to be comfortable in my own skin. I finally feel — at the ripe old age of 57 — that I’ve become the woman I always meant to be. And the fact that my husband and I have raised two caring wonderful children who are kind, tolerant, loving, compassionate members of society.

BK: If you weren't working for Stampington, what would you be doing now?

JH: I’d be writing that book I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time to pursue! And I’d be doing volunteer work with a literacy program, helping children in need or women facing personal challenges.

BK: Anything else you'd like to add?

JH: I’d just like to reiterate my philosophy to “Never ever give up.” Whether you’re facing a personal challenge, striking out on a new career, trying a new creative pursuit, or just trying to balance work, family, and art … remember that if things aren’t going the way you’d like, you can always “hit reset” and begin again.

I firmly believe that there are absolutely no coincidences in life. Everything is in divine order and happens because it is meant to.

Thank you so much, Jana for this opportunity to get to know you better! You are an amazing woman and we will all benefit from your advice and experience.

Now, it is your chance, wonderful readers! If you have any questions for Jana, please leave them in a comment and we'll have a follow-up later this month.

CHA-W 2012: DecoArt Make and Take

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

This year, I had the honor of designing and teaching a make-and-take project at CHA in Anaheim, California for DecoArt, the maker of Americana paints.

This was my first experience at CHA (The Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show) and it was an amazing experience for me. When I first walked into the convention center, my jaw dropped as I walked past beautiful booth after beautiful booth. The time and creativity in each section was completely overwhelming.

I spotted artists that I "knew" from magazines and online. It was thrilling for me to meet women that I've admired from afar and to learn that they are just as passionate and kind as I had thought. I can't say enough about Nat Kalbach. She is an amazingly warm woman. It was fabulous to make her acquaintance. Interacting with the rest of the DecoArt staff was just as fun. They proved to be warm and amazingly talented and made me feel right at home.

(First photo, Nat Kalbach and I, second photo, Margaret Riley and I.)

Meeting with the editors and staff of Stampington, the makers of the Somerset magazines like Somerset Studio, Somerset Memories, etc, was an inspiring experience. They are not only extrememly talented and intelligent, but they are also very sweet women. I left their presences totally uplifted and ready to create. Just the memory of our lunch makes me smile again.

Interacting with my students as they did the make-and-take was really rewarding. They were creative, bold and kind and the hours flew by as I chatted with them. Of course, at the end of the day I was completely exhausted and I ended up hoarse after day one, but it was worth it. I was especially humbled by the fact that the majority of my students had never done a mixed-media project before. What an honor to introduce them to my favorite art form!

Since I know that not everyone can make it to CHA, I decided that I needed to create a video and downloadable pdf of the project so everyone can have the opportunity to make this fun and easy project. It will take you about 30 minutes as long as you have a hair dryer and the products can all be found in your local craft store. This project is designed for the beginning artist, but even Nat Kalbach, a professional, had fun with it.

I hope that you enjoy creating How Does your Garden Grow?

The downloadable PDF: DecoArt Make and Take Project

The video:

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Bethany

DIY Little Mouse Valentines Cards -- A Mommy and Me Project

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was asked by my MOMS group to design a Valentine's Day project for the February newsletter. So I came up with this cute project using E's and Q's fingers. Wouldn't these Valentine's Day cards be perfect for Grandma and Auntie?

Here are close-ups of both of the cards.

I wish the pictures did these cards justice. They are just adorable in real life. Maybe I'm just biased because I'm utterly in love with the little fingers that made them.

I purposefully designed this project to be:
1.quick and easy (each card only took about 10 minutes)
2. low on materials.

I chose materials that I figured just about everyone has at home: markers, pen, and paper. You can see the directions and materials list in the picture below. You can also download a PDF version here if you'd like to keep a copy for your own records.

Since E and Q are both 5 and 3 respectively, I held their fingers and stamped them. However, if you have older children (most likely E could have done it herself) they can probably stamp their own fingers with a little guidance.

I hope that you have fun with this project!

xoxo
Bethany

Cameron's Zoo -- A Mommy & Me Project

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Mommy & Me projects, this one is at the top of my list of cool ones. Cameron (age 5 at the time) and I created this project together last year. It now hangs in a prominent area in the living room. We named it Cameron's Zoo for obvious reasons. Just so you can have an idea of the size of this project, the canvas measures 20x16 inches.

Here are a few close-ups so you can see the well-executed animals. Cameron is gifted, that's for sure.

This project may appear to be difficult, but it is actually quite simple and the materials list isn't too extensive either. Cameron drew and colored all of the animals while I cut them out (the crocodile was especially challenging with those spikes! And the tiger tails, don't get me started...). I arranged them (with Cam's approval) and painted the background. It probably took us about 6-10 hours total and we divided it up over a few days so neither of us would get too tired.

This project is perfect for the animal loving child. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did!

Materials:
acrylic paint (I used DecoArt Americana in Foliage Green, Milk Chocolate and Spa Blue)
canvas (16x20 inches)
cardstock (white and tan)
charcoal pencil (You can find these in the fine art section of your local craft store.)
colored pencils (I prefer Prismacolor, but any brand will work.)
decoupage glue (I prefer DecoArt.)
pencil
Portfolio water soluble oil pastels (optional) (Portfolio is the brand name. They can be found in the art
section of your office supply store.)
small scissors (There is a lot of fussy cutting involved.)
spray fixative (I prefer matte. You can usually find this in your local craft store in the spray paint section.)

Technique:

Step 1: Decide on the desired size of each animal and cut your white cardstock down to size. To give you an idea of the sizes of the animals at Cameron's Zoo, the killer whale measures about 4x5 inches so the cardstock that I gave him to use measured about 5x6 inches. The elephant measures about 3x3.5 inches so the cardstock piece measured about 4x4 inches. Cameron had full creative control over which animals appeared in the zoo, I simply cut pieces of cardstock into various sizes and he chose which animal to draw. I gave him specific pieces of cardstock because I wanted all the animals to be relatively the same size for the project.

Step 2: Using colored pencils (or markers or even crayons) have your child draw as many animals as he/she desires. I noticed after a few animals that Cam's heads were always on the left side, so I encouraged him to try a few right-sided heads. This seemed to even up the orientation.

Step 3: Carefully cut out the animals. If you have an older child who feels comfortable using scissors, he/she can do this step alone.

Step 4: Decide where each animal will live on the canvas by placing them down (don't glue yet!). Once you are happy with placement, use a pencil and lightly draw where the paths, pond, and grassy areas will lie.

Step 5: Paint the canvas. Allow each color to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next one.

Step 6: Glue down the animals. Create a zoo sign and glue that down too. Dry completely.

Step 7: Using a charcoal pencil, outline the animals and the areas where two different paint colors meet. (For example, the edge of the pond, or the border of the grassy areas.) Smudge the charcoal pencil with your finger or with a q-tip or with an official charcoal pencil smudger. (They look like paper that is rolled into a pencil shape. You'll find them near the charcoal pencils in the fine art section of your craft store. I know they probably have a name other than official charcoal pencil smudger, but I don't know it.)

Step 8: If desired, use coordinating colors of Portfolio water soluble oil pastels to add interest to the painted areas. (If you look closely, you'll see that the grassy areas are two shades of green, the pond is actually two shades of blue and the paths are two shades of brown.) Add a border of black to the edges of the canvas and smudge, if desired.

Step 9: Spray a few coats of fixative to keep the charcoal and oil pastels from rubbing off.

Step 10: Praise your little artist, praise yourself and hang your creation with pride!

I hope that this project leads to many hours of creative fun with your little artists!

xoxo
Bethany

January Book Reviews

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

I love to learn new things so I read a lot. A lot. I believe the key to busy-mom-reading is to take advantage of transitional moments and always have your book (or books) with you. I always carry at least one book in my purse. Often another one is waiting in the car. I've got one next to the nightstand and another on the kitchen counter. Waiting for water to boil? Read a few pages. Sitting at the table with children doing homework? Read a chapter. This does require a certain tolerance for interruptions (and some forgiving eaters when you burn the beans because you are in a very exciting spot in your book) which may or may not work for you. Personally, I've become pretty good at handling interruptions. (Except when I'm working on the computer, then I lose it a bit. I'm not ashamed to admit it.)

On to the book reviews...

It has been a long time since my last book review so I divided my list into sections to better serve your needs.

Self-Help

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let go of Who You Think You are Supposed to be and Embrace who You Are by Brene Brown was given to me by a dear friend for Christmas and it opened my eyes to the dangers of perfectionism, people-pleasing and shame. This short book calls into question cultural norms and is a must-read for every woman who struggles with embracing her imperfect self.

Non-Fiction

Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens our Future by Chris Moony is a call for mainstreaming scientific topics. In a world where science is constantly progressing and technology is pushing open boundaries, the American public is extraordinarily uneducated. Ethical questions and future policy should be discussed in a public forum, however, most Americans remain ignorant (not always due to their own fault). Moony is pushing for governmental reform and equal media time for scientific reporting. In a culture where we discuss ad nauseum what brand jeans the latest celebrity is sporting, but ignore the discovery of planets with possible life, we've got serious issues.

Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising by Jean Kilbourne is a difficult read. It took me about a week to get through this one because it is filled with statistics, facts and deep thoughts. This isn't a light book, but it is never boring or tedious. Kilbourne's dry wit and dogged pursuit of information make it fascinating. Even if you don't believe that your life has been affected in any way by the media or advertising, your mind will be completely blown open. You'll never look at another ad the same way again. Nor will you be able to watch another sitcom unaware of the negative messages you are receiving. (I believe this is a positive change.) Basically, this thesis is a call to media literacy and an excellent jumping off point for discussion and action. I wouldn't hesitate to say that every woman and teen should read Deadly Persuasion.

Fiction

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen could be described as grotesque and disturbing. Set in the U.S. during the Great Depression, this novel is a fascinating commentary on the life of rejects and outcasts. From alcoholism to sexual promiscuity to abuse to power to mental illness to loyalty, you can find it all in here. No matter what your station in life, you'll find something to discuss. As a reader, I didn't identify with any of the larger-than-life characters, but I still found myself mesmerized. This is a great book club book.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is an extremely quick read. Written in the perspective of a very naive 9-year-old German boy at the advent of World War II, you'll be tickled by his vocabulary and his unique way of viewing the world. When you find out that his father is the head of a major concentration camp, you'll be even more drawn in. While reading this novel, I predicted a dismal ending, however I was completely taken aback by the Picoult-like twist. I really liked this one.

Mixed-Media Techniques

Surface Treatment Workshop: Explore 45 Mixed-Media Techniques by Darlene Olivia McElroy and Sandra Duran Wilson is a fabulous book for artists who love interesting backgrounds. It is filled with techniques and creative methods. I was so inspired by this book that I plan on working alongside the authors in my art journal so I can practice and experiment with each new idea. This is a must-read for all mixed-media artists and scrapbookers looking to expand their horizons.

Plaster Studio: Mixed-Media Technique for Painting, Casting and Carving by Stephanie Lee and Judy Wise is right up my alley. I love exploring three dimensions on a two dimensional surface and this book is filled with ideas and techniques for my obsession. I was initially drawn to this book because I took Judy Wise's online Encaustic class and became a fan of her down-to-earth, intelligent and creative teaching style. This book does not disappoint. This is another book that I will follow page by page to improve my art.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium by Nancy Reyner was a big surprise to me. I've read and digested Patti Brady's Rethinking Acrylic: Radical Solutions for Exploiting the World's Most Versatile Medium so I figured this was pretty much the same thing. I couldn't have been more wrong. I see Reyner and Brady's books working in tandem. Where Brady leaves off Reyner picks up. Whatever Reyner omits, Brady includes. They are both wonderful resources for any acrylic artist. I was so inspired by Reyner that I'm currently developing online and local classes on acrylic paint.

Currently In My Purse/On the Nightstand/In the Car

I'm currently got the following books in my purse (either in the state of reading or waiting to be opened): I Thought it was Just Me (but it isn't): Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy and Power by Brene Brown, So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids by Diane E Levin and Jean Kilbourne, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, MOM, Incorporated: A Guide to Business and Baby by Aliza Sherman and Danielle Elliott Smith and The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationship s by Harriet Lerner.

Have you read any of the books I briefly discussed? What did you think?

xoxo

Bethany

DIY: Trendy Chalkboard Tote Tutorial

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think it's about time we had another tutorial! I created this Trendy Chalkboard tote using plain canvas fabric decorated with DecoArt's chalkboard paints and So Soft Fabric paints (which I adore!) I used a few Crafter's Workshop stencils too.

I love the size of this bag because it fits all my ~~overdue~~ library books as well as a few diapers and toys. Plus, the chalkboard on the front pocket keeps me on task. Here are a few close-ups so you can see all the details.

You'll see that I kept all my edges raw. I love the rough, funky look!

This project is an easy sew. As long as you are familiar with your sewing machine and how to cut fabric, you should be just fine.

I created an awesome powerpoint presentation that I converted into a video that apparently isn't compatible with YouTube. After a few hours of research, ~~massive~~ a bit of frustration, and a lot of talking to myself repetitively, I've decided to go another route. Alas...

So you'll get the tutorial here instead.

I also have a downloadable PDF available so you can have the directions at your fingertips as you create this project. Please note that this is my very first time creating a downloadable pdf so I have all my fingers crossed that this works. If it doesn't, please be very patient and leave me a nice comment so I can try to figure it all out. I'm a bit fragile about the whole-getting-technology-to-do-what-I-want thing.

**Please note that this project is for your personal use only. Please do not use the PDF or this tutorial to teach classes or to create totes to sell. Thank you for your honesty.**

Now, on with the tutorial!

Materials

DecoArt chalkboard paint (black)

DecoArt Americana paint mixed with Fabric Medium (Calypso Blue, Cherry Red)

DecoArt So Soft fabric paint (Fine Glitter Lemon Drop, Sizzling Red, Celebration Pink)

Sewing machine

Stencils (optional) I used The Crafter’s Workshop templates.

Canvas (unstretched)

(2) pieces 14x15 inches (the front and back panels)

(1) piece 42x10 inches (the side panels and bottom)

(1) piece 50x3 inches (the handles)

(1) piece 10x11 inches (the chalkboard pocket)

Technique

Step 1: Apply colorful paint to your fabric pieces in a loose mosaic pattern. Use stencils, if desired. Place a piece of cardboard under your fabric to catch any excess paint from ruining your surface.

TIP: Keep in mind how each piece will fit on the bag so while painting you can avoid any upside-down images once you sew the bag together.

Step 2: If desired, following the directions on the back of the Americana fabric medium, create a mixture with the fabric medium and the chalkboard paint. Paint the 10x11 in. piece of canvas with this mixture. You will need two coats. For the first coat, your brushstrokes should be vertical. The second coat should have horizontal brush strokes.

Product Notes: Mixing the chalkboard paint with fabric medium creates a final product that can be washed safely.

Step 3: Once the paint has dried, use your sewing machine and a contrasting thread color to add doodles, circles or outlines to random painted areas.

TIP: If you do not have free motion capabilities, don’t panic, you can do this without it! (I did!) Just go slow.

Step 4: Sew the chalkboard piece onto the front panel on three sides. Leave the top open in order to create a pocket. Do not turn the edges. Leave them exposed for a raw, interesting look.

Step 5: Placing wrong sides together, sew the 42x10 in. side and bottom piece to the back panel (14x15 in. piece.) Start at the top, proceed downward, to the bottom and back up again. Use a ½ in. seam allowance. Use a small stitch for strength. Repeat to attach the front panel. (See figure below.)

TIP: Don’t stress about the corners, just do your best and move on. They won’t be perfect, but most likely, no one will ever look at them.

Step 6: To create the handles, fold both raw edges on the longest sides in ¼ inch. Iron if necessary. Fold in half hotdog bun style. Sew closed. Sew along the opposite side, if desired. The strip should now measure 50 x 1 ½ in. (See figure below.)

Step 7: Cut the handle piece in half to create two separate pieces. Each handle should measure 25 x 1 ½ in. If desired, fold raw edges in ¼ in. to make a finished edge along the top and bottom of each handle.

Step 8: Place the bag on the floor, front side up. Take 1 handle strip and pin to the front panel 1 inch from the right edge and 1 inch from the top edge. Make sure the strip isn’t twisted and pin the second edge (of the same handle strip) on the to the front 1 inch from the left edge and 1 inch from the top edge. Repeat for the back of the bag. (See figure below.)

Step 9: Sew the handles onto the bag. Make the seams strong by sewing a square. Next sew an X in the middle of the square. (See figure below.)

And finally, another picture of the final project.

Enjoy your tote! When you create this project, be sure to post pics on your blog and link me so I can see it!

Happy Creating!

xoxo
Bethany

Getting to Know: Stacey McElyea

2012-01-04T16:00:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Stacey McElyea, owner of Shimmerz paints.

I was lucky to meet Stacey when I became a member of her talented Education Team and I've been a big fan ever since. Not only does Stacey make beautiful shimmering iridescent paints and mists, but she has the amazing ability to develop completely unique and creative solutions. I love that she thinks completely out-of- the-box.

Now, on with the chat!

BK: Stacey, tell me about yourself.

SM: I have been Dave’s wife for 21 years, mother to three amazing kids and the owner of Shimmerz Paints. I like so many women wear a lot of hats during my day. I homeschool my kids, work daily in my business, and try to be all and do all for my friends and family. I don’t often have extra time, but when I do I still love to scrap, rubber stamp and dabble in photography. My life is crazy, but full and wonderful. The Lord has given me more blessings than I can count.

2. BK: Tell us how Shimmerz, the company was born. What prompted you to start a specialty paint company?

SM: Shimmerz started in the back room of my store, The Stamp Pad. Back then Radiant Pearls were very popular, but my customers kept complaining that they wouldn’t dry. That got us thinking and while I was home sick and my husband, Dave was tending the store, he had a brilliant idea. He came home and presented me with Shimmerz. A water based paint that would actually dry. I was thrilled and was wanting to know what he used to make them. He replied that if he told me, he’d have to kill me. Of course he was joking! From that day he began to formulate and create colors for Shimmerz. He is still the keeper of the formulas. We still have colors today that are just as popular as they were in 1999. For instance, Angel Wings is still our most popular color after all these years. One product lead to another and while it’s been many years and we’ve tweaked formulas over those years we still make all of our products in the USA, and are very proud to do so. We believe that quality, a good price point that beats our competitors and good customer service are the keys to good business. We won’t step away from that belief. We are thankful for every order we get and eagerly thank each and every customer. They deserve that much!

3. BK: Can you tell us a bit about the Shimmerz manufacturing process? Do you mix the paint colors yourself? Do you have a factory? Where do you get your ideas for colors?

SM: As Dave would say. . . .If I told ya, I’d have to kill ya! Tee-hee-hee!!! We are a family owned and operated business. We do it all! We order in raw materials and make each and every product ourselves. We make the product as it is ordered. No one wants a product that’s been sitting on the shelf for 6 months. ICK!!! We make everything in what we call the “Man Room”. It’s a very large room in our house where the “Man” makes the paint. Our kids all take a part in the process too. From mixing, bottling, labeling, processing orders to shipping. . . . Everyone helps.

I am the one that gives the “Man” the ideas for colors. I try to go with what’s hot in the industry, or often times what feels right to me. Colors give a feeling. . .and I know when a color feels right. I guess it’s an intuitive thing. For instance, when I created the color palette for our new Limited Edition Holiday colors, I wanted happy, whimsical colors that maybe weren’t so traditional. I wanted colors and names that make the artist smile. We make a great team. So far, it’s been working for us quite well.

The Limited Edition Holiday colors are available only until January 30th!

4. BK: What were some mistakes you made when starting the Shimmerz business? What would you have done differently, looking back now? What were some of your successes?

SM: We have definitely made some serious mistakes along the way. We’ve attended the School Of Hard Knocks a couple of times. Many years ago, we signed an exclusive contract with the largest stamp company in the industry. That was my first mistake! When they suddenly went out of business. . . . so did we. That was before blogs and Facebook. We were all but dead in the water. It was so hard. Needless to say, there is no exclusivity offered by Shimmerz anymore. Like all other businesses, I’ve trusted certain people when I shouldn’t have. With each mistake then and now, I take a moment and thank the Lord for it, because that’s how we learn and grow. It hurts, but we should still be thankful for it.

My successes. . . ..hmmmmm. . . . Well, I think I have a fairly solid company. We keep our overhead really low, so we can weather the storm of a downed economy a bit easier. We’ve taught our kids how to work hard and run a business. We met so many amazing people and are so glad we did. We have THE BEST designers that the industry offers. They are not only extremely talented, but genuinely awesome people. We value each and every one of them and it’s our goal that when they know that they are valued. Each day that I have orders for Shimmerz is a successful day.

5. BK: When you choose the designers for your Education Team and your Design Team, what traits really stand out to you? In your mind, what makes a great video or DT application? Any advice for up-and-coming designers?

6. SM: Absolutely NO DRAMA!!!! I don’t supply little red wagons for a designers ego and if they already have one. . . I won’t pull it. I make that very well known. When looking for new designers, I don’t just look at their artwork, I read their blogs and look for that person's character. They aren’t just artists, they represent my company. They have to share my philosophy of the industry and keep it in perspective. We aren’t saving lives. . . . it’s paper, paint and glue. They have to keep it real. It can touch lives, but rarely save them. When I am looking at artwork, I’m looking for artists that aren’t cookie cutter artist. They have to think outside the box. They have to stand out from the rest. At the risk of sound cliché, I go with my gut feeling. It’s like creating new colors. . . .I get a feeling. Sometimes that feeling is wrong, but most of the time it’s right.

I believe that being a Shimmerz designer should be an easy, fun experience. We all have too much stress in our lives. I don’t ever want Shimmerz to add to the stress of my designers. So I try to keep it simple. They are important to me. . . .so again. . . . I want them to know they are valued.


Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products. As seen in Somerset Gallery Autumn 2011.

7. BK: Do you have any advice for small business owners? Upcoming designers?

SM: I was told many times, “If you don’t go to CHA, you won’t make it in the industry!” I’ve gone once, and don’t plan to go back. So my best advice. . . don’t feel pressured to follow the pack. It’s your business. You have to do what work for you, not your friends or other business owners. Be creative! Don’t over extend your business. If you can’t afford it now. . . don’t do it thinking that it will pay off later. Go with your gut! PRAY!!!! Take the time to learn about the business not just the craft. Reality is that if you are running a business, you most likely won’t have the time you’d like for the craft. Did I mention. . . Prayer?

As for designers, show me who you are as a person. Show me that you will be a great representative for my company. Show your art well. Have good lighting. You don’t have to be a professional photographer or videographer, but showcase your projects the best you can. Learn how to promote! Whether you are a designer for me or another company. . . .be ready, willing and able to tell your readers, and followers why the company you represent is a great one. If you can’t do that. . . . you are on the wrong team. Don’t just try to be on the “popular” design teams. Do your homework and make sure you want to represent that company.

I look for great artwork, but I also look very closely at whether that designer can really help me sell my products. It may sound harsh, but it’s business. I want to sell my products and want designers that will help me do it.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products.

8. BK: How do you balance your work and your family?

SM: My kids all need “Mommy Time”. Even my 20 year old needs Mom on a daily basis. My family ALWAYS comes first!!! No exceptions. I try to follow a very simple model. I may have a To-Do list that’s a mile long, but I will only accomplish in each day what the Lord as planned for it. Simple as that. I do my best to cross as much off that list each day, but over the years have learned that freaking out and laying awake at night worrying about it won’t change a thing. It’s easier somedays than others to remember this principle, but I do my best. So when do I work? I squeeze in emails while Gracie (my 7 yr old) is doing her spelling or reading. I set aside 2 hours each day to work in my office. . . hopefully uninterrupted by a kid. I work late at night when Sami, Kaleb and Gracie are in bed. I take my iPad to Gracie’s ballet class and work, or to the golf course while I wait for Kaleb. And. . . .gasp. . . . we work on weekends in between family events and activities. . . BUT only if absolutely necessary. I do try really hard (and this is tough for me) to “unplug” during the weekends. I try to tell myself that my laptop needs some time off too. Somehow, it all works. We work together as a family to get it all done.

9. BK: You were either the first company or one of the first companies to have a video team which makes you very cutting edge. Plus, you are always coming out with new and interesting products. Do you have any tips for others who would like to be on the cusp of the industry's future? How do you stay on top of things?

I wish I could give a clear and concise answer to this question, but honestly, I can’t. I spend time praying and asking for direction. I’m always trying to think ahead. I wish I could take credit for the inspiration that I’ve had, but I can’t. I owe it all to God. I don’t mean to sound preachy, but it’s the truth. I go with my gut. It has to feel right. I have been very fortunate and so far, things are working well.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products.

10 BK: Where do you see the industry heading? Where are the trends heading?

SM: I truly think that the industry is in a bit of a crisis. It saddens me to see so many good companies going out of business. I believe that there will be more to come. I look at it like a forest fire. Some of the trees have to burn, in order for new growth to take place. New companies will arise from the ashes and those companies that can whether the fire, will be stronger.

As for trends, I think all old things become new again. Going back to basics is going to be hot! Re-using items will gain in popularity. Buying basic items (like paint, i.e. Shimmerz, lol ) and using it in multiple ways will never go out of style. Hard times force artists and companies to be creative. That’s a good thing!

11 BK: Tell us about some of the challenges in your life and how they've shaped your character today.

SM: Personal challenges are more important to me than business challenges. Of course, I want my business to thrive and of course I will continue to have challenges arise, but it’s the personal challenges that hopefully make me a better person. I am always challenged not to worry. I tend to be an over thinker. I have a very nasty habit of taking on too much and my health pays for it in the direction of anxiety attacks. My biggest challenge is being able to cut myself some slack. I have to learn. . . . and keep learning that I am only one person. It’s about remembering that principle of my To-Do list. God has a plan for my day, my month, my family, my business. I have to rest in that plan.

Artwork created by Bethany Kartchner using Shimmerz products. As seen in Somerset Apprentice.

12 BK: What, do you feel, is your greatest personal accomplishment?

SM: Again, I’m sure it sounds so cliché, but I LOVE being a mom! I love being Dave’s wife! There is nothing more endearing to me than to have Sami sit on my bed and tell me all about her date and what a creep the boy was. Or sharing her dreams with me. I love watching Kaleb play golf like a young pro and hearing him ask me to listen to the latest song he taught himself to play on his guitar. Kaleb is classified as deaf, so that’s a big thing for me. And. . .it never fails to bring a smile to my face and heart to hear Gracie running up the stairs, yelling, “Mommy, I made this for you”, and it’s a picture or card or some other fabulous piece of art that she’s made. Those 3 kids are my most greatest accomplishment. They are such a blessing to Dave and I.

13 BK: If you weren't running the Shimmerz business, what would you be doing now?

SM: Hmmmmm. . . . I would most likely still be in the real estate industry. EEEK! That’s scary now too.

BK: Anything else you'd like to add?

SM: Thank you so much for the opportunity to ramble on. I am both honored and humbled to be asked to share my life, my business, and my thoughts with you.

Thank you Stacey, for chatting with us today! Remember, you have one week to ask any follow-up questions. Just leave a comment with your question and I'll compile them and Stacey will answer them in another post.

Have a great week!

xoxo
Bethany

Blog Changes

2012-01-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

Hello friends!

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a lovely celebration and feels as renewed and excited about 2012 as I do. I've set some adventurous goals and I'm raring to meet them. One of those goals is to revamp my blog. I don't just mean a pretty make-over, although that would be nice, I'm focusing more on content. I want to blog about things that really inspire me and hopefully you.

So...you'll be seeing some exciting changes around here. I'm talking about tutorials, book reviews, product reviews, videos and chats with friends. I have some amazingly creative and interesting friends and I've decided to interview them on my blog so you can get to know them too! I absolutely love the connection that I feel when I get to know someone well. I hope that these interviews help you (in some small way) to feel connected to these amazing artistic women. Even more awesome is that I've asked my interviewees to answer any questions that you might have after my official interview. (Whenever I read an online interview I always have follow-up questions that frustrate me because I don't have a way to ask.) So after the actual interview, you have one week to pose any additional questions. After that week, I'll compile the questions and comments and send them on to my friend who will answer them later in the month on my blog. Great, huh? I'll post my very first interview tomorrow! You're going to love this artist/business owner!

Buckle up! We're in for a great ride!

xoxo
Bethany

Studio Organization

2011-12-29T13:28:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I'm a lucky woman. When we moved into our new home 3 years ago, I planted my flag in the "media room" and called it my studio. Before anyone knew any better, I had thoroughly used every square inch. (I read Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own way back when and upon its completion, I knew that someday I'd have a private space of my own.) Anyway, this studio space slowly got more and more chaotic as I picked up new hobbies, products, projects, etc. Eventually, it was difficult to maneuver around the boxes and fabric piles and unfinished projects. It was getting so bad that my creative juices were being spent hunting for things and figuring out ways to enter the space. It was time to organize.

At first, I was lost. I knew that I didn't want to spend hours decorating like the artists do in those amazing Studio magazines. I also knew that I didn't want to spend loads of money buying organizational supplies. I needed to supplement what I already had. After touring the studio space of a good friend, Jill, I was set. I purchased two metal bookshelves and quite a few fabric boxes from Ikea and one week later, I was done. Here are pictures of the results.

As you can see, I concentrated the furniture and tables on the borders of the room. I like having a lot of space in the middle for projects, playing with the kiddos and general living. You'll also notice that the room isn't perfect. There are still paper piles on the tables and boxes scattered around. If I waited for the space to look perfect, I would be a very old woman before you ever saw a picture.

I really like these metal shelves. The are open so they hold loads of stuff and are wide enough for me to fit the red fabric boxes.

The red boxes zip up at the top and allow me to grab the ones that I need for a project, but prevent massive spills and small baby hands from discovering their secrets. Plus, they are bright red and add spice.

I've also got these plastic storage drawers from Office Max (or was it Depot?) they are great because each drawer is 13x13 so they hold large sheets of scrapbook paper nicely. I've got my paints organized in them and I love how I can see each bottle now.

Probably the most beautiful area is this low bookshelf filled with glass jars of buttons, ribbons and flowers sorted by color. (I purchased the jars from Wal-mart and Target.) Surprisingly, the children pretty much leave these alone. I'm not sure why, as a child, this area would have been my personal playground.

I placed my most frequently used stamps vertically in bins so I can find them on the fly.

I know this will sound crazy, but a big part of my organizational efforts was simply hanging my artwork on the walls. I'm not sure why I didn't do this before? I love this wall now.

My bulletin board holds small artworks, awards and gifts from my children. E is especially prolific in her creations.

I placed my mini-albums in a large basket so they are safe from little fingers and so I can admire their beauty.

I hope these pictures inspire you and offer storage solutions in your spaces!

xoxo
Bethany

Bubble Paper -- Children's Art Tutorial

2011-12-19T14:00:00.000-08:00

If you are like me, you are looking for fun activities for the kiddos during winter break. Here's a project that I did for a children's mini-class a few months ago.

I gave each child a rectangle of white cardstock about 3x5 inches, a bubble wand, and a piece of folded cardstock that measured about 4.5x5.5 inches.

Before class, I added ink to regular bubble liquid creating different colors. (You can also use food coloring.)I filled various old food containers with each color so we were all ready to go. The kids dipped their bubble wands into the colored solution and blew the bubbles onto the paper creating beautiful designs. I had them experiment with different wand shapes, the distance between the paper and the wand and with flicking the solution. It was fun for them to be so free.

Once they were happy with their paper, we added glitter to the wet liquid. This really made it special. Surprisingly, the it stuck pretty well too! Next, we stapled the paper to the folded cardstock and made a card. You can see a sample below.

This is a great project to do outside or over a plastic tablecloth. This project is perfect with children who can blow a bubble (starting around 3 years old in our house).

I hope that this inspires you to do some simple art projects with your little ones!

xoxo
Bethany

Quick and Inexpensive Candle Gifts

2011-12-08T20:03:00.000-08:00

As I was fiddling about on the internet, I came across this lovely video by Heidi Kelley. In it, she uses Shimmerz products to dress up inexpensive candles. I think her ideas are amazing and I just had to share them with you.

This photo was taken by Heidi Kelley.

After watching that video, I'm heading to the dollar store tomorrow to get a few supplies!

xoxo
Bethany

Whimsical Bird Art

2011-12-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

I've finally decided to embrace my love for bird images in my artwork and therefore, I've begun a series. This series is based on two different bird images and I'm having a blast with them. I've completed four pieces already and I know I've got a few more to go before I feel complete. Each of the following pieces will be on display at the Laveen Art League Gallery showing this week. So, if you are interested in purchasing one (or more) of them, please email me for details (you can find my address in the right sidebar).

Black Birds is created on a 6x12 canvas, quickly becoming one of my favorite sizes because of its length.

Red Bird Singing is on a 6x6 canvas. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of creating this piece. It was just pure fun. In fact, I created this piece in between working on Black Birds and Wild Scribbles (below) so when I completed it, it felt like a freebie.

Wild Scribbles is a bit different for me. I'm not normally so...well...bright and wild. Sometimes it's fun to experiment with new ideas, though. I think that I'll pursue this idea a bit more in the future. I actually started this piece months and months ago, got interrupted with other assignments and finally finished it. My favorite parts of this one are the acrylic skins. This is a biggie at 16x20 inches.

Finally, I recreated my Lovebirds for a technique video (to be released in the Spring). This one won Honorable Mention at the September LAL judged show. I was pleased as punch!

I just can't tell you how much fun I'm having working in a series. I highly suggest it!

xoxo
Bethany

Adorable Elephants on Parade

2011-12-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

You know how I've been talking about my creative burst of energy? Well, I've finished quite a few pieces and I'm thrilled to announce that I just updated my etsy shop with this adorable elephant wall-hanging! Isn't this the cutest thing for a new baby or a child's room? I'm in love with this little guy.

The listing is for a custom created 6x6 canvas. You choose the background colors and the elephant colors so it will match your decor.

You'll probably remember this cute orange guy. I've shared him before. My good friend, Sara, now owns him. Thank you sweetie!

I can't wait to share more with you next week!

On Thanksgiving and Fleur-de-lis

2011-11-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was very relaxing. I took a very low key approach. Cooked only the basics, bought premade desserts, ate apple pie for breakfast that morning and omitted the tablecloth. It was the first Thanksgiving I've ever prepared that I didn't want to scream at anyone who dared step foot into the kitchen and take a nap from sheer exhaustion around 11 AM. It was absolutely lovely.

My only mistake was underestimating the allure of the pies. I should have purchased at least 2 more. (I do so love left-over pie for breakfast the next morning! Alas, this year, I was thwarted in that little pleasure.) We did miss my poor father who missed his flight that morning due to very unfortunate circumstances involving naughty cats, (I won't go into the dismal details) but we did the best we could to enjoy ourselves whilst pretending he was present. That evening, we skyped with him (my very first time!) and that lifted our spirits immensely. Despite all of the family members missing, it was a good day.

The rest of the weekend was a blur of activity. We went miniature golfing which was all of my kids' first time. We discovered that Dani (10 year old) and Todd (old man) have true talent and we are now enrolling both of them in golf lessons. I couldn't believe that Dani could hit the ball in a straight line and Todd got so many hole-in-ones that I lost count. My personal strategy was to ricochet the ball off of various surfaces in hopes that eventually it would hit the mark. Sometimes I was quite successful. Quinn (3 year old) and Zoey (8 year old) were masters at ditching the golf club and kicking the ball toward the hole soccer-style. We all kind-of had our own little techniques that were more or less effective. It was quite fun for the first 10 holes. After that, most of the group lost interest and balls somehow ended up in lakes and on top of mountains and in random spots like that.

The rest of the weekend, I spent creating up a frenzy. I finished 4 new pieces and am almost done with another. I'm experimenting with my style, trying to define it further, and I believe that one of the keys to that is creating piece after piece. I'm trying to let loose a bit and really put myself into my art. Trying not to fret so much and just go with the flow. I'm having an absolute blast. A blast, I tell you. I haven't taken any pictures yet, but after all that teasing, I thought I'd share a piece I made a few months ago with DecoArt textures.

This is my first (and probably last) very graphic piece. In order to fit the 4 fleur-de-lis I had to adjust the stencil and do all sorts of measuring. (HINT: In order to adjust a stencil that is too big for your project or whatever, simply mask off the parts that you don't want by placing masking tape over them. Don't forget to place tape on both sides of the stencil so you don't have any sticky spots.) Because I'm not a very good measurer (there's a reason why I stay away from carpentry!) I am dissatisfied with the layout. I wish the fleur-de-lis were closer to the center. I feel like there is a big gap that takes away from the composition. Oh well. I learned.

I do however, love each of the fleur-de-lis and the background texture created by DecoArt molding paste.

The fleur-de-lis below was created by loosely mixing Americana Splendid Gold paint with DecoArt Texture glass.

This one was made with DecoArt Gold Craft Twinkles (kind-of like Ranger Stickles).

This is DecoArt Texture Fierro in gold.

Finally, this white one was made with DecoArt Glistening Snow-Tex. (Not just for creating snowy effects!)

I plan on photographing my newest projects by the end of the week. I can't wait to show them to you!

xoxo
Bethany

Sticky Art

2011-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

Leslie Riley write a short article on Sticky Art at Create Mixed Media. Sticky Art is the type of art that sticks with the viewer, causing him/her to think. If you are looking to improve your art, I highly suggest reading it. You can access the article here. However, when you've finished reading it, come back here because I have a question for you and I want your opinion.

Did you read the article? Yes?

Okay, let's chat.

I agree with most of what she says, however, I disagree terribly on the idea that you must limit your materials. I believe that if you have your own style and you have your message and put yourself into your work, it doesn't matter what materials you use. In fact, I disagree with limiting yourself ever. Yes, I see the benefits of specialization: the basketball player that focuses on his sport will ultimately be better than the baseball-basketball player who divides his time between the two. However, there is a danger in specialization. When we focus so much on one material, or on one artform, we lose the ability to interact with others. We become so specialized that we cannot relate to other fields. Take for instance, the microbiologist who specializes in bacteria flagellum. She becomes so specialized that she can no longer relate to other scientists in different fields. When we can no longer relate to others, we are unable to apply pieces of their fields into our own and come up with entirely new methods and techniques. That microbiologist can certainly specialize in flagellum, but she also needs to stay abreast of the goings-on of other fields completely unrelated. Artists, in my opinion must do the same. We can focus on one material because we love it so, but we should also incorporate new materials from different fields so that we avoid burnout, sterility in our work and becoming outdated in this age of quick change.

I believe that creativity is the ability to take something and make something completely new and exciting with it. If we purposefully limit ourselves to one medium, how can we possibly develop as an artist, creating new artwork by combining materials? The combining of materials, to me is the key to exciting and therefore sticky artwork.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your opinion.

Burning Tools

2011-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

You know how I chatted about my organization problem in the last post? Well, I totally jinxed myself because now I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in organizing. I'm getting more done in the studio, but the house is still languishing in a state of mild chaos. Oh well. Honestly, I can't blame my disinterest on my blog post, it really has to do with the reality of living with 6 children, 2 dogs, and various small rodents. I spent hours organizing various spaces with mild success only to walk into 10 loads of laundry waiting for me and a few very messy kid rooms. I simply felt a little...well...defeated. So, I'm going to wait until baby Wy starts kindergarten (in 5 years or so) before I attempt that ~~horribly massively terrible~~ little project again. I'm sure that it will wait for me. (giggle)

Now, on a more interesting note, I recently borrowed a wood burning tool from my creative buddy and had a blast burning a gourd shard. Have you ever played around with a wood burning tool? Oh, it is delightfully fun. Enough danger that you feel like you're living on the edge of safety, all the while safe enough that you won't burn your house down if you drop it. It is a great tool for the little rebel artist in me.

I borrowed this fun tool for a project in my online Encaustic Class. Here's a picture of my shard immediately after burning. (Pay no attention to the random toys on the floor, I've lost interest in cleaning, as you already know.)

I absolutely love the design. Love it. What I did with it after this picture I don't love. Nope. But that's okay. I'm learning. I'm going with the theory that the piece is in the ugly phase and it will improve with a little more layering. Unfortunately, I don't exactly know what to do so I'm letting it sit while the creative juices simmer.

I must confess, I have an entire drawer in my studio of pieces in the ugly phase waiting for those creative juices to simmer. This shard may end up there if I don't hit some sort of inspiration soon.

I'll keep you posted.

xoxo
Bethany

Mosaic Heart

2011-11-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

For some reason, the organization bug has bitten me. I'm obsessed with cleaning out, trashing, and donating. Could it be the holiday season approaching? Could it be the fact that we've lived in our house for about 3 years and I've yet to organize my closet? I don't know, but I'm getting kinda nutty and I'm not doing as much creating because I'm so crazy about seeing the floor in my studio. Up until this week, I didn't even know what color the carpet was in there. Light tan, if you are wondering. ("Light tan" is a quick reference to a line in Nacho Libre, one of the funniest movies of all time. I'm just saying...)

Enough of that, however. About a month ago, I fiddled around with DecoArt's awesome textures and created this mosaic heart. It was done on a 12x12 inch canvas with only DecoArt products, sheet music and a graphite pencil.

I'm intrigued with the idea of doing a mosaic-texture thing. I definitely want to explore this idea further. I love the idea of dividing up a piece into sections and working on each one separately, all the while keeping everything connected via the color palette.

I'm also intrigued by the whole light/shadow thing and am excited to explore that further. I attempted to do this in my mosaic heart with limited success. (See the light source in the top left?) Ever since I read The Tale of Despereaux, I've been interested in chiaroscuro which is an Italian term that means light-dark. I'm sure you've seen this technique in fine art paintings like this one by Gerrit von Honthorst (swiped from Wikipedia).

I love how this painting has a very prominent light source that draws the eyes immediately to the focal point of the piece. Along with this prominent light are intense shadows that provide mystery. Love this idea. I think that applying it to my work will take a bit of practice as I'm not used to such contrast, nor am I very aware of exactly how shadows fall. Chiaroscuro certainly merits further study, in my mind.

Do you have any techniques that intrigue you? Any artistic experimentations?

xoxo
Bethany

Christmas Charm Bracelet -- New Video

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I must have been a good girl this year because I was lucky to get my hands on the newest Shimmerz Winter release colors!

It is hard to say which colors I like the most because they are all so beautiful. However, I have to point out that Jack Frost Enamelz is really amazing. It isn't like your ordinary embossing powder. It is chunky like bits of mica flakes and it is a dream to work with.

These colors are so bright and happy that I wanted to make something whimsical and fun with them.

This Christmas charm bracelet fit the bill. Christmas trees and snowballs, oh my!

Even though this project looks complicated, it really isn't.

And, because I think that creating homemade wrapping paper is so fun, I also included a quick demo on how to decorate plain paper. Now, you can create a cute charm bracelet and wrap it beautifully!

I hope that you enjoy the video! And while you are watching and learning the simple techniques, think about different shapes that you could create for your charm bracelet. What about cute Santa hats? Or presents? The possibilities are endless!

These colors are only available for a limited time so hurry over to the Shimmerz Shop!

xoxo
Bethany

Wacky Hair Day 2011

2011-11-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

I've got a thing for wacky hair day. I don't know why I love this small school fun day so much, but I do. Each year I have to outdo the year before. It's kind-of like the model solar systems that my father helped us build in 5th grade. Mine (as the first child) was pretty cool with the styrofoam balls painted and glued to the poster board. My brother had one with the styrofoam balls suspended by a wooden dowel. Another brother had a model built in miniature in a shoebox and you had to look into a small peephole in order to enter the galaxy. Each sibling's model got progressively more complicated and more amazing until I believe the last child (#7) won the Nobel Prize for her submission. That's how wacky hair day is for me. Luckily, my kids seem to be as excited as I am.

My oldest, Danika, has very long hair and therefore is prime real estate for this school activity. Last year, I attempted an updo that required a wooden dowel. It was a disaster and apparently quite painful. So, this year, I reigned myself in and focused on soft pipe cleaners. Thanks to some internet inspo, here's what we did.

Dani's was supposed to be cat ears, but with her long locks, they morphed into Minnie Mouse ears.

Zoey's was a little more involved with multiple loops and braids. She's my experimental hair girl.

For Cam, we focused on color and I created a quick stencil using junk paper for the polka dots.

Now that I've discovered the joys of pipe cleaners, I can't wait until next year's Wacky Hair Day!

If you have any cool ideas, I'm always game. Are you as crazy about this silly day?

xoxo
Bethany

Autumn Decorating: Simple Garland Tutorial

2011-10-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

I'd love to tell you that I decorate my home for every season, but the sad reality is that I really only decorate in the fall and winter. I've got a few spring decorations that are my very favorites, but they are frequently forgotten in the New Year rush and bumble. And summer in Phoenix is just too darn hot to do much of anything including decorating. Because we (meaning the kids and I) are so proud of our efforts, I thought we'd share a few decorating ideas. Of course, it is getting a little late for Halloween decor, but you can certainly apply these ideas to other seasons.

We'll begin outside with my beautiful fall foliage.

That's it.

Now, we'll proceed inside with my bookshelves that we recently moved together. You will probably notice that I include a lot of potted plants in my decorating. I love plants. They add such a beautiful, organic feel to my home.

As you can probably surmise by the bricks and children's artwork, I believe in integrating kid stuff with adult stuff. I think it adds to the overall loving and accepting ambiance in our home.

Now for my crowning glory in decorating this year...I am so proud of this chandelier that I just might burst confetti puffy hearts. It was very difficult to photograph because I didn't want too many distracting elements in the background and I also didn't want to take everything off the walls. (I only have so much time to stylize my photos.) I hope you can get the idea. If only all of you lived near me, I'd show you in person.

I thought that the garland was enough until Zo came home from Brownies with these awesome-dawsom paper pumpkins. I quickly swiped them up, added strings and hung them. Now, we are complete.

Let me share with you how I made the very simple garland because everyone should be as happy as I am. (giggle) The title to this tutorial is a little lengthy, but I think it sums it up exactly

How to Make a Very Simple Garland
and Achieve a Sense of Serious Pride

in Your Decorating Talents

Materials
Double-sided paper
Hole Punch (optional)
Paper punches
Scissors
Sewing machine and thread OR embroidery floss and needle
Any other objects you'd like to incorporate.

Here are a few ideas for shapes: ghosts, cupcakes, any basic shape, leaves, hearts, flowers, letters, suns and moons, animals, Santa hats, pencil shapes, building shapes, shamrocks, birds, strips of paper or fabric, flags, superhero symbols, cars and trucks, etc.

Other things you might add: playing cards, tags, felt items, bulky flowers (like Primas or tissue paper flowers), ephemera like ticket stubs, maps, paint chips, crepe paper, etc.

Technique
1. Punch or cut out the shapes you'd like for your garland. You'll need about 2-4 pieces of 12x12 double- sided paper to make a nice size garland depending on the size of your punch, of course. (I personally used scraps from other projects.) My two oldest daughters (8 and 10 years old) helped with this part. Don't forget that you can use fabric too! Just use your scissors with fabric.

2. If you have a sewing machine and would like to use it, load up with your favorite color thread and begin to sew for about 6 inches with nothing in the machine, just get a little tail going. Next, place your shape into the machine and let the feed dogs take it in. Continue to sew for about an inch after your shape is integrated into the garland, then add another. Repeat until you are happy with the garland's length. If your thread breaks, don't panic. Just start again on the last shape and continue. Snip off any extra threads at the end. You can see a close-up below. I varied sizes of circles and was quite loose about how far apart they are. You can either randomly add each shape or you can do an ombre thing by starting with a light color and getting darker or you can keep each color together. You decide.

3. If you do not have a sewing machine, punch two very small holes in each shape at the top and thread a needle with a long piece of embroidery floss. (You want your holes to be big enough that the needle passes through easily, but small enough that the floss stays in place and your shapes don't eventually migrate to the center of the garland.) Go in and out of each shape adding it to the garland. This will take longer than the sewing machine method, but will have a homier feel. If you turn on the TV or listen to a podcast, you'll be done in no time!

4. Immediately after finishing with your sewing, hang your garland and enjoy the fruits of your handiwork. You rock!

Paper Strip Pumpkin Tutorial

Materials

2 Brads (any size)

Double-sided patterned paper

Hole punch

Scissors

String (optional)

NOTE: You don't have to make these spheres into pumpkins, they could also be Christmas ornaments or abstract globes or hung like lanterns for a fancy dinner party. It all depends on what kind of paper you use. What would happen if you used sheet metal? WARNING: Be careful with sheet metal as the edges may be very sharp and cut your hands!

Technique

1. Cut strips of paper out of double-sided paper. The strips should be about 2-3 inches wide and about 7-12 inches long depending on the size pumpkin you'd like. You'll need about 8 strips per pumpkin.

2. Stack the strips and punch a hole at the top and at the bottom of the all strips. If you have a Crop-a-dile, this will be easy. Make sure that you don't punch too far off the edge and the paper rips.

3. Insert the brads into the two holes.

4. Separate the strips to obtain a beautiful spherical shape. Do this carefully so you don't rip the paper.

5. If you'd like to hang your pumpkins, tie string to the brad and hang.

6. Enjoy!

If you have other ideas for cool garlands, please leave me a comment, I'll add them to this post. And, if you have any picture links, please share those too. Now that I have my cool chandelier (thanks Jess!) I'm very excited about decorating it.

xoxo
B

Zoo Trip

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, the kids and I went to the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, AZ. If you are in the Phoenix area and have a day, this zoo is well worth the visit. (FYI: You can get half-price coupons in Hickman's egg cartons sold at Target.) The animals are so close and so awake that it is thrilling for all ages. We got there right when the zoo opened. In fact, we were the first ones in. (We were more than excited about this adventure.) Can you blame us? When I get pictures like these?

Yes, that is a lion cub awake! And yawning. So cute. And the paws were so big!

Check out this guy in the aviary.

The rhino was so close, I could have touched him if I'd just stretched out my arm a bit. I decided that I wanted to live, so I didn't.

The camels were full of chat. They moaned and groaned for a good 5 minutes before we were pulled away by the warthogs nearby. They were asleep.

I don't have a very good picture because they were moving so much, but the black leopard and the spotted leopard held our attention for a long time. They were pacing and growling and even playing. It was amazing. I've never seen a leopard awake. Ever.

We also rode the zoo train and giggled over the bird that ran alongside us.

It was a fabulous day.

Winner of a Free Seat in Mixed-Media Memory Boards

2011-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! As usual, I'm a smidge late on announcing the winner of a free place in my Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards class. Unfortunately, that's how I roll sometimes.

I've been working on class content without stopping all week. I did draw a name on October 20th, but I failed to announce that lucky winner! So without further ado...

The winner is...GMS! Congratulations! I've emailed you with directions on how to redeem your free place. Class begins on October 27th!

Thank you to everyone else who entered the giveaway! I know that you didn't win, but I've got some very exciting plans for this blog and for the newsletter beginning January 2012. As soon as I've got everything in order, I'll divulge my extremely ambitious plans. I know you will love it lots.

xoxo
Beth

Giveaway Winners

2011-10-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!

Friday is my favorite day of the week. It is ripe with the possibilities of the weekend and represents the end of the stress of the work week. Wonderful day.

I've got a few giveaway winners to announce! First off, a few weeks ago I asked you to divulge a bit about your creative pursuits. I loved reading your comments. Each of you is so creative and I'm pleased that you felt comfortable bragging a bit about yourselves. Each of you has inspired me to live more creatively. Thank you. The winner of a little something from me is lexid. She went totally out on a limb and started, picked out and resewed a quilt. Good for you girl! Also, I was moved by SuZeQ's comment about working creatively with her therapist to solve her leg and foot pain. Good for you for taking action and thinking outside the box. As a recent (within a few years) knee injury survivor, I know how pain can debilitate and I'm sending loads of positive pain-free vibes your way. So instead of one, I'm sending out two packages. As soon as you two email me (kartchnerfamily @ cox.net). I'll pop a little one of these into the mail for you. (Yours will look slightly different from the one pictured.) I hope that this little bluebird brings you joy.

I've also got a winner for the issue of Mingle!

Before I announce that, can I just tell you how much better I felt after reading your recent party stories? I thought that I was the only one who had cold-feet when it comes to entertaining and now I realize that I'm simply part of big group of cold-feet-ers. Thank you everyone for your candid thoughts. I'm now totally at peace with my hostess anxiety.

Now, the winner. Completely randomly chosen by Random.org is commenter #2...Sue!

Congrats! Email me your snail mail (kartchnerfamily @ cox.net) and I'll pop your issue of Mingle in the mail!

Congratulations to everyone and again, a big fat thank you for your lovely comments. They always make my day brighter.

Also, there are only 5 days left to enter into my giveaway for a free spot in my Shimmering Mixed-Media Memory Boards class! See this post for details.

xoxo
B

Mingle Magazine Giveaway

2011-10-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Stampington's newest magazine, Mingle? It is filled with ideas for entertaining and gathering with friends and family. Not to mention the eye-candy. Good heavens...the eye candy, people!

I have to admit, at first, I wasn't interested in this particular magazine because I don't host very many parties. My life is so busy (heaven's to Betsy, with 6 littles, every single meal is a raucous party!) that I really don't have the opportunity. Plus, I feel very comfortable creating artwork for my walls, but when it comes to cooking and decorating, I've got some seriously cold feet.

However, when I actually sat down and began reading, something amazing happened. I was completely inspired by every. single. article. I'm not kidding. Not only that, but I didn't feel completely overwhelmed by the magazine. Sometimes when I read decorating or entertaining magazines, I end up chucking them at the wall because they make me feel...well...cruddy. I get feelings of inadequacy and all I want to do is lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself. (I usually stay far away from party/decorating blogs for that very reason.) Not so with Stampington's Mingle. Yes, the articles are all about amazing parties and amazing hostesses, but they didn't make me feel hopeless. The overall spirit of the publication is positive inspiration. How refreshing! And doable. Even for hopeless hostesses who don't like to cook for anyone other than their immediate family. (Like someone you might know...)

Oh, let me say a little about the photography too. The pictures are absolutely divine. The color schemes, the little details, the sumptuousness in them was amazing. Simply amazing. All and all, this is a great magazine. Perfect with a hot drink and perhaps a little something sweet. You're going to love it. I know it.

And...thanks to Stampington's generosity, I am hosting a Mingle giveaway!

I'm just so excited to send a lucky winner a brand new copy of this magazine courtesy of Stampington! If you'd like to win, leave me a comment telling me about the last great (or cruddy) get-together that you hosted (or attended). I'll choose a winner on October 14th based on the comments that I receive.

It's only fair that I begin so...my last get-together was with a few neighbors. I set up a baked potato bar (I thought myself quite decadent when I had both bacon and sour cream available!) and we got to know each other better while our children played outside. It was very simple. There weren't any fancy decorations or invitations, but we all enjoyed ourselves.

Okay, your turn!