Mi Casa de aRte

Urban Leather Cuff Bracelets "Vive La Vida"

Get some leather.

Cut to desired size/length.

Punch holes. Add rivets, studs, snaps etc.

Wet leather. Stamp/Emboss phrase or letters.

Give it away. To a very creative soul.

{{HOLidAy WorkShOp}} EZ Knit Scarf, Mini Coil Christmas Book & Jar of Yarn

Hello! I've been working like a little Elf for the Holidays! Here are my latest creations!

First! I learned to knit! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I am so thrilled with the outcome, as well! I love this color combo, but need to learn how to finish off the tails that come with switching out colors! The color combo is: Cranberry, Avacado and Ecru. Very Christmas-y! It was meant to be a gift, but I loved it so much, I kept it for myself!

 

Next on my Workshop List, I have been going nuts creating books for friends. I used coil system for the binding with Cool Red Coils! It's about 1.5 inch thick and 4x4 inches in size. I made this for my Mom for our "12 Days of Christmas" exchange that we are doing. I included about 32 pages of solid cardstock and patterned paper.

On the inside cover I included a clear pocket filled with photos, tags, red/white string and other embellishments! I'm hoping that she uses this immediately to document our exchanges! My thought is that she will use the included items for a quickie assemblage.

I also inclued a digi art gift tag! I love creating gift tags as part of my gift wrap. I used my jumbo craft punches for these tags. zutter bind it all

 

I used full sheets of white sticker paper and digital patterned paper to create the front and back covers. Then I cut to size, adhered it to the chipboard. This way, it was a NO GLUE craft!

I also love the Glittered Crown! These have been a blast to make! I use a Die Cut Chipboard Crown & Glitter! Voila! Your own embellished bling! martha stewart fine glitter

   

Stickles rock! The "day 3" was created on a photo-editing program.

   

   

Mini tags with stamped Holiday Phrases, Mini Wallet sized Photos that I created on my Epson Personal Printer.

    

A Mini Tag with red/white twine for Mom to use in her book!

 

And the finished product! .....

Next up....Jar of Yarn!

 

 

This was something I was so excited to give to my sister for the "12 Days of Christmas" Gift Exchange. We really try to spend as little $$ as possible and also try to recycle as much as we can.

These Jelly Jars I get at Trader Joes and they are to die for! I love the shape and size!

We also just got a new "Yarn Store" in our neighborhood, so I went crazy in that store recently buying some delicious color combos!

I created little baby yarn rolls in yummy colors and added to the jar. For the decor, I used plain white sticker paper and a "lace border punch" to create the doily effect on the bottom. Then add some ribbon and one of my "HOLIDAY ART TOKENS" from Etsy, and there you have it!!!!! (Not mention that she LOVED IT!)

I hope you get a few ideas from this post! Please let me know if you attempt any of these ideas! I'd love to see your take on it!

Dia de los Muertos Assemblage

I'm going to be teaching a series of workshops at a local artsy store, the Frenzy Stamper!

Here is an assemblage/mixed-media piece I'm teaching in celebration of Dia de los Muertos!

I love how it turned out! The skull was handmade and this is the main technique being taught in class. The piece can be hung or placed on an easel. Enjoy!

Mixed-Media Postcard Swap

I've been swapping like crazy on Swapbot. It's such a great way to release my creative spirit!

This swap was called: Mixed Media Postcard swap. You had to use at least 4 mixed-media techniques. I used the following; acrylics, hand-carved stamp, glitter, image transfer, watercolor, colored pencil, doodle.

I love taking postcards to the Post Office that I've created. The postoffice dude never fails to look perplexed!

 

 

Phoenix Photography {Scavenger Hunt}

I'm on a Crafty Swapping Site called SWAP-BOT and I've joined some photography swaps. They are a blast! Basically I have to go on a scavenger hunt around town to find various items that are predetermined by the Swap Hostess!

Today, my super-sweet-big-offspring and I woke up early, dropped off the super-sweet-mini-offspring at a friends' house.....drove through Starbux....(too HOT to get out of car).....and drove all over our town taking photos of doors, & colorful stuff!

We had so much fun! And to top it off, we were finished by 11:00 a.m. before the sun began to scald us!

Here is a sampling of my work!

 

List of 100 Things To Do Before I Die

About 10 years ago I made a list of 100 things I wanted to do before I died. Since then, several things have been crossed off...and many more are yet to come.

This month, I proudly crossed off another! To get my artwork published in a book. It is called:

1,000 Artist Journal Pages

DONE! Thanks to Dawn Devries-Sokol of D'Blogala for the opportunity. The book turned out beautifully! So glad you authored this!

To be in a book with so many talented artists really makes me feel honored.

If you have not purchased this book, and love altered journaling, it is a MUST SEE!

Here is a gander at two pieces that were chosen!

 

It's Almost Time!

.....almost time to return to my art and my trusty ol' blog! I have been missing you!

While I've been drowning in Nursing school, especially as of late...I've put my art to the side and my studies on the priority list. But it's KILLING ME! I have been craving my art outlet.

So tomorrow....is my last test of the Nursing School Career!!! If I pass...(yeah, I know..think positive!) then I will be entering my final internship at a local hospital and I graduate in May!

If I don't pass....(yeah, I know, think POSITIVE!) ..which is highly possible....then I will have the summer off and retake my exam in the fall. No biggie. At least I will take a little vacation and do some art! LOL!

So...those who visit my bloggie.....don't give up on me! When I'm back....(most likely this weekend)......I'll have TONS OF PROJECTS to post!

{*moleskine*pens*canvas-art*heart*words*}

1} Have always loved me a sturdy Moleskine journal. I am the type of art journaler that has MANY going at the same time. I LOVE THEM! I just grab the journal that inspires me the most at that moment. I recently decided to start an art journal of songs that inspired me....why they inspired me....the lyrics/artist, etc. The title of the journal is "Music & Lyrics".

2} I have a magent/chalkboard in my hallway as you walk in my house. I've always loved playing with the kiddo magnetic letters. Here are my inspiring words that I see everytime I walk in my house! And a cuite pic of my sis and I!

3} If you think you know me...then you know that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE....Hearts with Wings. I have collected them since I was 13 or so. Why? Well, here's the trivia.....Stevie Nicks inspired my passion with hearts/wings. She often signs her name with that symbol, and I was a huge Stevie fan as a teen. Met her several times, as I was a babysitter for the family!

4} I love making altered canvas art. This is only a small portion of the large canvas that I created over my last school break. The word PLAY is very inspiring to me. I have realized that even when I'm 95 years old, I will still want to play.

5} I recently did a "pen" inventory in my house. Oh my Lordy. I have well over a billion pens. All sorts and colors. So I did a very OCD thing. I organized them. There are about 15 buckets on my hallway table with PENS, PENS, PENS. Even did a pen test. Zig Markers won. They write the best on photos and are waterproof. (well, they won in myyyyy eyes...for my purposes). Also, in this photo is one of my fave digital collages I've created of my daughter. It's an 8x10 in an 11x14 IKEA frame.

HOPE YOU ARE INSPIRED ON THIS FRIDAY! Now, go PLAY!

*bAbIeS*gotta love 'em

Do you wanna just hug 'em and squeeze 'em?

Today's photoshoot was so fun! I loved holding and smelling that sweet little newborn! Took me back to the days of new motherhood. Sniff...although 40 is looming...I still have a ticking bio-clock. Sigh. ;o)