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.

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!

~*Journal Love~*

I have been doing alot of experimenting with my own doodling and drawing skills in journals lately. Of course I can't say enough about the MOLESKINE journal! Others just don't cut it! No imitations please!

The first photo is of work I've done in a journal dedicated to doodling. Good ol' fashioned doodles! I would sometimes add stickers and such. But mostly doodles and writing. Then color in with markers.

Next are the sketches I'm doing in a class of whimsical faces! I really don't like drawing faces...so this is a challenge for me! It does take lots of practice! But I'm getting better!

Next is a journal that is for "practice" stamping. Sometimes I just need to stamp my beloved stamps. Then I color in....and add whatever text or doodling.

And lastly, is a journal that I write in response to a book that I'm reading. This prompt asked that you write a letter to your heart. It was quite interesting how this turned out. I really like it! If you can't read the text, see below.

Dear Heart,

How do you consume me? How do you keep working? Do I give you faith to believe? Does my spirit keep you healthy? I think of you often. I try to teach you well. I thank you for repairing the heartbreaks you've felt throughout the years. I've tried to be strong for you. I believe that my heart (you) still has space for all-consuming-passionate love. I know you are waiting. Please stay strong. I promise to feed you soon.

Rosie

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!

 

Going to a GOCCO!

So you may have heard me mention, that for my 40th bday, I bought myself a Button Maker? Well, did I mention that I also bought a Gocco Printer? Heehee.

While I was in school last semester, I didn't have time to play. But this summer is different! I have tons of time and that is what I have been doing!

I love how fast and easy the printing is. I love its' basic techniques, yet exquisite results!

Here is a montage of my Gocco Attempts!

1st: Prepare your printer with a high contrast image from your laser printer.

 

2) Using Gocco Bulbs & Screens, "flash" your image to make an inkable surface! Ink it up!

 

3) Insert inked image into cover. Place paper down to be inked.

 

4) close the cover and give it a little muscle!

 

This screened was set up to produce (2) ATC sized images so I can use them in swaps. I was able to do two different color themes by placing "blocking" material between the two images. This helps the ink from running into the other image!

 

Lots of images to dry on the Lego Table! They take about 1/2-1 hour to dry. The more absorbent the paper, the faster the drying time. PLUS...it's been 110 or hotter here, so it's pretty quick!

 

Printed on various papers & a Moleskine Journal!

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this little journey with me!

I'm Published! *1,000 Artist Journal Pages by Dawn Devries Sokol*

I am so excited! I submitted my art-journal pages to a new book coming out by Rockport publishers in July of '08 called "1,000 Artist Journal Pages" by Dawn Devries Sokol. I am honored to say that I am FINALLY PUBLISHED! I can finally mark this off of my list of "100 Things to do in my Lifetime".

Well, on her blog today, she posted the book in its' current stages for publication! It is ready for PREORDER on AMAZON.COM!! Whoohooooo!

This book I'm sure will be amazing and I'm honored to be in the company of many talented altered/mixed-media artists. I can't wait to see it in real life!

Congrats Dawn! You are extremely creative, stylish and talented! Thanks for authoring! And thanks for including me in this book! ;o)

Inspired Altered Altoid Tin

Anahata Katkin had the cutest little chocolates tin that she stored her graphite/charcoal stumps in. It was a "Tiffany Blue" color and I just loved it! Anyhow, I bought some of the stumps today and figured I'd make a tin too!

Hm.....remember the HGTV show I was on? Making Altoid tins??? Well, people sent me them by the hundreds and I have a couple drawers full! Here is my result!

On the cover, I used a heating tool to adhere the adhesive back Swarovski Crystals. It really adds the bling! On the side, I hand stamped the sterling strip with a phrase and bolted it through the holes. Guess what I used to make the holes in the tin???? YES! The Cropadile works like butter through metal! AMAZING! For the sides and the bottom, I spread strips of masking tape and then stamped some text on it.  The insides, I created a little devider and added a sticker! VOILA! NOW GO MAKE ONE! Teehee.

alteReD diGitAL pHoTo

RHONNA'S Creativity Excercise

Over at Rhonna's Blog, it's "Creativity Exercises" a day! Try it! Today was, put on your fave music and create away! Woot, woot!!!