3D

A lot of my cards lately have been three dimensional or mixed media type cards. Not sure if that's just because of the specific challenges for each day, or because I gravitate towards texture and depth. Sorry this post is going to be super long...I've been bad about updating this blog (but I haven't missed a day yet of making a card!)

Day 67 - Made some splatter painted stars to go with my ten-word sci fi story...it's really hard to write a story with only ten words...this is a pretty pathetic attempt! 

Day 68 - The problem with leaving your project to the late hours of the night, is that you don't always have all the materials you need...like newspaper to make paper mache. So I had to make it out of kleenex...it doesn't work so great. Sort of like boogy filled tissues. Gross! Oh well.

Day 69 - Sometimes I get Jordan to help me with my cards. Today we drew this picture together. He drew himself and I drew myself and the background. 

Day 70 - Lots of magazine scouring for this one

Day 71 - I had fun making lots of layers with this one. Stamps, a pencil drawing on vellum, a piece of a clothing tag, a magazine cut-out, a rub on transfer, sewing patterns, a button, distressing ink, and gel gloss medium. 

Day 72 - I pinned these shoes on pinterest and would totally love to have them...but I'll settle for painting them instead. 

Day 73 - Considering there was some snow on the ground, I just used a rock I had in my house. This polished rock was actually one that I polished myself in my rock tumbler from when I was little (pretty cool hobby but I lost interest in it after a while). I like how this card turned out.

Day 74 - Totally cheated on this card. Haha. It said something about being bold and creating your work in a local establishment. I really didn't feel like going anywhere, so I changed it to just be something bold and made this felt flower. 

Day 75 - Again, snow on the ground, so I didn't want to go outside to do a sidewalk chalk drawing. This was second best.

Day 76 - My sisters and I use to create jewelry, so I still have a lot of beads and things. I should've made two of these then the person I trade with could actually wear them.

Day 77 - Tried my hand at quiling.

Day 78 - I made up some fictional facts about the guy who took my order at Jugo Juice and created this card around a magazine cut out of a guy's hands.

Day 79 - I cheated yet again and didn't actually pick anything up off the ground today, but I did use an old label from a Jones bottle. It ended up being mostly covered in this card, but that's okay, sometimes I just need a jumping off point. 

Day 80 - Tie Dye!

Day 81 - Today I tried to make some image transfers for my collages (The stop sign and the music notes). They were a little tricky because you have transfer images printed with certain ink onto certain paper and it helps if the image has black lines. But it was nice that it only used packing tape. Next time, I might try to do some transfers with my printer, but I need some fancy paper... To complete the daily challenge, I used the eraser on the back of a pencil to stamp the background.

Day 82 - Sometimes I really hate doing the daily challenge. Other days, I love it. Today was one of the days that I was just really annoyed to have to conform to the requirements from the book. But sometimes those ones are the ones that help stretch my imagination. 

Day 83 - Lime light.

Day 84 - I made the background for this by making bubbles out of soap, water, and paint then pressing paper on it. (Blue and purple) I also used one of my homemade transfers and some journaling. Then I spread some green ink over the card. These are the types of cards I really like making. 

Under the Weather

I've been stuck at home the past few days with a cold which gave me some time to work on some ATCs. A few of the days I felt my creative juices flowing and got some neat cards done. The other days, I had no energy and felt like I made some lame cards. But that's okay. I'm allowed to have some "off" days. I'm going to have to learn how to be flexible with this project considering I'm having a baby in 4 months!

Day 63 - I used my new gel medium today to add some texture to this card. (It's hard to see in the photo). The background is a combination of watercolor pencils, stamping, chalk pastel, sewing pattern, and distressing ink. I made the mask out of party streamer paper. I really love how this card worked out. I actually tried making a different background before this one and it was SOOOO ugly, I threw it in the garbage. Haha. So today's motto was the good old, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again."

Day 64 - I made a silhouette of my pregnant belly today! I'm 23 1/2 weeks along. The background is watercolor and stamps.

Day 65 - Today I didn't feel creative at all. Have you ever played with a tangram before? You can make all sorts of designs...but I couldn't come up with anything! So I cheated and used google. Haha. 

Day 66 - Jordan: "What are you doing?..... Painting with celery?..."

The Art Supply Store is Like a Candy Store to Me

A week or so ago I went to Colours Art Supply Store (across from SAIT/ACAD). I would've bought everything if only I had remembered to swing by the bank so I could rob it before I stopped by. Seriously art supplies can cost an arm and a leg!
I also went to Michaels - yay for 50% off coupons!
I purchased:

Cotman Watercolors 
-I realized I couldn't really mix pink with the few tubes I had, so I bought a pink shade and a lighter purple shade

Wooden Stamps & Stamp Pads
-These aren't the exact ones I bought, but they are similar. They'll be great for my mixed media cards

Distress Ink
-So excited about this stuff! You rub it onto the edges or surface to create a vintage look.

Trading Card Protectors
-Finally found some of these at Staples. They are stupid expensive though. I'll keep my eyes open for a cheaper place.

Gel Medium for Acrylics 
-I've been wanting to buy this stuff for a long time. I tried it once in art class in high school and it's so fun. It adds texture to your paint. You can make it more 3D. I don't reeeaally know how to use it, but I'll just experiment with it. 

Canvas Paper
-I got this so I can use my acrylics more often. This paper is pretty thick and also has that canvas texture. So awesome. 







And now for some recent cards!

Day 54 - I love making cupcakes but I try not to very often because I end up eating too many! I'm going to try making some muffins today (bit healthier right?)

Day 55 - Write a jingle? So weird...haha..So I sang a little tune in my head and wrote these words to fit it.
"Have you ever felt anything as refreshing as the rain?
It makes your heart sing
It's a simple thing
Let it wash away your pain"

Day 56 - Cutie Elephant

Day 57 - Used my new stamps!! And my mom gave me the leather tag off her new boots. Yes!

Day 58 - I hate working large scale, so when today's project challenged me to work bigger, I allowed myself to sketch freely and not worry to much about proper perspective, shading, or any "rules". It felt much better to not feel pressured to make it perfect. And I think that's what this year's project is for me. I'm not creating high profile art here. I am EXPRESSING myself. To me, that's the most important thing, and I challenge you to do the same in everything you do. Don't be so worried about what people think.

Day 59 - I tried to pick two art materials I didn't think "went" together...I ended up realizing watercolors and compressed charcoal go totally great together. Who knew?! I painted the wall, vine, and door first then added the charcoal to create the decorative plate, handle, lock, and light. I also added some charcoal as shading on the left side of the door and around the vine using a blending stick (tortillon). I used a graphite stick along the handle to make it more shiny like metal. 

Day 60 - "Make something that casts a shadow and document only the shadow"

Day 61 - I used these buff puff things from the bathroom then diluted some watercolors and dropped them with a little dropper (Oh ya, I bought that at the art supply store too - super handy)

Day 62 - "Make something with your dinner before you eat it". Oops...totally read this one AFTER I ate dinner. So we made a late night snack of a smoothie and I took a picture of it before we blended it up.