Ta-Da Finished Crazy Bird card

Finished this card from earlier today. Colored the bird with SU watercolor crayons, the flowers with zig real brush pens, background with distress inks. When you make a background it is sometimes hard to find a way to use it. This seemed to fit the mood.

My experience with an online watercolor class

So this week I have been attending an Online Card Class for Watercoloring. I have never wanted to take a class online before, I felt like I could watch enough YouTube videos for free to learn about crafting. I just really needed some help with watercoloring. I feel like I can color with my Copics good enough to not be embarrassed after using them for a few years. This class seemed like a good idea. I read through the supply list and felt pretty confidant that I had enough of the supplies to actively participate. I own watercolor crayons from Stampin Up, Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens, gelatos(well, 4) Distress Inks, even a crayola pan set with 24 colors. I don't have any tube paints (scary) or Watercolor pencils(shocking). I watched all the videos for the 3day class, and read all the information. I decided to participate and even uploaded a few cards after I tried the techniques that I could. It's been fun but messy practicing. I learned a few things:

1. I need better brushes, mine shed. I bought a package at Michaels on sale(Craftsmart brand)
2. I need a package of watercolor pencils
3. I need to keep a clean cup of water next to my dirty rinse cup.
4. I will waste a lot of watercolor paper and I need to get over it.
5. I am NOT good at watercoloring! I need more practice.
6. I have a heavy hand with color...I don't do Light very well.

Here are a few pictures I took of some of the messes I made and some of the final projects I came up with So far.

Dreamy with Faded Jean Distress Ink

practice 1 blended distress

practice2 blending distress inks

unfinished, but colored crazy bird with watercolor crayons and up against distress background

colored with Zig real brush markers

colored with crayola 24 pan set(was a hot mess)

Zig real brush pens very first card attempt before class began

another Zig real brush pens with distess ink background, before class

my desk after this week, the floor is a mess too with paper everywhere LOL

So, I am glad I took this class and it has me inspired to try more classes in the future.

More journaling work

Here are some more pages in my "let's learn to art journal" journal.

Oops,I need to start over

Keep trying

Not as bad, I like the birds

started as a card but too many screw ups

Side by side comparison

As you can clearly see, I have a long way to go. I am learning how to use mixed media and distress ink, stenciling, layering, distress paints, gesso, I figure it is a good way to use all these art supplies I have been collecting for years. I am still watching videos online about mixed media, but you can't learn unless you do it. I mean practice like many many times until you see what works and what you like.

Art Journaling

So, as I continue to enjoy stamping and paper crafting, I am learning some things along the way. Like I like watching YouTube Videos of new techniques and styles. I have always wondered about art journals. I didn't understand their purpose but liked the pretty pictures.I see people create big messes on paper and use mixed media products, and create all kinds of stuff. It is kinda cool. I'm better at a more controlled design, like seeing something and then recreating it in my own way so it is slightly different. Never really that good at making original art. Even as a kid I would sit and draw for hours, trying to copy pictures from the Sunday comics in the newspaper. I was pretty good at Snoopy! I can still draw him! But, not really an artist. Just like to make stuff.

I have been sick for 2 weeks with a wicked upper respiratory infection. During that time I started looking at pinterest images and looking at many different techniques and art journaling. Then I saw JoAnn's had Tim Holtz Distress inks on sale, 40% off! Wow! I had about 9 distress ink pads already but at that price I went a little crazy. I now have twice that many LOL. Time to use some of that stuff! So without further ado, I made my first art journal page. Don't laugh, I"ve got some learning to do. I am learning and my goal is to use the journal as evidence that I can stretch myself , use those supplies I never use and get artsy! Um helloo, I bought that Tattered Angels glimmer mist 5 years ago and never used it before! I have stencils and embossing paste and distress inks and even a stain to try! I am going for it.

This magically appeared in my drafts LOL...see next post

Art Journaling

  

Learning to create an art journal. Entry 1

I had written a clever and introspective blog post, pretend it didn't get locked up and have to be deleted to move on.

I'm teaching myself new techniques and stuff. Pretend you are reading all about it here. It involves things like glimmer mist and embossing paste and stuff.

MFTWSC221

MFT Sketch Challenge 221, Getting the hang of this again.

Flat surface changes the light and makes it a completely different color.

Standing up

Inside

MFT Dies and stamps

My Minds Eye Fine and Dandy paper

Dew Drops spring mix

Ranger Glossy Accents on balloon

Colored with copics

Birdhouse 2

And here I go again. I have 3 of these birdhouses to alter, this is number 2. I used some very old Basic Gray Lily Kate papers from maybe 8 years ago. I might keep this one for myself.

Dies: MFT
Paper: Basic Gray
SU scallop punch
Prima Flowers
Mod Podge
Maya Road button

Hello 2015. It is already mid March and I sort of made a New Years resolution to start crafting and stamping again. It isn't going well LOL! Oh well. I have stamped an occasional card in the past few months but I haven't really documented them. My blog is really just for me, not looking for recognition or anything like that. I do like looking back at the things I have made just to see if I have improved.

I decided to try altering a birdhouse after hoarding a couple that I bought maybe 4 years ago. About the time my hubby said he was going to throw them away I decided I better do something with them. My mod podge wasn't even dried up like I thought it might be after sitting on a shelf all this time. I started off by looking at examples I found on Pinterest. I didn't want to go buy a bunch of supplies so my goal was to use pre existing craft supplies in my hoard. I had paper, dies, chip board, prima flowers ect... I knew I could do something with all this stuff. I wanted shabby chic for sure, so I found an old paper pack from Crafty Secrets called Earthy from the Heartwarming Vintage Collection. I have had that paper at least 6 years LOL.My second goal was to find colors that might work in my Mother's guest room. She has a bird theme going on in there. So I might give it to her for Mother's day if it looks good enough. Anyway. Here are a few photos of the mostly finished project. I say mostly because I might add a couple things if I look at it long enough and decide it needs more.

Paper: Crafty Secrets

Dies: My Favorite Things, Picket Fence, Fancy Flourish, Butterflies, Leafy Flourish, Leaf Filled Flourish

Chipboard Bird from Stampin' Up

Wooden Button from Maya Road

Flower and Leaf from Prima

Mod Podge

Twine

Bling on Butterflies Crystal Stickers