Be Inspired Workshop - Stencil Magic

I'm teaching another specialty class at LBH next week as part of the "Be Inspired" series of workshops.  The next class will focus on stencils and the many ways to use them. Hope you will join me!

Tuesday July 1st 

Be Inspired: Stencil Magic

 Cost $25.00

10am-12:30pm or 6pm-8:30pm

Stencils are "on trend" right now and there are so many different 

ways to use them. In this Be Inspired Workshop, we will 

 share many of these techniques with lots of samples,

 ranging from very simple and mess-free 

to mixed media artsy applications. You will create 5 Tags

 to incorporate in future projects or to use as

 reference tools. 

There's something for everyone in this fun workshop!

Student Supply List:
Non-stick craft sheet  -  LBH has a few small ones to share
Heat tool – LBH has a few to share
Stencils of choice - different sizes and styles – LBH has a few to share
3-4 favorite coordinating colors of Distress Ink – LBH has a variety to share – If you want specific colors feel free to bring your own.

Blending tools – the minis work great – LBH will have blending foam to use
Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress inks – LBH has to share
Black permanent fine pen
Regular Sharpie black permanent pen
Black Archival ink pad – LBH has a few to share
Background stamps script, crackle or small print –LBH has a few to share

Call the Little Blue House at 
817-431-7930 to reserve a spot.
 We look forward to creating with you!

Cancellation Policy: Class fee is nonrefundable.
Class fee is non-transferable without 48 hour notice 

I'm back!

I returned last Tuesday night after almost two weeks in beautiful Vermont visiting with my mother and celebrating her birthday. It was so nice and cool compared to the Texas heat! While we were there we had a family photo session with two daughters and their families. The other kids didn't make it in due to oversold flights etc. This is the only preview we've seen - I'm hoping there are many more as the photographer snapped hundreds of photos!

Now it's time to jump with both feet back into the teaching routine at the LBH! I will be teaching a "Be Inspired - Totally Texture"mixed media class on Tuesday, June 24. You can choose either morning, 10 am - 12:30 pm, or evening,  6 pm - 8:30 pm and the cost is $25.00.  Here's more information:

 Be Inspired:Totally Texture 

In this artsy workshop you will be exploring a variety of ways to add texture to your projects. You will learn how to create layers of fun texture using an assortment of papers, fabrics, lots of lotions & potions while creating a lovely 8x10 canvas incorporating all these techniques!  Be prepared to get Messy & have lots of Fun!

There are a few seats left in each session.  Call the LBH to sign up - 817-431-7930.

Upcycled Paper Towels

I should be packing as I am leaving this evening for a ten-day trip to Vermont to celebrate my mother's birthday with her and have a family reunion with most of my kids and little grand boys. My son, Will, is coming in from San Francisco; my youngest daughter and her boyfriend are flying in from Chicago; Kelly, Josh and little Carl are coming from Austin; and Dana, John and little Drew will be in from Albuquerque. We will have a full house!

But I had started this journal page a few days ago and it was calling to me to finish it before I left! The background has a scrap paper I had painted and stenciled and didn't use for another project. I cut into approximately one-inch squares a dried paper towel with lots of green and blue paints and glued them all over the background.  Once that was dry, I brayered some ivory paint over the page and then sprayed with gold webbing. This can is old and it didn't really "web" like it was supposed to, but there's some great texture nonetheless.

The finishing touches were some white paper flowers in my stash that I inked and glued in place. The stems are simply some green twine I had and I used some tiny alpha stickers for the words.

So now, no more excuses. I need to go pack! I doubt I'll be posting while I'm gone, so I'll "see" you again in a few weeks.

New Scribbly Bird Stamps

This week I finally received my much-coveted "Scribbly Bird Stamp Set" by Dina Wakley and I just love the little birds and the sayings on this set.  I couldn't resist finishing up this art journal page with one of the cute birds. And since I already had a heart on the page, the saying was perfect too. It says "Keep a green bough in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come."

The background was done with lots of "mop up" inks, paints, sprays and dribbles. The letters and numbers were added with modeling paste and stencils. The heart was a book page that I tested a new Balzer Bits heart stencil on - which failed as you can't read it but I loved the color and kept it anyway.

I cut the tree branch from some book text and cut out and colored the leaves. The bird was stamped on book text also and then painted and glued to page. The quote was stamped on a vintage label.  I love how this turned out from just a messy half-finished page.

And, just for grins, I thought you might like to see what my workspace looks like after a creating frenzy!

And more - Rolodex Art Journal Cards

Here are the last 13 cards for May.

Peeled Paint techniques using vaseline as a resist

Painted paper towel scraps cut into squares and glued over painted base

Paints and stamps added over a print of Rae Missigman's artwork

Distress paints and doodles

Painted paper scrap with tape transfer (flower rug from catalog)

Background of deli paper painted with fluid acrylics

Drywall tape with Distress paints and stains, doily, chipboard stars

Book text covered with Art Anthologya "Dazzle" paint; heart created with 2 pieces of painted bubble wrap, ironed together

Red, white and blue in honor of Memorial Day (denim background)

Distress paints, whipped spackle colored with Art Anthology spray ink and spread over stencil (after finishing the entire card, noticed it was upside down with holes for Rolodex at top - nothing a little ribbon couldn't fix!)

"Mop up" baby wipe with Dymo label lettering

This started out as a painty mess (see lower third) and kept getting worse with everything I added. Finally added pieces of collage sheet from Jodi Ohl and moved on

Inkense pencils spread over gesso base with baby wipe and collaged images

And now I'm starting June!

May Rolodex Art Journal Cards

It's the beginning of June and that means that I have finished yet another month of altered Rolodex art journaling cards.  I didn't make one per day, but I did all but five! I'm not going to kick myself over that! This is supposed to be fun (and it is!) so if I miss a few days, so be it.

Are you ready?

Strips of deli paper painted with Golden Fluid Acrylics

Leftover painted paper with image from Christmas card - we have two cardinals visit us every spring

In honor of Nat. Scrapbook Day (May 3) - scraps of papers

Leftover painted papers and magazine letters

Lots of textured bits glued to background and painted with Silks Acrylic Glaze - hearts are chocolate kiss wrappers

Love this paper with pastels and wanted to save a piece that I could look at daily

Scrap paper with embossing paste thru stencil - shrink plastic tag

I didn't create this - it's the business card of Dina Wakley that I love and wanted to save

Collage of small tags with gesso and Dylusions spray inks

Paint scrap paper with leftover sequins

Watercolor pencils on background blended with gesso, background stamp embossed, punched glitter paper stars

Lots of textures and Dylusions spray ink; wood veneer butterfly

Magazine image and words; security envelope liner with doodles

Stamped images over magazine map