Holiday Angel Tealight Holder

 Hi!

I'm using wire mesh for the first time with Creative Paperclay® to create this angel tealight holder.

Follow the link to my tutorial Holiday Angel Tealight Holder

Happy Creating,
Shari

Creative Paperclay® air dry modeling material: Shari's tip of the month

Check out my new Creative Paperclay ® tip of the month! 

 The Unexpected Paperclay Mold

Happy Creating!

Shari

Recreating my Favorite Sage Burning Bowl

 

 

 

 

Good morning!

 

Working with clay can be great therapy. The creative results can too!

Check out my sage burning bowl I created using Creative Paperclay®

 

Let me show you how to make one

 Happy creating,
Shari

Creating for the holidays

Let me show you how to make this mixed media Day of the dead banner using Delight clay from Creative Paperclay.

Happy creating!
Shari

Shari's tip of the month for September

 Hi!
If you have worked with Creative paperclay® before, or are a first timer, my tip of the month will be something you will want to check out.

 Shari's tip of the month

 Happy Creating!
Shari

Fall is coming and so the crafting begins!

 Hi!
Lover of everything Halloween here. This is my favorite time of the year . So many fun Halloween decorations, crafting, and candy eating going on!!

Want to see how I made this cute Halloween Goulie Wand? Head on over to the
  Creative paperclay blog.



 With a little imagination you can create more starting from the basic instructions on my tutorial. My grandson just loves them!

Happy creating!
Shari

Recycle your CD and put a new spin on suncatchers

Good Morning!

All my vacations and the summer holidays are over and its time for me to get back to the studio and do some creating! 

Today I came across a great way to recycle old CDs into sun catchers. It was super fun and EASY. I love the results.

If you are lucky enough to have a creative reuse store in your area like I do, you can find all the old CDs your little heart desires. You can always look at garage sales, and thrift centers as well.

 I used E6000 Allure dimensional design for the outlines and Glass stain by DecoArt to color in the design.

Here are a few images of my sun catchers that I created and the link to create your own.
Sun catcher directions

Happy Creating,
Shari

Featured Artist Linda Cain: Time on the Wings of a Butterfly

I want to occasionally share with you some of the creations I am inspired by.

Today I came across a wonderful tutorial by Linda Cain.  I am in love with this style right now.

Join me in checking out the tutorial and creating your own.

Shari

Finnabair: Time on the Wings of a Butterfly: Happy Creative Friday, Everyone! Do you remember catching butterflies with Irina ? Today we have a beautiful Grungy specimen caught on ca...

Not Your Mama's Faux Stained Glass Project

Hi!,

I wanted to show you a faux stained glass piece I created using DecoArt® glass stain. This product is so easy to use, the colors are vibrant, and they are self leveling. The other brands that I have tried did not have self leveling. I believe this is mandatory in getting that flawless stained glass look.

I found an old window at my local "everything" shop the other day. I removed the glass and cleaned it with soap and water, then used rubbing alcohol on it and let it air dry. Note... Because this window is old  you have no way of  knowing what type of paint etc. is on it that could be toxic, I made sure to use gloves and an air mask.

I sanded the frame where there were visible rough spots, scraped out the old window sealant, and wiped it down with a damp cloth. I painted the frame with DecoArt® chalky finish paint ( Lace) and sealed it with Ultra-matte varnish.


I created the pattern for the stained glass using paper the same size as the glass. I wrote in the colors I would use in the different areas with a black sharpie. I laid the window on top of the pattern and traced it on the glass with a black Sharpie® pen. Remove your pattern and set aside. Note.. Do not add the color names of each area on your glass. Refer back to your pattern for your colors.

Start tracing each line with DecoArt® stained glass leading. Let dry overnight. Note: You may need to do a small areas at a time so as not to smear it. You can clean up lines using a tooth pick and a baby wipe.

Start filling each area with your chosen colors. I have added a video which shows this technique and others I used.

I added an extra special touch on my piece. I added stained glass color in the middle of each flower. When completely dry I glued glass stones that matched the color. It gives it a little 3D look. I used Dap® Adhesive Sealant to secure the window back into the frame. I used large eye hooks, chain, and S hooks to hang it on my front porch.

I am so happy with what I could  achieve using this product! I was a little nervous when I started with this large piece but it turned out beautiful and  I absolutely LOVE it!!  My neighbors are showering me with compliments. 


Happy Creating!

Shari

It's The Journey Not The Destination

HI!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Memorial day weekend. I was ready for a weekend at home since I had traveled all of last month.

I had such a wonderful time visiting the Pacific Northwest. I grew up and lived in Washington and Oregon for many years. This place I called home wasn't new, but this time something was different. I wasn't rushed so I explored. I didn't think about time all that much.  I looked at things with new eyes.  I healed though I didn't even know I needed it. It was about the journey not the destination. When I arrived back in Texas my soul was nourished and my heart at peace.

Catching up on emails and social media lead me to a call for  Faber-Castell's Design Memory Craft® core design team.

 I  use Gelatos®  on a number of my mixed media pieces. For the design team creation I created a  hanging wall piece using Design Memory Craft® Gelatos®, Gesso, and Pitt® pens on canvas fabric.

How perfect is this quote!

Let's create one!

Materials needed 
Canvas fabric
Stencils
Painters tape
Molding paste
Palette knife
Round dowel
Wood dowel caps
Fiber yarn
Wood Glue
Sewing machine
White thread
Paint brushes
Water

 Gelatos®
Green Tea
Boysenberry
Grape
Cotton Candy
Blueberry

Pitt ®Pens 
Big Brush Black 5.0mm
Small Brush Black 2.0mm
Big Brush White  4.8 mm


 Step 1
Wash, dry, and iron your canvas fabric. Note.. do not use fabric softener. Figure out the size you want your hanging to be and add 1" extra on the bottom and sides for the hem, and 2.5 " for the top pocket for your dowel to go into.  Cut and stitch.

Step 2
Color the fabric with all the colors. Blend the colors with water. To tone down the colors add watered down gesso. Note.. Let your canvas completely dry before continuing.

 Step 3
Attach your stencil to the canvas using painters tape. Apply the molding paste using a palette knife.
Slowly and carefully remove the tape and lift the stencil off the canvas.

Step 4 
Using a damp stiff brush, rub it against your Gelato® color and apply the color to your stencil image.
When done, outline the image with your Pitt pens.Use black Pitt® pens to color in the saying. Let dry completely.

 

Step 5

Finally, you can push the dowel through the pocket hole you made at the top of your canvas. Use wood glue to attach the caps to the dowel. Let dry. Attach your fiber yarn for hanging.

Thanks for joining me!

Happy creating,

Shari 

 

Crafty Creations Inspired by Alice in Wonderland

The new Alice movie is finally out and I can't wait to see it!!  I have always been in love with anything Alice. In honor of  Through the Looking Glass, I wanted to share a  few creations I did a while back. These pieces were inspired by the magical Wonderland. For the Teacup Pin Cushion, I included a link to the tutorial so you can make one too. 

Alice in wonderland inspired pin cushion

 

Just perfect for the Mad Hatter's love of sewing and tea parties.

 From display shelves to Alice inspired plant stand

 I picked up this old display shelf at Scrap Denton for less than 10 bucks! I could see plant stand written all over it. It was so whimsical looking I knew it would make a great Alice piece.

 

 

 Thanks for stopping by. I hope you were inspired to create an Alice project of your own!

Shari

Comparison: Distress Crayons vs. Gelatos

Hey y'all!

I've used Gelatos in my work for years and I love them. I just purchased the Ranger Distress Crayons. More choices when creating my mixed media art work!

Let's check out Craft Test Dummy's video to see the similarities and differences of these two products. 

Happy Creating!

 Shari

Resin Stamping Block Techniques That Work

 Hey...... good morning!

Ahhhh it's Friday! Still sleepy here but I have my coffee in hand and I am making my way around YouTube this morning. I found a video that helped me out so I decided I must share it with y'all.

I bought these resin stamps awhile ago. I was so disappointed because I haven't had much luck in getting a great print with these. You too?

 

I discovered a tip and technique video on Craft Test Dummies.Viola! Creative success with these pretty printing blocks. Now I am going to make a ton of tea towels.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuXW1_oM4Ds&feature=em-subs_digest

Happy creating!

Shari

A Craving to Create

Good Morning!

Were you wondering where I have been? Well, I was on an adventure in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. My sister shattered her hip so I flew up to see her during her recovery. I  was also able to visit friends and family that I hadn't seen in years. My sister says it was a blessing in disguise. She was so right!

I went up there with NO ART SUPPLIES!!!  I told myself that I was not going to have anytime to even consider art.

One day I felt something was missing. I needed my studio. I must create something, anything!!

 I googled Art Supply Stores and found the most fantastic store right in the heart of where I was staying! Runaway Art and Craft Studio's owner and mixed media artist/ teacher Christy Wood and her staff were so helpful and friendly. This store had everything I needed and some new stuff I had not seen before in my area that I couldn't live without.(oh and no sales tax!)

Here are the altered books I created  with  supplies from Runaway. The "Grow" book started out as an altered flower book but soon grew into a journal of my trip. 

My 4 yr old grandson is now helping me create in my "inspire" book.

I am now home and so grateful to have been able to make the journey up to help my sister through her healing, and to see those I have missed so very much.  This trip was so amazing in so many ways!! I too found healing and also growth that was so unexpected.  :)


Shari

 

DecoArt Media Winter Wonderland Challenge

 Hi!
While the east coast is hunkering down and trying to stay warm, in Texas we have had a very mild winter. Others are salting their driveways while we are salting our margaritas.

 The DecoArt  Media Winter Wonderland challenge was a way to bring a small piece of the snowy weather to my southern home. Oh and the prize package is to die for!!

 Winter Wonderland Challenge

Imagining Winter

 

 DecoArt media products 

Gesso

Matte Medium

Liquid Glass

Snow-Tex

Crackle Paste

Shimmer Misters (Turquoise and White)

Metallic Lustre (Majestic Purple)

 Glass paint marker (White)

DecoArt media fluid acrylics 

Interference Blue

Carbon Black

Cobalt Teal Hue

Translucent White

Titan Buff

Phithalo Blue 

Cerulean Blue

Other products

10x10 burlap canvas

Tim Holtz tissue wrap

Stencils ( honeycomb and swirls)

Dictionary pages

Imagine ephemera

 I really love the textures and the bright colors of the Media line. I hope that I can win this challenge and receive all of those mixed media goodies!

Shari