SDC 296: Weeds & Wildflowers

It feels like it's been a while since I participated in one of the Stampotique challenges.  I fell in love with Kassa's Bloom the first time I saw it.  It was so easy to stamp away to my heart's content for the flowerbundance challenge on the blog. 

Happy creating!

BBBB ATC

Brocade, blue, bee, bead gel medium...these are my b's for a letter B themed ATC swap.  We had to use at least 3 B items, techniques, etc.

The glass beads add a really cool sparkly effect when the light hits them and I added a smidge of wink of stella on the bee's wings too for a similar effect.

I hope you have a creative day!

Oops Art

We all have those moments when we just start creating and aren't totally sure which direction we're headed.  I watched a great alcohol ink video the other day where the artist made this beautiful piece outlining some of the ink blobs to transform them into gorgeous leaves and flowers.  I thought to myself, "Cool!  I think I'll channel that into an ATC."  Yeah, well, hmmmm....

It ends up that I don't have fine enough pens to doodle on Yupo paper on such a small canvas (most of my black pens smeared on it).  I ran into some other interesting ah-ha moments while creating this, too.

• Archival ink can be removed with alcohol
• Alcohol inks leave behind a shadow of color when removed (which is kinda pretty in real life)
• Copic markers don't blend on Yupo paper but leave behind cool, brush-like marks

The final result looks like this:

Major lesson learned is that I should stick to doodling on a larger canvas (hence the 'Note to Self' sticker).  😜  

In spite of my trepidation in sharing this, I'm going to enter it in the Rubber Dance monthly challenge.  What the heck - you only live once!

Cover My Envelope! Mail Art

Hello, my artsy friends!

I just finished this bit o' mail art and am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I created it for the "Cover my Envelope!" swap on SwapBot.

Back Side

I inherited a box full of envelopes a long time ago from a company that closed - perfect candidates for mail arting!

Last week I came home from work one day and just felt the need for a little art therapy.  The Muse was being irritatingly quiet so I decided to just get out some acrylics, stencils and envelopes and go to town.

The top one is the one I arted up even more (above), but look at all of these other lovelies ready to hit the mailbox!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I had kind of forgotten about this decorated envelope swap I'd signed up for.  When I looked at my sendee's 'likes' I noticed flowers were on there and remembered an art journal page I had done a long time ago where I'd draw a flower and then blacked out everything around it.  I drew the flowers on my envelope but when it came time to black everything out I decided to go a different route and paint the flowers white.  I thought I was done until I realized I had to decorate the entire back as well.  I decided to go for something coordinating.

I love how it turned out!  I hope my recipient likes it, too.  :)

Happy Spring (and Easter or Passover)!