Valentine's Day One Sheet Coupons Mini Album

Here's a fast and easy project to create as a gift for Valentine's Day! A One sheet coupons mini album. You can create a few of those and write different treats or gifts on the coupons according to who will get them.

For a spouse or a boyfriend you can give a massage, a fancy dinner or even the s word. For a friend it can be a manicure, a movie or anything that you like to do together. The choices are endless! Just customize your coupons mini album with your choice of papers, colors and embellishments.

You can even create a large mini album by attaching a few small mini albums together. Attach two ends of the mini album back to back with a little double sided adhesive. You will have more room for extra coupons...

Isn't that a really cool project? You have a gift, which are the coupons and what is written on them of course, and a pretty way to present them inside the mini album. And you only need one 12x12 sheet of double sided cardstock to create it!

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Black Art Journal Page

A black art journal page is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. Creating an art journal page with a black background can be counter intuitive at best or completely stupid at worst. After all black is a depressing color, there is not a lot you can add to it and it's not a really good choice for a background color. well..that's what I told myself for a long time but then I decided to challenge myself and do it!

I painted a spread in my art journal using the amazing Dylusions black paint. It only took a small amount of the paint to cover the entire spread and it dried really quickly. I wanted to keep it simple so I decided to doodle on the black background with a white Sharpie pen.

I chose a happy pattern of fields and funny houses and unlike myself I added journaling and not just a quote. Talk about challenging... Doodling with the Sharpie was so fun and relaxing I just kept going and going, adding more and more details. I had to stop at one point when I remembered this is supposed to be a short video tutorial :)

I really recommend trying this. A lot of you emailed me that I make doodling look so easy but it's actually is easy! You just start with something small and then add something else and you keep going until you cover the page. The striking effect you get is because of all the little shapes coming together and not fancy painting! And the most important thing to remember is that art journaling is not about being pretty it's about creating an art journal page that speaks to you!

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Steampunk Hot-Air Balloon

The steampunk queen strikes again! FYI I didn't give myself this title...you did, or at least some of you Lol! I sure love steampunk and I'm happy to share with you another project. This one looks difficult but it's much easier than you think! It's because of all the tricks I'm using here to create faux metal and keep everything light weight.

I started with a plastic ball I got at the craft store, you can use an ornament or even a glass ball, although you will need to be a little bit more carefull with that. I covered the ball with pieces of gold Duck Tape and then painted it with black acrylic paint. I waited for about half a minute and then wiped the paint with a paper towel, creating a really pretty effect of blackened metal.

I added faux leather stripes with faux rivets and steampunk embellishments, including a propeller. I used an old cardboard box as the basket. I covered it with paper and embellished it a little. Remember you don't want the hot-air balloon to be too heavy so don't add a lot of metal pieces. Then I added four chains to the four corners of the basket and attached them to a wire ring I created to go around the balloon.

This was such a fun project. I love it so much I want to try to create an old zeppelin like they had in the 1940's. This might be slightly more difficult because it has an elliptic shape. I may use styrofoam shape or create it from newspapers and glue...I'll have to figure it out.

Since I've uploaded the video tutorial in advance and scheduled it (I'm at CHA, remember?)  I can't embed it here. So if you want to see the full video tutorial, it's on my YouTube channel.

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Faux Wood Fairy House

I've been wanting to do this for awhile...build a fairy house that'll look like a real (as much as a fantasy can be real) forest fairytale hideaway. With a mossy roof and little door and windows. Finally I did it! This fairy house is part of my Designer Showcase presentation in the CHA Mega show 2016
(which I'm at right now!). It was so fun to make I thought I'd share it with you...

I started with an empty plastic flowerpot. To give it a faux wood effect you need to create all the ridges in the trunk. The way to do that is with a wet paper towel. Glue the paper towel on the flowerpot while sculpting it a little. After it's dry paint it with a few brown shades. I had only one brown paint so I added black and white to create more colors.

I created the roof from pieces of corrugated cardboard I painted first. I cut small triangles and squares and made them uneven. Then I created a little cone (like a witch's hat on Halloween) and covered it with the cardboard pieces. Before adding a little moss in between the gaps I sprayed the roof with some spray inks.

Finally I added the windows and door and the house was reay! I knew the house was good when my mom said she feels like playing with some dolls and the house Lol!

Since I've uploaded the video tutorial in advance and scheduled it (I'm at CHA, remember?)  I can't embed it here. So if you want to see the full video tutorial, it's on my YouTube channel.

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5-Minute Craft: Gift Bag

My niece's birthday is coming up soon and she's an amazing girl! So I got her a little gift which is very nicely wrapped but I want to give it to her in a really cool girly bag. Instead of buying one I'll show you how to create a gift bag in only 5 minutes!

You don't need any fancy scoring board for gift bags, you only need a paper and a box or a book. Match the size of box/book to the size of your gift and then you'll be sure it'll fit. If a 12x12 paper is too small then use a larger patterned paper or a kraft paper that you can embellish later.

Since this is a scheduled post (because I'm at CHA) I can't embed the video here...so check it out on my YouTube channel :)

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Mixed Media Canvas: Wall of Inspiration OPEN

It has been a while since I created a canvas for my wall of inspiration. In case you missed it the wall of inspiration is a wall in my craft studio that I'm filling with little canvases of inspiration. Each canvas has a word or a quote to encourage, uplift and remind me that life is beautiful! Today's word is OPEN...open your mind, your eyes, your ears, open your heart. Open the door to the beauty of the world, to its possibilities and wonder!

I created the background with tissue paper and Gelatos. I kept the colors bright and happy. Then I created the letters. I used a blank white paper and added the same colors as the background. Then I cut the four letters and added zentangle patterns on them. I didn't plan the patterns ahead I just played with my pen and I was happy with whatever came out of it. The idea about this type of doodling is not to think too much...just doodle!

I glued the letters to the canvas and shaded them a little with Artist's Big Brush Pens. I also colored inside the letters, but just a little to add vibrant colors to compliment the background colors on the paper and the canvas.

Have you ever doodled? Are you planning to try? Please leave a comment telling me about it!

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Altered Tin Box Zettiology Style

A really fun project for you this week! An altered box, but not the common way you know of altering the outside with paint and embellishments. This alteration is only on the inside and in a very unique style of art called Zettiology, which was created by the artist Teesha Moore.

Zettiology is basically a style of art that mixes the real world with the fantasy world. It's all about creating fantastical images of creatures that have a human body with an animal head or vice versa. They all have large eyes, unlogical body features and parts that don't go together in the real world. And they all "live" in a fantasy, colorful world, a world that gives you a feeling that you are not on earth anymore.

Achieving this look is easy. All you need to do is mix and match different images, body parts and species. I took a girl's body and gave her an owl face and wings. Obviously there is no such creature except in my imagination :) I created a very bold and colorful background with alcohol inks and also added a title and doodling. To finish the scene I added a stars vine as a "tree".

How do you feel about this type of art? Do you like it, hate it? Does it freak you out or inspire you? Share with us in the comments.

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Ikea Frame Perpetual Calendar

2016 is almost here...I can't believe how fast time flies. You're probably thinking about planners and calendars but I have a great idea for you. I'm really bad with dates. If I don't write down birthdays, anniversaries etc. there is no way I'll remember them and there is nothing worse then forgetting an important birthday. So I have them written down on my phone, but I've come to realize that is not always the most dependable thing. Phones can lose data or die on you and then what'll you do...
So I came up with a way to remember...a perpetual calendar!

The idea behind a perpetual calendar is that you only have months. It is not relevant for one year but for life. You simply write the dates you need to remember on the relevant month, for example my mom's birthday is August 15th, so I'll write it on the August page. The dates don't change so you'll have them written down monthly and never forget!

I used an Ikea frame to create a hanged calendar with a page for each month. I kept the design clean and simple with a shabby chic look. Don't forget you can't overload the pages with lots of embellishments because you need to leave some space to write those dates!

This calendar will stand above my desk so I can look at something nice when I need to remember an event. It can also be a great gift for someone or even a project to make with friends on a crop night. If you use a stack with stickers and letters it'll save you time and you can make this calendar or even two in an evening.

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Art Journal Page: Shine

'Tis the season of light. No matter if you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, both holidays have a light theme. The brightly lit Christmas tree or the Hanukkah candles are not by chance, that light is supposed to fight the darkness of the December winter outside and the darkness of our souls within. This art journal page is all about our inner light and how we need to let it shine.

In this spread I used Dylusions paints. These paints are really good not only in their bright shades but their coverage and thickness. They are semi opaque so you can layer them and you only need to use very little amount of paint to cover a large surface.

I wanted to show you how much you can create using only three colors. You don't have to use fancy materials or many different tools to create an amazing art journal page. Using what you have in a few different techniques will give you the same versatility and effects that you want.

On a personal note... I usually don't like yellow and I hardly use it in my projects but I really liked using this bright color on this page. Maybe I'm warming up to it...

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12 Cards of Christmas 2015 - Tag and Card in One

You know I like to make life easy and creating something that can serve a few purposes is a great way to do that. I thought what if I can make a tag, a gift card holder and a card all in one project wouldn't that be great? This way I'll be able to choose what I want to use it for instead of making three different projects.

I created these tags from Canvas Corp mini bags. If I want I live them like they are and use them as tags, if I want I can insert a gift card and then it's like a little present and if I want I can write my season greetings on a piece of cardstock and insert it so it'll become a card.

I created these tags as a series so they'll coordinate with each other. This way I can keep on adding more tags easily by simply using the same colors and papers I used to create the first six tags. If I want the tags themselves can be a great gift, just give it around Thanksgiving so it'll be possible to use them for Christmas.

Share in the comments how would you use them as tags, cards or gift card holders?

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12 Cards of Christmas 2015

It's that time of year again when you have to decide if you're sending handmade cards or bought cards. I think the choice is obvious but sometimes it's hard to be inspired. So this year I'm back with the 12 Cards of Christmas series to help you get some inspiration! Every day starting Saturday a card video tutorial will be posted on my You Tube channel. Different skill levels, techniques and supplies will guarantee everyone will find a card they like and want to make!

The first card on the series is a really fancy beautiful card that doesn't require special practice but sure makes an impression! The 3D effect is very easy to create just by created folded "walls" to hold the images in different heights. It's all a matter of creating a perspective in the image by layering the images in changing distance from the back of the card.

In this series will have a basic origami tree card so easy even kids can participate, a beautiful winter's night Christmas window with stenciling and punching. A card with tiles, which is fun and fast to make and is great for using those paper scraps. Will create a green and red card with bold letters and glittered icicles on a snowy night. Will also learn about pop-up, unique card shapes and much more!

Make sure to tune in everyday to my You Tube channel so you will not miss any card.

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12 Christmas Cards Video Tutorials

A year has passed since I did 12 Cards of Christmas and I'm getting ready to do it again! However I realized that although all the cards were posted on Youtube there wasn't a blog post with all the cards listed as a reference. So as preparation for the 12 Cards of Christmas 2015 here's a roundup of all the cards from last year.

Resist Technique an exciting combination of stamping with embossing powder and creating a background with a resist technique.

Layering layering paper and adding dimension with foam tape.

Transparencies learn how to color transparencies and what can be done with it.

Felt Create a felt snow man and mimic the feeling of snow with a soft fabric.

Double Fold interesting card that opens up to reveal a surprise.

Paper Piecing create a funny scene by assembling pieces of paper.

Bezel Art discover how to tuen empty boring bezels into festive ornaments.

Make your own snow be a craft cook and mix your own snow white mix that will look like the real thing.

Pop Up Trees  give your Christmas trees a little dimension but in a way they can still fit inside an envelope.

Easel Card dry embossing and surprising folding will result in a beautiful card.

Water Colors easy but striking card with watercolor resist and crayon technique

Doodling doodle letters and shapes and color them with holiday colors to create a jolly card.

Wow! An easy, beautiful and fast collection of cards that you can make for family and friends. You even have enough ideas to make a different card for each one :) Get ready for the new 12 Cards of Christmas 2015 series it's coming your way soon!

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