A Long Catch Up Blog Post - Yikes!

I need to apologize for being away from GOT ART? for so long.  I looked at my last post and it was dated December 12th.  I think that's the longest period of time I've EVER not blogged.

Some of my blog followers (and workshop students) had contacted me via e-mail and some even through stores where I have taught to see if I was "ok".  I guess I forget about that whole "C" (cancer) thing so I didn't even THINK that someone would be out there worrying about my health.  Again, YIKES!


I'm happy to report that the February 2nd appointment I had with my Oncologist all reports were good and instead of 3 months, I don't have to go back until August 2nd.  YIPPEE!


So what the heck have I been up to you ask?  I have been really busy at "the day job" as a supervisor to 16 instructors that work in 11 different offices.  And the past month has been Performance Appraisal time so I was busy busy busy.


I've managed to find time to create when I'm off work and even found time to teach a workshop. If you follow me on FaceBook then you know what I've been up to already.  FB has just been a lot easier for me to write a line or two and post a photo quickly.  But I know not everybody does the FB thing, so I'm going to try to get back into the swing of things here on my blog.


Catching up . . .


I'm no fan of clowns, but when I saw this clown in a little shop, I just had to take him apart and do something with him using Graphic 45 papers . . .

Collaged a few sets of these - EAT and ART using Teesha Moore papers, paint, pens and various sizes of paper mache letters  . . .

The end of January I went to CHA in Anaheim.  I saw all the new products being released this year, but I think better than all of that, I got to meet my friend Linda Ledbetter in PERSON!  What a treat THAT was :) . . .

Oooooh, and I met Dyan Reaveley at CHA.  Oh my, I just LOVE her style, and stamps, and stencils and sprays! 

Here's a piece I created after getting my hands on one of her stamp sets.  Dyan's sprays weren't released yet, but the Adirondack Color Washes worked quite nicely I think.  I did some "controlled doodling" as well . . .

Then in February I created some tags that went out in some of the Inspiration Emporium customer's orders . . .

If you're a Barbie doll collector, close your eyes for this one. This is an assemblage piece I did just for the fun of it.   . . .

And this month the Inspiration Emporium Design Team was given the challenge to create something using one of Tim's Pocket Watches.  Stop by our blog to see the other creations by my teammates!  Why not pick yourself up a pocket watch and create something fun!  This one is mine  . . .

Last weekend I went to the Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA.  It was a 2-day event with Tim Holtz demoing in the Stamper's Anonymous booth.  Of course there were other vendors there, but I kept finding my way back to this spot . . .

one of the pages in this year's journal I've started . . .

Teesha Moore inspired piece on canvas board . . .

And just yesterday, I taught a mixed media canvas workshop for the Orange County Artmaker's League (OCAL) . . .

So that's about it so far this year.  I'm going to try harder to stay in better touch here.  So now I guess I'll spend tomorrow visiting all of YOU! :)

Boise Race for the Cure and an Upcycled Blue Moon 6-Pack

Before I show you my upcycled Blue Moon 6-pack, I just had to share this photo of my friend Linda Ledbetter of Studio L3 who was a participant in the Race for the Cure in Boise, Idaho today wearing my name on her back.  


I am just so honored for her to be celebrating my survival of this awful disease called breast cancer.  Here is my sweet friend giving the thumbs up.  Thank you.  


Now really folks, how can I NOT continue the fight with support like this?! . . .

photo stolen from Linda's twitter page this morning!

At the end of my last blog post I showed you this . . .

This is what it looks like now holding art supplies that can be ready to go at a moment's notice . . .

Products used: Claudine Hellmuth's Sable Brown and Traditional Tan Studio paints, Tim Holtz Paper Stash Crowded Attic, Idea-ology Tissue Tapes (various), Idea-ology Ornate Plates, Fragments, Glossy Accents, Inkssentials Wonder Tape, Idea-ology Metal Corners, vintage ruler pieces,  findings, a custom laser wood cut, a rub-on and bubble wrap.


And I reinforced the bottom with some recycled corrugated cardboard . . .

The month of May is Inspiration Emporium's packaging challenge.  Stop by our blog and join in the fun to win $50 in Emporium dollars!  The challenge started this past Friday and will end on June 5th at midnight.  We all have packaging so what are you waiting for - upcycle!

Happy Mother's Day Weekend 

The World of Imagination

I stepped away from "the girls" for a minute, but they are addictive - like atc's or coffee filter roses or, well you know how I get obsessed *smiles*.  

Again, I'm making hair from my "controlled doodling" papers (I'm not a certified Zentangler).  The sun was created with vintage lace and paint . . .

I used a rubber stamp from one of tim's new collections called Stuff to Say.  You can get the collection at Inspiration Emporium HERE . . .

I stamped the quote on white cardstock and the cut the words out to fit in my piece . . .

I used (also from Inspiration Emporium) Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paints - Dab of Yellow, Landscape Green, and Sky Blue.

Other items used:  polka dot scrapbook paper for the dress, book pages for the body, script and polka dot rubber stamps, bubble wrap, modeling paste to add some dimension to part of the sky and some of the grassy area.


This piece was created on a piece of heavy black mat board (I get TONS of this from the "day job") I cut down to 12" x 6".

Come back next Sunday - My workshop is this Saturday at Whimzy so I will have photos of my students wearing their eclectic charm necklace creations when I return :)  And it's not too late for you to sign up for the workshop - see my side bar to the right!

Fears and Dreams

12" x 6" collage titled "Fears and Dreaams" on recycled heavy mattboard . . .

Hair made from "controlled doodling" pieces
Decorative papers use for background, dress and sun
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash - Lost and Found used for girl's body parts
Tim Holtz Collection - Stuff to Say rubberstamps (new!)
Stampers Anonymous - Binding Edge rubber stamp
Random script rubber stamp - unknown 

Post Script on "my other journey":  Had my second "pump" for the tissue expansion procedure last past Thursday.  A little more discomfort this time around but I'm hanging in there.  Going back this Thursday for pump #3.  Shouldn't be too long now! :)

Don't forget about Inspiration Emporium's customer challenge! 

Inspiration Emporium April Challenge and Workshop Reminder!

Our challenge for April is creating with Fragments.  These are the wonderful acrylic pieces I use in just about every eclectic charm necklace I've ever made!  And if you haven't used these yet, well, what are you waiting on?


Stop by the Inspiration Emporium Blog and join in on the monthly challenge for April.  The winner will be randomly selected and chosen on May 1st.  And what do you win you ask?  Well how about $50 to spend in the Inspiration Emporium store?  Wowzer - that's a lot of shopping folks!


So get out those Fragments (or purchase some HERE) and get busy with those creations!


My Eclectic Necklace Workshop is April 30th at Whimzy in Old Town Tustin.  See my "side bar" for details and sign up soon!

Banner Day Canvas Collage

I created this 8" x 10" canvas collage by starting with a decorative napkin . . .

Once I separated the 3 layers of the napkin, I used the top layer to create a background using Claudine Hellmuth's multi medium to glue the napkin pieces to the canvas . . .

I finished the edges of the canvas with pieces of the napkin as well . . .

Textured decorative papers were used to create the girl's dress . . .

Other items used to decorate the background and the Banner Day girl are as follows.  The items with links can be purchased at Inspiration Emporium:


Tim Holtz Creative Textures stamps

Tim Holtz Collection - Fancy Flourish stamps
Various other random rubber stamps
Hero Arts - Friendly Flags for the banner

Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Wild Honey (LOVE the new Distress Stains!)
Archival Ink Jet Black by Ranger
Vintage ledger book pages
Bubble wrap paper to apply the paints
Foreign newspaper
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint - Dash of Red
Perfect Pearls Mists - Perfect Pearl

I hope everyone is having an art-filled "banner" day today!

Post Script:  For those of you following my "other" journey, I had my first tissue expander injection of saline last Thursday.  A little tight and uncomfortable for a couple of days, but I'm getting used to it now.  Will be going back this Thursday for "pump" #2 *smiles*

Turtle Walk in Paris

lana got all dressed up and took tina turtle out for a walk on the paris streets . . .

Grungeboard birdcage and birdie dies were painted with Weathered Wood Distress Crackle Paint and then coated with Distress Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  I used a script rubber stamp on the birdie first . . .

lana went all out with the rhinestone hair! . . .

here's a close up of tina - lana's turtle - she's a rub-on . . .

These are the products I used to create this 12" by 6" collage:
foreign newspaper, rubber stamps, rub-ons, vintage mica flakes, rhinestones, tim's distress inks:  stormy sky, faded jeans, broken china, black soot, tim holtz paper stash - seasonal, claudine hellmuth studio paint - classic teal, tim holtz distress stains:  broken china, faded jeans, Caged Bird Sizzix die, 12" x 6" recycled black matboard, Glossy Accents, weathered wood distress crackle paint,  distress clear rock candy crackle paint, gel ink pen, white acrylic paint, paper doily, shelf liner used to stencil paint.  And of course for clean up . . . the craft scrubbie!!  


I need to get some more of these so I can have one in the bathroom, kitchen and one or two to pack in my workshop suitcase when I'm out teaching.

I hope you are having an art-filled weekend!  Love you my craftie peeps.  X O X O

She Was Just My Type

Another "She Art" doll I've created on an 8" x 10" canvas board.  I've listed the supplies I used with links to products you can get from Inspiration Emporium . . .

• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Dash of Red
• Ranger - Non-Stick Craft Sheet
• Tim Holtz non-stick micro serrated scissors
• wrapping paper for her dress

• fabric lace for her collar
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio - Multi Medium - Matte 4 oz
• Ranger - Rubit Scrubit Pad  (If you don't have one of these you have GOT to get one if you use inks, paints, glues and other mediums - it's a miracle scrubber!
• bubble wrap
• Pattern tissue paper
• Ranger - Heat it Craft Tool
• Distress Ink - Black Soot 
• Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
• Golden's Titan Buff Fluid Acrylics
• Say it in Pearls by Prima - Item #535834
• 7 gypsies rubbings

• Clearly IOD transparent scrapbooking tape by Prima
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper Stash
• Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2Pk - Mini Butterflies Set - "NEW" and ready to be pre-ordered!

• Tim Holtz Rubber Stamp - The Flourish by Stamper's Anonymous (one of my all-time favorites)
• Sheet music

Post Script:   Surgery went well on Tuesday.  Had follow-up appointment with surgeon yesterday to get bandages removed.  A little pain today, but nothing like the surgeries last September.  I can craft AND, I can take showers!!  Life is good *smiles*

She Loved Roses Collage

I've been creating some pieces the last few days using some of the techniques I've learned in Christy Tomlinson's She Art Workshop.  And of course I have incorporated some of my own techniques in these creations and have used several products from the Inspiration Emporium on-line store.  I will list and link those products in case you would like to get your hands on any or all of them :)


Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Painterly Pink
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints - Dash of Red
Ranger - Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Tim Holtz non-stick micro serrated scissors
7 Gypsies and various other decorative papers
Claudine Hellmuth Studio - Multi Medium - Matte 4 oz
Ranger - Rubit Scrubit Pad  (If you don't have one of these you have GOT to get one if you use inks, paints, glues and other mediums!)

Glass Bead Gel by Golden Gel Mediums
Pattern tissue paper
Ranger - Heat it Craft Tool
Distress Ink - Black Soot 
Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool
Golden's Titan Buff Fluid Acrylics
Paper doily napkin

I mixed some Claudine Hellmuth Painterly Pink and Dash of Red paints together with some of Golden's Glass Bead Gel.  I then placed a piece of some hard plastic stuff I had in my stash that had holes in it over my piece and spread the mixture over it and then removed the plastic to make these little dimensional dots . . .

I created the hair by cutting pieces from book pages and gluing them down and layering with some of Claudine Hellmuth's Multi Medium.  I'm LOVIN' this medium a lot these days!

I used Black Soot Distress ink around the edge of the piece using an Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool. . .

My finished piece is 12" x 6" created on a heavy, black matboard that I got out of the Marketing Department's trash at "the day job".  They throw away large sheets of this stuff after advertising promotions and I take it over to the big paper cutter and cut various sizes to use for atc's, inchies, book covers and more!  It's some good stuff and it's FREE!