Art Auction for Puerto Rico!

Hi Friends,

I'm honored to participate in a beautiful art auction created by artist and illustrator Jessica Sporn for the victims of Hurricane Maria. 

All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Hispanic Federation, a non-profit charity which moves quickly to help those in need, with 90% of every dollar going to community services. For more on their efforts, please head over here.

The auction will run all week, from Monday, October 30th to Friday November 3rd. To read more about the event and participating artists, check out our Facebook page here.

To see all the auction items and participate in the bidding, please pop over HERE for the DIRECT LINK to Artists for PR.   

I will be offering this 10 x 10 cradled wood canvas, "But I Only Just Wanna Be A Bunny," for the auction. I do hope to see you there!

With light & love,

Kristin xo

Art Journaling in The Dina Wakley Media Journal {3} . . .

"Just keep taking chances and having fun."

-- Garth Brooks

Can't stop. Won't stop. Playing in The Dina Wakley Media Journal. 

But at least I keep recording the process so you can (hopefully) join in my latest obsession. This time, it's the KRAFT paper's turn. . . 

Part {3} - here we goooooooo:

With love,

Kristin xo

Playing in the New Dina Wakley Media Journal . . .

"If you find yourself really asking yourself, 'Am I REALLY a good writer? Am I REALLY a good artist?' Chances are, YOU ARE. The counterfeit innovator is wildly self confident. 

The real one is scared to death."

-- Steven Pressfield

I'm. So. In. Love. with the new Dina Wakley Media Journal! 

Have you seen it? Tried it out? The smoochy thing about it is that it has four (yes, 4!) types of paper within; burlap, watercolor (in a lovely cotton rag), canvas fabric and kraft paper.  

It's unique, exciting and has me wrapped around it's little finger. So much so, that I've decided to do a bit of a series using it on my YouTube channel. 

Wanna see how the first pages came together? Check out the following videos (parts 1 and 2) below:

Thanks for taking a peek! 

Until next time, 

Kristin xo

"Fixing" an Art Journal Page I Disliked . . .

"It's only paint."

-- my Mom

New video is up! 

Working in my Strathmore 400 Series Journal trying to "fix" a page I was hating on . . .

With Love, 

Kristin xo

"How Many Children"

"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh 

and the greatness which does not bow before children."

-- Kahlil Gibran

This set of 4, 6 x 6 Gesso Board panels really surprised me.

It was my intention to create a pretty little set of canvases using vintage materials and photos wrapped in big blocks of acrylic. I wanted something raw and rough to compliment the soft color of Robin’s Egg Blue, but beyond that, I had no direction.

As I stared to gather materials for the project, beginning with vintage photographs, I decided to focus on children. I had a fabulous old shot of a 3rd grade classroom that I’d been saving forever, and this project seemed the perfect chance to play with it. I added old children’s school papers and assignments, old nursery rhymes, a broken vintage ruler and - this is the best part - an old circuit board of some kind that I found last year in the desert. As I began to piece it all together, the story began to tell itself.

And it wasn't pretty. As I arranged this and that, I saw a pattern emerging; one that I didn’t sign up for. This was dark, a bit ominous and, if I’m being honest, rather creepy. It was a story of child abuse, that was clear, but why it came out of me, the girl who’s usually all hearts and rainbows, I do not know. But, I went with it. And I have to say, it turns out to be something I’m very proud of.

I hope it tells a story without being obvious, and I hope it’s message is one that will inspire others to get out their old ephemera and see what THEY have to say, because the unintentional story telling is, in my view, the most magical part of creating.

Kristin xo

Come to My Party! Mixed Media Play w/ Jessica Sporn Designs . . .

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

— Henry Ford

Happy Thursday!

And welcome to my last post for this year's Jessica Sporn Designs Creative Team. I had a blast, created 15 videos over the course of the year, and got to play with beautiful stencils from Jessica's collection with Stencil Girl and stamps from her partnership with RubberMoon. We were also gifted fabulous new supplies from Deco Art Media which I have truly cherished. Thank you Jessica for your love, support and beautiful inspirations. 

Now, on to this week's project, a Mixed Media piece made from cardboard backing and one of my favorite - or favorit-est if you'll recall - stencil from Jessica's collection. You can pop over to her blog HERE to see more! 

I hope you like it; please let me know if you rip the back of your paper pads for the process too. . .  

With love, 

Kristin xo 

3 Ways to Jumpstart A New Journal!

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

-- Arthur Ashe

Hi there,

I gotta new journal! This is what I did to kick it off. . . .

What do you do with a brand new Journal? I'd love to know!

Kristin xo

Mixed Media Layers: Tissue & Deli Papers w/ Jessica Sporn Designs!

“A grownup is a child with layers on.”

-- Woody Harrelson

Helloooooo & Welcome! 

I had so much fun with this one; creating my own transparent layers for Mixed Media with both deli and tissue papers. 

I used every stencil I have by Jessica Sporn Designs for Stencil Girl and my favorite-est tiny stamps from her line with RubberMoon. It was fast, fun and totally addicting. Oh, and there's lotsa glitter and even a little copper foil involved too, so there's that.

For all the details on this project, head over to Jessica's blog. And please do let me know if you try it: I'd really love to see what you do!

Stay cool!

Kristin xo

Turning a SKETCH into a STENCIL . . .

"I'm no model lady. A model's just an imitation of the real thing."

-- Mae West

Hellllooooo & Happy (officially) Summer!

I've been playing with a new toy: a wood burning tool! I'd been talking about making my own stencils with an arty friend, when she suggested that I try a wood burning tool and overhead projector sheets. Not only did she tell me what to do, but she then gave a stack of said sheets for me to try it. 

Try I did, and I have to say, I'm hooked! It's fun, relatively easy, and totally unique to me - or you - once you give it a go:

Have Fun & Happy Cutting!

Kristin xo

Summer Blog Hop, Video & Giveaway w/ Jessica Sporn Designs!

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade".

-- Gertrude Jekyll

Helllloooo & Happy {almost} Summer! 

To celebrate, I'm HOPPING with the Jessica Sporn Design Team where we'll be sharing Summer-inspired projects and offering a GIVEAWAY of Jessica Sporn's newest stencil, "Women Will Heal the World." 

Wanna see the stencil first? Okay, here it is:

"Women Will Heal the World" by Jessica Sporn Designs For Stencil Girl

Pretty fabulous, right? It's such a unique stencil, I can't wait to share what I did with it. Here's my take on the theme; a DIY canvas tote for all our Summertime Art Journaling needs. . . .

Now, Let's get hopping! Be sure to comment here and on each blog listed below for multiple chances to win Jessica's newest stencil. All comments must be entered by Monday, June 12th, 6:00 pm EST. The winner will be announced the following day, Tuesday June 13th, on Jessica's Blog. 

Marit Barentsen

Karen Gaunt

Jessica Sporn

Until we meet again,

Kristin xo

"Thinking Cap" with Sunday Postcard Art!

"You can have fun, but you must also put on your thinking cap every day."

-- Tommy Shaw

Hellooooo & Happy Sunday Postcard Art!

I'm excited to be playing host this week, and have suggested the theme of "Thinking Cap." 

Mine is inspired by my role as a homeschool teacher / parent, and the beautiful fact that school's almost out! It was our first year of Middle School - our 4th year homeschooling - and although very rewarding, there were definitely moments of stress; mostly coming from yours truly. Now that pool parties are starting to replace tutoring sessions, the 11-year-old's not the only one that's doing a happy dance around here. 

But I digress: won't you join us by trying your hand at postcard art? I'd love to see how you interpret the theme!

Check out all the details here. . . 

With Love,

Kristin xo

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Playing - But Not Actually Completing Anything - in my Art Journal

"We're all a beautiful, wonderful work in progress. . . Embrace the process!"

-- Nanette Mathews

New YouTube video is up!

Join me as I play - but not actually, technically, realistically finish anything - in my art journal.

I hope you enjoy the colorful, sparkly process:

With love,

Kristin xo

Tutorial: Water COLOR Bubbles!

"Novels are like paintings, specifically watercolors. Every stroke you put down you have to go with.

Of course you can rewrite, but the original strokes are still there in the texture of the thing."

 -- Joan Didion

The word is obsession. 

Total and utter obsession. All over a bit of water in a bubble.

But honestly, it is So. Much. Fun.  

Wanna know more? Check out the following video for details. . . . 

Please let me know if you try it! I'd love to see your play of color and water, and I dare you not to become as obsessed as I am. . . .

With Bubbles of Love,

Kristin xo

Mixed Media Resist: Vaseline & Stencils w/ Jessica Sporn Designs!

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, 

 because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

— Walt Disney

Hellllooooo & Happy Design Team Thursday!

I'm especially excited for this one, as I played with an old mixed media technique - in a new way - for my latest project for Jessica Sporn Designs.

Remember the "peeling Paint" trick? How about trying it through stencils? Welllll, it works! And is totally fabulous through the "Borders 9J Stencil" by Jessica Sporn for Stencil Girl. . . .

"Borders 9J Stencil"

Head over to Jessica's Blog for more pictures & the rest of the story. . . .

And if you try it, please let me know; I'd love to see how you played with the process!

With Love,

Krisin xo

Spring Blog Hop w/ Jessica Sporn Designs!

(8 x 10 Canvas Panel)

"It is Spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart."

-- Rainer Maria Rilke

Spring is absolutely, positively my favorite time of year. Not only is the weather gorgeous, but the air itself seems to be drenched in sweet smelling, saturated color. 

So the idea of creating in the theme of Spring for our latest blog hop with Jessica Sporn Designs, gets my head spinning in all kinds of whimsical directions. And! I had a cool idea I wanted to try out: what if I took Jessica's "Build-A-Villa" stamps from RubberMoon and enlarged them to create the focal point in a collage? And, if I did that, then wouldn't it be cool to see what's behind the windows and doors? Anyway, that's where my mind wandered, I hope you enjoy watching along:

For more Spring Fun, keep hopping! Check out what both Jessica Sporn and Denise Alloca did with the theme, and be sure to comment on all posts you visit. Jessica will be giving away her (beautiful, stunning, I must have this!) "Layered Peonies" stencil from Stencil Girl to one lucky winner. 

"Layered Peonies" by Jessica Sporn for Stencil Girl

All entries must be registered by next Monday, April 19th (6:00 pm, EST) and will be announced on Jessica's blog the following day. 

Have fun, good luck and Happy, Happy Spring!

Kristin xo

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DIY Toddler Tank Top with Jessica Sporn Designs!

“When kids hit one year old, it’s like hanging out with a miniature drunk. 

You have to hold onto them. They bump into things. They laugh and cry. They urinate. They vomit.”

— Johnny Depp

It's Design Team Thursday. . . .

And I have the cutest little DIY project to try: It's fun, incredibly easy, and can be done so quickly that you may find yourself looking for other things in your children's closet - or your own - to alter. 

I used Jessica Sporn's  6 x 6 Horned Owl Stencil for this project, and think it would make the sweetest-ever first birthday shirt. Can you picture it? "Look Whooo's Turning One?" You could even make matching invitations by taking the same stencil from fabric to paper! But I digress. . . .

To see the video - it's just 3 minutes! - and to learn more about this teeny tank, check out Jessica's blog and her YouTube channel.

Find your own "Horned Owl" Stencil Here

And if you love this stencil as much as I do, you may wanna check another other video in which I trade this owl for it's mixed media alter-ego. To make sense of all that, check out the video below:

Until we meet again,

Kristin xo

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"Whimsical" Sunday Postcard Art

"I like that 'once upon a time' quality, where the telling of a tale has an elevated sense of story. 

There's a whimsical quality to it. Sometimes in fairy tales more things seem possible, 

even though often they're real world based."

- Erin Morgenstern

Helllloooo & Happy Sunday Postcard Art!

I'm tickled to host this week, and have chosen the theme of "Whimsical." 

I recently found an old medicine bag in my stash of emphermia, and couldn't wait to play with it. It serves as the base for this little girl - half sketch and half B&W photocopy - as she trips along the the word Tranquilizer, made prettier with the addition of some neon pink. . .

To see the whole thing come together, check out the process video on my YouTube channel:

Wanna join us? Please do so! Create anything at all, just as long it's the size of a postcard and follows this week's theme. You can link your "Whimisical" postcards through the end of the week at Sunday Postcard Art. 

I can't wait to see what you do!

With Love,

Kristin xo

Abstract Art Journaling w/ Jessica Sporn Designs!

“What goes on in abstract art is the proclaiming of aesthetic principles. . . It is in our own time that we have become aware of pure aesthetic considerations. Art never can be imitation.”

— Hans Hofmann

Helllooooo!

Abstract Art Journaling?! I know. I haven't heard of it either, although I wouldn't be surprised if there really was such a thing. 

I had so much fun playing with pattern, form and color (and not much else), that I'm not sure I'll ever "journal" the same way again. But I digress. To hear the entire story, and to see to how I used the following fabulous tools, pop over to Jessica's site over here. . . .

For more on the products used, check out the links below:

"Dots and Dashes" Stencil by Jessica Sporn for Stencil Girl

"Build-A-Villa Window Cube" by Jessica Sporn for RubberMoon

Until we meet again,

Kristin xo

Valentine Blog Hop w/ Jessica Sporn Designs Creative Team . . .

"All love is sweet, given or returned."

-- Percy Bysshe

Hellooooo & Happy Valentine's Day(ish),

Today I'm playing with the Jessica Sporn Designs Creative Team as we create Valentine-inspired artwork for our Valentine Blog Hop, featuring products from DecoArt Media!

So what did I make? Why something sweet of course! Or, better put, something to put something sweet in. Check out the video below for the whole process. 

And if you'd like to try it, please help yourself to the following TEMPLATE: 

But wait! (Yeah, there is). 

"Seven Hearts"

Leave a comment here and on the blogs below for a chance to win your own "Seven Hearts" Stencil. One lucky winner will be taken from all blog comments and announced on Jessica's blog next Monday morning, February 13th.

Jessica Sporn

Denise Alloca

Marit Barentsen

Sherry Canino

Karen Gaunt

With Love, Luck & Valentine Kisses,

Kristin xo

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Art Journaling w/ Deco Foil & High Flow Acrylics . . .

“That night she dreamed of the deer. Strangely, the animal was holding her. She cuddled close into the soft fur and touched and kissed it gently. In the morning her pillow was wet with tears.”

-- Julie Andrews

Helloooo!

I had the opportunity to see a deer recently, not a normal site for this girl. I was so entranced, so enthralled and so just, blown away by the beauty of it, that I haven't been able to stop thinking of her since. This page is a direct reflection of my thoughts in this way, thoughts that run up and down that creek and keep landing on the meadow where I first saw her. . . 

Until next time, 

Kristin xo 

Design Team Thursday: DIY Valentine's Pillow!

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

-- Audrey Hepburn

Helloooooo & welcome to another Design Team Thursday featuring the lovely stencils & stamps by Jessica Sporn Designs.

This week, I played with Jessica's new "Seven Hearts" Valentine stencil by Stencil Girl. I love love love all the sweet little details this one has - including little scallops and swirly text - that I just had to turn it into something that I can permanently display. . . .

"Seven Hearts" Stencil

Head over to Jessica's Blog for more details, pictures and the rest of the pillow story. And! If you heart this stencil as much as I do, be sure to tune into our next Design Team Blog Hop on Tuesday, February 7th as this very stencil will be awarded to one lucky winner. 

With love,

Kristin xo

Cardboard Tags w/ Ledger Pages & Ledger Stencil . . .

"Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future."

-- Mattie Stepanek

I had a little fun with an absolutely fabulous stencil I just found from The Crafters Workshop. 

And apparently, the itty-bitty 6 x 6 version I was inspired by, also comes in a 12 x 12 format. Hm, looks like I may have to accidentally get that one too as I must say, I'm totally and completely in love with it. 

Speaking of which (love that is), It should also be said that I tried Deco Art Molding Paste for the first time today and it. is. so. dreamy! It's thin, smooth, pliable and honestly the best molding paste I've tried for stenciling. If you're in need, I highly recommend it. 

So, wanna see what I did with said paste and stencil? Check out the video below:

Until next time!

With colorful kisses, 

Kristin xo

Design Team Thursday: Art Journaling with Bubble Girl!

"Surround everyone you can think of in bubbles of love."

- Diana Cooper

Happy, Happy, Happiest New Year! 

And welcome to my first post of the year for the Jessica Sporn Desgins CT. . . . This go around, I've been art journaling with a loose piece of "scratch" watercolor paper and my very favoritest (that's gotta be a word somewhere) stencil by Jessica Sporn for Stencil girl. 

My Favoritest 

Head over to Jessica's blog to for more, including details on the process. . . .

Oh, and while you're there, be sure to check out all the Design Team YouTube videos: there's a ton of talent, fabulous products & tutorials and a whole lota loveliness awaiting you there!

Until we meet again,

Kristin xo