“When you invite people to your home, you invite them to yourself.”
- Oprah Winfrey
Helllllooooo & Welcome to another Creative Team Thursday!
Today I'm sharing my newest project for the Jessica Sporn Designs CT that was inspired both by Jessica's fabulous Build-a-Villa Stamps as well as some scratchy, rusted tins that I found discarded in the desert.
I know it sounds strange, but you can pop over to Jessica's blog to make sense of it all. There you'll find details about these sparkly "Tiny Homes," as well as a process video showing how I altered them all. I hope you like it and look forward to playing again soooooon . . .
"I curled closer to May, comforted by her warmth."
-- Kiera Cass
Hi there! I've missed you so.
The last several weeks have been a whirlwind around here, and I'm happy to have found time to play a bit. Actually, it was a few tweens that got me back into the studio! I assist in an art journaling class for kids every Friday, and last week I brought - along with several other collage materials - some colored copies of my old work. I hoped they would like the bright colors and perhaps some of the images, but what I didn't expect was how much they liked the idea of using old art in new ways and, moreover, how much I would learn from them in the process! They completely inspired me to try new things and to look at my own art in a different way. Sooooo, I decided to see what I could do with one of the same copies I'd given them and filmed the process.
In the end, I used copies of one old collage (wayyyyyy back from the first Summer of Color!) and created two new pieces with them: both a loose art journal page & an altered brie box.
Loose art journal page
Altered brie box
Wanna see the process? It's all here, and below, and all under 10 minutes . . .
Thanks for popping by. Happy May & happy creating from our crazy house to yours.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeep! It's here! It's here! And from all you've been saying, it looks like The SOC 5 is gonna be another exciting Summer of creativity, connection & fun! So whether you're joining us for the first time or you've been here from the beginning, I promise that this - the anniversary of our fifth color-splashed year - is one not to be missed!
But. Wait. You Don't Know About The Summer of Color?
Oh, sorry. (I forget about that). Think of The Summer of Color as a big, international blog party featuring six weeks of color prompts, weekly linking opportunities, fabulous giveaways, creative inspirations and an amazing artistic community. Oh, and it's totally free. And awesome. Just saying.
So You Said It's Been 5 Years?
Um, yeah. Crazy, right? And to celebrate, this year we're taking the best, most popular aspects of the last 5 years and mushing them altogether. In other words, only the very best bits will make this year's cut. That includes the most popular opening-week giveaway, the most popular color palettes (or versions therein) and the most popular way of approaching the challenges by giving you the final say on what hues you'll choose. Oh! And we're adding a couple of new things as well, including a weekly PDF that you can print out and use to organize your weekly palettes.
Nicccceeee! So How Does This Thing Work?
Easy-peasy. From next Monday on, there will be a color palette announced here on this blog. You will then have until Sunday morning of the same week to complete your piece based upon that prompt. You can share your work through your blog, Facebook, Flickr, Pinterest, Instagram or really, anything that can be linked here to this blog (so that we can all see your beautiful work). A linking device will be up as of next week. There will also be a rather fabulous giveaway each week for those who participate. The winner will be selected at random (via a Random Number Generator) from the link list and announced here the following week.
But You Haven't Told Us About The Theme, "Color by Number."
Ohhhhhhh, right! Well now, I bet you want to know about that! Okay, here goes: for The SOC 5: Color by Number, you will be prompted to choose a combination of colors that you prefer, based upon a generic color palette that I will provide. Each week the palette will be 2 of one color + 1 of another. For example, if the color prompt for the week is say, Yellow and Orange, then you will be prompted to choose your favorite 2 Yellows + 1 Orange. So while some may be using butter yellow, goldenrod and neon orange, others may be using mustard, citron and perhaps tangerine. Either way, we will all be working with the same basic palette, but our choices within that palette will be as varied as we are.
And As Always:
You'll work in your preferred mediums - creating anything your little heart desires - with color being the only stipulation.
What Do You Mean By Our "Preferred Mediums?"
There are so many ways to participate in The Summer of Color. You can create anything that you want, as long as it's based upon the colors of the week. You may choose to develop a body of work using the same materials each week or mix it up and create something new each time. It's totally up to you.
What Kinds Of Things Will We See?
Oh, there's so much! But if you'd like an idea of what types of projects we've seen in the past, check these links out:
Did I miss anything? Surprise me! I can't wait to see what you come up with!
I've Got It! Now, Is There A Time Limit?
Kinda. You're welcome to share your work at any time, however in order to qualify for the weekly drawing, you must link your pretty little things to this blog by Sunday morning, 10:00 am (Pacific Daylight Time). Also, this is meant to be fun. If you're away or can't participate every week, please don't worry about it. Each week stands on its own, so like any other party, just come when you can.
Can Anyone Participate?
But of course! Anyone who has a blog, Facebook, Flickr or any other account that can be linked here can play along. You may even want to include the kiddies. Also, this is an international event. Should your name be selected for a drawing, I will happily mail it to you, no matter where you live. Cool? Cool.
And What About Social Media?
Oh yes, that. You may want to follow this blog (so as not to miss a thing), and there is also both a Facebook group and Flickr pool created especially for our event. I've also identified a hashtag that we can use for all other social media outlets. Just tag #TheSummerofColor5 to keep us all on the same page.
So, What Do We Do This Week?
For this, our introductory week, the task is simple. Please just help me spread the word. Since the whole idea of our event is to foster creativity, community and connection, the more of us who come out to play, the better. Anddddddd to thank you for your efforts, I'm offering one lucky person the most popular of our opening giveaways. Are you ready for it?
I know, right? (Makes me all jelly inside). Now, I know some of you have already started to share the news, but I want to thank you formally for doing so. So, please let me know how you've helped spread the word (either by posting the SOC button on your blog, mentioning it in a blog post, by letting your Facebook friends know or discussing it on Instagram, Twitter, You Tube or whatever social media that you love) in the comment section below (only one comment per person, please) and you'll be in the running! The winner will be announced here next Monday, June 8th.
Oh! And Because I Created A Different Video Last Year:
You can use either one of those too. Wanna see that one again? K, here it is:
Speaking of Next Monday, June 8th:
You'll want to come back here for our first week's color prompt, our first colorful giveaway, our first new PDF, the announcement of our Blick gift card winner and, well, something else that's new. Something that I hope you'll agree makes this year the most exciting and interactive ever. Wanna hint? How 'bout two: One, I'm playing along with you this year and two, well, you'll wanna watch this space. . . .
"Deep inside her heart, I was feeling my home like a hay made nest."
-- M. F. Moonzajer
I've always loved birds. Pretty little bluebirds especially, but birds and nests in general always make me swoon. So much so, that I find myself drawn to anything sweet with a bird on it: sugar bowls, jewelry holders and even Christmas ornaments have made it home with me, but delicate as they are, they don't always stay pristine. Or, um, intact.
So, over the years I've grown quite a collection of broken birds, broken wings and, naturally, other bits and baubles. I've always wanted to do something with them, but it wasn't until I saw some large & small matchboxes in a dollar store that it occurred to me: they needed a home! And these little would-be cottages seemed like the perfect solution. . . .
Wanna know how I got there? (I took a ton of process shots just in case):
I first applied several coats of gesso before playing with the composition
Fiber paste mixed with white acrylic created this push-and-pull texture
I then applied several washes of pastel paints, splattered grey acrylic, sepia and charcoal
(Weighing their options)
Playing with the bits, baubles and plenty of things that sparkle
And securing the drawer "pulls" with wire
And the results? Tiny little altered homes. Just for the birds. . . .
Thanks for taking a peep! I'll see you around the Party!
