Week Two: Mint Chocolate Chip!

"U"

8 x 8 Canvas Flag

It's week Two of The Summer of Color 2: Ice Cream Inspirations and our second prompt is to create anything we'd like using the "Flavor" of the week, Mint Chocolate Chip . . . .

This little girl was created in the same manner as the week before, with a piece of primed canvas material, watercolor and acrylic paints and this time, a sparkling bow encrusted with fine glitter and pale blue Swarovski crystals.

Hungry for more? Check out the next delicious inspiration found directly above . . . .

Ice Cream Kisses,

Kristin xo

All TOgether Now!

"The Dreamers of Dreams"

Original 8 x 10 on watercolor paper

It's HeeeeeRe! 

Cool, Funny, Generous, Uber-Talented & Pretty, Pretty Amy is hosting the best-est ever Brag Party / Blog Hop this weekend, All Together Now. The crux of the event? Each participant is to offer a little giveaway and do a little bragging . . . . 

Um, K, so the whole bragging thing doesn't come naturally to me - I'm nervous just thinking about it - but I agree that it's important to celebrate ourselves once in a while, and Amy's soirée is a brilliant way to learn more about each other in the process.

So, ready or not, (deep breath Kristin) here I go. Bragging: 

* I am intensely loyal and generous. I'm the good kind of friend to have as I will always have your back, be your loudest cheerleader and never forget to tell you that I love you.

* I'm a great Wife and Mom and much more traditional than I ever expected to be. It's important to me to be there for Dave and Kendra and I know how lucky I am to be able to do so. I volunteer in the kid's class once a week and am at every school function helping out where I can. (Except for being the Otter Pop lady, a position I've successfully avoided for the last year). I also try to be the best wife to my (usually ;) sweet and incredibly handsome husband, whom I will be married to 10 years this November.

* I'm pretty stylish. I try to keep up with the latest fashion trends, eat well so I can fit into them (lotsa spinach around here), and when I leave the house, I'm always made up & put together. (Not the same story when I stay in, but since we're supposed to brag, I'll leave the description of PJ pants and old T-shirts out at this time).

* I have some decorating chops. My Mom is an interior designer / furniture restorer and as a result, I grew up with my room (and our home) being changed and "improved" every few months. Remember puffy fabric-framed mirrors? Yeah. I even had one of those at one point. As an adult, I've followed in those footsteps. I'm the girl you go to if you need any decorating advice, and I am also the one you ask to help decorate your nursery or kid's room. I've done over 13 rooms for my friends and their kids (see point one) in the last ten years.

* I know my way around some makeup. Before Mommyhood, my career was as a Beauty Director and Makeup Artist. I used to travel a lot, putting on fashion shows and speaking engagements for retail cosmetics. I would give Beauty tips and seasonal trends to audiences of hundreds of women and behind-the-counter beauty advisors. I've done makeup for the cover of an industry magazine and have even worked a couple of celebrity weddings. 

* I'm lucky to get to do what I love art wise, and am pretty proud of the way I've gotten myself "out there" in the last couple of years. I am the happy host of The Summer of Color, a Blog Hop / Giveaway event that is going on it's second year this June.

From The Summer of Color, 2011

Featuring vintage nursery-rhyme imagery, vintage text, and a lotta shimmer and shine, 

including a smattering of Swarovski crystals.

(Original post can be found here)

Speaking of which, we are meant to give something away here! I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I could offer, and thought of this original 8 x 10 on watercolor paper that I particularly love. I think it's appropriate for this event (and a group of arty souls) as it features this quote:

"We are the music-maters, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Wandering by lone sea-breakers, And sitting by desolate streams; World-losers and world-forsakers, On whom the pale moon gleams; Yet we are the movers and shakers, Of the world forever, it seems." -- Arthur William O'Shaughnessy.

To win this original collage, all you need to do is (1) be a participant in All Together Now and (2) leave a comment saying so in this post. That's it. I'll pick a winner via the random number thingy and announce it here next Wednesday, May 23rd.

Why don't you join us? After all, every girl needs a chance to brag (and win stuff!) now and then . . . .

May 18 - 20

Kristin xo!

Mind. Body. Soul. (Art Journaling)

Journal entries for Mind. Body. Soul.

After Spring break for the petite first grader, hosting Easter for a crowd, and then having company for the last week, I'm happy to finally get back to the studio (er, "guest room") and get some paint under my fingernails. I worked on a couple of journal pages (one of which I attempted to start during the hiatus) and wanted to share the results with you here.

The following pages are inspired by sweet Leslie's Art Journaling e-course, Mind. Body. Soul, and are based upon the word of the week (4), "Overcome:" 

"O. ver. come"

"To get over, surmount difficulty . . ."

(like getting a photo of this in the rain!)

To create this background, a base of blue Caran D'ache watercolor crayons was covered in a mixture of crackle paste and black ink before being dried and then sanded down. Additional layers of blue crackle paint and black marker complete the base for a ripped, distressed and highlighted (with glitter gel pen ;) dictionary definition of the word, Overcome. 

"Who'll carry the torch?"

Mother Goose images and text covered in Distress Ink and acrylic

Stamped, painted and highlighted Baby Buggy 

with vintage milk cap & Swarovski crystal wheels

Decorative papers & Stickles glitter

Did you know that Christy Tomlinson had a line of scrapbook and papers and embellishments!? Okay, you probably did, but I was thrilled to find a gorgeous, colorful collection of double-sided papers that would make anyone squeal. I found them on a recent trip to San Diego, CA, in the most adorable paper boutique called Paper Tales. The new line of papers can be seen on their beautiful Paper Tales blog.

I started this one with a base of orange watercolor crayons which was layered with yellow acrylic, various stamps and a vintage Mother Goose image and nursery rhyme. The quote reads, "To overcome difficulties is to experience the full delight of existence." (Arthur Schopenhauer).

Thank you for looking! Check out Mind. Body. Soul. for week 5's journal word, Renew. . .  

Kristin xo

Mind. Body. Soul. (Art Journaling)

Mind. Body. Soul. (Week 2)

Have you had the chance to check out Leslie's new e-course, Mind. Body. Soul.? Do take a peek whenever you need a shot in the arm of positivity and art journaling inspiration . . . In week one, we were asked to create journal pages focusing on the word Believe.  In week two, we were meant to focus on the word Reach. . . . 

Welllll, I guess Believe was still in my head as it popped itself right in there, even though I didn't expect it. Here is my third page then with the word Believe:

"But I feel like Giving Up"

5 x 8 Strathmore watercolor journal

Acrylic ink drips & Swarovski crystals

And here's what I did with the actual word of the week, Reach:

"Reach High"

"Reach high for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream proceeds the goal." -- Pamela Vaull Starr

Page inspired by the Stampington art-to-borrow college elements that you see here. 

The eye started it all and inspired me to follow along that color scheme and line of thought. 

Thank you for taking a look! And thank you Leslie for your continued inspiration. Now on to this week's word, Do. . ,

Kristin xo

Mind. Body. Soul. (Art Journaling)

I'm happy to say that I've completed the work for week one in my beautiful friend Leslie's new E-course, Mind.Body.Soul. Our task was to create two journal pages focusing on positivity and the word Believe. Here is what I came up with:

"You Are Enough"

Elements attached with string and staples

Revealed message

"Sit with it for a While"

Torn papers and rub-ons

Stamping and a page full of decorative tape

And just as a side: I broke out a new journal for this class, the Strathmore Visual Journal, and I'm more than impressed with it. It's a Cold Press watercolor journal with a good weight (140 lb) and no matter how many layers (painting, rub-ons, stamping, gluing, image transferring, um, glittering . . . ) I put it through, it stayed with me (no balling up or wrinkling). And I loved the 5 x 8 size as it was very easy to complete in one sitting. At around $5 (I got mine at Michaels, but they are everywhere), I would recommend it in a heartbeat!

Thanks for looking! I'm now off to see what's in store for Week Two . . . please feel free to join us, it's inspiring, fun & free!

Kristin xo

SPA: My Heart Belongs to You

"Hopelessly Devoted To You"

4 x 6 Postcard

(Image from Retro Cafe Art)

Playing along with Sunday Postcard Art and the very cool Valentine's theme, "My Heart Belongs to You"  . . . .

Thank you for taking the time to visit! I wish for you a day full of love, roses and plenty of chocolate! 

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 45)

"you. are. beauty."

8 x 8 chunky canvas

Happy PPF!

I'm on my way out of town for a little weekend with family and friends, but I wanted to share this 8 x 8 gallery-wrapped canvas with you before I scoot out . . . .

As you can see, I'm on a Life Book kick and wanted to try my luck at a brunette version of this journal page that I recently completed on the course. I put her on a chunky canvas (which, btw, is ever-so tricky compared to the watercolor paper ;) and painted the words, "you. are. beauty." to the right. 

This is a gift for my girlfriend who really is stunning, both inside and out. She has an impressive career - globe trotting around the world in the beauty industry - which is how we met over 15 years ago. She's behind the scenes doing makeup for runway shows and at high-end events and weddings rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. And once in a while, she takes me (a former makeup artist myself) along for the ride. This is dedicated to her, my purty, purty friend and host for the evening.

Flocked paper crown

Chunky sides

Stickles glitter & Swarovski crystals give her movement

Thank you for taking the time to look and comment! To see more painterly pieces, you're welcome to check out the Party for yourself . . ..

Kristin xo

Life Book (1)

"My Super Powers"

9 x 12 Watercolor page (with extension)

I (finally) had the opportunity to finish my first lesson with Life Book! I'm thrilled to be a part of the year-long class and so look forward to the education, insights and camaraderie there.  

Our first lesson focused on creating a journal page that will eventually be bound in a book at the end of the year. We were asked to list what we believe are our "Super Powers," or the qualities that make us unique and which bring joy to ourselves and others. 

I really enjoyed making this page and learning how to create a more realistic, 3/4 portrait. It's the first that I've done like it, and I want to thank our teach Tam for sharing her beautiful talents with us.

Here's what I came up with:

Front flap, closed

Vintage text reads, "My Heart"

Full spread

Swarovski crystals on crown & Stickles glitter on lettering

Eeeee . . . . SO looking forward to more . . . .

Thank you for visiting,

Kristin xo

Paint Party Friday (Week 31)

"Hello, Bird." 

16 x 20 Canvas Panel

(Bird & Crown clip art from The Graphics Fairy)

Whew . . . she's done! Now I can return to my regular Mommy-ing schedule . . . 

Thanks to Eva & Kristin for hosting this wonderful Party!

Kristin xo

The Summer of Color - ORANGE

"Orange You Glad to See Me?"

8 x 10 Watercolor Journal Page

{This collage was inspired by the sections of an orange and a familiar joke. It was created using personal pictures (that's Kendra with the lollipop ;), vintage text, a portion of a soda can and images from Lisa's Altered Art}

The Color Purple

As we head into our last two weeks of The Summer of Color, I must say that I'm endlessly impressed by the work you've been creating and sharing with us here. Your Purple pieces were majestic, fun, feminine, whimsical and downright beautiful. I'm amazed at the outpouring of support you've given to one another and want to thank you for sharing your links with us here, your pictures on our Flickr group (we're nearing 350 contributions!) and for the creative community you've fostered on our Facebook page. It's been quite a ride . . .

So Who Won Purple Week?

The Purple giveaway (pictured in the post below) was won by:

YOU

Please Email me your address and I'll get your Purple goods right out . . .

And Now - Welcome to Orange Week! 

(Monday August 1st - Sunday August 7th)

We saved one of the boldest hues for last and I for one can not wait to see what you come up with. Should you choose to accept it, your Bonus! challenge is to in some way incorporate (or be inspired by) your favorite quote or poem. As always, please (A) link your blog or Flickr feed in the Widget below so that others can find you (B) leave one comment in the comment section at the end of this post if you created an Orange piece and (C) leave an additional comment if you completed the Bonus! challenge.

Here's What We've Got This Week . . .

{A vintage (1952) "Elsie's Cook Book" for your collage collection, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Spiced Marmalade, Prismacolor Premier broad marker in Orange, Prismacolor Premier fine line marker #005, Liquitex soft body acrylic in Cadmium Orange, a yard of rich orange satin ribbon and a sprinkling of iridescent and orange Swarovski crystals}

Good Luck!

And What Will We Do Next?

Our last challenge - Monday August 8 - Sunday August 14th - is rather simple: we're gonna have a good ole fashioned Show and Tell. Wether you joined every challenge or not, in order to participate next week, please share with us the body of work you created throughout The Summer of Color. Now, how you do that is up to you. If you created a series of journal pages as I have for example, you may want to make a journal cover and show us the pieces within it. If you created a series of canvas work, perhaps you can give us a gallery showing of how they look on the wall. Or if you've made a variety of items, you may just want to share pictures of your work. Wether it's a slideshow or a compilation of shots, the choice is yours. It will be the final adieu to our Summer of creativity and connection together. . . 

Will There be a Giveaway in the Last Week?

Yep. Although there will be no Bonus! challenge in our last week together, we will link our posts or Flickr feeds and there will be a beautiful, sparkling, colorful giveaway . . . see you then . . .

Kristin xo

The Summer of Color - PURPLE

"The Dreamers of Dreams"

8 x 10 Journal Page

{This page was inspired by my Dad (a huge Summer of Color fan ;) who suggested that the color Purple reminded him of the moon. Serendipitously, I found a poem by Arthur William O'Shaughnessy that went perfectly with the theme. The portion I used here reads, "We are the music-makers / And we are the dreamers of dreams / Wandering by lone sea-breakers / And sitting by desolate streams; / World-losers and world-forsakers / On whom the pale moon gleams: / Yet we are the movers and shakers / Of the world forever it seems."}

Oh, Red . . . 

What amazing pieces you've inspired! Your work was bright, bold and full of beauty. I loved watching our Flickr pool pop with color as your art was added throughout the week, and so appreciate the love and dedication that you put into it. Thank you for your kind comments to one another, for the supportive community you've created on Facebook and for sharing your links with us here as we head into our final Summer of Color weeks together . . . 

Believe it or Not . . .

This week marks our second-to-last color prompt. We will be working with Purple this week and our final color (announced at the bottom of this post) next. If you haven't yet joined us and would like to, please know that you are more than welcome anytime. We would be honored to have you. 

So how many weeks are left in The Summer of Color?

A total of three. After we complete our final two weeks of color prompts, we will have a wrap-up week in which we share what we have done during our time together. For those who are thinking ahead, this means that you can either create something to house or showcase the body of work you've made over the Summer, or you can simply share pictures of your work as a whole. More on that later, but know that there will be linking opportunities and another giveaway in our last week as well . . .

And now . . . The Red Week Winner is . . .

YOU

Please Email me your address and I'll get those Red hot goodies right out.

Ready for the Color Purple?

Our color prompt this week (Monday July 25th to Sunday July 31st) is the mystical, magical, regal color of Purple. Should you choose to accept it, your Bonus! challenge is to in some way incorporate a little shimmer and shine in your work. This includes but is not limited to the use of fine glitter, glass glitter, sparkly embellishments, crystals, metallic objects or anything else that would stop a deer in it's tracks . . . As before, please (A) link your blog or Flickr feed to the widget below so that others can find you (B) leave one comment if you created a Purple piece and (C) leave two comments if you completed the Bonus! challenge. 

Oooh, show us the Purple Giveaway. . .

(A vintage child's dictionary page featuring the color Purple, two vintage postcards (both written on and one stamped on the back), 8 yards of Darlee 20 Gauge copper wire, Liquitex Soft Body acrylic paint in Brilliant Purple, Stickles glitter in Lavender, a set of ten Loew Cornell white nylon brushes and a sprinkling of iridescent purple and clear Swarovski crystals)

And what is next week's color prompt?

ORANGE

(Monday August 1st to Sunday August 7th)

"Orange is red brought nearer to humanity by yellow"

-Kandinsky

I hope there's a Bonus! challenge. . .

Well, you're in luck. Should you decide to take it on, the Bonus! challenge for the color Orange is to in some way incorporate your favorite quote or poem. You can either include the text directly into your work or you can let it serve as your inspiration.  

Thank you and Have Fun! 

Kristin xo

The Summer of Color - RED

"Strolling with Hubert"

8 x 10 Journal Page

{This was inspired by schoolwork Kendra recently brought home that featured the word red. Her writing serves as the base for this mixed-media painting & collage. Also featured are several sources of sparkle: from Stickles red to iridescent glitter to Swarovski crystals and even a decorative piece (the belt) from the top of an old flip flop}  

Who knew Brown could be so pretty?

Like many of you, I wasn't sure how I was going to tackle the color. But try we did and I'm now among those who found that I really loved working with Brown. It is neutral, rich and varied in it's applications - and I was so inspired by your use of it. Thank you for sharing your art here, on our Facebook page and in our Flickr group.  We had an amazing turnout last week and I know it's going to continue as we hit the ground running on our next - highly anticipated - color . . .

But first, who won Brown week?

Our Brown giveaway (featured in the post below) was won by . . .

YOU

Please Email me your address and I'll get your vintage Browns right out . . .

And now: welcome to RED week!

This week ( Monday July 18th to Sunday July 24th) our challenge is to work with the color Red. Should you decide to take it on, your Bonus! challenge is to somehow incorporate wings into your work. As before, please (A) link your blog or Flickr feed in the widget below so that others can find you (B) leave one comment (in the comment section at the end of the post) if you completed a Red piece and (C) leave two comments if you completed the Bonus! challenge. 

And the giveaway?

{Canson 5.5 x 8.5 tablet of drawing paper, Liquitex acrylic ink in Naphthol Crimson, Golden Acrylics in Pyrrole Red (1 oz), Recollections Tinsel Glitter in Cherry, A vintage Old Maid playing card (Little Miss Muffet), a few red paint chips and a vintage Golden Dictionary page featuring the word "red." Lastly, you'll find a sprinkling of red and iridescent Swarovski crystals}

And what is next week's color?

PURPLE

(Monday July 25 - Sunday July 31st)

"But, luckily, he kept his wits and his Purple crayon."

- from Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955)

Will there be a bonus challenge with Purple?

Um. Hum. And let's be honest: this one's really for me ;) Should you like to give it a go, your Bonus! challenge for Purple week is to bring on the sparkle and shine . . . You may use anything that would stop a deer in it's tracks . . . fine glitter, chunky glitter, glass glitter, crystals, beads, shiny discarded embellishments (like the flip flop above ;), glass holiday ornaments . . . I could go on . . . you get the picture . . . 

Have fun!

Kristin xo