QoR Kitty: A Watercolor Kitty Warm up Process Video

A few weeks ago, a lovely friend sent me a set of Golden's QoR Watercolors, and I knew I had to get messy and test them out! 

When I sat down at my desk, I knew I had to just go for it.  There was no room for doubt or hesitation to get in the way.  I hadn't picked up a paint brush for months and I knew I needed to loosen up and get messy to break out of my rut... and this is what happened.

She's not the prettiest of kitties, but she was SO FUN to make!!  These QoR watercolors are so dreamy and bright, I need to buy more!

Here is my quick process video... you can even tell with the poor resolution that these watercolors stand out and make you take notice!  That teal.... *sigh*... so lovely!

Better Together: Scrapbook Layout and Process Video

I've been on a bit of a creative hiatus these past few months, and this is my first scrapbook layout of 2016!  I've had this photo printed since the fall, but I just hadn't gotten around to pulling my supplies out for ages. 

Do you ever feel like you just need to reset?  Go back to 0, and declutter your mojo?  That is how I'd been feeling lately, a bit overwhelmed; and it was interfering with my ability to create.  So I just stopped trying for a little while to see what happened. 

I knew my desire to create would come back to me, it always does.  I just didn't want to be caught up in all the expectations that surround us in the virtual world re: Instagram, Pinterest etc.  They say that comparison is the thief of joy, and this rang true for me.  There is a fine line between inspiration and inundation, and I found myself spending more time online than actually being creative myself!

This weekend, for the first time in months, I wanted to sit at my desk and make something.  And two watercolor paintings, a mixed media painting and a scrapbook layout later, I feel like I just woke up from a long winter's nap.  I've stretched a bit, and now I'm ready to get back into the groove.

Don't be scared to give yourself the space your mojo needs, it happens to us all.

Here is the process video for my scrapbook layout using Studio Calico's Goldie Collection
Thanks so much for visiting!
Steph

Rohan Grade 3: Scrapbook Layout

Are you as shocked as I am?  A non-cat layout!  Yay!  My sister gave me this photo of my nephew Rohan, and I knew it would be just perfect for this AC Amy Tangerine collection! 

A bit of layering, hand cut title, sewing, stamped journaling, and a few cute diecuts make for a fun and colorful layout.  I sometimes struggle with collections that have navy blue/masculine themes, but this collection is lovely!  It has a darker blue, but complimentary lighter colors that help me feel inspired. 

Hope you're having a lovely week!
Steph
xo

He's So Fluffy! Scrapbook Layout

Ralphie is an adorable boy.  So sweet and lovely... until you try and take a comb or brush to him!  He turns into a wiggle boy with a bit of a roar when I brush near his hind quarters/belly!  (and of course, this is where he gets matted the most)  He doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body, so it's really just all for show LOL 

I'm continuing my Amy Tangerine Sketchbook stashbusting as you can see... I'm getting down to just a few pieces of paper!  Yay!  I probably have enough for one or two more layouts and then I'll call it officially busted!

Happy New Year!
Steph
xo

Oh Joy: Scrapbook Layout

These last couple of years, I've really been trying to use up my stash before buying new products.  However, I'm not always successful.  There are just so many wonderful new releases every few months and I have weak moments! 

When this AC Amy Tangerine "Sketchbook" collection was released in 2013, I bought multiples of EVERYTHING.  I've recently gathered all the elements (ephemera, stickers etc) and papers into one bag, and I've been pecking away at "killing" it.  No sense in hoarding, as I need to make room for all the new goodies being released in January.

Here is my latest layout using the collection.  I also played around with my Cameo and cut this cute heart file from the Silhouette Design Store.  Filling in the background pieces takes some time, but I love that kind of mindless work while I watch one of my favorite TV shows! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Here's hoping the Stashbusting will continue in 2016!
Steph
xo

Foxy the Cat: Mixed Media Painting

This painting had so many different lives.  It began as a bunny with wonky ears, then covered with black gesso and started a new life as a fox... or a cat.  In all honesty, I was going for a fox, but it didn't quite work out!  Everyone I've showed this to says that it looks like a cat...I  guess I just can't help it!

Other then the fact that I tried to paint an entirely different animal and failed, I'm loving the look of this painting.  The background, texture and colors are lovely and soft in person. 

Foxy the Cat was painted on an 8x10 Wood canvas, using acrylics, ink, modeling paste and all the other usual supplies (punchinella, pen, tissue paper)

Roxy Baby: Scrapbook Layout

Roxy is our 3 year old Silver Doll Faced Persian, and she is such a sweet little girl.  She loves to  fetch, and brings us her favorite foam balls when it's time to play.  She's lean and long, and has a fur coat that can mat after nothing more then a sneeze. 

Grooming her has always been a challenge; she's not aggressive, but sooooo squirmy!  She's also very smart, and knows that I'm a softy.  I let her get away with the wiggle worm routine and half heartily scruff her when I try and comb her out.  So after trying to maintain her fur on my own for about a year (and failing miserably), I asked our groomer to give her a lion cut. 

She didn't enjoy the process much the first time, but within about 5 minute of it being finished you could tell she felt so much better!!  No more mats and she started playing and carrying on like a kitten.  Since then, she is cut every every fall when the winter coat starts coming in... and she hardly squirms at all for the groomer now!

I still maintain her cheeks/tail/nails on my own, and she pulls the wiggle worm routine on me all the time, but I'm getting better at it!  Unfortunately, since I'm the "bad guy" in our house, she tends to ask Dave for snuggles and not me.  I can hold her and give her some love, she's such a sweetie... but I'm not her favorite.  It makes me sad, but I'll win her over one day!!

The layout was created using papers from Gossamer Blue, with some diecuts from Dear Lizzy and embellishments from Studio Calico.  I'm loving all things hand cut these days, scallop borders being my favorite!  (the wonkier the better!)

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!
Steph
xo

Sweet Ralphie - Scrapbook Layout Process video

OK.  So I gave it a try.  I've uploaded my first scrapbook process video.  Disclosure: I am not doing anything mind blowing or new.  It's a layered mixed media layout using Studio Calico inks. 

After I posted a few layouts using this ink technique a couple of months ago, I had a few folks ask for details on the punchinella dots.  The layout is random, messy and full of hesitation... but that's how I roll!  I'm such a SLOW scrapbooker!  I tend to spend more time pushing paper around my table then gluing anything down... and in the end, they always look same. 

It is what it is, and I'm just going with it <grin>

Had lots of fun with this... and the only thing that was left out of the video what the bit of pen that I used to outline the page title and underline the inked journaling.

Have a look, let me know what you think!
Cheers,
Steph
xo

Supplies used

Paper: American Crafts and Studio Calico/Seven Paper

Foam title: Pink Paislee

Ink: Studio Calico

Word stickers, vellum hearts, enamel dots and vellum letters: Studio Calico/Seven Paper

Yellow Washi Strip: AC Amy Tangerine

Black and White Washi: A Beautiful Mess

Punchinella

Dear Lizzy Date Stamp

Michaels Dollar bin Alpha stamps

Cards - TAWS Bird brain

I love the idea of making cards.  I can spend hours watching YouTube videos about making cards, and drooling over online card galleries.  I even have my own Pinterest board to ensure inspiration is at my fingertips!  I've even taken a Copics coloring online class to justify all of those yummy markers I have in my stash.  All of this, and I just can't seem to get the hang of it! 

Every single time I sit down to make a card, I draw a blank.  I don't know if it's the smaller canvas that intimidates me, or that my coloring doesn't ever look as nice as I would like it to look.  I'm not certain, but the creative struggle is real.  <grin>

However, it's that time of year when I attempt my hand at making a stash of cards for my Mom using my leftover scraps.  I dug out my stamps, markers and card stock and had a bit of fun last weekend.

This is my favorite card so far, mainly because of the cute little bird.  The stamps are by The Alley Way Stamps and the set is called "Bird Brain".

Am I the only one who struggles this much with cards?  Give me a 20x24 blank canvas and I don't even blink... but these tiny cards just mess with my head!  LOL

Hope you're all having a great week
Steph
xo

Yellow Stripes & Kitty - Twinkling H20 Process Video

Ahhh yes, another kitty watercolor!  I just can't seem to get enough of drawing these cats!  I used Twinkling H20 watercolors again, my absolute favorite paints.  They are so creamy, bright and shimmery!

The pen that I use is a discontinued Pilot Permaball Pen, when I found them on sale a few years ago at the local art store, I was so thrilled I bought the entire lot.  I'm not sure what I'll do when they are all used up, but hopefully I won't have to worry about that for some time.

The watercolor pooled here and there on my paper, but that's all part of the learning process.  When I do these sketches and paint them with various watercolors, I really try not to over think things, just do what feels right and let the water do most of the work.  I am not seeking perfection, thank goodness!

The scribbles with ink really help me let go and get over the perfection angle as well.  I know some may look at my work and think "why the heck does she do that?!"... it's just my way of letting go. 

Some days I let go a little too much, and that's ok... a few of my favorite pieces (and my best sellers in my shop) are the paintings that I did on a whim with no thought of the end result.

Here's the Process Video for this watercolor, hope you enjoy! (and yes, next time I paint a bunch of tiny flowers, I will speed up that section of video a bit more LOL)

Steph
xo