#StudioABSeeBunny Video Hop

Hey everyone, welcome to our #StudioABSeeBunny video hop and giveaway, sponsored by the Studio A B See Facebook group.

This is Daisy, named accordingly because of all the pretty little daises that adorn her.  I think she is so sweet, and I love the look of surprise as a delicate little butterfly lands on her nose.

This is a giveaway hop sponsored by the Studio A B See Facebook group.  Each participating channel will offer a prize, and since there are nine hoppers, there will be nine chances to win. Comments are considered automatic entries for the giveaway. All you need to do is go to the video description box and click on ‘Show More’ to see complete contest rules. Then click on the first link in the description box to travel to the next artist. If a link happens to become broken simply go to the second link on the list.  And don't forget to give each of us a thumbs up if you liked the video, and please consider subscribing to our channels.  And here is the complete video tutorial showing how Daisy evolved.

Be sure to hop to each video, leaving a comment for your chance to win a fabulous prize given by each video hopper.  Here is a photo of what you could win from my channel, a $40+ value.

Supplies Used:

Paper Mache Bunny (Target)

Delight Air Dry Modeling Compound

Silicone Molds (Wow)

ColourArte Peach Fuzz Radiant Rain spray mist
Prima Flourish Stencil (Finnabair)

Prima Color Bloom Spray Mist

  Gold Foil

  Tea Stain

  Peony

  Summer Sky

  Lime Wedge

  Iris

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics

  Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

  Cobalt Teal Hue

  Diarylide Yellow

  Interference Gold

  Paynes Grey

Americana Pebble acrylic paint

Liquitex clear gesso
Ranger Crackled Texture Paste (Wendy Vecchi)

Vintage hymn book pages

Aleene's Quick Grab Tacky Glue

Black archival ink

Script stamp (Indigo Blu)

Faber Castell Pitt Pen

  Black

  Pink Rose Madder Artist Big Brush

Various brushes

I hope you are enjoying the hop, and as always, thanks so much for watching!

Barbara xo

Vintage Style Tool Caddy with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Hello everyone!  Today I want to share this really cool and very useful Tool Caddy, also sometimes called a brush caddy, from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts.  However, since it can be used for so much more than just brushes, we changed its name.  I love everything vintage and shabby chic, so I am going to decorate my caddy with some beautiful papers from Prima's Wild & Free collection. 

This caddy is very simple to put together.  Here are the parts.

Before I put it together, though, I am going to start to cut out my paper pieces.  It will be much easier to cover the inside pieces BEFORE I glue it all together.  Start by covering the "handle" piece, trimming the paper away from the "pins" and from inside the handle.  Save the ovals cut from inside the handle.  We will use them later.

Trim the paper from between the long "slots".

You will also need to trim the paper from just above the long "slots" to allow for the partition pieces to slide onto.  I used one of the partitions as a template to cut away that portion of the paper.

Cover the opposite side and trim the paper in the same manner.  You can see how the partition can slide on easily, since the excess paper thickness has been removed.

Cover both sides of each partition piece and trim paper from pins and long slots, as shown. 

Be sure to remove the paper below the long slots.

You can now slide the partitions onto the handle piece.

Cover the inside bottom piece and cut away the slots or holes, as shown, and trim paper from pins.

Put glue on the handle and partition pieces.

Set pins on both handle and partition pieces into the slots on the bottom piece, as shown.  Let dry.

At this point, I decided to varnish the paper to protect it.  I prefer to use DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish, but you can also use other varnishes or sealers, too. It goes on really smooth and matte, so you cannot see it at all.

Cut four pieces of 12x12 paper every 4" wide to cover both the inside and outside of the side pieces.  Run the paper pieces through a Xyron Creative Station, or use whatever adhesive you have.

Be mindful of the direction of the printed design, if that applies.  The rose print paper design has direction and needs to be cut so the direction is upright. 

I have laid two sides along the lower piece to show how it will be adhered.  Notice that the top, straight edge is the top of the sides, and the pins are where it attaches to the bottom.

However, since the black print paper has no discernible direction, I don't need to pay attention to the direction in which I cut it.  Here I have laid out the large side with the top at the top, and the side piece has been laid out sideways.  It won't matter in the case of this paper.

Here are the pieces covered.  Excess paper was trimmed away from the pins and in the slot holes.  Do not cover the other side at this time.  It will be covered after the sides are attached and all of the edges can be covered.

Adhere the sides pieces to the handle/partition pieces, as shown.  Remember, the paper covered side goes to the inside.  I used a rubber band to hold the sides nice and tight while the glue dried.  If you don't have a large enough rubber band, you can always use a piece of twine or string.  Let the caddy dry well before handling.

Cover the outside pieces with the black print paper, as shown.

One more piece needs to be cut from the paper measuring 4"x6" to cover the bottom. 

Paint two Border Sticks Shell with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain.  Because this is so watery, it will not clog the delicate laser cuts.

Adhere the Border Sticks Shell along the top edge of the caddy. 

To finish off the top edges of the chipboard, I used a Krylon Pale Gold leafing pen.  In the photo, I placed a small post-it note over the paper to protect it while I added the Pale Gold up against it.

Fussy cut images from the paper collection and adhere to the front and back of the caddy.  Use a metal frame over the small image of the girl, which was cut from the 6"x6" paper pad in the same collection. 

These are the two ovals cut from the handle.  Lay two delicate frames over the ovals and trace around the print area you want to display.  Cut away excess paper and set aside.

Paint the two delicate frames with Tarnished Brass distress stain and let dry. 

Adhere the painted frames over the ovals.

I felt the scallop frame was too bare, so I added the tiny flourish from the same set after coloring it in
the same fashion.

These pieces were adhered to the sides of the caddy.

And here is how you can store your favorite and most used tools right within reach.  This piece can also serve as an inspiration piece, since it will be right there in front of you as you work.  You get to be the creator and make it especially to your liking.  It doesn't get any more fun than that.

Supplies Used:
GSL Tool Caddy
GSL Border Sticks Shell
GSL Delicate Frames & Ornaments Shapes
Prima Wild & Free 12x12 paper collection
Krylon Pale Gold leafing pen
DecoArt Media Ultra Matte Varnish
Dynasty #16 flat brush
Xyron Creative Station
Ideology Baroque Frames
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Tarnished Brass Distress Stain
Foam dots

I hope you enjoyed my project today and that I have inspired you to make one of these nifty tool caddies for yourself.  Of course, it would make and excellent gift for your craftiest friends, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful and crafty day!

Barbara

How to Color Faces for your Art Journal

This is a process video showing how to draw and color faces for your art journaling.  Stencils, pastes, and other mediums are used in this video tutorial to help you get started playing with faces in your art.  This is actually my first attempt at face drawing, but I hope I have taken the fear out of it.  By doing this in your art journal will also help remove that fear and allow you to play, and practice to help improve your drawing skills.

ColourArte Supplies Used:

Silks Acrylic Glaze
  Oyster
  Rustic Rose
  Kiwi
  Pixie Pink
  Rusty Mauve
  Azurite
Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Siam White
  China Black
Radiant Gels
  Celedon

Other Supplies Used:

Dylusions 5"x8" art journal
Graphite Texture Paste
Stencils
  TCW585-Inspired Words
  Dylusions DYS44284-Diamond Large
  FolkArt 31476-Ornamental Flower
Fineline Applicator
Dynasty Brushes
  16 Flat
  6 Round
  5/0 Angler
LePen black marker
Fudeball black pen
Dylusions White Linen paint pen
Finnabair Don't Forget to Fly cling stamp set

I hope you enjoyed my attempt at face drawing.  More importantly, I hope I have been able to remove your fear of trying this by using your art journal for such purposes.  No one has to see your beginning pieces except you, and after all, practice does make perfect.  So I hope will will join me on my journey of, hopefully, improving my drawing skills and sharing my efforts with you.

As always, I appreciate you so much for stopping by, and if you feel inclined, please leave me a comment  and perhaps follow my blog so you can see my hopeful attempts at improvement.

Have a wonderful day, and take time to play!

Barbara xo

#ColourArteSpringHop - ATC Shrine for the Birds

Welcome to ColourArte's Spring Video Hop.  There will be lots of inspiration from the rest of the team, so grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit back, and be inspired!  

Here is a quick peek at my project.  Find out more about it in my video below.

The winner from each participating channel will win a 6-piece Silks Sampler Set. 

ColourArte Supplies Used:
Vivid Ultra Metallics
  Siam White
  Pink Azalea
  Ginger Peach
  Red Poinsettia
  Teal Zircon
  True Metals Dragon Gold
Silks Acrylic Glaze
  Olive Vine
  Chestnut Brown

Other Supplies Used:
ATC Shrine - Leaves (gslcuts.com)
Crackle Paste (DecoArt)
Texture Sand Paste (DecoArt)
Dried Statice (Arnold Grummer)
Miniature Birds (Hobby Lobby)
Miniature Nest (Prima)
Reindeer Moss
Walnut Blossom Branches (Prima)
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Wood Plank mold (Wilton)
Delight Modeling Compound (CreativePaperclay)

See the description box below the video for giveaway instructions, and then click on the first video link to hop to the next designer. I would love for you to subscribe to my youtube channel.  As always, so glad you stoppesd by, and thanks for watching.

Good luck!

Barbara xo

Mixed Media: Antique Flower Cart

Hello everyone!  Are you ready for Spring?  I sure am, and when I saw this Flower Cart from Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts, I couldn't help but think of the coming of Spring.

I always like to lay my chipboard pieces out so I can see how they will fit together.

Prime both sides of all chipboard with a coat of DecoArt Media white gesso.  I like to use a flat sponge or blending tool to prevent filling up the delicate lasercuts with paint.

Glue flower cart together and set aside to dry.

Spread DecoArt Media white modeling paste through a stencil with a spatula.  Keep edges rough and uneven for a worn look.  Let paste dry.

Mix DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics (Cerulean Blue, Blue Green Light, Phthalo Turquoise) together with water on a palette and paint cart, inside and out. 

I decided to add a second coat to the cart to give it a more patinated look.  Set aside to dry.

Dry brush DecoArt Media Blue Green Light over the stenciled areas, as well as the edges where the paste was roughly spread, and the top edges of the cart.  This will add to the patina.

Each Border Sticks Floral was cut to fit the sides of the card, and primed with white gesso.  Some strips that I had left were not long enough, but as you can see, it is easy to piece them together. 

Paint the Border Sticks Floral with DecoArt Media Gold Metallic Fluid Acrylic.  Only one side needs to be painted since these will be glued down.

Paint both sides of the wheels from the Flower Cart with the DecoArt Media Gold Metallic Fluid Acrylic. 

To give the wheels and border sticks more of a copper look, I painted each with DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold.  This paint is transparent and allows the metallic gold color still show through.

Darken the outer edges of the wheels with black archival ink (black paint could also be used).

Glue the Border Sticks Floral around the top edges of the cart, just below the decorative scroll and along the back of the cart.  Use your finger to apply DecoArt Burnished Brass Metallic Lustre over the high spots made from the paste, and along the edges of the cart and handles.

Attach the wheels to the cart with decorative metal brads.

Here you can see the how the brad extends through the holes in both the cart and the wheels, making it very easy to attach them.

Here are a couple of views of the cart from each angle.

Supplies Used:
GSL Flower Cart
GSL Border Sticks Floral

DecoArt Media white gesso
DecoArt Media white modeling paste
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics
  Cerulean Blue
  Blue Green Light
  Phthalo Turquoise
  Metallic Gold
  Quinacridone Gold
DecoArt Metallic Lustre - Burnished Brass
The Crafter's Workshop TCW334s Mini Window Screen stencil
Two decorative metal brads
Blending tool
Black Archival ink
Dynasty brushes

I really love how this flower cart turned out, and I can think of several uses for it.  As you can tell, I used mine to display a beautiful bouquet of Spring flowers.  But I also thought this would make a lovely centerpiece to hold candy or small party favors.  What about a nice housewarming gift with a small potted plant, or even a hostess gift.  What will you use yours for?  Let us know and be sure to share your photos if you decide to make one for yourself or a friend.

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to play!

Barbara