Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L: Sparrows Art Journal Page

**As a guest designer for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, I received product to use in my posts. This post contains affiliate links when possible at no cost to you. Clicking on these links helps me continue to bring you great content and I thank you for your support!**

Hi everyone! I was excited to receive a Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® Denim Art Journal when I began my time as a guest designer with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and I finally pulled it out for my post today! The pages in this album are awesome. They can hold a ton of mediums, layer and texture. It will be a fun addition to my journal collection.  Be sure to head over to the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog to see more pictures as well as my process video for you today!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Watercolor Wednesday: Practice, Practice, Practice!

 **This post contains affiliate links at no cost to you. 

Using them helps me continue to provide you with great content!**

Hi everyone! I'm back sharing some more watercoloring with you. I'm going to be real with you in this post. These are not photos I would normally share because it was only practice but as I thought about what I wanted to post today, I thought why NOT show you practice sheets, right?! I hardly ever sit down to watercolor without warming up and that's what I'm going to share with you today. Today, I'm working with Daniel Smith Watercolors on Canson Moulin Du Roy Cold Press Watercolor Paper. This is a really nice watercolor paper pad and I love using it for practice.

I'm in love with flowers right now. All the flowers. All the time. I can't get them off  my mind! It's no wonder, florals are everywhere right now in design. Plus, it's spring! I really want paint flowers and there is no better place to start than loose, abstract florals. This page I just started making different marks with my paintbrush, I'm really just testing and seeing what works. My favorite watercolor brushes are the Silver Brush Black Velvet series. I've been using them almost since I first started watercoloring! Today I was working with the Silver Brush Round Size 12 or smaller. I'm trying to create flowers that I've seen and loved. It's a hot mess and there are many fails but I am pushing myself to keep going and once I filled an entire page, I pulled out another one.

Here is practice number two for the day. I'm getting more confident in this one, it's starting to flow better and I'm finding my groove with the water, pigment and my brushes. I'm pretty happy with this one and even posted it on Instagram....that's a pretty good sign. haha Still...more practice is in order. I think I'm ready now to try something I had in my head that I wanted to paint on canvas but before doing that I wanted to try on paper first.

I have had this idea in my mind for awhile and this is kind of a sneak peek of something since, again, this was just a practice run. I wanted to try out my vision first before working on a canvas and I'm so glad I did. By doing this, I was able to rearrange the flowers on my final piece. In looking at what I painted here, I realized I wanted to create three larger focal flowers around the silhouette and then arrange my varying smaller flowers in the white space. I also practiced making pseudo vines around the antlers. I'm so excited to show you the final piece so be sure to keep an eye here for it!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

Canson Moulin Du Roy Cold Press Watercolor Paper

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors (Moonglow, Opera Pink, New Gamboge, Serpentine Genuine, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Genuine, Kyanite Genuine, Quinacridone Fuchsia, Indigo, Cascade Green) 

Silver Brush Black Velvet Round Size 12

Prime FavCrafts Best Blogger Craft Contest

Hi everyone!

 

This past January I was lucky to go to CHA with the Blitsy team and even more lucky to attend the Prime Blogger Event where I got to hang out with other amazing bloggers and meet several of my favorite companies as well as meet with new ones! As a blogger attending, the awesome sponsors sent us goodie boxes filled with their products to try and FavCrafts has a contest for all of us to enter using the products we received. This is what I've created - a fun bunch of Easter eggs using my favorite techniques and products. This was such a fun craft project to create and use all the different products together. I'm excited to share with you how I created each special egg! These are wooden craft eggs perfect for paints and mediums. Each egg started with two coats of white gesso.

Products Used:

Testors Paintbrushes

Testors Craft Acrylic Paint (Petal Pink, White, Sour Apple Metallic)

Testors Enamel Paint (Black Metallic)

 

Ok, I'm going to play favorites here. I absolutely LOVE the way this egg turned out! I'm obsessed with painting loose, abstract florals lately. It started with my love of watercolors and I've recently taken it to my art journals and as I looked at my first egg, I thought why not so I gave it a try. Using my pink paint, I mixed it with a bit of white and some water to lighten it up a bit and painted my first layer. Once that was dry, I used the same pink full pigment for the second layer. As that dried, I painted my leaves using the green paint. Once it was all dry, I used the tip of my paintbrush and the black enamel paint to create the centers. This was actually so easy to do and I want to get more eggs to create more with different colors of flowers.

Products Used:

Plaid Delta Ceramcoat Select Acrylic Paint (Fog Gray)

iCraft Deco Foil (Spring Green, Lilac, Aqua)

 

This egg was also very easy to create and I love the pops of colored shimmer created with the foil! After I painted the egg with the gray paint and let it dry (it dries super fast by the way), I took an adhesive circle dot and applied it to the egg. Then I took my foil and placed it over top, the foil sticks to the adhesive and you have an instant foiled polka dot! I did each one separately until my egg was covered.

Products Used:

Sakura Cray-Pas Expressionist Oil Pastels

(Purple, Light Purple, Emerald Green, Cobalt Blue Hue, Pale Blue, Pale Green, Black)

 

I did a little zentangle on this egg using a fun scratching technique with the Cray-Pas oil pastels. This project took me back to childhood when I would scribble color all over a piece of paper and then cover it with a black crayon and etch my picture into it to reveal the color. I started by scribbling my colors onto the egg in a random pattern and covering it with the black. Then I started scratching my doodles into the black to reveal the color below. It was very relaxing to create this egg. These oil pastels are perfect for this technique and a great craft to use with kids. I know mine are going to love making some of their own this weekend and I can't wait to see what different patterns they make.

Products Used:

Plaid FolkArt Chalk Paint (Black)

Plaid Delta Ceramcoat (Ocean Blue, Fuchsia)

Testors CreateFX Texture Paint (Snow Cap)

 

I was dying to try the Testors CreateFX Texture Paint to try to create a speckled egg. I also loved dry brushing color over the black chalkboard paint. Another very simple egg to create and I love the texture!

Products Used:

Design Master TintIT (Gold Shimmer)

 

Who doesn't love finding the golden egg?! I know it's a fun tradition in my house that the golden egg is the coveted egg to find. For no reason other than it's the only one because it has the same candy as the rest of the eggs. haha! I couldn't wait to use this Gold Shimmer spray paint and I'm excited to try it in my art journal next because these spray paints are great on paper, too. I just propped up the egg on an empty tape roll in a cardboard box and sprayed it. A few sprays but just one coat. It covers beautifully and of course, out of all the eggs, this was definitely the most simple to make.

 

So, that's it! I'm super excited to enter this contest and if you like my project, you will be able to vote for me starting March 31 and I would love to have your support. Be sure to follow my Facebook page so you know when voting begins!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Blitsy Feature: Art Journaling with Pebeo Studio Acrylics

**This post contains affiliate links when possible at no cost to you. As a part of the Blitsy Creative Team, I receive product for use in my projects. The great thing is I'm able to choose what I use so all the opinions remain my own and as always I only share what I personally love to use!!**

 

Hi Everyone! I'm so excited to be over at Blitsy today sharing a fun new page in my NEW favorite art journal using Pebeo  Studio Acrylic Paints. I picked out just THREE colors to try and used them all on this page. That's right - three colors!! Hop on over to the Blitsy Blog today to find out more along with a full supply list and my process video!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

 

Until next time,

Happy Crafting!

Watercolor Wednesday: Daniel Smith Watercolors

Hi Everyone!

 

I'm excited to try something new. I'm obsessed with watercolors, have been for awhile honestly. I have so many different brands and I want to push myself to using them more...so, I want to try to blog about this journey every Wednesday...hence, Watercolor Wednesday is born! (or reborn...I do believe I attempted this before. haha) I don't have a plan for this other than I want to share a watercolor piece with you each week. It could be anything from a card to a canvas or just some exploration in my watercolor art journal. Who knows but I am excited! If there is anything in particular you'd love to see from this, please leave me a note in the comments.

 

**This post uses affiliate links when possible at no cost to you.**

 

Today, I'm sharing something I created in my Strathmore Visual Watercolor Journal. I was inspired by Blitsy's Instagram Challenge to share a favorite quote. I immediately went to my Pinterest board of favorite quotes and was going to post one of those when I thought I really wanted to create a page in my art journal and use the quote myself. I knew I wanted to use my Daniel Smith Watercolors palette I created a few weeks ago but hadn't gotten around to using since I filled the pans. I just wanted to create something simple so I just did a few swipes of some of my favorite colors, let them dry and then did my journaling over it. I love the way it turned out!

This is my beloved Daniel Smith Watercolor Palette. I have just a FRACTION of the 238 colors available as you can see but plenty to have lots of watercolor fun with. I am currently using a Mijello 33- Well Watercolor Palette. It is a monster...just so you know. It's huge but it's beautiful! I love the large wells and having a palette that holds so many colors was a must for me. You can see I have room for 5 more colors. Decisions, decisions!!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Mixed Media Card

 

Hi Everyone! I am up on the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog today and I had so much fun creating this card. It was like working on a mini art journal page except I get to send it to a dear friend! Just hop on over to Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Blog to see the full card as well as step by step photos to see how I created it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Book Review: Having a Martha Home the Mary Way by Sarah Mae

**I received this book from Tyndale Publishing for the purpose of a review, however, I was not required to give a positive review and all the opinions are my own!
Affiliate links are used when possible at no cost to you.**

 
 

This is a bit of a different kind of post here on my blog but do you see that beautiful book cover? I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover but the beautiful watercolor design really kinda fits here on my artsy blog, don't you think?! I was intrigued by the title Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 31 Days to a Clean House and Satisfied Soul by Sarah Mae. (emphasis my own)

Honestly, a satisfied soul and clean house seemed to be two foreign concepts for me and to tie them together?! I knew I had to read this book. I was excited to receive this book before it launched and read it in 3 days front to back! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. I want to tell you a bit how this book touched me and encouraged me as a wife, mother and homemaker.

I love this right here. I've never been what you would call a neat freak...seriously, I remember dating my hubby and he came over one night...my room was a complete disaster! Let's just say, I'm pretty lucky he still asked me to marry him! haha However...15 years and 4 kids later...domestically challenged is the understatement of the decade!!! So to hear about a new book by one of my favorite homeschool moms and authors about getting a clean home in 31 days...I was all in! I knew I needed this book in my life. Little did I know, this book was about to reach sooooo much deeper than the dust bunnies under the bed... it would also clear the dust from my entire soul.

Sarah Mae has a way of writing that makes you feel like she's chatting with you right there on the couch, like a close girlfriend, over a cup of coffee. I pretty much became a bobble head as I read through this book as I could relate to so many of her stories. It seems funny to have so much in common with someone I've never met but it also made this book completely relatable and made me feel so much less alone. That last sentence alone in this excerpt from the book gave me so much hope and grace on those days that seem never endingly mundane. It felt like a giant hug. This book reminded me my worth and identity in Christ isn't rooted in my ability to clean or keep a clean home (or anything *I* DO), but rather to go deeper in the Word and get closer to Him (through the Mary challenges.) I needed that more than any other truth or cleaning plan that is laid out in this book. In doing that, however, I am also encouraged the rest will follow (through the Martha challenges) with a heart toward serving my God and my family through a tidy home. 

In this world of social media, where all we see are the picture perfect parts of life, it can make us feel like we are always falling short. This book removes that perfect veil while giving you bite sized manageable challenges to clean our homes but more importantly bring us back to where it all begins...at the feet and word of God. Filling us with Grace while we create a warm and inviting space in our homes. 

So, that brings me to something I am REALLY excited about. In April, I am going to re-read this book, slowly this time...intentionally following the challenges each day and working through the companion journal. I started a Facebook Group so my friends could join me and we could encourage, cheer on and inspire each other as we go through 31 Days to a Clean Home Challenge together. We will officially start on April 11 along with Sarah Mae and all the other Mary's and Martha's who joined in the prelaunch of this awesome new book! I would like to invite each of you to join me. I am not going into this to lead anyone but secretly (maybe a little selfishly) hoping to find some peeps to keep myself accountable! I am so excited to go day by day, deeper into the Word of God while creating a peaceful and welcoming, grace-filled home for my family. I truly hope you will join me!

Because....this is what matters. I love this book so much that I purchased one to give away to one of you! I would love all my friends to read it...whether cleaning comes naturally or not...you will get something from these pages, just for you, like I did, as you read it. Feel free to enter below and share this blog post! Cleaning can be fun...especially with friends!

There are a TON of awesome incentives Sarah Mae and her publisher are providing to invite you to purchase the book during launch week (which ends tomorrow!). Check them ALL out at MarthaHomeMaryWay.com

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Gift Bag featured on CardMaker!

Hi everyone! I'm taking cardmaking to celebrating this week on the CardMaker blog to show you my favorite way to dress up gift giving. To see more plus a full supply list be sure to hop on over to the CardMaker Blog today.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

CardMaker Blog Hop featuring American Crafts!

Hi Everyone!

 

I was so excited to receive the Amy Tangerine Better Together line from American Crafts for a special blog hop with the CardMaker Team! I am the final stop on this hop and you should have arrived from Kim's blog, if not, be sure to head over to the CardMaker Blog to see an entire list of everyone participating today!

 

I love the watercolor feel to all the papers and this text paper immediately stood out to me. I just had to use it! I love any kind of text paper and by using a frame die, I was able to highlight one of the phrases for my sentiment! I paired up the papers with a stamp by The Greeting Farm and colored her with Copic Markers to match. I am slightly obsessed with the cute washi tapes in this collection, especially these glitter ones and I couldn't resist adding to my card! I hope you have enjoyed this fun hop with the CardMake Blog team.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

Supply List:

The Greeting Farm (Anya Nerds Out)

Amy Tangerine by American Crafts Better Together (Cut & Paste 12x12)

Amy Tangerine by American Crafts Better Together (Washi Tape)

Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L (3D Foam Squares, E-Z Runner Ultra Permanent)

WPlus9 Designer Dies (Gift Card Layers)

My Favorite Things (Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frames)

Copics: Skin-YR000, E00, E21, E04, V22 R21; Hair-E50, E51, E53, Y35; Shirt-RV21, RV23, RV25; Skirt-Y13, Y19, B34, B39; Shoes-C4, C6, C8, 100; Leg Warmers-N1, N3, N5, V22

Spectrum Noir Glitter Pens (Clear)

BeYOUtiful Mixed Media with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Hi Everyone!

 

I'm so excited to be featured on the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog again. Today, I wanted to create a mixed media piece for you today incorporating some of the awesome Donna Salazar with Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® products along with their great adhesives. Just hop on over to their blog to see the final canvas as well as how I created it.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more! 

How To Adhere Vellum To Your Cards

Hi everyone! Vellum is definitely trending in the card making community. I am seeing it everywhere and love using it on my cards to create a sheer, soft layer over my pattern paper or watercolor backgrounds. However, I am asked all the time, what is the best way to adhere vellum because of it's nature you don't want to see any adhesive. Today on the CardMaker Blog, I'm sharing one of my favorite ways to adhere vellum so you don't see ANY adhesive and you don't have to do any strategic embellishing either. To find out my tip along with my process video and full supply list be sure to hop on over to the CardMaker Blog today.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I would love it if you would click on the button below to subscribe to my blog to let me know you enjoy what you see and would like to see more!