Gelli print will leave you in stitches

My " background pile" was calling me this morning.  I had a small pile of gelli prints that I had created with acrylic paints, stencils and scraps.  I loved the transparency of the paper and thought it would be fun to pleat and stitch.

I first pleated the print then stitched on my sewing machine.  I altered the stitch length and stitched a scribble formation.  The weight of the folded and stitched print created a wonderful background for some Stampotique stamps.

On a piece of muslin I stamped create .  It was trimmed and stitched on contrasting paper.  Hung out to dry was stamped and embossed.  I painted the bunny using a waterbrush with Gelatos.  She hangs on a snippet of waxed floss. A small piece of washi tape picks up the colors that are behind the create image. 

This piece is so random but I love the experiment and texture play.  Hope it gives you the idea to print and stitch.

Everything you imagine is real

This is certainly one of my favorite artist quotes by Pablo Picasso.

Stampotique's Jill Penney seemed to be a perfect fit to sit on top of the Mushroom Forest with Caterpillar and Rabbit in the foreground. Of course I had to bend her little legs. 

With all the color inks and pigments I own I always seem to reach for black.  Maybe it's the (retired) elementary art teacher in me that is always drawn to black on white paper -- it's that "pop" I would train the kids to say in kindergarten on. When they got to second grade they had to use the term "contrast" -- but "pop" we all liked so much better.

Color balance, and texture variety, and always text (inspired by Paul Klee). So many years working with kids I realized I work the way I teach.

And a little humor doesn't hurt.

My card is simple, but I go for the pop.  Hope you enjoy it.

A Neutral Morning

It's not going to be one of those bright and sunny days here in Arizona.  A good morning to wake-up and grab a cup of coffee and head to my studio. 

I have several projects on my table in various stages.  The new challenge at CASual  Fridays;  CFC36: Create a Clean And Simple Project that is only black and white, certainly seemed like a easy place for me to start.  This is an honor to “penguins everywhere”…loved “Chilly Willy” as a kid, so I am going for this.  

The graphic quality of the sharp contrast of black and white has always appealed to me.  That’s how I see when I design my stamp images, it is always more of a challenge to use my stamps the way they are meant to be used.

In this submission I am using my Stampotique images Bella and I Love You Flowers.  That’s it.  Black on white, cropped, layered with b/w papers ribbon scrap.  Easy?  Yes.  One more thing, had to add a dash of Diamond Sticklers, just had to!

As I am moving things about I come across a box of scraps (actually, I have lots of boxes of scraps, but I am attempting to appear more organized).   I have projects that didn’t work out, color practice, etc.  So I decided to repurpose items and put them together to make a card.  This is a similar way I have my students work in their collages.  I supply them with boxes at each team table and let them go to town. 

One approach I take is grabbing colors in a limited color palette and trying to make them work.  I try to balance the textures and give the article a little “pop.” 

The image is Fleur Gril #3 from my Fleur de Girl collection for Stampotique.   She is cropped from the entire image and placed in a scrap frame.  The “hello” is from my own hand. The corner needed a touch of black to balance it and I thought “hello” would fit the bill.

Now I’m off to a busy day ahead. 
You don’t mind if I leave my studio a little, well, let’s say, messy? 

Halloween Package Tag

Stampotique's Designer challenge by team member Kaz calls for a color challenge using black and white and a hint of color. This package tag perhaps has a little more than a hint but I thought I’d upload it anyway as it is fast and easy to put together.

Brush Pearlescent green and yellow chalks through a small sheet of sequin waste. Stamp Cooper and Skullboy with black dye ink. Stamp “Cubes in a row” with VersaColor sage – heat set. Stamp “Boo” over blocks (both Alphabets by Stampotique). Use a fine point permanent ink pen to embellish cubes.

Re-stamp Skullboy and Cooper on additional white cardstock. Carefully cut around bodies. Add shadows with watercolor or markers. Add clear glitter.
Crop and mount on black card stock. Add grommets and ribbon.

The Stampotique Tykes are Here!

I am pleased to announce that the Stampotique Tykes have arrived!

I had so much fun doodling a line of kids -- many of them remind me of my students.  Stampotique also has new amazing images from their other artsists as well.  Check it out!