Challenge #3 Winner

...and the winner is...

Chris A!

Congratulations! Your project is amazing! Enjoy your gift certificate to Bad Girls Shoppes.

New Challenge On Project 52

The new challenge is up on Project 52-and the design team rocked it! Challenge 4 is paper dolls, theme: joy and/or sadness, material: metal.

I want to welcome our guest designer, Karin Kreijen (aka, Mexx)!
Kari's project is truly amazing! Take a look at this:
Gorgeous! For more inspiration, take a look at all the different interpretations of this challenge. Make sure you check out the Project 52 blog.

Some of the design team ladies are participating in a blog hop today.
Let's Hop and Get Some Fun Tips and/or See The Artist's Studios!!!

1. Julie Ann

2. Finn

3. Francesca

4. Tania

5. Wendela

6. Jaz

7. Pam

8. *Karin aka Mexx <<<---NOVEMBER GUEST DESIGNER!!!! *

9. Project 52

Follow these rules for a chance to win Challenge #4, and snag a Guest Spot on our Design Team! Deadline December 5, 2009 Midnight Pacific Time

Four Easy Steps -->
a) Visit and comment at each of 9 blogs (links above) on their Challenge #4 post, as our designers have secret tips related to this challenge for you and/or a peek at their special studio spaces

b) Complete all aspects of Challenge #4 Paper Doll/ Joy &/Or Sadness/ Metal

Challenge 4 – Paper Dolls (jointed, template, 2-D, 3-D, single/multiples, etc…)
Due: December 5, 2009
* Theme – Joy &/or Sadness (human, animal, real, fantasy, etc…)
*Required material – Metal (any type, real, faux, part/whole, etc…)

c) Upload to the Project 52 Gallery, make sure to title it "Project 52 Challenge #4"

d) Post in the Challenge #4 Forum Thread With a Link and Tell Us About Your Process In a Few Short Sentences. Make sure you have all 4 steps a through d!!!!

**Deadline: December 5, 2009
We look forward to seeing all of your gorgeous projects! I am amazed by all the beautiful projects you have been posting in the gallery-so inspiring.

Project 52: Challenge #3

The next challenge is up on Project 52-Paper-Mache Form/Self-Portrait/Found Objects.

Here is my project:

For the project Who I Am, the outside of the book was created by using a crackle medium. To add some color, I took some tissue paper and sprayed it with glimmer mist. After it dried, it was crumbled, and adhered with gel medium. A fun element was the use of Christmas picks that are used in holiday arrangements. They are inexpensive and have great color and lots of glitter. The angel on the cover is also a Christmas ornament. I included the “sweet pea” packet, as that is my “birth flower”, and is my mom’s nickname for me. Inside, the book contains sheets of paper that I’ve used as the art journal. I used paint to create the backgrounds, and machine stitching to attach collage elements. For the tags, I used distress inks for the backgrounds, as well as a mask for the decorative edge. I used a resist technique on the tags: first, I wrote words with white oil pastel then I sprayed over it with ink. Next, covering the tags with a scrap paper, I used an iron to melt the wax, leaving the words visible. The pages are tied together with tulle and topped with another Christmas pick, some flowers, and a stick pin to unify the inside with the outside. This was a fun project that allowed me to play with many techniques.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!

*Challenge 3 – Paper Mache Blank (any shape or subject, usually craft store item)

• Theme – Self-Portrait (about you, present/past/future, serious or fun, etc…)
• Required material – Found Objects (junk drawer stuff related to theme/story)

SIX RULES TO FOLLOW
TO WIN $20 GIFT CARD TO BAD GIRLS BOUTIQUE:

1. You must leave a comment here on this blog post with one word that describes YOU

2. You must incorporate a paper mache (papier-mâché) form (any shape or subject) in your project that is pre-made or that you make (allow overnight dry time between layers)

3. You must use the theme Self-Portrait (about you, present/past/future, serious or fun, etc…)

4. You must use Found Objects/Junk Drawer Stuff related to theme/story(such as trinkets/baubles/pieces/charms/hardware you find/collect or purchase at scrap/stamp stores, flea markets, etsy, antique, etc.)

5. Upload Your One Photo, yes, ONE Photo, of Your Project to Our Project 52 Gallery by November 21, Midnight Pacific Time (time zone converter) If you have additional photos, link to them in the description from either your blog or from photobucket.com

6. FINAL RULE: You must post a link to your project in the gallery before November 21st Midnight to our Challenge #3 thread in the forum - don't forget to do this!

We can't wait to see what you come up with. Have fun!

Unfinished Art Journal Pages

Here's a look at some journal pages I've been working on. These first pages are for Dina Wakley's Art Journaling class, The Graffiti of My Life. If you've never seen Dina's art journals make sure you check out her blog. So inspiring!

These next three are just experimenting with collage and leftover ink:

And finally, a few pages of leftover ink from my stencils:

This is what happens...

...in Phoenix when the temps drop into the 50s.
It's a good thing we live in the desert-I'm not sure these boys could survive in cold weather!

What's Inside of a Pumpkin?

At school, Connor's class opened up a pumpkin to see what was inside. So when I picked him up from school, I asked:
"So, what's inside of a pumpkin?"
to which Connor replied:
"Seeds and slime"
Now we know!

Skull Topiary

BOO!