Haikuesday

I'm in Orlando

Yet I'm still writing poems.

That's dedication.

Chickadee-dee-dee

We have loads of chickadees at our feeders this winter. My husband loves taking care of the birds, and so our feeders are alwways fresh and full.

Today I've been working a little bit with my waterfolour paints.

I use watercolours a lot in my art, but I've never actually done a painting using watercolours.

I looked up some chickadees on Google, masked out my page with green painters' tape, and went to work.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my first attempt. It isn't perfect, but I think it's pretty good.



I spent a lot of time working on the grass/branch area. I didn't want to do chickadee talons, so I decided to bury them.




I love the way that watercolours dry. The sky looks textured and cloudy.




Here it is after I removed the tape. Nice crisp lines. I think I'll frame it :)



My Postcard Backs

I've decided to use washi tape to decorate the backs of my cards. In January, I'll share some other ideas for the backs of your postcards.

In the meantime, here is what I've done with mine!

Haikuesday

Three days left of work,

Then a 2-week Christmas Break

And lots of sleeping. 



Postcard Swap Facebook Event

Hello all!

Just want to invite you to join the International Mixed Media Postcard Swap V.3.0 event on Facebook, if you haven't already!

https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/471496429558656/

This event page will be a place where you can post photos of the cards that you're making, share ideas about your creations, and even post photos of the cards that you receive!

I hope you'll consider joining if you're signed up for the Swap!

Working on my Postcards!

I'm making some good progress on my postcards for the Swap!!

I chose yellow for my background and have used golds and beiges to create depth.

They aren't quite done; more to come!

My Favourite Page

Have you ever looked at a page that you'd done in an art journal and thought to yourself, "Wow! I did that? How cool! Where-ever did I get that kind of inspiration/freedom/technique,etc?"

(I hope this has happened to you! I'd hate to be alone on this one!!!)

When I received a certain art journal in a rotation that I'm doing with some artsy girlfriends, I came across a piece that I had done this past Spring.

I LOVE it. I think it's fun, whimsical, and I just LOVE the colours!

I had to show you - forgive me if you've already looked at it!

I love how it's messy and off-centre, and covered in doodles!

And the quote is great - "The earth laughs in flowers."

Haikuesday

I drank too much at

My staff holiday party

But they still love me.

I Looooove a Good Postcard Swap!

...and this one's going to be a doozy!

I've had a GREAT response already and there are still four more weeks to sign up!

If you're just hearing about it now, click HERE to read all about it!

Tony's Just A Bite

Amazing restaurant for lunch today! Check out the awesome ceiling and wooden floor. The atmosphere is cozy and warm, and it's close to home, in Blaine, WA.

Doodle Painting

Just a quick doodle using some leftover paint.

I love how the paint wore out by the other tips of the petals.

And I LOVE the turquoise on yellow!

Totally quick and random. I guess art journalling doesn't have to be planned out so much...!

Altered Book Swap Page

This month in the SAS altered book swap, I'm working in MaryAnn's book.

If I haven't told you already, there are twelve of us in the Sisters in Art Society who are passing around books that we've prepped for altering. Each of has chosen a book to be altered, and each of us has a theme.

MaryAnn's theme is Postcards. She had a selection of her favourite postcards that we could use for inspiration, and I chose this one of "pretty ladies."

Materials: 

- magazine cutouts for the border

- watercolour paint background

- Sakura jelly roll pen for embellishments on top of the magazine border (in white)

- Copic marker in black 1.0 tip for lettering

- Papermate felt tip in turquoise for some or the swirling

- red acrylic paint to outline the postcard

A bit of a blurry picture, but I wanted to give you the overall scope of the piece. 

Always working hard on lettering, here I played with some different styles...

The quote that I've added to the page says
"Diamonds are nice and so are pearls, but there's nothing like us pretty girls"

I love the imperfect red line. I think it looks like lipstick :)

Haikuesday

December is here

And it's really cold today

Up in Canada.

The International Mixed Media Postcard Swap V. 3.0

The International Mixed Media Postcard Swap Version 3.0 is ON!

EDIT: Registration for this Swap is now CLOSED. Please check back for the next Swap, coming in Spring!

(Need a crash course on Mixed Media or some inspiration to get started? Examples and ideas below!)

Past participants, please note that you will have to fill out this form to be in this Swap, even if I already have your address!
The basic idea:

- You will make 10 postcards in a mixed media format (don't be afraid - mixed media is a cinch! Keep reading...)
- You will receive 10 mailing address from me for other creative people just like you from around the world!
- You will send each of those ten people one of your handmade postcards.
- Then you will receive a handmade postcard from 10 other people from around the world!

Sound like fun? Then join us!

The rules:

The rules are easy, but make sure that you read through them and follow them! Remember, you have to follow through if you sign up! A real live person will be waiting for each of your 10 postcards!!

Note: Last day to sign up is January (EDIT) 7th, 2013!

1. Join the swap by filling out this form.

2. Click on the go to www.paypal.com to submit your $5.00 to participate. Send your $5 to shannonganshorn at gmail.com ($5 = a cup of coffee, a vending machine sandwich, a deck of cards, a couple of chocolate bars, or TEN original art postcards!!!! Easy choice! )

3. Make 10 handmade postcards in a mixed-media style. Remember, "Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed." That means that you can combine ANY types of art into your postcards! (Oh what fun!!!!!)
* There are some examples of Mixed Media styles and techniques further down in this post:

4. Tell your friends about the Swap or grab this badge to put onto your blog, linking to this post! The more people we have participating, the more fun it will be! Spread the word; share a link to this page on Facebook or Twitter, write about the swap in your next blog post. Thanks for helping make this swap AWESOME!

5. After January 15th, I will email you 10 mailing addresses to send your cards to. They might be from across the city, across the country, or on the other side of the world because this swap is open for everyone!

6. Make sure that you fix the appropriate amount of postage, write a nice message, and then send your postcards "plain" or "hidden" in an envelope for protection depending on what you've made. (It’s up to you!) The deadline for sending your postcards is February 8th, 2013. (This means that we will receive them all by Valentine's Day!)

7. Wait patiently for the snail mail to do its thing! You will be getting postcards from 10 different people around the world! How exciting!

Again, the steps are:
     1  - fill out the form to register before January 11th. (EDIT) 7th!
     2  - $5 on Paypal to shannonganshorn at gmail.com (before January 11th. (EDIT) 7th!)
     3  - make 10 postcards
     4  - share the Swap info with other artsy friends
     5  - get 10 addresses from me by January 15th
     6  - send out your postcards by February 8th
     7  - wait on your doorstep for cards to roll in!
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What is Mixed Media?
Mixed Media is an art form that encompasses every other art medium – truly every single one! Mixed Media combines two or more different art mediums (media) into each art piece. Here are some examples of some of the combinations that I love:

- Photography and Ink
- Fabric and Watercolours
- Paint and Crayons (I *love* crayons!)
- Pencil Crayons and Ink
- Fabric and Photography
- Collage and Paint
- Scrapbook Style and Paint
- Embroidery and Ink
- Sewing and Origami
- Zentangle and Painting
- Collage and Stencils

Use any or ALL of these combinations, and then add your own! The possibilities truly are endless!!!

Here are some examples of some combinations that I love. Maybe they will inspire you to make some mixed media postcards and participate in the Swap!

This is a piece that I did using a heart-shaped paper doily, napkins for the background, and ink (pen) highlights. Then I used letter stamps to put the word "dream" into the middle.

Here is a portion of a collage that I did using fabrics, washi tape, magazine cutouts. So fun!



The large swatch in the middle is fabric; the background is acrylic paint, and there are all sorts of papers collaged in. Over top, there is some light blue thread.

This one has book pages torn and layered into the background, acrylic paint over top (but not too thick!) and crayons forming a large circle. I used a stencil for the word "blue" and pasted a feather on it.

Are you inspired yet?

Don’t forget! Fill out this form and pay your $5 entry fee to participate!

"Like" Musings on Realities on Facebook for progress and Swap updates:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Musings-On-Realities/144749542303202