Friday, 30 March 2012

A Take-Along Journal


I'm going to a health retreat this weekend and I decided that I needed a little journal to bring with me.

Last year at the same retreat I filled many pages of my main journal with musings. This year I want a separate journal for this weekend only.

I started by choosing a hardcover book cover that I'd already stripped for its pages (for other collage projects). I sliced along the spine so that I got three separate pieces. I'll use the spine in another project, but for this one I just need the two covers. 
The inside covers are totally adorable, so I'll be keeping those intact instead of collaging over them. 

Then I picked out some nice Spring-y papers to put into the journal and cut them down to size - just slightly under the size of the cover.

Then I put the pages through my binding machine. I chose a half inch wire coil binding for this little journal. 


The end result is a great little note book that measures 4.5 by 6 inches. It`ll be perfect for jotting down musings, sketches and thoughts while I`m away this weekend.




























Thursday, 29 March 2012

The Giveaway is Almost Finished!

The deadline is this Saturday, March 31st at midnight, PST!






There are THREE prizes!!

The grand prize:
hand-built art journal

TWO runner-up prizes!
- a Mixed Media Learning Package to give to a friend
- a typewriter text 30-word package where YOU choose the words (as seen here in my etsy shop) sent right to your door. 


There are three ways to enter:
1. Share this blog post on your own website or blog, then post a link in today's comments to show me and to share your blog with the other artists who read Musings On Realities!


2. Buy a Learning Package and Pay What You Want. If you purchase the package before March 31, you will automatically be entered. 


3. Visit my etsy shop, then email me and tell me what words you would choose for this item in my shop. 



Do all three and enter three times! 

Contest closes March 31st, 2012.  

:)

Good luck!




Wednesday, 28 March 2012

WIWO Wednesday - The Response So Far...



The response so far to the Pay What You Want Learning Package has been incredible! 


I am so happy that you feel the same way that I do about art. 

The Learning Package includes:
- two videos
- collage sheets
- original artwork
- typewritten words for you to use in your art
- coupons for cheap art
- a fantastically easy way to gain access





I love art, and I think you do tooThe fact that I can help you make art makes me so so so so so happy!

I wish that artists would make their workshops more affordable so that more people could share their enthusiasm and love for art. 

So that's what I'm doing. 


Pay What You Want. (click here)

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

On The Wall!

I've finished my cardboard, mixed media shelving unit!

Here is another photo from yesterday's post of a close-up of the corner. See the great detail and texture?!

And here it is on the wall! Doesn't it look fanTAStic?!


You can see that it is a great size for displaying little knick-knacks. I'm so excited to fill it!!
The techniques that I used on this are from the Pay What You Want Learning Package. You can see exactly how I achieved these great depths of detail and then do the same thing yourself on a piece of art or on something for the decor of your house!


The PWYW Learning Package is available here!

For your next DIY project, try finding some current Lowes promos for possible savings on supplies.

Monday, 26 March 2012

My Shelving Unit - In the Works...

Remember this Duracell display box?

Here it is with a coat of primer...

And here it is today!

Looking good, right??

I'm not sure that I like the brown ink spatters under the tissue paper. I'm secretly hoping that they will disappear as the tissue paper dries and becomes more opaque. 

A close-up of an edge/corner. I did a paint/ink wash over the edges to make them stand out...


And here are my accomplices: light blue tissue paper, Adirondack Spray Ink in Espresso, dollar store white glue, dollar store acrylic paint. 
It's really gaining shape and definitely taking on a personality of its own. 

I think that it will be used for displaying a collection of little toys that I have...

Friday, 23 March 2012

Have You Entered The Giveaway Yet?

I love art, and I think you do too. 


The fact that I can help you make art makes my heart swell and my eyes brighten. 


I will truly feel fulfilled knowing that you want to share your art-making experience with me.  


Read yesterday's blog post (March 22) and find out more about sharing art creation.
_____________________________________________________



The Giveaway


There are THREE prizes!!


The grand prize:
hand-built art journal which retails for $15 in my etsy shop 



TWO runner-up prizes!
- a Mixed Media Learning Package to give to a friend
- a typewriter text 30-word package where YOU choose the words (as seen here in my etsy shop) sent right to your door. 


There are three ways to enter:
1. Share this blog post on your own website or blog, then post a link in the comments to show me and to share your blog with the other artists who read Musings On Realities!


2. Buy a Learning Package and Pay What You Want. If you purchase the package before March 31, you will automatically be entered. 


3. Visit my etsy shop, then email me and tell me what words you would choose for this item in my shop. 



Do all three and enter three times! 

Contest closes March 31st, 2012.  

:)

Good luck!

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Pay What You Want! (And a Giveaway!)

Remember these?

They're on etsy, but why buy from me when you can...

make 
      your 
            own!


        


Today I want to give you an opportunity to learn some mixed media techniques

In particular, these are the techniques that I use when doing my bird artwork that you may have seen on etsy. The photos above show an idea of what you will learn.
_______________________________________
In this package, you will receive:
- Two videos featuring two different techniques on creating the backgrounds that you see above. The videos total 23 minutes and are narrated as well as captioned as some of my artist friends are hearing-impaired. The videos show the tools that I use, the techniques, the materials (including some tips for sourcing out cheap alternatives!) and the media.

- 45 words and phrases directly from my typewriter - scanned in at a high resolution so that you can use them at any size in any of your artwork.

- 15 of my favourite birds on one sheet (I've cut and pasted all fifteen of them to one sheet and scanned them in at a very high resolution so that you can use them in a large or small format in any of your artwork!)

- A high-quality jpg of the "Two Fish" piece from my Teesha Moore inspired 16-Page Book (original artwork!). You can use it as art inspiration, or slice it up to make a piece of your own!

- A coupon to buy anything in my etsy shop at half price - forever. (I make jewelry too, and will be posting my new line this summer!)
______________________________________

I know that you are already excited so let's get to the nitty gritty!

How much is it?

The price is easy. 


Pay what you want. 




Does that make you feel uncomfortable?
Please don't let it. I'm honestly and truly happy to offer you this package and as long as you pay something (even just a few dollars!), then I'm THRILLED to share it with you.

I'm a newlywed with a starter home - I know how hard it is to make ends meet. I RARELY purchase workshop packages or web tutorials because I just can't afford them! I would never spend more than $15-20 for an intangible tutorial/workshop, and I don't think that you should either.


Please Note:

Your "Pay What You Want"  purchase is set up through PayPal as a donation since you will enter whatever amount you like. Please be assured that although the button says "Donate," you will indeed be receiving all of the items in the Learning Package as listed above via email from me within 24 hours of your payment. 
 



Go ahead - do it!

Love it!

Make art!

"But won't you be insulted if I only pay a few dollars?"

Nope. I'll be SO happy to share this with you and so glad that you spent a few dollars on the package!

I will be ecstatic to send you the links and the rest of the perks and might even bug you to see what you make after going through the processes!

I love art, and I think you do too. The fact that I can help you make art makes my heart swell and my eyes brighten. I will truly feel great seeing that you want to share your art-making experience with me.

I wish that artists would make their workshops more affordable so that more people could share their enthusiasm and love for art. 

So that's what I'm doing. 

Affordable tutorials, plus some other perks. 

For a price that you can afford.


Once I receive an email from PayPal notifying me of of your purchase, I will email you links to the videos, plus the files and other perks that I've listed above. The files are fairly large so that you can use them at any scale; please ensure that you clarify which email address you'd like the files sent to.


Go ahead. Pay what you want. 







PLEASE NOTE: Your "Pay What You Want" price is set up through PayPal as a Donation since you will enter whatever amount you like. Please be assured that although the button says "Donate," you will indeed be receiving all of the items in the Learning Package as listed above via email from me within 24 hours of your payment. 


_____________________________________________________


The Giveaway


What is a new Learning Package without a Giveaway?!


There are THREE prizes!!
The grand prize:
hand-built art journal which retails for $15 in my etsy shop 



TWO runner-up prizes!
- a Mixed Media Learning Package to give to a friend
- a typewriter text 30-word package where YOU choose the words (as seen here in my etsy shop) sent right to your door. 


There are three ways to enter:
1. Share this blog post on your own website or blog, then post a link in today's comments to show me and to share your blog with the other artists who read Musings On Realities!


2. Buy a Learning Package and Pay What You Want. If you purchase the package before March 31, you will automatically be entered. 


3. Visit my etsy shop, then email me and tell me what words you would choose for this item in my shop. 



Do all three and enter three times! 

Contest closes March 31st, 2012.  

:)

Good luck!