I made a fun new video with my art work. If I could figure out how to embed the video here I would. I need more time...perfect example of not prioritizing, etc.


See the video HERE

I love this collage sheet. Check out the tattoo lady! Ha! If you want a hi-res version shoot me an email and I'll send it to you.

Swoon!

Definition: A water-soluble pencil that will mark clearly, densely and legibly on any surface including acetate, paper, glass, metal, photo and film. Wipes off with a damp cloth on smooth surfaces and erases on paper.

Can also be used on the skin for making temporary tattoos, creating sketches for Mehndi designs or when you are feeling really brave drawing something across your forehead. My personal favorite is the giant tattoos my daughter draws on my back. Fish, people, dogs....just about anything. AND, during your next shower it rinses away. No soap required. HA!

Why even bring up this pencil? Because it is one of my new favorite mixed media implements. I have also been turned on to the Stabilo "Woody" 3 in 1. Definition: A chunky pencil that comes in 18 colors including the perfect black. It is a coloring pencil, watercolor pencil and wax crayon. Can be used for inventive applications in mixed media, encaustic art applications and can color alternative surfaces such as glass.

I have a project idea involving acetate, Woody and possibly a two part epoxy resin.

Two weeks ago, just as I was leaving for vacation a big heavy box showed up on my front doorstep. In my rush to pack and everything I quickly popped it open to find a small, non-descript note and FIVE brand new crafty books. The note said, "Congratulations! You won our CRAFTSIDE-MAKERFAIRE raffle. Enclosed you will find 5 of our newest craft books just ecause you stopped by our booth. We hope that you enjoy them."

I swear you could have knocked me over with a feather. I never win anything and to win something that encompasses to of my favorite things, books and craft....well it was almost as good as winning the lottery. Here are the five books I won and I can only say that I am slowly making my way through the first one with the other four patiently waiting.

I recommend checking them out and check out the Craftside blog. Lots of wonderful things to read and the blog is completely dedicated to covering crafty books. :-)

Here is a little Amazon widget of the books I currently have in my studio and either reading or getting ready to read. My list is always long.....*sigh*.

This is the Colorless Chartpak Blender Marker. What is that you say? It is a clear marker that you use to transfer anything printed via photocopy or laser jet (must be toner based) on to a surface/substrate. As you can see from the photograph we have a white piece of paper printed on the opposite side (face down) on a canvas.

Rub the marker on the area you want to transfer and it makes the paper wet. When you pull the paper up you then have a reverse image on the substrate. Does that make sense?

Quick tutorial:

1) Take a photocopy or laser print of your image, a subsrate, spoon or bone folder, and the Chartpak colorless blender.

2) Put your image face down on paper or fabric. The right side of the paper and the right side of the fabric should be touching. Cover the entire area of the image with your pen until it is completely wet and you can see your image through the paper.

3) Now use the spoon or bone folder to press firmly on the image as you would with a rub-on.

That's it. You're done. You now have a fancy transfer to use in your art. You may consider heat setting with an iron on fabric or a heat gun on paper.

*Contains Xylene® for blending colors, transferring images, and other special effects.