First Article Published for SOMERSET!!!

I am SO EXCITED to have my first article published in SOMERSET studios!!!  How did this happen you ask?  Well, I sent in some Christmas tags and then was contacted by the editor of Somerset...she asked me if I would like to write a "how to" on my tags.  I about fell on the floor.  I was hoping to get some sort of response from readers but nothing yet.(Darn it)....so I am sharing this on my blog and facebook. :D

and here are the pics!

Of course, you must include Santa!

NEW WORK NEW WORK NEW WORK NEW

CHRISTmas is upon us......

I have been working over a week to complete some Christmas paper mache goodies to sell....there are so many steps.  I hope I sell them!  Let me know what you think

New Halloween Work...

My daughters had an old china doll that was missing the head and arms (I had used them for something else!)  So I thought...hmmmm, what could I make with this torso and legs.  I wanted to make something CrEePy for Halloween.

  I sculpted the head out of polymer clay...I think it turned out pretty cool, and...a little CrEePy!

I am going to attempt a tutorial on hand carved stamps...YAY!

You will start with the carving material called "SOFT-KUT" you can get it at Dick Blick and it is pretty cheap.  And of course you need a carving tool. this is a "linoleum cutter".  These cutters come with different size blades.  Try out the different sizes and use the one that you are most comfortable with.

Here I am drawing a line down the material with a permanent marker and then cutting this piece off with scissors.

SUPER SIMPLE!!!

Here is the piece I cut, now to come up with a simple design.....

I used this template to trace some boxes.  At this point you could either carve "out" the boxes or carve "out" the smaller spaces.  I will carve out the smaller spaces.

START
    CARVING!

I LOVE how it feels when you carve!

When you are finished carving, or think you are apply some paint on your stamp to see how it looks.  Sometimes you might want to adjust your carving a bit...but I like the imperfections, they add interest.

Press down your stamp on the paper of your choice and lift up.......
now for the EXCITING part....TA DAH!!!!

This, of course, is only the beginning...

Isn't this just so COOL?

Once this dries you can add paint over the top....have fun with it.
EXPERIMENT!

Add more stamps on top to give the paper more depth and interest

Lots of pretty paper

Here is the finished product

Your papers can be used in many ways.....

These were all published!!!

New Halloween Work...

I worked on this little guy, he is a baby mummy, I am not quite done, but almost.  I received the latest Somerset Studios and found out I have a whole page with several pieces of my work...I will post the pictures.  I was thrilled!  I am still laid off, but have put in 3 different letters of interest.  (fingers crossed)  But, it has been nice having the house to myself for a few hours every day!

IT HAS BEEN SO LONG!!!

It has been so long since my last post. I am really bad about keeping up with my blog. I have been working on a lot of things. I was even asked to write a "How To" in a Holiday Somerset Studios. That was extremely exciting for me. Heard that my job was cut at the school district I work for so now I am in limbo. Yesterday I decided to try and make a doll head. I got this cool old doll from an estate sale and wanted to use the head as a mold. I made the mold out of fimo pressing it onto 1/2 of the dolls head. Did the same for the other half. I baked the 2 halves in little glass ramekins so they would keep their shape. Once cooled I brushed them with cornstarch and pressed softened fimo into each half and carefully pulled each half out and reshaped a little and then baked. When these were cool I sanded and carved the edges to make them fit together the best I could. I put heavy gel medium on both edges and then a rubberband around the whole head and let dry. It didn't seem stable enough so I wrapped this edging material made out of? Not really sure it looks like you might use it to make baskets out of. Then I put on mre gel medium and let dry again. After the piece had dried I painted on 2 coats of gesso. When gesso was dry I used paint and pastel to age it. ALOT of work for 1 measly doll head, but I am pleased how it turned out!

Hand carved stamps......

Well I seemed to have raised alot

of interest in my hand carved stamps.

I will post a how to this weekend. I

use 'soft kut" as the stamp base, it is

very soft and easy to carve...plus it

is CHEAP. I buy it at Dick Blick on-

line. I took a class from Anne Bagby

and she makes her own papers and

then uses them in her art. Her work

is incredible. Google her if you get

a chance. I will post more later.....

HaPpY EaStEr!!!

Easter

Blessings

To All!

CLOWNS.....

I don't even like clowns but I got the heads at a garage sale and had to make something with them...I used bits a pieces of this and that. Salt container, fimo, paper, ribbon, plastic hands, cardboard tube.

ART DOLLS

Introspective Woman

This was made by gluing an old map onto a piece of cardboard.(I use anything to paint on...packing cardboard, cereal boxes...old wood scraps) and painting/drawing with watercolor crayon and pencil.

NEW WORK NEW WORK NEW WORK NEW

What to do with inchies? I decided to use some of mine like this.....

I have also been working on some dimensional work....

WHERE HAVE I BEEN!

I have been gone for sometime, happily creating. I would like to share with you what I have been up to!

PAY it FoRwArD GIVEAWAY!!!!!

I am having a PIF giveaway....all you have to do is view my blog, make a comment and info where I can get ahold of you. If you win you will then pay it forward to someone else. Have fun and be sure to look at my older posts for more pictures of my work!