Thursday, August 14, 2014

Diva inspired by Marieke Blokland's LifeBook 2014 class



These special women are so much fun to make. Marieke Blokland has such a colorful influence in her LifeBook 2014 course. As you can see, I REALLY played with colors. I've always thought of myself as a primary color person, but then I find myself falling back on earth tones.....maybe that's a "playing it safe" side of me.

I didn't play it safe here and had to reign myself in to keep from overdoing the creation of my Sparkle and Shine Diva. I really wanted her to look all out of proportion.

Fabric samples are featured in the background. The hats are recycled from the cover of a thank you note I received. Her sparkly pink boots were traced and restyled from a magazine ad. The little dress is based on a Stencil Girl stencil by Sue Pelletier. I dry embossed the scrapbook paper, then used black gesso to outline the stencil before cutting it out.

Her head, eyes and hair are products of my imagination with the influence of Marieke!

Sooooo, Ms Sparkle and Shine Diva is born. She has sisters waiting in the wings.

Blessings........
Candice

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Swapping artwork


ATC cards by Jane McMahon Lazenby

I don't often swap artwork although I've always thought it would be fun to participate in a traveling journal event.....maybe someday. 

As part of LifeBook 2014 under the direction of Tamara LaPorte, I did take part in an ATC swap and received the lovely cards from artist and new friend  Jane McMahon Lazenby

This was a good experience and I'd do it again. 
There is a risky side to this kind of event because sometimes people sign up 
and forget they signed up, or decide not to follow through. That becomes a disappointment 
to the other participant, and throws the whole swap out of kilter.

So, if you do sign up for a swap, please participate 
or let someone know that you have to drop out!

Here are the I sent to Jane.

ATC cards by Candice Schwark, Studio-MosaicHAPPY AUGUST!
Blessings to you and yours........




Tuesday, May 20, 2014

TAG PLAY

Creative play is such fun especially when I am using some leftover supplies. For these tags, I pulled out stamps, stencils, dye inks, alcohol ink scraps and the play began.
As I finished them, I could imagine my husband asking one of his usual questions…..where will you put them?……what are they for?
If you are like me, creative play does not need a final goal. The word "play" in this setting means "journey" and the end result often defines itself. When I was finished, I thought they would be an interesting card cover - cropped to fit. At the moment I will probably uses them as journaling cards in an altered vintage book………or a gift tag……….or a bookmark…….it goes on and on…….


Products used:
MyBlendAll™
Close to My Heart stamps
Alcohol Inks
Dye Inks
Stencils 
Tags

May you recognize many blessings this week!
………Candice

Friday, April 18, 2014

EASTER EGGS - new technique (for me)

HAPPY EASTER!

Usually I dye Easter eggs using a Martha Stewart technique of wrapping raw eggs in colorful silk and muslin. This year, I forgot and boiled the eggs ahead of time, so I had to come up with another method of making them colorful.

Off to the internet I went and found this fun, easy and a bit mess, Easter dyeing project. Ingredients: hardboiled eggs, Cool Whip®, food coloring, glass dish, tin foil, and paper towels.

Sidenote: I use a similar technique for making colorful background paper by using shaving cream (unscented if possible) with reinkers. (That's strange….my autocorrect converted the word reinkers to reindeers….LOL)

Back to the eggs…...I spread the Cool Whip (couple of spatulas full) in a glass dish, then dropped food coloring drops - 3 to 4 around the whipped cream. Then I swirled the colors with a toothpick - you could use a plastic knife or fork and swirl the colors, similar to making a marble cake.

Next: Roll a hardboiled egg through the cream I did it so that I covered most of the egg, but you could just roll the egg straight through the cream, picking up the colors. Set the egg aside on tin foil or cardboard to dry for about 10 minutes. Just like waiting for paint to dry, I dislike waiting, so I cleaned off the egg with a paper towel after approximately 5 minutes. The green color didn't seem to work well, but my food colors were cheap brands. Also, even after I wiped off the eggs, I was able to put them back in the cream with color and add some more color.

Your fingers will stain…I still have a bit of red on my fingers from yesterday. The marbled color is terrific.

Try this with children! You might want them to wear gloves. There are LOTS of references to this and other techniques on the internet, so I can say if any person or company owns this idea.

Happy Easter!

Candice





Monday, March 17, 2014

Cotton Candy Gals inspired by LifeBook 2014 course

I've been taking the year-long LifeBook 2014 online course hosted by Tamara LaPorte at Willowing Arts. The course has a wide variety of contributors. Cotton Candy Gals were inspired by Marieke Blokland's LifeBook 2014 tutorial. When I first saw this class, I thought, "Uhoh, am I going to like this?" The answer ended up being "YES".

It's so much fun to go to the extreme with colors and subject in my art, and come up with something that makes me smile. Candy Cotton is on watercolor paper and Comic Candy appeared in my journal. There are other gals who will be joining these two but their bodies aren't completed. :-) 

No matter what I already know, I ALWAYS learn something new and fun with an online course, so I highly recommend trying them. Tam is very generous with the pricing and quality of LifeBook 2014, so jump in.....the gals are prodding you on!!

Blessings....
Candice

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

XYRON and TERESA COLLINS DESIGNS COLLABORATION

I am so happy that I took advantage of this Teresa Collins Adhesive Kit promotion with her pink design of Xyron adhesives.

The box is adorable, and a future altered object for me.
The little compartments contain 6 adhesives: disposable sticker maker (future altered item for me), 188 thick foam squares, disposable tape runner, double-sided High Tack Tape, Teresa Collins Clear Hold Adhesive, and the ever-useful adhesive eraser!

I definitely will use this in my on-the-go art supply kit, as well as in my studio.

Isn't it nice to feel that you made a good decision when spending money?

Great promotion Teresa and Xyron!

p.s. If you order this, please note that the web address listed on the back of the box sleeve for Teresa is incorrect. It should be teresacollinsdesigns.com

Blessings…….
Candice

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Big 20/20 Event Underway


 Click on the Big 20/20 Event link above and join me and 19 other bloggers over 20 days in March enjoying tutorials which will cover a variety of interests! (All tutorials are in the archive list) You'll get acquainted with some delightful people and learn something new along the way. Thanks to Sarah Leonard of the UK for organizing this event.

To view the tutorials, click on the link above. If you click on the image here (or the one on the right) you will be taken to a subscribe page with special offers for subscribers. The tutorials are underway.

Looking forward to seeing you among the participants. Questions? Be sure to email me!
Enjoy the weekend!

Blessings,
Candi

Monday, February 3, 2014

ATC Creative Jumpstart project


For this ATC (artist trading card) I used a rubber stamp for the heart and hugs and kisses. I then colored the heart with Luminarte's H20s  The background was completed first with Pan Pastels added over a paper doily with the MyBlendAll tool….love the confetti effect. Another project inspired by Creative Jumpstart 2014.

Simple Layout with Household items


This was another Creative Jumpstart project using black paper, white acrylic paint, stencil, household items of combs and shelf liner. Interesting to use black paper instead of white - I may do that more often. The rough brushing on of the white acrylic paint gave another dimension to this page.
I may add some lettering to this at some point but for now, I like it just as it is!

Layers with Monoprinted papers


Love, love, love this….Made this page in my journal with around-the-house types of things - text paper, kraft paper stripped from cardboard, an image transfer, scrapbook paper, stamping and swipes of acrylic paint with edges of old credit card, brushes, and my fingers. I really like the cream, brown and black in this project inspired by Creative Jumpstart 2014!

CANVAS BOARD layers


Creative Jumpstart got me going again with mono printing and using the few Silks Acrylic Glazes from Luminarte's Dreaming Color and Luminarte's Twinkling H20s that I have. I used stencils, brayer, brush, stamps and a glue stick lid to make interesting layers on the board. 
I also added the Silks (Rich Cobalt) and LuminArte's Passion Fruit and Rose Gold to edge the board. A deep purple wire and colorful butterfly were the finishing touches to the canvas.
I love the depth that I got with this mono print.

Rustic Floral based on Creative Jumpstart 2014 class.


I truly enjoy taking classes online - well, if I am really honest, I enjoy taking art classes anywhere, anytime that I'm able!! One of my current online experiences is Creative Jumpstart at www.nathaliesstudio.com We had a creative jumpstart project, giveaway or show and tell each day of January open to our participation. For example, the image shown here is a finished project based on one of the classes using cardboard.

I used a canvas board, Liquitex Matte Medium, Glue Dots, various paper flowers and leaves I've accumulated, some wire, ribbon and cardboard. I also brushed some Pan Pastels to highlight the front of the cardboad "vase," a technique by Marsha Valk of The Netherlands
By the way, the background was made using Citrasolv™ and a page from an old "National Geographic" magazine! 
Now I have a creative jumpstart using cardboard in new ways!

Look for other uploads of projects I completed! Thanks to Nathalie for putting this all together!
Enjoy the week!!
Blessings……
Candi

Saturday, January 4, 2014

SHIPPING OF MyBlendAll™ IS UNDERWAY


If you haven't heard, I've created a blending tool that has varied uses. Be sure to check out the Introduction Video at MyBlendAll.com, where additional demonstration videos will be uploaded over the next few weeks.
I'm excited to offer this recycled Made-in-the-USA product. MyBlendAll, the original round wooden tool,  has been designed using a cast-off object from an All-American product. MyBlendAll™ is comfortable in the hand and both round ends may be used for blending inks and acrylic paint. You can even add your own round of sandpaper and distress your work.

Each MyBlendAll™ is one of a kind - not machine-made perfect. Make it fit your own personality by adding washi tape around it, wood burning your name into it, or decorating it with doodles!

You will receive die cut felt and craft foam with each MyBlendAll™, and a template if you want to replace those products on your own.

I think with practice you will realize that the round shape lends itself to a nice blending result.

Visit MyBlendAll.com for more details.

Let me know if you have any questions.
p.s. The stencil shown in the images is from Stencil Girl Products - 6x6 in. Loose Dress#2 by Sue Pelletier.

Wishing you all the best in 2014! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Friday, January 3, 2014

Cricket doesn't mind lazing around during snow days - actually she'll laze around anyway.

Today she's in her jammies all day because of our wwaaaaayyyyyy below freezing temps. She's only 5 lbs so there's no fat to keep her warm when she has to go outside!! 

So, she's my companion as I spend time doing creative things..photos soon.

Cricket and I say HAPPY NEW YEAR and please, severe cold weather, go away!

Keep warm if you are experiencing this winter chill!