adventurous 28

Happy New Year! Today not only kicks off the new year but also it's the beginning of the new More than Words Challenge site and I'm proud to be joining the wildly talented international design team! This months challenge is all about YOU!

Word Inspiration - PERSONALITY

Creative Challenge - SELFIE

This was quite the challenge for me because I'm not into taking photos of myself so please keep that in mind as you view my project. Most definitely not a glamour shot but it's me being me :)

The word 'PERSONALITY' inspired me to create a layout sharing with you my adventurous side! I spend much of my free time either weight training at the gym, joining along in an fitness class, hiking or biking in the great outdoors. 

I took this selfie when I was out hiking on Telegraph Pass trail on South Mountain Park located near my home. Most definitely not a glamour shot but it's me :)

I combined a variety of Prima products including flowers and die cut leaves:

I added lots of texture using Prima texture paste followed with a variety of inks:

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please be sure to visit the More than Words Challenge blog to see what the design team created and for complete details on how to join along in the fun!
Be Sweet ;)

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Poppies and Happy New Year 25

Hi! I hope you are enjoying the holiday season! I've been having fun learning various paintbrush strokes as I explore the oil painting world. This art journal page was inspired by a Nancy Medina how to video that I received as a Christmas gift from my sweet husband ~ Scott :) I'm just a few strokes away from tackling a canvas!

I also have a rather clean and simple Happy New Year card to share featuring a star shaped shaker full of shimmery sequins and glass glitter:

I'm joining along with the following challenges, for sketch inspiration, Freshly Made Sketches:

The Friday Mashup for theme (New Year) and color (black, silver and gold):

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you have day/night!
Be Sweet ;)

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Pink Tulips 17

Hi! I hope you are enjoying the magic of the holiday season! Angie will be flying to Buffalo on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with her Dad and his family so we are celebrating Christmas a day early here. I took a break from shopping and wrapping presents to paint in my art journal.

I've been having so much fun trying new techniques and learning various strokes with my paintbrushes and oil paints. I'm discovering a whole new world of art and artists as I'm searching to develop my own style. I recently discovered the uber talented artist Nancy Medina and I really admire her style of painting still life florals. Just what I've been looking for! Nancy shares a few free tutorial videos on YouTube and she sells a variety of how to videos on her website which I asked Santa Claus for. Santa knew I've been a good girl because I received a UPS confirmation email that the videos are due to arrive tomorrow!!! :) My naked walls are going to be so happy to have some colorful artwork hanging on them in 2016! Here's my take on Nancy's YouTube How To Paint a Tulip video:

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday ~ God Bless!
Thanks so much for stopping by ~ Be Sweet ;)

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Happy Holidays 28

Hi! Today I had a chance to sit down and create so I made a couple last minute Christmas cards featuring a beautiful cardinal inspired by a Ginger Cook on line painting lesson. I painted two versions, one with a darker background and one with a blue background. Both were painted using acrylic paints and the sentiments were stamped and embossed using a MFT stamp.

Many thanks for visiting ~ I hope you have a great weekend!

Be Sweet ;)

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merry christmas 26

Hi! I'm so happy when I am able to combine painting with card making! Today I have a christmas card to share featuring a sweet and chunky black capped chickadee. I'm studying various painting techniques and styles under a few different artists with an effort to develop my own. I was inspired to paint this little guy by a painting lesson I took from Ginger Cook.

 He's my first attempt to paint a bird. He's a bit fluffier than I had anticipated but overall, I think he's pretty cute ;)

 I'm not thrilled with the heavy tooth (texture) on the canvas page. It's a bit too much so now that I've learned my lesson, I'll have to take the extra steps to smooth out the canvas prior to painting. I just want to jump in!! :) LOL

 I'm entering this card in the current color throwdown challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you enjoyed my little bird!
 Be Sweet :)

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Merry Christmas 25

Hi! Today I have a set of rather clean and simple cards to share featuring a pretty wreath from a PTI stamp set. I stamped the wreath then die cut using various dies from my stash. The background was dry embossed using an embossing folder:

 I found it a little challenging trying to line up and stamp the berries in the correct spot.

 For color inspiration, I joined along with the paper players challenge:

 and for sketch inspiration, I joined along with the CAS(E) the Sketch! sketch challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you have a great day / evening!
Be Sweet ;)

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Pink Poppies 29

Hi! Lately I've been struggling to create much of anything. Maybe it's because we've been in our new home now since April and I still have a few blank walls that are crying for some artwork. I really want to paint a few pieces to fill the spaces but I need to practice, practice, practice. So I think I need to limit the time I spend papercrafting other than the few design team commitments I have and focus on painting. 

Here's my first oil painting in a canvas paper type art journal. Actually, the background was created using a variety of acrylics then all the flowers and foliage was painted using oil paints. I recently discovered the wildly talented artists Gary and Kathwren Jenkins whom I'm learning how to paint beautiful florals from.

For color inspiration, I joined along with the current and final Scrap Around The World challenge:

Thanks so much for stopping by ~ I hope you have a great week!
Be Sweet ;)

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