My Color is Beautiful - Winner + Registration is OPEN!

**Please note art does not reflect what will be taught in the workshop. These are instructors' previous works.**

Thank you all so much for stopping by and leaving such uplifting comments during the blog hop! If you dropped by to see who the winner from my blog is, Rafflecopter picked the enthusiastic Saskia for my free space! For everyone else interested, the ENTIRE, ten week workshop including all the bonuses Tiare has planned is only $49!!!!! Yes, five exclamation points! It's that serious, y'all!

CLICK HERE for more information and to register!

A Class and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Have you ever been insanely excited about something but so tired that you can't accurately show that excitement?? That's me right now. I think I can...I think I can... I'm beyond thrilled and honored to have been invited to teach a class - my first class - in a mixed media workshop! If you stopped by the other day, you know that I have been blessed to be in the company of some amazingly talented women in the My Color is Beautiful Art 2015 workshop.

This is an early face; I have more tips and tricks now!

If you are a regular here, you know when it comes to mixed media I'm a huge fan of a big face! You also know that I'm a bit of a supply hoarder... In my defense, most of you are too! :D  If, like me, you started your mixed media journey with multiple trips online and in person to your favorite crafty stores to pick up all of the awesome things that you saw your favorites using, my lesson will allow you to dust off and use some of those must-have supplies to make your own big faces full of depth and color.

If you're interested in trying to win a spot in the workshop, please enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. I promise I'm not asking you to do anything crazy! You can also get an additional shot at winning a spot by visiting the blog hop on Tiare's blog.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced November 11, the same day that registration for the workshop begins. Good luck!! Make sure you check out the other artists on the blog hop for more information about their classes and extra opportunities to win a spot in the My Color is Beautiful Art 2015 workshop!

• Nov 1 – Tiare Smith Designs - http://www.tiaresmith.com 
• Nov 2 – Amanda Trought - http://realityarts-creativity.blogspot.com/
• Nov 3 – Martice Smith II  - http://www.uneekart.blogspot.com
• Nov 4 – Mystele - http://www.mystele.com/
• Nov 5 – Aysha Livingston - http://aydaycreatives.com/
• Nov 6 – Trina Willis -http://trinamadethis.blogspot.com/
• Nov 7 – Kiala Givehand - http://www.kialagivehand.com/blog
• Nov 8 – Carol Porter -  http://cporter8.blogspot.com/
• Nov 9 – Tiare Smith – http://www.tiaresmith.com

My Color is Beautiful - Blog Hop Day 1

The blog hop for the My Color is Beautiful Art workshop is on! Today, you can learn more about the workshop and check out a PDF with the instructors' info. For the next few days, the hop will introduce another instructor for the class. You should check it out daily as some folks, including me, are giving away a spot in the workshop! My day is November 6, so make sure you check me out then! Registration begins as soon as the hop is finished!!

Guess Who's Teaching a Class??

EXCITEMENT!! I am so happy that I can finally tell you that I will be teaching in a mixed media workshop along with 7 other wonderful instructors! We are going to bring you an amazingly creative experience in the My COLOR is Beautiful Art 2015 Workshop. Join us for a blog hop starting tomorrow, November 1, to meet all of the instructors and learn a little something about what each of us will be teaching. Make sure you come back on November 6 to learn about my class for the workshop and to get an opportunity to win a FREE spot! Gotta know now? Click here for more information.

Why Haven't I Seen You Partying???

Okay, so by now, you should have seen something here to let you know that we're partying at The Outlawz. In case you haven't been there yet because you don't know what's happening there or how to get started or whatever, I made a quick video to tell you what's up. Watch it, then come play!

Fiesta, Fiesta!!

It's been way too long! Since I posted? Well, yes, that too. But I'm talking about since we had a party at The Outlawz! Next week we're doing it again!! We're going to have plenty of fun and lots of prizes to give away! Are you gonna be there??

Catching Up (part 2): It's Gwen!

I Heart U Gwen from Some Odd Girl colored with Copics

I made this card a couple of weeks ago in the middle of making another card. I was working on this card, and when I got stuck, I ended up making this one! I almost want to add something to the left side for balance but I don't really know what. SO... I've left it alone for the last couple of weeks. And I think I will continue to leave it just the way it is...  Sorry for the super short post, but I have to get some shut eye before work tomorrow. That will be my 4th "official" work day since the end of January. I'm not quite back in the swing of waking up before the sun rises...

Catching Up (pt. 1): A CASE!

One thing I'm always claiming that I'm going to do but have barely ever done is CASE other crafters' cards and such. Now, if you don't know what that means, I can't be of too much help. I went looking and found five different definitions for the acronym. Basically, it means that you look at someone else's work and copy it. You might change the shapes, colors, style, whatever. When you do it, you should be nice and tell the world that you got the idea from whoever you scraplifted it from...

Recently, a very talented crafter named Mary Joyce made an amazing altered composition notebook! Go here to see it, and leave her some love.  (Sidenote: Mary Joyce and I found out about a month and a half ago that we share some relative. We've known each other for a few years but just found out thanks to a genealogy DNA service... Isn't that more proof that the world is small??)  Anyway, I have had notebooks in my room since two school years ago waiting to be altered, and hers was gorgeous! Plus, she used a stamp that I had just bought. Since I'm trying to do better about using my supplies and not just providing them with a place to live, I decided it was a perfect time for a CASE!

Prima Bloom Girl Stamp Summer with the bees and strawberries removed

Now, if you're looking at my cover and wondering why the stamp doesn't quite look the same as Mary Joyce's, I used a wipe to remove the bees and the strawberries. I think this is a lovely face, but whatever story those two elements were supposed to be adding was lost on me... I put her cheeks a little too low, but overall, I like this notebook. The words came off a stamp from Altenew, and I got the red flower in an awesome giveaway from Omega on her YT channel. (Thanks, O!)  I haven't decorated the inside yet. I think I might be keeping this notebook for myself, and I don't know what I want to see inside or if I want tabs or whatever.

Thanks for coming over!

#bootsandpants

Pfft...

I'm in a bit of a funk right now and don't feel like typing this post. Sorry. 

The image is from Aurora Wings, the sponsor for the Sketch Challenges this month at The Outlawz. I colored the image with Copic markers and used two different shades of Liquid Pearls. Those bottles have been sitting unloved for so long...

If you'd like to play in the Sketch Challenge, here is this week's sketch:

Please remember that we always have prizes somewhere on The Outlawz! The winners for August were posted about 10 minutes ago. Last month, Oozak, Paper Temptress, Squigglefly, Rick St. Dennis, Touched by a Butterfly, and 7Kids College Fund all sponsored prizes that anyone who entered any of our challenges was eligible to win. Come join the fun!

WTHeck?

Here's the deal: blogging has been on my to do list since last week. I got my Wednesday card up on time last week then didn't put anything else online. I don't know if I want to do one post for the all the missing things or set up a few posts to go up soon.  Well, until I figure it all out, here are two more cards with Millie from Loralie Stamps that I said I would post before the end of the week... a month ago.

Same stamps (the sentiment is from MFT), same doily die, same pearls (colored with Copic markers), same paper pad for background and paper piecing, same colors on the ladies (E13/15/17) with a different base color to get two very different skin tones.

It's Late...

Hey y'all!!! I'm back from my birthday trip to Mexico, and after a week of being sick, I'm back in the crafting spirit! My sinuses still aren't pleased to be back in Atlanta, but I until I can afford living at a resort full time, they'll have to get over it. Here's the thing, though. I know if I don't write this post now, Wednesday will creep by without me coming back to this basement. (My laptop seems to have died for real this time...) BUT, it's mad late. Like ten to four. As in 3:50 am.  I need to be asleep more than I need to write this post. SO, here's the good stuff...

Just went to Mitzi's Etsy shop a few minutes ago and realized I colored the ears as hair! I couldn't figure out how the earrings were coming from the hair. I told myself that her ears must have been behind that bump of hair... :-D

The Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz is being sponsored by Aurora Wings this month. I happen to be missing a key part of the sketch because this image took me too long to color and left me feeling like I better either leave this card be or find something I really, really wanted to put in that part of the sketch. Go check it out to see what I'm talking about...

And here's a close up because the team decided we wanted to do that for this challenge. I can only see ONE speck of glitter despite the translucent part being pretty darn glittery...

Okay, that took five minutes. I'm going to give one more to adding links... Oh, no! The clock just changed. Four minutes to four. Links and I'm out!! Have an awesome today!!
**It's 4:00, and I'm hitting Publish! :D

Just Missed It!

Yup, I just missed Wednesday! I just knew I would have posted this earlier, but I'm just going to have to give myself credit for trying...  Wednesday is when I'm supposed to share a project for the Sketch Challenge on The Outlawz. Here's what I would've posted Wednesday but am instead posting now...on Thursday:

The Greeting Farm Hybrid=Charlotte Chic + The Twisted Kit's Desiree (colored with Copics) and Miss Teagan Sue papers from Bazzill

That cutie is a hybrid - the head is The Greeting Farm's Charlotte Chic, and the body is Desiree from the Twisted Kit by The Greeting Farm. The sentiment is also from the kit.

Here's this week's sketch if you want to play along:

We have prizes...

**Challenges: Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes, Mema's Crafts - Anything Goes

Is this a Church Hat?

Look at me - it's actually still Wednesday when I'm posting my Wednesday card!! :D Go me, go me! *insert cheesy happy dance*  My laptop is on the fritz again, and I'm on my desktop. This will be quick-ish because I get a headache being down here in the basement. I probably need to vacuum and maybe get another light bulb for one that's out...

Anyway, this is my card for this week's sketch challenge at The Outlawz.

The main stamp is Millie from Loralie Stamps, and the sentiment is by Inkadinkado. I made two other cards that I shared on YT with this stamp, but I don't think I put them on the blog. Must do that before the week is over...  You know I always end up making some mistake when I'm card making. This time, I stamped my sentiment so that there was really no way to make my circular card open up and look straight. So...I chopped the back off and ended up using a Cheerios box to make a little stand to go behind this part. I'm planning to send this off into the world and think a standing circle card will be (SHOULD BE) appreciated. :D

Here's the sketch if you want to play along:

Oak Pond Creations is sponsoring the Sketch Challenge this month, plus we have great site-wide prizes! With a new challenge daily, including an Anything Goes challenge every Thursday, you have no excuses for not joining up and entering a challenge or two every month...

**Challenges: Crafty Sentiments - Add a Sentiment, Just Inspirational Challenges - Friendship, Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes, Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Quick (& Late)

Lucy Loo Star Struck digi from The East Wind, some Spellbinder die, EK Success flower punch, Enamel Accents, Craft Medley sequins, Copics, Stickles, Stabilo pencil, and a couple of Prismacolor pencils...

Lucy Loo Star Struck digital stamp from Unky at The East Wind, the July sponsor for the Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz. You have until next Wednesday to get in a card using the sketch below for a chance to win some stamps from The East Wind...

**It hurt me so seriously to rip that page out of the dictionary. Even though it was old and unused, it was still a book, and I LOVE books!  Hope to see you in the challenge!

**Challenges: Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes, Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes, The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes, Addicted to Stamps - Anything Goes, The Crafter's Cafe - Use a Digi

Come Back!!

You may or may not know, but we had a technical meltdown on The Outlawz over the weekend and lost all but one of our challenge groups. We rallied together and got almost everything back in working order Sunday, but with the groups gone, none of the members who were in groups are anymore. If you're a member, please go back and join the groups again. I know it's a small hassle (I had to rejoin too!), but we can't send you group messages or let you know about the new challenges if you don't. If you aren't already a member of The Outlawz, why the heck not?? You read my blog, so you know there are always prizes. You like prizes, right? We have an anything goes challenge every Thursday if you don't like any of the other challenges - not that I see that happening if you like making cards and stuff, but still... Get on over! NO, NO, NO! You have my permission :D to go to The Outlawz after you finish reading this post. Got it? AF-TER...

Since I know you're rushing, I will too. This card is for this week's Sketch Challenge, and the image is from our prize sponsor, The East Wind. This stamp is one of the "Ghetto Fabulous Ashley" stamps that Unky has in her shop. These stamps are inspired by and benefit her friend Ashley who is currently battling cancer. I'm down for the cause!

Okay, on your way now!

#loveyouaunthope

I'm Just Going to Hit Publish... Part 3

I really haven't felt like blogging lately. I just want to post things so you can see them without me spending the time to write all about the projects. So...

Here's a lady I drew then transferred to my art journal for painting... Sorry for the glare!

I think I'll tone down the eye makeup next time!

I don't know why I just want to draw faces in my journal. I don't know about that journaling with awesome backgrounds and words only...

I'm Just Going to Hit Publish... Part 2

I really haven't felt like blogging lately. I just want to post things so you can see them without me spending the time to write all about the projects. So...

Washi tape border!

When I was working on a card a couple of weeks ago for a challenge at The Outlawz, I tried using my colored pencils on kraft and really liked it. I still haven't finished that card, but I did go back to the kraft+pencil combo again. I made this card for a friend a couple of days ago. The lady is from Rubbernecker and was one of the fabulous stamps I got from Cole. Thanks again, Cole!!

I'm Just Going to Hit Publish... Part 1

I really haven't felt like blogging lately. I just want to post things so you can see them without me spending the time to write all about the projects. So...

Here are some cards I made for my father recently.

This is the card I made my dad for Father's Day. The man is a Cricut cut I got from my boyfriend's mom, and the sentiment is by Avery Elle.

I must have lowered the resolution on my phone's camera again. Anyway, this card was to congratulate my father on his recent 2nd retirement! The stamps were in a free set I got in a Unity order.

If Only...

If only criminals would use their evil minds for good we would probably have a cure for AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer's Disease... Someone somehow got my check card number last week and enjoyed $400 worth of something from Walmart. They tried to get over $100 in gas as well, but the bank declined that. I'm still waiting for the bank to put my money back into my account... UGH!!!

Anyway, in honor of the dumb crook, I drew a burglar type and made an art journal page for the Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz last week.

Yes, that says, "Thanks for the hassle, buttmunch."

Here's the sketch, but you can only use it for a few more hours to enter for a prize from this month's sponsor, The Stamping Chef:

Missed One!

So, as soon as I hit publish on the last post, I remembered that there was another journal page before that one. Wanna know a secret? It has an afro too! I was feeling a serious urge to paint one night and was thinking about my mom, so I made myself a page.  You'd think I would have learned from this page about letting paint dry. Clearly I'll need to work on that as I go forward...

Hey...you wanna know another secret? The art journal page I finished today has an afro too!!

There's Another Afro Coming!

Something about Aunt Hope actually leaving a comment on my blog rather than sending me a text made me feel like I probably should post something! :D  Is it strange that I've been happy since this afternoon because they finally released an Android update for the S3 and I was able to get awesomely cool emoji on the Google Keyboard?? (Don't judge me for being nerdy...)  My godmother was texting me after my mom died, and I was severely disturbed that she had all these great emoji and I had NONE! Just smiley faces. I did all sorts of reading and ended up with a couple more, but not enough to make me use the Google Keyboard instead of Swype. I think I might just type with Swype then switch to Google to add cute pictures when I'm actually in the mood to do so...

Was that enough nerdspeak for you??? :D Cool... I just decided that I should just post projects as they occurred, so you'll probably see some Father's Day cards next week or so. I'm jumping back to the beginning of June for this project. ***GRRR... my internet died for, like, the seventh time today. I'll just keep typing and hope that the connection comes back so that Google can save this post. Now I don't feel like typing anymore. SOOOOO... here's another, yes another, big haired lovely from my art journal. **Are you frustrated enough to lose your common sense? Umm...how can Trina upload a picture to Blogger with no internet?? Shame...

Yes, her cheeks are mighty pink, but it's an art journal page! :D

Here's a collage to show how the page went from a little sketch in my sketchbook to this colorful page:

I have to get some patience so I can let my paint layers dry. I kept pulling up the paint...

Be well out there!!

I Was Thinking About You...

I'm writing this post early so I don't forget to do it. I really thought it was Tuesday, but it's only Monday! (It'll be at least Wednesday before you get to read this...) Right now, I'm suffering with my awesome sinuses again. I took medicine yesterday after days of nonsense, and now I'm stuck with a pain from that sinus space above the teeth. It's like a toothache; it hurts when I chew or open my mouth to get in a decent sized bite of food... :(  I know, whine, whine, complain, complain...

Anyway, here's my card for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz using an image from this month's prize sponsor, The Stamping Chef:

Fighter digi stamp from The Stamping Chef (stamp and ribbon colored with Copic markers),  paper by MAMBI, Teresa Collins Blingage

Here's the sketch if you'd like to come play along:

Remember, we have prizes!!!

#xoxoaunthope

Do You Stamp Sentiments Inside Your Cards?

Sometimes, I know what I want a card to say, but I usually leave the inside blank. Do you stamp the insides when you make cards?

I put gesso on that chipboard star before coloring it with a Copic. I do NOT like how it turned out. Think Glossy Accents will hide those brush strokes??

There's a little bit of time left to get in on the last May Sketch Challenge at The Outlawz.  I used Lunar Deity from Art by Mi Ran, May's prize sponsor, for this card. Come over and play! Here's the sketch:

A new sketch challenge starts Wednesday! And if you don't like a sketch, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday all started Anything Goes challenges last week!

Shiny Hair?

Hey Birdie!! You asked; here it is... (Don't you love it when that happens?!)

Folks who follow me on YouTube or G+ may have already seen this pop up in their feeds, but as I said yesterday, I haven't been doing a good job of updating this blog. I am a slow colorist, and even though this video is double speed, it's still over ten minutes long. Just in case you get tired of watching me color, the card is below. (The end of the video is me showing the card...) I made it for a teacher friend who was voted teacher of the year at her school.

#onedownforaunthope

Thinking...

Now I'm debating. It seems like I haven't updated my blog even though I've made things including YouTube videos. Do I post a bunch of things in a row for Aunt Hope (and all of my other wonderful followers), or schedule them so that she has a few days with new material guaranteed? Hmmm...

Here's a SUPER quick video for you while I sit and ponder...  :D


**Can you hear this video?? I've watched this on YT, but playing it just now on my blog, I could barely hear it with the speakers all the way up and the YT volume at max. Let me know.

#onedownforaunthope

♥ This One's for You!! ♥

My lovely Aunt Hope has recently become my most faithful blog reader. A few days ago, she, uh, requested that I put up some new posts. Well, since I LOVE!!!! her so much, this one's for her...

Last summer I thought I wanted to jump into the whole art journal craze. It took from then until March for me to actually get past putting much other than gesso on a page, though.

The light from the window is really brightening this picture...

So, I had been upstairs flipping through a prayer journal that someone gave my mother and saw this scripture. It was talking to me that day! I stayed up late into the night painting; I thought I was going to get fussed at by my mom since she was sleeping and I was making a ton of noise coming up and down the steps with supplies, but she slept right on through it. (If you knew my mom, you'd know she could sleep!)

I won't bore you with the details, but please believe all sorts of stuff is on these two pages...

#onedownforaunthope

Stacey Made This!

My lovely cousin came over to play with my crafting supplies today, and we actually managed to get a card made! I think she was an excellent student and created something wonderful!! She decided to CASE the lovely card found here... and ended up with this:

She said she needs a few more cards for some of her good friends and will be back tomorrow. We'll see what happens... :D

Thank You!

 

This card is for this week's sketch challenge on The Outlawz, BUT it's also for all of you who have been nice enough to pray for, text, call, private message, G+, email, snail mail, or smoke signal me at any time since last February when I found out that my mother had cancer all the way through these last few weeks following her death. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate you all!

I'll ALWAYS Love My Mama!

Do you know that song? If not, head over to Youtube for a blast from the past... My mom wouldn't let me call her "mama", but she's definitely my favorite girl - now and forever more! :D

Barbara Willis, March 1954 - March 2014

I miss her, but I'm doing okay. Just needed to let you know where I've been this time. So...instead of telling me you're sorry for my loss, tell me a joke or something about your day or what you're busy creating or anything else. XOXO to you all!!

You Know I Love a Big Curly 'Fro!

Seriously, when I don't have to worry about how much time my hair takes in the morning or before bed, I have one big, curly puff of hair. Charlotte Chic-scarf included-looks like me when school is out...

Charlotte Chic - The Greeting Farm, Hopscotch paper - Basic Grey

I found my X-Press It paper while cleaning up the other day. Still having those skin coloring issues. I guess it's because I'm used to coloring on Neenah and should practice...  I tried my hand at 3D paper piecing, but since I'm oh so smart, I didn't bother to take a picture so you could see that. Maybe in the morning...

UPDATE: Here's a close view. I don't know how people do this with super detailed images!

Here's the sketch if you'd like to play along:

Yes, I sort of cheated and let the paper work for those stripes in the background. You know how I do!  :D

Happy Valentine's Day!

Much love to all of you who stop by my blog and leave sweet comments! (Hey Sara, Penny, and Carla!)  I hope all of you are having a great day regardless of the date when you read this post.

I'm sharing the card I made today for my honey. Do you really have to go masculine for Valentine's Day? I know I sure didn't...

Smoochin Cupid digi stamp from Mayzy Art, colored with Copic markers. (skin YR65+E13/15/17) Echo Park Love Story papers

This is an easel card. I'll have to put up another picture to show what it looks like... Updated: Here it is! :D

**Challenges: Digi Haven - Valentine's Day, Annabelle Stamps - Love, Bloggers Challenge - Two or More Patterned Papers, Brown Sugar Challenge - Die or Punch, Craftitude - AG or Love/Valentine's

After All This Hair...

Phoebe digital stamp from Make It Crafty, sentiment by Studio G

After all this hair, I don't even feel like typing a post! :D  Good goodness, that hair took ages, and of course, my eyes keep going to the mistakes! I'm not going to focus on them this time. (Go me!!)

Here's the sketch from The Outlawz that I used to make this card:

Make It Crafty is sponsoring the Sketch Challenge for February. Come on over and play for a chance to get some new stamps!

**Challenges: Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes, Shopping Our Stash - Something Shiny (I pulled out the old Enamel Accents for those hearts!)

Yeah, Boy!

I'm back again!! What?! I might actually get myself back crafting regularly after all...

Show Stopper digi stamp - Simply B Stamps, Paris Girl - Carta Bella

This is my card for this week's sketch challenge at The Outlawz. Can you believe I broke out the flowers? As much as I love cards with flower bouquets and such, I hardly ever open the container of flowers in my stash...

Here is the sketch if you'd like to play along:

Here's a tip - notice that the main element is not in the center of the card but in middle of the space sectioned off by the vertical and horizontal elements. I was too happy to have decided on what to use that I didn't scoot my big piece over. Had to add that flower and those gems to try to balance my card! :D

The Sketch Challenge is being sponsored by the very awesome Make It Crafty this month. Plus, we have our regular, generous crew - Oozak, Paper Temptress, 7 Kids College Fund, Rick St. Dennis, Squigglefly, and Touched by a Butterfly!  Come on over and play!