Creating

New things! It's been fun. This change of seasons is very inspiring to me. The colours and tone of the trees and the sky, the chill in the air that has nothing to do with the wind, and that fact that all the darn fruit flies that have been making a home out of my home are outta here!

I've finished a couple of layouts, a tag and one-point-five canvases. I even opened up my Smash Journal last night, which hasn't seen the light of day since my Studio Calico arrived...it's been hiding under the box!

So, without further ado...

This first one features the new stencils from Julie Balzer and Crafter's Workshop. Can I just say that I am in lurve with them!? I bought most of the small ones that Julie designed, and Chan put one of the large ones (see below) in my "challenge kit" for the month. I'm making it my mission this month to sell that wall!

I used Distress Stains in three colours to ink the ferns, before stitching their stems (with the machine). The small fractured flower is made up of paper that I traced and cut to match the stencil. It took an hour or so to get it right, but I think it looks so cool! It would be much easier with the larger one...maybe next time!

Stencils-Crafter's Workshop small Fern and small Fractured Flower. Paper-American Crafts, Hambly,
Crate, October Afternoon, Webster's Pages,
Letters & Cloud Rub On-Studio Calico. Distress Ink-Wild Honey, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint.

This one is a completely different colour scheme, but I used the same stencil pattern. All of these stencils come in a large and small size, depending on what you want to use them for. I think I will do a post dedicated to these 'bad boys' because there are just so many cool things you can do with them. I also feel a Make & Take coming on...

This time I filled in the stencil with two colours of Distress Stain. I was surprise at how little this bled, as the stains are 100% liquid. But it only bled at the top there, and the rest of the watermarks I made on purpose later. To add more texture to the stains, I went over them with a red ink, blending foam, and the Chevron stencil. You can really see it in the areas that are the lighter honey colour.

Stencil-Fragmented Flower & Small Chevron. Distress Stains-Wild Honey, Barn Door.
Paper-Crate, Webster's Pages. Letters-Studio Calico & Glitz. Twine-My Mind's Eye. Ribbon-?
Washi Tape-Hambly. Mist-Studio Calico. Stamps-Technique Tuesday.

Funny thing Lucas said: He was wondering where my body is in those pictures I have of my feet. And I told him that I like taking feet pictures, and that I got a photo of him at Auntie & Uncle's as well. He asked if his body was in it, or just his feet!

I also made this tag last night while I was sitting in my studio thinking of other things I should be doing. I whipped this up, then went to finish those other things. Very satisfying.

 It's pretty much all leftovers from my table, with some Distress Stains on the back for good measure. I think it will make it's merry way on to a layout today.

And I've also been working on a second canvas to accompany my Lovely Lady Mixed Media class. This one will be purple + its colour wheel contrast (does anybody know which colour that might be?) I forgot to bring the stencil home to finish the lady part of it on Monday, so it's very unfinished! Here you can see the stencils in all their paint-filled glory!

That's all for now. I am off to the store today to finish this canvas, and the second October TNT class. I've also got some work-blogging to do, and groceries to buy. My list is long and varied! But I have all day to get it done...have I mentioned it's weird being a stay-at-home Mom with no kid around? I need a hobby...oh wait...never mind!

listening to Peter Bjorn & John...super energy to get me through the day!

p.s. TAKE MY CLASS!!