Live in the Moment with our Newest Kit - and Don't Miss The NSD Crop

Nothing is as important as THIS moment...and there's no better way to connect to it, anchor it and celebrate it than our newest kit and theme, 'In the Moment.'

From awareness of and excitement about your life today, to moments of decision and change, to mindful, meditative focus, there are so many things to explore.

Planner-type elements so popular in the crafting world merge with saturated springtime color and ombre shading...icons and images include arrows, calendar templates, speech bubbles and emojis...so much fun!

Join us and make TODAY matter.

CLICK HERE to read more, see more and buy your kit.

And you won't want to miss our NSD crop - Saturday is my birthday and I want to celebrate with YOU...I'll be giving out the presents this year!

Click here to join our private group where our team will be hosting the fun!

May Kit Contents:

dropPatterned Paper:

We R Memory Keepers hello darling  breezy 

We R Memory Keepers hello darling  charming            

We R Memory Keepers hello darling  delighted            

We R Memory Keepers hello darling  jubilee 

Webster's pages these are the days   March  

Webster's pages these are the days  April      

Webster's pages these are the days   May      

Webster's pages these are the days   June     

Embellishments:

American Crafts amy tangerine rise and shine thickers - alyx white and silver  

Webster's pages #Happy mini alphas - teal             

We R Memory Keepers hello darling  ephemera pack 9-10 pcs

Webster's pages these are the days  faces & images sticker  

Ranger TH Findings  arrows  2 pcs.

Project Life inspire edition   4x4 instagram cards        6 cards

American Crafts  amy tangerine rise and shine  grace black (words)   1 sheet

PinkFresh fresh drops way to home enamel stickers 1/2 sheet

Cardstock:

My Mind's Eye shale heavyweight          

My Mind's Eye aquamarine canvas         

My Mind's Eye white classic       

My Mind's Eye lemon lime heavyweight               

Technique:

The Crafters Workshop Ronda Palazzari Stencil 6" Life Tidbits          

Color:

Faber Castell Gelatos double scoop raspberry            

RESTORE Yourself in this Month of Love...

Restore your soul and reach for your inner peace with our new kit. Cork elements create a focal point for your most central and inward-focused to do items. Hand-drawn images and words evoke daydream-y doodles and love notes. Heartfelt cards and papers with romance themes remind you that loving yourself is the pre-requisite for all other love. 

Send your heart and soul a love letter with RESTORE and remember your essential and honest self-worth.

Subscription and other membership options available HERE

Why subscribe?

- high quality art materials worth $55 for only $39.95
- members-only deep and meaningful weekly journaling prompts and guidance
- exclusive private FB community and webpage with quotations, music and images to stir your creative heart
- monthly free (for members) emotion-centric live presentation workshop with Inside Out founder Rachel Kaufman to create and be inspired (recording available)

Paper:

Crate Paper Notes and Things So Simple            

Crate Paper Notes and Things Noted   

Crate Paper Notes and Things Honest 

Crate Paper Notes and Things Inbox    

Crate Paper Notes and Things Signed  

Crate Paper Notes and Things Schedule             

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes French Doors     

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes Secret Crush      

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes Sweetheart       

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes Heartbeat           

Embellishments:

Crate Paper Notes and Things Thickers Alphas - Wood Letter Stickers 

Websters Pages All That Glitters Little Letter Sticker - Mint             

Crate Paper Notes and Things Rubons 

Jillibean Soup Soup Staples III kraft tags circle, 6 pcs

Jillibean Soup Mini Placemats Here's the Story, 3 pcs               

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes Love Notes Cork Stickers, 1/2 sheet

We R Memory Keepers Shine Shine Acrylic Shapes, 1/2 sheet

We R Memory Keepers Sequins Pink Sequin Stickers, 1/2 sheet

We R Memory Keepers Love Notes Journaling cards, 1/4 pkg

Color:

Imagine Crafts Walnut Ink Cherry Blossom Mini-Spritzer

Technique:

The Crafters Workshop Ronda Palazzari Beaded Curtain Stencil

Cardstock:

American Crafts White   

American Crafts Dark Kraft            

American Crafts White Woodgrain            

American Crafts Chestnut Woodgrain 

Welcome to Your LUCKY Day! Our Newest Kit is Live!

Warm, autumnal color and shimmery, glimmery design fill this kit with a radiance you won't be able to resist...

I'm thanking my LUCKY stars for being able to be part of your creative journey. You'll see some art from ME on that for certain this month!

Beautiful paper and embellishments from Fancy Pants Designs, We R Memory Keepers, American Crafts, Jenni Bowlin and more.

Most of all, a chance to explore what makes you lucky, whether you're lucky or blessed (or both...or neither), how much hard work is associated with what we call 'luck', and in what ways fortune has smiled on you in your life.

You'll learn from your past and discover where YOUR lucky star is, and what wishes YOUR want to make to take your life to the next level.

Click HERE to learn more and reserve your limited edition kit now.

Take charge of your future the fun and meaningful way!

Behind the Art with Jen

Soo.... this post may be one that hits home for some of you and may offend others.  I love to swear... I just do.  I say what I mean whenever I want (in my head).  When you have kids, you modify your swear words.  I say a lot of "Whatever"s and "Darn it"s.    It's not as satisfying when you are mad at your spouse or just dropped something heavy on your toe.   I try hard to not swear in front of my kids but sometimes I just do.  My kids know that adult words are NOT for them to say and they scold me too.  I always apologize to them... all is forgiven.  Except sometimes you just need to let it all out! 

 

There are some people in my life that just drive me nuts with their complaining, nagging, or general negative attitude.  I usually smile and move on with my day but there are times when I've had enough of the negative whining.  I just have to tell it like it is... it's not pretty or polite but that's too bad.  I am not going to sugarcoat it for them.  They deserve the real word... it's only a word but it's a strong one.  It's therapeutic and necessary at times.  

 Of course if you say it too much, it loses the power behind it.  I like to save it for real necessary times when I'm really worked up or have held it in too long.  I said it... yes I did! 

 This page was made on a day when I had released the "F-bomb" several times... mostly for a good reason, though I can't recall exactly what it was at this moment but that is irrelevant.  It's the satisfaction of getting it out there and feeling the release of all the frustration let out with one word.  It may be immature, crass, or whatever you want to call it but I love that word when used sparingly! 

So, if I offend you... sorry but WHATEVER!  Just sayin'

Behind the Art with Jen

 Hi everyone!  I have another of my pages to share.  This one is a journal page about not sweating the small stuff and not fearing mistakes.

 All my life, I have struggled to control things that are not mine to control... Once I let go of that control and try to just go with the flow.  Turning something disappointing into a positive is a skill that I have had to practice.  It's hard to not feel terrible when something goes wrong but dwelling on it is not productive.  I hate wasting time on things I can't control now.  So, this page is about being yourself and letting things roll off your back when you feel like obsessing.

  Dwelling makes you unhappy and I hate being unhappy.  I want to live in today and not worry about tomorrow!

Okay, so how did I make this page?   I used the floral paper as the background.  The leaf mask was used with Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gesso. I did trace the leaf onto scrap paper and used it as a solid stencil.  Once dry, I drew on top of the areas with pen. 

 Watered down paint dripped down the page added some more color.  I also used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Whipped Spackle through a dotted stencil for more texture.

What do you do to stay happy and not obsess about wrongs or bad things?   I think what we "feed" ourselves will be what thrives.

Behind the Art with Jen

 This journal page was about dealing with the mess and learning from it!  I teach art to elementary aged kids and sometimes we make a BIG MESS!  Art is messy!  I always tell my kids that if they didn't get messy, they didn't make artwork.  It's a process and sometimes the mess is amazing and sometimes it's a disaster!

 I try to find the best way to store materials so they stay organized and easy to use but my best efforts might not be enough.  Sometimes it's hopeless and I have to just toss it and start over!

 This was one instance when the tangled mess of yard in my yarn box was too much to handle.  I had to assign kids to try to wind up and untangle as much as possible but in the end I had to cut the tangled mess free and toss it!  

 Here's how I made the page.  I pasted down paper scraps using Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium.  Then, I used the Distress Paint to stamp circles on the orange paper.

 Next, I used the Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Bead Gel mixed with Gold Gelatos on a craft mat.  I applied the mixture to the stencil for a dimensional embellishment.

 When it dries, it's slightly transparent where it's thinner.  I love the look of the Glitter Bead Gel!

 Some drips of watered down Distress Paint to the page adds some texture and color.

 This page was full of artsy goodness and lots of fun papers, embellishments, mediums, and journaling!

Behind the Art with Jen

 

This month, I used the "Liberation" kit to create Art Journal pages.  I have a spiral book that I will be creating all my pages in for the coming months.  It feels natural to use this format and create mixed media/ scrapbook style pages in an art book. So, I created this page using the stencil, papers, and embellishments from the kit. 

 You can see that I used the stencil from the kit with a thin tipped pen (I used a Faber-Castell PITT Artist pen in small tip) and created a bit of a scribbled look to it.  I wanted it to look hand drawn rather than perfect with the stencil.

 The stickers and gems from the kit were perfect accents to the page!  I also added half of a butterfly image that I had used in another artwork.

 The entire page is seen here and I loved the birdcage, butterfly, and sequins were perfect for conveying the feeling of flying free.

 To adhere the sequins, I used Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium.  It dries clear with a mostly matte finish so it's perfect for the scattered look.

 Here's another view of the doodled image.

 I cut the circle from the center of the Glitz paper and added a sticker to the center.  I journaled around the circle in each space.  I loved how this turned out!

What's your INTENTION? Our Newest Kit is LIVE!

What will you MAKE HAPPEN in 2014? Set your INTENTION with our latest kit - bright, shimmery and bold!

Features My Mind's Eye Cut and Paste, Glitz Free Spirit and Hazel and Ruby's Chalk it Up.

Great journaling and title cards, a chalk pen, clips and enamel shapes, plus photo themed overlays, 6 different alphas, and what is bound to be your favorite stencil ever from Ronda Palazzari.

It's already inside you...what are you waiting for?

It's Time.

 

 

 

Click Here to buy.

Pastes and Glues and Mediums, Oh My!!

Hi there peeps!

Lori here and I thought I'd share a bit with you about some of the
 pastes, glues, mediums, etc. we've mentioned in our art journaling posts,
or that you may have heard of and wondered what in the world they were.

Demystify them, if you will.

Here are the products I played with:

I used the patterned paper, stencil,  and Distress Paint found in the

 August Enchantment Kit. 

Let's start with gesso. Gesso (pronounced [jes-oh] like jello) is used as a primer to prepare surfaces for wet mediums and paints. It provides a "tooth" to the surface to help paints stick better and give some added thickness to paper. It comes in clear, white, and black. 

In the top picture below, I have used a paintbrush to dab white gesso through the stencil, mixed white gesso with the blue distress paint and just painted 

some white gesso on the paper. 

You can even see how my pen is a little scratchy on the gesso...it definitely adds texture.

Here's just the distress paint smooshed through the stencil:

Next, let's talk about glues. Gel medium is an acrylic product. It comes in Heavy, Soft, and Regular and has a variety of finishes, Matte, Gloss and Semi-gloss. The basic use for these is to build texture in paintings by mixing them with acrylic paint. If you add a small bit of it to your paint it will also extend the drying time. The Soft gel is the medium that is most often used by paper artists. It can be used as a glue for collage and it is also used to make photocopy transfers. So basically it is a glue, a paint, and decoupage stuff. 

(definition found here.)

Decoupage glue, such as my favorite, Collage Pauge, is used in most of the same ways. 

This picture shows the difference in texture: you can see that gel medium on the left is much thicker.

These are used to stick things to the paper, typically. 

I also wanted you to see the distress paint as a base.

Modeling pastes are often used to add some dimension and texture. 

I used several different kinds. 

Texture Magic is a light paste. 

I left it plain  and smooshed it through the stencil. 

It is very similar in texture to light modeling paste.

Here is light modeling paste both plain and mixed with the distress paint. The top right pic below also shows the light modeling paste and texture paste next to each other. 

Regular modeling paste is thicker than the light modeling paste/texture paste and takes a bit longer to dry. But, you can see the thickness it creates.

The cool part about these is there really is no "right" or "wrong" way to use them. 

Play and experiment and see what you like to use. 

All of these are readily available either at your local craft/hobby stores, or online at amazon.com or dickblick.com.

I'd love to see what you come up with!

Any questions? Leave them in the comments and 

we'll try to get back to you with answers and advice. 

Thanks so much for reading and for your patience as our site is being temperamental. 

Remember, you can still see the August Enchantment kit in our Design Team Gallery, and our message board/forums are still up and running!!

Now, you go get messy!