Its STAMPENDOUS & DecoArt PLaYTiMe!! :) - MM Card & Treasures Box

In the mail I received some products from STAMPENDOUS and I was elated at the opportunity to play with them!!  I got a Creative Palette and mono printing plate,  a large acrylic handle, and two cling stamps!  They couldn't have come at a  better time.. because I am now, all set to play, with some of my favorite DecoArt paints and stencils!

Loving the idea of creating my own prints.. I leaped into the idea of playing with the Creative Palette and generating some fun backgrounds.. :)  I love the idea that's slender and it space in my bag, which makes it easy for me to grab it and go!  This is a mixed media card I made using an Artistcellar Stencil from the Sacred Heart Series and my favorite DecoArt Neon Acrylics.

Loved the how the stencil was imperfectly perfect on the monoprinting plate.. I think next time I will add some DecoArt Drying Time Extender to my paints and see how that goes too.. :)

My message to myself for the month of June... Live Creatively...

I mean.. the possibilities are well beyond what I have done.. but I plan to check out some other ways to utilize my new friend!  After creating some more pages and  backgrounds..


Then I decided to play with the STAMPENDOUS Face stamp called the Cling GLANCE- CRR200.  She was totally fun.. as I have NO large face stamps to play with!!  The lines from the image are clear and she is just the right size to do a little envelope art..  I was sending my friend Tamie some Happy Mail, and well Tamie loves Sugar Skulls.. So I decided to Sugar Skull my image.. Here is how that turned out..

Excuse my thumb.. (smile) I was debating posting this picture.. and decided at the last minute.. What the heck!  I am playing with a wonderful stamp and this is only a few of the possibilities!!  Oh Yeah.. Tamie.. YOU GOT MAIL!!  :)

Now for my last project.. It was something I had never done.. :)  An altered cigar box.  I actually received one from my dear friend VON for my birthday earlier this month.. Von makes me smile! She is a warm and beautiful lady.  I thought what she had given me was sooo dainty and lady-like.  I knew I wanted to make one too!

To be honest with you.. I looked at so many YOUTUBE videos and blogs on the topic, I couldn't tell you who's idea it actually is.. :)  But I do know I went to Andy Skinner and Made by Sannie 's blogs and CreaBoeTiek Channel on YouTube for inspiration for my first box.

Took a plain wooden cigar box and painted it with DecoArts MultiSurface Satin Acrylics in Coca bean and Chocolate and covered the whole box...

I don't know why.. but I always keep my DecoArt gesso nearby! (smile)

Then I added a thick layer of DecoArts Modeling Paste to the cover.  Then I smooshed a wide piece of lace and some of my favorite trinkets into paste on the lid.  Flowers, charms, and all kinds of metal embellishments.. :)  I let it air dry for 24 hours.

Then I covered the ENTIRE thing in yet more acrylic paints!  Even the metals!.  It was rather dull so I then added some of my favorite Dazzling Metallic Renaissance Brown and Bronze by DecoArts.  Let see some better pictures of the finished box in some pictures below...

decided I wanted some little feet so I glued these one with some help from Helmar's Glue that I got at Frosted Designs.. whew that Barb sure does send quick!!!  :)  

this is a side panel..

I loved painting her face and then adding glaze so her image was not flat.. since the box had so much shimmer now.. :)

this is a close up after adding some of the dazzling acrylics I mentioned.  :)

Here is another side panel...

Well that's it for me.. I hope you guys enjoyed viewing my page and watching me play with my fantabulous paints from DecoArt.. and those outrageously fun Stampendous products!  I am sure it won't be the last time I pick them up  and it wouldn't be for you either!!  :)

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Since I am a part of a blog hop.. I thought it might be nice to let you know there are bunch of talented people out here this week playing with paints, brushes and stamps.. I hope you can take a moment to check them and don't forget to comment, pin and like our sponsors for this event!  It also helps to make you eligible for the prize package. :)


Visit each blog, leave a comment! • Like Stampendous, DecoArt, Princeton Artist Brushes and inspired by Willow Wolfe on Facebook! • We've also got a Pinterest Board started!

Please repin our projects on to your boards and be sure to tag us when you do (#Stampendous, #DecoArt, #PrincetonArtistBrushes, #byWillowWolfe) - we'll be tracking. Your comments on the blogs are your entry into the drawing! We'll randomly choose three blog posts from all the designer posts this week and then choose one commenter from each with a U.S. Mailing Address to receive a prize package. THEN we'll choose three international commenters to receive a generous sample pack courtesy of DecoArt, so everybody can play this time! AND I have a few bonus goodies hanging around my office for some lucky people who SHARE our Facebook posts and Pinterest Pins! Ready for your trip around the world??? Let's get Hoppin!

DecoArt Blog

Stampendous Blog

Claudia Neubacher (Vienna, Austria)

Kristine Reynolds (California, USA)

Iliane de Fockert (Elly) (Niedersachsen, Germany)

Julia Stratford-Wright (near London, UK)

Julie Robertson (UK)

Jamie Martin (Oklahoma, USA)

Debbie Cole (California, USA)

Shannon Moyer-Szemenyei (Canada)

Tamiko McCurry (Illinois, USA)

A few of the bloggers this week are new to hopping, so if you have an issue with any of the links, here's a little tip! If you get a page that says "Sorry that Page is not here" or something similar, try clicking on the header picture at the top of the blog, or look for something that says Home. The hop page should be near the top of the day's posts. We will fix broken links as the day goes on, as well, so check back here if you are really lost.

The Official Rules are here.

Enjoy the rest of your Week and thanks for stopping by! :)

Mother's Day _ May Challenge w/ Susan Weckesser

I created this page with Susan Weckesser's May Challenge in mind.  The colors for this challenge can be seen here :

Now to be honest with you when I initially saw these colors.. I immediately though of spring.. trees grassland, new flowers, birds's nest and  few eggs.. Then I thought of new life.. something you could only get from a mother.  It was in fact Mother's Day and I had a quiet moment to hangout with my art and watch my daughter sleep.

I took those colors with my gelatos and Koi watercolors, well most of them anyway.. and came up with this.

  The quote says.. Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a mother.

Anywho.. had fun creating this profile of a mother, although she does not look like me.. lol  She still has kind eyes and a gentle face a smile any child would adore!  Happy Mother's Day to all you out there with 2 legged or four legged children that you see about..

Watercolor Cards- Koi 24

 Today I am posting some cards I finally got a chance to finish!  They are some water color painted cards, with all original artwork done by yours truly! Ha! I think they came out cute, although I can think of dozens of ways to improve the next batch!  I only did eight!  I will concentrate on eight at a time!  Don't ask why, because I don't know! LOL  No really.. it's not as intimidating as perhaps a dozen might be/sound ?  Ok that works for me!

I know it would be better if I was doing 12-15 at  a time, it's easier to divide and small gift sets to dispense to friends and family that forever always want a card!  I just hope that the people who get my cards, aren't so super quick to throw them away!  It doesn't take me 3 minutes to whip it together! ::shrug::  Many of these cards were inspired by Tracy Weinzapfel.  She got my me to using my first watercolors, feeling comfortable behind a brush and using my own drawing capabilities as images.  You don't have to be a Fine Artist, to be a well learned, skilled and disciplined artist!  Forever thankful for that!!

With these cards I used my Koi 24-color pan water color set.  I love them!  The colors are very vibrant and you don't have to be an expert watercolorists (yep its a word today!) to use them and make pretty pictures.  I know with practice, I will only get better and I have plenty of time and room for both!!  (smile)  I also used my Pitt pen by Faber Castell, Sakura Sensai ,Identipen, or  a Deco Arts acrylic pen for all my black writing and details. My Sharpie (water based), a Faber Castell Pitt pen, a Deco Art paint pen and Unibal Signo gel pen provided me with additional markings I needed in white. (big smiles)

Thanks for looking... :)

April Challenge Page 2- Love Can heal the World

Created this second page after playing with my neon acrylic paints on the previous one.  This page was constructed using my Dylusions spray inks.  I have no idea how to use these inks.. but somehow this page works for me.  I used a magazine image to mask the woman before spraying, then I painted her and used my pen to doodle on top and add some details.  I added a border, and stencils a lil bit and doodled on top of it as well.  Drew a border and loosely scribbled my lettering on the page while I played the song in my ears.  Was indeed feeling the music and the message!  Love can HEAL the WORLD!

As I stated above I used my Dylusiond Spray Inks, DecoArt Americana Black Satin Acrylic and white paint pen, White Sharpie and White Signo Unibal gel pen.

Thanks for looking...

I am just a fool.. nope I'm just a fool.. April Challenge

This was a art journal page I did for Tracy Weinzapfel's April Mixed Media Challenge.  We were suppose to take the words to a song.. I don't think this was the song people expected to see.. but periodically I am reminded how much time and energy I invested in someone only to not have it work out..   I'm not mad.. and I love the song. I can get lost in it but it is a lesson well learned!

Just a quickie post.. I used a bunch of my favorite Deco Art Acrylic neon  and black satin paints and white paint pen, Faber Castell Pitt pens and Uniball Signo white gel pen.  Love my doodle pens!!

Thanks for looking!