Friday Fill-Ins...

And...here we go!

1. After a while, the baby ducks will arrive.

2.  At least all this rain is making everything green.

3. Well, anyway, can I just say how proud I am of my sister....she got a well-deserved promotion!?

4. Having the job of naming paint colors sound like so much fun to me!

5. I always want to "get my groove on" when I hear Dancing Queen on the radio.

6. Knowing God loves me...that is what keeps me going.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to art time with my girlfriends (we are learning all about watercoloring), tomorrow my plans include more art time with girlfriends and maybe a little pool time and Sunday, I want to rest and begin season three of Downton Abbey!

Stencil Test Drive...

Stencil Girl just released a line of stencils designed by Jessica Sporn. Jessica asked me and a bunch of other artists to take her stencils on a "test drive."  The stencil hop began in December and will continue through June 2013.  We'll show you how we used her stencils, and you're invited to play along too.  I played with the Cascading Leaves Stencil.  Visit Jessica's blog HERE for all the details!

Have a  blessed day!

 

Art Journal Page: I used black spray paint with the Cascading Leaves stencil on the background of this journal page.  I also used acrylic paints, oil pastels, collage papers, a black pen and the X Marks rubber stamp from my Mixed Media Essentials line.

 Stitched Pouch: I sprayed lime green and teal spray ink through the Cascading Leaves stencil onto a piece of book paper to create the base of the paper pouch.  I also used acrylic paints, a piece of card stock, cotton muslin, sewing machine with black thread, quote, a black pen and the Bold Flower rubber stamp from my Mixed Media Essentials line.

Mail Art: After I sprayed the lime green and teal ink through the stencil on the paper for the pouch, I pressed the stencil onto an envelope to get a reverse image.  I also used collage papers and a black pen.

Hop on over to these blogs for more inspiration!

Jessica Sporn

Michelle Rydell

Judy Shea

Nathalie Kalbach

Mixed Media Essentials Blog Hop...

Introducing the "Mixed Media Essentials" rubber stamp line by Roben-Marie Smith. Inspired by the shapes and designs that appear in my work regularly, these stamps are my new go-to tool for mixed media projects of every type. Perfect for art journaling, painting, mail art and journal making. My signature quirky, funky style is now as easy as stamp & create!

 

My new stamps are available at Paperbag Studios!  Check them out HERE!

I invite you to leave a comment on this post by Sunday, May 5 at 12:00PM EST to be entered into a drawing for a handmade piece of file folder mail art...made with love by ME! 

Here are the details on how to be entered into the drawing. Each one gets you entered so you can be entered up to three times:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Share this post on your Facebook page and leave a comment here that you did so.

3. Tweet this post and leave a comment here that you did so.

I will amend this post with the winner on Sunday afternoon. Please be sure to include your e-mail address with your comments so I can contact you!

 GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

 Be sure to hop on over to these blogs for more creative ideas, tutorials and give-aways. These ladies are members of the Paperbag Studios design team and I want to thank them for their hard work and beautiful samples.

April Cole

Carissa Paige

Cynthia Shaffer

Danielle Donaldson

Jen Osborn

Kristin Peterson

Lorraine Bell

Sandi Keene

Be sure to check out these design team member's blogs as well:

Colette Copeland

Samantha Kira Harding

Update on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 3:31PM by Roben-Marie Smith

Congratulations to Donna Joy!  You are the winner of my mail art giveaway!  Please send me an e-mail with your mailing address.  Cheers, RM :)

Asheville Street Art...

I visited Asheville last week and along with eating at some great restaurants like Mela Indian Restaurant I took some photos of some pretty cool street art.  Most of these were taken in Chicken Alley. If you are in town do check out these places for shopping and art: Ten Thousand Villages and Woolworth Walk. 

Have a  blessed day!

Art Journal Peeks...

Friday Fill-Ins...

And here we go...

1. Ah, me...like cold sheets and the ceiling fan on high speed.

2. Preparing for my new rubber stamp release is what's on my mind most lately.

3. When I talk to my best friend, we enjoy laughing and sharing.

4. Lots of sleep and focus on exercise is what's working for me lately.

5. I recently saw Asheville's flying nun riding a gigantic red bicycle.

6. A cool breeze while listening to the birds chirping fills me with joy!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a movie with my hubby, tomorrow my plans include catching up on e-mails, blog comments and much more since I have been out of town and Sunday, I plan to go to workship, grocery shop and work in the studio for a bit!

Have You Heard...

I am so excited to be announcing very soon the release of my new Mixed Media Essentials rubber art stamps!  They will be available at Paperbag Studios on May 1!  Hope you enjoy this little sneak peek.

Have a  blessed day!

Digi IPad Art Journaling...

I created this digi page in ArtRage and Procreate on the IPad. I imported the text/words and added lots of layers to blend it all together. I use the Sensu Brush and love it! Thanks to my sweet friends Carissa and Kira for inspiring the face! Did you know Kira is offering an e-course called Digital Adventures?  Check it out HERE!

File Folder Mail Art...

I love creating mail art on file folders.  I use them as full size and cut them down into smaller sizes. Here are a couple I made this week with acrylic paints, collage papers, oil pastels, black pen, white pen, rubber art stamps, black pencil and glue stick.  I address the folders in a variety of ways but the one shown here was created with papers and rubber art stamps from my new Mixed Media Essentials line being released on May 1 at Paperbag Studios.

Have a  blessed day!

Friday Fill-Ins...

And here we go...

1. Pardon me, but could you please not stand right next to me while I am picking up my prescription?

2. I love getting a good deal.

3. I was surprised to find that I really like raw asparagus.

4. Watching football is one of my favorite forms of entertainment.

5. Hi, my name is Roben-Marie and I'm told by my husband that I am a bit kooky!

6. In Florida, it is common to get rain most summer afternoons.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time with Brent and Duu in Asheville, tomorrow my plans include attending the annual Flower Festival at the Biltmore Estate and Sunday, I want to relax with my family back in Knoxville!

Join in HERE!

Art Journal Love - Whoot...

Supplies: acrylic paint, charcoal stick, black pen, white pen, oil pastels, black pencil, collage papers, glue stick and Dylusions Creative Journal.

My True Free Spirit...

I finally signed up for Mindy Lacefield's True Free Spirit workshop and jumped right in with lesson one.  I like working on lose pages but recently purchased one of Dyan Reavley's Dylusions Creative Journal and I love it!

Supplies: acrylic paint, collage papers, markers, liquid acrylics, pencils, pens and rubber stamps.  I used a couple of my new Mixed Media Essentials rubber art stamps being released on May 1 at Paperbag Studios.

Friday Fill-Ins...

 

And...here we go!

1. Right now I'm creating samples with my new rubber art stamps that will be available May 1.

2. The need to always have lip balm on me is my well known quirk.

3. Are you dependable?

4. Book airline tickes for Tennessee first, then wait patiently for my trip!

5. That's why I would choose ice cream over cake.

6. LOST is one of my favorite tv shows ever!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to art time with Brittany, tomorrow my plans include hosting a baby shower and Sunday, I want to visit some friends I have not seen in some time!

Join in HERE!

Adventures in DeLand, Florida...

A couple of weeks ago I met my sweet friend Carissa for lunch in DeLand, Florida.  I was happy to see so many quirky and fun shops.  DeLand is located between Daytona Beach and Orlando just off I4.  It is worth the stop for the shopping and dining options.  The city was founded in 1876, and was named for its founder, Henry Addison DeLand. DeLand is home to Stetson University, Florida's oldest private college, as well as the Museum of Florida Art.

DeLand hosts a monthly Art Walk on the fourth Friday of every month.

Here are my favorites:

ANNA BANANAS

"Anna Bananas is all about repurposed, reclaimed and recycled: the creative use of old materials to create something entirely new, different and beautiful."  This was my favorite store!  It is beautifully decorated with exposed brick, worn wood and open spaces.  Anna Bananas carries unique and reasonably priced pieces and is not to be missed! Visit them on Facebook and check out their website.

 Check out their Display Ideas board on Pinterest.  Some of these are perfect for our art/craft studios!

FUNKY TRUNK TREASURES

"Funky Trunk Treasures is primarily stocked with original art from local artists and artisans, there are handmade items and gently used items." I was so excited to see Carissa's beautiful work being featured. Visit them on their Blog and Facebook.

 

NEWFANGLED MODERN MARKET

 "Newfangled Modern Market is a Haberdashery & Industrial Goods shop. We stock Men's and Women's Apparel & Accessories Modern and Industrial Furniture and Objects."  I love the vintage retro feel of this store and they even feature the work of some amazing artists. Find them on Facebook and visit their blog HERE!

Other Fun & Delicious Places to Visit:

The Nest: Eclectic Furniture & Gifts

Pretty Little Things

Boston Coffeehouse

Santorini Greek Cuisine

The Millennia Postcards - Final

A few months ago I was asked to participate in a Millenium Postcard Swap by Tammy Garcia.  She found this wonderful idea facilitated by Tofu and after blessings were gained, she gathered several other artists and we were off on our postcard adventure. These little darlings have been touched in Texas, Sweden, New Zealand, Massachusetts, California and Florida. The final stop was with me and now they are on their way home!

Have a  blessed day!

IHanna - Pink: my contribution is the square in the top right corner.  I added a scrap from an old receipt and used acrylic paint to make a little pink circle. I added oil pastels, washi tape, a piece of doily and a little doodle with a black pen.

Natasha - Ocean: my contribution is the bottom strip. I glued down a painted piece of paper, doodled with a black pen, white pen and added white dots with acrylic paint.

Tammy - Happiness: my contribution is the bottom strip. I glued on pieces of painted text and deli papers. I added the words and doodles around them with a black pen.

Karen - Orange: my contribution is the bottom right piece of the pie.  I glued a piece of painted text paper to the base and then added small painted pieces of deli paper.

Michelle - Wonderland: my contribution is the square in the top right corner. I glued down a piece of painted paper as the base.  I stamped a doodle border and colored in with oil pastels.  I added the words and a flower rub-on to finish it off.

Me - Circles and Doodles: my contribution is the square in the top left corner. I added text paper and painted and doodled with acrylic paint and a black pen.

Tofu - Trees and Leaves: my contribution is the last strip on the right. I first glued down some painted paper and then added a vine rub-on. I cut out and glued little paper leaves to complete the vine.