Digi IPad Art Journaling...

After being introduced to Paper by 53 and ArtRage by my friends Kira and Carissa, I decided it was time to give it a try.  This page was done in ArtRage.  I like the application but there is a lot of things to learn.  You can add layers and there are tons of settings for the many tools that come with it.  I curled up on the couch and watched the NFL championship games yesterday while I fiddled with it.  I need a lot of practice and a better sylus.

Have a  blessed day!

Inspirational Door Hanger Tutorial...

I found some chip board journals at Michaels the other day in their 50 cent bin.  I rummaged around and found quite a few nice shapes and decided each piece could be altered into pretty door hangers. Have fun creating your own!

Have a  blessed day!

 Materials:

-Chip board journals (Michaels)
-Fabric strips
-Washi tape
-Glue stick, scissors, sewing machine and 1/4" hole punch
-Computer generated quote or phrase
-Muslin fabric or duck cloth
-Book paper
-Buttons
-Gel medium or glue dots
-Black pen

Instructions:

1. Use hole punch to add a second hole to the chip board shape. Doodle around the edges with a black pen.

2. Trim a piece of muslin or duck cloth to fit your base. Stitch your phrase/quote to old book paper and stitch to fabric base.

3. Tear a strip of fabric and run it through the sewing machine, creating pleats as you stitch.

4. Cut your fabric strip so you have two pieces.  Stitch them to your fabric base above and below your phrase/quote.

5. Using a glue stick, adhere your fabric piece to the chip board base.

6. Tear another strip of fabric and pull through the holes in chip board from back to front and tie each end in a knot.

7. Attach a variety of washi tape pieces to the top of the chip board base.

8. Using gel medium or glue dots, adhere a few buttons.

These pretties are being mailed out soon and I couldn't bear to send them in plain envelopes so I stitched up some inky papers to create artsy envelopes and now I am happy!

Friday Fill-Ins...

And...here we go!

1. I love the feeling of waking up well before I have to get up in the morning and going back to sleep.

2. Seeing Madame Chanel Meriwether Shake Your Take Feather Morgan* always brightens my day.

3. The mission trip I took to Romania with Brittany is what I will remember the most from 2012.

4. My favorite family recipe is my granda Grace's homemade mac n' cheese but my mom's holiday cream cheese dip takes second place!

5. When I want to spoil myself I have to get a facial.

6. LOST (old) and GRIMM (current) are my favorite TV shows.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to alone time in the studio so I can finish that painting I started, tomorrow my plans include a P90x workout to jump start my day and Sunday, I want to watch the NFL championship games...go Patriots and 49ers!

Play along HERE!

*Chanel is my friend's sweet little Tea Cup Yorkie.

Art Journal Love - Don't Look Back...

Art Journal Peek...

21 Secrets 2013 Registration is Now Open...

The New 21 Secrets is now open for registration! 

So, what will I be teaching?

Baby Got Back-to-Back

Together we will create a playful art journal project using my step-by step method layering paint, ink, stencils, doodles, stamps and more. THEN we will turn that layered yummy goodness into a stitched and bound dos-à-dos (back to back) style mini album perfect for yourself or gifting. You will find yourself returning "back" to these techniques again and again in your creative play. Crank up the music and join me for Baby Got Back-to-Back!

Click here to view more details and to see the list of instructors, workshop descriptions and to register! There are so many wonderful instructors and I am so thrilled to be a part of this group!

MY LINK!

Collage-tastic Calendar Tag Project...

The other day I featured an idea for using old calendars to create easy stitched cards.  Today, Stampington is featuring another idea on their blog for a collaged tag I created. Pop on over and take a look HERE for the step-by-step directions!

Have a  blessed day!

Calendar credit: Wendy Brightbill

Update on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 10:12AM by Roben-Marie Smith

I used a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" tag for this project.  I am pretty sure I bought these from American Tag Company.

Art Journal Love - PERSPECTIVE...

December Instagram in review...

Upcycled Calendar Cards...

Looking for a way to upcycle those old calendars?  Here is a super quick and easy to way to turn them into pretty cards.

Supplies:

Old calendar (I used one made by Wendy Brightbill.)
Washi  tape
Text paper from an old book
Glue stick
Sewing machine
Card stock and envelopes
Lace scraps
Assorted paper punches

Using a glue stick, adhere pieces from an old book to the front of the card and flap of the envelope.

Punch assorted shapes from the calendar.

Glue assorted shapes to the card and envelope.

Add pieces of assorted washi tape.

Add a scrap or two of lace with a glue stick.

For a finishing touch, add decorative stitching.

Friday Fill-Ins...

And...here we go!

1. Let me sleep in and I am happy.
2. If you know of someone who is going through a difficult time, send them a note of encouragement.
3. Listen here: you are special and very much appreciated.
4. Earning money through Shopkick...that's what I'm talking about!
5. When I was younger, I thought I would either become a marine biologist or a writer.
6. I need to relax more and laugh!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a Lost marathon of season three, tomorrow my plans include meeting a friend for coffee and Sunday, I want to rest and relax!

Introducing The 1:2 Project...

I am so excited to announce a new project that I am launching in 2013 called The 1:2 Project. I believe we all have God given gifts and talents and through the years I have looked for opportunities to bless others with mine. As many of you know, I closed my Art Goods Shop last October to follow my heart and focus on my passion.  This decision was made following a summer mission trip to Romania.  While I can't travel throughout the year in that capacity, I have found a way to encourage and bless the lives of others in a different way. The 1:2 Project merges my love of creating and my desire to reach and touch the lives of people I do not know. It is the simple concept of showing kindness "one to another." 

So, how does it work? 

Do you know someone who could use a little encouragement, a note to lift their spirits or a handmade piece of mail art that might bring them some joy?  During the first week of each month I will post to my blog, requesting nominations for people you would like added to The 1:2 Project for that month.  I will randomly make selections each month and those individuals will receive a little something from me. It is that simple!  Here are the details:

How Do I Make a Nomination?

Send your nominations to The 1:2 Project! 

Nominations will not be accepted via blog comments. Please include the following information only when sending me your e-mail:

1. A short description of why you feel this person would be a good candidate.

2. The first name of this person.

3. Your name and e-mail address.

When Can I Make a Nomination?

Nominations will be accepted between the 3rd and 7th of each month. I will post to my blog on the 3rd of each month as a reminder.

Who is Eligible?

The project is open to anyone you would like to nominate. There are no restrictions on where this person lives.

Will They Know I Nominated Them for the Project?

I do not plan to include that information.  In fact, I have created mini cards with The 1:2 Project logo that will be included in the package but no other information will be provided. I want to keep this as anonymous as possible.

Will You Let Me Know if My Nomination is Selected?

Yes, I will let you know.  Once selections are made, I will contact you for the mailing address of the person you nominated.  Please do not provide their address in your nomination e-mail to me. Thanks!

What Will You Send to My Friend or Family Member?

This will vary based on what type of art I am creating during the month.

Update on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 6:06PM by Roben-Marie Smith

Please note: I have been receiving nominations but they are not being sent to the correct e-mail address.  Please send them via The 1:2 Project.  Thanks!

Art Journals in Review - 2012

1. REACHING art journal page, 2. Art Journal Page - WHISPER, 3. Art Journal Page - Spaced, 4. WHEN art journal page, 5. PERSNICKETY art journal page, 6. Walking Through art journal page, 7. ADJUSTING art journal page, 8. RHAPSODY art journal page, 9. Art Journal Love, 10. Art Journal Page, 11. Untitled, 12. HAPPY DAY art journal page, 13. FORWARD art journaling page, 14. Just Right For Her Art Journal Page, 15. Bliss Journal Page, 16. Untitled, 17. "Favorites" Art Journal Page, 18. KICKS art journal page, 19. Fascination art journal page, 20. WANTED art journal page, 21. LITTLE art journal page, 22. HAPPY DIRECTIONS art journal page, 23. SO FOR NOW art journal page, 24. Weird Day, Weird Flowers art journal page, 25. Art Journal Page - 13, 26. Art Journal Peek, 27. ARTIST art journal page, 28. Focused art journal page

Blog Rewind - Time of Refreshing...

Originally blogged on May 28, 2007.

I've had some time lately to spend working in my art room.  I discovered that I work best when I can either watch or listen to the television.  I prefer a good movie, so I set up my lap top and added some speakers and bingo...I have a theater.  Okay, maybe not a real theater, but it works for me!  We have had a little rain over the weekend and that was nice.  I can see the canal in the backyard from my window and I like it when it rains and it is a little dark while I work.  Rain is refreshing and it feeds the earth and stimulates life. I love to watch it as it drops and meets the water and sends ripples across the canal.

John Ruskin wrote that "Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

Hope you are enjoying times of refreshing!

Have a  blessed day!

Friday Fill-Ins...

And...here we go!

1. They've told me that I should open my own restaurant...what?
2. I have been sucked in and now I am going to finally watch LOST.
3. What is up with this weird weather we've been having?
4. January brings new episodes of my favorite tv shows.
5. Eyes are extra sensitive to light when you wear contact lenses.
6. I just discovered Sister Schubert's Dinner Yeast Rolls; ut oh I am in trouble.*
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning my studio, tomorrow my plans include finally putting my goals for 2013 onto paper and Sunday, I want to watch some football and relax!

*They taste like a cross between a roll and a biscuit!