Roben-Marie Smith
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Roben-Marie Smith
Mixed Media Artist, Designer and Instructor

Altered File Folder Video Tutorial...

UPDATE: Paperbag Studios stamps and Art Pops™ are no longer available, but many things can be substitued to make this project!
Get creative and have fun!
AFFFullsm.jpg

Art Pops™ used in tutorial: Lo's Serendipity Art Pops™ Cards and Huckleberry Holiday Art Pops™ Cards.

tutorialsRoben-Marie SmithJanuary 27, 2014art pops, file folders, mixed media, robenmarie, sewing, tutorialComment
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The Documented Life Project Weekly Pages...

Roben-Marie SmithJanuary 30, 2014arttothe5th, calendar, journal, moleskine, moleskine planner, robenmarie, the documented life project
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The Documented Life Project - 1/25 (Week Five)...

Roben-Marie SmithJanuary 25, 2014robenmarie, the documented life project
 

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Over the last couple of post, I've been sharing some of my favorite tips for finding and making your own creative supplies, but there are times when you will need to buy items for your stash. Don't worry, there are ways to do this even if you're on a super strict budget.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My top tips for shopping smart:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Shop at big chain stores, and rummage through the discount bins.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Coupons are your friend.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Explore thrift stores and flea markets.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Look online - you can often find heavy discounts on craft supplies there.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you really want to try a fancy new supply, buy one or two of your favorite colors to experiment with first. You can always add to the collection later.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don't fall into the trap of feeling you need the fanciest new paint color or pencil tin before you start making art. I don't always mind that advice...it is hard when we get excited about art supplies, right!?😂
Yesterday, I sent you on a treasure hunt around your home, looking for bits and pieces you could incorporate into your creative stash. Today I'd like to share another of my favorite tips for creating on a budget:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Make your own art supplies:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Spray ink: Grab yourself an empty spray bottle and dilute ink, liquid watercolor, or craft paint. You can then use these to create fun, colorful backgrounds to work on.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Stamps: Carve intricate designs into wood, erasers and rubber, or snip shapes from fun foam to create simple handmade stamps. These work really well when dipped into craft paint - but don’t forget to wash them afterwards!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Stencils: Grab a craft knife and cut designs into pieces of card stock or acetate, then spray using your DIY spray inks.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Embellishments: Doodle onto scraps of interesting paper, or print using your handmade stamps, then cut around your shapes, these can then be added to your mixed media creations as embellishments.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Do you feel like you're missing an important craft supply? Yes? How could you make your own?
I talk to a lot of artists, both online and in-person. Some are artists who see mixed media as a fun creative hobby, some are artists that use their creativity to make a living. Both camps of artists talk about the very same struggle… ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Blank page paralysis. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ That “oh no, what do I do?” feeling that hits, as soon as they turn a page and see a beautiful, blank sheet of paper. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ No matter how experienced you are, occasionally you will have that worry. But it’s okay, I have a handful of tips to help you jumpstart your journal pages. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ TIPS: •Scribble words across your page. These could be your thoughts, or your favorite song lyrics, or even your shopping list - it doesn’t matter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Add random splotches of watercolor to your page, and let the different shades bled into each other. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Place a stencil or two onto your page and spritz with your favorite spray ink. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Grab a glue stick and paste down a handful of paper scraps -- one of my favorites. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ •Layer some papers together, stitch and adhere to the pages. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Have fun!
Don't let lack of experience and lack of knowledge hinder you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Everyone starts at a point where they have less knowledge and less experience. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There's still going to be times when you're going to say, I still don't have enough. That's the fear talking to you saying you don't have enough experience and you don't have enough knowledge. Don't let those thoughts hold you back.
I used a few repurposed art bits on this little page in my mini Salvaged journal. Having a stash of painted papers makes creating a breeze!