Though She Be Little....

As I sit here typing this, I am sitting in my sister's hospital room. She is quietly snoring in the bed beside my chair, finally able to catch rest for her mind and body after the whirlwind that has been the last 4 days. 

At 30 weeks pregnant, she went in 4 days ago for a standard pregnancy  glucose test. Less than an hour later she was admitted to the Labor and Delivery ward because her blood pressure was so high. Three days of tests and ups and downs happened...until yesterday morning when the doctor, in a God Inspired moment, decided to do an ultrasound. 

That decision saved my nieces life...and possibly my sister's. She had what is know as placenta previa and was bleeding internally. From ultrasound to OR to emergency c-section birth...my niece, Scarlet Rose, was born in less than 15 minutes...10 weeks early, weighing 2lb 9oz and being 15in in length. 

During my 7 hour drive from my home in Arkansas to her's in Missouri, I just kept thinking "She's a fighter." And the Skakespeare quote from A Midsummer Night's Dream stuck with me "Though she be small, she is fierce." 

When I made it to Missouri at 1:15 this morning, it was too late for visiting hours (or too early...depending on how you looked at it) and I had had so much caffeine that I couldn't sleep even if I tried. 

So...I dug out some of the meager art supplies I had brought with me and made something for my sister. 

The scripture across the side is Ephesians 2:10"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." 

Yes...Scarlet is small, but she was crafted by the very hand of God to do amazing things. 

Here's a few of the steps I used to make this piece: 

(1) I created by background with Tim Holtz Distress Paints 

(2) Using a Scribe All black pencil, I free handed some feather shapes on my dried background.  

(3) I filled in my feathers with a layer of gesso. 

(4) using my Neocolor Watersoluable Wax pastels, I added blues and purples to my feathers and a little gray around the outside of them. 

(5) Since I didn't bring any kind of letter stickers or scissors to cut journaling strips, I used my gesso to make an area to out my quote. 

(6) using a Micron Pen, I added my quote and the scripture on the side. I finished the project by adding my paint colors around my journaling and flicking the whole project with black Neocolor, heavily watered down. {sorry...so pic of this step!}

though she be small...she is fierce. 

She comes from a strong mama...she will be just fine. 

Here is her first photo: 

  

Prayers...good vibes...positive thoughts. She could use the all. 

Until next time friends...xoxo. 

Keri 

Hello Friends!

Did you miss me? I took the summer to just be with my kiddos before they all went off to school again (including my littlest starting kindergarten...how did that happen?!)

Today, I want to share with you my latest piece for The Crafter's Workshop.

Have you heard of Bible Journaling? It is a rising area of art journaling where you actually journal in the margins of your bible. It can be scriptures, thoughts or just drawings. Whatever you feel like.

Recently, I felt called to spend some more time with some recent sermon notes from my church, Keypoint Church in Bentonville, AR. 

My pastor has been speaking on the name of God and that day he was speaking on the Jehovah Raah (pronounced Ra-Ha) which is "Shepherd,' using Psalm 23 as his text: 

Here is my journaling pages: 

This particular passage came up many times around me before I did this journaling piece. It caused me to think this...I posted this on Facebook around the time I did this:  

Why does Psalm 23 keep popping up? 

Today I was finishing journaling my sermon notes from Pastor Casey​'s sermon this past Sunday (which I don't normally do.) I had some space at the end and I just asked the question in writing "Why has Psalm 23 appeared to me 3xs in the Last week?" And then I continued to just write as thoughts came... " What am I to learn from this? Why this passage? Do I understand that it's OK to be a sheep and follow a shepherd?" 

BOOM. 

There it is. This is why this chapter keeps coming up. 

Yes...I believe in salvation and heaven and hell, but am I actually allowing myself to be LED or am I just going through the motions? I am a very independent person...I've always had to be so the idea of "following" or giving up control or even asking for help is not in my typical nature. 

BUT...why am I fighting the Shepherd when all he had for me is good? Am I holding that tight to my pride and my need to be in control that I would truly give up all the GOOD he has for me just to be able to say "I did it on my own." 

Why am I so scared to be a sheep? Things to ponder.

It's still something I am pondering. 

I would love to know your thoughts.

XOXO,

KERI Sallee

P.S. To learn more about the crafty side of this Bible Journaling project, check out The Crafter's Workshop Blog: Bible Journaling with Stencils

Farewell to Graphic 45!!

Hello Lifers!

I have had an AMAZING year being part of the Graphic 45 Design Team over the last year.

However...all good things come to an end.  

Check out my Farewell Post on the Graphic 45 Blog!!

Fond Farewell to Keri Sallee

You can also find a Snapguide for a this quick and easy gift project: 

XOXO

KERI Sallee

Creating in Faith with The Crafter's Workshop

Hello Lifers!

Today, I am up on The Crafter's Workshop blog with a project that is very special to me.

Recently, there has been a worship song that has spoken to me greatly. Have you ever had that happen? The words of a song (worship song or otherwise) just roles around in your head and not just because it has a catchy hook or great beat, but because the WORDS say something more than merely pen on paper can describe.

Here is a beautiful version of it sung by one of my worship SHE-ros, Darlene Zschech.

I wanted to share a little of the faith-based thoughts behind the art.

First, let's start with the obvious:

(1) The words I chose are from the bridge of the song "From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the Center." The word JESUS is placed directly in the center of the heart AND the canvas, reinforcing the idea of Jesus being the center. 

(2) The rays radiate out of the word JESUS showcasing the love of Christ that should be radiating from OUR hearts if JESUS is truly the center.

(3) The heart is at the center of the canvas and instead of cutting out a perfect heart with my die-cut machine, I chose to cut one out by hand, showing how it's NOT about having a perfect heart...it's about Christ being the enter of our IMPERFECT heart.

Now for a few less obvious thoughts:

(1) The colors of paint here chosen very specially: 

My background is a light wash of blues and greens and whites symbolizing water and earth and the physical plain on which we live.

The colors that my heart rests on purple, blue, red and white. Each has deeply symbolic Biblical meaning: 

BLUE: Is associated with coverings (like in the Tabernacle of the OT) and other heavenly coverings. This is symbolic of Christ being the covering and protection of our heart. It is also associated with water and used in conduction with the Holy Spirit.

RED: Is associated with 2 things: SIN and Christ's payment of sin by his BLOOD. I wanted to use it because both are so important in a life of faith. SIN lives in the world because we are humans in a fallen world, but we are not a slave to SIN (Romans 6:18) because of the BLOOD of Christ.

PURPLE: Like blue, purple is associated with coverings...more specifically used in association with robes of righteousness. Job 29:14 says "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban." 

WHITE: White is most easily associated with purity, but it is also used heavily in the book of Revelation as a symbol victory in the end. The champion in revelation comes on a white horse (Revelatin 6:2, 19:11), while the heavenly armies come "clothed in fine linen, white and clean..following Him on white horses." 

(2) Hidden Words 

All throughout the background there words hidden with the painting. Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your word in my heart..." 

(3) Sparks of HOPE within the chaos and never-ending love.

All throughout out the piece, I used a "tiny circle" stencil with silver texture paste. To me this shows the little sparks of hope that are always peaking throughout the chaos of our lives or in this case, the chaos that some people see as the background of my painting. The same goes for the sparks of yellow...hope in the midst of the chaos.

You'll also see numerous circles...some are broken...like some relationships...but one is completely whole, symbolizing the relationship with Christ that will never be broken. 

I hope you will take time to look at my painting with new eyes and maybe you will even discover something within it that speaks to you in a new and different way.

For more information on the "creative" side and more pictures of this painting, check out The Crafter's Workshop Blog: 

Expressing Your Faith through Mixed Media

Until next time creatives, 

XOXO,

KERI 

CHA Paper Arts+ Blog Hop

Hello Lifers!

Today, I am SUPER excited to bring you something a little different.

A few weeks ago I was asked by the Designer Council for CHA (The Craft and Hobby Association) to participate in a HUGE blog hop with some fellow designers and companies. 

Of course I said yes!!

AND then I found out...it gets even COOLER! You have a chance to win a serious prize just by "hopping" along! {more info on that in a bit!}

For my project, I got to work with a great company called Art Impressions. They make adorable stamps and coordinating dies and are always coming out with something to "shake" things up!

One of their new and innovative products is what they call their "spinners." This brilliant product allows you to add fun movement to you cards and projects.

When they were first introduced, Kate Swanson from Art Impressions made this little video for Scrapbook Expo.

Being more of an altered art person, I wanted to take their spinners out of a card setting and into something more 3-D, so I decided to use a black Graphic 45 Window Shadow Box to make my project fun and interactive. 

I was able to use the "Frosting Spinner" Stamp and coordinating Die, so I wanted to do something fun and bright to match my cute little mouse.

He was stamped on watercolor paper using Ranger's Archival Ink in Black, colored with Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens and cut by lining up the die with my stamped image and running it through my Sizzix Big Shot. SUPER EASY!!

Here is him facing forward: 

And here he is when you spin him around: 

I made a quick little video just to show the interactive features of my project: 

Art Impressions also sent me their "Cupcake BFF" stamp, so I knew she had to be my little mouse's best friend at his party: 

She was stamped on Watercolor paper, colored with Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens and hand cut out.

Want see more? Here are a few close-ups!!

Carta Bella's "It's a Celebration" was a PERFECT collection to host a party for my little cupcake mouse!

NOW...on to the giveaway!!!

WIN $500!

Follow the CHA Paper Arts+ Blog Hop all week on the CHA Blog for updates on new designer blog posts and projects. There will be a “password” at the end of each designer blog post. Make sure you keep track of all of the “passwords.” At the end of the hop you’ll need to use the “passwords” to form a phrase.

The first two people to tweet CHA @Craftandhobby the correct phrase will win:

1st Prize: $500 toward travel to the Paper Arts+ Show (trade only)

2nd Prize: $25 AMEX gift card

MY PASSWORD: YOU

Don’t forget, registration is now open for the CHA Paper Arts+ Show in Chicagoland where you’ll see, touch and learn about product, like the ### that was donated for this Blog Hop by ####.  Paper Arts+ is A CRAFT FUSION experience with exhibits offering everything from paper to jewelry to mixed media materials.  The industry will be there looking for fourth quarter trends and new product SKUs. Members attend for FREE! For more information and to register, visit www.craftandhobby.org/paperarts.

XOXO, 

KERI 

Art Journaling with The Crafter's Workshop!

Hello Lifers!

Today, I am sharing an Art Journal Piece on The Crafter's Workshop blog where I use 3 stencils from 3 different designers to make one harmonious piece!

Here's a sneaky peaky!

For more pics and full details, check it out here: 

"Hindsight" Art Journal

XOXO,

KERI

What's been going on at Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft (C) ?

Playing a little catch up again!

I'm not sure if I announced it here, but I was accepted as a Guest Designer for Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft (C)---YAY!

So far I have had the opportunity to make 3 posts for them.

My first was on February 15th and featured an art journal piece:

Check out more here: "See the World"

My second was on March 5th and featured an art journaling card: 

Check out more here: "Just Be You"

Lastly, I posted a little something new on April 3rd. I am working on my face drawing, so I wanted to pair that with the new medium of Aquarelle Watercolor Pencils. Still working on both, but here is what I came up with: 

You can see "in progress" pics and read more details here: "Time Fuels Passion"

So there you go...that's what's been going at Faber Castell! I have 4 more posts as a guest designer, so I am excited to play and challenge myself even more!

XOXO,

KERI