DIY Adult Coloring Book Pages

Hello Creatives!

Have you jumped on the coloring book bandwagon?

Today on The Crafter's Workshop, I show you how to take your coloring book pages to another level by making your own!

Here's a sneak peek: 

Head on over to The Crafter's Workshop blog for full details!!

DIY Adult Coloring Books-The Crafter's Workshop

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 

DIY Art Journal and getting un-"Stuck"

Hello Lifers!

How are things going? Are you doing OK?

Recently, I had the the cool opportunity to mix two of my favorite things: my faith and my art.

I am doing a bible study called "Stuck" by Jennie Allen with a group of ladies at my church. We are in week 2 and in both the weeks we've done, there have been opportunities to "draw" something. However...both times...the space to draw is so itty-bitty...I could not even function. LOL 

So I decided to make my own "art journal" specifically for these 8 week study.

Here is what I came up with: 

Here's a quick step-by-step of what I did:

(1) I started with 3 plain manilla folders. I punched 5 holes in the spine with a paper piecer and then used a pamphlet stitch with nylon string to secure them together. The pamphlet stitch is super easy and useful.

(2) Add a layer of tulle and a few pieces of lace using matte gel medium.

(3) Add more embellishments and letters for your title. 

(4) Cover everything with a layer of gesso. If needed to fully cover, add a second coat. 

(5) Choose your favorite colors of spray ink.

I chose:

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist: Monster Mash, Festive and Mallard

Heidi Swapp Color Shine: Chartruese and Primrose

Apply in light layers, one color at a time. I used all three of my Glimmer Mists, dried them and then added the darker tones on top of them to add depth.

I also splattered my Primrose Color Shine and my Mallard Glimmer Mist by unscrewing the lid and using the tube to flick the paint. 

(6) For finishing touches I:

* added some Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Texture Accents in Pearl

* TCW "Hexagon" stencil with brown acrylic paint

*Outlined my 3-D elements with Black and White Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens

I hope you enjoyed today's project and I can't wait to share more as I fill it!

XOXO,

KERI

Supply List:

Manilla Folders-Walmart

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist-Mallard, Monster Mash and Festive

Heidi Swapp Color Shine-Primrose & Chartreuse

Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens-Black & White

Brown Acrylic Paint-Plaid

Tulle, Nylon String & Lace-Hobby Lobby

Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Texture Accents-Pearl

The Crafter's Workshop-Hexagon Stencil 

Embellishments-Prima Marketing, Jolee's, Studio Calico, 7 Gypsies

Stamps-Misc