New Year...New Creative Fun...Introducing Butter Bee Scraps!!

Good Morning Creatives!!

I have been away at the annual Craft and Hobby Association education and trade show and it was an AMAZING time of focusing, learning and being inspired. I will be doing a 2 part recap next week so be on the look out for that!

Also....we're moving! Well...not physically, but in cyberspace! My new website is being built as we speak and I can't wait to have a new home to share with you.

While we wait, I have an amazing new (to me) company to introduce you to.

Butterbee Scraps Artistic Treasures contacted me because a mutual friend told her that I was a mixed media person who might be a good match to work with her products. So I headed over to her online store (based out of Canada) and I was blown away by the beautiful filigree metalwork, resin flowers, ribbon and other fun embellishments. It was a no brainer to say "YES...I would LOVE to work with you!"

For my first project, I wanted to start with something simple.

This half-done portrait has been sitting on my easel for easily 2+ months and I decided to finish her up for my first project. 

Here is her finished self: 

You might be wondering...what is that paper in the background? It's a phonebook! I found an old phonebook stashed in my scrap closet (because don't we all do that?!?) and loved the texture of the paper so I figured why not?

I wanted to keep her flat and use my metals from Butterbee Scraps to give the piece weight by making her a headband.

I used the Vintage Labels Ribbon to make the band and then layered 5 different metals to make the brooch part: Bronze Metal Filigree (810-B), Bronze Metal Filigree (55c-B), Silver Flower Metal ,Filigree (168-p), Medium Mixed Gears and an octopus from the Steampunk Tibetan Charms Collections. 

Here's some more closeups!

I used mostly DecoArt Craft Acrylics and Fluid Acrylics, with a little Buttercream Acrylics (by Joann's) and Master's Touch (by Hobby Lobby.) The red Polka dot washi is from Little B LLC and my stencil is from The Crafter's Workshop (it's called "Sequin Waste Bit.) I also used some Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pens for shading in the lips and face. 

DecoArt Fluid Acrylics are great for detail work. Because they have such a high pigment content and move easily over your surface, you can outline and add details in one pass instead of multiple passes which would increase your wrist of mistakes (SCARY!) 

Next to her brooch, her eyes are my favorite. They just turned out so feminine and delicate.

It's very subtle, but there is journaling caressing her shoulder and it simply says: Be Free and Regret Nothing

It's a simple motto, but one that I am working on. Regret doesn't change your past...it simply ways you down and keeps you from you true future.

I hope you will remember that as we go into 2016 and find freedom in every step you take.

Until Next time...

XOXO,

Keri Sallee

P.S. For more from Monique (owner and amazing designer of Butter Bee Scraps) on this project and more, head on over to her blog: Butter Bee Scraps. Leave her some LOVE!! 

DecoArt Mixed Media Haunts Challenge

Hello Creatives!!

I am BEYOND excited to share this project with you today!

As you know, I have been a little (or a lot!) obsessed with Sugar Skulls lately. So when I saw that DecoArt Media was having a design challenge for Halloween, I knew I wanted to stretch myself and do something that is COMPLETELY out of the box for me...a 3-D SUGAR SKULL!

I searched high and low for the perfect surface and I found this skull at our newly opened JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store. It is made of Styrofoam and I thought was creepily perfect!

We became very good friends....

Ready to see his transformation?

To make my roses, I used the 6x6 "Cabbage Rose" Stencil from The Crafter's Workshop. {see the end of the post for a complete supply list!}

I wanted to keep my pink roses the highlight of this project, so I kept my other details simple with flourishes and dots painted with various DecoArt paints.

I added some Junque and Gem stones from Marion Smith Designs to finish it up with a little bling

What is is about sugar skulls that are the perfect combination of creepy and beautiful?

I hope you enjoyed seeing my project as much as I enjoyed making it.

What about you? Have you tried something new? Maybe a product you've been scared of? Maybe taking your art off a canvas or out of a book and trying something fun and 3-D? Or maybe...you must need to START?

No matter where you are...You CAN DO IT!! 

Just try. 

One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, has a quote that I love: 

So go and DO something...mistakes and all. :)

Until next time...

Keri

P.S. Shameless plug....PICK ME ANDY SKINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

P.S.S. Supply list as promised: 

DecoArt Materials

DecoArt Media

Fluid Acrylics: Carbon Black, Titanium White, Interference (Gold)

Gesso 

Modeling Paste 

Dazzling Metallics

Peacock Pearl 

Rick Espresso 

Festive Green

Crystal Green 

Americana 3D Gloss Enamels

Transparent Glass Writer: Black & Yellow

Americana Acrylic Paint 

Electric Pink

Purple Pizzazz

Citron Green

Other Materials

Styrofoam Skull-Joann Art and Craft Stores

TCW514S "Cabbage Rose" Stencil-The Crafter's Workshop

Junque & Gem Stones-Marion Smith Designs

Graphic Structure Paste-Daler Rowney

Gratitude Junk Journal Workshop-Sneak Peek Video

Hello Creatives!

Have you had a chance to check out the Gratitude Junk Journal Workshop?

You can check out more information and register here!
Gratitude Junk Journal

I wanted to give you a sneak peek into my class and my heart behind it, so I made this "trailer" for you all!

Register fast and you could win some amazing prizes!

Check out my original post for more information:
Gratitude Junk Journal Blog Hop

Hope to see you there!!

XOXO,
KERI

Tuts on Tuesday...on Wednesday?

Hello Lifers!!

Guess where I am?! I am sitting at LAX waiting to board a plane for...HAWAII!!

For Real! 

My hubby had to go on an emergency 2 week business trip there (he buys seafood...long story) and after he had been gone a few days, he was like "Wouldn't it be great if you could join me?" So only by the grace of God and Him working out a TRUCKLOAD of miracles, my mom and his mom were able to tag team our kiddos so that I could go to Hawaii with him until Sunday!

Woo Hoo!

Because of that...Tuesday tutorials are a day late, but I'm not gonna leave you hangin'!

This past weekend, I was working on a mini album project and got to play with one of my FAVORITE 2 tool: Modeling Paste and Crafter's Workshop's 12 x 12 Brick Stencil.

If you're not familiar with it, modeling paste is a white substance that is the consistency of canned frosting and when it dries, it stays 3D. You can smooth it out or leave it bumpy and you can mix it with acrylic paint to change the color (and by some voodoo magic...it doesn't change the color of your acrylic! Weird, I know.)

Here's a close up of what we will learn today 

(I will reveal the FULL project at a later date.)

This is the cover of a mini-album, but you can use the technique on canvas, burlap or even just a heavy weight paper. 

Supplies You'll Need to Duplicate this (feel free to substitute for you own needs!)

Modeling Paste 

(I used Liquitex I bought in the Art Section at Hobby Lobby)

Medium and Dark Brown Acrylic Paint

Rust Red Acrylic Paint

Tattered Angels Glaze in Saffron

Brick Stencil (again..mine is by Crafter's Workshop)

Ready? Here we go!

·       We are going to start adding some texture by mixing some light brown acrylic paint with our modeling paste and light scrapping or painting through the brick stencil.

o   You want your modeling paste/paint mixture about the consistency of canned frosting.

o   Start with a small amount..a little goes a long way and it doesn’t store well for future use.

·        Start from the top of your project and work down. Take caution when you lift up your stencil that you don’t damage you hard work!

·        If you are in a hurry, grab your heat tool and speed the drying time up!

·        Once it’s dry, let’s add a little dimension. Grab your rust red and darker brown. Using your fingertips,  lightly rub your bricks first with the red, then with the brown.

·        To add shimmer and more texture, grab your Tattered Angels glaze and your heat gun. (Make sure to shake up your glaze well!)

o   Lightly swipe your glaze over your bricks.

o   While it is still wet, hit it with your heat gun. Because of the acrylic base, the paint will bubble up and once it’s cooled, will be permanent

.

(Do as I say…not as I did! LOL! I decided-obviously-after I had done the next step...hence the blue! LOL)

There you go! You now have an easy and fun new technique in your creative toolbox!

Until next time my friends...remember...CHOOSE to make your ART intentional...not an after thought.

XOXO,

KERI

What's Your One Little Word for 2013?

New Year...New Me...

Well...it's been a while since I've been here, but that is all about to change!!

This year, I am participating with a lot of you in ONE LITTLE WORD!

I have decided that 2013 is going to be my year to rise above fears of failure and pursue...with passion...NEW things.

My first NEW thing for 2013 is....

I am VERY excited to announce that I will be launching my own teaching company called The Creative Life Studios!

You can contact me at thecreativelifestudios@gmail.com to schedule me in your studio or store!!

I am excited to be constantly trying new techniques, tricks and projects that I will share here on The Creative Life Blog.

More details to come from the Studio...until then my friends...get caught being creative!!