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

What's been going on at The Crafter's Workshop?

Hello Creatives!

Playing a little catchup on the blog today.

Keepin' it real...I would much rather be making fun stuff that writing about it...BUT...if I made it but never shared it, then how would you ever see it!? LOL. It's a total Catch 22. 

My last 2 posts for The Crafter's Workshop have been a lot of fun to make.

First...there was an art journal piece:

For more pics and details, check out the original post: "Cathedral of LOVE"

My most recent post is one I am particularly proud of. I wanted to do a piece that was out of my normal "style", so I make this canvas that was not only bigger than my normal style (this one is 16x20), but also has no paper, stamps or stickers. It is all just acrylic paints, inks and stencils.

For more pics and details, check out my post here: Going BIG with Mixed Media

I hope you take time to check out these projects! And if you have time...leave me a comment or two!

Today, I will be leaving to head to The Crafter's Workshop Headquarters with some of my fellow DT members to spend 2 days in Stencil U...learning new techniques and just having a lot of messy, creative fun. I can't wait to share what I learn!

XOXO,

KERI

"Once Upon a Springtime" with Graphic 45

Hello Creatives!

Just a quick share today!

On the Graphic 45, I am so excited to be sharing a tag I made using the newly rereleased "Once Upon a Springtime" Collection from Graphic 45. It was featured in the G45 Booth at CHA 2015 in Ahaheim, CA.

Here's a little sneak peek:

For more pics, details and more amazing Springtime projects, check out:

Embrace Spring on the Graphic 45 Blog!

XOXO,

KERI

Round 2!! Graphic 45 Design Team Call

I was so excited (and honestly...a little relieved! LOL!) to see my name on the Top 25 for the Graphic 45 Design Team Call.

I made it through Round 1...{insert big sigh of relief and big girly SQUEL!!}

For round 2, we had to do a video with either a tutorial or a video showcasing 3 of our favorite projects.

I decided to do a tutorial video because I had a new technique I wanted to share and I thought this was the perfect opportunity!

Here is my video for how to make a mini album from just 3 sheets of paper...there's also a little message from me to you!

Enjoy!!

XOXO,
KERI