My First Ever Art Canvas - Sewing Inspired

I saw Jo (JoL946 on Ustream) create a sewing themed canvas. The vintage sewing machine image is courtesy of MaryBeth, also on Ustream.

I liked Jo's version so much I decided to make one of my own.

Here it is in various stages. Started on cheap Dollarama canvas.

And yet another magazine collage - are you sick of these yet?

I am having a great time playing around with magazine photos and arting with them.

Here is one I did with just a bunch of eyes!

I used modge podge for the left page and all the magazine images wrinkled, so then I asked the gals on Ustream and while most suggested gel medium, I don't have that, so they suggested watered down white glue, which I used on the right page to the exact same results. Maybe it is just my technique - even still, I like the end result.

On the left page, I tried to blur the edges of the cut outs with gesso then paint over it - on the right I didn't bother to do that.

In case you cannot read it, the text says...Someone is always watching.

I think it is time to clean up my craft area

As mentioned before, I have been crafting and doing art a fair amount lately. That means I pull out all my supplies. Unfortunetly, my crafting space is also my cutting table - so if I want to sew something, I'm going to have to clean all this out of the way!

My mini art journal - in progress

I took a small book I had and glued every 2 pgs together then added various papers and paints to create a mini art journal. Some pages are done, some are not.

I tend to just doodle in this journal while watching others art on Ustream - so it will be an ongoing process.

Another Magazine Collage

I am having so much fun playing around with my art journal and trying out new techniques I learn from the arty gals on Ustream.

Here is a magazine collage I just finished.

I cut away the dress she was wearing and replaced it with a collage of tiny brightly coloured bits from magazines.

The Cyndi Lauper quote: On my darkest days, I wear my brightest colours. just seemed to fit.

This and That

Not too much happening this week. It really cooled down a lot - yesterday we only had a high of 15C.
We went this morning to buy J 3 long sleeved tops and a hoodie to go with his uniform - there goes another $150!

And he is growing like a weed - we had bought him size small polo shirts the first round, but now we had to buy size medium for the long sleeved tops. I just hope he doesn't grow out of the smalls too fast - he has only worn them for a few weeks!

I have been doing more art this week too - playing around in my art journal and making ATCs. I did a swap with a friend from Ustream - Marie. I can show you the ATCs I made her now that she has received them.

 The tab pulls out to read 

"Strangers are friends waiting to happen!"

Since I have been watching Ustream (I watch others do art live and learn tons of new techniques), I have been burning up my Internet bandwidth. I got an email on Monday to say I had used 90% on my monthly usage and still had 8 days to the month! I phoned them up and added another 40G for $5, but it is prorated for the month, so it only increased my current month by 10G. I have now used 72G of my allowable 75G and have a little over 2 days to go. I need to stay away from Ustream and other high bandwidth sites for a few days - oh the withdrawal symptoms are already started!

I guess I will just do more of my own art instead of watching others do art :)

J's team won their first playoff soccer game on Tuesday. Their next game is this Tuesday, if they win that, they play in the finals on Thursday. They were in 5th place but could go on to win it all!

K was away on business in Milwaukee from Sunday til Thursday night. I asked him if he brought me back anything and he said there wasn't any stores nearby, well accept for a Michael's...ACK! The things I could have got him to buy! They are so much cheaper in the states than here. Oh well - maybe next time.

MyMemories & Art Journaling

You remember my review of the MyMemories Scrapbooking software awhile back? Well I decided to try to combine the pages created using MyMemories and my new obsession, art journaling.

I first created a page using the MyMemories scrapbook software, then I printed it out - I had some trouble with the sizing and got it printed in several sizes. So I decided to go with that.

I added the prints to my art journal, did a bit of stenciling, a bit of stamping, a bit of colouring and this is what I came up with - what do you think?

 Click to enlarge

Oh and by the way, those adorable children are now 55, 56 and 57 years old :) Three of my 5 older siblings.

Don't forget if you are interested in MyMemories software, use the discount code in my right sidebar.

I will be holding a giveaway next month for a free copy of the software too!

This post is linked to Works For me Wednesdays over at We Are That Family - check it out!

Gotta get back to sketching

I haven't really done any sketching in years - I need to practice more.

I did the following in about an hour Sunday night. Not bad, just doesn't quite look like J.