Smile Carry Tote

Hi every one, I am getting ready for a trip to Charleston, SC with a group of my friends next month. One of my good sketching buddies is going with me and we plan to take advantage of the scenery down there and do some plein air water coloring. Knowing I will be lugging my camera, purse and art supplies around with me ( and the odd thing I might buy ) I knew I would need to bring my big canvas bag...but it's ugly! So what's a girl to do?

Re-vamp it of course!!

Seriously, doesn't this Smile Carry Tote just look fun and happy now?

Here it is with it's not so interesting advertising on the front which I covered up with gesso. After the gesso dried I covered it with layers of DecoArts Multi-Surface Acrylic paints until I got the background that I wanted using an old hotel key card to scrape the paint on with.

Next, I sketched out my design on a piece of paper and then painted the design on with gesso. I originally intended the bird to be standing on his head, but I guess he got tired and decided to sit on the cow's head instead!

Then the fun stuff, like painting in the image and using tons of stencils to create the doodled borders of the tote. I also added some fun felt and buttons to the eyes of both the cow and the bird. The stamped sentiment is just the perfect touch and it just makes me...well...smile!

I think one of my favorite parts is the whimsical bird with his stenciled feathers.

But my most favorite part of this project is that I up-cycled an old canvas bag and used my art to create a big smile!

What can you create that makes you smile?

Sandee

waving hi from the hills of North Carolina

stencils used:

TCW474 Hand Drawn Frames

TCW 2044 Pods Fragments

TCW389 Fancy Feathers

TCW202 Harlequin

Susan's Live in Color stencil

stamps:

Insta-Cute stamp set - ( smile )

paint:

Deco Arts Multi Surface acrylics and gesso

Deco Art Glass Paint pen

other:

Ranger Liquid Pearls

Bookmark it and give it away!

I love to make bookmarks and then tuck them away into a book that I checked out from the library and give the next reader a little surprise. I discovered this idea called Art Abandonment in a group over on Face Book. You can attach a little note if you want and that person may even contact you to let you know they got it! 

The bookmarks are very easy to make, I make mine from a 3" wide strip that I simply fold in ½ and secure with my Helmar's 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

The next step was decorating the bookmark by using the Live in Color Stencil, I colored the numbers in with my PITT pen by Faber Castell, placing each number inside the film strip rectangle frame. Then I doodled over them for just a little added interest and fun.

On the back of each bookmark I stamped the sentiment from the Insta-Cute set, it fit in rather nicely with my book that I checked out, The Tao of Pooh. :)

If you borrow a book from a friend, make one and slide it in as a little thank you gift, they will love it.

waving hi from the hills of North Carolina,
sandee - Design Team member

Live in Color stencil

Insta Cute stamps set

Live in Color paper

Teacher Gift Bag

Hi! Dana Tatar here today sharing my first project as a Susan K. Weckesser designer. My daughters finish up their last couple days of school next week and are absolutely thrilled to start their Summer vacation. I created small gift bags for their teachers, who deserve a big thank you for all their hard work this year.

The colorful alphabet design on the Susan K. Weckesser Live, Love, Create Patterned Paper was absolutely perfect for this project! This gift bag measures 11cm x 8cm x 3 cm, which means I was able to create 2 gift bags with one sheet of 12x12 inch paper! (I used a gift bag template that I found here.) Susan K. Weckesser patterned papers are printed on a heavy cardstock weight paper, making them perfect for off-the-page projects. This gift bag is stronger (and cuter) than its store-bough counterparts.

I highlighted the colored letters on the patterned paper with a black marker for added interest. I then cut a tag from the Susan K. Weckesser Live in Color Tags Patterned Paper, added a stamped sentiment using the Insta-Cute Stamp Set and tied it to the handle with some colorful twine. I finished the bag with a flower and some tissue paper. This gift bag is the perfect size to hold a gift card.

Thanks for stopping by today!

~Dana Tatar - Susan K. Weckesser Designer