Art Journaling...Grace Not Perfection.

Hello All!

KERI Here and I am so excited to share with you this page from my Art Journal. 

I had so much fun using a rubber plate technique with a rubber plate made using Amazing Mold Rubber from Amazing Crafting Products , acrylic paint and a brayer. (This technique has also been called gelli plating.)

I also used Frog Tape by Shurtape in their Chevron Shape to make my background. 

For stamps, Susan's "A little bit of Washi" and "Splatter it" both added a lot of texture to my background using Ranger Archival Ink in Jet black, while I used gold and black acrylic paints with "in.circle me" and the banner from "celebrate your day." 

Other Supplies:

Vine and Bird Stamps: Claudine Hellmuth Studio

Circle Stencil: Hobby Lobby

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Salty Ocean

Acrylic Paints: Daler and Rowney, Anita's All Purpose and Plaid 

Matte Gel Medium: Liquitex 

The saying is from my Pinterest Board: WORD!. I keep this board of great sayings, quotes and phrases that when I read them I go "oh...yeah..so true.", but then they just sit there (sound familiar?) I decided this year to start taking those "pins" and turning them in to "pages." :) 

I hope this project inspires you with it's bright colors and thoughtful quote. 

Until Next time friends...remember to CHOOSE to make you art intentional...not an afterthought. 

XOXO,

KERI

"Create your Future" by Guest Designer Tatiana Allen

Hello there, I am honored to be today's Guest Designer and can’t wait to share what Susan K. Weckesser’s products inspired me to CREATE.

Years ago I came to the realization that my brain works as, what I have labeled to be, a “visual translator.” It is almost as though the words I read or hear are of a foreign language until my brain interprets them into a visual scene.

Over time I have enjoyed bringing many of these visualizations to life through my creations, the most recent of which I will share with you today.

A while back my husband suggested I pursue my dream, to which I responded with  “when pigs fly.” Well, I am currently living that dream, as owner of a gallery and gift shop called Joyful Nest in which my studio resides.

As I looked at the supplies I had to play with, the pink Susiebee Studios Inc. “Bouquet” paper reminded me of the flying pig reference mentioned above. Then I saw her “Create” word stamp and thought of a quote that says “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” With that inspiration and that supplies listed below, my project was complete.

So, the next time you feel like your circumstances make it impossible to follow your heart and pursue your dreams, be sure to remember that anything is possible if you create it! Yes, even pigs can fly if you give them wings.

Supplies:

Susiebee Studios Inc. “Live in Color Tags” paper

Susiebee Studios Inc. “Bouquet” paper

Susan Weckesser & unity “Create your Day” stamps

Susan Weckesser & unity “Painted Sentiments” stamps

My Minds Eye “Classic Everyday Fresh Linens” paper

Westcott 6” Precision Titanium Scissors

Wing stencil

White paint

Sharpie

Wishing you smiles and sunshine,

Tatiana (A.K.A. Crafty Cutie), Susan K. Weckesser Guest Designer

"Inspire" a mixed media piece by guest designer Tatiana

Hello there. I am honored to be a guest designer for one of my favorite people, Susan Weckesser. One of the reasons I applied to be a guest designer is because I love how inspirational all of Susan's products are. It is for this reason I decided to start my piece with Susan's stamp "inspire" and go from there. This word led me to a quote I just love by John Quincy Adams which says "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

Supplies:

• 12” x 12” canvas
• Susiebee Studios “Boquet” paper
• Susiebee Studios “Color Burst” paper
• Susiebee Studios “Live in Color” paper
• The Paper Company “Paisley Sunshine” paper
• Susan Weckesser & unity “Create your Day” stamps
• Susan Weckesser & unity “Painted Sentiments” stamps
• Ranger-Tim Holtz: Distress Paint-Black Soot
• Ranger-Tim Holtz: Distress Paint-Brushed Pewter
• Westcott: Scissor 6" Precision Titanium
• Golden: Gel Medium-Matte
• Raw canvas sheet
• black card-stock

Instructions:

1. Adhere “Paisley Sunshine” paper to canvas with Gel Medium.
2. Cut out sun circle and glue it onto the “Color Burst” paper.
3. Draw lines coming out of each sun ray that extend to edges of page.
4. Cut out every other sun ray and adhere the sun and rays to background.
5. Adhere a strip of “Boquet” paper to bottom of canvas as grass.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Stamp 5 birds onto black card-stock with Pewter Distress Paint.
7. Dab Black Distress Paint onto cloud stamp and press into raw canvas 3x.
8. Cut out all 5 birds without legs and clouds with Precision scissors.
9. Write out words onto white card-stock and cut them out in strips.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Stamp the word “inspire” onto background and add other words with paint.
11. Arange and then glue down birds, words and clouds with Gel Medium.
12. Embelish to your hearts desire with paint and ink, etc.
    
    
    

Wishing you smiles and sunshine,

Tatiana (A.K.A. Crafty Cutie), Susan K. Weckesser Guest Designer

Home canvas

Hello Susan Weckesser fans, Einat Kessler here with a new fun project!
When I got these amazing stamps this project just popped into my head. I just knew it's going to be so much fun playing with these stamps and with a lot of color.

I created a mixed media canvas full of layers and techniques. I started with painting the canvas with acrylic paints and then adding some tissue paper.

I stamped the adorable house stamp from the The Happy Homestead set on a white cardstock and created the bricks with modeling paste. I colored it with mists and ink. Then I colored the roof with some orange acrylic paint and Perfect Pearl powder. I added the windows and door with 3D adhesive.

After the house was adhered to the canvas I added more layers and texture with stamps and masks. Finally I sprayed everything with mists.

To finish the canvas I added two cute clouds from the Fly Away set, a "tree" and some flowers.

Have fun creating.
Einat Kessler
Susan K. Weckesser Design Team

Inspiration Junction

Hello Susan Weckesser fans, Einat Kessler here with an inspirational project!

If you feel like your inspiration has left you, just follow the directions and you will find it in no time!

I started with stamping a few of Susan Weckesser patterned papers with powerful inspiration words. Then I cut them into arrow shapes. I inked the edges and added embellishments that I cut from the papers.

I adhered the arrows to a wooden skewer and secured the skewer in putty.

Finally I added flowers and leaves on the bottom.

Now whenever I can't find my inspiration I look up and follow the arrows...

Have fun creating!

Einat Kessler

Susan K. Weckesser DT member

Creatively Messy

Hello everyone!  I'm excited to join Susan's team as a guest designer over the next few months!  Susan and I met a few years ago when she flew out for ScrapFest and I immediately loved her gentle nature and kind soul.

For my first project, I thought I'd better come clean right from the start and let you know that I am NOT a tidy artist.  Whether it's scrapbooking or mixed media, once I get going and there's paint and gesso and paper flying, it gets pretty ugly.  I have been known to reduce my huge 3'x5' work area to a 12"x12" spot, with product piled all around me!

However, my only saving grace is that once a project is over, I have to clean everything up and put it all away before I can start my next project.  The neat freak in me (and she's a VERY tiny part!) needs to have order before the creative me takes over.

So when I came across this quote, I knew that I had to use it to create a canvas for my studio.  Here's the finished result:

creative minds are rarely tidy

Supplies used:  Artist's Loft canvas; Susan K. Weckesser patterned papers; ModPodge; DecoArt paints;  Pink Paislee, Christy Riopel and Deja View masks/stencils; Stephanie Barnard Sprays by Clearsnap; Susan K. Weckesser/Unity Stamps (A Little Bit Washi); Memento, Versamark and Stampin' Up! inks; calligraphy pen and india ink.
There are really a lot of layers on this canvas!  I forgot to take photos as I went along, but here's a brief description of my process:  
I started out by ModPodging torn pieces of patterned papers to the canvas.  Once dry, I stuck my fingers into some coordinating paints and dragged them along the surface, to just add some texture and colour. 

Using the washi tape stamps and ink, I laid down some more texture by randomly stamping bits of the stamps all over the canvas. 

I then took Christy's stencils and pounced some paint randomly all over the canvas.  I used Pink Paislee's vintage doily mask (by Christy Tomlinson) and laid it over the sun pattered paper in the corner.  I sprayed it with the yellow Clearsnap mist, carefully removed it and then spritzed the pink and orange mists on a few spots on the canvas.

Lastly, I added my quote, using India ink and a calligraphy pen/nib set from one of the Donna Downey classes I have taken.  I freehanded the first part of the title, and used the Deja View alpha stencils to lightly outline the "TIDY" part - and then went over it a few times, freehanded, to make it messy. 

A few drops of ink from the dropper and there you have it!

Thanks for looking!
Sue :)

Be You Canvas

Hi there Susan Weckesser fans, Einat Kessler here with a new project!

 

 

This canvas is all about inspiring you to be yourselves and to live life in full, that means in color! Don't hide in the darkness of your troubles or thoughts, embrace color and light up your life!

 

 

I had a lot of fun creating this canvas. I started with some tissue papers, Gesso and a lot of misting. Then I added some stamps and texture.

 

 

 

I stamped three images ans created a "process" of transformation by adding more details to each image. With the details on the images came details and colors on the background. The title also starts kind of bland but has a colorful finish.

 

I hope I inspired you a little!

 

Have fun creating!

Einat

Lazy Summer Day Stamping

August has been DELIGHFUL for us here at the Weckesser Homestead!

We have spent some time camping, relaxing, and just playing in the garden. It has been fun after a super busy year just to take a little time and play together as a family.

That doesn't mean that I haven't had my {CRAFTING} moments! While I was enjoying some quiet moments in Waterton, Alberta, I created a card using some chalkboard paper from Canvas Corp. I used some of Heidi Swapp's COLOR SHINE. Love it! It is a new product and the color is FAB!

Then I used one of my new co-branded Unity Stamps ~ Sail Away . I used some UTEE on the image.

  I used Clearsnap'S  wonderful smooch to color in the image. I love how the {COLOR} pops!

Recycle: _

Bubble Wrap makes wonderful texture dots!

Even all the little critters had to come see what I was doing!

And of course…..

we had a lot of *SILLY* time!!!

It was…

So, LOTS of exciting things happening this FALL! Can Not Wait!!!!!

SUPER EXCITING!

Including the Fall Issue of the Canadian Scrapbooker which is out September 1 with my 'Do The Doodle' article in it. Susan K. Weckesser Inc. is a sponsor of the magazine this issue, and there is going to be a prize package give away over at the magazine and here on my blog…so keep watching!

It is going to be AWESOME!!!!

Crafty hugs,

~Susan

* Hey, Did you notice all the fun I am having editing my instagram pictures? I am adding Rhonna Farrer's new #instaicons! So easy and so much fun! I just upload Rhonna's work to my Phonto app on my IPhone and then voila!

Creating My Day in Mixed Media

I love when I have a chance to sit in my studio an just create. Today I took out my 'Create your Day' stamps that I co-branded with Unity Stamp Co. and I sat down and had fun doing what always puts a smile on my face….playing with color.

You Can find all my stamps at Unity Stamp Co. HERE .

I pulled out old papers, school supplies, Mod Podge, tea stained mica fragments and mica gloss.

I used my cloud stamps and white embossing powder. I then highlighted the clouds with aquamarine metallic mica gloss. Love…   

Check out the BEAUTIFUL gold ink splotches I created by dropping drops of Kuretake Painty FX Ink (metallic gold) and then I used a heat gun on it! It was so fun to see the ink react to the heat…wonderful stuff!

To create the fabric texture on the corners of my canvas I used my stitch stamps from my 'Grandma's Needlepoint' set.

I LOVE the textured look it creates and so easy to do!

The sun is so  fun because it is so full of textures including mica fragments, mica gloss, acrylic paint, and a little bit of painty FX ink from Kuretake. To help it set and give it that lovely hot and bubbly look I used my heat gun for a bit.

I stamped my house on a separate piece of lined scrap paper and then sealed it on. I also went around the edges a bit with mica gloss. I had fun doodling my wording with Tim Holtz's Adirondack Alcohol Ink Fillable Pen.

I had a lot of fun and got SUPER colorful! Best day ever!!!

Hey, I just wanted to remind you that registration is going on for TRUE SCRAP 3 …. It is going to be AWESOME! I am going to be one of the teacher and you can find out more information HERE!

HUGS,

~Susan