More Deli Paper Painting

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Go With Your Own Flow

As you can tell, I've really been enjoying painting deli paper! Just allowing myself to place paint and marks on paper without allowing myself to get caught up in a lot of thinking has been amazingly freeing! I feel like this journey is bringing me closer to my inner artist - closer to finding marks and patterns that are authentic to who I am. I like approaching the page not knowing what it is going to turn into. It is definitely an adventure of going with my own flow and trusting that it will take me to a place of discovery and authenticity. What would it look like if you allowed yourself to go with your flow?

New Photopolymer Stamp Sets - Sweetie Pie!

How funny that the day I posted a face stamp, Stampin' Up! releases two new photopolymer stamp sets and one of them is all about faces! :)  Must be fate!  Check out these adorable sets!  Each one is only $13.95.  Sweetie Pie (#136849) has twelve adorable little face stamps and Sweetie Pie Frames (#137121) has an assortment of frames and greetings.  Click HERE to order these cute sets now! :)

Hand Carved Face Stamp

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Set Your Mind To It And Go Do It!
While eating my breakfast yesterday I began to watch a video on YouTube by Suzi Dennis that began with her sharing an art journal page with an image of a stamped face.  She then showed the stamp she had hand carved to create the face.  That's when I stopped the video.  I had just finished my breakfast and I thought to myself, "I can carve a face stamp!"  So off I went into the craft room!  I already had a face in mind.  I had actually taken a picture of my tv screen when I was watching a commercial and the sweetest face appeared on the screen.  The child's eyes were so big and beautiful and I captured the image on my camera thinking that I would try to draw that beautiful face one day.  Little did I know that face would become a stamp.  So I looked at the face and drew out a sketch of what I saw.  I then transferred the image onto Speedball Speedy Cut material and carved the stamp using a carving tool (that you see in the photo).  I was patient - recognizing that if I took my time I might create something that I could use over and over again for years to come.  If you told me yesterday that I would make a face stamp that I was proud of I would have laughed at you in disbelief.  As I am writing this and looking at the stamp I created I am reminded what can happen when you set your mind to something and just go and do it!  You will definitely be seeing this face in some upcoming artwork! :)

Painted Scratch Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's OK To Not Have A Plan
This painted paper began as the scratch paper that sits underneath whatever else I am stamping or painting on my craft room table.  If there is extra paint to mop up or I want to stamp off or empty a paintbrush of excess paint, this is a page to do that on.  Yesterday I decided to take the sprayed, stamped, painted piece and begin to cover it with color and marks intentionally.  This is the result.  I have been enjoying painting paper in this way - just adding color as I like - adding marks if the urge strikes - placing colors next to one another in total ignorance of the color wheel.  What is even more wonderful is that as I am painting I have no idea as to what I am going to do with this paper!  There is something about the fact that I don't have a plan and that it is scrap paper that let's me be free.  It allows me to explore without worrying about the consequences - after all, I don't have a plan anyway!  It even allowed me to take out some of my higher quality paints - after all, I'm not using a lot and the color is so pretty.  Now I am beginning to wonder where this page will end up.  Will I frame it?  Will I cut it into strips and make it into tape?  Will I cut it into all different shapes and collage it onto another page?  Or maybe I will just adhere it whole into an art journal.  Who knows!  And that's the beauty of it.  It is OK to not have a plan!  You may even find that not having a plan quiets your inner critic and sets you free to simply play!  Enjoy!!!!!