Bright Yellow Challenges

Hello beautiful creatives!  Today I'm posting my entry for the Simon Says Wednesday challenge and the Lindy Stamp Gang September Color challenge.

I used the Dina Wakley Media journal with it's awesome watercolor paper. I'm serious, this journal can take anything you can throw at it without breaking down. And it's a great size!  I used sprays and stencils for the background, coloring a little texture paste with Lindy's magicals for that BRIGHT pop of yellow.  The image and sentiment are from Stampotique Originals.  Originally, the faces were getting a little lost on that colorful background, so I added some cheesecloth behind the profiles to make them pop.  I think it worked pretty well AND added some texture--Win Win!!👍
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Lindy's, Simon Says Stamp, and Stampotique all run monthly challenges with prizes, so make sure you check them out. Specific materials are linked below.

Lindy's Jazzy Jivin' Purple spray
Lindy's Yodeling Yellow Magical Shaker
Stampotique Originals stamp, "Hunny"
Stampotique Originals sentiment "Phrase Cube 6"

Lindy's Bright Fall September Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Hope you have a fantasy week!

Kitty

New Stampotique Originals!

It's the beginning of the month, and that means NEW, FANTASTIC stamps from Stampotique!!  Lots of spooky, costumed figures this month--perfect for your Halloween projects.  Click this link  to see all the August goodies!!

I used a couple new stamps for one of my design team contributions this month.  The cutie patootie witch is called Happy Witch (fitting, right?!😋) and her flying compadre is Spider Dog.  I changed his costume from spider to devil, just wanting a contrasting pop of color.  The bat and pumpkins are also from Stampotique, aren't they precious!?
Just a reminder, we have an open challenge over at the Stampotique Facebook Group with biweekly prompts and prizes.  I would LOVE to see your artwork so come check us out! 

Kitty

Exciting Stampotique News!

Sooo I can finally post my exciting news!  I am on the design team for Stampotique Originals this year!! Eeeeee!! 😁 I'm truly honored to be among the amazing talent on the team.
If you are unfamiliar with Stampotique ,  they have the quirkiest wood-mounted images on the market.  If you think outside the box and are interested in unique gothic and cheeky designs, check us out! We feature themed challenges with a monthly prize on the blog AND the Facebook group.  Always lots of awesome inspiration and positivity in our social media groups so pop over and check it out.
Stampotique releases new stamps every month (except December) and June's are FANTABULOUS (check them out). One in particular is perfect to incorporate into your planner, bullet journal, sketch journaling, travel planner... you get the idea. 

The new Frames Cube has 4 decorative squares that makes labeling and/or framing cute and fun.  Aren't these planner pages adorable?  Make sure you check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more inspiration--This stamp is so versatile, its a must have!
Thanks for stopping by today so I could share my good news!  Come say hi on the Stampotique social media groups, I've listed all the links below.  We would love to see you!

Stampotique Originals- https://www.stampotique.com/
Stampotique Blog- https://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
Stampotique FB Group- https://m.facebook.com/groups/47241351547?tsid=0.9938767062351817&source=result
Stampotique Instagram- https://instagram.com/stampotiquedesignteam?igshid=ysx2iv9qaz0k

Valentine's Fun

I have to admit,  I think Valentine's Day is a silly holiday.  I'm not much of a romantic and would rather have a second Halloween in it's place!  But I do enjoy the simplicity of its aesthetic and the whimsical nature of all the hearts in pinks and reds.
I created several Valentine's projects for different groups.  I joined an ATC swap with a fab group on FB-- Mixed Up Mixer-- who are like minded mixed-media creatives.  I only had to swap with one person, but who the hell can make only one ATC?! 😉  I used stamps from Dina Wakley & Stampotique, plus a collage element from Crowabout Studio B.

I also made some cards to send out with these bad boys.  Like I said,  I do enjoy the playful nature of the holiday and it's easy combo of elements.

Simple but cute, right?
I love watercolors but do not practice nearly enough.  After watching a tutorial by the multi-talented James Burke, I painted this little nugget.

I miss watercoloring, but seem to be stuck on an 'off- the-page' kick right now.
What is your fave medium?

Kitty

Steampunk and Cahones

So I've had this little lady completed for some time, but honestly haven't had the cahones to put her 'out there' for everyone to see and judge.  Even though I'm quite pleased with her, as I was taking her picture I thought of several things I would've done differently.  I guess that's true with a lot of my work--that irritating, perfectionitis brat in my head constantly has me doubting and reevaluating.  Do you know this brat?

Anyway, enough whining & back to the goodness.  M'lady is a masonite art doll from Retro Cafe Art that was super affordable and easy to assemble.  I absolutely
L❤VE this site and their Design Team is off-the-chain (check out my list of Artists I Stalk).  I created her face using paperclay and a Sculpey mold, and glued on tiny brads (with pinchers cut off) as faux rivets on the 'legs'.  Finnabair rust pastes and waxes grunged her up nicely, and I found a cool steampunky heart (HobLob) to alter and chain beneath her torso.  A lot of the work was done for me with the embellishments, since I'm obviously not forging my own metal flowers in my living room 😉.  Just add a little bit of distressing and glue those suckers on! Wallah!

My favorite parts are her wings and face.  The crackle is so delicate and I love her amused expression.  I think I'll concentrate on all the positives of this piece and tell Bratty McBratterton to hit the road.😎

Thanks for taking the time!
Kitty

Skulls and Brushes

This project is waaay out of left field for me.  Although I appreciate Southwestern art and culture,  it's usually not my first go to for inspiration. But!  I found the coolest  silicone mold on Amazon by Shoal Creek Designs & after molding it several times first in clay then resin, I had all these very detailed steer skulls with no idea what to do with them!

(The mold is kind of creepy with those bulging eye sockets!)
Enter a post from a Facebook group asking about altered paintbrushes.  I had never altered one before sooo mold + brush + paint = my beaded, feathery skull creation!
There are some things I would change, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.  Sorry I don't have any process photos--My blog didn't exist when I began working on this project!  Below is a close up of the skull and bead detail.  Have you ever altered a paintbrush?

Thanks for taking the time!
Kitty

Wanderlust

I decided to treat myself in 2019 with a fab learning opportunity called Wanderlust.  It's an online event of mixed-media goodness that lasts all year.  Our topic for January is Typography, and this mish-mash of colors was inspired by the lovely Athanasia Papantoniou.

I was a little out of comfort zone with this piece, ESPECIALLY leaving all the white space.  But I'm diggin' it and plan to incorporate this approach in future projects.  I used several mica powders from Lindy's  for the vibrant background and I just L❤VE the little tag and tangle of string!  The perfect finishing touch.

What techniques or styles are out of YOUR comfort zone??
Thanks for stopping by!😉
Kitty

Just Do It!!

Drum Roll Please! ********* Ahhhh, my first official blog post!  I've been fiddle-farting with my new site for a couple days, but just couldn't bring myself to compose an actual "blog post".  I had too many 'what-ifs' and 'should-I's stirring up ol' Miss Perfectionitis 😳.  I decided to just start already and write a short and silly HELLO WORLD to get the ball rolling.  So... HELLO WORLD!  I hope we make lots of funky and messy mixed-media  together!  See you soon!