Spred Your Wings And Fly

I have some exciting news ... I am now a part of the design team at "Anything But A Card" challenge blog. A group of ladies with unbelievable creative talents and a passion to share and inspire from all over the world. For the whole month of September we've been celebrating "STEAMPUNKtember" and this is my piece.

I decided to use the reverse side of the canvas for a shadow box and created some fun steampunk elements.

I saw this quote on one of my favorite blogs Creative Something... Creative Something is a leading source of insights and thoughts on the science behind creativity and inspiration.

The back of my canvas was a combination of inks, sprays, modeling paste, glitters, paper I can go on and on. Check out my SNAPGUIDE tutorial below for a step by step tutorial on how I achieved this finished project. 

Part of creativity is "spreading those wings". Whether it's trying something new out of the box for yourself, applying for a design team, taking a class whatever, get out of your comfort zone. You will be amazed at where your creativity will lead you. I hope you will join in with ABAC every month as it's so much fun to get messy with your art supplies and have a place to share your inspiration with others. Happy crafting !

I am also entering this piece in the Lindys Stamp Gang September 2014 Color Challenge.  I ♥ this color combo. The butterfly as well as the back of the canvas were sprayed with Tibetan Poppy Teal, Golden Doubloons & Treasure Island Tourquoise. 

Check out How to Use a Canvas for a Shadow Box by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Let's Be Honest

Hi everyone... Seth Apter is hosting a "Studio Table Reveal" hop  "uncensored, unedited, and most likely unkempt."
O.k. let's be honest,  our craft rooms don't always look like those pretty craft rooms you see in the magazines, and quite frankly... MOST of the time mine doesn't look like that. It looks like this and I'm fine with that.

I try to leave a little space to actually work, and when my table is too full, the floor becomes a work space also. The other day I actually got up from my chair and stepped into a palette full of wet gesso...ooops. I guess that's what I get for trying to do so many projects at once. I stopped by many of the studio blogs that are joining in on this reveal and it was liberating !!! 

I love to see messy studios, it's inspiring to me and that's just the way I like to work. I like everything at my fingertips. 

Sometimes I do admit that I get a bit frustrated when I have to climb over things to get to what I want but that is part of my creative process, because many times I come upon something else to use that I wasn't even thinking about using originally. 

And then there is always those bag full of art supplies that haven't even made it out of the bags yet to get stored away for use... hahaha this picture made me laugh 

All in all, I love my messy studio, when I moved here the movers just shook their heads because I had over 60 boxes that were marked "craft room" so they thought they should contact "Hoarders Anonymous" for me. 

Well thank you for stopping by and visiting but you need to leave now because I have projects to work on and more messes to make. Thank you Seth for hosting this fun hop !

Back To School

Craft Hoarders Anonymous challenge theme is "Who Loves School and Office Supplies" and who doesn't. My daughter always said that was her favorite part of starting school is to go get all her new paper, pencils, pens, etc.
My project was made for my daughters BFF. She just received her teaching credentials and has her first class of 4th graders this month.
I got this inspiration from Tara Orr's blog (an amazing G45 designer) and immediately knew it would be perfect for Amanda's desk.

Purchased this tin and pencils at the Dollar Store and painted the tin black.

Used the G45 paper line "ABC Primer" and covered each pencil. The pencils were then glued to the outside of the bucket. Ribbon was tied around the pencils and a tag was made. Distressed the edges and embellished it with brads.

 

A coat of Rock Candy crackle paint was applied for texture and to finish it off I added a Muse Token from Ideaology.

Congratulations Miss Amanda, we know you are going to be a wonderful teacher !

Keeping it Organized

Hey everyone... quick post here on my blog on a wooden glue holder stand that I recently purchase from SA Crafters. She has some wonderful items in her Zibbet store and for great prices. I would encourage you to drop by.

Always trying to find ways to make my crafting area more organized I saw this in her shop and for $5.99 I thought it would work perfect. I hate when I'm constantly holding that bottle of glue upside down to be able to use it, or leaning it against something on my table so when I need it I can use it. I'm really happy how it turned out. Very quick altering, maybe took me 3 hours or less, mainly waiting on dry times for different products. Well that's it for my post today. Take a look at my SNAPGUIDE tutorial if you would like to see my process... Happy Monday !

Check out How to Embellish Wooden Glue Holder Stand by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

Altered Playing Card Challenge Week 2

O.k. we prepped our 52 cards and now it's time to alter them. This week was focused on Dylusion Sprays.... Love them. Quick and easy art to get you going.

Join in on the fun with Claudine and the rest of us who are involved in this challenge. Claudine is providing some wonderful technique tricks, there are prizes involved and you can also post your pics to the Facebook Group Here . 

Cultivate Creativity

Hi everyone... hope y'all are having a wonderful week. Mine has been full of creativity.... projects, gifts, art challenges. I'm loving it. Awhile back I came across this wonderful tutorial  by Lost Wax YOUTUBE  . It provided me inspiration for the background technique I used on this project.

One of the challenge blog's I'm joining in with this week is SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk which their theme is Steampunk Stories. My title on my piece says it all for me. A few years ago I lost my house, marriage and job all within the same year or so. My one and only daughter recently moved to New York and I'm in California. So many changes have taken place in my life. I tend to be a happy go lucky optimistic person, but I definitely have had struggles this last year with all the changes. If it weren't for ART, not sure what I would do. I'm  fortunate that I have a room dedicated to my craft so I can go in there any time of day and play. It releases anxiety, depression, the thoughts of loneliness. Keeping my hands busy is so theraputic. I am very thankful for ART.

I encourage you to do something creative EVERY DAY...whether it's cooking, gardening, sewing, crafting.. it will help release those endorphins into your body to help you relieve stress from the everyday life. Hope you enjoy my canvas.  Have a beautiful week, and keep smiling :-) And stop by some of the challenges below for some wonderful inspiration to get those creative juices going. I am entereing this piece in the following challenges:

Try It On Tuesday - How Does Your Garden Grow

Anything But A Card - STEAMPUNKtember

SanDee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenge - Steampunk Stories

The Mirror Crack'd - Anything Goes
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - All The Pretty Flowers

You can view my step by step process on this project here.
Check out How to Create Steampunk Background & Faux Metal Flowers by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

The Dark of Night - Unruly RAQ

Hi everyone... hope you are having a nice weekend. This month's Readers Art Quest (RAQ) @ Unruly Paper Arts is "The Dark Of Night". I'm in California, USA and it has been 94 degrees at night, so I'm just loving the cool palette of these colors. Blues, Pewters, Grays, Charcoals....  also for inspiration is this photo to get your mojo going.

I had lots of fun creating my mixed media canvas. I busted out my "Goosebumps" product that I have had for ages (completely forgot about it). When sprayed and then dried, it leaves little bumps and texture ... hence goosebumps. The background was painted first with acrylics and then sprayed with Lindys sprays, assorted blue colors for a shimmer. The moon and stars (goosebumps...lol) were highlighted with Distress Paint Pewter.  The stamps I used were from Oxford Impressions. I also used Distressed Embossing Powder in Pumice Stone for the walkway. I love how it gives that sandy, rocky look.

I hope you join in with our team and create something with these beautiful colors. Enter your project and you will have a chance for a mystery bag of goodies and some items from our sponsor this month Eyelet Outlet. Thanks for stopping by and watch out for "Things That Go Bump In The Night"

Flower Power

Everything's a bloomin' and I created this mixed media canvas using fun techniques that you can view on my SNAPGUIDE below. I used the Dylusion Sprays and I just love their vibrant colors.

 It seems that everyone is flower happy these days because several challenges this week are flowers, garden etc. I will be entering this piece in the following challenges:

 Try It On Tuesday - How Does Your Garden Grow



Craft Hoarders Anonymous - All The Pretty Flowers

 Frilly & Funky - A Summer Garden 

Anything But A Card - Use Five ... I chose 5 different techniques, stencil, Dylusion Sprays, Glue Gun Technique, Molding Paste, 3D flowers

The Mirror Crack'd - Anything Goes

 

  

Check out How to Create a 3D Mixed Media Canvas by Toni Burks-Grijalva on Snapguide.

26 Weeks of Fun

Claundine's Art Corner is hosting a "Altered Playing Card Project". Sounds like fun you say.... well check out all the details on her blog. It starts today, but this week is for prepping your playing cards for those mini masterpieces you will be creating. Two cards per week will be altered, tutorials will be given, pinning will take place, and prizes are possible, so let's have 26 weeks of fun together.

 

 

I'm Doing A Happy Dance

Whoo Hoo... I have some exciting news. In October my creative journey continues as I have been selected to be a part of an amazingly creative team of people at "Unruly PaperArts".

 I have been a follower of UPA since it's inception a few years ago and have always been inspired with the new techniques, ideas and the creativity of the columnists, and now I have the opportunity to share my passion and love for scrapbooking, mixed media and altered arts as a columnists for Unruly Paper Arts Blogozine. 

UPA is a wonderful source of information, as with each new month will be a focus of a new theme and throughout the month our columnist will inspire you with tutorials, pictures and inspiration for your art projects.  You can also participate in our monthly Readers Art Quests (RAQ) which is a monthly challenge that provides you with a creative prompt and gives you an opportunity to showcase your projects and a chance to win some crafty goodies.

Now I'm sure your not going to want to miss out on anything going on so jump over to UPA blog HERE to become a follower as well as sign up for the newsletter. And Unruly also has a FACEBOOK page so jump over HERE and "LIKE"  us so you can keep up with the new challenges and sponsor information. It's a great way to connect with fellow scrappers.

Looking forward to creating with all of you.... now let's get this party started . xoxo Toni