A place to encourage the creativity of artistic minds of all ages. Offering Ideas, Inspiration and Instruction and sharing the work of others who inspire me!
As an artist, I know how valuable art making materials are. When you grow up creating, collecting
Mica powder
art supplies can become an addiction. It can perhaps be compared to the stories I have heard about some women who have to have huge walk in closets to house their massive shoe and fashion collection. I knew a lady once who proudly owned 200 pairs of shoes, had each pair placed in their own box. Then she took a polaroid of each pair, attaching the image to the box end to easily identify each pair. Then she complained about how she was so broke, she had to move in with her Mom and little girl. So she could earn the mortgage fo her home from a tenant while living
at home for free. That's when an addiction like shopping can truly impact your life and the life of those who love you.
For men, it may be shoes, or maybe a man cave that contains every latest piece of media equipment and technology and such, or a workshop where every power tool known to humankind can be found. Or my husband's collecting passion involves always checking over any coins that land in his hand. I . As for us artists, artisan, crafters and the like, we are often great collectors of any and every kind of creative art making supply that strikes our fancy.
roving wool for felting
Until I started working more in three dimensions, my weakness was mostly paper types, canvasses, acrylic paints, coloured pencils, drawing tools, and such. A pretty manageable addiction. It all fit in one rubbermaid storage tower. Branching Out
However, once I impulsively dove into three dimensional creativity, my world change completely! Possibilities are now endless. I mean the jewellery design world means buying everything from findings, wire, chains, stones, beads of all kinds, tools and don't get me started on organizing containers, more on that later!
Cording for so many reasons
Then came the polymer clay! More supplies to stock
Alcohol Inks For a lot of uses
up on. Countless tools, all sorts of clay in every colour and style and all the accessories to enhance and improve clay creations! Inclusions and enhancers like pastels, mica powders, nail art flakes and accessories, sculpting tools, pans, forms, blades, pasta machines, rollers, mats, alcohol inks, building pastes, embossing powders, rubber texture and image stamps, pigment ink pads, inka gold, colorants, craft paints, plastics to store it all...Then add in needle felting....yup, that means I needed roving wool, needles, foam, felt, and then that leads into the need for wee little eyes. Why not create those out of resin or liquid polymer clay! Better learn about resins....which I already began incorporating into my polymer clay world.
Glass cabochons-possibilities endless
With resin comes, all kinds of molds, inclusions. Thankfully worlds collide and I can use materials from the other disciplines. So see, no wasting.
As the addiction increases, I discover card making using stamps, coloured papers, glitters and a place to use those embossing powders and inks! Again, the collision of worlds in a good way! With that comes the need for every type of glue and mod podges, lino cutters to make my own stamps for paper and polymer clay,
A fave- polymer clay
and then of course I need those glass cabochons in all sizes to make everything from eyes to jewellery, along with cookie cutters for my clay, craft paints and glues, varnishes, craft sticks, gem stones...yikes, it just won't end! Contain Yourself!
And then there is my addiction to....are you sitting down? Wait for it....I'm, I'm hooked on containers! Yup, containers. After all, how on earth can I even consider creating anything if I don't have my supplies all categorized and set in special spaces. So that means ordering new types all the time, trying to find what works. And then there are the magnificent containers that were
Craft paints
created to hold, items like cake slices, or chocolates, but would are great to organize my supplies in. What a good excuse to buy cake and other sweet treats! Once I even asked Craig to ask the grocery store bakery for any of their cake containers, incase they just throw them away - what a waste! Needless to say if you have a great container, odds are, I will ask if I can have it.
As for my collecting art supplies that I may never actually use, apparently, I'm "normal." From what I read online, I am not alone. At least I haven't had to give up our bedroom to contain it all!
Mica powders and such- so many choices
Turns out working in two dimensions was a very inexpensive art making method when compared to my last decade of delving into three dimensional creativity! Too many ideas, too many supplies I must have...just incase I need to use them.
In the olden days, all I was I worried about the most was wasting paint! Just when I thought I wouldn't have to address that fear again, I was filming Craig for our new "Paint With Craig," segment and what do I discover? Well, you will need to watch to find out! Watch Anita's Great Loss!...
Fun Take Aways...
After you watched our video about my great loss, answer these questions...
💙What lesson did Craig learn?
💙What loss did Anita (that's me)suffer?
💙Any guesses on how man more losses just like this one, have happened since I turned over my paint to Craig?
💙Have you ever made a mistake that resulted in an avoidable loss?
Thanks for having fun with us. Even though serious things can happen (who likes to waste money?), we can always learn big lessons.
Subscribe so you won't miss out, coming soon is our Second video in our "Painting With Craig" series, where Craig actually starts painting! Here is episode one.
Pinterest Can't Stop... Couldn't Resist, all that talk about my art supply addiction/collection caused me ti want to share a smattering of some supplies and what I have been blessed with being able to create! Incase you're curious, take a gander...
I also get to make my own tools when possible
molds for clays and resin
Needle felted hearts
liquid polymer clay and sold, plus alcohol inks create faux stained glass effects
Craft paints have all kinds of uses
Polymer clay beads- endless possibilities
Polymer clay, fancy Pebeo paints, mica powders and Resin created this
Labradorite gemstone, clay and mica pigments, along with beads and rhinestones....
A rubber image stamp and polymer clay, voila!
Lisa Pavelka stamp
More of the same
Alcohol inks on metal jewellery findings
Pasta/Clay rolling machine
As you know polymer clay possesses endless possibilities
As you know polymer clay and jewellery findings, cables and cords...all endless possibilities
Polymer clay, fancy Pebeo paints, mica powders and Resin created this
Ahh Resin!
I tried saving money making my own mold maker putty with silicone
polymer clay with silk sari ribbons...
I get to create my own texture stamps
Can never have too many tools
I love all coloured drawing implements
practical polymer clay projects
Alcohol inks and liquid polymer clay
Alcohol inks and liquid polymer clay
I even got to make a lantern with polymer clay and other ingredients
Alcohol ink definitely can not be compared to Acrylic paint. Which is what I am most familiar with. Originally, I tried alcohol inks in and on my polymer clay projects. They help created stained glass effects and sea glass effects. Since two dimensional art is what I am most familiar with, it makes sense that I would be curious about trying this medium out on a two dimensional surface. After watching countless tutorials on YouTube, I couldn't wait to begin experimenting. It is clear that you need to buy every colour possible! Ha ha, just kidding. Nevertheless, it is a good excuse to buy even more art supplies. You can use any kind of alcohol ink. That includes those created using Sharpie markers, Copic or other ink refills.
This is just one of the many changes my piece looked like.
For today's video, I started out using a small canvas board, about 5" x 7" that I added a couple of layers of Gesso. /that is a white coloured concoction used to prepare surfaces for painting. In this case it was to help create a smoother, insoluble surface for the inks.
As you watch the video you will see how much my piece morphed from one look to the other. I will save the surpises for the video.
I hope you enjoy watching the way alcohol inks can be used in so many ways, including creating beautiful art pieces. Not to mention colouring metals, glass, plastics, fabric, polymer clay, and ribbon, freshwater pearls, beads, foil....endless options.
As you watch, please leave your comment if you wish. I am curious to know at which stage did you think I should have stopped? At which point did I over do it? Do you think you will try alcohol inks? If you already use them, what do you create with them?
Now Watch And See How Far I Went
SAVE Money!!
Remember have fun with it. You can use alcohol inks on any nonporous surface. I am working on alternatives to the really expensive Yupo paper. It looks like great stuff, but for anyone wanting more options that are inexpensive and easy to do - I'm all for trying that. Which means I will be experimenting more by applying a coat or two od acrylic gel medium or gesso to pare, cardboard or even acetate.
If you apply white acrylic gesso or paint to acetate or old plastic sheets (I save clear plastic/acetate lids and packaging) you can use the alcohol inks on the shiny acetate side and the white will help show it through.
To protect your final surface spray with a fixative or try applying brush on led or uv resin (I use no wipe top coats)
Thanks for hanging out. Hope you try it out. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. iT REALLY HELPS ME, IF YOU SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE!!
