New artsy goodies!

I received some VERY happy mail over the weekend...  I had seen some pins on Pinterest (darn that addicting site) that were made using gelatos from Faber Castell...  I've been hearing about these little beauties for quite some time now and just never got around to using them.  These things are so cool!!  I think I might have a new fave in the craft room!!

I got three specialty packs at a pretty good price off of Alleystamp.  I chose the Steampunk, Tropical, and 50s Diner assortments.  Each assortment comes with 4 gelatos, a brush, and a dabber tool.

I decided to test them out on a canvas board and have a little fun.  After applying gesso to the canvas board, I took the gelatos and scribbled on the board.  When I had covered the board to my liking, I spritzed it with water and blended the colors with my fingers...  (I'm sure there is a cleaner and less messy way to blend these, but my fingers were right there and I'm not afraid to get messy!! LOL)

After I finished blending, I went back and filled in voids with color, repeating until the background was covered.  Then, I heat set it with my Ranger Heat tool and had a really cool background remaining.  If you don't like the result, you can go back scribble some more gelato on, spritz, and blend again....so very cool!

Fast forward to a little stamping with DecoArt Media paint using the honeycomb stamp from my favorite Tim Holtz Mixed Media set.  I also used another Tim Holtz stamp, some Ranger Sticky Embossing powder, and Stickles Dry Glitter and added a little random shimmer.  The board was finished with some canvas ribbon, twine, Petaloo flowers, and a stamped sentiment (on more canvas ribbon).  The 'dream' sentiment is from a Dyan Reaveley stamp set.

One of the great things about the gelatos is you don't have to worry about contaminating them....If you get say some blue on your yellow, simply wipe it off with a paper towel... How cool is that!?!

Below is the finished project.... The shimmer doesn't really show all that well in the photo, but I swear it is there...

This defintiely won't be the last time I dabble with gelatos...I know there are many more techniques with these gelatos that I have to try, including blending without water and stamping using the gelatos.... Think I might need some more colors!!!  ;)

Recent travels...

I recently attended the Society of Decorative Painting's Convention in St. Charles, Illinois for my job. What a fun trip!

Yum...BBQ

When we go to conventions, one thing we definitely do is eat!!  So much good food was consumed on this trip!!  One of my personal fave's was BBQ from Famous Dave's.  When the hubby and I lived in the Chicago area, we used to frequent this restaurant a lot.  Just look at the family meal!!  Totally yummy and served in a garbage can lid!!  (LOL...The look on people's faces when you tell them you ate out of a garbage can lid is priceless!!)  

Even though I am not a decorative painter, I always find that I am uber-inspired when I return from these conventions.   So many gorgeous works of art are on display at these shows and it's hard not to be inspired when you are there. 

I also tested out a new Decorative Painting instruction program called Folk It.  Since I have very little skill in painting (and I mean VERY little), I decided to try it out.  The heart 'painting' to the left is my finish project.  This was completed with a stylus, three colors of paint (red, white, and green), a transferred heart image, and a paper towel (to clean the stylus).  The pattern was transferred, so after a little instruction from the very nice lady, I was off. This literally took me all of ten minutes to do.  For not having very little skill in painting, I think it's pretty darn good!!  :)

If interested in the instructional series, which includes DVDs and all supplies (paint, tracing paper, surfaces, stylus, brushes, and more) check them out here: Folk It!

Well, I'm off to watch Hell's Kitchen...  I just LOVE me some Gordon Ramsay!!  

New frontiers....

Painting now... I had used the DecoArt acrylics here and there in my work before; mainly primary colors. I've been playing around with the DecoArt Media line (which I love!).....I absolutely love the richness and vibrancy of the colors. At first, when I started using the media paints, it was a bit of a struggle adjusting as they are a lot different than the Distress Ink that I am used to using. However, after playing with them on canvas, I am completely sold.  Still trying to master stamping with paint, so I'll be playing around with that a bit more.

Below is a sneak peek of my May article for the Pixelated Palette.  The majority of the piece is done with the DecoArt media line and a smidge of Archival ink....

You can subscribe to the Pixelated Palette for only $12 for a year!!  New issues come out on the 15th of the month.  and this e-zine is chock full of articles on deocrative painting, mixed media, and other crafts...Definitely worth the years subscription!!

Thanks for stopping by!!  :)