Moving On...

This blog was a blast and I learnt alot... and now I'm moving on to a new blog. One that prattles on about everything and anything to do with (or not to do with) ART :) I do love art - all kinds.

—  NEW BLOG ADDRESS  —

www.artbyjennydesign.blogspot.com.au

See you there!

Thanks for reading my posts, however infrequent they've been!

Have a totally wonderful and happy day, whatever you're doing.

I hope its something creative!

:)

Jenny

Soccer Eliie

Here's my lastest creation. Made for a gorgeous boy who loves elephants, elephants and flying kites. Probably a little on the young side for an 11yo, but he's got to learn to not grow up from someone! 

I traced a little wooden elephant I've been hanging onto for ages (as you do!) and attached the ear on one edge. The tail is string or twine. The rest is made of papers, more string, acrylic paint and Distress inks.

Next "job" is my ATC swaps for Tuesday. Happy Creative Day!!!

:)

Jenny

Tangled Thursdays

Every Thursday I'm dedicating to drawing... with every second Thursday being a Tangling day. That is, drawing stylized patterns and lines... random and creative. 

I'm usually one for sketching out a few ideas, then sketching a final idea, roughing out an outline, inking it in then erasing the rough pencil.

For Tangled Thursdays, there is no sketching out ideas... its ink straight onto paper - without planning!

Its a good technique to do to loosen up the drawing arm and to teach the brain to let go of "perfection" in drawing and to just draw lots of lines, swirls, circles, spots and dashes.

September in the Studio is Fairyland month... so yesterday I had the class draw a scene with whatever they imagined. Its not Tangling exactly in the way its normally done but it has tangled areas!

I started off with the fairy, added the ground, a tree, then the owl, tree 'bark' and a hole (where I couldn't resist adding another owl hiding), the fungi on the tree, the mushrooms then the rest in a jumbled order.

I finished mine off this morning... just added a few dragonflies, dandilions, fluffing up the caterpillar and adding/altering a few other things, then lastly, I changed the fairy's wand into a dandilion puff.

As you can see, I had a few moments of 'bugga, I didn't want that line there' so added a bit of excessive shading! They are not mistakes but just variations in the drawing.

If you find parts of your linework not behaving to your satisfaction, don't throw it away and start again... just turn it into something else or leave it and focus on an area of the picture you do like.

The next day, you will see the picture with fresh eyes and be able to adjust or ignore what you've done.

Overall, its a fantastic thing to do, drawing without planning. Have a go yourself and don't forget... practise practise practise!!!

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny

Tangled Drawings

I held my first Tangling class on Thursday and it was a hit! We all had a wonderful and relaxing afternoon and everyone explored the groovy patterns and styles that is the Tangle. Also known as Zentangle, its a way of learning to draw without the worry of doing it wrong. With Tangles there are no mistakes and every drawing is unique. 

This was the first afternoon of many... "Tangling and Drawing" classes are every second Thursday starting at 1pm and are just $20 per person. Small classes means personalised service, so you can learn to draw at your own pace. 

Here is an event link for details of the next class ... http://www.facebook.com/events/322451091224532/

You should be able to view that even if you're not a member of Facebook.

Hope to see you at the next one!

Happy Creative Day!

:)

Jenny

My New Website is Alive... and other news!

I know I say this alot... but... isn't it amazing how fast time flies these days? Something to do with being busy I'm told! At least I'm being creative this year :) Loving it!

I've finally finished my own website, which in hindsight should have probably been built in the modern way with Wordpress.org but I had a stubborn "I can do this by myself" moment and created the whole thing from scratch!

Those that know me in person might have come across that moment before... sigh... its tough being independent! lol
But the satisfaction from building and creating something all by yourself is incredible.
I'm supposed to outsource the 'building' (its usually flatpack so not exactly building, more like giant Lego) of any furniture for our home to my 15 year old, but instead, I just let him help.

But he'll survive... my Dad is giving him lessons with the scrollsaw, the lathe and other woodcrafting tools - cool hey? I've so many things they can practice on... wooden shapes for 'off the page' crafts, wooden words, ribbon and washi tape spools, frog shaped coasters (frog shaped anything really) and lots of other things. Apparently I have to wait until he's finished his beginner lesson - how to cut out a dragon. Can't wait to see it!

Here is a screenshot of my brand new website... Have a look around. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and of course if you find anything at all wrong or out of place, please let me know so I can fix it! Thank you :)

The other news, I've become an advertiser for Molly Makes and Simply Crochet magazines. Just because I can and love to share the love of craft.

Here is a great special that I received from "My Favourite Magazines" in the UK. Click the banner below and use the code to shop.
My Favourite Magazines are running a 20% off 2 year subscription promotion this week (5th – 11th Aug). The voucher code will be MAG2YR and will allow 20% off any 2 year subscriptions until Sunday evening.

Updating my Redbubble profile and shop today... pop over and say hi!

Happy creative day!
:)
Jenny

Home Tweet Home

This month's ATC theme is "Birdhouse"... I've drawn up many ideas and now just need to create one or two of them! 

I've been building my own website inbetween ATC creations... and its finally nearly ready to share! 

My website address is www.artbyjenny.com.au and for another couple of days redirects to a blog on Wordpress but by the weekend I'll have a new site ready to share :) Its very exciting!!!

In the meantime, I thought I'd show off a birdhouse I made a few moons ago. Its a wooden (mdf) birdhouse shaped off-the-page item that I've inked and covered with gorgeous papers. The base is by Kaisercraft and the little feathered friend on the ledge is chipboard but all the rest are hand cut (or fussy cut for you scrappers!!!). 

The baby birds are circles cut out of Tim Holtz's grungeboard and covered with texture paste. The grungeboard was able to take on all the paints and paste without going soggy. The Mum bird is my design... I gave her a worm to carry but she kept dropping it so left it off!

All the eyes are black Enamel Accents... its perfect for eyes of all my critters as it stays shiny and raised. Usually I also use a little tiny drop of white enamel brings the eyes to life but I didn't for these ones.

What else? String! I love string! It has so many uses. I've used a dark pink natural string for the roof, it feels fabulous, almost like thatching. All the gold you see is from the gorgeous paper... no idea what it was called or who made it. If you know, please share!

Have a happy arty week!

:)

Jenny

Christmas in June (and July)

I've been holding a regular Christmas Card Club each month here in my Art by Jenny Studio. Its meant to be encouraging myself and anyone who joins me to be organised (for once!) for this special time of year! So far its working. Both myself and my students have made quite a few cards already and its only June! 

The most recent class was reindeer training... as it sounds - gathering reindeer together (with a reindeer punch and cardstock) then after the bases were created, sticking them down. 

Then my reindeer punch rebelled and refuse to give us any more cute cardstock animals :P

Well, I'm not one for giving up so we got out the stamps and had a play!!! I'm grateful that all my students went home happy again with their creations - even though they didn't make quite what was planned :)

This next card is what I've made today after trying to fix my punch (which I've put aside for a bit... its a tad stuck now!!!). I love this stamp set... you get the sleigh, sparkles and the hohoho. So versatile! Coloured with watercolour markers and the holly stamp is coloured with the alcohol ink art markers. I just love to colour in :)

The next Christmas Card Club will be on two dates, Sat June 29 or Sat July 6, and we'll be doing a bit of colouring/blending and flower arranging with poinsettias... they're such beautiful plants! 

July's class, Sat July 27, we'll be messing about in the snow (using a snowflake punch, not actually playing in the snow, although if it gets any colder we might be! lol). I'm giving away a FREE punch for each of the students in this class (Sat July 27)... only 6 per class so book without delay :)

That's it for today... while I have the Christmas bug I'm off to make ATCs - this month's Kaszazz theme is "Christmas in July" ... then I'm off to build birdhouses for the local ATC swap with friends ... Can't wait to see what everyone creates!!!

Keep on being creative everyone!

Happy Scrappy Day :D

Markers Markers Markers...

Have I told you lately how much I LOVE textas and markers? All if them ... the kiddie ones, thick poster type ones, ones that colour those magical invisible puzzle books, popular markers used to colour Magnolia stamps... and bestest ever of all the markers I've ever used are the Ranger and Tim Holtz Distress watercolour markers and the Kaszazz Alcohol Ink Art markers :)

Both are ever so versatile and complement each other... and go fabulously with the rest of the Distress ink range.

The Distress Markers are easy to use... and makes your artwork look like a professional watercolour artist's work :)

The Kaszazz AIAM are amazing - they will colour and draw on practically anything including metals, glass and pebbles. Finding the right colour bling or embellishment is not a problem anymore!

Both colour, blend and draw beautifully! If you don't have these or have access to use them, I highly recommend you find a way. Join a marker layby club, gather some friends for a "marker party" (lol) or ask about my payment plans!

Below... the teddy card is coloured with Kaszazz Alcohol Ink Art Markers; the frog ATC is 'painted' with the Distress Markers.

Butterflies and Seahorses

As you may know, Kaszazz has a gorgeous new product - Alcohol Ink Art Markers. I have been having a lovely time drawing, colouring, blending and rendering with these gorgeous markers. Unlike the most awesome watercolour markers, Distress Ink Markers by Tim Holtz, these new markers are solvent based and will work on anything including metals, rhinestones, glass and buttons.

Being the based on the colours of the Kaszazz cardstock essentials means we now have 71 colours at our fingertips to colour co-ordinate embellishments to the projects! Plus all the extra colours you could create by blending. And yes, they blend beautifully with those other brands :)

The best ink pads to use with these markers are the Distress Inks or Memento as both waterbased inks.
Below is the Kaszazz seahorse stamp coloured with the Alcohol Ink Art Markers. The background was created with the waves and flourish stamps using Distress Inks.

The other two cards in this photo are my samples (one front and one of the back) from the latest Kaszazz Mega Demo on 6th April. Everyone had a wonderful time blending, stamping and punching to create beautiful butterfly greeting cards.

A Mega Demo is a FREE Kaszazz event where a team of consultants work together to create a big "Make 'n' Take" demonstration.

Just like a craft party you could host at home (also for FREE) except you would be in a hall with a group of friends and other likeminded people at a table hosted by your consultant. Each consultant would have 1 or 2 tables to look after. Everyone makes the same project, enters raffles, enjoys afternoon tea or supper, and receives a $50 Kaszazz voucher (spend $50, choose another $50 FREE).

Mega Demos are always fun - making cards and chatting about craft (amongst other things!)... and they're FREE with no obligation to buy anything.

Look out for a Mega Demo near you :)

Happy Scrappy Day!

Dragons and Easter Bilbies

Its my Dad's birthday today and his shed has finally been built. We've decided to call it his Toy Box as its a bit smaller than expected!!! 6 metres isn't very big anymore :P
Its great though, green walls with a little rollerdoor and yellow framed sliding window. Nice height too, I can't even reach the top of the door... nothing to do with me only being 5ft tall :) lol

Well, the pics of the shed are on the camera but I've got a photo of the miniature shed Mum created to decorate Dad's cake. Too cool for words :)

The other pic is of the birthday card I made for Dad... using a dragon stamp, distress inks, Kaszazz alcohol ink markers and pewter distress stain. He loves it!

The Easter Bilby helps the Easter Bunny here in Australia... so on Sunday if we've all been good, our kitchen table will have chocolate bilbies hopping about.

My family draws on, colours and paints boiled eggs then eats them with strips (soldiers) of toast every Easter Sunday morning. Always a fun day :)

I hope whatever you for Easter this year, you are happy and spending time with people you love. Happy Easter!!!

Hand painted with markers and Distress inks - stamps by Kaszazz.

My Dad's birthday cake with his new miniature shed.

Just like the real thing, this shed has green walls and a little yellow rollerdoor!

Living the Life I Love...

...with Kaszazz, Redbubble and Country Bumpkin!!!

My world is surrounded and filled to the brim (and overflowing some days) with art of all types, both at home and at work. I reckon I'm a bit lucky!

One of the things I've been working on is my kite scrapbook page and card workshop. Its being submitted to Kasazz for them to publish!!!

Just cleaning up my instructions then need to do a test with customers... then its ready to go!

This project uses the wonderful. ersatile string otherwise known as twine. Its ideal for kite strings, flower stems, vines, flourishes, plant tendrils and hair for fairies... or Christmas Angels!

Even Trucks Can Have a Mini-Me

My son and I were out in the real world a few weeks ago, checking out a science fair. I enjoyed it but Zac absolutely loved it!!! So many people talking and demonstrating things about science (obviously), art (a little bit!), maths (always seems to follow science everywhere), and what I've found to be scientists' fave words... order and chaos. Even Deane and Rob from 'The Curiosity Show' were there selling their new dvd of fave episodes.

I had a few moments of 'wow' too. We watched this guy play with fire (very cool), checked out a mini art show tucked away to the side, and found this awesome truck!

And on this truck's fender was the most adorable Mini-Me... an exact miniature replica of the truck, made of paper! Love it! That is very cool indeed!!!

Hope you have a happy and creative day!

:D
Jenny

Hopping About with Kaszazz

I joined Kaszazz (specialists in selling scrapbooking supplies from home) as a consultant a few days ago. They're a wonderful, friendly, helpful and creative bunch, just like my friend Robyn (who introduced me to this cool company). I was eyeing off this gorgeous scrapbook shop that is for sale but there was no way I could buy it, let alone leave my awesomely incredible job with Country Bumpkin.
For now, I won't be advertising too much that I'm a consultant, but if you do need anything, just let me know! There is an online catalogue at the Kaszazz website plus I have them for sale for AU$9.95 each if you'd prefer to flip real pages.

I attended their Team Training Day on Sunday... I was lucky enough to be included even though I wasn't a Kaszazz member then - I had a totally brilliant day! A quick meeting then right into having a wonderful creative day. Just how meetings should be run!

For the day we could enter a scrappy competition which needed to include their large diecut alphabet and be made only from all things Kaszazz (and any regular household products).

I grabbed this opportunity with both hands and hopped straight for my frog stamps, green and blue paper/card, Smooch paint and spritz, Tim Holtz distress inks and the groovylishus Tim Holtz distress markers (my current fave water-soluble textas). A few hours of stamping, painting, inking, cutting, distressing, spritzing and more painting (mmmm, Smooch!!) and sticking together, created a marvellous 'page' - A 12"x12" (30.5cm x 30.5cm) artwork which I'll frame and hang in the kitchen. I also used a couple of flower embossing dies and punches to create the lilies (attached with tiny brads) and petite daisies (glued with Glossy Accents) floating around the page. Some of the frogs have scrap cardstock layered underneath to life them off the page.

Here are a few pics... I hope you like it!!! I certainly do :D
(All products used are available from Kaszazz. If you'd like more information, let me know or visit their website.)

My finished masterpiece!

Firstly, using Distress Inks, ink the edges of the green backing paper. The blue backing paper has been sanded, ripped, inked and splashed. The lettering was inked in yellow and green Distress Stains then the edges inked in pink and when dry frosted with Smooch Spritz. 

The green backing paper (left) has a big square hole in the centre where I've cut out the lily pads (right).  The frogs that I've cut out after painting were stamped onto a pale yellow paper (because it had a great textured background). These were all stamped with the gorgeous Kaszazz frog stamps with Stayz-On ink.

Pictured left is one of the friendly frogs patiently waiting to dry while I finish his friends. You can see the texture of the pretty green backing paper here. Pictured right is the frogs drying after having the lily pad edges inked in green and pink. 

Finished lilies floating on the page... all flowers are cut from the pale pink paper (using both sides) and have yellow Smooch centres plus a dab of Glossy. 

The hippy frog on the stump welcomes you to check out my favourite shoes... yes, I really do have these shoes and I wear them all the time. I just love them!!!

The word "Frogs" has spotty Glossy highlights added after it was completely dry while the word "Rock" is 'raw' paper - no ink or markers, just diecut and glued down.

You can see how the frog is lifted off the page here... by using a little bit of card, folded with glue between the layers.

If you'd like the names and codes of the products I've used, let me know. I used quite a few and this post is long enough!

Thanks for reading my blog. I hope you have a wonderful day!

:D

Jenny

Learning to Stitch with Margaret Lee

A few weeks ago, my boss Fiona, of Country Bumpkin, gave myself and fellow workmates a lesson with Margaret Lee, Adelaide's most talented embroiderer and teacher of Chinese (Su) and Japanese embroidery. Margaret taught us a few basics of Chinese embroidery enabling us to start a pretty and delicate orchid picture. She was very patient and kind, with so many positive and encouraging comments for us all. It was a lovely relaxing time!
That night, all I managed to finish was a stem and a bit of leaf... so since then I've been adding to the picture. I've finished the stems, large leaf and 2 petals... not much, but thought I'd share anyway!!! And although I have a feeling its not quite the correct technique, its pretty and I'm enjoying myself.




Off to go start making this month's ATCs now... April's theme is "Indulgence". Promises to be fun, as always!

Happy Easter!

Holiday 'Snaps'

I went for a mini holiday this weekend in the CBD of Adelaide... Last night my work friends and I had our belated Christmas Bollywood Party. It was a blast!!! Everyone got dressed in gorgeous, colourful traditional sarees (mine was green of course) and other Indian clothing, ate amazing food, danced and laughed!!! We all took loads of photos but the pics I'm sharing here are what I drew on my way home on the train... after having a delicious yum cha breaky and going for a wander up and down Rundle Mall.

Firstly, I did an owl getting speed wobbles while riding on a rough road (the Tour Downunder was on and I've owls on the brain from doing my Sketchbook Project), one of my shoes (without the blisters and bandaids... nobody wants to see that!), and my groovy new bag (holiday souvenir).




Then as I gazed out the window at the gorgeous sea view our train has most of the way home, I drew a pelican, then gave him a few friends.




I haven't worked out why my suns always look unfinished without a face, but it could stem from living in the world of make believe half the time!

Always feels so good to draw!

Hope your weekend was just as amazing as mine!

Owls and the Sketchbook Project

I joined the Arthouse Sketchbook Project late last year - all of a few weeks ago! (saying "last year" makes it sound so long ago!). We had various themes to choose from and I've chosen 'Why did the owl make everyone laugh?'. Well, why not, I thought, everyone needs a good laugh now and then... thinking that it would just be awesome to draw heaps of owls and things that made others laugh. Note I said 'others' and not 'people'. You know I can't draw humans very well... and if you didn't, you do now!!

I've been drawing quite a few sketches over the past couple of weeks, and have finally drawn one I'm happy to share. Its still in pencil form and scanned pretty rough but I think its pretty cool. Its not exactly an owl, but these birds behave like owls, so I'm including them in my project.

This first owl is a Tawny Frogmouth, an Australasian 'owl', famous for pretending to be tree branches or squawking with their big yellow mouths open to scare intruders away. I love them. They have so much character and attitude! Their chicks are totally adorable too, all you can see are fluffy feathers, big black eyes and huge sharp beaks!

If you need a quick art fix or want to learn more about this project, check out Arthouse Sketchbook Project or the Sketchbook Project group at RB. 

You can never have too much art or creativity in your life!

ArtDolls and ATCs

Life is wonderful... but you all know that!!! My world is surrounded by art ... at work and at home. What more could I ask (apart from more time so I can get more creations finished!!).

Here is my latest creation. She's an ArtDoll for a swap at an online world of creativity, Born2Create. I've named her 'Piper the Happy Hippy'. So named because of what she's made from... pipe cleaners! 

The pipe cleaner bones are covered with calico strips and matt modpodge, that great glue that sticks just about anything! Her hair is made from fake ostrich feathers (wool) and her face is painted with copic markers.The necklace is acrylic crystal beads threaded on blue wire... I love the coloured wires we can get these days. Not just gold, silver or clear anymore! 


She has a sunflower in her hair which, when down, is nearly down to her knees and wears groovy hippy style cotton print clothes - trimmed with zigzag scissors (can't remember their correct name!) and handstitched. 


So that's Piper, all finished and packed into an envelope, ready for her trip to WA... where hopefully, she'll be well received!

 

Still crazy about ATCs (Art Trading Cards). They are such wonderful little artworks that just get the creative side of the brain working really well. I found a box of them at work and when I've a spare moment, they'll be added around this wooden frame we have on a wall in the shop (Country Bumpkin). So many amazing creations... all embroidered by hand. Such inspiration!!! 

I swap my ATCs both locally and online. In the past few months we'd had themes from 'Friendship' through to 'Way Out West'. Mostly I create my ATCs with papers, fabrics, inks, glimmermist (and other paints), scissors, punches, pipe cleaners, bling and beads, plus a few (!) other things. 

Crochet has also been entering the creative space these days... must be all the cold weather! Scarves, gloves and flowers have been created... 

I'm just having so much fun!!! Hope you are too... Happy creating everyone :D

Friendship, swaps with Born2Create

Coffee, Tea and Meeee, swaps with Born2Create

Blue, swaps with the locals

DSP - Polkadots and Stripes, swaps with Born2Create

Oriental, swaps with the locals

Baby Girl, swaps with Born2Create

Twinchie Swap with Kerri from B2C

The Beach, swaps with the locals

A Day in the Life - for Drawing Day

A most exciting day in the life of me... 

I woke up (always a good start to the day), fed Socks our cat, had coffee, started a sketch, gazed out the kitchen window, played games on my iphone, destroyed the greys in my hair (and almost turned it orange but that's ok... better than grey!!!), had lunch and another coffee, chatted to our neighbours (their rabbits anyway), mowed the grass, pulled all the weeds and soursobs up, sang Meatloaf and The Beatles loudly while mowing and weeding (with the headphones on so didn't hear my horrid singing voice, therefore sounded brilliant!!!), had dinner, watched the box (Dr Who, then a movie 'the Ugly Truth' (very funny!) and now 'Notting Hill' while typing this for Drawing Day)... so far, that's my day. Told you it was exciting!!!!

Thanks for looking... I enjoyed my day and I hope you had a wonderful Drawing Day too!!!
:D
Jenny

ps... I'll get the textas out in a bit and see if I can't improve my scribbles... wish me luck :D