Mixed Media Fun

I signed up for another Big Picture Class - Scrapbooking Your Faith. We're in week 2, and part of this week's assignment was to create a mixed media piece using a verse or phrase that speaks to you/inspires you. I chose "my hands are holding you" from the lyrics to 10th Avenue North's Song "By Your Side." It's a song that God is constantly using to remind me that he is always with me no matter what. Amazing how often I forget that fact. Maybe seeing this wall art every day will help me remember! Here's a few making of photos -

Started with a blank canvas, tissue tape and color card stock, then painted the whole thing purple.

Used some crumpled cardstock and a scrapbooking flower to make some color flecks.

 Painted my hands, then pressed each on the canvas. Went back over the edges/gave it more definition.

Then I added more tissue tape/cardstock. I cut out a butterfly and my letters out of chipboard using my Cricut. Painted the letters/butterfly and glued to the canvas.

The finished piece:

One Little Word

I started participating in this thing last year called One Little Word. Basically, you pick a word at the beginning of the year and then carry that word with you, invite it into your life, etc. for that year. This year my word is "GO." I'm hoping it will motivate me to make some big changes in my life (which will require me to be my word from last year - courageous). I'm also excited because I signed up for an online scrapbooking class at Big Picture Classes specifically for OLW. There is prompt every month to do with your word, as well as a gallery and forums where you can share your journey with your word with everyone else in the class. I've already been pleasantly surprised at the positive comments I've received on my images so far. Can't wait to see what the rest of the class and the rest of the year holds! Here's some of my progress so far:

My necklace charm. Not a requirement for the class, but I made one last year and it's a good reminder of my word on a daily basis.

This is my title page. I hand-drew the background in Painter, added Ali's border/title in Photoshop, then stuck the foam stickers on for my word.

One of the first prompts was to take a self portrait photo.

This is my page for January. The prompts were all about defining/introducing your word.

So, what's your One Little Word?

Silversmithing

Finally! Photos of some of my silver creations.

Art Clay is Magical

Art Clay, (a type Precious Metal Clay-PMC), is a special type of clay that once fired, turns into .999 fine silver. (There are also copper, bronze, and gold types.) This was my second time trying my hand at it, and I will admit I was a little too ambitious in my designs. And I had never tried stones or the syringe type of clay, so I ran into problems. I managed to save all the pieces (they all almost broke or did break at some point). They ended up not looking like my original design idea. Not super happy with the rings, pretty happy with the butterfly. But, art clay is pretty cool anyway, no matter what the finished piece looks like. It's clay that turns into silver after all!

Flutterbys!!!

Mom & I never noticed this before, but apparently the flowers on the side of our house attract butterflies. The biggest one was camera shy (he didn't want to open his wings), but I got some great photos anyway.