Night prompt

So, I've been doing pretty good on my weight watchers.  Over the cheer weekend, I gained a pound but I know it's because we had to eat out everywhere.  I've decided that the next time we go out of town for cheer, I'm going to bring a cooler with point friendly foods and snacks.  Luckily, I was able to lose a few pounds this week to make up for the gain.  I am still really enjoying the freedom of weight watchers and I can't wait to get to my goal!

Moving on.....the prompt for February at Creative Everyday is "Night."  I had actually started this piece before they posted it, so I was so excited to see that it fit the theme nicely.  I had created some backgrounds awhile back and I really wanted to use them.  

This little guy was taken from the art to share in one of my Sommerset magazines.  I thought he was super cute!  Of course, he needed a little cap and something to lean on.  I mean, he's so full of swag!  He looks like he's saying, "Just try me and watch me go all ghetto on your a##!"

Seriously though, I found this sweet quote to go along with the theme and it seemed to just make the whole thing tie up nicely.  Does that even make sense?  You know, like a pretty bow on a package?  

If you have to explain it.....

Anyshways,  I hope you like it.  The glowing lights are done with a super easy art trick that I learned at The Artist Within.  I will have to show you sometime.  But not today, cause I didn't think that far ahead so I don't have pictures of the steps I took.  Sorry.

Cheer Competition Hangover

So, I spent the weekend running around after a bunch of cheerleaders, making sure that they had everything they needed for competition and were where they needed to be, when they needed to be there!  I am EXHAUSTED!  It's not just the actual competition that wears me out.  It's the fact that I never get a good night's sleep in hotels.  I wish I could pack my tempur-pedic mattress with me.  That thing has me so spoiled!  Anyways, two nights at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas and I was ready to come home.  I didn't think that I would feel like doing anything artistic, but after a long nap yesterday, I was refreshed and dare I say... energetic?  So I got busy in my brand new art journal.  It's from strathmore.  It is called a visual journal and I love it.  The pages are great for multi-media, including watercolors.  I just layed down layer after layer and then added a picture from the art to share in Sommerset Studio's magazine.  It's always fun to make the first page in a new journal.  So many blank pages with so much potential. 

Side note:  My friend is coming over again tonight to finish the art journals we were creating from USPS envelopes.  I will post pics when we finish!

Creating a new art journal

So I had a girl's night in with a friend of mine.  We had been trying to get together to play with our art supplies and finally the stars aligned and we were able to get together!   I had seen a really cool tutorial on a blog that I follow and I wanted to try it. I thought this get together would be the perfect time.  If you are interested in the full tutorial you can click here.  I figured I wouldn't recreate the wheel!  :)  Plus, Amy's blog is awesome. 

Basically this project takes several of those really cool, waterproof Tyvek UPS envelopes that you can swipe at the post office.  As Amy says on her blog, "I consider them a gift." 

After cutting them so that the insides were exposed, I used alcohol inks, ranger color wash sprays, acrylic paints, and stamps to decorate them.  After letting that dry, I sealed them with a glaze varnish.  It ends up looking like really cool fabric! 

I had purchased a photography magazine at Half Priced Books for 1.00 and I used one of the photos for the cover.  Once these dry I will take my two pieces of Tyvek and glue them together, ugly side to ugly side.  Then I will sew them along the edges.  This will be the cover to my new art journal. 

This is a picture of the one my friend made.  I love the colors she used!  It was messy but lots of fun! 

This is my little space that I have carved out of the girl's playroom!  It's pretty cozy, but I love .

Once I get them put together, I will show you the finished product.