Letting it Drip with Shimmerz Vibez--New Video!

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend! I am feeling so renewed and replenished that I'm on a creative roll. I can't wait to show you all the fun I've been having!

I've got a new Shimmerz video for you!

In this video, I demonstrate an easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy technique using Shimmerz Vibez. This technique is so simple (and fun!) that your 6-year-old could do it with you. And since Shimmerz is an easy clean-up and non-toxic, you won't mind sharing a little with your sweetie. (Maybe...)

Have fun!



Here are some non-moving pictures of my finished projects.

Have a great day!

xoxo
Bethany Kartchner

Doodle Lion

Before I start with my topic, I'd like to answer a few questions that I've received in my comments.

1. Where did you get that fabric? 

I purchased it at a local store in Chandler, Arizona called 35th Avenue Sew and Vac. I stopped in to drop off my sick vacuum and left with a treasure! Happy day!

2. What Shimmerz color did you use on this layout?

Initially, I thought that it was Shimmerz Vibez in Before Dawn. However, yesterday I tried to recreate the look and realized that I used Shimmerz Spritz in Licorice. I hope that I didn't lead anyone astray with this error! Shimmerz Vibez in Before Dawn doesn't have as much shimmer in it so the effect is much more subtle.

Now, I have a question for you.

I've gotten a couple of comments from people who have had trouble using Shimmerz products. I would like to know what trouble you had and what product you used. If you don't feel comfortable publicly commenting, please send me an email. I'm working on a trouble-shooting video and would like to give you real-life solutions to your Shimmering problems. (giggle) Don't worry, I'll change your name to protect the innocent.

Now onto the really fun stuff. I did this art journal page a few weeks ago just for fun. I've been wanting to try my hand at doodling whimsical animals and this is what I did.

Initially my lion was supposed to be a cute rabbit, but he morphed...a...lot...

 

I used Shimmerz paints, Pearlz and Blingz on his clothes, hair and fur.

I also experimented with another fun technique on these circles. I'll be doing a video later on it so I'll keep it under wraps until then.

While I worked on this page, I felt especially thankful for my husband, Todd, who is such a source of strength in my life. He doesn't get too many layouts because well...the kids are so cute, but he plays a big role in my art journal pages because in some ways, they are more intimate and entirely devoted to, ummm, me.

Have a great day!

xoxo
Bethany

Playing Around with Pearlz

I've been playing around a lot with my new Shimmerz Pearlz, getting to know the product. I did this art journal page using Pearlz as the background. I incorporated some My Little Shoebox papers, letter stickers and overlays too.


You can see some of the details in my close-ups. While my Pearlz were drying, I spritzed them with some Shimmerz Spritz in Chickadee just to add a little more interest. I like the subtle color.


My journaling was a bit too obvious, so I toned it down with a layer of Pearlz. Now it is all pearly too. Love that!


Materials: My Little Shoebox papers, overlays and letter stickers; Shimmerz Spritz, Pearlz and Paints; Heidi Swapp crown stamp; Autumn Leaves stamps; Encore and Stazon ink pads; charcoal pencil; vintage buttons; Sharpie pen; Prima bling

Spring Robin

Here's my second entry for the Spring Green contest at SIStv. I love how it turned out.

The background chipboard is the front of a Ritz cracker box that I cut up. I put a piece of Bazzil black cardstock on the back just to frame it more.


Journaling: The first robin announces SPRING. Oh what a joyous time! Walking barefoot on the dewy grass, the smell of flowers.

I used MM paint, old dictionary page, gesso, Daisy D's paper, Bazzil cardstock, Distress ink, StazOn ink, BG stamps, AC pen, Scenic Route chipboard as a mask for my robin, Golden Pumice gel for the robin's texture. I also used colored pencils.

Here's a close-up of my flowers. I won't tell you how I did them here. I'm saving that cool technique for something amazing coming up in the very near future. (rubbing hands together...)


I used Golden Pumice Gel to do the bird because I wanted her to have some texture. Then after it had dried overnight, I painted her: first with gesso, then with off-white, then red (for the breast) then with light brown, then with a darker brown. I wanted her to look like a real bird with bits of colors peeking out. I'm not sure if I was totally successful, but this is the first time I've ever painted a bird.


Don't look too close at the dictionary page that I used on this project. I wasn't paying attention to the page when I tore it out and I happened to choose the first page in the I section. If you look closely, you'll see that just below the branch, idiot and idiotic are defined. This is not supposed to be some secret message or social commentary. I just wasn't paying attention. It does add a bit of humor, however, and that I appreciate.

What I've Been Up To

Goodness me! Where has the week gone? I've been very neglectful of my blog lately and I've been missing it. I simply haven't had the time these last few weeks. Between the hours of physical therapy each day and my basic schedule (which is pretty demanding) I only had an itty-bitty amount of time to dedicate to myself. I had to make the choice between creating something and blogging. (I chose to create.) Things seem to be settling down now though. Routines are being re-established and I should have more time next week to catch-up.

I think I finished this page for my art journaling class. I may go back to add more doodles, but I'm not sure.


Since I did this for the Amp Up Textures lecture, I used Golden Pumice Gel (not the kind for your feet, silly...although...in a pinch, it might work...giggle) and a stencil to do the big five by the heart. I tried to get a good picture to show the texture for you.


Once it dried, I painted it with gesso and inked the edges with my distress pad.

The following close-up is of my journaling and text circles. I used a random circular toy to make marks in my initial background gesso. (That's what happens when certain somebodies leave their toys out around here...I use them in my art projects.) I punched the circles out of an old dictionary page, inked them with two shades of brown distress ink and placed them inside the dry gesso. The punched circles were slightly smaller so you can still kind-of see the gesso texture. (If you look very closely, put on those bifocals.) Once they were down, I outlined them with a charcoal pencil and a black colored pencil. I really like the effect. (Note to self: do this again.)


I am particularly happy with the way my bird turned out. I used a Scenic Route Chipboard bird as a template. The paper is Luxe. I doodled and used my colored pencils. (In my opinion, colored pencils are a way-underutilized tool in scrapping and such.) Seriously fun. (I'm planning on doing this same technique in my next scrapbook page. Love it!)

That flower is made of Tinkering Ink's Rip Strips and a Karen Foster jewel brad. The edges of the rip strips are frayed to add texture.


This was a fun section to complete. It came together thanks to stuff from a humongo package from my sweet friend Heidi (who is now the DT coordinator for GCD Studios! Congrats!) I just used a bunch of stuff and smooshed it all together. There is some Tinkering Ink, K&Co, (unsure of what those cool word stickers are), and the Pinocchio is from The Paper Studio. I like how Pinocchio looks like he's dancing.


I'm also using this page as part of the latest Creative Therapy Challenge. It is on something that you've always wanted to learn. Ever since I saw my first art journal, I've wanted to do one myself, but I was pretty intimidated until I took Dina's class. Now, I'm feeling like I can conquor the world! One page at a time...

There are a lot of different techniques that I used on this page, if you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I will try to explain what I did for you. Don't be shy! I love comments!

Oh, and I'm working on a little tutorial on lettering for you. I've had a few people on Scrapmuse ask me how I did the lettering on this page, and I'm hoping to have something up for you next week.

First Attempts

I'm taking an art journaling class right now and I thought that I'd share my very first pages. I'm not totally happy with the way they turned out, but like walking, art takes practice.

This is my very first page ever.


This is my second page. It began as a wipe-off place for extra paint from my stencils and brushes.

I did this for a challenge on Creative Therapy on something that you do for yourself everyday. My thing is solitude. Everyday I need some time alone in my studio to create or I get a little testy....just a little...okay, a lot.



I'm totally loving this new art form! I can't tell you how much I'm learning as I fiddle around, paint, spray inks and generally let all inhibitions fly away. It is really fun.