Make Art!

I'm slowly posting pages of my ArtHouse Sketchbook project. I thoroughly enjoyed making this book and tho some things didn't turn out the way I wanted - it was an awesome experience.

Here's the inside cover, the title page of my book. My journal theme was First thing in the Morning, Last thing at Night. I started with an idea in mind, but found my art didn't want to play with that idea. After weeks of pushing and pulling, I realized I was in my own way. I let go and just let the page develop as it wanted.

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What I learned by letting the art take it's own form was that first thing in the morning and last thing at night, I'm thinking about making art. So this naturally became the title. I'm amazed by the other artists. Take a look through their work. I feel like such an amateur! Oh yeah, I am! Doh!

This page was completed using acrylic paint, dried acrylic rings of paint, letter stickers (painted over and layered for dimension), and hardware. Gorilla glue was very necessary for this page. I love to use things that are not common to art to create art.

Hope you have a great day - feel free to leave a comment if you'd like.
~ky

On the rebound

Yes, I will resume my life. The haters held sway for a period of time, but I spent a lot of thought about what I should do, and what I should allow. My Cabana Boy and my dearest friends (all those who commented and prayed or sent positive energy my way) reminded me that quitting was the WIN the haters were after.

Can you believe this? That awful night was bad enough on it's own. But it got worse. Someone... SOMEONE called the local police department.

They said their name was Carrie, and they were calling on behalf of PAULA, from Missouri, but didn't leave a callback number. Convenient. So, it's nearly midnight. Cabana Boy is asleep, I'm in my PJs. The cops ring the doorbell. All three of them stationed strategically around me door.

Flashbacks. Just like we used to do. Oh - and I hear one Rita H. Cobbs is spreading lies that I didn't live my life. Her po-dunk sheriff don't know beans, but she's parroting what he doesn't know. If I really wanted to, I could sue the pants off all of them.

Cabana boy is NOT happy. I can't believe that petty women still live in high school spreading lies and making prank FELONY calls to the police. I've given the local law enforcement groups phone numbers and names. They will track back on any future calls.

So - all that said, I'm rising above. I'm not stopping my art, nor my sharing and teaching. Be true to you, fight injustice, rise above.

~ky

P.S those of you who think you can "abort" me because of your "better knowledge" just link me you doctor and I'll ask him directly. If you aren't willing, you're a liar. Accept it and fade away.

Wild. Precious

A friend of my, Effy Wild, has started a new Ning group for art journalists. She's got challenges, soul introspection and lots of inspiration. This week's prompt is to use owls. I love owls. I was responsible for owl surveys on my last assignment as a biologist. I was very happy when I was out in the wilderness, alone in the dark, listening for sounds and smelling the cool night air. So here is my art journal page:

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The owls always had a lot to say. They never would tell me where the owls for which we surveyed were hiding. Funny little things! I made these cuties with 2 round punches and a scalloped punch, and their bodies are from nested Spellbinders dies. I sewed the ribbon to be the tree, added some felt trim for grass and painted their head pieces. I admit it, I'm a sucker for googly eyes. LOL

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This is a close up of the branch and bird I created to accent the journaling over a mix of acrylic paint. The journaling was done with a Sharpie poster paint pen.

I hope these birds bring a smile to you. These pages are in my ArtHouse Sketchbook project that will go in the mail tomorrow. Thank you for visiting and feel free to comment if you have a question.

Ciao!
~ky

CHAPTER 45: Remembering Holiday Dreams

`Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange Adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, `It WAS a curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been.

-- Chapter 12, Alice in Wonderland

I hope you have some wonderful holiday dreams to remember! We are still locked in winter in the northern hemisphere, and that makes me think of an icy blue color scheme. It is also time to start scrapping those Christmas and New Year memories!


Our generous sponsor, Nikki Sivils, is offering a huge prize to help you capture those memories! One randomly drawn winner will receive a 6x6 inch pad, 12x12 inch designer paper, and burlap covered buttons from the Happy Holly-Days Collection!


So the challenge this week, should you choose to accept it, is to share something that helps you capture your holiday memories, like a layout, mini-album or picture holder of some kind, OR to use an icy blue and white color scheme!


The design team this week will be showing off some fabulous paper from our generous sponsor, Nikki Sivils. They will be using the wonderful  "Something for Everyone" collection in beautiful Alice blue or the Happy Holly-Days collection. Take a look!

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These two ATC cards (2.5 x 3.5 inches) are made with Nikki Sivils paper and images from The Greeting Farm (so cute!) colored with Copic markers. I hope you like them - they make me happy!


You have until Friday, January 14th, 8 p.m. CST to submit your creations to the Oh, Alice! challenge blog. Remember you can either share a holiday memory or use an icy blue color scheme, so show us your stuff and one luck winner will walk away with the prize pack from Nikki Sivils!

Good luck!
~ky

A NEW YEAR...Lots of NEW sponsorships...and a WORD of THANKS...

Hey EVERYONE!

We hope that you are enjoying a little hiatus from the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year's and cannot WAIT to resume our challenge on January 8th! 2011 is going to be bringing you some EXCITING new themes, challenges, guest Designers, and TONS of new sponsorships thanks to my awesome coordinators, Margie and Tasha!

I want to thank EVERYONE for their support of Oh, Alice as we are coming up on a year of challenges-I cannot BELIEVE IT! It wouldn't be possible without you and without my AMAZINGLY TWISTED team :)

On that note, we are just stopping by today with a note of THANKS for all of our valued players and sponsors!!

All of our projects today are done using NIKKI SIVILS papers and embellishments...and not only are we SO grateful for that, we are THRILLED to announce that NIKKI SIVILS will be our first sponsor of 2011 and we have a HUGE surprise for you all NEXT WEEK, right here at Oh, ALICE!

Stay tuned and until then, please accept our SINCERE Thanks:

This project features a SomeOddGirl image colored with copics and distress inks, Nikki Sivils paper (gorgeous!), letter stickers and button, and some Stampin' Up fabric ribbon.

Stay home, enjoy the new year, and stay healthy! And again - a HUGE thanks to all our sponsors and participants! You rock!

~ky