PanPastel Canvas - Sept Canvas Create in steps....

So you saw the beginning of the canvas in the last post, but today I got to play with the coloring.... OMG, I cannot say this enough, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this medium.... and the layers of color are so flipping fun to play with.... I cannot wait to panpastel the whole house at this point....

So here are my steps.... the lightest color first.....

Then, more of the shade color, and darker shade.... oh the layers are awesome!!!!  And the stems come into play.... those were a little hard for me, but with the help of my handy eraser, I was able to make them exactly how I like them..... oh the shading... love this so much..... can you tell?????

Ok, and now the big reveal!!!!!!  All the shading is done and the corners were made darker and frame the canvas.... I love the way this came out, a little distressed at the edges, incorporates my love for distress on all my stuff.... and wow, what to do with this and all the others I must make!!!!

Well, I hope this has a little influence on your to try a new technique or take a new class to open that creativity that can get a little stiffled.... I know mine had been recently and now, I am ready to go!!!!!

Till next time, happy crafting!
D

Pictures!

Ok, so as promised, I have pictures of my fun-ness from yesterday - which I must add a note here:  I was up till 3am still so excited.....

So first up, the PanPastel board.... I absolutely love this....

 

 

 



And now, class #2 Mixed Media Canvas

 

 

 

 

And one last creation - this is a work in progress..... Donna has online classes and this is my attempt at the September Canvas Create... this is phase one - tomorrow is phase two - COLOR!!!!!

 

 

 

Well, hope you like and take a look into taking something from Donna - way, way too much fun!!!!

Happy Crafting...
D

PanPastel Board

card on my wall 004, a photo by dani.beckman on Flickr.

This is the board I made in Donna Downey's PanPastel class this weekend.... I absolutely love the way it turned out!

Ok, need to be updating with all my new funness!

So, I am always in search of new and exciting techniques and people really.... WELL, have I got some new fun-ness for sharing.... I hope to get some pics taken tomorrow of the crafty goodness I have been working on and learning - never can learn everything, but I am definitely trying.....  MIXED MEDIA - need I say more, well, yes, I must!

Just when I thought I had seen it all..... I come across the fabulous Donna Downey studio - and where is it you might ask..... 5 min from my home - right!!!!!!  Whoda thunk it..... and did I fall in love - YOU BETCHA.... and yes, they are all caps because I am so excited......  In 2 days, I think I purchased one of everything in that store.... no, okay, not everything - which is good because I want to go back tomorrow - sadly they are closed on Sundays, BUT I do work at a place that gives us Monday off on holiday, and the store is open..... for those of you who are local, head to Huntersville and partake in the creative amazement that is Donna Downey Studios.... http://www.donnadowney.com/  - there are so many things and the people there are like instant family - love them all...

So, what has me so excited you might ask???????  PanPastels - that is what!  I took the class this morning and was so in love with Donna's work and teaching method that I asked to stay for the afternoon class.... ok, that is not entirely true - they held me hostage.... LOL... and boy, was it worth it!  Well, what did I make you also might ask??????  Two awesome canvases (is that the multiple for canvas or does it have some odd terminology like geese instead of gooses??? - and back to the point) that are sitting in my craft room on display - again, pictures tomorrow as this is 10pm and no light to do them justice.  I also followed a handy video that Donna has in her store for a September Canvas Create Class.... AND I am almost done with that one - so in one weekend, I was able to start and finish (nearly, tomorrow will be the decider) THREE awesome pieces that I am super proud of.... and I am in love with a whole new media - and mixed media.....

Ok, must also admit that the painting and dripping and text paper and stamping and gesso and image transfers has my head spinning in so many directions and I feel like putting modeling paste on EVERYTHING just to see what would happen and what I can make.... I finally feel like I have some fresh ideas and they are all centered in the combination of card making and the mixed media pieces... stay tuned - what if I used the sticky backed canvas used on cards to make smaller pieces and put them on my cards...... hmmmmm..............  the mind is racing and it is the most excited I have been in a long time....

So after all that long winded-ness.... I really want to say THANKS to everyone who mentioned Donna Downey and to my dear hubby who was the one who offered to turn around once we passed the studio because it is only Huntersville, we CAN turn around... and Melissa for still being open to letting us in with 10 min before closing and then catching me hook line and sinker.... I am a goner!  I love it all and can't wait to take more and more and more classes....  I have to say that I feel Melissa is for sure my long lost twin and connected soul sister with our Libra selves and Donna who didn't kick me out and will allow me to be a fun stalker - definitely not the scary kind ;o)

So, everyone, get out there and ENJOY creating again!  Start with some piece of inspiration and let it take over... go with it.....

Happy Crafting,
D

Tired but getting super excited.....

I am so tired from doing tons and tons of homework, but my reward is coming...  Hubby is taking me to StampAway and I am taking Tim Holtz' and Shari Carroll's classes!!!!  How much fun!!!!!  Tomorrow is my Friday and away we go!

First Week - Complete!

So, my first week of grad school is complete..... WOW, was that a lot of work!

For all those who came out to Stampers' Alley last weekend for my make n' take - THANK you for taking the time to wait in line.... I cannot believe I had a LINE!  Next time, I will try and remember to have more stations available.... I did have a fab time and met some very nice new stampers!  Hope you all had fun too!

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with friends making thank you cards - we made over 100 cards in one day.... Whew, that was a lot, but they looked awesome and I am so proud of the work we did.... started at 10am and took a lunch break, and finished around 5pm.... then crashed on the couch the rest of the night while the NASCAR race was on and by the time I woke up, it was getting close to the end, and not a good one for us, but apparently "that is what the fans like" - I personally will get on my soapbox right now with the comment that it is not about the crashing.... it is about the racing - and to my point, the Formula One race that we had on today, had some amazing passing and lead changes without all the destruction!  Oh well, time to build more cars, Matt will be a busy guy this week!

As for me, more homework!  And some needed time in my craft room (I hope) - maybe I can get some images uploaded by the end of this week.... I am thinking that we (my stamp buddies) should challenge ourselves to pick one item in the craft room that is not normally used anymore - and make 2 project with them.... While creating yesterday, we were commenting on how eyelets, for example, just kind of sit in their containers and are rarely taken out and used these days..... so maybe that will be the first one - this week, 2 projects that have eyelets!  Would love to see if any of my virtual buddies will join the challenge and post some project for me to see.....

Until next time,
Happy Stamping!
Dani

Make N Take - this Saturday, 6/30

I will be doing the below Make N Take this coming weekend at Stamper's Alley!  Come and join the fun, hang out, see the new Distress Markers work their watercolor magic with these great Hero Arts stamps.... I will be demo-ing this card from 10:30-1:30 so stop on by when you have time and play!

The "tag" can be tailored with several sayings - not just a thank you... and the colors allow for this to be masculine if needed.... I just love how the shadow ink in soft sand just blends wonderfully with the Antique Linen distress ink....
Hope you like!
Happy Stamping!
D