Postcard Art ...

When I returned from the "She Matters Art Retreat" last September - I was feeling pretty inspired, I just wanted to quit my job and stay home and create - play with paints, inks, papers, mediums ... all day, everyday.  Well of course the reality is I have to work to live ha ha ... but I had a huge need to create in my down time ... but where to start???  My talented friend Melanni told me to start small, fill my time with creative projects that did not require the hours of time I did not have anymore ~ but something to fill that creative urge to play with colour every day!  She suggested the ever popular art form of ATC's - which are small cards that are decorated and often traded with other artists.  

At the retreat Christy had given us a postcard of watercolour paper for us to decorate - the idea was to send home or to a friend from the retreat - but as we had so many lovely projects to do there and visiting to do - our little postcard art really never got off the ground, I had - when we were there, started painting a "She Art" girl on my card, but was not thrilled with my background so stuck it in my case to look at when I got home.  So this is what I started on, I decided that the "postcard" size was perfect - I could get some 9x12 watercolour paper and cut four to a sheet - I also have bought a pack of the postcard watercolour size that Christy sells on her "Scarlet Lime" site since them, which is an awesome weight and works very well.  And I dove in to this idea ... I decided that I would do up some special ones for my "She Matters" Family first and it gave me a drive to get the project started ... these are some of the cards I have done using various techniques ... different stamps such as Dylusion Stamps and Christy Tomlinson Stamps, and various layering techniques using paper, paint, inks, stamps and stencils - which I learned from taking a couple online workshops from Christy as well as of course attending the retreat.  :)

So some of the first postcard art cards that I did:

Card made for my bestie ... using some further techniques I learned at The Inked Stamper - and incorporating my Christy Tomlinson stamp as well into the design.  :)

SOME MY SHE MATTERS ART RETREAT FAMILY - SEPT 2013

Art is a part of my life ...

It has been quite the time since I last blogged ... I seriously want to become a better and more frequent blogger in 2014 and beyond :)  I was thinking this morning I know I put too much on myself, I figure I need to write these long detailed blog posts to show off what I am doing, or share art or thoughts ... both my blogs suffer from this thinking as I constantly take pictures of what I am doing or loving in life ~ now I have instagram to feed the addiction of posting pictures here and there, but I have a need to write as part of my creativity ... ssssssssooooooo ....

going to try to have shorter blog posts but more often ... full of pictures and tidbits of what I am loving and experiencing in life ... It is one of my goals for the year - be a better blogger and just do it!

I have actually picked a "One Little Word" this year - ACTION - never have done so before but seriously have been inspired by amazing women such as Christy Tomlinson and Margie Romney-Aslett - who I was blessed to spend some time with last year and who are awesome INSTAGRAM-ers and share their lives and creative voice with us everyday, constant inspiration!
Christy also has some amazing e-courses, retreats, and monthly inspiration going on - check all of this out at her workshop page and follow her blog for all the updates.  Margie has awesome "Spark your Life" e-courses that she does - so affordable and fun and delightful ways to brighten up your home and add that creative touch!  Amazing women - hugs

Also I have some new amazing women to follow such as Jeanne Oliver and Roben-Marie Smith - who both this year have helped jump start my creativity with courses and projects such as "Studying Under the Masters" and the "Documented Life Project" - and appreciation of so so many talented and amazing ARTISTS out there ... and yes that means "Masters" but also Teachers and all the amazing people who have a voice in someway about ART!  All of YOU!!! 

So I have lots going on creatively and will definitely work on that goal of blogging regularly ... and sharing a little of what I have been doing and will be working on.

Till then ...
CREATE!