Up all night with the artsy fairies...

I have these nights where I have so many designs and ideas in my head that I can not get a wink of sleep...last night happened to be one of them..so if I am a bit more dingy than normal, it is because of the lack of sleep..anyway, let's get to it and see if you like any of these things I came up with!

one of my fav art journal pages..gelatos and dyes

odd looking bit of blue texture island with sequins, etc...

the large bin of new items I have made lately

a football shaped chip and dip segmented dish (now in art room)

my first chip and dip dish...love it

sorta zetti fairy girl

More fun with dunce caps and collage, plus hand sewn around edges

small tag with collage image

Small tag with collage house and hand sewing

small tag with owls

These are just a few drops in the bucket of all of the things I have been making lately! It's a lot of fun, but I could sure use some good sleep!

"Back in the day..."

I used to know someone who was always referring to "Back in the day...", which is fine, unless you do it about 27 times a day, at which point everyone begins to think you live more in your "Glorious Past" where you were a legend in your own mind and everything was 100 times better than now, and that you might be trying to avoid the reality of the "Here and Now", where you actually still live with your parents, have a part time job, and a none of the time love life....remind you of anyone?? Yeah...those people...

The reason I bring up the past is not to persecute a few old boyfriends and maybe an ex or two, but I wanted to let you know that I am going to be listing some artsy videos that I made, "Back in the day..." which goes all the way back to around 2012 or so... I think today I am going to list  the very first video I ever made...It isn't huge on techniques, but is more just AN INFormative, let's get to know each other kind of video...You will get to have a quickie course on how I usually do my altered Books, explained sweetly in my ridiculous sounding Texas drawl...I'm sure you will get a kick out of it...I never realized just how TEXAn I sounded until I started doing videos! Try to ignore the voice, and just take in the sights...It shouldn't be too painful....I would love to have some feedback from you about the video if you don't mind...Just post it in the comments section...

Have you recovered from the video yet?? Ok, good...moving right along, I just wanted to do a little bit of a tutorial for you, mostly just tips and things to make your life easier if you decide to make a book or two like the little books I have been making that range in size from 2x2 inches and up to 4x4 inches...2x2 inch Art Book

 and the 4x4 inch Art book...

4x4 inch art book

These are made using the thick, watercolor Coaster tiles that you can get from Amazon, etc...and they look like this

 and then, after you get through with them, you might have backgrounds that are sorta like these...I used dyes, watercolors, inks, collage, washi tape, markers, stencils, acrylic paints, stamps, my homemade permanent watercolors/spray mists (secret recipe...) and metallic and glitter paints...whew!! I may have forgotten a few, even now!! anyway, the backgrounds can be really awesome with such a small surface to work on, and the size and shape is really great to work with...after you get the watercolor tiles/coasters embellished like you want, give the entire thing a heavy coat of some type of sealer or varnish..I love the glossy acrylic varnish by Liquitex, or the really cheap but fantastic in my opinion, the acrylic gloss medium or varnish, made by Sargent. Cheap is fantastic in this case. I love it because it is a really super glossy, almost wet look even when it has dried.You may want a more matte look, in which case you can find it in either of the brands I mentioned, or use Golden's, etc......but any type of sealer/varnish will be fine, just make sure to get a good thick coat on your page...it will last forever then, and your kids can give the books to your grandkids when they get old enough for such valuable family heirlooms...yeah...ok, moving right along...

anyway. after you have a few pages (tiles) done by both front and back, assemble the pages into book form by first deciding which way your pages need to go and in what order, then punch a couple of holes in the left hand side of each page, and put the pages together using book rings, ribbon, leather strips, etc...Be sure to do a really nice page to be used for the front page of your new book, give it a title either by hand or by using sticky letters, etc...

front page of new book "Freedom"

Back side of the front page, which means it is the first page of the inside...

Be careful when punching your holes in the pages, and make sure you have them in the order you want them to stay in....once the holes are punched, they are not going to go away...I have accidentally punched the wrong side of the page 2 times since making these, and I was sorta able to cover it up with some embellishments that I glued in over the holes....Back in the day, I wouldn't have made that mistake.....uh huh...

Ok, I have probably worn you out by now, so I am going to stop...If you have any questions, leave them below in the comments, and I will address them in the next blog...Have a great week, and remember.....

Happy Creating!!

Laura

Laura's Uniques I
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LaurasUniques

Laura Uniques II
https://laurasuniques.patternbyetsy.com/

Artist Books and Other Cool Stuff!

How many times have you wanted really bad to make something, but it seemed like you had already "Done it all"??? I find myself feeling that way pretty often...and when I do, I hit the Googler Machine, and start looking for something different...I go to the google search and put in what i DO have in stock, and then do a search and see what projects come up... I have found many a wonderful project to work on by doing this practice, and it takes the guesswork out of trying to come up with something on your own! Try it sometime!! Besides..one good project can spawn many other side projects that you never even thought about..,give it a try and let me know how it works out for you!

"Laura's Uniques" - etsy shop news:

I am pleased to tell you that I got some awesome things in my etsy shop the last few days...come by "laura's uniques" and you will be able to see all of the new goodies listed, along with several things that haven't been listed yet...Here is a sampling of what is new in the shop:

angel skin coral, red coral and turquoise

red and yellow faceted stones, prong set

silver chain bib necklace with beautiful stones-like new

pink ice pendant on yellow gold chain - exc. condition

Faux pearl and rhinestone pendant - signed on reverse

silver tone lisner clip earrings

sterling silver and deep blue color stone ring

awesome silver tone bracelet, lightweight

beautiful, vintage bracelet, faux pearls, gold chains, starfish clasp

Okay! i hope you have seen something you might want to check out....hope to see you soon!

Book Review: Creative Embellishments by Sherrill Kahn

I know I don't do this as often as I should, but here is a book review that I am truly excited about...Creative Embellishments by Sherrill Kahn is in a single word - indispensable.  Now, I am the one that loves to order books, loves to look at the pretty pictures for a few minutes, and then puts the book up on the shelf, never to be seen again by human eyes... This is NOT that book.

Although certainly not a new book, it was new to me and it completely changed the way I look at embellishments and what they are made of, as well as what can be done with them, what you can use to make one, and how to use what you have made. I keep this book on my work table, right within reach because the pretty pictures in this book have actually taught me something, and more importantly, opened my mind to the complete world of embellishments. I had always just thought of embellishments as a way to add to my total art piece, but this book taught me that each embellishment is also a work of art within itself. I really love making and using my very own embellies that are unique, that are never going to look like cookie cutter, mass produced embellishments that anyone can go buy. This whole idea is so awesome to me for some reason, probably much more than most people because I get excited about silly things that others take for granted. Anyway, this book has instructions for making the various and widespread types of embellishments, and encourages us to look beyond the page, beyond the pre-cut, and helps us say, "Why not make my own and make them suit me?" Below, you can see what I did in my first endeavors to make my own embellishments using clay, fibers, old jewelry, beads, papers, and a little imagination...I love the way these turned out!

oven baked clay figure and heart, yarn fibers

old earring, fibers, oven baked clay disc with engravings and textural pieces, pearls and beads

clay heart, beads, key, papers, round yellow clay disc

clay "love" element, round clay heart design piece, two metal earrings

stamped out clay disc with heart shape in the center, plastic bead

round clay disc with face

All of the atc's above have handmade clay embellishments, and they really went fast in the open swap I was entered in on "The Art Colony", the only NING site just about, that I am still active at...but these atc's are just the beginning stages of what is probably going to happen....I will be excited and overdo myself, making myself sick, and then, I will suddenly not want to ever make anything like it again! Hopefully, you will love this book as much as I have and still do. I bought my copy at Amazon. I am pretty certain that there are more copies to be found on there. I hope you purchase one, and get as much enjoyment out of it as I have. I literally had an epiphany (lol) about these embellishments, this book, and all of the ideas that came flooding in concerning this style! Enjoy, and Happy Creating!!

Laura

"Laura's Uniques" on Etsy.com

http://laurasuniques.blogspot.com

my other blog at 

My other Blog-Laura Uniques 2

Art From Your Heart: Is a new group on NING that I have just started building. I have a few members already, but would love to have YOU!! I am planning for the site to be a collaborative work between myself and other artists/creatives, and I could really use your input.

I am envisioning classes and instruction, guidance and encouragement, support and sharing, classes and education, great conversation and fantastic company and talent, gathering together with other “like-minded”, talented and eager to learn beginning and experienced artists. I may also have a group for writers and one for poets if there is enough interest in those two areas.Be a part of something from the ground up! We will be diving into art journals, altered books, mail art of all types, mixed media art of all kinds, traditional art, various art mediums and techniques, found poetry and altered text, altered art of all types and anything else “creative” that there is an interest shown. Much of the time, members of the group will get to help decide the structure and content of the web community, from the very beginning (I will have the final say...)

To JOIN - Just click on the link above or click here - Art From Your Heart ! Looking forward to seeing you there and getting to know you! Come join - it’s free and it should be fun!

Laura Thykeson
Art From Your Heart
The Altered Book Nook
Taz's Corner
The Uncommon Artist

Art Journal Fun

Lately, I have had my nose stuck in my art journals(s)....I have had more fun playing with my new opaque watercolors as well as the metallic and glitter sets of watercolors that I just acquired. Here are a few of the pages I have made lately...

All of these pages were created using my opaque watercolors, permanent markers, collage items, and pencil. I really like putting words and phrases together on pages to convey my feelings. I seem to like this better than writing it out. Try this method if you have a hard time writing out your feelings.

New Mail Art Postcards

I have made some new postcards, and thought I would post them for you to see... They are very simple, but fun to make, and about half-way addicting! I just love the simple yet colorful look of them...

The top two are as follows, "Blue Daisies", the next is "English Garden", and the last is "Trumpet Vines"...I made these postcards with my watercolor  (watercolour) pencils, and my water brush.

I also made a small abstract in my 5" x 8" visual; journal by Strathmore, and it is below:

Look at the journal page above...It is fair, isn't it? It could pass left just like it is...but...what if you added some pastels to the background and smeared them around and then some watercolor crayon accents? Then you might have a page that looks like this---

Quite a difference huh??? Just goes to show you how a background can make or break an art journal page...!!

Word Art for your Journal Pages!

Ever get feel like all of your journal pages are starting to look the same? Want another creative outlet that is a bit different? Try word art-like these little decorated words I have here:

All three of these are words I made on card stock (110 lb.) and can be glue or decoupaged into my journal pages, or added to a card! The idea came to me one day, when I was making up some journal prompts for a group I am a member of  on CCS (Coach Creative Space) the wonderful ning group where my creative coach is.

The words are on white card stock, then I mounted that onto orange cardstock, although you could use any color you wanted, of course! These were my "Art Every Day for a Month" works per Andrea Schroeder's blog that I joined! Try these quick and easy art projects on a day when you don't really feel like a big project!

Free Class for Art Journals-Art and Healing

Lately, I have been lucky to be participating in the wonderful FREE class going on at Willowing and Friends "ning" group I belong to. I cannot describe how this class has already helped me. Being FREE, I didn't know what the quality and amount of actual "class" we would get, but Tam has outdone herself, as usual, and given us all a wonderful present of a FULL AND COMPLETE CLASS for no cost! The name of the class is "Art, Heart and Healing" and you can still take advantage of her wonderful free gift to us all. I am not sure how long this will be available, so scoot over there and grab your chance!

You still have plenty of time to enter the contest for the Extreme Glitter I am giving away in December.The ndrawing will be Dec. 15, 2010. It isn't just one bottle that is included, It is 4 Bottles! FOUR FULL BOTTLES OF EXTREME GLITTER, JUST FOR YOU! Just a nice little sparkly Christmas present...and we ladies do love our sparkles... :) Nothing like free art supplies, is there!
This picture is not what the bottle looks like. The bottles look like what the Folkart Liquid Acrylic Paint come in, with the flip-out spout. Just a little clarification there. Anyway, to sign up for the drawing, just become a follower to my little blog here, and email your name to "Lthykeson@yahoo.com", so I can add it to my growing list! On another subject, I am still collecting and trading all types of mail art, so send any mailart you wish:

Laura Thykeson 
2924 Oak Court
Granbury, Texas  76048

I LOVE getting mailart, friendship books, decos, just about anything you want to send me that will brighten up my mailbox! I really look forward to those little cards and letters-they brighten my day. Get your kids and the whole family in on it too! I have gotten several things that I can tell are from kids, and I always try to send them something back, because I remember how much I enjoyed getting mail when I was little! Usually, I send handmade watercolor postcards and things like that.

If you don't know about friendship books, do a GOOGLE search (I have a search box to the right of this post, just scroll up or down til you find it) for them or try putting in "fb" into the search box also. They are often referred to in that way. If that search box doesn't work right, just go to GOOGLE. You will find information about them scattered here and there on the internet. Basically they are little paper (books) that are handmade and then traded and mailed all over the world until they wind up coming back to the person who originally made them. They are just a little something to brighten us all.

One last thing. I and some other fine women have started an art journaling group as a part of the ning community , COACH CREATIVE SPACE, and it is called "The Creative Joy of Journaling". It is for those of us who love and enjoy art journals, sketchbooks, text and visual journals, any type of journaling you can enjoy. We are doing weekly prompts right now, and you can participate in the prompts or just do your own thing and then share with us if you want! We are also all about nurturing and not judging in our group, so it is also a safe and comfortable environment! There are a lot of things about Coach Creative Space that you will love, and our group is just one of them! Dan Goodwin, the Creativity Coach, will coax the creative soul right out of you where you can see and feel it so much better! And It's Free! Just another little goodies i have found for you on here, so you won't have to look...

This is it for now, would like to mention one last thing-I welcomed TWO new grandchildren to my family this week, one day apart and both boys! Jeremy Corbin Lane, and John Sutter Moody!! All healthy and happy, and I now have four grandchildren, 2 girls, two boys, and I am loving it! More on that later!

New FREE Art Journaling Class!!

There is a new art journaling class starting on the 18th of October called "Art, Heart and Healing"! It is being offered at this wonderful online community (and see me there, I am a member also!)-

Willowing.ning

Also, don't forget that Strathmore is offering 3 different art journaling classes, also FREE on their website! The link is not there anymore, but you can try contacting them through their email, and you might still get lucky. Such goodies just waiting for us to take advantage of! Even if you have been journaling for a while now, don't pass these up, as you just might learn something new!

Also, last but not least-Do you need a CREATIVITY COACH to help you bring out your best? Well, I have found the best FREE one on the internet, (in my humble opinion)! His name is Dan Goodwin, and you can find him here-

http://coachcreativespace.ning.com/

Dan is awesome! He will personally greet you when you sign up, and the community of people that are members are the most supportive, encouraging, talented group of people I have ever had the pleasure to be involved with! I have made several online friends since becoming a member a few months ago! Come join us, and tell Dan that "Laura sent you"!

Must go for now, just wanted to share these great deals with you!


Have a wonderful and creative day and weekend!

Friendship Books or FB's

I have a new obsession...Friendship Books or otherwise known as "fb's"! If you haven't discovered these, they are a small book, made out of basically whatever you have on hand, with a few pages of blank paper stapled in, your address and info on the inside front cover, and then you mail them off to someone for them to put their info on the next page, then mail to someone else. Got it??  This way, you can either end up with Pen pals, or at least see all of the interesting places your book went before it was mailed back to you! Anyone who wants to send their fb to me can send it to :
Laura Thykeson
2924 Oak Court
Granbury, Texas  76048
This one is one I made with a front decorative panel made from watercolor paper and paint, of daisies.

I made this book 4 x 6", out of bright orange cardstock and glued the painted panel on, then put a weight on it to make it dry flat. I also stapled about 5 or 6 pages inside for people to put their info. I also put my address label, email addy and blog address, so they could be sure to contact me somehow. Some people would be funny about putting so much info out there in the world, but You can find ANYONE these days if you really want to, anyway, so what is the difference? Anyway, I don't like to dwell on bad things anyway...

If you decide to make up some of these little books, you can also find people to mail them to by doing searches on Google, etc., for people that want to be in on the "fb" swapping that goes on! There is a whole group of people who do this, and the "fb's" can get really decorated beautifully! Then they are called "deco's"! So, make some out of old mail, recycled file folders, recycle some food boxed, etc! You can do all kinds of things with the paper items that you throw in the trash every day, and keep them out of the landfills! Enjoy this idea and let me know your ideas in the "comments section".

Soon, I hope to be able to do a review of the Strathmore Visual Journal with the watercolor paper! If I can get my hands on one, I will be sure to let you know, and give it an honest review so you will know whether to try it for journaling, etc. or not. Stay tuned for that one!

Enlarge Your Color Palette!

I noticed the other day that I was starting to use the same colors on just about every page I worked on in my art journal...It just seemed they were all turning out like they were the same old same old, so I came up with a way to get myself out of that habit of reaching for the old reliable colors every time.

I took all of my markers, gel pens and glitter pens and dumped them into a large shoebox (boot box actually...)! This went totally against the grain with me because I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I had always kept all my markers in one container, all of my gel pens in another, etc...well, I call myself a "mixed media" artist, and I can't even mix my supplies together??? How backward is that!? I can see keeping my paints separated, but separation by pen is just silly, lol!

So now, when I work on a page, I am using a lot more colors, and different shades of color as well since I dumped everything in together. I highly recommend trying this if you are stuck in a color rut. If you do try it, don't give up on it the first day or so. Give yourself a day or so to adjust to the trauma your poor perfectionist side has suffered-I am really starting to enjoy working like this...Let me know if you give it a whirl by leaving me a comment and telling me how it works for you!