I Must Be a Mermaid - PWP Mixed Media Canvas

If you're looking for the Zeus and Zoe Blooms Blog Hop, CLICK HERE

Hello sweet bloggie friends!  Thank you all so much for making the Zeus and Zoe Blooms Blog Hop such a success!!  I am beyond thrilled to have so many new people stopping by and following along.  So I'm sending out BIG virtual hugs to all the new followers and a special THANK YOU to all of you who stop by and say hello on a regular basis!  You all make each one of my days beautiful with all your sweet comments :D

I wanted to let you know that I was also posting over at The Aviary.  I created this sweet mixed media canvas using the Paper Wings Productions July Nesting Components kit and some of their ocean themed stamp sets.  What's really cool about this piece is that I used one of my used up sheets of palette paper for the background.  Head on over to check it out: I Must Be A Mermaid!!

If you haven't hopped with Zeus and Zoe, you still have time!  This is the blog candy that I'm giving away and each one of the participating designers is giving away a wonderful prize pack.  

Thanks again for all your sweet comments!  

HAVE A TERRIFIC TUESDAY!!!

Zeus and Zoe Blooms Blog Hop

Hello blog hoppers & WELCOME to the Zeus and Zoe Blooms Blog Hop!!  If you came from Marivic's blog then you're in the right place, if not then you can start from the beginning HERE.



The exiting Zeus and Zoe design team is leaving with a trail of pretty blooms of the handmade variety. We're sharing tutorials on how to make gorgeous blooms and giving away amazing prizes along the way!

There are six (6) fabulous RAKs to be won on this hop.  All you need to do is leave some love at each stop along the hop. You have until 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 to leave your comments for your chance to win! Winners will be announced on the Zeus and Zoe blog on August 2, 2013.

I'm so happy to have you joining us for this really fun hop.  Today I'm gonna show you how to make these three beautiful blooms.  First up is the burlap rose!

Now let's work on the zipper rosette
To finish off your rosette, add a button in the center.  Now lets make the gorgeous satin flower!

Now I've got some blog candy to share with you!!

This bundle of goodness includes the flowers I made, vintage sheet music, ledger paper, linens and lace as well as 6x6 Donna Salazar papers.  To win, please leave a comment and be a follower :D

Next up is the EXTREMELY talented Rikka, to see her BEAUTIFUL blooms, CLICK HERE!

Here is the hops complete line up:

Dana Tatar - http://datatar.blogspot.com
Denise Van Deventer - http://strawbspatch.blogspot.com
Marivic Clifton - http://marivicclif.blogspot.com
Norma Gomez - www.lilhoneybeestudios.blogspot.com ***YOU ARE HERE***
Riikka Kovasin - http://paperiliitin.blogspot.com
Yvonne Yam - http://yyam.blogspot.com
Zeus and Zoe - http://zeusandzoe.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU so much for stopping by, be sure to visit all of my talented Zeus and Zoe DT sister and them some love!  They all have AH-MAZING tutorials and BLOG CANDY to share!!!

HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY, HUGS!!

My latest haul

Hi everyone and WELCOME to all of my new bloggie friends!!  I'm so happy that you found me and decided to follow along!!  I don't have any new projects to share with you because I really haven't had a chance to get back into the studio to create.  Last weekend I traveled with my Paper Wings Productions friends and worked the Heirloom Stamping and Paper Arts Show.  I had such a great time out there and met so many wonderful people.  Big hugs to all my new North Texas friends!!  While at the show, I picked up a few new stamps for my stash!

I just couldn't resist these wonderful images.  The two unmounted stamps are beautiful women's faces.  If you see one of these stamping or paper crafts shows come to your area, I HIGHLY recommend going.  Not only will you meet amazing people but you'll find unique items that you just can't find at your usual big box stores.

Yesterday, I had to go into town to run errands so I popped into Michaels and was really excited to see all the skulls.  These were such a hit for me last year that I've stocked up so I can get started on them.  My focus from here on out will be Dia De Los Muertos well in between my DT commitments anyway, lol.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope to get messy and share something new soon!  Take care and have a BEAUTIFUL day!!

NEW Wildflowers Stamps!

Hello my crafty peeps!  Today is my turn to post over on The Aviary and I'm trying my hand at some CAS designs.  Boy o boy, my hats off to you guys that do them on a regular basis, lol, because it was really hard to fight the urge to keep adding more!   Anyway, here is a peek at one of the projects I'm sharing over there:

Head on over and tell me what you think!  Should I leave this type of design to the CAS experts or keep trying?!  Here's the link: What's Up Wednesday!

Hope you'll stop by but either way, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

By the Sea Tag

I had fun getting nice and messing creating this "By the Sea" tag over the weekend.  I've been playing around with a new debossing technique and I think I finally got it down but more on that later (wink, wink).  Anyway, here is my tag!

It's got kind of tear drop shape because I layered a torn piece of cardboard on my tag.  To create this tag, I use the Paper Wings Productions July Nesting Components kit, Lindy's Stamp Gang inks, #10 tag, cardboard, molding paste, stazon, twine and the Cricut Stand & Salute cartridge.

I started out by applying molding paste to the tag and cardboard then stamping the fish stamp from the Seaside stamp set.  Next I spritzed everything with Lindy's Stamp Gang inks.

I cut the anchor at 3.5" using the Stand & Salute cartridge and then embossed it with Zig metallic embossing powder.  The embossing powder really gives it the look of iron don't you think?!  After that, I just wrapped some twine around the anchor.

I fussy cut a couple of the clip art images from the kit.

I added some of the beautiful embossing powder from the kit around the edges and some of the rubons throughout the tag.

I also tucked in some white washed Pink Paislee Luxe Circles from the kit and tied the gorgeous trim to the tag.  I love the irregular shape and all of the texture that I was able to work into this tag.   The sea theme of this kit is just so much fun to work with!!  If you'd like to pick up your own kit, visit the Paper Wings Productions online store HERE.   You could even pick up the Lindy's Stamp Gang inks I used on this tag there.

Well friends, thanks so much for joining me on this little trip down by the sea!  Have a beautiful day!!!!

Entered this tag in the Paper Playtime Challenge #14 Tags

Free Spirit

Happy Friday Everyone!!  Today I have a really fun mixed media canvas to share with you.  If you follow on Facebook, then you've seen me working on this one during the week.  I finished up and I'm ready to share my "Free Spirit".

This is a 11x14 canvas and I just let loose with color.  This week was the first time that I was able to get back into the studio and just play in a very long time.  

So when I sat down, I pulled out my bin of scraps and just started gluing them on.  Then I slapped on a layer of gesso over the whole thing.

With the gesso dry, it was time to add COLOR!!  I used various shades of magenta and orange Golden Fluid Acrylics.

After that, the FUN really started!!  I did some stencil work with Dylusions ink and a Heidi Swapp stencil.  Then I used a DecoArt 3-D writer to doodle all the circles and India ink for the black flourishes.  

I continued to add color and some doodle work. 

I used a Stampers Anonymous stamp for the face.  Since the stamp is squared off on the top and the right side, I drew in the rest to give me a complete head.

I topped her off with a nice bright scarf  made with scraps of a tag that I made using  a Paper Wings Productions stamp.

I used a jumbo Stampedous Rose stamp for her hair colored with Prismacolor pencils and Dylusions inks.

Then I added some beads to finish off her boho look.  I also stamped a sentiment here and there that's meant to be part of the background.

I love the mixture of bold bright colors and patterns on this canvas.  I debated muting them a bit to help establish the focal image but then decided to leave it as is so.  I think she blends perfectly with the background to tell a complete story.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!!

I entered this project in An Inky Situations: Linky Party 1 Anything Goes
&
Simon Says Stamp and Show A Little Stamping Challenge

Urban Angel

Hello my crafty peeps!  Today I have a new mixed media canvas to share with you.  I think I'm gonna call this one "Urban Angel" because the background feels urban to me.  What do you think?

This is an 8x8 canvas that I started back in April with the Paper Wings Productions April in Paris  & March Mixed Media kits.  I transferred the clip of the lit merry go round onto the canvas but my background was to dark so it didn't show up very well.  I tried to keep going but I got stuck and it ended up sitting on my self for the last few months.  Then a couple of nights ago I decided it was time to finish it up!

I started out giving the background a nice blue wash with Liquitex soft body acrylic paint and then added some texture with the circle stencil from my PWP April Mixed Media kit.

Next I did that transfer I was telling you about.   Since it didn't show up well I decided to add the heart.

This sweet little angel is from the PWP March Mixed kit and can also be purchased individually on the clip art sheet here.

So to finish it off, I decided to simply add some stencil work behind the heart, drips and splatters of white ink, some random stamping and outline the heart.

Sometimes you just have to walk away from a project or just let it sit for awhile to get a fresh perspective.   This canvas turned out completely different from what I imagined but that's okay.  To me art is a living thing that takes on it's own life and directs me on how to complete my project.  All I do is stay open minded and go with the flow!!



This canvas in also available is this beautiful little pocket mirror.  You can pick one up in my Etsy shop: Little Honey Bee Studio.

Well thanks for joining me and have a WONDERFUL day!!!

Illustrated Stories & Sketches - Art Journal Page, Zeus and Zoe

Hey friends, today I'm sharing my last post as an official Zeus and Zoe team member so I'd like to take a moment to thank Marivic for the giving me this wonderful opportunity.  I have truly enjoyed working with the incredibly talented  Zeus and Zoe Design Team and all of the fabulous Zeus and Zoe products!!   A huge thanks to all of you too for your support during my Zeus and Zoe term!!!!!

For my last Zeus and Zoe project, I really wanted to share something fun in my favorite mixed media style so I created this colorful art journal page.

My background was already started with left over sprays and stencils so all I had to do was pick a focal image.  I chose to use this beautiful vintage lady from my Zeus and Zoe kit.  I colored her in using Prismacolor pencils, distress inks and markers, Liquitex soft body acrylic paint and a Faber-Castell brush pen.  I simply fussy cut her out of the paper and glued her on to my colorful world ;D

I added swirls with Golden Molding Paste and a DecoArt stencil.  Then doodled around the top and bottom of the page.  I added pops of color with Golden Fluid acrylic paints.  The fluid acrylic adds tons of color while allowing the colors underneath show through.

I added bits of vintage news papers from my Zeus and Zoe kit to create my title and for scallops along the inseam of the page.

I doodled flowers here and there to add some yellow as an accent color.  I wrote "Dare to dream in bold bright colors" along the top.  I imagine that this is the way my vintage lady sees the world.  I have to say, I'm so loving this art journal page!!  It makes me very happy with all of its bright colors and doodles; it's how I see my world, lol.  

Well friends, thank you so much for visiting with me today!!  I hope my art journaling makes you smile too, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL/COLORFUL DAY FULL OF INSPIRATIONS!!!

HUGZ!!!

I've entered this project in the DL. ART Thankful Thursday July Linky Party
&
Five Simple Things' Inspire Me Friday 110 Anthing Goes Link Up

***WINNER ALERT***

THANKS so much to everyone who joined us for the "By the Sea" Blog Hop over the weekend!!!  You all were SO SWEET!!  I've been floating on cloud nine and grinning from ear to ear with all of your sweet comments.  I'm so glad you all liked my altered ship's wheel.  I really wasn't sure if I was gonna be able to pull it off or not.  

Okay so let's get down to WINNER business!!  I wish I could send all of you something but as you know, there can only be one winner.  So, drum roll please.........The winner of my blog candy is..........

KaronJuly 5, 2013 at 9:25 AM

"Oh My - this is tremendous!!! Love love how you made your own wheel, love the patina effect!! TFS"

Karon, please email me at artist.normagomez@yahoo.com or message me on FB so I get these goodies out to you.

Thanks again for joining me for the hop, I truly appreciate all of your support and friendships!  Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see my latest art journal page :D

In Remembrance Layout - Berry71Bleu/CSI Case No. 79

Hello, Hello!!  I hope you all had a wonderful fun filled holiday weekend!  

Today I'm sharing my very first project as a Berry71Bleu team member.  (Yay, I'm very excited about that!)  This month's challenge is "ANYTHING GOES" so the sky's the limit!!  Breakout your favorite crafty materials and put something spectacular together.  Then link your project up for your chance to win some fabulous prizes.

But wait, there's more!!!!

This month Berry71Bleu is also sponsoring CSI: Color, Stories, Inspiration!  How exciting is that right?!  We will be joining CSI as Guest Detectives for the entire month of July.  So we'll be sharing our layouts here after they go live on the CSI site each week. Join us for any one of the weekly CSI Challenges for a chance to win a $35 Gift Certificate to the Zeus and Zoe Etsy Shop!

I was inspired by the patriotic colors of Case File No. 79 and quickly began gathering my evidence.  My investigation revealed traces of ribbon, metal, flourishes and stripes!  Suddenly before my very eyes, the scene of my son and his Cub Scout troop honoring our nations heroes appeared.

To create the stripes, I layered strips of crepe paper and ribbon then stitched down the center of each stripe.  I used a large Scrapiniec die-cut to frame the tomb of a fallen soldier and smaller die-cuts through out the layout as accents.

I randomly stamped a Heartfelt Creations Perfect Medley stamp with gesso and inked the edges of the cardstock with my finger.

For my metal element, I used a sheet of aluminum foil.  I folded the foil to give me four layers before running it through my embossing machine.  (Since a single layer of foil is very thin, it's necessary to fold it to add strength; otherwise the foil may not hold the embossed image.)  After embossing, I applied a thin layer of  gesso to white wash the foil.

With a little more stitching here and there, some blingy stars and meaningful words, I solved CSI Case No. 79.

Our July Sponsors

Heartfelt Creations is the main sponsor for this month!

Heartfelt Creations
Blog: http://www.heartfeltcreations.us/blog.php

Heartfelt Creations® is a leading Rubber Stamp & Scrapbook manufacturer for the craft industry. Heartfelt Creations was established in 1997 as Golden Rule Supply manufacturing Rubber Stamps. In January 2006 Golden Rule Supply became Heartfelt Creations.

Heartfelt Creations provides a unique line of artistic stamps, detailed dies and designer papers. Many of our stamps coordinate with our exclusive Spellbinders™ dies. The innovation of our stamps paired with matching dies offers a whole new dimension of possibilities and quickly adds eye-popping 3D depth to any project. Our designer papers are designed to coordinate with our product collections adding the perfect complement to any Heartfelt Creations stamp or die. 

The Inspiration

Linda the founder and CEO of Heartfelt Creations describes it as the 'AHH HA' moment when she picked up her first stamp to show her kids how to use it. At that moment she realized that she had discovered something amazing. With that a dream was born to offer the same creative delight to people around the world that she felt when she picked up a stamp for the first time. 

Main Prize:

Random Prize:

A one-of-a-kind Berry71Bleu Handmade Tag by Marivic Clifton

A special thanks to Scrapiniec Die-Cut Chipboard for sponsoring the Berry71Bleu Design Team, who will be sharing projects with their chipboard for the next several months.

Scrapiniec Die-Cut Chipboard

Blog: http://scrapiniec-inspiracje.blogspot.com/

Scrapiniec is the first Polish manufacturer of laser die-cut chipboard products for use in scrapbooking. They satisfy even the most unusual individual orders and are characterized by reliability, high quality and friendly customer service. 

You have til the end of the month to join in on this month's  Berry71Bleu ANYTHING GOES challenge!

THANKS for joining me, have a great week!!!