what's up roc

february monthly journal prompt

2012-01-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

monthly prompt for february - what is something you really appreciate?

if you want to play along please check out the flickr group here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

teaching in the villages, florida

2012-01-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

i just received an email with the she scrapbooks newsletter for upcoming classes. if anyone is interested in taking one of these classes you can sign up now. seating is limited.

She Guest Artists:

Join Roc Nicholas on:

Saturday, February 11th at 10:30 to create a Large Art Journal. Class Cost: $40

and

Tuesday, February 28th at 1:00 to create a 4x6 Art Journal. Class Cost: $25

Roc is full of creative ideas to get you started on Art journaling...

Call today to reserve your seat!

Stop by She Scrapbooks to see a sample of each Journal.

altered envelope

2012-01-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

i just love altering envelopes. here is one i just finished working on.

more journal peeks

2012-01-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

here's another peek into my watercolor journal. it's going to be fun filling up these pages once i start writing in it. what are you working on?

some very exciting news

2012-01-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

i just heard from carol, at stampotique, that my stamps are in the production phase! stay tuned for more information regarding their release date!

video #4 - making a watercolor page

2012-01-05T11:05:00.001-08:00

one of my watercolor journals

2012-01-04T08:24:00.000-08:00

here's another peek into one of my watercolor journals.

2012 monthly journal prompt group

2012-01-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

journal information:

this will be a continuing journal project from the 2011 year. if you already had started with us in 2011 then you will have your journal. if you are new to the 2012 group you will need to make your own personal journal from what ever your choose, in any media you choose, with as many pages as you want. this journal should be as individual as you.

how the journal challenge will work:

on the first of each month i will give a journal prompt and you will have the whole month to do a journal page(s) around that specific journal prompt. you can do one or two pages depending what you feel you want to do. at the end of the month you can upload your journal spread for inspiration to the flickr group (see below).

when we will start working in our own personal journals:

this will start january 1, 2012 and end with our last journal prompt in december.

i have created a flickr group in 2011 to go along with this journal prompt too. we will continue with that same group for this year. please check it out here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

monthly prompt for january - what is something you want to do this year?

happy new year

2011-12-31T06:36:00.000-08:00

here it is, new year's eve day. i can hardly believe that an entire year has unraveled right before my eyes. where has the year gone? the older i get the faster the time seems to go by.

as i look back over the year i have many memories, some great, some good, some not so good, and some truly stepping stones for personal growth. i am learning to move within all these moments better, learning to accept god's grace when i am inflexible and think i know best.

while it is so easy for the unpleasant memories to stay in the front of the line in my memory recall, i am reminding myself that god's plan for me is truly divine and i am exactly where i am suppose to be, not only in this moment, but in every given moment that i am alive. so as i look back over the year i smile as i recall all of my memorable experiences. each one has brought me closer to fulfilling another year in my life's journey of personal and spiritual growth. i give thanks for having so many moments to teach me how to be better a person.

as 2012 approaches, it's natural to start to feel anticipation for what is in store in the new year and to leave the unpleasantness of 2011 behind. i am gently reminded to not dwell in the past nor look forward, but rather, to live in the moment of the here and now which is the only moment where i can truly be all that i am meant to be.

i hope you have a wonderful day filled with many blessings.

god bless you all. enjoy your holiday.

my christmas video

2011-12-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

my second video

2011-12-22T13:42:00.000-08:00

my first video

2011-12-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

another peek

2011-12-17T17:51:00.000-08:00

here are a few more pages in my watercolor journal. can you tell i gravitate towards the same colors? it doesn't take much - just some pink and yellow to make me a very happy girl.

2011-12-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

i just finished making another journal. this picture is of the front cover. i love making the journals as there is something about the creating of them that is so soothing to me. i filled this one with almost all watercolor paper since i've been in a watercolor and doodling spurt.

a quick peek

2011-12-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

i made a journal out of an old book by gutting the pages and then filling it with pages with scraps of different sized watercolor paper that i had laying around. i drew images and designs in a black pitt pen and then used watercolors to create the pages. i'll be sharing some more of those pages with you in future posts.

grateful

2011-12-14T07:02:00.001-08:00

i'm still writing in my gratitude journal. it's been a great gift to me to write down blessings every day. it helps keep my spirits lifted and my perspective more on target on what's right with my life. what are you grateful for?

december journal prompt

2011-12-01T16:20:00.001-08:00

the journal prompt for december is: what three things have you learned about yourself this year?
if you want to join in on the ope flickr group ncome on over and post your journal page(s) - i'd love to have you play along!

happy thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:02:00.000-08:00

i hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed holiday. i had the gift of watching this video - Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj2ofrX7jAk clip this morning and i thought i'd share it with you. happy thanksgiving. i'm grateful you stopped by to see
me today.

some exciting news

2011-11-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

in the new year i'm going to be teaching several different journal classes at "she scrapbooks" in the villages, florida. stay tuned for more information!

stampotique's latest newsletter

2011-11-15T05:59:00.000-08:00

here is a tidbit from stampotique's newsletter:

Psst! Stay tuned for a brand new artist coming soon to Stampotique in January! Not only are her images great for rubber stamping cards and goodies, but also for those of you who love to journal! Like most of our other artists, she is a little bit on the edgy side! Can you guess who the new artist will be??? See you in January!

november journal prompt

2011-10-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

november's journal prompt: if you could be any creature what would it be? come follow along in the monthly journal prompt at the flickr group. we'd love to have you join in! http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20

stampotique poison bottle challenge

2011-10-26T08:43:00.001-07:00

this week's challenge at stampotique was to do a poison bottle. i stamped the cream backgound with the spirit definition stamp. then i layered a rectangle piece of paper on top that i used the alphabitties stamp to stamp out the word poison. even the little "x's" on the side of the word is the letter "x" from that stamp. i used the skeleton head from the halloween cube 2 stamp to stamp on shrinky dink to use as a charm. check out the stampotique designer's blog to see more of the fabulous design teams' poison bottles.

EXCITING NEWS

2011-10-25T11:36:00.001-07:00

in the beginning of the new year you will be able to find my name in the category of STAMPS BY ARTIST on the stampotique website. yup, that's right, i have signed on with this wonderful stamp company to design my own line of rubber stamps. i am so passionate about stamping so this couldn't be a more perfect fit for me. i feel so blessed and honored to be on this new journey. stay tuned for more information as the debut of my stamp line draws nearer.

journal page in progress

2011-10-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

here is a journal page in progress - i still have some things to do on it but it's coming along. i like to save extra doodling for times when i can just sit and get lost in them. i know that "less is more" sometimes but for some reason i seem to find that i like to "busy up" my pages so there is always something new to see when you look at them.

shadow box for stampotique design team

2011-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

as you might remember from a previous post, i mentioned that i am a guest designer for stampotique for the month of october. it has really been wonderful to design for them. for this week i made a shadowbox using their images exclusively.
to make this shadowbox i used some old bingo balls that i painted orange-red and used some brown ink to distress them. i used a black marker to color the debossed numbers. brads fasten a black metal drawer plate over some patterned paper on the bottom front of the box.

here is a close up of the inside of the shadowbox.

i used patterned paper to line the back and sides of the inside of the box. i tore some green patterned paper to use as gross knolls in the background. i also created a lip with the green paper which would sit at the very edge of box. i used a one inch circle punch and punched out a yellow circle which i used distress inks on and glued it in the upper corner for a moon. i added a few star stickers in the sky.
i stamped the tree on the background and then on paper which i cut out by hand and used pop dots to give it dimension. i stamped the picket fence on white card stock, used markers to add shadowing and hand cut it out. i double my pop dots to bring it out even further from the background.
after i had the picket fence in place i hand drew some grass blades on patterned paper and hand cut it out. i used that grass in front of the picket fencing.
i stamped the skull on white card stock and used markers for shadowing. i also stamped mary on white card stock and used markers to color the body in. i cut off the head and replaced it with the skull, as well as shortened her legs so she could stand inside the box. i hand cut out a crown to fit and glued it on top of the skull. i used pop dots for the image once again.
i stamped the pumpkins on various orange card stock, added some shadows with markers and tripled the use of pop dot thickness to give them even more dimension.

more gratitude

2011-10-20T09:30:00.001-07:00

here is another page from my gratitude journal.

gratitude journal

2011-10-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

i'm still grateful and i'm still working in my gratitude journal.

another journal cover

2011-10-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

here is another journal cover from a journal i just completed in that non-traditional binding method i've been experimenting with the past month. i am compiling a little mound of these journals in all sorts of sizes. i am thinking about listing some of them on etsy. stay tuned.

another journal cover

2011-10-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

here is another journal cover for this kind of journal i'm working on that is bound by a non-traditional method - no sewing required. i've been making a bunch of these gathering my learning curve.

stampotique challenge

2011-10-12T09:03:00.001-07:00

there is a stampotique designer's challenge going on and the call is for tags. You are allowed to use stamps from any company for this challenge, but i recommend you grab your favorite stampotique stamps and get stamping.
to make this tag i used a manilla tag and used distress inks to color the background. i stiched a circle on the tag and then cut it out and pushed the edges up and out. i stamped three in a round on white cardstock and used a gray marker to create some shadows. i stamped the image on black cardstock and then mounted the white images on top of the black cardstock and glued it to the back of the tag so it showed through the opening i created in the tag. i stamped the word boo using the alphabitties stamp . then i used the spirit definition stamp on orange cardstock and restamped it and cut out some words i wanted to highlight and glued those blocks on top to create dimension. i sewed a piece of green silk ribbon across the bottom and added a piece of spider halloween ribbon trim.

making some journals

2011-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

i've been working on some new ideas for making and binding journals. here is one of the journal covers i made. i've been on a roll and have made quite a few in various sizes. so i'm sure i'll be sharing some more of the different covers in future posts.

the big journal

2011-10-11T00:01:00.001-07:00

i'm continuing to work in that REALLY big journal i shared with you on a previous blog post. i cannot tell you how much i love working in it. so i'm happy to share another peek into it. here is one part of one the pages in it.

journal pages

2011-10-10T07:09:00.000-07:00

on sept. 29th's blog post i posted this page as i was just starting it. here is what the completed journal spread looks like. i am thankful that my friend, terri, started this journal idea. i had started a gratitude journal a few years ago and i might have used it a couple days and then it just got pushed to the wayside. this has been a very good reminder to be grateful for all our blessings, no matter how big or how small.

another sneak peek

2011-10-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

here is a journal i made that is being featured in the cloth paper scissors gifts issue for 2011/12. i gutted the book and hand stitched the inside pages. when that was finished i constructed a cover to fit out of the contact collage paper. i added some lace trim, jewelry pieces and edging for some textural elements.

gratitude journal

2011-10-05T06:03:00.000-07:00

my friend, terri, had a great idea to start a gratitude journal. i am not sure why it took me so long to actually start it, but i finally did a couple of days ago, because i have SO many things to be grateful for. now that i started i sit down every night at the end of my day and think about all the positive things that happened to me. what a terrific way to end a day!

contact paper collage

2011-10-04T18:00:00.000-07:00

as promised in an earlier blog posts i am going to share a sneak peek of one of the projects that made it into publication in the 2011 cloth paper scissors gift issue. it is a tote bag that i made with the contact paper collage. gosh i love using that material to make things. it is super sturdy and has endless possibilities.
i will give you a look at another piece that will be featured, too, in a later post.

altered envelope for stampotique

2011-10-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

there is something about making altered envelopes that i love, so i decided to make one as a project for the stampotique guest designer spot for october.

i used distress inks and acrylic paints to create the background. i used spirit definition and stamped it in the lower left hand corner of the envelope. i stamped the tree on a hand drawn knoll, and also stamped 2 pumpkins over the spirit definition to create some visual interest in the background. i stamped another pumpkin on white cardstock, used markers to color it and then cut it out and glued it to the envelope. i stamped relaxin, once on the envelope where i wanted the image to be (omitting ink from the umbrella), and then once on white cardstock. i used watercolors and markers to color the image in and then cut it out. instead of using the umbrella i made a happy halloween sign and glued it down and used a marker to make a stick coming from her hand. i then used markers to do other decorative marks and make the address label.

stampotique

2011-10-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

i was selected to be a guest designer for stampotique for the month of october. i love their stamps! i really enjoyed making my projects for the upcoming challenges. you can check out the design team blog here to read more about the stampotique designers challenges. i encourage you to join in on the fun.

cloth paper scissors gift issue 2011

2011-10-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

i am honored to announce that i have an article on contact paper collage on page 68. there are so many great gift ideas so if you have a chance to pick up a copy i recommend it highly. i will post some other photos of my projects included in future posts.

2011-09-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

october's journal prompt: what is one important thing you've learned in your life so far? as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

journal work

2011-09-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

i have quite a few journals started that i work in at one time, although lately i find myself being consumed by that really BIG journal, but here is a page i'm working on in one of my smaller journals. the background is far from finished because i really got hung up on painting all the details on the paint supplies i had on my art table. what kind of art have you been working on lately?

a really large journal

2011-09-20T05:54:00.000-07:00

a while back i mentioned that i found this really large journal at hobby lobby. i swear i couldn't stop smiling when i saw it on the shelf. i felt like i found gold in "dem dare shelves". when the journal is open it is about 16" x 20". i want to use it as a daily journal of sorts and i'm prepping all the pages. here is a little piece of one the pages i'm currently working on. i'm adding all vintage family photos through out the journal. this particular photo is of my brother and me. my mom use to put us in that large metal tub of water in the summer to cool off in the back yard at my gram's house. even though i am tiny i really do remember sitting in that make shift swimming pool. this journal is going to bringing me many smiles i think.

september journal prompt

2011-09-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

so sorry i'm late with september's journal prompt. we ran into some problems with hurricane irene and she won. we were without power for over a week. i finally have it restored and i'm truly thankful. i really took things for granted and then as i found myself displaced from home i understood the meaning of being more thankful every day with all the modern conveniences i'm accustomed to.
so the journal prompt for september is: what quote moves you in your everyday life? my quote is from buddah - what we think, we become.
as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

altered envelope

2011-08-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

most of the images used are courtesy of terri at pringle hill studios

envlope front

envelope back

another finished journal page

2011-08-22T06:43:00.001-07:00

you can see the blank page version on my post dated friday, july 8, 2011.
the little pretzel sticker was from the package of pretzels we received on one of the flights home in the afternoon.
i am still waiting for just the right thing to add to the inside of her dress and around the nest. i just don't know what that is as of this moment. and honestly, if it stays as it is i'm ok with that too.

a finished journal page

2011-08-21T08:23:00.001-07:00

i thought you might like to see one of my finished journal pages. to see the blank copy you can look at my posting dated wednesday, july 6, 2011.

commissioned journal

2011-08-14T11:17:00.001-07:00

i was recently commissioned to create an art journal for someone. i was given some ideas of what the person receiving the journal might like. it really enjoyed myself when i made this journal over the last few days. i find preparing the pages to receive the art is the most fun for me. i love to paint with my hands. that's right - no brushes were used in making these backgrounds. it's so freeing to me to smear the gesso and paint around with my fingers. i love how un-technical that is.

the cover

the first of the inside pages

more inside pages

a few more inside pages

and more

and the back cover

august journal prompt

2011-07-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

i know this prompt is a few weeks early, but since i won't be able to upload it on august 1st i'm giving it to you a little early. the journal prompt for august is: what three words best describe you?

as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

and another.....

2011-07-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

travel journal - continued

2011-07-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

more travel journal pages

2011-07-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

as promised here are two more pages from my travel journal.

travel journal

2011-07-06T09:47:00.001-07:00

i've been working on a travel journal for an upcoming trip i am taking. i have spent about a month trying to finish up all the pages with images and some words. there are a few pages that could use a little more work but my time is running out. i will doodle and add things when i'm actually on vacation, but i thought you might like to see a sneak peek at it. here are the first couple of pages.

july journal prompt

2011-07-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

here is my july journal page for the monthly journal prompt: if you could have 3 wishes what would they be? as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

i'm so proud of you kate!

2011-06-17T15:14:00.000-07:00

check out my friend, kate's just released art journaling videos. hop on over to her blog at www.thekathrynwheel.blogspot.com to see some video sneek peaks and see more of her work up close and personal.

another blue finger production video

2011-06-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

june's monthly journal prompt

2011-06-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

here is my may journal page for the monthly journal prompt: if you could have a super power what would it be? as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

blue finger production video

2011-05-23T14:35:00.001-07:00

may journal prompt

2011-05-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

here is my may journal page for the monthly journal prompt: name something you would do if you weren't afraid to do it. as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

another blue finger production

2011-04-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

april journal prompt

2011-03-31T10:52:00.001-07:00

here is my april journal page for the prompt: if you could live someplace besides the place you live now - where would that be? and send someone a postcard from there. as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

AND THE WINNER OF THE GRAB BAG IS....

2011-03-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

Netty said...

Oh wow a Grab bag, this is so very kind of you. Thank you for the chance of winning. Annette x

congratulations netty!

you have 48 hours to contact me at rocnic23@gmail.com with your mailing information or i will pick another winner.

zetti challenge

2011-03-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

there is a challenge to create a zetti journal page. it had to be done on a black background. i love the way the black makes the colors pop.

2011-03-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

here is a postcard i made a number challenge.

GRAB BAG GIVE AWAY

2011-03-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

i've been cleaning my art space and found some unmounted rubber stamps. since i didn't even know i had them i figured i probably don't need them, so i'm going to pass them on to one of you. if you'd like to win this grab bag just leave a comment. i'll pick a winner by random name draw on tuesday, march 22nd. good luck!

something fishy

2011-03-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

one of my art friends is hosting an altoid tin swap. in each group, each participant asks for a specific theme for their card. one of the player's theme was fish or flamingo. there is something about fish i love. it could be that the way they swim so gracefully is meditative to me. or maybe it is their ability to breathe underwater. as a little kid i use to think i could do that when i stood under the shower!

it's been a long time since i explained how i did a piece of artwork, so since this piece is more than meets the eye i thought i'd let you know how i ended up with the finished piece.

i first used bleach on a swirl stamp and stamped it on a purple piece of cardstock. then i took a different swirl stamp and used black staz on ink to stamp on the cardstock. i put that aside to dry. i painted, stamped and did some journaling on a piece of deli paper. i cut out strips to resemble plant leaves. i found an image of a fish and cut it out. i used oil pastels to brighten the fish and then added india ink to make his face stand out. i glued the leaves and the fish to the card stock. i used a white marker to add bubbles and then when that was dry i used a white gel pen to brighten the bubbles. i used the india ink to define the leaves and the bubbles. then i used oil pastels to add areas of shadow to the leaves. i also added various colors of blue oil pastels to the purple background.

and the winner is.........

2011-03-09T03:57:00.000-08:00

flutterbycrafter said...

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Roc
Happy birthday to you

Hope you have an amazing and creative day and remember no calories on your birthday, so eat plenty of cake. xx

please send me your address. if i do not hear from you with 48 hours i will pick another winner. thanks so much.

another blue finger production video

2011-03-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

another journal page

2011-03-07T05:19:00.000-08:00

here is another journal page
i did in my strathmore visual journal book.

my happy birthday GIVEAWAY

2011-03-02T07:08:00.001-08:00

shamelessly i say, happy birthday to me! today, march 2nd, is my birthday. i thought i'd do a giveaway to celebrate this monumental occasion. to win this 8 x 10 print of one of my journal pages, all you have to do is leave a comment. next week, on march 9th, i will randomly pick a winner.

march journal prompt pages

2011-03-01T05:12:00.000-08:00

here is my march journal page for the prompt: what do you believe? as you may already know, this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

a new journal

2011-02-25T09:34:00.000-08:00

i bought a strathmore visual field journal about a month ago. after standing at the display for about 20 minutes i decided to buy the kind with watercolor paper thinking i would do a watercolor only journal. i did start out with just splashing watercolor on the page and that is how i "saw" the image of the bunny on the giraffe - just from the drips and splashes. i'm positive that the watercolor only intention did NOT manifest itself since you can see i used acrylic paints, glued paper and used stamps to complete this page.

the making of a magnet

2011-02-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

during the continual cleaning of my art room i recently came across some dominoes. i decided to alter some of them and make a couple of magnets. here is one i made. i love the word believe. it envokes strong emotion in me because i am firmly planted in my faith and honestly, i don't know where i would be with out that unwaivering connection to spirit. what word envokes strong emotions in you?

coasting along

2011-02-15T08:40:00.001-08:00

i've been working on a new idea for the past few weeks. i'm making coasters. i have made quite a few and will be putting the away for gifts through out the year. here is a set of four i've just finished this morning. they take long to make and are all backed with cork but i am really having fun making them. if anyone is interested in purchasing this set, or a different number of coasters other than 4, or perhaps something personalized, please send me an email.

from me to you with love

2011-02-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

a new blue finger production video

2011-02-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

fabric postcard

2011-02-06T09:54:00.001-08:00

i made this fabric postcard out of an old tattered quilt i had. i did lots of decorative stitching on the back as well as the heart. i made a little yo yo and added some buttons on the bottom. i stamped the word love in red staz on ink and added a safety pin and some fabric to finish it off.

february journal prompt page

2011-02-01T05:51:00.001-08:00

here is my february journal page for the prompt: what do you love? this year i started a personal journal for myself and decided to start a group on flickr for anyone who would like to join along. if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

calendar journal

2011-01-31T08:27:00.001-08:00

my art friend kate (the kathrynwheel) started a calendar group last year and i loved the idea. i started a little late last year but decided i just have to keep going with it this year. here is my february calendar page.

blue finger video production

2011-01-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

AND THE WINNER.......

2011-01-26T05:19:00.000-08:00

.....of the unmounted bird stamp is........

Marilyn Rock said...: I'm a huge "YOU" fan as well as a bird fan. Please count me in your giveaway; this is a terrific stamp! Thank you! xxoo

congratulations marilyn! i will be mailing out your stamp by the end of the week!

valentine bookmark

2011-01-25T12:44:00.001-08:00

there is a monthly bookmark challenge that i have participated in from its inception, but i wasn't sure i'd have time to get one finished this month with everything that has been going on in my life. today i decided i just had to make the time because i had the idea to do a shabby chic heart for it. i used some of that dreaded tie dye gone bad material and used my homemade glimmer spray to add the hearts.

paper beads

2011-01-21T09:04:00.001-08:00

one of my good art buddies, wanda, is hosting a paper beads swap. i've made them in the past but they never really appealed to me, until today, that is. i started experimenting with different things on top of the paper and i have fallen in love with making these little things. i have a few more ideas to try and i have a feeling i'll be stockpiling many of these to use in my art. has anyone else tried making these kinds of beads?

GIVE AWAY

2011-01-19T08:25:00.001-08:00

everyone who knows me can vouch for how much i love birds and sometimes i get carried away buying bird stamps. while sorting through my stamps i've yet to mount onto foam i realized i have another one exactly like this that i use. i thought i might as well pass my love of birds unto some one else who loves birds, too. if you would like to have this unmounted, red rubber stamp in your collection, all you have to do is leave a comment and i will pick one lucky winner next wednesday, jan. 26th by random name draw.

2011-01-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

here is a mini journal i made out of recycled toilet roll holders. each page hosts a little tag with a personal message that you are able to pull out. i had a great deal of fun making this. i have a lot of ideas swirling in my head on ways i can alter this for future projects. what have you recycled for your art?

tie dye gone bad

2011-01-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

before christmas i had this idea to make tie dye t-shirts and socks for a few of my family members that are in touch with their inner hippie. when i went to iron one of the decals it just wouldn't transfer, so one shirt was ruined beyond repair. i carried it down to my art room thinking i might be able to recycle it in my art some how. i felt bad cutting it up but here it is nonetheless making my background for this journal page.

something new for 2011

2011-01-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

this year it is a priority for me to do a personal journal. each month i will journal a page or two from a journal prompt i pick at random. maybe you would like to work along with me this year. at the end of the year you could have a nice personal journal too. if you couldn't already tell, this month my prompt is: what color makes you happy? i could have picked a few colors but there is something about this red pair of shoes i have that i just love and they became my inspiration. if you ask yourself what color makes you happy, what would you say?

if you want to join along, please join the flickr 2011 journal prompt group at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1570781@N20/

happy new year

2010-12-29T07:47:00.000-08:00

i hope the new year ushers in an abundance of health, wealth and overwhelming joy for each one of you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

2010-12-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by through out the past year. i appreciated reading your thoughts and comments while plodding along next to me on my art journey. i look forward to our friendship in the new year. may god bless you and your families during this holiday season.

christmas ornament

2010-12-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

i saw this ornament tutorial over at little glimpses studio and decided to give it a whirl. i photocopied one of my paintings on cardboard to use as the image. i am going to do my best to get a few more done as i think they'd not only be great tree ornaments, but i might use them for christmas present embellishments/tags. has anyone else made any christmas ornaments?

another blue finger production video

2010-12-13T12:48:00.001-08:00

art time .... finally

2010-12-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

i finally found some time to do art. i usually don't do atc sized cards because i have so many already, but this morning that is exactly what i found myself wanting to work on. i don't know if i'll ever tire of birds. it seems most of my work is drawn to incorporating them some how. i often wonder what it would be like to have wings to fly. i can only imagine the places i'd go. is there something you find yourself using a lot in your work?

and the winner is..........

2010-12-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

sharon borsavage said...
Count me in please Roc! Great stamp, and thank you for the chance!

thanks for all the wonderful comments and following my blog!
congratulations sharon! i hope you can find lots of uses for the stamp that will be coming your way!

a free giveaway

2010-11-30T04:02:00.000-08:00

i am giving away a free unmounted teesha moore stamp. i received this stamp as a gift from a recent purchase i made from teesha moore's online shop, but i already had this stamp in my collection. so i am paying it forward. all you have to do is leave a comment to be entered to win this red rubber, unmounted stamp. if you become a follower of my blog your name will be added twice for the drawing. one lucky winner will be picked at random on friday, december 10th.

blue finger production video - molten metals

2010-11-21T04:26:00.001-08:00

a mini journal

2010-11-15T14:16:00.000-08:00

my dear friend, danny, had an idea for a mini journal that is folded from one sheet of paper. it really is the cutest little booklet. the theme is text/quotes. this is one my little spreads for the journal.

this particular page is especially important to me, because just recently someone felt that by me following my bliss i was being selfish and not caring about anyone else other than myself.

i realize that life is too short to find our value in anything or anyone outside of ourselves. if there is one thing i learned (over and over again) in my life so far it is that we can't please everyone all of the time - it is most surely an impossible feat. howener, i do know we can love and honor ourselves for who we are. i hope you will follow your bliss.

a blue finger production video

2010-11-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

making buttons

2010-11-10T06:03:00.000-08:00

it is funny how one thing can lead to another and another and all of a sudden you find yourself creating something that you've never done before. so it was the other day when i had my paper clay out. i found myself making tiny buttons. i made a few others but these are the few i had time to paint and put crystal effects on. i hope to find myself using them in my art projects. i am really quite fond of those little birds and want to make many more of them. so what have you found yourself creating that might be different from what you normally do?

monkey business

2010-11-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

holidays are so much fun when you share them with people you love. i was blessed to spend the day with my grandson, benjamin, on halloween. i got to dress him up in his little monkey suit and take him out trick or treating. we had so much fun!

journaling

2010-10-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

i remember quite a while back i met someone at a spiritual class i attended and during lunch she shared her views on past lives and our souls. she felt that we could have been anything in a past life, even a head of broccoli. i don't really know why that has always stuck with me, but when ever i think of her telling me that, i smile. i wonder what i would have been - surely something sweet and delicious perhaps? so tell me, what fruit or vegetable do you think you could have been?

making a canvas

2010-10-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

after painting that piece of cardboard the other day i decided to keep painting and pulled out a 6 x 6 canvas to gesso and get ready to use. i decided to let the cardboard painting as it was but i did use some old vintage text on this painting. i really like the added interest. i will do another one because i have an idea of something different i want to try. doing this canvas made me reopen my etsy shop...if you'd like to purchase this piece of art please check out my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rocnic23