Gelli Printing in Your (hardcover) Journal (VIDEO)

On the lighter side, here is the video I recorded when I hit 1,000 newsletter subscribers, and gave them last week as a thank you (as well as a few other not-seen-elsewhere-things). I have a new set-up, and time between clients (so hire me...I have time!), and have really learned SO MUCH in the past five months about recording & editing & directing & business & so much more, that I wanted to start making videos for myself again. ​

(Also, I've decided to see if dosage changes with some meds may help with the fatigue and general yuckiness-I-can't-stay-awake-ness, and so far, I've gotten dressed today and am wearing a messy top bun and glasses, since TBD on Pinterest said it is fashionable. I think I still look like a nerdy artist who doesn't like hair in the way when she paints or reads, but hey...that's why they're fashion experts and I blog about art and life. Feeling better today. Got lots of love getting the word out about my awesome $10-off sale for Going Further...really, it's like 3 e-classes' worth of info, inspiration, and so much more...a massive brain-dump of my favorite projects and techniques....you should really grab it if you want to be journaling from now until summer. (I have even uploaded a preview w/ a lesson you can download!) Please help a girl out? I'm not telling you to pay, I'm asking if you would. [you can always donate if you so choose.] Letting my vulnerability hang out here, and man, is it hard. Go watch the video. It's good and fun and artsy and I babble. Are you still reading this side note? Cause I've got a book calling my name from my comfy bed, and a puppy to cuddle with. XOXO, Samie)​

An Artful Friday Night...

I gave myself a little time to play today. I've been busy with a mega huge project that consumed my weekend and beginning of the week, and last week was fraught with hospitals and a reactive FMS flair-up. I'm rockin' this week without any of my pain medication, which has been full of random, crying breakdowns, a lot of self-love, and coping techniques. Oh, and amazing friends! Now, which one of you wants to help me with meals...and do any of you deliver? 

As some of you know, I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month this month, in my 10th year! I decided to write my entire 50,000 word novel on my new-vintage Facit typewriter (it's older than my mother!). Yesterday marks the halfway point, and I am so excited to say I'm still going strong! It may sound hard to write 1,667 words every single day, but I find it clears my head, and allows me to sink into another world. Last night, I did 8 pages! Today, I took my machine in to be looked at, stuck keys adjusted, and to learn how the tabs work and see the inner workings. I have to say, they continue to fascinate me, and the local shop has so many kinds, I can stay there for hours just talking typewriter mechanics! 

If anyone wants to read a non-plotted or outlined, completely off the cuff, slightly sci-fi novel, well, I have it all scanned, up to page 61! 

I have been dying to play with my new Catalyst Tools (thank you!) since they arrived in a color-filled box. They are fantastic for playing with on your gel plate, making the awesomest patterns! I plan on some more play tonight, and layering up paper for little journaling kits & embellishments I plan to stick on Etsy for the holidays.

The Catalyst Tools are just so colorful, intuitive, and ergonomic! They sit in your hand well, and I'm just having fun! I did a little painting with them today, with some modeling paste and texture gel, over an old canvas. 

When I was in Florida, one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring things of my life - and simple. We visited the ocean at the end of the day, just before sunset, when the water was so cold, my lips turned a bit blue. As we warmed up on the beach, I witnessed birds skirting across the sea, so close, they could almost touch it. Watching them as the sun went down was amazing, and I found myself saying, "I wish I could take pictures with my mind and print them out," before I realized that's why I paint! 

Created with the Catalyst Tools, layers, acrylics, and crayons. I was just playing - it was fun to have pure play! And I love it...it says to me what I wanted to express.

But what has made me happiest? Being driven to paint on a canvas again. Rather, Birch! I haven't done a large painting in awhile, even though I dream of doing so every night. Other things take my time, such as creating things for the 'net, putting together classes, admining orders, etc! But I've decided THIS weekend is for painting! I'll be transferring the antlers girl from my journal to the wood, and see what comes through. Expect lots of texture!

(Of course, I'll be doing that AFTER I edit a tutorial video for Journaling Deep. My brain literally hurt after three 12 hour days editing, so I really needed to rest it before I got a migraine!)

And one last little thing - if you notice, the comments are disabled. I had a long discussion about this with friends, expressing my curiosity as to why my comments have dropped overall...and I think I need to remember WHY I blog, so I'm turning them off for a little bit. But you can always hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or send me an email! I love hearing from you, as I'm thinking my word for 2013 will be connection!

(There's also a link down there to share my posts, now, or just hit like!)

Gelli Arts Gel Plate Basics! (video)

Ah, finally! Even if you don't see them, I'm working on videos every single week, and am now working with others to make them awesome & amazing videos for their tutorials, too! So here's the gel plate tutorial I filmed a couple weeks ago! 

I've learned so much and converted more than a handful of people with this fun, easy to use product! I'll be making another with 'advanced' techniques pretty soon, for those of you with your own plates who want to know more! I just....I have so much fun with my gel plates! It's so calming and medatative and full of all sorts of layers and possibilities! 

If you want to see more of what I've created so far, check out my Gel Plate art gallery!

My lovely amazing friend Roben-Marie has ALSO posted her take on gel plates -- we scheduled our posts to go up together to give you all a Weekend of Gelli Arts! 

Thanks to Gelli Arts for giving us the opertunity to play with this amazing product! 

Cheap & Easy: Silhouette Stencils

Welcome to my new series of DIY posts, Cheap & Easy. I want to share are all the little things I do that are cheap (or free!) and relatively easy for you to do in your creative life. 

My dear friend Dina uses silhouettes in her artwork all the time. I'm captivated by her command of color and composition (and she has a book coming out next February , did you know that? I couldn't be prouder!), how she layers things around these ambiguous woman-shapes in order to express herself. She brings them to classes, and has a ready collection at her disposal. 

So how do we begin to use them in our artwork? 

Behold! The often-ignored-or-glared-at magazine ad! 

I found the one below in an issue of 'Real Simple' grabbed at Half Price Books for a whopping $0.50. It's already paid for itself!

I cut her out, then traced her onto some Tyvek. Yes, Tyvek. The stuff you use to mail things. Need some? You might be able to find some at the post office (*wink*)  

Using my craft knife, I cut her out! 

Wanting to see how she performed, I did a quick-and-dirty two-layer monoprint with my gel plate. 

First Layer: Color!

Second Layer: Paint w/ my new stencil on top!

All finished! Now that I know how awesome she looks, I'm sure to use her in my journal soon! Plus, I have a cool two-layer print to hang up on the wall. 

For more gel plate fun, well...I'll be posting a nice, fun tutorial video this week!