Tuesday

Beer can turned "mug" for paintbrushes...the challenges to complete this project


Mug-shot-project-for-LESSology-closeup7'

I really love the shape and sturdiness of this beer can and wanted to use it to create a "mug" of sorts for LESSology Challenge #60: Mug Shot. I will share with you my process...the good and the bad. *winks*


First of all, removing the top part of the can proved to be more challenging than I thought. The conventional can opener would not fit because of the depth. Fortunately, my mum likes to keep everything so I found a really old-school can opener. It worked but it left really sharp edges so I had to cover it up with air-dry clay.


Next, I wanted to wrap some chipboard around it for some cool texture and pattern. But because of the way the can was shaped, I had a hard time adhering the chipboard around the whole can. So I used some remnant lace fabric for the bottom half of the can.


The next challenge came in the form of creating a "handle" for my mug. Should I drill holes and attach a plastic tube or fashion one out of clay? So many seemingly feasible ideas...but oh so much work! Then of course, a quick rummage through my "save-it-for-a-rainy-day" box yielded an old leather shoe strap. I adhered it with silicone and held it down with tape for 24 hours.


After removing the tape, I took my Frankenstein mug outside for a fresh coat of metallic paint.


Of course, the spray painted "mug" looked very decent until I examined it in daylight. There were some visible glue marks in some areas, the clay was patchy and of course, I needed more practice with the silicone dispenser. *insert super sad music here*

At this point, I was tempted to throw in the towel and just call it a misadventure in arting. Then I looked up at my wall of mixed media canvases...and decided that I was just going to embellish my way out of this bad situation. *LOL*


I got out my hot glue gun and all my pretty embellishments and covered up the bits that were bugging me. After all, flowers and bling can hide everything right? *high fives all around*


Well, the end project turned out halfway decent and I actually like it. The "handle" is fully functional and not purely decorative. In fact, I plan to hang it from a hook on a wall [since I don't really have a lot of desk space].

What do you think?

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Monday

When I went "shopping" in my scrap pile...


When-I-went-shopping-in-my-scrap-pile

So you know I've been trying to reorganize my scrap supplies...well, the process has been slow especially since I tend to get distracted,,, and go "shopping" in my scrap pile. *winks*


But these birds are soooooo cute. Would you not stop to make some cards with these cuties? *LOL*


I am happy that I mixed and matched quite a few pieces of patterned paper...


And I confess...I made 3 more cards with those cute birdies before I went back to my reorganization of scrap supplies. :)

Happy Monday friends! 

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Friday

June's mixed media girls


June's-mixed-media-girls

Back in June, I challenged myself to play with a palette of watercolours [a mix of Holbein, Schmincke Horadam and Daniel Smith] and some coloured pencils [Faber Castell Polychromos] for my mixed media girls. These are the five mixed media girls I drew and painted.


What do you think? I've tried hard to make them less sad-looking...*LOL*

Happy weekend friends! :)

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Tuesday

Yam shenanigans...*winks*


Shenaningans

Well, my sister got herself a huge new scooter and the Gangster Gang [aka nephews + niece] were super excited that they got to "ride" on it for photos. You know,  typical Yam shenanigans. *winks*


Check out those happy faces sitting on a stationary bike! *LOL*


After that, they all got to try on Aunt E's helmets and pose for photos of course!


Playing along with My Creative Sketches.

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Monday

When I found a brown paper envelope...


When-I-found-a-brown-paper-envelope...

So I've been on a massive purge and declutter of the landing outside my bedroom...where I've conveniently piled up craft supplies over the last year or so...[I've cut down on design team gigs to slow down the influx..but the remaining ones breed amongst themselves! *dramatic music plays in the background*]


Well, I found a brown paper envelope and got distracted by my patterned paper scraps....[tell me I'm not the only one who stops in the middle of clearing and reorganizing to make something? *winks*]


And put this together in 15 minutes. :) 


Happy week ahead friends! 


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Friday

A latte love card


A-latte-love

So last year, I started drinking coffee. Prior to that, I was strictly a tea drinker. I still haven't graduated to a coffee a day [my stomach still hasn't quite adjusted yet] but it has been fun trying out different types of coffee to find out what rocks my boat. *winks*


Any guesses on what type of coffee I like? 


Haha...it's not a latte. I like a double shot espresso with no sugar. Seriously. 


Thought I would support my blog pal Amy Tsuruta and play along with the Summer Coffee Lovers Bloghop. :)

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Thursday

Why everyone should have an art journal or more....*winks*



As you know, I have tried many times over the last few years to start art journaling but never went beyond a page or two.

Why-everyone-should-have-an-art-journal-or-more

 There were several reasons for that:

1. I didn't buy/use the right type of art journal.

I started with a cheap sketchbook from the art store. The paper wasn't thick enough to endure wet washes and the paint-throwing that I enjoyed. Right now, I prep the thin pages with gesso or just work in an art journal with thicker paper.

2. I didn't know what type of mediums to use.

I was using all the mediums that I used for my scrapbook pages but didn't understand why the pages in my art journal kept sticking together. Turns out most of the mediums dry glossy so they tend to stick together when you close the art journal [my scrapbook pages were kept in plastic sleeves so they never stuck together]. Now, if the surface dries glossy, I add a layer over matte medium over it and my pages no longer stick! :)

3. I really didn't know how to start.

With a scrapbook layout, you had photos to inspire you. But with an art journal, you start with a blank page and you know how scary a blank page is right? *winks* Currently, my art journals are the "dumping" ground for the leftover paint and inks. No wastage of mediums and I no longer have to start with blank pages! 


Check out the layers of paint, ink and gesso here. Can you spot residual mists from another project? Or brush marks from leftover paint on my paintbrush?


Art journals are a great way to experiment with different colour combos and mark-making. Have a few of them lying around to help you "clean up" your paint palette. :)


The key is to unleash your inner child and just play! 


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Tuesday

The 5 minute tag


The-5-minute-tag

I love making 5 minute tags using little bits and pieces on my desk...I feel "accomplished" and there are fewer bits to clear up. :)


I went with my standard modus operandi when it comes to tags....cardboard base, remnant patterned paper (from a previous project), pretty embellishments and my trusty hot glue gun. *winks*


The key to a quick tag is not to overthink the embellishments. I mean, why is there a big white bloom and leaf next to a deer on a worded backdrop, right? *LOL*

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Monday

It was a tiara-wearing kind of a day...*winks*


It-was-a-tiara-wearing-kind-of-a-day

Okay, the secrets's out. Some days at the Yam household are tiara-wearing kind of days. *LOL*


It's blingy and sparkly and everyone just looks pretty in a tiara right? *winks*


And yes, I may have a growing tiara collection...even my teddy bear wears a tiara. ;)


I had to "bling" up my chipboard letters with glitter paint....


And added some sequins to up the "bling" factor.


Playing along with Stuck?! Sketches.

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Thursday

Why I love mixing media...


Why-I-love-mixing-media

As a person who didn't doodle or draw as a child, learning how to draw has been a tad challenging. [Can you believe it's been a year already?] It's hard to be carefree and loose when you have preconceived notions of how things should look, instead of what they really are.


For instance, I was drawing my eye lashes as straight lines instead of curves. Until I flipped a beauty magazine and really studied an ad on mascara. *lightbulb moment*


And my drawings/paintings always start out ugly. Real ugly. *LOL*


Then there is the question of proportions and getting the angles right. Here I know the girl looked a little odd but I wasn't sure how I could "save" this painting.


That's when the coloured pencils and paint markers came into play! As you know, watercolours lose their luminosity if you "overplay" with them. Mixing other media can help correct mistakes/flaws and "rescue" your drawings/paintings. :)


I used my coloured pencils to create shadows for depth and added tendrils to make her eyes and face look more proportional. I used a white paint marker for the pop of reflection in her eyes. She still isn't perfect but a tad more presentable, right? *winks*


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