Friday Freebie – Audio on Art Journaling

2009 July 3
by Zura

I have offered this before, but I have some new readers that my not have heard it, and if you’ve heard it before, maybe it will spark some ideas for your art journaling. It’s from a telecalss I did about 3 years ago called Creative Journaling Jems. It’s an hour long. Hope you enjoy it!

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Product Review – Beadalon Bead Spinner

2009 July 2

2007051705585982006 1212 2769 300x225 Product Review   Beadalon Bead Spinner

Mister bought me one of these several months ago.  I like it so thought I’d do a review of it in case you might be interested in getting one.

Here is what the manufacturer says about it:

Now you can string seed beads, liquid Silver beads and other small beads with Beadalon® Spin N Bead Loader. It is quick and easy, and makes tedious work simple. Just fill the bowl with beads and spin. Using a curved, Big Eye needle (sold separately), insert into spinning bowl and watch the beads jump onto the needle. The beads nest on their own. When you have needed beads, you simple move them onto the connected string. Continue until you have desired amount.

It is much faster than stringing by hand, one at a time.  You have to use a special hook-shaped needle.  And you have to hold the needle at a very specific angle for it to catch the beads.  Once you catch it, you can string 4 or 5 inches of beads in a few seconds.  But I have had problems bending the needle when I push the beads up onto the string, then finding it difficult to get the right angle wit the needle.

He bought mine at Hobby Lobby and I think it was about $20, but you might find it cheaper online.



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Link Love – Square Peg People

2009 July 1

linklove Link Love   Square Peg People

This week I’m featuring the site of my dear friend, Karen.  Her site, Square Peg People is so full of love and enthusiasm, just like she is!  Her site is a personal spa,  “ A resources and community to inspire, encourage and nourish the inner YOU – the essence of YOU – the real YOU!

If you have ever felt like you just don’t fit in and want to learn to accept that uniqueness instead of feeling out of place, Square Peg People is for you!  Please check it out and experience Karen’s loving, welcoming atmosphere.

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Tutorial – Using Crackle Medium for Art Journal Backgrounds

2009 June 30

There are several crackle products available and art and craft stores. The one I use is by Plaid.

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The first step is to paint your page.  You will need two colors for the crackle to show up.  The bottom coat is what will show up through the cracks of the top color.  I painted the first coat black.  I am not precise or patient with anything I do, so I used a heat gun to hurry up the drying process.

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When the first coat is completely dry, apply a coat of the crackle medium with a brush.  Put it on fairly thickly.  If you want neat, uniform cracks, apply it evenly. I don’t because I like it to look more natural.  Again, I use a heat gun to hurry up the process.   Dry it until it is tacky, but not completely dry.

When it just feels sticky to the touch, but isn’t wet, apply your second coat of paint.  You can dry this coat with a heat gun, too.

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As you dry, you will see the cracks begin to form.

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Close up of the cracks

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You can use this as a background for gluing paper items, painting or writing.  Keep in mind that the surface is not smooth when you write, though.  You’ll need a pretty substantial marker.

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Classes Starting This Week

2009 June 28

On Tues, July 1st two of my classes will be starting up again.   You can sign up here or click the buy now button on this page.

happyfeetlogo 300x288 Classes Starting This Week

Happy Feet

This class is so fun!!  It’s only three weeks long, but you will have a great time learning to paint your own colorful designs on any shoes.  You will learn to prepare the shoes, what types of paint to use, and ideas for designs you can create.  In the three weekly lessons I will take you step by step through painting your shoes. After the class, you will be able to paint leather, canvas or plastic shoes.

The classes are presented in a special group on my Ning site.  You will be invited to the group upon registration.  In the group all members will interact and be able to ask questions and receive encouragement throughout the class.  If you want, you can  share your process while taking the class.

The next class begins on July 1st.

$15.00

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Creative Ways to Pray for Those You Love

This class has been a favorite of many for 3 or 4 years.  It includes 30 daily email lessons.  There is no group for this class because it is a very personal topic.  You can reflect on the lessons in the quiet of your own home.

The lessons are delivered by email to your inbox daily for 30 days.

The next class begins on July 1st.

“I’m getting caught up on my Creative Ways to Pray and I’m so excited.
This course is as much about creativity as it is about prayer.  While
am I loving feeling a new sense of empowerment in learning how I can
send good energy and focused, gentle thoughts to those I love, I am
also feeling the effects of new creative impulses in my day to day life.
In other words, I’m not only feeling closer to my loved ones, but
I’m feeling closer to myself. The imagination and research that
you have put into this course is inspiring and invigorating.  Every
lesson hits me deep in my body, where my soul connects to Spirit
with the greatest energy.   This course is a true gift.”

Marney Makridakis
Artella.com-Founder/Editor

$25.00

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I’m getting caught up on my Creative Ways to Pray and I’m so excited.  This
course is as much about creativity as it is about prayer.  While am I loving
feeling a new sense of empowerment in learning how I can send good energy
and focused, gentle thoughts to those I love, I am also feeling the effects
of new creative impulses in my day to day life. In other words, I’m not only
feeling closer to my loved ones, but I’m feeling closer to myself.  The
imagination and research that you have put into this course is inspiring and
invigorating.  Every lesson hits me deep in my body, where my soul connects
to Spirit with the greatest energy.   This course is a true gift.
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Journal Prompt – Pet Peeves

2009 June 28
by Zura

copyrightedpseudo 214x300 Journal Prompt   Pet Peeves

Write about your pet peeves.  What things really bother you?  Are your pet peeves irrational?  I know that some of mine are.  I can’t stand hinting around.  If someone wants something from me, they’d better ask right out.  If someone hints at something I act as if I have no idea what they are talking about.  It’s not something I’m proud of, but so far I haven’t been able to change that thing about myself.

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Friday Freebie (on Saturday)

2009 June 27
by Zura

Today’s free download is a couple of digital collage sheets.  These are just like regular collage sheets – ‘cept better!

They are high resolution so you can print them out as is and they will be high quality.  Or you can open them in your image editing software and change the sizes or colors.  If you do print them, you can print on fabric, transparencies, white paper, colored paper or whatever you like.

The images below are links to the full size image.  Click on the images below and then right click on the full size image to save it to your computer.

circuspg2sm Friday Freebie (on Saturday)

circuspg4 231x300 Friday Freebie (on Saturday)

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New! Improved! Classes

2009 June 26

I have just updated all the classes on a page, with new descriptions, and new starting dates.  All my classes will be offered at various dates in July, so take this opportunity to have some summer fun.  You’ll learn some things and meet some other artists in the online class groups.

Schedule of Classes:

Happy Feet begins July 1st

Creative Ways to Pray for Those You Love begins July 1st

Fun Art Journaling begins July 9th

Fun Art Journaling Continued begins July 9th

Happy Feet begins July 1st

Waking Up to the Real You begins July 15th

Journaling Prompt Cards begins July 15th

Find Your Personal Symbology begins July 22nd

For detailed information on each class, including price, go to the Classes page.

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Free Download – Picture Fonts

2009 June 26
by Zura

fonts Free Download   Picture Fonts

These fonts were made by a man named Klein.  He offers his fonts for free for personal as well as commercial use.  He asks if you use them to make money that you make a donation to a charity.  In the image above I have typed the lower case alphabet of each font.

They are ttf fonts.  They work on windows, but I don’t know if they work on Macs or not.

Download the files by right clicking the links below and save the files (for Windows users) in C:\Windows\Fonts

Angelinos.ttf
Tribal M-K.ttf
TypoBackgrounds.ttf

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Writing a New eBook

2009 June 25
by Zura

I am working on a new ebook and I’m excited about it.  It is 30 days of art journaling prompts.  The books I’ve done in the past I’ve created as a pdf document and hosted them on my server.  But I’m looking in to other options.  Have any of you used Lulu?  Or any other services?  I’d greatly appreciate any info you could share with me.

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