Hands and Heart

The bird of life

2012-01-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

Many things influence us in our individual lives,

there are many things coming to us each day,

some inspire us, some brake us down, some

even will change us!

I believe life is a gift and a challenge as well,

life is for the brave!

People around you tell you many tings about your self

and others, about life and how it should be,

fortunately, we can choose to believe them and

let them affect the way you see your self or even others

or you can decide who you want to be in spite of it all

and honor who you want to be!

It`s hard to be your self and stay true!

Everything around you will prove you wrong

but you can use that confronting force to become stronger!

To be true, you have to constantly define and re-define your self,

what it works for you and what should be left in the past, this changes

with the years of course!

Life is the same to everyone but we all interpret it differently,

each mind is finding it`s own way but to live better, like we all want, takes a

process, sometimes it`s a happy process, some times a painful process,

but at the end it is sure that we all will leave here understanding more of it,
wich will be better for future generations, will make
better beings, ones that enjoy even more life which I think
is the ultimate purpose of life!

May your flight be exceptional!

I Home

2012-01-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

One of my favorites and one of the most used quotes is:

Home is were the Heart is...

Going deep in that thought, I believe we live in

our feelings! It`s how you feel what makes you

see life in a certain way so I consider this truly important!

Am I happy? Am I afraid? Angry? Suspicious?

I am seeing life with one of those eyes-feelings and my home,

"my self", is shaped with them, therefore, my experience

of life is that very same present feeling!

Before I used to think my feelings "happened" to me, can

you believe it? I used to think I had nothing to do with them,

that they came and go as life was happening, this was a bad

position for anything that happened had nothing to do with me!

I`ve learned I can choose my feelings, that I get to bring up those

I like and stay there, it took me a while to learn how but I consider

learning to be happy the most important task in my life so I am

constantly in the search for that...

Fortunately or unfortunately you can`t make others happy,

each one of us have to want to learn first and yes, some are not willing

to make the effort, some even will hate you if you try to help them,

you just can "work" on your self!

For me that is good news, for I only have time to work on my self!

This painting is what it`s all about, make my home a happy home,

make it a harmonious place with a constant observation of how is now and:

refresh it,

adorn it,

clean it,

love it.

I hope you are living in a happy home

or in the pursuit of that as well!

Embracing the new year!

2012-01-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

Love is the source of all things,

there is no doubt about it,

when we are kind enough to see things

through the eyes of Goodness, those same

things become different, they become beautiful,

they become Love...

I want to call this new painting "Seeing through the window of LOVE", this will

remind me to see things with this perspective, I`ve read Neale Donald`s Walsh

book "Conversations with God" that when in doubt about what to do, think of what

love would do... I love that! and so this painting is to remind me to do so the entire year!

I found some wonderful sales at the art store and gave my self some great

presents for my birthday, like this mixed media book I used for this painting and

some sketch books I could`t resist! I am loving to draw a lot more each day,

right now I feel happy with were I am and feel with a lot of possibilities!

We are always presented with challenges and opportunities and it`s always

exciting to begin a new year, this time I want to embrace this one with a feel

of openness, this time I don`t feel like having resolutions to follow and feel obligated

to follow them or feel bad for not accomplish them, this time I am giving

my self permission to go with the flow!

I hope you are excited starting a new cycle, I wish you have amazing things

happening to you, may you be truly blessed and happy the entire year and

if feel like to, visit here and get inspired with the new things I`ll be sharing!

Love to you!

A Christmas Gift For You! Happy Holidays!

2011-12-08T11:02:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Years ago when I started blogging, it was all

a new adventure for me, I didn`t think of it

as I do now, it is like a blank palette to me,

were I am painting with my dreams, thoughts

and art, it`s a place were a new kind of communication

is developing, I get to know some of you and

share who I am now and how I see art,

life and even business. It all has been a

learning process to me and one I love!

I am really grateful for all this and being able

to be part of this time and how it`s changing

our cultures and almost feeling there are no

time and space limits!

I thank you for sharing what were your interests

over the survey, what you wanted to read about,
in appreciation, I am giving you a Christmas

gift, one I hope you enjoy!

I hope to bring you more inspiration in the

future and I thank you for sharing with me your

time and beautiful comments along this year!

Watch the video for a step by step process of the

painting, here is what you`ll need:

Your sketch , you may use mine as a reference or even
transfer this one to your canvas with transfer paper...

A 6" X 8" stretched gallery canvas

Pencil

Acrylic paints( I use Amsterdam colors:

Ochre Yellow

Sky blue light

titanium buff light

white

black

Pyrrole red

Olive green deep

Burnt umber

brushes

fixative

barnish

Watch video and enjoy!

I`ll be taking a long brake after this post, I

will come back with more cool things as soon as

I am ready!
I wish you have wonderful holidays!

Cozy Cozy Canz-s...

2011-12-01T04:03:00.001-08:00

My kitties and I love tuna and so I buy a lot

of this cans, I used to throw them away

until I started to change my mind...

There is no trash, only possibilities!

Cans are resistant and I love rounded shapes

so I have been thinking about what to do with

them while I was saving them and I realize my kitties

eat a lot! Lol!

Tuna cans can be smelly so I leave them on a bucket
with soap overnight and then I leave them air dry, this helps
to remove the smell!

I used felt for "dressing" them, this fabric

is great for it stays the same way after cutting it so

it`s perfect for this project!

The patterns fo cutting the fabrics come from the

inside and bottom circle meassurments and from

the sides, inside and out, saving patterns is useful for

making more in the future!

After making some small cans I went for larger ones

with the same steps shown on the video below

and made some for the holidays, they

can be filled with gifts, cookies or anything you can

think of and they can be hanged on the tree if you

attach a wire like I did with these!

This are made with beautiful natural fabrics

some are dyed with soft colors that combine!

One of my favorites is the cheese cloth wich

looks fantastic after dyed!

The details are important to make this even more

interesting and beautiful!

This is a great project for showing someone you

Love them and you will be giving the message of

recycling as well!

This is only one idea of many things we can do with

our used cans!

Here is the video to learn how to make them!

Watch video!

It`s up to each one of us to:

make our minds creative,

make our world better,

make some one else happy with our

doings in this world...

are you up to re-porpusing what`s around you?

Make Happy! :D

Christmas gift boxes recycling

2011-11-23T05:26:00.001-08:00

Hi sweets, I have a new idea for you to try,

I love sharing my recycling ideas with the world

in the hope that many more understand there is no

trash, only possibilities, creativity and that anyone

can pull all that from any material and this abounds
in your house!

Do You like this?

Me L O V E !

This time I wanted to make some beautiful

papier machiè christmas boxes with our TPR, this

boxes can be filled with presents for our loved ones,

or simply make them to collect them, they look so nice

you could use them for home decor as well!

Papier machiè is super easy and has been around

for a long time, the inventors of paper were the ones

to create this fabulous art craft, the ancient chinese!

Papier machiè the word in french means "chewed paper"

and I think is a great way to recycle all the papers we
are so used to throw away and make our creativity strech!

Believe it or not, this has helped me a lot in other areas of my artwork!

Paper and some kind of glueing ingredient can be transformed

in to amazing sculptures, here I bring you one to inspire you

for this christmas, I hope you enjoy!

Measurments?

The featured house is:

2" x 2 1/5" for the bottom box

and the top is 2 1/7" x 2 1/5"

The plate is: 2.6"

The circle box is 1.8" x 2" for the bottom piece

and 2" x.5" for the top

You can of course make your favorite sizes!

You are welcome to share the video!

Have a fun week creating and being happy wich
at the end
it`s all that matters!
Hugs! ;D

Tea Christmas Party!

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

You are invited to a tea party!

I am a big fan of tea and changing their flavors, discover new

ones and collect favorites! One day I was drinking one

and thought that the paper used to make them is super strong!

It stands very well the heat and keeps it`s shape while in the hot water!

Most papers disolve in the water and specially when hot

so I decided to give it a try and work with these tea bags!

It is so much fun to discover that everyday things can

be transformed into creative endeavors!

Here is what I did:

After use, I left them to dry alone, this will give them some beautiful

aged color, then I removed the tea by cutting one edge, carefully

removed the thread and now they are ready to work with them!

Tip: Use the removed tea for your plants and garden!

I`ve stamped on them with permanent ink adding

two or three layers of different stamps, I think black

looks wonderful for it gives a nice contrast but why not

trying other colors?

I just love them! Simply like this, they can be used to make

beautiful seasonal cards!

Then I thought:

Why not make some cute tiny pillows with them?

So I filled them with a little stuffing!

I also though I could add a drop of a nice scent and

place them in a bowl to add a nice touch in a corner.

Then I`ve tried sewing them, this has to be carefully done

but they hold! In some cases they started to fall appart

but I added a coat of medium on those parts and voila!

Write beautiful sentiments on them!

To end, I added a cute iron on embellishments on gold and used my pen to add

some accents and voila!

You could make tea bag ornaments with them!

I hope you are inspired to make your life even more beautiful

and change your ideas of trash being a waste!

R e c y c l e

M a k e A r t

Make Happy!

Let your star shine bright!

2011-11-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends! I have been really busy these days but I just took a

moment to come and talk to you!

I am getting ready for the holidays making all kinds of cute gifts

and things to sell so no free time but also enjoying a lot creating!

I am also super bussy with my next online workshop wich opens this next

December 1st and I am posting everything that same day so it`s a lot of

work with the shooting, editing and putting it all together! Whew!

Having a moment to just breath and reconnect with my self is trully important,

usually we rush and keep our minds looking out that we forget to stay calm and

be present, remembering that it`s all going to pass and finally be gone... so the important

thing is to be happynow and enjoying the moment!

I am also preparing some goddies for you!! So be prepared for some good

postings coming to celebrate the christmas! I can`t wait to share with you!

Save your toilet paper rolls!

I love painting wood boxes and I think these are pretty cute...

I wish I could make more for the holidays for they are a great gift!

I also wish I had one for my self but they are all gone now!

This one came from a painting I did a few years ago wich is one of my favorites so I had

to reproduce it!

This year I`ve learned how to make totees, they are so useful and also a great gift!

Some have been printed with my paintings and they flew faster than a blink! Lol!

A Watercolor piece, I love it, is like a guardian to me! I love how the feathers

came out! Birds are so beatiful and so inspiring, being able to fly is the best gift ever!

I hope you are shining bright and loud!

Spooky tags and a gift for you!

2011-10-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hello sweets! I have a fun gift for you!

This digital download with an original

skull painted by me for a spooky

creation! Please right click, save and print
for your personal use!

Then check the little tags tutorial bellow

for some inspiration! ;D

I`ve cutted the skull shapes out and used a flower punch

on some pink paper...they look so cute already!

Then I`ve used another punch to cut some big flowers as the tags!

Use spooky colors!

And used another punch for circles, if you don`t have these you can use

regular tags that are already made or hand cut the shapes!

I`ve added a cute hat and the flowers in different sections

to add variety, then punched holes and attached eyelets!

You can change tehe eyelets for some that are made out

of paper or simply leave it as it is!

You can add a cute ribbon and attach around

the gift bags filled with some treats!

Hand write a sentiment and voila!

Celebrate life!

and make someone happy this Halloween!

I hope you enjoy this!

Boo Card and Spooky Journal Page

2011-10-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

I love working inspired by the seasons and holidays, this keeps me
motivated and changing helps me in not get bored so this week I
made a cuple of proects one a cute card using my new home made
stamps wich I can`t stop telling you about how much I love making them!

The background is also a stamp I`ve made, then I`ve cutted the stamped pumpkins,
I`ve been making this caracters for quite some time and now I love having them
as stamps! A long time dream! The bats are made carving an eraser,
the rest is die cutted or hand cutted!

To finish I added a splash of glitter to the background for I love this
look of splattered stars! This unique card could be framed as it is!

The other fun project is for the new journaling group over

Hands and Heart Online Comunity I`ve creadet this group to share

my ideas on creating fun art journal pages, I love this art form,

is so relaxing, freeing and I learn so much from it!

The prompt for this month included making a paper doll witch!

Making a pocket and using the colors of the season...

Of course again those swirls stamps were home made!

There are some that repel the idea of halloween, I think is super fun and

this works prove it! Halloween can be so inspiring and full of diverse caracters,

it is just how you apporach to it, everything has two sides and one can choose

how bright or dark you want to go! Don`t you agree?

Happy Halloween Sweet Friends!

"Moonlight" new acrylic painting and giveaway winner!

2011-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hello magical beings, I hope you are well but most important

that you are H A P P Y ! :D

Happiness should be the priority in life, finding true

Love and Happiness inside yor heart!

Sounds poetic and dreammy but it takes deep wisdom to reach for it

and hard work on removing personal issues wich can take hours of

self discovery and lots of errors but those errors are part of the

wisdom acquired, don`t you think?

I want to share the news about Hands and Heart studio, I`ve painted a new

witch, this time I saw this girl sitting on the moon watching how the moonlight

is reaching the corners of the land, sometimes we don`t have to do anything

but stay quiet and observe.

I feel so lucky that my new kitty found me, she`s amazing and so much love is born in my
heart because of her, she`s magical, everything around us is magical, we just have to
stop the everyday world and watch, remove the clouds to breath the purity of the sky
that is there everyday, those are the things that we should be absorbing!

You see the world with your heart, you breath what you have become

and all this can be better each day by letting go of the old self, becoming

new each time you can remeber that everything changes, sometimes painfully,

some others easily... growing to become a great YOU!

I am also working on my new online workshop and I am trully amazed by the
possibilities, I am having a great time and I can`t wait to share all this, it opens this
next December 1st and you can read more about it here... or in the previous post!

I am really happy with all this new tools and feel really blessed with all this
I feel I have to share it too, this is for those who want it!

This are all made with my own design stamps and I am also trying things
to make my own inks and paints but this won`t be part of this workshop
for that still needs more study but I will share design techniques
and how to use the stamps in different ways to make your own
fabrics, papers and lots of personalized projects!

Join us in the fun of making your own home made stamps!

Finally as promised, the halloween hand made cards give away
goes to my sweet friend Beth Pollock!

I couldn`t belive her luck today but I am so happy with it! She`s a fantastic
woman, so full of beauty and love, please also check her new blog wich is
beautifully embellished and check her first post with beautiful photos
that show a magical place that appears to be from a fairy tale!

I hope you stay in touch and that you have a fantastic creative day!

The fun process of whimsical painting

2011-09-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Painting with acrylics can be challenging, I think is a matter of

observing how the media works but one thing is true, every time is different!

I learn something new everytime I paint, and so experience is what matters,

I think I`ve come to a point were I feel super comfortable with this media, it has

now become a relaxing activity, it wasn`t like that when I first started, I used to feel so

stressed out even though I enjoyed it, I think life is the same way, one comes to

the world not knowing anything about it and yet somehow we manage to keep

going and enjoy it, when older, we get wiser thinking how much we would love

to know those things we know now when we were younger... so if you dream of

painting better, know that you will get there if you keep going!

I had fun this week creating some stamps and I got so

carried away that I made lots of them, Lol!

So I have now listed a few just to see how it goes, I love to make them!

This one is my favorite now!

I love to paint after stamps so I used this one to make a painting

of a new cute witch! Brujita in Spanish and here is what I did...

I am now painting over medium density fiberboard, they are amazing! Have

you tried them yet? They are so cheap, easy to store, handle and well, I just

LOOOOVE them!

Well I`ve added some collage printed over it with paint...

Then painted the background and make it fun!

I`ve stmaped the face with black acrylic and added some more paint over those

spots I couldn`t reach well when stampping, I`ve also added a simple whimsical

body, a simple triangle shape and ho yes, the cute hat! :D

Then I started adding dark skin tones on the face, cheekcs and hair,

I let the black paint show, this will create interesting layers!

Then new lighter skin tones, I love pink! Of course, this is were you make your

palette unique by choosing your own colors!

I love how this looks, it`s strange but sometimes this looks better to me when

I see the photos than the finished piece! Something I have to work on is

letting go of trying to perfect the works... Do you know what I mean?

The lights on the hat to give dimenson are important!

Then I`ve added details, this is were it comes to life!

Adding high lights and shades!

To finish, I`ve added lots of sparkling stuff like some glitter, stars and mica!

Then I`ve added a touch of pen to add details and write some words that say:

Feliz Noche De Brujas!

Happy witches day as we also call the day of the dead over here in Mexico!

Listed now over my Etsy!

Now I present you with a new caracter Spooky tehuanas! They are so much fun

and looking at them makes me smile each time! I`ve made them to create stuff

for my so abandoned Etsy shop, I hope to focus more on this now!

You can find this set here!

Aren`t they fantastic?

I love bright mexican colors and those envelopes have beens saved for a special

occasion and I thought they would go great with the cards!

You can find this make it your self set here, I thought it would be fun!

I am announcing the giveaway winner over my next post so hurry if you want to enter and win

some hand made spooky cards!

I hope you are well and happy! ;D

Spooky whimsical caracters

2011-09-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

This is my latest spooky acrylics painting "Noche de brujas"

witches night, a cute sweet girl in her Halloween custom going for trick or treat so

be ready to give her a sweet treat or else be ware of a horrible spell! Lol!

Of course she`s ~~listed~~ over my Etsy SOLD! THANK YOU!
for those who love Halloween and collect cute spooky paintings!

Are you a card lover? I am! I remember making my first cards and I feel so humble

about how people used to encourage me to keep going! I now am a lot more confident
on making them, I know its simple to make them but there is something about the design
part that take it`s time to develop, here are some ideas to make some fun cards for this
next Halloween along with a brand new digital collage sheet I`ve created to make them!

This time I`ve recycled some pages form old magazines, I just have a huge collection and so
I will be experimenting with all that material! This time I simply used them to make some papers
to create this cute cards bellow!

I simply went over them with some acrylic paints, no guesso, no sanding, no prep, just paint!
How about that? So simple and it works! They crumble a little so I ironed them to make them
flat again of course with a paper on top or else you will ruin your iron! And that`s it!
Happy, happy, easy, easy soooo happy! ;D

Of course they are made with spooky colors, you can make your palette unique and use it to create
your projects by going for the colors you truly like! No science, simply use those favorites!

And this is the newest digital collage sheet I was talking about, it`s super new and I love those
cute characteres which can be painted with color pencils, watercolor pencils, pan pastels, you name it!

It is now listed over my Etsy!

Here is one printed and cut, some with a punch, ready for more...

This time I`ve used my color pencils, I have a fun set of a great quality which at the end give a great result, I simply added a little color and shade a bit, again, easy!

I chose one painted magazine that I liked to go with the colors of each character, I simply put them

on top of them to see which look better!

Here is the gallery for you to be inspired! I hope you try my new spooky digital collage sheets

and have lots of fun making cards, tags, invitations and a lot more...

I simply attached the painted papers over card stock paper, sometimes simple is best! Some images

are cut, some are left as they come, some have been fully painted and some just a little color!

In this one, I`ve added some glitter to the background and a circle punch to create

a spooky scenario!

I`ve printed the mini set included over sticker paper and cut with a circle punch and used some

paper bags as the envelopes...

I looove!

This are simply folded in a circle and they hold a candle inside! You will have three

characters showing! I plan to put this over my window!

Is Halloween fun or what? I just love this celebration of life!

To find this collage sheets, please visit my Etsy!

I hope you are having a great time planning your Halloween celebration!

As a gift to my dearest followers,

I am giving away this set of 6 cards I`ve made,

simply leave a comment on this post

so I can count you inn the draw!

Of course you have to be a follower to

be able to enter!

The winner will be announced

over the first post of October!

Day of the dead

2011-09-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

There is something about Halloween or the day of the dead

(as we know it over Mexico city) that I adore! It has never

frightened me, on the contrary, it makes my inner child go crazy

happy and creative! All those fun desings many artist have created

over this theme are a huge inspiration to me and I love creatiing

my own caracters as well!

Maybe is because this caracters can be so cute, maybe

because the eyes can be awkward, maybe it`s because they are at the end

good souls and that shows, whimsical caracters are my favorites!

Of course the originals of this paintings look a lot better for this photos

are a little blurry! This one up here is holding a cute kitty cat, Lol! I love the

way they look happy! Down bellow is a coqueta! Spanish word for flirting! Lol!

So to continue with my Tehuanas, I decided to make a few with this

theme! Challenging but fun, it was hard to figure out how to bring it

all together, but I am happy with what I did, of course being an artist is
a long term process, no magic creations appear suddenly in your table
as many may think, is very hard work and a lot of trials and errors to
bring your eyes the final work!

I love this new pieces, although they were a challenge, I do like that I went foward

and completed them for at some point I thought I have ruined them! Yes, I get scared
sometimes, even though some may think I am super woman at painting! Lol!
I hope you like them too!
They are listed over my Etsy shop!

I also share with you some news about Hands and Heart Online comunity,

there are three great new groups, one fun acrylic painting featuring this cute

witch, a perfect project to get started painting with this medium, is fun, easy

and you may download the videos! I am sure you will love the project!

Fabric Art Dolls

A group to bring you hours of sewing fun! I have added three different workshops

in this group, all of them about sewing of course but also quilting, painting over

fabric and creating your own designs so it`s super complete and inspiring

Wanna make some art dolls?

And lastly, a group to journal! Do you love journaling? Better said,

do you love Artful Journaling? This artistic expression is a favorite

and many of us want to learn more about it, practice and try new things,

get inspired and so this group is intended to do so sharing techniques,

prompts and worksheets to work with!

Please join Hands and Heart if you are still not part of it and learn more

about this great new groups and many others that will bring you hours

of creativity and growth!

For those who like my digital collage sheets, I have posted

some about Halloween caracteres, they are so much fun and

you can make great projects out of them, print a single sheet

and make cute tiny cards, invitations and a lot more!

This one is specially designed for you to simply print and

you have a card ready to be folded and that`s it, ready to send!

Noche de brujas is an origiinal painting by me and the cute witch

will be happy to be part of your creations!

Here is a sample of one, simply adding a few touch can make it even more fun!

Check out this new digital collage sheets over my Etsy!

I hope you are getting ready to celebrate this next Halloween

and that it`s one fun day for you!

Story of a creation

2011-09-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

I`ve been super bussy and so inspired latlely and couldn`t

stop working so I have a lot to share with you this time,

a lot of drawing wich is my favorite thing to do, I haven`t told

you but I dream of having my designs made in to stamps,

wouldn`t that be fun? Dreams come true so I want to keep

this in my future projects to acomplish!

I`ve had this book for a long time and have been inspired by

it lots of times but this week it jumped out of the shield and made

me company, It`s fun to see how the artists in the past expressed

and so interesting to see that nothing is really new, once againg,

I confirm that all we do in the present is to use the ideas in our own ways but

all has been done before somehow! The good news is that our

ways can be unique and with our own touch! Thanks God to that!

So I was focused with this cute faces and tried them

in different mediums, can`t choose a favorite but this week

had a lot of fun using acrylics again, a medium I find super

interesting and that we haven`t yet learn all we can do with it!

I have a couple of ideas floating my mind for a while and I

have to try them!

Then of course I tried making a few in watercolors,

they will become magnets, this were made with

the toilet paper rolls, remember that fun tutorial about it?

Tutorial`s on the left side if you wanna try!

They are so cute and all are hand painted, so much work but it`s

worth it! Here is a close up of one of them, there is a next

step wich I hope to do soon so I can share!

This started it all! Simple doodling, lots of fun! You should try it!

My art journal magazines have inspired me to do this and I loved them

with no color, lately I like black and white and line a lot!

Then she came to me and had to make a sketch of her,

I want to paint her... She looks like a madonna or something

like that but I love the doodling over her hair or maybe fabric...

There are some wrinkles in the paper if you can see, those were made

by my kitty! She loves to play with my sketches a lot! Yay!

Then this little guys were born, out of all this I tryed,

they are a lot of fun to make and will do many more!

Hehehe! So It was interesting to see how this week

developed and how staying focused on something can

pay off so much, I am proud of my self and I am giving

my self a gift for all this hard work, wich to

me isn`t work at all but to others it is just exacly so...

I am so happy to announce that they are listed over my Etsy ,

it`s been a while since I have added new works, I hope this pleases you!

I wanna call them Tehuanas! There is a traditional mexican custom that

has this beautiful piece over the face, I didn`t use that for reference but when

I was painting one it came to me the they were actually that...

T E H U A N A S

How amazing is the mind, one sees and likes something and

suddenly you find that you are doing exacly that same thing!

Has this happened to you too? It happens to all of us

many times but some we just don`t realize it!

Hew! A lot of work to come here! It was fun, interesting and

so much learned on the way!

Here is the last piece of this week! "The mind`s eye" The only one there is!

She`s so colorful, I really love this one!

I hope you are having a great time too! I want to say I had a few

friends having troubles with the hurracaine and I am so

glad they are ok now, I hope you are too!

Thank you for visiting, for your words, encouragement, I

feel so blsessed having you here!

Dreams come true!

2011-08-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Reaching a goal is no miracle, it takes a lot of hard work and a great effort!

This new works represent many months of studiying and practicing, being

frustrated over my studio and not having anyone to tell me I am doing ok

but my own taste and practices and lot of experimentation and let me tell you

it`s hard to be a self tought artist, I recomend you don`t try it unless you are

to be perseverant, that you trust in your self and that your dream is strong

enough to take you there but if you are up to it, please know that your abilities

will grow even better that being at school!

So here they are, it looks so simple now that they are uploaded here,

but I hope you notice my efforts, wich soon will be shared in a new

workshop! I don`t have much planned yet and still don`t have any dates

but I am sure many of you will be anxiosly waiting to learn all this new stuff!

I leave you with this new gallery...

Soome how this works give me the feel of a cartoon tv show, can`t say why...

I love this one!

Thankfull for all of my blessings!

Two versions of the result of playing with photoshop!

Wouldn`t you love to have a Kimono? I know thay are very complicated to attach to the body

but I dream of wearing one and taking some photos with it!

Different poses and more girls in one painting, it is fantastic to have a gathering!

I love to be able to do this, to have a studio and paints, the dream and the stamina, things one has to

keep working on in order to sustain them!

Sometimes, I feel disoriented, like many of us, I also doubt, I am also afraid of some things and also get tired of trying, I even sometimes want to give up! I guess nobody escapes the dark side of the mind but I know that if it weren`t there, you wouldn`t been able to reach, to persevere, to succeed, to appreciate!

So I have to keep reminding my self to trust, it`s so easy to forget important things and so easy to fall in

to the doubt... Can`t really say why!

I hope you enjoy this new works, that they inspire you to pursuit your own dreams, remember that

it`s up to you how far you wanna go!

Take your self there!

Be blessed!

In the heart.. an art journal tour!

2011-08-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

I did some cleaning over the studio and I think this

display acomodates me better, I tried to keep my table

with lots of space but I kept on bringing the tools needed

to it so it was always filled with stuff and soon I was

having a mess! I prefer organisation! Don`t you too?

I`ve been working a lot over my journal, this is a

hand made journal by the same craftsman that makes the

watercolor paper wich is great, the cover is made of

leather and looks so rustic, is my favorite so far!

The quality of the paper is not perfect but I happen to

enjoy a lot working on it, trying ideas and experimenting

on a super expensive paper is not my thing! Lol!

What is in your heart today?

Fill it with something happy!

Fill it with your favorite things and dreams and colors!

Fill it with true Love, a Love that never dies...

Over the years I`ve learned that only you can fill your

heart and mind with beautiful things, they will not appear

magically and it`s a constat effort to stay in harmony!

This page is to remind me about that!

Here is a photo of two of the journals I was telling you, the brown one

is the one I am using now, at the art store I just couldn`t resist

the little one! Lol! Can`t wait to start working on it!

This girl is holding her heart, I did it for

Hands and Heart, I so love her hair!

Working in a journal is so cool, I let go of the

expectations and just play wich is my main point

of making art but also I practice and keep a track o what I am doing!

I`d love to have flowers in my cheecks, wouldn`t you?

I know I am so girly! Lol!

I SHINE BECAUSE THAT IS MY NATURE!

AND SO IS YOURS! WE ARE

BRIGHT STARS IN THE UNIVERSE

DANCING TOGETHER THE DANCE OF LIFE!

I love watercolors, I just can`t explain why but is my favorite medium so far!

I guess I was a little sentimental this days and so I didn`t realized how many hearts
I painted, it`s trully a connection with art that helps us express and let it out, for me
is that way, we all have to comunicate somehow and painting is my favorite way to do so.

How do you bring harmony to your life? How do you stay in tune with peace?
I would love to hear all about it!
Thank you for being here, be blessed!

Expressions...

2011-08-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you colors for splattering my dreams out!

Think abou tall of the things that had to happen for you an dI to be here
today... sharing who we are, exchanging our views of the world... and
that all that will pass one day.... this, helps me appreciate of the simple
things wich aren`t simple at all, they are sacred gifts...

Sometimes we take for granted were we are, what we have, who we
think we are and forget.... we are magical, we are special...

Today somehow I remembered I am here as part of a large pourpose,
as part of a growing universe that is continiously unfolding to become,
that makes me feel special and recognize others as such...

You are special!

I feel blessed I can do what I love to do! I hope you are doing it too!

My special friend!

Be blessed! Thank you for being here!

Make a journal book and recycle!‏

2011-08-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

There is something special about making your own stuff,

specially in art, knowing how to make things makes me happy!

I am all about it and I hope you are too,

I`ve been saving my toilet rolls and now I bring you a

new way to use them!

After making my toilet rolls flat like we have learned before,

I`ve cutted my cold pressed watercolor paper, now, mine is

hand made by a mexican crafter so please use your favorite brand,

I recomend you use a heavy one, like 1400lb. to higer, the good

thing about this kind of journal is that it won`t wrinkle when you

wet the paper because it will be glued! Also consider using a

cheap one for the first time so you practice, this is a little messy

and very delicate for the pages have to stay clean!

To cut your paper you first most know that:

it has a side that folds easier, usually they roll it on that

direction at the art store, check my photo so you see

what I mean!

You have to cut your pages using this direction so the

pages fold like this and you also have to fold them on this direction.

If you do it on the opposite side, the pages will

brake with the use!

Then I`ve used a heavy gel medium to glue to my paper,

I am generous and cover it perfecty, a missed spot means

a buble in your page!

I`ve cutted the papers that will cover the paper roll

used the meassurment of two, then folded like in the photo...

Then I`ve pasted it on top of the paper and used a brayer to

make sure it`s all glued, the medium will give you enough

time to remove and accomodate the paper if needed.

TIP: The insides of the papers are always untouched!

Now you paste a second paper on the top of the toilet roll

that is already glued and that is facing up and now you have two pages!

This is how it should look!

In here we see the back of the pages, this is were you are

going to paste a new toilet rolls, one in each page, at

the end you paste this last pages to the cover!

Now all yo have to do is keep going on top, the trick here

is to keep the pages closed when pasting a new one,

that way you can`t go wrong!

So far we have our pages ready, I love this because we

didn`t have to stich te pages!

Now the cover!

I used hard cardstock for this, meassure the pages and

add 1/4 of an inch to each side, this can be a open to your

taste but this protects the pages in their corners!

You also need the meassurment of the spine and this has

to be exact, also adding the same high of the other pages

Cut the paper a little extra big, it`s better to have excess

than needing more!

To allow the book fold, allow a small space between the spine

and the cover and back as you can see here...

After having 7 pages I am careful to have them alined on the spine,

since I`ve started to glue them, then I add some medium...

I also use the pins to make it tight!

In this step, you can attach a ribbon that will

separate the pages if you like, just add it in the center

of the spine with the medium and make it go

towards the inside of the book let it dry.

Now cut the corners to facilitate the folding of the paper...

Then start folding a glue with medium, Use some pins

to hold the pages while dry...

Now fold the corners and help them with a tool to go deep

in the folding, this is important and also delicate so be gentle!

Then fold the same corner towards the inside

I didn`t take a photo of that but take a look at the photo bellow!

Also add medium and attach, help the corners with the pin

for they will be really fat!

This is how it looks so far!

You will paste the last pages to the covers, this will hold the book together!

This can be messy and so I use a plastic bag to protect the pages of

the book when I add the medium!

Now paste the spine and the sides of the pages to this

and you have your book finished! OMG!

Can you think of the hours of fun and the many books

you can make to give as presents? :D

At the end of your creation, let the book rest

at least for 24 hours under a heavy weigh,

like some big books so it compresses and stays flat!

Then allow the pages to breath by opening it and

let the pages dry as well!

Just so you know, I used the same paper for the cover,

after trying it, I don`t recomend you do the same, use a

harder paper, like one for scrapbooking or even fabric, follow

the same instructions, I wanted to have a watercolor

feel on it but I think it will be collaged `cause it`s braking on

the edges!

Some inspiration!

I have two books now, the first one I made it for practice

and to see how it would work with the watercolor, specially the

wet on wet part and I works great! So be free to create and have fun!

So far... I am loving this and I hope you try and keep on

growing your skills and creativity!

Let me know what you think! :D

Journal book recycling!

2011-07-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

I have created a new cute art journal,

it is made of toilet paper rolls again and watercolor papers!

I am loving this book, first of all because I made my self,

then because it holds great the watercolors without wrinkling!

OMG! I just love it! The size is of the toilet rolls and is

perfect for compleating a page fast, it doesn`t demads too

much work and little colors make a page great as you can see!

I love the painting process so I go for that first, then later

on, I will add some songs for I am also a song singer writer

and this pages will inspire new words! If you are curious

about my music, this is the first time I share some songs on

the web and you can listen here! I will appreciate it if you

like our page and support our band that is of course if

you like what you listen! :D

I am so in love with watercolors now, it is super clean

and enviromental friendly that I keep on experimenting

with it and learning all the wonderful things I can do with it!

This pages will look fabulous with words, can you

picture it in your mind?

Then, simply by adding some extra details like some beautiful

papers, you r page can be transformed in seconds like

this one, I think I can write over those papers or not!

This is the las page! I wanted it to be loosen,

I have trouble leting go and just be simple,

I got to do more of that!

I loed this small collage detail, also painted with watercolors!

This is the first page!

Now the words has to be added!

Let me introduce you to Shakti! A wonderful

so mischievous cute kitty cat, she is also called a

piranha, for she bites everything she finds on her way!

Lol!

She was adopted from the shelter, I just couldn`t resist

her sweet eyes and she loves to sit next to me when I

am working on my table!

On my walks around my house there are lots of dry

leaves, they are lovely and I love to collect them and save

them in books but this time I decided to give a try and paint

them, it turned out to be a great excercise!

I love those journals filled with objects like this,

now I can see why so many artist do pages and

pages like this and I will fill my moleskine wich

was a gift, with those objects!

At Arful Gathering, we have two more days to

enroll in the worksops, I took the watercolor clase

of course to paint this rose, I am really happy with it!

It`s been a long time dream to paint a rose so you

can imagine my face when I finished it! :D

This is part of the workshop I`m offering, the painting of

the Frida Kahlo doll on fabric without

the sewing part, I think is great also like this and I

think I will want to make a painted fabric journal book

with my experimentations!

Here is a nother painting!

I find it interesting to know how to paint fabric,

it`s totally different than in paper or primed canvas and I can`t stop

thinking of all the wonderful projects I can do with

this artful fabrics! :D

I hope you are having a good time in this summer,

take some time to relax, create art and most important

be happy!

I send you a big hug!

Sweet tiny shadow box... out of the roller paper?

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

My love for boxes of all kinds can be traced to many years back,

I`ve collected them for a while and some are little treasures!

After a while saving them, the idea of using this boxes for artful
porpouses gave birth to my shadow boxes, this came from the altered
books I discovered and I just love to work on them,
some are very detailed, filled with little curiosities I have found
over flea markets and trips and some are simple, like this one we`ll be
learning how to make out of a toilet roll, I`ll have many of this
during the year so, it`s a good idea to vary the utility of them,
I hope you enjoy and try, learning different things makes an artist
complete and diverse!

So here is how I did it! :D

I`ve traced some lines, in Mexico we are used to use centimeters
so this was done like so, 2 per side, it`s a little less than an inch,
you may like using a complete inch to make it easier but may strech
the box a little, you should know it`s good to have a good size for the sides
for this protects what`s inside!

Trace your guide lines with a ruler to be more precise but this kind
of box will be rustic becuse of were it`s coming from...

Then cut and fold those corners you can see bellow...

Use an embosing tool or a bone folder to go over the lines, this

will help you on folding them easier, just be gentle...

Help yourself with a ruler to fold inwards all of the sides...

Now you are getting close to complete the shape of your box!

Add some glue and use some pins to keep them together until dry...

You got a sweet box! Isn`t this fun and easy?

Now you can do all kinds of thigs with it, I chose to do some

paper machie, covering my box again with music vintage sheets!

But you could use beautiful scrapbook papers to cover it!

Using one paper roll, I`ve strecheded it and attached to it a nice natural

fiber hand made paper, with white glue, I`ve cutted the size of the inside

of the box, then I can add my design in there so it will fit my shadow box!

Here is my design, a sweet angel! I`ve cutted it carefully

with a cutter, it has to have a new blade so it doesn`t ruin your

work!

Some colors and details wich also came from

that same natural fiber paper and toilet roll, no

wasting! So I could add the wings and halo with that!

Lightly add some guesso so the paint absorbs better

but not completly covering the beautiful notes or

words...

I`ve attached some foamy dots on the back of my angel,

so she has shadows on the back, this gives dimension and

depth to the final work!

Then paint as you like, I attached some words to

go with my angel and some glitter and stars, then

on the bottom some moss and tiny flowers with

a universal transparent glue and Voila!

Spry the entire work with fixiative to protect for dust!

To hang it I used a wire that was attached with

the same paper machie, paper and glue, this is

super light so this will hold, if yours is heavier

try using a piece of fabric instead!

This is actually hanging but I want to make a few

more so this is not so alone!

The words read:

The fragance of her soul

remained humble and simple...

I now share with you some new works, most of them

of course are experiments, I LOVE altered books, they

are a fantastic way of keeping a record of those works,

like this last four photos bellow...

I hope you like my new watercolors! :D

In my altered book!

This one comes form a dream I had a long time a go!

I write to my self but like if I were a teacher in most of my journaling,

this helps me know I hold my own answers inside me!

I hope you had fun, thanks for visiting! :D

MIxed Media Book Marks, Embellishments, Tags and Art.

2011-07-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Recycling has made me realize how much

material I was wasting, it`s amazing! Wonderful opportunities

are now being discovered and I hope you are inspired with all

this too! Now I turned to cardboard packages, it`s becoming

an obsession to identify this reusable stuff and I keep pushing

my creativity out of my comfort zone and it`s challenging

to change the mind about trash becoming art! This will take
time to become part of our lives but I assure you , this feels good!

I am certain that you will have plenty of material to collect at home

and create many, many different cute embellishments for cards,

invitations, gifts, tags, and also art to be hanged, given and for your

art journals, altered books and even scrapbook pages! This will make

exercise your creativity!

I used my collection of punches and die cuts to cut the

packages, probably you want to sand them first on the paint

side, you can also paint the whole cardboard first to save time

or paint them later like I did so I can go as I feel!

Punches are a lot of fun and they can be easily found!

I can`t believe how many of them I made! Soon I will have to

give them away to friends! What I like is that what was left

of the boxes was reduced to very, very little waste!

You will have the shapes and also some stencils to use

in your mixed media projects!

Here you can see I saved the sides of the boxes to make

my beautiful book marks which I really wanted one to use in

a new book I `m reading now!

Beautiful flowers, I love how they look without paint, just

like that is a beautiful color!

I had to find how to store them...

The best of this... it feels like I didn`t have to spend any money!

I am saving lots of money doing this! Lol!

They actually look great just with the sand step

but of course I love painting so I added guesso to

prepare them for it!

Here are the book marks on their make over!

Care free painting, playing and with nothing in mind but to

enjoy the process of this!

I love my cropadile! After using a transparent laminated sheet to

protect them after finished and dried, I made the hole

to attach the ribbons...

Aren`t they lovely?

Who would say this came from a box

that was meant to be thrown away?

They all have a special quote on the back to get inspired!

This can be beautiful gifts!

Remember the toilet rolls? Lately I`ve been covering them

with vintage music sheets, my favorite! This is an example of

using the die cuts to make mixed media paintings, grown ups

and children will love this!

Some tags for my future presents, having them ready
can be handy!

This is a lot of fun!

Ready to give with some cookies! :D

To end, I am leaving you with the cutest flower

on the block! All this was made with the card boards

shown at the beginning, I find it awesome!

I will be adding more creative projects with the idea of recycling

so stay tuned for more!

I hope you are inspired to create ! :D

Make an art journal book!

2011-06-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

From the recycled toilet rolls ( earlier post) were you learned how

to make a page to use in diverse projects, I made this cute journal

book using this big punch machine that is meant for the office,

this is a great tool to go through the page wich is very strong!

You can also take the pages to were they can bind them with wire!

This time I am using music sheet pages from different books and also

regular books, making a mix, I loved the thickness of some so from

now on I will use more thick pages for it makes the surfice smother,

softer and with more quaity!

The metal rings were found at office depot, they are also meant to be

used in the office but I found them great for this! You can also use

some beautiful ribbons or laces to attach the pages, I like them to be

loosen so if I want to remove them it`s easier!

Now, to get inspired and paint, write and so...

Happy creative weekend! ;D

A sweet birthday party!

2011-06-17T06:08:00.001-07:00

Is my mom`s birthday today and I`ve been secretly working on this

for her, I love how it turned out and the colors, it`s watercolor and

I am finding my way with them and here it is to share with you too!

Birthdays are something special to me, I feel special when it`s mine

and I think this happens to all, can`t really say what is, maybe it`s

the gratefulness of having a new year ahead and saying good bye

to past experiences that helped me grow, maybe it`s that

everyone wishes you well and shows you their love, maybe it`s the

hope for better things coming, maybe it`s that

you get presents and maybe it`s all of that together!

I fell blessed that I can say:

Happy Birthday Mamicat!

The toilet roll is now called to a higher porpouse!

2011-06-02T11:30:00.000-07:00

Do you think this should be thrown away?

Think twice!

I am focusing on recycling more and more not only

because is something I hear about everywere but

because I choose to listen! I am conviced that we have to

change our conciousness about what we do and change to a

better way to live and recycling is giving us that chance,

do you want to join?, it`s also fun!

In Mexico we are tought to reuse since little in kindergarden

and it was fun to use this as a toy and doing this now reminded

me of those days were my mind was pure and just had fun wit it.

I sarted to collect this and figure about what should I

do with them, many things can be done and I like how

recycling pushes me to streach out my creativity so here

I share this idea in the hope to inspire you!

Cut the cardboard in the part of the line so the other

side is cleaner, with no line in the middle...

Wet it so it looses the shape but be fast or you will loose

the glue and then it will brake into pieces, just enought to make it flat!
I am now using a spray bottle with water and this seams to work better!

Put them in a flat surfice to dry and let them out in the

sunlight...

I`ve also tried to iron some of them so it`s faster...

now I have some pieces to work with in different projects!

I`ve added some medium to attach a vintage book page,

this can also be done with some white glue!

Just rapped it like a present...

Then added a second page to cover that...

Cut the excess...

They look so cool to me! :D

How about making an art journal, or make smaller pieces

and make some ATC`s to trade with your friends, or some

personal unique bookmarks?

I used them to paint!

Some close ups to inspire you!

Again I am using watercolors, remember I told you

about a fun project I was creating?

Well, here it is! Some have paintings on both sides!

She`s my favorite!

This flowers are inspired in the beautiful work of Martha Leaver!

Take us to fly sweet life and let us touch your wonders!

Challenge your self to create out of something you usually

throw, everyone has that responsability if they choose to,

let us try and make the world better as we found it for this

won`t be for our selves but for everyone! :D

Let me know what you think!

Fridaish

2011-05-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Do you like watercolors?

Many people is afraid of them and

just refuse to use them but I think is a mith!

I wanted to know more about it and

I consider this as "jumping into it"!

I love this media, I`ve never formally

taken a class and perhaps to some that

shows but I love the feel of it and maybe

that`s why I have dedicated some time

to get to know it...

I am Frida obsessed now as you can tell

and I had to bring that feel in to a face painting

with watercolors, I believe that if you understand

how a face is constructed you can use any media

to create one.

On the other side, It would be nice and fun

to walk around the city with those kind of

flowers in the head and dresses, Lol!

So, usually on me, I became obsessed

with watercolors and I am trying different

stuff, I`ll showyou later a fun project

I am creating!

I love the way the face came out, framing

it makes it appreciate it even better, I think!

Do you like it?

I hope you are well and happy! :D

La pasiòn nunca muere

2011-05-25T08:58:00.000-07:00

Passion never dies!

Only if we let go but this force may

push anyone who`s brave enough to tap on it!

Passion to go for what you love no matter the

obstacles, no matter the fears and doubts one may

hold, one has to follow the passion for life

and keep feeding the burning fire of the heart!

This are new pages on my fabric journal, I added

some photoshop work and I am loving it!

The writing says:

Pies pa`què los quiero si tengo

alas para volar!

Some words from Frida that I

trully treasure, why shoud I want feet if I have

wings to fly!

Of course she wrote them in a painful moment of

her life and I undesrtand how hard this had most been for her

but this words help me when I feel frustrated and things

get hard, no one will escape the hands of frustration

once or twice or more... but hope is always there

and this words remind me of that!

I am Frida Kahlo

a bird in the sky of Art

a soul in the search of Love

the sun in the horizon of Life,

a woman of Passion.

Frida Bag

2011-05-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

While I am making my fabric journal

wich includes recycled jeans, I had a big

piece of this fabric and decide to make a

cute bag for my old oil brushes, they are

forgotten in some corner of the studio and

nnow they can stand beautiful in some wall

and they will look fantastic!

They have been replaced and I am not sure

if maybe one day I`ll go back and talk to

them or with them again, for now they

have a cool place to rest...

I`ve used what I`ve been practicing with my

Fridas and didn`t know how this fabric would react

but I think is cool, maybe I`ll make a jacket

with Frida on the back!

Wouldn`t it be cool to have a collection

of this, I got to make some time for that and

find the right jacket!

I hope you are inspired and try something new,

step out of the comfort zone and amaze your self

with how wonderful and creative you are,

you just got to do it!

Love...

Viva La Vida!

2011-05-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Frida is my inspiration now, she was an amazing

artist and woman and I love this quote of her,

Viva La Vida!

Celebrates life so beautifully!

I am creating a fabric journal for the first time and it`s exciting

because I have no idea how and I am figuring it all out, following

my heart and what I like wich is my most used guidance, I am

comfortable in trusting it, I encourage my students to do so

all the time when approaching to something new!

I`ll be sharing my pages and how it`s coming

along so maybe you are inspired to make one

as well! I am also trying to write with the free

motion foot and it`s fun but challenging,

Who said anything was easy?

Fly Frida, Fly!

Take me with you in your freedom for a while,

share a pice of your vision now

wich I`m sure is of paradise!

Have a fabulous fabric week! :D

Artsy Crafty, Beautiful Hand-Heart Made Cards!

2011-05-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful friends!

I thank you for voting on what you would like

to read about here and here is a fun tutorial

based on what you would like to learn about,

this time is backgrounds!

This one is super easy and fun, I usualy

tell my students to let go of the expectations

for this puts us in an unconfortable zone and

steps on the way of creativity, so when you do it

just let your self go and enjoy!

You will need four acrylic paints that you like

and white, two for each piece of paper wich I recomend

to be a watercolor one for they hold great the wet media,

I used a rough fabriano of 125 lbs, your favorite size,

try a large one for this project bellow!

Also have a scraper, something that you can use to

spread the paint, I love spatulas as well but

old credit cards or hard cardstock are great for this!

Drop some paint in both your papers, two for each one,

I used green and aqua, yellow and red for this, go for what

you like! Use your scraper to spread the paint around, enjoy!

It`s time to play and let go of fear! Just do it!

If needed, add more paint for it dries quickly!

Use the scraper to add scratches and marks on the paint!

The result always vary so you will come out with

many different papers with lots of color on them!

I use my fingers to go to the corners with some water

spreading the fresh color there, you can always keep

some white of the paper as well but I like to cover it all!

In a plastic bag, wich I am now using to recycle them

giving them another use, here like a palette, I am saving money

and they can be used in other projects with all those colors

left on them! :D

Spread some white paint and if you want your inner child to

come out and play, use your fingers and pick up some paint,

or use gloves but I recomend you let go and free your self

and try it, it`s so fun!

You can also use some rubber stamps or something

you find at home that can work for this!

Three at a time, faster and it makes me happy! :D

Add dots all around the pages, use different sizes

and go everywere you like!

In a piece of cards stock, draw an image that

you like, a bird, a flower, a house, a heart!

Then cut out and use it as a pattern!

Cut your images and add details interchanging the colors

to bring interest and contrast!

I used a craft paper for my cards, I love the way it looks

for it helps the colors be the focus point, add some

details with a marker and glue your pieces, you can

also attach them with brads!

Why not sew them instead of using glue?

it`s gonna look great!

Now you have lots of beautiful cards made by you

and your loved ones will be thrilled!

Happy Mothers day!

Mexico city Tour!

2011-05-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

El bazar Sàbado is a crafts market

that offers amazing art pieces to those

who visit wich I most say is a favorite

of turists from all over the world!
It only opens on Saturdays and that`s why
the name... Sàbado!

There are many wonderful restaurants

with delicious mexican buffets and of course

I visit often, the bad thing about it, is that there

is so much food you can`t try it all!

The roof is covered by the mexican flag

wich i love the way it looks, at breakfast and
already inspired by many colors!

The actual market recieves you with this colorful

dispaly of hand made paper flowers aranged

in beautiful baskets, some flowers are huge!

The wonderful couple that sells them are working

right there and they let you take a glimpse into

how they are made!

Wonderful designs based on traditional clothing

are offered, I would love to have this one!

This is the kind of clothing Frida Kahlo used

to wear!

I found a painting of her in the restaurant

the interesting part is that is made in black

and white!

A huge milagro stands out from many

tiny milagritos, this are a great present to bring

back home and I love them and collect them!

This is a display of miniatures, so tiny

so perfect, you want to take them all!

One of my favorite elements:

the mermaid in la Loteria, La Catrina

and La Virgen de Guadalupe

An altar is offered in the big center patio of the market!

This would be nice to paint!

Amazing sculptures, this is just a glimpse!

My favorite, shadow boxes!

More miniatures, how much work!

Outside the place there is a huge display of

traditional candies to accompany you while you shop!

Yummy! :D

I`ve also taped a video to show you more,

there is a lot in this part of the world!

I hope you enjoy it, I made it for the Artful Gathering

as an introductory video for my upcoming workshop that

is inspired by Frida Kahlo and Mexican colors,

this is the actual project that I will be sharing

from cero to end, isn`t it gorgeous?

I now leave you with the video I made, it shows a bit about me, my studio and my beautiful inspiring city wich I love!

Inspired by Art!

2011-04-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wonder what

inspires an artist to create?

I thinks is different for everyone but

I would say beauty, life, love, colors,

feelings, doubts, questions and all

that surrounds us and we encounter and

experience in our lives, Life it self is

THE BIG MUSE!

When I`m "hungry" of inspiration I

look up to the sky and breath, fill in

my lungs with air along with the colors

of the clouds and how the sun touches

them making them spakle and feel

s p e c i a l...

Life is Art

I am just observing, allowing my self to touch it,

learn from it, play with it and finally share my

experience, an cicle we are all part of, knowing it

or not.

Us all of your different aspects of your power

for the ultimate reason of life:

Enjoy!

Happy Earth Day! :)

Artful Recycling/From The Kitchen To An Altered Book Page!

2011-04-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

I love this idea of recycling and you should too!

You will find you have plenty of material to work

and it will make you push your creativity, plus,

we will help the environment!

All this can be done easily and with great results

but it will require that we change our minds about

the concept of something being usless: TRASH

I am offering you one of may ideas that can be

created, push your self and find more!

I hope you enjoy and if created something with

this, please share with me, I`ll be thrilled to see

your creation and cleverness! :D

A: Use any kind of plastic bag that is metalic

inside the package, they feel soft but are very

resistent! Cut the extremes, they are very hard

and folded.

B: Cut your design, here I am inspired in a

Mexican craft wich is made of brass and is

used to fame photos or artwork, you can

create a window, a door, a bag to hold things,

the imagination is the limit!

or you are welcome to try this one!

Note: I folded towards the back, take a look

a the photo for circles and round shapes.

C: The cool part of this is that it can be pushed

to create dimension so I drew a design using my

work to be framed as reference, add dots, lines,

flowers, hearts, use a foamy sheet to be able

to push and a soft metalic rounded tip tool

to draw... I wonder if some kind of heat

tool will make it stay better!

Note: Be gentle! It`s resistant but it can brake!

D: Now cut the design in cardboard as well,

this should fit inside the frame, in here you

will paste your work and this will be

embrased by the plastic bag...

E: Doesn`t it looks like a metalic material?

I¡ve cutted the little window, this is the space

to show your work, use a beautiful bacground

like those I offer!

F: Fold and use a tool, like a spoon to help the fold

stay in place!

G: Your background can be protected by a beautiful

printed acetate to complete your work, paste

them and fold the bag.

Note: I`ve pasted the acetate from

the corners only and with a transparent glue.

H: The wonderful thing about this material

is that it can be sewed! So I did and I gives

it a fantastic look! I used a silver thread so

just the feel of it shows, I just went zig zag

and in some places went straight!

This plastic bag that was meant for the

trash is looking like something I Like!

I: I also was inspired to try it in a real metalic

sheet, the design will hold better of course

and also used a trasnparent acetate to show

my design, this I can hang somewere!

J: This is how they look from the back,

this can be covered by a beautiful paper and

maybe used for a book page separator but

mine will go to an altered book page!

K: All of my creations, I tried different sizes

and now I am addicted!

I hope yo try it and enjoy, I leave you now with

the altered book page, according to your votes wich

I thank you for, this is something you like as much

as I do, keep voting for new posts up here!

For a super easy page look like this one, use one color

of acrylic paint and spread it all over your page, then

add some drops of water, wait for a bit and then remove,

the water, the paint will be removed and magic appears!

I tried to write on the other page but I have to be

honest, I don`t like it! The woderful thing about altered

books is that this page can be removed and create

a new one, that easy!

Doesn`t it looks fantastic?

Try my digital downloads for cool unique

ephimera and beautiful backgrounds here!

Have a fantastic day creating and don`t

forget to pay attention to those materials

going to the trash from now on! :D

Home

2011-04-12T16:52:00.000-07:00

My messy table after a fun day at the studio!

Almost every toy came out to play today, Lol!

I have my studio now inside my house, I moved

everything out from the living room and now I

enjoy of a huge space!

I love big spaces and streching out as best as I can

and this being my home I can decide what to do with it!

It feel so much better now, I have a great wall to wall

window and have a great light in front of me with

light all day, beautiful for working with color!

I feel blessed to have this space now and I

am happy working here, I started in a very

small table long time a go and so this is great!

Our HOME has to be the perfect place that

embraces who we are and how we want to live

our days! Only you can make it your space, your

palce and you deserve it!

I am my own Home

I make it Beautiful and Happy when I smile

I live gratefull for the amazing opportunity

To BE!

How is your HOME?

Do you enjoy being in your self?

Have you count your blessings today?

Love and Harmony to all!

Believe in magic

2011-04-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

Each day I am learning to believe in my dreams

more and more, it`s a matter of trusting Goodness,

this ain`t always easy but I believe it`s harder not to

go for what you trully want!

I used to wonder were FAITH came from, it was

a total mistery when younger and thought of it as

some kind of gift only a few were able to reach!

Now I know, it`s something I do, it`s a powerful force

I put to work by believing!

Beieve in my self

Believe that I deserve Goodness

Believe in the Love of the Universe

Believe life is a Love field were I am growing

Believing and trusting won`t come to you

one day, you will have to do it one day!

It`s a force in your heart, when your dream

is pure and true, things come easy!

Believe in your self!

Spring Flowers

2011-03-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

I love the Spring time! Lots of singing birds,

the trees are blooming and flowers are

everywere! The weather is perfect and

the skies are amazingly colorful specially

very early in the morning and in the

afternoons here in Mexico city!

So I made a journal page with my collage

faces, I love faces.... as you can probably tell! lol!

And so my caracters always have faces,

this time I made flowers, cute flowers!

I think of art as a play field, were anyone

can experiment and be creative!

We are so loved by the universe, allowing

us to do what we want to do and be happy!

You choose here and now the why,

when and how frequent you are

H a p p y !

How are you celebrating life and being

thankful for your blessings?

Let Spring be born in your

HEART today!

Journaling with The Fool Tarot Card Elements

2011-03-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

I am having lots of fun creating these days in my

studio, I am working on my new online workshop

and I am giving you a sneak peak of how is getting

there...

Art journals fascinate me and so I have taken

online workshops with Pam Carriker, Martha Lever

and Stephani Ackerman, amazing journal artists that I

admire and have been following for some time now,

my page here is inspired in them and the images of

The Fool tarot card...

I love that sentence "A state of no fear" it trully is

powerful but demands a deep work inside to be

a c h i e v e d !

How to transfer images!

2011-03-11T07:05:00.000-08:00

I want to share with you one of my favorite techniques

I use in my studio to have fun! It is versatile and you

can use your favorite images! I hope you enjoy it and try it!

What you need:

All of your favorite colors, you can use any medium

that make you happy! I use water soluble media, mostly
acrylics, my favorites!

An image to transfer printed in a tissue paper,
it can be in color or black and white,
here I use one of my digital collage sheets
A whimsy day!

how to print them?

Easy! Simply spray some mount spray adhesive

on the upper part of a regular paper, after 5 minutes,
(wait until is sticky), place the tissue paper

on top, after printing will be removable,
don`t have any spray? You can use a tape!

You will also need a background in to were you

are going to do your work, here, I`ve used acrylics

to make this one in a watercolor paper but you could

use an altered book, a journal page, a canvas...

You will need some kind of gel medium to paste your

image into the background...

Add the medium onthe background and on top of

the image, with your brush, push out the air bubles,

they love to hide down the paper! :D

Then you can start adding some paint around the paper

to integrate the image in to the background, I`ve used

acrylics again for they really cover!

Using the same colors of the background, start to blend

the paper with it, isn`t this fun? :D

Are you alredy blending those colors?

My last color is white and it blends it all together

and softens the colors...

Now I add the lower part of my background wich is

were my doll is walking! The tissue paper is really

strong because of the medium on top and it holds

really well!

In this state, I`ve sprayed some drops of water on top of

the last coat of paint, can you see them? Wait for

three minutes or a bit more and then...

Place a fabric on top, it can be an absorbant paper

as well, I use my hands to go all over it and remove

the drops!

Ans this is how it came out! Isn`t it fantastic?

I love it! Now you can get to paint your subject

with more colors!

this part is fun, she`s coming to life!

features can be changed or simply add

color to them!

I wanted to keep going so I added more

collage papers and more paint with some

rubber stamps, It`s hard to stop when you

are having fun!

My sister says I say the word fun a lot!

But it`s what life is all about, a blessing

to enjoy and be happy!

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and if you feel

like it, visit my digital collage sheets page

and check them out!

Happy creative day!