Recycle and make art day! New tutorial

New tutorial showing you how I recycle stuff from around my home, 

things I used to throw away all the time without even thinking

about it, I am sure it´s the same for everyone and it´s my hope 

this blog inspire you to see materials as just that, materials that

can be re used and transformed into something new, for me,

it applies in the crafts and arts area because this is what I do

but I am sure it can apply to many other areas, just be creative!

Teach the kids to think this way and the 

world will be different in a few years

Does your tea bags come inside another bag?  Some of my 

favorite teas do and I´ve been saving them for a while but 

they had their turn today!  I used them in an altered book

if you are new about altered books, there is an introductory 

tutorial here about it. 

For those who are already altering books I have to share 

that I now simply use a masking tape to go around the corners 

of various pages to put them together, fast and easy just 

don´t use much watery mediums or the pages will have air

 bubbles in the center for it is not glued.

Here are the empty bags of two different teas I love, 

coincidentally the colors match and I used that same color 

palette for the  background colors and design of the page, I 

used squares for it was the same shape of the bags...

The page had some Mexican pottery or silver pieces so I used 

those shapes as a sketch and painted over them...

I painted the bags with guesso and then the same chosen

colors using the same design as the background...

I painted some paper and used a tag punch, some matching 

ribbons and used that tool for making a hole going through

all of the pieces and attached it with a tiny brad...

Now all is left is some embellishing, I used stamps and

a black pen, I wrote in each bag one wish and symbolically

represented it on the front of the bag...

Bonus project!

Why not use the same idea for other stuff like

these cute cards! Put inside a beautiful note attached

to a ribbon as well so it´s easy to pull out or

add cut shapes like this heart! Know anyone who would 

enjoy this?

I hope you are inspired to recycle and create! This will also help your creativity expand!

Much love to you!

Opened doors

Have you ever been disappointed with what you created?

This time I want to share what happened to me, I think it`s important

that I share this, first so I don`t forget, then because it may help someone out there!

It really amazes me how easy it is to transform things if you stay positive

and keep on developing your idea!  This has never disappointed me!

I`ve started by taking a new course about abstractions with Alisa Burke,

she`s amazing and I loved the course so I`ve started to practice and see what 

I could come out with and I started to work on this last week and kept on it

for a while...

Then I thought it needed more...

and now I don`t like it!  hahaha!  But the good news is that I love photoshop

and just started to play with the images and...

I am happy and inspired to make a mix of my paintings to make digital art!

The point here is to always try to find new ways to expand, to 

try new things and  to never give up, when we do so, 

we close our possibilities but they are always there, opened doors waiting

 to be crossed, waiting for you and your curiosity, so as I always

 tell my students, there are no mistakes just keep on going!

This also is a way of letting go, letting it happen...

Were can you open a new door for you now?

A simple Christmas!

I haven`t had much time lately to give my home

the cozy feeling of Christmas and it was time to

put up the Christmas tree so I came up with this idea

for some quick, simple adornments, I am sharing with 

you, maybe you wanna give it a try!

Here is what I used:

Some craft sticks for kids

rubber stamps 

black and brown inks

a cropadile or a hole punch and eyelets

golden lace

You can make your own stamps as well!

I made a hole on the top of the stick, sometimes 

a few broke but very few, being quick and precise 

really helps so don`t be afraid!

stamping was the fun part!

Then inked with brown to make them look older... see the difference?

Add the eyelets and golden lace, voila, they are

ready to hang!  You can also use them to personalize

some gift tags or use them for other crafty things!!

I hope you enjoy making them!!

and combining with other elements!

If you haven`t read my altered tea bags tutorial, make sure to do so 

here so you can make some too!  They are a lot of fun, you will be

recycling and they are just beautiful!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

The Day of the Dead

The day of the dead 

November 2nd

is very popular around the world, 

we Mexicans are used to see death as a part of life, 

we consider it is a cycle, we grow up with this day 

a  c e l e b r a t i o n  d a y,

 it`s a little mixed up with Halloween now due to 

the proximity with the USA and so

the children learned to go out for their trick or treat 

as well but we call it "calaverita", we set up 

our altars with flowers and food, and dedicate

this day to remeber our loved ones that have

gone before us, I made this 

spread for that coming day, maybe I`ll attach 

some photos of that day on it!! 

I`ve carved some skulls and made beautiful cards with it as well

as the altered book page!

In here you can see my paper doll skull, you can find a tutorial in the 

right column! I`ve used my own skull design, I just Love

to make fun characters!

My brother who is also learning to carve and has been doing some 

awesome works, like this Frankenstein!

 I`ve been making tiny paintings, this is made with my tehuanas

skull doll, the rest is painted with some carved stamps!

And couldn`t resist making some cards!!

This is fun, all hand made! Can you believe it?

This are some more tiny paintings, they are too cute

to be scarry and a lot of fun to make!

I hope you enjoy my whimsical spooky characters and that

they bring you a smile to your face, that`s the intention behind all this! ;D

Enjoy life!