Looking Sharp-ie

Do you get ideas stuck in your head that you just can't shake?
Ideas that make perfect sense....in theory?

Well, I had purchased some iron-on transfer paper a while ago thinking that I would make tote bags with transfers of my art on them....

Turns out the ironing process, the thickness of the canvas and my patience level weren't a good combination for this project.
So, I thought I'd paint the bags instead.....
sort of like this.....

 

Sorry for all the random pen marks on this sketch. 

The concept was to paint different Dia de los Muertos inspired girls and attach a jersey flower pin to the side of her hair that could be removed to wear on other items. 

 

Like this....

 

 

 The other side would have a pocket sewn on in a matching jersey fabric.

 

 

There were several complications to this idea.  First, she took forever to paint!  Acrylic needs to be watered down quite a bit to flow over the toothy canvas, which meant lots and lots of layers to get brighter colors and full coverage.  I didn't want to ask a lot for these bags....and at this rate, they wouldn't be worth the time I was putting in :(

 

 

The second complication occurred after I gently washed the bag to test for durability and shrinkage.  I expected some....but not only did it shrink, it wrinkled very badly!  I have attempted to iron it 3 different times with underwhelming results.  The painting held up well, though....haha!

 

Here's the size difference after washing.

 

 

So I switched gears and decided to use permanent ink instead....it was definitely faster.

Sharpies are very durable and come in all kinds of great colors.

 

 

I would simply recommend spot cleaning these totes, no biggie...

 

 

Unfortunately, I should've tested the "permanent metallic ink" (not Sharpie brand) pens I've been using on my rocks on this fabric.  It seems they bleed when wet...sheesh!

So, no spot cleaning either....haha!

 

Clever fox Loves the Earth :)

 

 

So, I've got some cute totes available in the shop right now....

 

 

They will happily serve you as long as you follow an important rule (remember that 80's movie "Gremlins"?)

Don't get them wet!

.....but feeding after midnight is perfectly acceptable ;P

 

I also did a few more rocks over the weekend.

 

 

It might be time to switch over to familiar territory again...some safe hair clips or zombie plushies or something....haha!

 

What projects have you tried that didn't quite turn out as expected?

 

All my best,

Cam

Pretty Sticky

Just jumping in again this week to join the lovelies at Butterfly Effect and their theme of FLOWERS.

I don't know why I've had stickers on my mind. I've always adored them and collected them in grade school. I still get giddy over a yummy scratch-n-sniff one or an extra glittery one :)

I even ordered some stickers with my art on them from MOO!  I can't wait to get those!
So, it just felt appropriate to spend some time getting my sticky on ;P

Maggie and I used Sharpies to draw shapes and designs on thicker sheets of white paper.
It was a nice way to spend some time together...sitting side by side, doodling and admiring each other's work :)
These are mine...

Maggie's are below.

...then we colored them in with Prismacolor pencils.

I cut them out when they were ready and sent them through this.

Do you have a Xyron machine? If you don't, look into one!!  You put your diecuts, photos, random bits of paper, fabric, anything that isn't too thick in...crank the handle...and it comes out the other side as a sticker!! 

You can also get laminate cartridges and magnet backing cartridges, if you prefer. It comes in a 12 inch size, too, but, I'm financially challenged and could only afford the 5 incher.

 I LOVE my Xyron!  I used it to make those Witch Pantry Labels last Halloween....remember those?

Now, I have some pretty embellishments for my envelopes :)

Hope you have a flower-filled week!

Yours in stickiness,

Cam ;P

A Pack of Corgis - LESSON 6

Hi there!  

Here we are, another week, another Lesson in Drawing Lab!  This time our instructions were to draw a dog on 20 index cards....and not just a dog....but the same dog over and over again.  I have never sat down and drawn the same thing that many times before....

So I grabbed my index cards, my Sharpie (since I don't have a chisel-ended pen per the book) and this photo from the Internet.

(Source)

Here are my first 8.

I'm not sure what I was doing with the background on that first one....haha!

It is really neat how they end up being so different....plus, I found after the initial 4 or so, I started experimenting more with starting points.  I usually started with the ears and forehead....but, I also tried starting with the eyes, the nose, all the right side, then the left, etc....

Here are the 2nd 8.

The book does recommend taking a little break when you start to tire of drawing your subject.  In the middle,  from about 11 to 14 or so, it was getting a bit tedious....but then, you start seeing the big pile of finished drawings....and the smaller pile of blank cards....and it becomes a fun challenge to finish!

I sat and drew these 20 in about an hour.

Here are the last 4....sorry about my shadow across the bottom :)

I numbered them on the back, and I found that useful in keeping track of their progression and how many I had left to do.

So, there you go.  

A pack of Corgis. 

 What will your pack be?

Please link them here and share them with me :)

As usual, your visits are always appreciated!! Thank you!
20 Hugs,
Cameron