Get Inspired for Spring!:-)

Textured and Stamped Mini Easter Tote

           

 

Hello!

Teresa Cox Kolar here from Sweet Mare Studio and RubberMoon Art Stamps!  The following is an Easter project. Get inspired now, collect your materials, do the project (once or a few times) and you're ready for Easter!

 No better way to alleviate the winter blahs than to get creative with symbols of new beginnings like Easter eggs, baby chicks, bunnies, bright colors and treats!

If you should feel moved to create what you see, you have plenty of time to get your supplies.

So, let's get started!

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Supplies

To start you will need a paint brush or two, a mini wooden tote (I got this one from Michael's Art Store), favorite paints, and a gel medium. Shown here is a Golden brand gel. Any brand will do just fine.

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Do an under painting of a nice dark color. I chose crimson.

 A purple would work very nicely too.

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Apply a layer of gel medium. 

Gel is meant to create fabulous texture.

It will go on white. Then, will dry completely transparent. 

We want the wonderful under painting to "peek through" the top layers. 

So apply your gel in a textured way. 

We don't want a smooth application. 

The best brush for this is a cheap, stiff, coarse bristled one.

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Next, after the first layer is completely dry apply another contrasting dark color.

 I chose teal. As you can see, it creates a dramatic look.

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Now we will put on a layer of "Eastery" color. I chose an ocean green/light turquoise.

In this photo you can see the under paintings peeking through-nice!

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Now, a layer of cream.

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And finally, a layer of white.

The idea is to work from dark to light. Start your project with dark colors and gradually add each layer with a lighter color. The very first color is the darkest. The very last color is the lightest. Between applications make sure each layer is completely dry.

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Stamping!! :-D

This part of my project is particularly special because the

 stamps we will be using were designed by "your's truly!" 

The stamp pictured is called "Henri Motif"-#TK4aa. 

You can find it on the RubberMoon Art Stamps

Etsy site. Using a paint brush apply the color

 turquoise to the stamp. Decorate your tote keeping in mind that

the turquoise will show up the best when applied over white.

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Another stamp that I designed. 

This one is called "Organic Circle"-#TK6f. 

This stamp can also be found on the 

RubberMoon Art Stamps Etsy page.

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Voila!!

Add some colorful grass and Easter treats. 

Hide from an excited Wee One.

So much fun.

**Special Note-eggs pictured here were happily 

donated by my hens-Madonna and Beyonce.

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Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

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 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

RubberMoon offers the stamps used in this tutorial as single pieces.

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps. Their site is new, improved and brimming with inspiration.

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Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: TCKolarArt

The stamps used here are part of a set offered at my Etsy shop-TCKolarArt

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Sweet Mare Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!

It's January! It's cold! Let's create a darling RubberMoon Art Stamp bookmark! Then, cuddle up with a good book! 

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Hello Everyone!

 This is Teresa Cox Kolar from Purple Sun Studio.

It's blog time! 

I always enjoy putting together a tutorial

using RubberMoon Art Stamps.

Thank heavens for RubberMoon and their inspirational new website, blog hops, etc.,etc. Stop by their websites and pages often. They have  something fun going on ALL the time! There's nothing like creative ingenuity to keep us from the winter doldrums!

The following tutorial highlights a few of my favorite stamps from RubberMoon.  Also included is one of my tried and true watercolor painting techniques. This method will make your painting time stress free. Watercolors can be tricky and unforgiving.  However, with the following information, you'll be set for stress free learning and fun!

Let's get started!

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Super Heart/Checkerboard Bookmark

Time to start the fun!

You will need:

140lb. cold press watercolor paper.

Begin creating your bookmark by tearing a pre-measured piece of your watercolor paper. Tearing along a marked and folded line will give you a naturally deckled edge.

Time for stamping!!

The stamps you will need from RubberMoon Art Stamps:

Checker board stamp #rm2770g

"Super Heart" stamp #ge2760h

Be sure to get a permanent ink pad.

 This is very important because we 

will be using watercolor paints.

Permanent ink will stay put. 

It will not blur or smudge

 when you apply

the watercolor paint.

The one pictured below worked great.

Create a pattern with your RubberMoon 

stamps on your watercolor paper.

Time for juicy, watery color!

This is a photograph of my watercolor palette.

 I haven't had it out in over 10 years!!

I simply applied water to the (Windsor Newton brand) 

paints and I was in business! 

A true testament to the durability of Windsor Newton 

watercolor paints!

Watercolor Painting Technique

Long ago, 

when I worked exclusively with watercolors

this was a method I used often.

It takes away the stress of working with the medium and 

it is virtually fool proof for achieving bright, transparent color. 

I never accidentally ended up with "mud." 

The colors "move around" together in the water. 

They don't mix. So you can put opposite colors together 

without the danger of getting an unattractive muddy result.

I love it!

Apply clear water to the area that you want color. "Paint" 

the water on with a brush. The same as you 

would if you were applying paint.

Here I applied some burnt sienna and yellow ochre paint to the 

water that I "painted" onto the paper previously.

Apply the paint at the top of your strip. 

Tip the strip up/vertical so that the watery paint runs down

 covering the the paper with beautiful transparent color.

Here I added a little antwerp blue
 toward the middle for variety.

Now it is time to decide which part of the strip 

I will use as my bookmark. 

I really like the watery design of the antwerp blue. 

Here I was contemplating using 

the acrylic marker on the right 

to do some doodling.

Still in the decision making process. 

Starting to think this wonderful little circular stamp

would look nice. 

RubberMoon Art Stamps-"o three"#kp5086

Decided! 

I will be using the 

strip with out the blue. 

I like both however, the uniformity of the

 warm colored strip appealed to me for now.

Pictured here are the pens I used to embellish the

 stamp designs and watercolor background.

Voila!

A sweet little bookmark!

Easy peasy!!

Add  a piece of watercolor paper as backing and 

a border. 

Adhere them with the glue pictured here.

Fini!!

This doesn't have to be the end if you don't want it to.

You could add embellishments, a sprig of fancy yarn at the top.

Experiment, be creative, enjoy!!

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Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

*****************

 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps. Their site is new, improved and brimming with inspiration.

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Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.teresaketsyshop.etsy.com

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Purple Sun Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!

K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart)

RubberMoon Stamp Christmas/ Holiday Cards

Hello Amazing Artsy Friends! 
Teresa here! :-D
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Today I would like to show you a very simple way to construct
four unique greeting cards. 
So many of us keep in touch via the computer.
But, sometimes it just feels good to send a special
someone a handmade-straight-from-the-heart note-
"old school" style.


Supplies

You will need the following:

*Art Squares from Inchie Arts, LLC

http://www.inchiearts.com/

*blank note cards

*PPA glue or any type of craft glue

*Sharpie markers

*RubberMoon Art Stamps/Mid-Century Modern Designs Collection

found in the 2013 RubberMoon Catalog (hard copy)

*Black Ink Stamp Pad

The K.I.S.S. method of 

Christmas/Holiday card making

Above is a photo of the finished product. The instructions are tres simple.

1.stamp on your Inchie Art Squares (This part is important. 

Using the Inchie Squares allows you to use 

the Sharpie pens and their vibrant colored ink.

 If you use these pens directly on the card, 

the colors will bleed through to the other side-very unattractive).

Love Inchie Art Squares!

http://www.inchiearts.com/

2. Color your designs (have fun)

3.Glue your decorated Inchie Art Squares to your note cards.

Voila! 

Darling, mod Christmas/Holiday cards for that special someone!

These are so simple they are guaranteed fun! And this is just the beginning!

You could add gems, glitter, whatever you want.

 Just remember keep your gluing and

coloring on the Inchie Art Square.

 Inchie Art Squares= no rippling and no ink bleeding-yay!!

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Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

*****************

 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps. 

********************

Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.teresaketsyshop.etsy.com

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Purple Sun Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!

"Henny Penny Goes To Town"

Mixed media mini painting

"Henny Penny Goes To Town" 

stamp #GE2535

RubberMoon Art Stamps

Hello! It's me-Teresa Kolar! This time here to show you how to paint a little 3x3 inch canvas with some darling stamps from RubberMoon Art Stamp Company. This little piece shows a lot of the joy I find in chickens and their whimsical nature. Anyone who knows me knows I love hens. I have four of my own..... 

.............Picture?! Why, of coarse, I just happen to have one right here...........

These are my girls (from left to right)-Beyonce Knolls Kolar, Gwen Stefani Kolar, Madonna Kolar

and (in the front) Goldie Hawn Kolar. I just love 'em!

So, it is only fitting that I do a blog entry about a sassy and glamourous little hen.

I don't have a Henny Penny but, if I had one more chicken maybe that would be her name. I'll keep you posted.

Oh! One more thing.......look at these pix- one of Beyonce Knolls Kolar. The other of Beyonce Knolls. See the resemblance?! 

Really---

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 it's uncanny!

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Initial/first phase of materials

Ok, now it's time for serious fun.

My favorite kind.

A dark brown for your very first layer.

Hints of Burnt Sienna while first layer is wet.

Very small hints of earthy red

An earthy yellow. Naples Yellow shown here will be

 used later with the stencil.

A 3x3 inch canvas that can be purchased at Michael's art store or just about any store that carries art supplies..

Second Phase of Materials

Matisse inspired handmade stencil

scratchy, rough brush

pointy small brush

RubberMoon Art Stamp

 Chicken #GE2535

Apply the first layer of dark paint. Use strokes that

change direction often. This creates 

more interest.

Apply a second layer of dark paint and then, touches of earthy red.

The red is added while dark is still wet.

Blow dry your under painting until it is 

completely dry to the touch.

Stenciling

Here I used a handmade stencil created

 from a manila folder.

This shape was inspired by the artist Henry Matisse.

Layering of Color

Apply a wispy layer of cream then,

dry with blow dryer.

Next apply a wispy layer of white. 

(less than the cream-very little here. It is just an accent).

Stamping!! :-DDD

Now it is time for stamping!

 I will be using RubberMoon Art Stamp

Chicken #GE2535 to create my "Henny Penny."

 Burnt sienna is a great color to go on top of the cream and white. 

Your burnt sienna should be of liquid consistency.

If it is too thick the paint will not transfer to the canvas. 

It MUST be liquidy. (Made up word-liquidy). I like it.

When you apply the stamp to the canvas it will be a little tricky. I would

encourage you to do a practice printing. When you press the stamp onto the canvas

the fabric will give way under the pressure of the stamp. To avoid this from happening (the stamp not transferring to the canvas) support the back of the canvas with your fingers. Press the stamp firmly against the canvas with your fingers pushing against the stamp from the other side simultaneously. (Hope all this serious talk isn't hampering your sense of whimsy). I think you'll see what I mean immediately, especially if you do a practice run.

Montana brand Acrylic Paint Marker-White

Use this for filling in the chicken body, head, etc. 

I also used Montana Acrylic marker in black to

change Henny Penny's legs a bit.

Both the white and the black markers

are extra fine points. A must for working this small.

(Black marker not shown).

Next I will use another RubberMoon Art Stamp.

I will apply Burnt Sienna (liquidy) paint to the very

bottom portion of the canvas.

This is the lovely result.

Next I use this stamp (one of my favorites)

 from

RubberMoon Art Stamp Company in the upper right

corner to imply a sun or moon or just

wonderful circular energy.

Now it's time to add fun details to the background. 

Use your white acrylic marker for linear accents, outline the chicken shape. 

Fill in where you like.

Voila!!

"Henny Penny Goes To Town"

Fini!!

Many thanks for visiting my blog. It was so much fun creating this tutorial for you to try. I hope you have enjoyed it. If you should have any questions, just leave them in the comment box.

 A little P.S.-

I didn't mention the names of the colors I used (except for burnt sienna and Naples yellow) because I wanted to leave that open for your own interpretation. Choosing colors is part of the fun. Just choose a cream you like, a red you like. There are many versions of each. You don't have to use exactly what I did. Go to the art store and find the one that speaks to you. Really, I'm not kidding. That's why we love art!

 Visit  this wonderful company, RubberMoon Art Stamp Company http://www.rubbermoon.com/

You will find oodles and oodles of amazing artsy stamps in addition to the darling chicken stamp used here.

Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.teresaketsyshop.etsy.com

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Purple Sun Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D

Experiment and enjoy!