Making tags, bookmarks and art journal tip ins from recycled materials

I'm am such a hoarder-anyone out there with me?  I'm starting to even save tags off of clothing items and dig discarded cereal boxes  out of the trash. 

I do think I have a problem!

But why not save them? When all you have to do is add a coat of gesso....

Some paint and ribbon....

And Wa La... cute cute cute little things to use as gift tags, book marks or scrapbooking, Bible journaling and art journaling tip ins. And now you've also recycled something that is trash to most, into something useful and beautiful.

Follow me on Instagram to see my daily projects and artwork.

Would you like some custom tags or bookmarks? Visit my Etsy Shop.

Scripture Memory and Bible Journaling

Slowly but surely, I'm trying to build my Etsy Shop, and eventually a store on my website. Most all of my works on paper come from my personal Bible study and scripture memory. So if you see it in print, more than likely it's something that I have wrestled with God over.

I just added a scripture memory card to my shop. I hang these on my bathroom mirror, my refrigerator, give as little happy gifts, include in cards and use as bookmarks and tip ins in my Bible and art/prayer journal. This measures approximately 3.25" x 5", about the size of a small index card, and is professionally printed in archival ink on a heavy card stock. It is a coated finish on the printed side and blank on the back.

I will be adding new ones to the collection in the near future. You can find and follow my Etsy Shop by clicking HERE. I hope these little nuggets of truth will bless you in your personal study and faith!

We are created to be Creative-Bible Journaling Workshops

You think you are NOT creative?  God tells us in His word that we are created in His image, and there is no denying that He is a very creative God. Over the past few years, I've expanded my worship to include Bible journaling and a few other forms of visual arts. It brings me so much joy to worship this way, just like singing or prayer. Plus, since I am such a visual person, it has helped me to memorize scripture and meditate on His truth. If you love creating, or think you are not creative, but wish you were, this workshop is for you!

I am offering a FREE mini workshop on Thursday, February 25. We will be looking at several methods of creative worship, including Bible Journaling, and learning some tips and resources to help you get started. I will be offering 2 sessions and spaces are limited to 10 people per session. There will be a morning session from 10:00 a.m to 11:30 a.m. and an evening session from 7:00 p.m.- 8:30. The workshops will be held in Fayetteville. Please email be at stacyspanglerart@gmail.com to register and sign up for my newsletter, if you haven't yet (HERE). I will email you a confirmation of your spot with workshop location and details. Spots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis, so sign up quick! Newsletter customers will have first priority, so if you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, get on it today!

Valentine's day art projects- Lots of Hearts and Love

I had fun strolling down memory lane while looking at some old pictures and posts of my Valentine's Day/Heart projects and art lessons over the years.

 Just thought I'd share-hope you have a love filled day!

5th grade class Jim Dine inspired collage hearts out of recycled materials.

Hand carved erasers are easy and great for journaling.

Hand made book marks out of recycled materials make great Valentine gifts.

Exploring our own style and learning about color theory in elementary art.

Making some fun abstract Valentine's day canvases with mixed media.

These little canvases make great Valentine's Day gifts. You can find them at the Painted Tree Vintage Market in Central Arkansas.

Frame up one of my prints for a great gift anytime! Find these in my Etsy shop.

As you can tell, I always love a good recycle project. My girls and I made these one year and cleaned out all our old crayons in the process. 

Packaging card made with Gelli Prints.

Homemade Valentine's from paper grocery sacks.

Bible journaling with the One who loves us most!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Spring Workshops and free mini workshops-Bible Journaling

If you are interested in learning the basics of art journaling, I have two workshops coming in March! If you sign up for my newsletter, you can receive a coupon code for $10 off. Only 8 spots available each session so sign up quick! Workshops will be in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Mark you calendars--I will also be having a FREE mini Creative Worship workshop in Fayetteville on Thursday, February 25 (one morning session and one evening session).We will be learning about types of creative worship and Bible journaling. Sign up details and times will come through my newsletter. Spots will be limited. 

If you would like to schedule a FREE mini Creative Worship workshop at your church, women's group or Bible study group, contact me directly for details and available dates at stacyspanglerart@gmail.com.

How to create a mixed media painting

I attended the Artists of Northwest Arkansas monthly meeting in January,  and had the privilege of watching Karen Ahuja demonstrate her abstract mixed media process. She uses a wet on wet technique with fluid acrylics. I was really inspired by her paintings and couldn't wait to give her technique a try. 

I started out by wetting my canvas and applied Golden fluid acrylics onto the canvas, letting the colors mix and drip-it's very messy! I let the first layer dry, and then added another. This is what I ended up with.

Well, of course, I saw flowers here and loved the color scheme. I used a water soluble graphite pencil to sketch in a rough design.

Then I defaulted into my own techniques, and had to add some papers. I have some great vintage hymnal and responsive reading papers I found online that I'm loving using right now for my under layers of my paintings.

I used paint mixed with a soft gel gloss medium for the background so it would be semi transparent but thick. I wanted the papers to peek through, and also I love scratching designs and words into the paint.

Here I added a few more drips and the flower stems. Also started filling in the flower shapes with a heavy body paint mixed with soft gel to give a heavy impasto look to the flowers. I really like the look here, but as you will see I messed it up in the next step :/

I attempted to make the vase transparent, but that look wasn't working for me. I also added in a table here. My paintings never turn out how I invision them in my head, but I try to go with it and enjoy the process.

As you can see, I ended up painting the vase white and added some stencil shapes with gold paint mixed with a heavy matte medium.

Lastly, I gave it my usual distressed look by using a palette knife and some raw umber paint. 

So my painting looks nothing at all like Karen's style, and most of the underpainting is covered, but I still had so much fun experimenting a new technique, and loved the way it turned out. I'm will definitely give it a try again and do a few things differently the next time.

Look for this painting at the Junior Civic League The Big Party silent auction.

Scripture Art now on Etsy

Just a quick post to let you know that my new scripture art listings are now live in my Etsy Shop. All my prints are professionally printed-not off a home computer. I have 4 x 6 and 5 x 7 sizes. They are great as a card or beautiful framed. Hope you find something you like! 

Sign up for my newsletter HERE and get details and a coupon code for a FREE PRINT.