christytomlinson

It's April?! Happy April 1st!

Hey sweet friends! Its been like two weeks since I posted last.  NOT because I haven't wanted to, but man oh man we have been crazy busy! With the sale that we did, with getting ready for my new workshop that starts in ONE WEEK!! and just getting house stuff done so maybe possibly we can move in before summer (please oh please.. we bought this house almost a year ago! lol.. I SOO want to move in before summer..)

It's just been crazy busy.  BUt isn't life?  So today is April 1st.. My kids always love this day because they think it's the day they can pull any prank they wish on us and not get into trouble. lol. I guess that is true right? My husband is like a little kid as well, always coming up with some funny joke to play on me.  I am still trying to think of something I can pull on my kids.. it's so hard because a few years ago we got them SOO good. I mean like crazy good. We sat them down and told them that we had been called on a mission by our Church (We are LDS), To serve as mission president over a area in China and we would be moving to china in 3 months for 2 years. It's not uncoomon for our Church to ask a husband to serve as  mission president over a mission area, with that, the entire family goes with him. It's at his own expense as well, and ben I would have always dreamed about the possiblities of us doing it. Anyhow, so We were video recording it and oh my heck.. you should have seen the response! I thought I was going to to pee my pants from trying to hold in the laughter. Some of them were like.. oh cool! that's awesome (the younger ones). But the three older one, freaked out! Told us how they didn't want to go, leave their friends, leave their small town life, Braden leave, and not get to play football for the last 2 years of high school.. Allie having to leave all of her friends and we were so mean. We  kept a straight face the entire time and kept saying how cool it was going to be and how in 2 week ben and I were going over to China to find us a place to live. We told them lots of made up stuff.. lol. But still the more we talked about it, the more the older ones resisted and then allie started crying and ran off to her room,  Braden sat with his arms folded and head in his lap refusing to speak to us, Parker was freaking out.. and So we finally let them in on the joke. We told them we were just kidding and we weren't really going to china.. and it was April Fools. THEN the funniest thing is that Preston stood up, started crying and ran off.. and said "that's so mean! I thought we were really going and now we aren't!" and then Ethan got upset we weren't either and ran off. The whole time we were recording it and oh my gosh we watch it back now and we all just laugh until our stomach hurts from the drama.. the crying the slamming doors.  SO funny. So yeah pretty much since then, it's been hard to pull one over on them.

Anyhow. totally random story. :) Welcome to my life! lol

So speaking of what I have been doing these past couple of weeks, like I mentioned I have been filming and getting ready for my biggest Solo workshop yet! Behind the Art!  I have to say, this is turning out to be a REALLY fun workshop for me to film. Its actually fun for ME to break fown my process, step by step, product by product. It really has been! I am So enjoying it and actually getting a lot out of it myself!   if you haven't signed up for it.. I thought I would come and re-post about it.. you still have one week before it starts.. so plenty of time to still join..

So here's a sneak peek of what's in store!

 

 

 

Behind the Art is an ecourse workshop . This workshop is a 5 week workshop!!

This class start April 9th! 

I am TRULY TRULY passionate, excited, and giddy about this workshop because I have to say it will be my most comprehensive workshop yet as far my creating process, what products I use, WHY i used the products, HOW i use them, and more!

I will also have a few "guests" in this workshop that will give some insight into THEIR creating process as well! My Guest will be Danielle Daniel, Nolwenn PetitBois,  and Junelle Jacobson! 

 will be all about WHAT products I use. I will go through very detailed videos on each individual of 12 product categories. Surfaces, Covering,  Glues, Paints, Mediums, Inks, Sprays, Marking Tools, Shading Tools, Stamps, Stencils, Detail Pens & Pencils, And Extras

 I will share with you what they are, what their properties are AND WHY I use them. What instance I would use them in. For example.. why I would use transparent paint vs. opaque.. for a certain look, or in what instances I would choose opaque! I talk about permanent vs. no permanent and the values and GOOD qualities of both.

 

I talk about the primary colors both in Mineral Colors and Modern colors, what the difference is, why one is sometimes better than the other. I will talk about the values, Hues and densities of Paint. Why some paints mix better together than others.

 Why sometimes a of one kind of paint.. goes much further than a LOT of another. I really go in depth of the art products I use in my creating AND WHY I use them. There will be some videos on creating as well, as i show you what I mean by why I use sometimes one product over another.

 It will be a GREAT resource guide for you FOR ANY of my other workshops I teach. Or any other workshops period! 

 

 will be about HOW I used the products I talk about in Week one. I show you tons and tons of techniques, and how to get Similar looks using different products.

 I show you all the possibilities there are when it comes to using the products.. and hopefully some fun OUT OF THE BOX Ideas you haven't seen before!

This week is really in depth about how to use the products for creating. Lots artsy messy videos.

 

 is about digging IN.. 

This is where the creative process gets REALLY fun. I will show you in depth, how I create, what I call the "backgrounds" of my pieces.

I will show many different background process. from start to finish. I will walk you through EACH move and tell you WHY i am adding this color, what I just used that size of stamp where i used it.. Why I am covering up something I just put down,

Why I change the color of something as the process develops. It will truly by a IN DEPTH look at my creative process!

 

 we will take those same backgrounds and then we will finish them by adding objects and all the fun little DETAILS that make it Yours.

 (I will be painting anything from a girl, to a bunny, a butterfly, a dress, a house etc).. but remember it's not so much WHAT i am painting, but the process of it .. how what and why!

Again.. where I place the object and why. Also once the objects is on the canvas, WHY i then add things to the object, or the backgrounds. Why I choose to cover some things up. I will talk about Contrast, depth and color hues.Different techniques i like to use to make certain things stand out.. why sometimes I want others to fade into the background.

Why some products work better than others for different techniques and several different methods I use to get the end result!  Just like week three I will walk you step by step my process, why I did something and why it worked (or didn't) 

 

 

is going to be the challenge week. This is the week when I will give you a series of challenges using all the information you have learned over the last 5 weeks.

I will be doing the challenges as well, and also some of our guests will be doing them too! So lots of fun videos with artsy messy play! It's now time for YOU to have fun, for you to create, to explore, to mess up, to have "oh i love this" moments! It's TIME TO STRETCH THOSE WINGS!!!!

I have to say THIS WORKSHOP is soo soo close to my heart. I have never done a workshop where I actually share my entire process of creating. It's kinda of a scary thing, to open up your heart the wide and let people in. So this workshop is a HUGE leap for me.. an exciting, giddy.. nervous leap! lo. and because this workshop is SOO Large and full of so much information...

This workshop will be open for 2 FULL years! That way, when you are taking other courses.. mine or even other artist.. you can always come back to this one for reference when creating!

This workshop will be FILLED with videos and printable PDF"s so you can take the information you learn and use it while you get messy.

SO ARE YOU READY?? 

hope you join me in the exciting, heart filled class. I hope you that by taking this class, it will open up an ENTIRE new world for you of possibilities. Both in creating AND in your finding your own unique voice! This class will Catapult you as an artist.. taking everything you've ever learned to an entirely NEW level. If you are really wanting to move forward in your creative endeavors.. this class is PERFECT place to start! It's time to Open your Heart!

This class again is a 5 week course and is $64.95.If you sign up before APril 9th  when the class begins, you can get the early bird discount of

$59.95 and again you will have access to this class for 2 FULL years! 

To sign up for this workshop.. click on the link below!

(as a reminder your password for this class is mailed out the DAY CLASS BEINGS. You will receive an email from paypal confirming your payment. That will be your only email confirmation from me until class begins on the 9th. 

Behind the Art Workshop (only)

happy Monday!

xoxox

 

 

 

 

Behind the Art! A new Mixed Media Tutorial!

wow! it's been a while since i have done a video tutorial! Since January I think!! Crazy!

First off, BEFORE I start in on that.. I TRULY HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU!!!! for the HUGE HUGE HUGE response and support of my products we debuted last week in the Scarlet LIme Store! HOLY COW!! It was INSANE CRAZY! I mean CRAZY.. we sold out of products 4 different times during the weekend and I had to call pink Paislee and make SURE we could get more! I kept ordering a ton thinking it would be FOR SURE enough to not only get me through the sale but for months. and then 6 hours later I would get an email from one of you.. that stuff was out of stock again! I was like.. what? are you sure? I just entered more! I felt bad. sorry it was so crazy for you guys!! Hope you all got what you wanted by the end of the weekend! 

here is a picture that ben took of the orders he printed Friday morning.. not even 24 hours after the sale started.. 

 

  I don't think he quite knew I was doing such a big sale in the store. (keep in mind he is the one who runs the store, prints order, pulls them, ships them. )..

I kinda  sorta maybe.. mentioned to him earlier in the week I was going to maybe do a sale.. I think I did. I was pretty sure I said maybe something about it. :) :) :) But I am guessing maybe he didn't hear it. lol.

so he sent me that picture friday before he left work and said something like " um.. would you mind explaining this please?"

I was like... what? I'm pretty sure I told you I was going to do a big sale? Lol. oh I just love him. He's been working night and day since then to just even print, sort and combine the rest of the orders that came in the rest of the weekend! Yesterday we shipped kit club stuff and today we are shipping all the free kits that went to people who signed up for all three classes!  So they will start filling those orders tomorrow. PLEASE be super patient. This is going to take us at LEAST 10-14 days working non stop night & day to get them all out. So please just know it's coming. :)

Seriously Crazy. You guys. YOU ROCK! I owe you so much!! I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you! Just so blessed for the support you give my family and ME! Someday I hope I get to hug each and everyone one of you!! (getting tear-eyed as we speak).

OKAY! onto The tutorial!! xox

So last week I spent an afternoon at the studio, creating projects with the February Mixed Media kit we offer in my online website www.scarletlime.com . Its part of the monthly kit club (and when we have some left we list them in our store). 

SOME months, when I have time and energy, I like to have fun and play with the kits too and when I do i try and do a video with them, so you can see what I do with the products in the kits.

THIS particular month (february's kit) I KNEW right away I wanted to do a video because I had a certain vision on mind for those products lol.  Most of the products we include are just fun mixed media products you can include in ANY of your mixed media stuff you create. Whether its on canvas, or art journaling, or whatever. Those products are designed for you to use in what you are creating. But For this kit, I wanted to really show you what I used them for and why I included them. :)

SO here is the kit!



As you can see its FULL of alphabets and words. Kinda different huh? I mean totally use-able on canvasses and art journals.. all the time. You always need words and titles on them, so these work great. BUT i wanted to show you some fun and different ways you use them. you might not think about!

So I came up with these (and more!)

Im not going to write step by step what I did, hence the video lol (it explains it all)

but here are come upclose shots of the projects I made using contents from this kit!
(note the videos are at the end)

 

So thats it! Actually there are a couple of more projects I didn't take pictures of.. just too much!

AND guess what else? I try to keep my videos under 30 mins.. so they aren't too boring to watch lol But I did SO many different projects with this kit, it ended up being an hour! even with me on super fast mode (you can tell I am rushing through each one to give you AS MANY Ideas as possible! LOL).

So make sure you watch BOTH Part one and PART TWO!! 

again hope you enjoy!!

xoxo

 

PART ONE

 

Part Two

 

xoxox

THEY HAVE ARRIVED!! wahoo! and of course a big sale :)

wahoo!! the day has arrived! Finally! all of my new products from Pink Paislee have ARRIVED into our Scarlet Lime store! AND Guess what?? We are offering a HUGE sale!! Up to 35% off! ALL of my SHe ARt Products! Scroll down below to find out the details!
But first.. Can I show you what just came in? wahoo!

 As yo know I LOVE using Rubons for textures on my canvases!! here are just a few examples!

AND of course my new Coffee Filters! (if you are taking ANY of my classes, you KNOW I love using coffee Filters on my backgrounds and girls, etc! Works just like Tissue Paper!! Love it!)

I actually decided to do them in plain White.. so that you can color them any color you want (they take paint and sprays WONDERFULLY).. so using a transparent paint like Claudine Hellmuth's paint, or Golden Fluid Acrylics.. works amazing!

(my favorite!)

Here is picture of what they look like used

(make  fun flowers..)  Also AmAZING for backgrounds!

 

( i used the filters up in the pink feather, and also next to the girl.. )..

here is another view without the girl on it.. it just creates SO much texture and depth because you can see through the layers of the filters to whats underneath!

Here is another canvas in early stages..

Then here it is after paint, rubons and stencils added

 So fun to see how you can keep layering it and coloring with it!

PLUS look at all the fun rubons I used too! AND the stencils! I have modeling paste and paint using the stencils scattered all over the canvas!

Here's a couple of other fun canvases I used them on...

The one below I also used my new vintage lace doily stencil.. you can see it in the middle lower.. in red!

AND of course finally.. MY NEW Masks and Stencils!! wahoo!

remember this old favorite? that has been out of stock since last SPRING?? well it's back! Plus 3 new designs!

 

(again below.. MY FAVORITE ONE!! I think I use it over and over and over!!  )

and of course a NEW doily stencil.. vintage Lace!

here's some fun ways I used those!

 (and of course lots of of the filters underneath lol.. yea I think those are my new addiction)

WE ALSO have back in stock our paper pads!

Which I used on the canvas I have shown here alot! below!

SOO..  I am SOO excited to have them in stock that we are doing a 4 day sale! 20% off ALL my Christy Tomlinson products! That includes ANY She art Products we carry! Stamps, Paper Pads, Stencil, Coffee Filters, and Rubons! AND the other awesome part!

The discount is ALREADY figured in on the store.. so you don't have to use a coupon code.  So when you add them to your cart YOU WILL SEE THE DISCOUNT.

AND GUESS WHAT ELSE??  Since you don't have to enter a coupon code.. if you are already taking my online classes and HAVE a coupon code for 15% off all your purchases.. you can use THAT on top of the 20% off!

So you get 35% off!!!

NOW.. do you remember what happened LAST year? When I came out with new rubons and stencils? They sold out in little over a MONTH.. and pink paislee Sold out too and so they were just gone? LOl.. GONE GONE! so stock up! because we have no idea if we can get more once what we have is gone! So I say stock up NOW while you get this HUGE discount! xoxo

 

awesome huh??  See! aren't you glad you waited to buy at my Scarlet Lime Store? Lol 

BESt way to find ALL of the products that are 20% off, is to just go to The mixed media store of Scarlet Lime, then click on Christy Tomlinson Designs (it's the first category at the top) .. OR Click Here!

Christy Tomlinson Designs 20% off Sale 

Just had to share! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!! happy thursday!

xoxo

 

 

something to share..

so as promised I wanted to share with you some of the things I made this past week at the

Nurture your Creative Seed Retreat!
Our First class was with the very talented Ms. Jeanne Oliver and I immediately fell in love with her collage lessons! First thing we did was collaged 6 watercolor pages, with vintage wallpaper, vintage ephemera, paints, and more! We were painting them to make them into a handbound journal at the end of the retreat.. this was SO much fun!

So we spent the morning creating those.. then in the afternoon Jeanne shared her techniques for painting her beautiful girls!

This was the one Jeanne painted for us! I took this picture during the process so she wasn't quite finished.. but I still love it!

So then I went to town.. finding my courage to create too! and this is what I finally ended up with..

I actually had put the patterned paper down on her hair and had planned on painting over it.. so I just had the pattern under the paint.. but once I got it down, i actually fell in love with the look and decided to leave it just as it was! I love those happy unexpected things that happen with art as you are just going with the flow!

So then we had the evening to just work on our journal pages some more.. but I had had so much fun doing girls.. and since girls is kinda of my thing, I decided to use my journal pages as 'backgrounds" for painting some more girls instead!

So I spent the rest of the night and ended up with these fun girls.

I don't know why but my girls all ending up on the right side of the journal page? lol

But I had so much fun just exploring and painting All night! I would have stayed up and painted the last three.. but I knew I would be tired and hurting the next day and didn't want to miss out on Mindy's class! Can I just say Jeanne was SUCH a fun teacher! oh my gosh.. that girl is SOO funny! I have been friends with her for years and I know she is that way for me all the time.. but during class she just has this awesome way of making you feel RIGHT at home and really making you feel comfortable! She is a great teacher too! helping you feel confident in what you are doing! LOVED taking a class from a dear close friend! What a fun thing to do. I mean I have painted with her many times.. but to actually take a class from her, was beyond my expectations! LOVED IT!!

WHich by the way.. I LOVED how different both classes were! Jeanne's is obviously VERY vintage and classic.. and Mindy's style is just whimsical and fun!

So the next morning we started out with the very sweet, adorable and tall (why I always thought mindy ws short. i don't know? lol) Mindy!  OH be still my heart! LOVE THIS GIRL!!

She had us start  the day be creating two our own handmade paper.. and then  backgrounds on canvas..

with Mindy giving us some really fun prompts to do! Fun things like "draw your favorite word but with your non dominant hand.. or scribble with your eyese closed with a watersoluable crayon. It was REALLY fun actually! She is an awesome teacher for getting your playful, let your hair down.. side out! We finished the morning by painting a cute little whimsical bunny! I couldn't get my page to feel right, so instead of trying to make my background mesh and fit.. I just created a second animal friend from the background.. and it seemed to work! lol

Mindy was TRULY an awesome teacher! It was SO so relaxing..

then after lunch we worked on the second canvas, and moved onto to creating a girl! (she started us with the bunny so we weren't so apprehensive about doing faces.. which was a VERY smart thing! lol.. it kinda helped ease us into it!)

So here is the girl..

she isn't quite finished. I didn't spend any time creating later that night because it was our last night and I wanted to talk and hang out with the other women there as much as possible! So she still needs some words, and some background issues and texture fixed.. but again.. Mindy just was so much fun!

so that's my fun weekend! Jeanne and Mindy were both amazing teachers. and like i said earlier this week was JUST so wonderful! I really want to go back! Like next week! lol (Serena can't you just plan another one for this spring? Lol)

anyhow.. just had a great time! Thanks again for letting me share!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo

 

Christy

 

Simple Pencil Sketches.. Angel Series

Hey friends! just a simple post for today.. (going in a few minutes for a out patient procedure).. so keeping it simple for today..

I LOVE sketching.. and sometimes I love to go REALLY extravagant and have fun with details and hair, etc.

But some of my FAVORITE sketches are the simple ones, done with a mechanical pencil and my charcoal pencil. Infact I LOVE just using charcoal. It's one of my favorite things. It can give SUCH deep lines and shadows and dimension without even hardly trying..

so I wanted to share with you a few sketches.. simple ones, I did recently.. hopefully to inspire you to sketch! We are doing a lot of fun sketching in the She ARt no. 3 Workshop (started tuesday and holy COW LOVING what is coming from these women taking the course!) 

So here are a few of mine..just simple. VERy simple.. but the way I use the charcoal helps give it more depth.I call this my "angel" line.

(She was an angel then)

 

(she knew she was made to love)

 

(her wings grew with time)

 

(she was a simple soul)

 

SO Simple.. but with a few great placements of the charcoal.. SUCH depth and meaning. By the way.. some of you have asked.. my favorite charcoal pencil is a #2b Soft. MY FAVORITE.. The brand I am using right now is Generals. WE actually carry them in our online store Scarlet Lime . (they come more in a pack with 3 different types, pencil sharpener and charcoal sticks. We also carry white charcoal pencils.)

Anyhow.. just love sketching. I have a little pocket book (3"x5" in size) and carry it around with me everywhere I  go. Just never know when I will have moments of inspiration or need something relaxing to do. Right? 

Speaking of the store.. ben just listed like 100 new products last night! Holy cow the man is awesome! We got some new paints & Sprays into the store!
Tim holtz new line, new Studio Calicos, and Dylusions.

Plus we also have new stencils from Crafters Workshop, Donna Downey, SC and Prima!

AND I don't have a picture.. but TONS Of new texture stamps (and only 2.99!!) From KasierCraft! As well well as a ton of new 6"x6" paper pads! I think it's time to raid the warehouse :). Who wants to join me? lol

okay.. enough talk. I better get going.. gotta leave shortly for a very annoying procedure.. but one that has to be done! See you back here Monday! Hoping to have that February mixed media kit video for you! It's SUPER fun! Just need to get it edited!

Happy Thursday!
xoxo

She was a silent fighter...

sweet friends! wow.. what a week last week. Im not even going to say it because if you have been reading my blog.. you know EXACTLY why i didn't get another blog post in last week... lol. But I can say.. I HAVE started using essential oils and wow... they have been AMAZING for the pain! It's not a CURE.. but it's sure a sweet relief! I will talk on a more personal note later about my struggle right now with Fibro. It's something that latley, makes Me VERY emotional.. but I have decided to just embrace it, overcome it and love what I am learning about myself from it.

I have a couple of fun things to share today..

first off.. did you know that SHE ART WORKSHOP NO. 3 STARTS TOMORROW!!!!

 YES! it does! wahoo!!! so this is just a "final" reminder the class starts tomorrow and I would SOO SOO LOVE to have you join me!  I think this class.. well I am HOPING this class will change the way you create art. Will change the way you look at yourself and others. Help you Embrace all aspects of who you are and paint like you've never painted before! That is my wish! Can't wait for it to start!! If you want to sign up you can click HERE to find out more!

and speaking of She Art..

This weekend, Ben's sister Jenni (whom i love love love to death).. Came and visited us for a few days. She is always so fun to have come because she just has this bright vibrant spirit about her! my KIDS adore her. She is their second mom! Not only is she simply fun, she also has this amazing energy! All day saturday (while I worked).. she helped ben lay sheetrock and tape and texture the new/old house. She is just that way! She can FIX anything, she loves to help with ANYTHING. She is truly super women.
Then yesterday after an amazing soul filling day at church, we headed over to the studio to just hang out. She hadn't picked up a paintbrush to play in years, but I know how creative she is.. so I pretty much made her get messy. lol.  and OH MY GOSH was she amazing!! I mean like in minutes she had painted this gorgeous beautiful woman with this magical depth!

 

I just was standing there in awe! I had planned on just laying around, napping, reading books, etc. and after seeing her painting, I was SOO inspired to get up and paint myself! So i did.As I sat down to paint, I just kept feeling this overwhelming feeling that this fibro was not going to get the best of me.. that I was STRONG.. I was a fighter.. and so I just started to paint what was in my heart.. and this is what came  out.. 

I know I know.. so many of you saying right now.. what?? christy you hardly ever paint faces on your girls.. and I know it's true! But lately.. it's been calling me. I feel like i have a story to tell and when I do, I need it to be known.

That is where the face comes in. I talk alot.. ALOT about this in the She ARt 3 Workshop. There are beautiful reason to for both.. to leave the face blank.. or to paint in the features.. and i actually enjoy BOTH of them. (I finished  second painting last night as well and left her face blank.. but it just FIT her)..But this sweet girl.. she needed her story told. NO questions as to what it was she is trying to say.

She is a strong silent fighter this one. Don't underestimate the determination she has..

You will see in She Art 3, that I don't like perfection when it comes to faces. I LOVE texture and I LOVE it when paint just kinda plays and falls where it ends up. Love the yellow flecks in her right eye.. soo not planned but TOTALLY wonderful!

 

I love how her neck and shoulder are so strong but also "soft" too. It's like they have this story to tell and they are saying.. yes I have been through alot, I have had many burdens placed upon me.. but I am still holding my head up strong!

I think right now, she will go in my bedroom.. on my nightstand.. to remind me every morning of the fight I have left in me. Yep. She is a strong one.. that girl of mine :).

Speaking of STRONG girls..

I wanted to let you all know that my SWEET dear friend Kelly Barton (who you may remember from the 2011 artsy ornaments workshop).. just re-opened her etsy store and her new art is just STUNNING!

I LOVE how it's evolved over the last year! seriously that is what I LOVE about this crazy messy beautiful thing we call ART! 

I love how it's forever changing, and we are growing constantly and it's SOO important to listen to whats in our heart.. not try and paint what we think we are expected too.. but paint what MOVES us.. not moves anyone else.. ONLY US. because then and only then is it real and true.Sometimes is scary to change listen to that new discovering.. it's so much easier to stick to what we know.. but I can tell you from experience that when I finally am Brave enough to just get up and let go.. holy cow I am amazed at what comes from it.. That's all I will say for now.. I share SOOO much more of this in the She Art Workshop 3..  can't wait to share it! Hope it will help you find your voice as well!

(love this piece by Kelly Barton too..so fitting). Make sure to check out her ETSY store!!

anyhow! I hope you have a happy monday! Let's see what the week brings us shall we?  xoxox

Studio Crescendoh, Art Saves and She Art Goodness

happy monday morning sweet friends! (afternoon to some of you i guess ;). The weekend was relaxing and non productive, which means I just spent time hanging out with my kids and husband and that is ALWAYS a good thing!

I just wanted to come on and write a quick post about two things!

First off.. TODAY is the LAST DAY to sign up for the 3 Spring online Workshop Special! This spring I have three e-courses I am offering..  She Art 3 (which starts in a week!)  Behind the Art and The Art of Spring with Junelle Jacobson! (you find the links and read about each one HERE on this page)

I have been offering a special where if you sign up for all 3 workshop, you receive a $15.00 discount, but ALSO receive a scrumptious kit in the mail that will have some of my favorite artsy products! INCLUDING an exclusive stamp! This kit with shipping is worth OVER $25 or more.. and ships out in mid-late march! (before the Behind the Art class starts).

SO if you would like to take advantage of this special.. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY! The value of this is over $165.00, but the cost is only $129.00 You can sign up here!

 

Now onto Studio Crescendoh! Last year my dear friend Jenny Doh,

(artist, owner, editor, writer and curator of the wonderful artsy community, magazine &  website, Crescendoh),

 

 

 asked me if I would come teach in her studio in California this coming year..

 I explained to her that this year I was not going to be traveling at all to teach.. just offering retreats at home and teaching online classes... BUT that because I TRULY adored her.. and what she does for the art community

, what she does for artist and for the creative soul.. I would be completely HONORED to come teach at her amazing studio! (if you aren't familiar with Jenny and her Art Saves mantra.. you will be so completely filled with creative goodness by getting to know HER, her website, her community and what she believes in and stands for)

  So April 20th & 21st,  I will be teaching a 2 day She Art Class! Jenny has done a wonderful job of writing up all that the class will include.. on her website, So I will link it here..

BUT I thought I should let you know, I put this on my facebook page last friday night and Saturday morning Jenny texted me and told we had already filled all but 4 spots! wow! Crazy! So.. I know there are still a few spots left if you would like to join us! I know my other retreats here, and the one I am hosting in Mexico (which again.. said I wasn't going to travel.. but man when I went there, I fell in love lol).. but those are all sold out now, and were alot more expensive. THIS is a great alternative to a full week retreat. It's just a weekend class and the cost is minimal! I would SO love to meet you and have you join me!

YOU can read all about that class, what the course includes, what I will provide, what FUN we are going to have.. on THIS PAGE HERE..

She ARt Studio Crescendoh!

I was telling Jenny Saturday morning.. I TRULY Do have amazing friends, blog readers, customers. TRULY. Just blessed and grateful and amazed at the support you all give me.TRULY TRULY grateful.. please know that. I would not be doing what I do without all of your support and love. My heart is very full for you all today. BIG BIG loves going your way.

okay.. now I am all tear-eyed.. lol.. it's a monday.. it's a good day for good tears right?

So whats happening this week? Well hoping to have some videos done for you with the January and February kit! one or the other :) and also wanted to share with you some girls I have been working on over the last month. So watch for that this week!

I hope you all have a wonderful monday.. I know how stressful they can be. They are my most stressful days.. not sure why. So I hope today is just pure magic and you give yourself a BIG hug from me today!

hope to see you in the Spring online Workshops and Hope to see you in California at studio Crescendoh!

xoxo

Happy Monday!

My New Products with Pink Paislee! wahoo!

hello hello! Well I am writing this from Sunny but not so warm California. I am here with Allie and we are attending CHA Winter 2013.. (Craft and Hobby Association). It's the big wholesale show where manufacturers of Crafts, Art, Scrapbooking, etc.. debut their new product to us Retailers so we can order them and get them into our stores! I am excited because my second Release with Pink Paislee is being debuted as well! I have new rubons, stencils and printed coffee filters coming out!

 

AND.. I know i have talked about permanent sprays.. and those are still in the works.. but will probably more of a late spring release! I was sent sample of the products before I left and I played a bit with them and wanted to share with you some of them! These won't be available in stores until march 1st (SOO LONG AWAY lol).. but YOU KNOW without a doubt as soon as they are available we will have them! I will also be designing some new stamps with Unity that will be coming this spring as well! CaN'T WAIT!

and OTHER GOOD NEWS ... Pink Paislee is already re-releasing my favorite doily stencil, my stitching rubons AND my paper pad from last summer! So those will be available too! wahoo!

So want to see some peek? here we go..

The rubons.. of course I designed exactly what I would want if I was using them on canvas. They come both black and white to a page. I have Scallops and Doodles and lace and doilies and flourishes and so much more! 3 Different styles!

 

 

 

They are so fun to add texture on cavnas (I will show you some below in a project I made!)

Then of course stencils..

 

A Vintage Lace Doily, a fun doodle themed stencil and a flower stencil with 6 total shapes on it!

And last but not least.. printed coffee filters.. ALL of you know how much i LOVE to use tissue paper in my backgrounds.. and I wanted to come out with something similar but not quiet to fragile.. but still had the same weight and transparent nature that tissue paper does. I also wanted to do a print on them so they could be overlapped under or over paint or other papers for even more texture and depth. PLus you can use sprays to color them or transparent paints! AND the best part.. you can also use them to make flowers, birds, dimensional objects, besides just using on backgrounds for canvas. LOVE Them!

 

 

So.. of COURSE I had to play with them.. and make something.. I started with just canvas to create a backgrounds.. didn't have anything in mind for what would be on it eventually.. just wanted to play and create!

I I used the printed coffee filters above to create layers in my backgrounds.. See how they are transparent enough to see some of the color and texture underneath?

I also messed around with another canvas I was working on.. and put some on it too..(my big canvas from a few weeks ago.. the girl with a face.. still finishing and adding to her!)

LOVE love love this print!!

then I added some paint and liquitex inks for drips and of course stamps for texture! and added MORE tissue paper and paint. Also started adding Rubons!

 

Then i used the stencils and added texture and design with those..

I also used the vintage Doily stencil on the other canvas i was working oN! Here's a peak of that!

 

once I got the background just where I liked it.. I honestly wasn't sure what I wanted to put on it.. so I just started writing words on it with my doodle pen. I wrote things like courage, brave.. forgiveness, she was true, she was calm.. and from those words I starting really feeling another indian girl.. but this time I wanted to have her be a little more simple..

At first I went for just short hair and had planned to do a headdress on her..

but she just didn't feel right.. so I decided to add a side braid..

and then she just started to come together..

I painted a simple dress on her but used my stencil with paint to create an embossed look around her neckline. I also painted some feather earrings.. and of course added a lot of shading with paint. Some cheeks.. and something I don't usually do.. but I added a nose. I felt like she needed one to kind create that indian ethnic flair i was going for and i LOVE how it turned out. Even though she doesn't really have a face.. with the nose she really does have a deeper personality.

 

You can see all the fun stuff like the coffee filters, and rubons and even the stencils!

I still feel like something is missing.. of course she needs words and I already have i mind what I want her to say... but I also want to add something to her hair as well. Maybe just a detailed wrap weaving in and out of her braid. Something. But I ran out of time before leaving for CHA.. so I will have to finish her when I get home! 

Soo.. there's the sneak peek! These will be in the store End of February, 1st of March.. I SOO wish it was sooner!! But that is when it is shipping to ALL retailers.. so we all just have to wait lol.
See you Wednesday when finally officially anounce my three new spring classes! xoxox

oh and THANK you to everyone who signed up for the May Art Retreat! They are Officially sold out! THANK YOU!! can not wait to have you come stay with me!! I had a lot of people email me about a fall retreat..

the only reason I hestiated doing one was because my son is a senior this next year and plays football (it's his one true love). And I will not miss a game.. kinda sappy that way. So i had thought there was no way I could do a retreat because I would need to go to the game on friday night of the retreat.. BUT ive had so many request for a fall one.. i started thinking..  the retreat women can either come with me to the game OR stay and paint at the art studio.. :) So I am considering it and will anounce soon if I do decide too. That way those can start saving now.

ALSO I will post soon the exact dates of the Mexico Retreat. For those that emailed with an interest to that one too!  Happy Monday!

xoxoxo

Back from Mexico.. some fun updates :)

well hello friends.. hope all of you had a wonderful new Year. Last week in Mexico at Hacienda Mosaico, was just way way way beyond my expectations. We had a fabulous teacher.. Jesse Reno and I will be honest and say. WOW. If you haven't even taken a class from him.. it should be on your "must" do list.

 TRULY must do.. Even if his style of art is not for you.. the way he TEACHES art and the things he helps you SEE and think about when creating art.. from color, contrast, size, depth, layers.. it's tRULY TRULY a breath of fresh air. He really thinks about the things he creates, He puts a lot of meaning in to them and not just emotionally.. but also creatively. Seriously if you can.. TAKE  A CLASS from this man! lol. ( i told him he REALLY has to start doing online classes.. for those that can't travel and I think he is almost convinced to start!).. but if not.. I know he has several classes coming up through the spring!  GO!! lol.

It was ben's frist time doing any kind of art like this and I can't even begin to tell you what a cool experience that was to watch ben find himself through the creative process.

 This past year has been a tough year for both of us.. and I have to say I watched a lot of emotions come to the surface and be healed through creating. I had planned to go and you know.. be in class from 10-2.. then swim, read, take naps on the hammocks, walk around town, go to the beach. shop even go golfing (for ben's sake). But You know whats crazy is ALL ben wanted to do was create ART!!  We only left the grounds of  Hacienda Mosaico three times our entire stay. three times! and twice was just to walk to get toiletries and some simple art supplies which took not more than an hour!   And the last day of class, Jesse took Ben and I  to this cool mask shop and a local Gallery where his art hung. Other than that.. ben was out in the studio painting! (it's a covered studio outside on the grounds. HOLY COW AMAZING!!).. I would wake up in the morning and he would be painting, between lunch and dinner he would paint.. and then he would stay up until 2-3 am each night painting. He was on fire!

here are some of the pieces Ben created.. some he still want to add to and details..and two unfished ones I didn't show here..

keep in mind these are all HUGE paitings like 3 feet by 4 feet at least..

 

 

 

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then.. here are the pieces I created..

 

 

 

and then here is one we did together.. and it's still a work in progress

 

 

 It was awesome.. truly awesome to watch and experience. We didn't even see the beach, or the hammocks, or the golf greens.. we were perfectly content to stay RIGHT inside the grounds of the Art studio. (which was about an acre total.. including the little "houses" where guests stay, the lush LUSH greenery everywhere, the pool, the awesome sitting areas both INSIDE and out.. and two huge art studios (one indoor and one outdoor). This place was truly amazing.

There is no need to leave but if you want to, every store you can think of is within walking distance (like literally blocks) and it's in such a great safe place. We walked everywhere we went. Even for late night tacos at 11:00 pm (they had two great taco stands across the street and a coffee shop.. not like a "city" street.. i mean this small little neighborhood.. cobble stone roads.. VERY very laid back and old town. I can't say enough good things about this place! When I first got there, Sam (the owner..she is SOO wonderful!!) she said she had been looking online at my websites and had seen i was also an artist and asked if I would like to come teach at her Studio. I thanked her kindly for her offer but told her I wasn't traveling much this year.. but by the end of the week.. I was in love. I was smitten! I really can't say enough about this wonderful little place. The food was amazing,

the service was amazing, the beautiful colorful ARTSY grounds

(every where you turned there was art in all forms. I mean EVERYWHERE.. even the lights were all handmade by artist.. both outdoor and indoor!

 So the day we were to leave I pulled Sam aside and said.. GIRL.. count me in. I would love to come back and teach! So I am planning a retreat there late fall/early winter. probably the 1st of 2nd week of December.. (my son's senior year will be this coming fall and he has football games until mid November.. and I will NOT miss a game.. not this year! lol). Anyhow.. I am excited! I will give details soon.. BUT also.. consider just going on your own! ANYTIME! She rents the rooms out.. I think it's like $100-$130 a night per room (you can put two people in a room and share it).. and as long as she doesn't have other classes going on that week you are free to use the art studio to your hearts content! the price includes breakfast BUT for a small fee you can also have her include lunch. HOwever there are SOO many taco places and even a fun bistro coffee shop.. that serves everything from crepes, sandwiches, danishes too salads, pies, and more. And literally you walk outside the door of the Hacienda and you are looking at it.  so I say.. grab a bunch of your girlfriends.. or maybe even just you and your hubby.. OR maybe just your daughters or whoever and GO!! People always get scared about Mexico.. but I can tell you (because I am one of those SUPER scared people who won't walk anywhere at night and CLING to my husband's arm during the day).. I felt SO safe there. and it truly was.. her place is nestled back in this fun little town with cobble stone streets and all sorts of little places to eat and get anything you need. Its only 5 mins from the airport and EASY peasy taxi ride! So go!!  Contact her on her website.. AND GO! tell her Christy Tomlinson sent you and she will take care of you :) xoxo ..take a trip to Puerta Vallarta this year and stay with Sam and take your paint supplies and your friends and go and PAINT and create or whatever suits you! (she also holds all kinds of art classes.. from Jewelry, to ceramics, painting, etc) OR come join me later this year for some TRULY relaxing fun!  

Okay okay.. lol.. speaking of art retreats I am OFFICIALLY announcing my FIRST very own Art Retreat..

She Matters   .... being held in Shelley Idaho in May 2013 (this year! :))  I  sent out an email to all of those who were on the waitlist  right before Christmas and we have only 4 spots left in the first week (no more spots left in second week). SO i am officially posting it on my blog for those of you that didn't get that email..  It's a 5 day retreat, ALL inclusive (food, lodging, transportation EVEN your paint supplies for the class.. plus lots of fun surprises and extras).. and it will be held in my personal art studio and you will be guest in my home :) I am SUPER excited about it! I have a wonderful talented cook that will be preparing meals for us and it will truly be the time of your life being taken care of and just creating and really REALLY connecting on a personal level. If you want to find out more about this retreat.. you can click on the link HERE! AND  YES i do take payment options!! So you can make payments on it.

anyhow.. check that out! :) HERE IS all the info! (or copy and paste the link below)

http://www.scarletlime.com/artweekend.html

so what else is new? Well I have been working hard on some new product for CHA with Pink Paislee and I am SO excited to share with you sneak peeks of the products! I will be posting about them on monday!! So watch for that blog post! I will also be posting a tutorial on something I made using the products! It will be fun!

ALSO next week I will be announcing three new classes for Spring..  1st. a  new She Art 3 workshop!! ( i can not WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!), it's been over a year since I did my last She Art class and i have to say that I have learned SOO many more things when creating girls, not just in style but also in using mediums and ways to shade and create depth and REALLy create a soul to my girls. I am excited to share a new way of doing She Art with you and also introduce you to some of my latest loves when creating and that is creating shes from all over the world from all decades. Finding my soul in what I do and taking from other places and creating She Art with meaning. I am really excited for this class. GIDDY for this class. My soul is burning to teach it!!

I am also doing a  fun new layers, techniques and backgrounds class.. that will be THE go to course you will come back to over and over again for reference in creating ALL types of art whether girls, or animals or things or objects.  (you will have three years access to this class).. but basically it will be ALL and everything you need to know to really just JUMP into any of my other classes knowing EVERYTHING there is to know about creating.  I will go over backgrounds, layers, paint and paste mediums, how to shade with lots of different mediums, creating texture, creating depth, composition, colors, etc.. ALL brand new videos and lots of new techniques that I haven't taught in other classes, but basically a course you can take and watch whenever you are stuck in another class of mine and want to just go back to just the basics. To find ways to make your art more creative or more interesting. To add more depth to them. In a lot of my classes i just jump right into creating stuff, but I don't explain why i do what I do and i certainly don't show the many different ways I can get the same looks. This class will be all about that.. LOADS of info! Great workshop to just have to use in all of your other workshops you are taking.

 AND then my fourth workshop will be a SPRING workshop! Featuring fun spring icons like bunnies, bears, bees, beehives, birds, butterflies, umbrellas, flowers.. ALL THINGS spring! My Fall and Winter Classes were such a huge hit last year I had many requests to do a Spring class.. so I am going to be offering that in March! Of course I still have on my list to do a business course and a few other FUN classes.. but these are just my first three for the year!   Each of them start at different times (different months).. but excited to get them announced and out there so you can start planning for the ones you want to take! I will announce those next week!

But for now.. check out the info on my Personal Art retreat in May.. I would love to have you come! only four spots left!!!

hope you all had a wonderful week! See you monday for sneak peeks of my new product and a fun tutorial!

happy thursday! xoxox

December Mixed Media kit fun!

well hello hello from warm and cozy Mexico! I hope everyone is doing well.. hAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Here is to a WONDERFUL 2013!!! 

I have a fun treat today.. A video i did using the Scarlet Lime Mixed Media kit for December! Super excited about this kit because  I included some funky stuff and REALLY wanted to teach you some new things I recently discovered when trying to make my own "clay" look.

This month's kit included a fun configuration box from Tim Holtz, as well as lots of other goodies.. but I wanted to use it in a non conventional sort of way. Most of what you see if also very "distressed".. and I wanted to create something fun and bright with it!  So here we go!

I wanted to make sure that EVERY part of the pieces in the kit were altered in some way of another.. just not "adhered" onto the "canvas". I really wanted EVERy piece to be it's own artsy point of interest.

The clips are from Maya road and were originally grey wire. of course I painted them.. added a book paper behind them and then shaded it and doodles on it.

 

Included some fun embellishments that we altered as well. Painted, stitched, doodled

 

 

 

Even the key was painted and doodled on. really wanted to keep this entire thing BRIGHT! But the best part of it all? Making your own "clay" out of tin foil and book paper!

 

So.. here is the 30 min video that shows you the entire process from start to finish! Hope you enjoy!! can't WAIT to see what you do with the kit! AND YES.. if you are wondering.. WE DO have these kits left in our store! Check out our store www.scarletlime.com  the store part! We have them in the mixed media kit section!

Scarlet Lime STORE

Off to go paint some more with Ben and Jesse Reno! xoxox