Mixed Media Fun

Aren't these colors fantastic?

I love whimsical...

I have been having fun with some small 3 inch canvases that I have always kept on hand.

You know, you have to be prepared for when inspiration hits you!

I put texture on these with Deco Art Media Paste.

Now, IF you are going to add glued items to the canvas, I recommend NOT adding the texture, so the items can be glued flat!! 

I added my texture with dry wall tape, punchinello and a stylus.

I will use them for another project.

I took an old dictionary page and painted it the colors I wanted to use. Since these are small, I thought this would be easier!

I cut out my shapes, being ok with imperfections! 😁😂😊

I attached my items with Deco Art Decou-Page.

This is the Deco Art Brand of Mod Podge.

Please, use what you have! 

I am a Deco Art girl, and have been for over 25 years!

I love the quality of Decoart products.

These are some of the colors I used. 

Again, use what you like.

Use what you have! 

This is before I added details.

You can see that even when you do simple, fast and easy projects, the small details bump up your project to another level.

I added my details with paint, because that is what I feel comfortable using.

You may use a pen.

Make certain it is waterproof! 

Also, test the reaction with sealer. Many will smear if you add a brush on varnish! 

And this is It!

I live the whimsical look of this.

I hope you will try it.

If you do, please share it with me!

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Who's a GOOD BOY!!

Who's a good boy?!!!

Why did you hesitate to answer??

Good grief...NOBODY should have hesitated for ONE second for that answer!

Charcoal HATES summer.

He is often at my feet for a bit when I paint. Then, he realizes that my pillow is available!

Ok, hate is an awful word, but I think he does! 😒

Our humidity in Middle Tennessee is just horrible.

Charcoal can tell.

I have to make him go outside.

He does not linger one second more than he has to.

Let me tell ya, it is tough keeping up with me, because,  my sleep schedule is awful. I never know if it is night or day, and trying to make sure that I feed Charcoal at a similar time is kinda hilarious. 

I think I have made him a night owl! 

He doesn't complain...much.🙄

Well, my boy is a lot happier these days, since we have, I hope, said good bye to the 90s. Even though the humidity is hanging on, it is nowhere as bad as it was.

Now, Charcoal is excited to linger outside longer. 

Before, Charcoal got excited when I opened the freezer so he could get some ice.

Now, he is back to listening for the door knob to turn.

I am even enjoying sitting on the back porch again.

So, a few minutes ago, I went to the door to retrieve my dry-it board, and sweet boy thought I was going outside.

I couldn't disappoint him, so I thought I would toss the tennis ball to see if he would go after it--he had little interest during the hot weather.

Sure enough, he took off in the DARK to get it.

Now, if your pup is like my pup, going after it is no reason to think he will be bringing it back.

I made a mental note to go find it when the sun rises.

Well, "2 dead mosquitoes, a few dozen more bites, lots of sniffing" later, Charcoal decided it was time to come in. 

My blood supply was ready, too! 

Mercy, mosquitoes--it is OCTOBER!  GO AWAY.😲

I grabbed my dry-it board (it has lots of tiny points on it to hold painted items to dry) and took it to my painting table to get started on my day of painting.

I had to go get something else,  when I turned to see Charcoal sitting on the couch with...

The ball!

You're such a good boy! 
Yes, you are.
You are mommy's good boy.
Here is a treat...
Oh, another one?

How did I get so blessed!!

Charcoal sends wuf-wufs to his Aunties...

Me?! 

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Grateful

Happy Fall!

Well, at 3:02 pm! Lol (Central Time)

Mother Nature is snickering as she sends us temps bordering on the 90 degree line.

As a painter, I am never quite sure what season it really is.

Art has the Gift of transporting you to different places, different seasons, and yes, different outcomes.

It is no secret, my goal, as an artist, is to spread smiles.

I love happy colors. 

I do not like faces without smiles. 

I love whimsical. 

I have a joke going with a few friends about stepping into the "dark side."

They know I am joking, while others might not know.

I love dark colors, too.

In my opinion, there is nothing classier than black and white. It was our farm's colors, because, well, we milked black and white cows! 😁😂🤣 (Holstein)

I have been trying to learn different styles of painting my entire life. That is what helps me grow as an artist, but I do not want to abandon my style that I have worked for years to develop, because, be it good or bad, there is  something absolutely awe-inspiring to hear, "I knew that was yours!" I think it is one of the greatest compliments I have ever received.

With that being said, most every one of us started by copying patterns offered by others. I still enjoy painting the designs of others, because I learn so much! 

And, again,  this brings up 2 of my own questions:

1. Why would an Artist get angry when someone doesn't follow their pattern.

2. Why would you teach if you don't want others to duplicate your pattern and sell it??  If you sell your pattern, and IF the person bought it, then you need to let it go! No, I am not talking about stealing. I am referring to videos/patterns that are purchased or offered for free.

Yes, I know, sometimes I fail to see the big picture, BUT before you go "stormin' norman" on me, this is MY opinion, and it is absolutely fine to disagree with me.

I think it is important to add your own touches into art. My goal is simply to share some of what I know, so you can learn. I want to INSPIRE others.

We learn by imitating others--look at children.

I also believe that God has given us the skills we need to survive in life. Yes, we must hone them and learn, but the basis is there.

I also believe, with every ounce of my being, that the more we give, the more we get! I believe it applies to every part of our lives. 

I have experienced that we CANNOT outgive God.  

If I can help you, I will do my best.

Now, before I seem all high and mighty, I also think that when someone helps YOU, it is your responsibility to then, help yourself. 

We have all experienced those who keep wanting more. I have taken my time to offer help, only to be bombarded with question after question...heavy sigh

People...One word--GOOGLE!!

There are people who will push you to your edge, and sometimes you have to say, NO.

That is ok! 

Now, don't think I am saying that we can't sell our art, because, yes, that goes back to my statement about gifts God gave us to make a living, BUT if you teach it, HOW can you say it can't be sold? That is crazy! 

I think what I love about my friends, is how generous they are. They give free tutorials, ideas, line drawings, helpful hints, and on and on. It really is a community! Each offering help.

So, with all of that said, I have been updating my HOPE pattern (Pink ribbon patterns) with some new ideas, so I grabbed a 6x6 canvas that had been sitting in a spot for a few months --hmmmmm...does it count as the SAME SPOT if Charcoal and I have knocked it off about 20 times, oh, and it has inched closer down the stack of stuff to my painting table??

Sorry, to have just made many of you shutter. I have friends who will understand me. 😁😂🤣😃

I covered it with an old dictionary page--ok, two pages-- with DecouPage (Yes, use what you have or your favorite method). 

I drew a pumpkin--start with a center, and add to each side. I grabbed a darker color on my base coat brush to separate the sections--there are TONS of FREE tutorials on You Tube and Pinterest to show you how to draw a pumpkin.

Here is a link to one of my previous posts.Click here

I painted the outside then added texture with my favorite dry wall tape and some favorite colors of DecoArt Americana Acrylics.

Then I dabbed on Deco art One Step Crackle around the pumpkin. I dab it on, rather than simply brushing it. I put it on thicker than a regular coat of paint. 

When it dried, I thinned a darker color and put it on top so the cracks would appear! Then wiped the darker color off, so it remained only in the cracks.

I found a word I liked in my drawer full of stencils. Yes, I love this word and how it nudges me. 

I applied Pink Glamour Dust to the words and to the pumpkin--sparkle and cracks--story of my life! 😁😂🤣😃

Yes, you are more than welcome to make some, and to sell them!  I certainly don't own the rights to a pumpkin! 😁😂🤣😃😄

But, seriously, I am happy to try to teach others to maybe earn some money to help THEM support their families.

God has been so good to me. He has given me far better than I deserve.

For those who have "wronged" me, I pray they will get the same Grace and Mercy that has been gifted to me.

Always help others--It isn't your responsibility to make sure they say THANKS or to change.

Have a blessed Fall, and don't you dare fail to take time to enjoy It! 

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the world.

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡

Peaches and Milk

I don't like milk.

Well, unless it has something good added to it! 

Yep, strange for someone raised on a dairy farm.

...AND, my mother was allergic to dairy foods.

The good news is Daddy ate enough cheese and ice cream to keep us all in business. 

In the line of true confessions, I don't care for breakfast.

I never have.

I do not eat eggs.

Ok, so that is not true.

I do eat eggs as long as I can't taste or smell them. Throw in enough cheese and onions, cook it crispy, and I will eat an omelet or a quiche. 

I have gagged over cleaning one too many iron skillets after eggs were cooked--eeeeeewwwwww...

I was the brat, who followed my Daddy like a puppy,  and sat at the table between my parents until their deaths.

I remember sitting around the breakfast table each morning with my family, as a young child. Mother said there were few meals that something wasn't spilled, and often, it wasn't one of the kids!  Remember, we had 3 people past 80 the first few years of my life.

As we got older, it became a joke that as soon as the blessing was offered, somebody always jumped up to get something! 

Daddy always had the same breakfast --2 eggs (fried with a runny middle---ick, or scrambled), 2 pieces of toast, covered in White Karo Syrup, and cut into 9 squares, 2 pieces of sausage, bacon or ham, and coffee.

I have shared this before, but it is as vivid a memory as it gets. I remember watching Daddy perfectly cutting his toast into those 9 squares, and this one particular morning, I asked him to cut my toast. 

I remember my eyes growing big in horror as he reached across me with that egg-yellow-laced fork to cut my toast! I watched in unbelief as those egg drippings were now on MY toast, and tears flowed uncontrollably. 

I remember the sternness of Daddy telling me to stop crying and to eat. I remember thinking that I would stop crying, but eat it, I would NOT.  Yes, Daddy got an extra piece of toast that morning.

Of all the things that I remember, I wonder why this is etched in my mind.

Maybe, this was the foundation of my not liking breakfast. A celebration of all things EGG is a bit much for me. LOL

Mother, long ago, gave up on trying to force me to get up earlier than I needed to stare at food I didn't want to eat. 

We would get breakfast bars, granola, or anything that we could grab and go. Breakfast became only for special occassions--that wasn't a bad thing. It helped reassure me of the specialness of gathering around a table to share breakfast. I LOVED going to Shoney's breakfast bar with Mother and Daddy. 

Any time we traveled, Daddy planned a stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I never minded so much getting up a bit earlier for that.

My favorite breakfast, as of late, is Yogurt with granola. Of course, it comes later in the day. 😊

Yesterday, I thought I would try to use the rest of my milk I had bought for potato soup, before the milk spoiled, so I got a bowl of granola. As I sat down for my afternoon snack, I eyed my last peach, big as a softball, and too expensive to let spoil  ($2.98/lb), so I grabbed it and chopped it into my cereal. 

Mercy,  me, those food memories. 

I was transported back to my childhood years of eating fresh peaches with milk/sugar over them or blackberries with milk/sugar! 

WOW!!

I can't adequately express my gratitude for being raised in a home that smelled of freshly baked goods...for being blessed with fresh out-of-the-garden veggies...for the joy of growing up around a table with family and friends...for being taught that all good gifts come down from the Father of Lights...for learning to always bless the hands that prepared a meal, our food to nourish our bodies, and our health to God's service.

To God, be all glory, honor and Praise! 

I am simply blessed to create~charlotte♡