Join the Artists on the Block….a fun StencilGirl & Sizzix Bloghop!

Today we are going to be hopping in to a whole new territory with Artist Trading Blocks! Come join me to learn more.

Unlike tags and artist trading cards, Artist trading blocks allow you to create in 3-D!  They allow you to expand your creative style with multidimensional style.  Way fun, right?   

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive when I received my blocks.  All I could think is if I make a mistake it will be so obvious on such a small little space.  But I put my big girl pants on and grabbed my paintbrushes.   I looked at the Artist on the Block Facebook page and was blown away by all the AMAZING blocks Amy Bowerman and Eileen Hull had created.  Seriously talented!  But sometimes, in art and in life, we need to be pushed out of our comfort zone in order to grow.  So I am glad I was pushed!

I originally had the idea to make my block and old time TV set - you know the kind with the rabbit ears and knobs?  We had an old Sony TV growing up and my brother would pull the knob off so I couldn't change the channel and I was forced to watch Hogan's Heroes instead of Brady Brunch.  Hahaha! He had four years on me so it really was never much of a contest and so I am now well versed in Hogan's Heroes trivia.

Anyway…although I think the TV would have worked great, I wanted the block to be more personal to me. So I based mine on the game of Monopoly ~ with a twist ~ making it ARTopoly….all things artsy!  It was quite fun!

Then I really wanted to create another one to show my 'art journey' and some feelings about me individually as a person.  So the second block was created to represent my dreams, my journey, my flight as an artist.  (This is the butterfly one)

Quick photo recap on each (since the process was very simple and self-explanatory)

ARTopoly Blocks

I painted all the squares a light gray to look more like the Monopoly game than the stark white.

What is the name of the game? ARTopoly

Instead of GO… I made my square CREATE.

  

I used Carolyn Dube's Cross Word stencil to create the border on this square. I then highlighted with blue Faber Castell marker.

 

I used the Pam Carriker's Journal Prompt Pointer stencil for this square. (In lieu of Go to Jail space).

 

Here is my jail ~ clean up time! UGH!! :(

I used Mary Beth Shaw's Hunab Ku stencil on this square to represent art retreat (in lieu of Monopoly's Railroad space).

 

I used two stencil on the "property" square.  I used Mary Beth Shaw's Rafters stencil to help me create the top part where I wrote Smithsonian and Metropolitan.  I used Andrew Borloz's Crossed Rounds and Squares stencil to create the dice.

 

 

The following squares, I didn't use stencils…I just free-handed to mimic spaces on the original board, some with my own 'artsy angle".

 

 

 

 

   

ART Journey Block

My second block was just for me, to journal in a way my thoughts about my art journey the past couple years.  I started with the medium size box and painted it a brown.  I then used the Chain Mail stencil by Mary Beth Shaw and dabbed white paint through to create a background. 

  

After that I just added meaningful symbols, phrases and words I had in my stamp collection and embossed them.  I used butterflies to represent me taking flight with my dreams, changing and the unique beauty art brings life.

I hope you have enjoyed hopping along and creating some three dimensional art! Be sure to visit the new Artist on the Block website here for more block ideas. If you like this tutorial, please visit my website Kirsten Reed Designs for more like it.  Also, be sure to "like" my Kirsten Reed Designs Facebook page.

Keep hopping along and make sure you leave a comment on every blog ~ each time you comment you are entered a chance to win free stencils! Each comment counts, so the more you comment, the more chances you get!  Giveaway will close December 13th at 11:59 pm. (central standard time).

Here is your blog hop order:

Stencil Girl Talk

Eileen Hull

Mary Beth Shaw

Linda Cain

Janet Joehlin

Pam Carriker

Carolyn Dube

Johnnie Lanier

Linda Kittmer

Leslie Tucker Jenison

Kirsten Reed - YOU ARE HERE

Marjie Kemper

Mary C. Nasser

Amy Bowerman

Maria McGuire
Artists on the Block