keystrokes & kaleidoscopes: January 2015

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Learn From Others

The capacity to learn

is a gift.
The ability to learn
is a skill
The willingness to learn

is a choice.

-- Brian Herbert

In 2013, when I really worked hard to take my paintings to a new level, I signed up for renown artist Flora Bowley's Bloom True painting class online. I was a little hesitant at first because I have had "hit or miss" luck with the content of some online classes, but I was so drawn to her free style and bright colors.

So I took the plunge and signed up. I have never once regretted it!

If you really want to expand your painting repertoire, it is worth every penny. Her classes really help you "let go" and just paint from within yourself.

Here were my final results of the two paintings I started in my Bloom True class.

If you are interested in signing up click here.

Tackle "learn something new" on your resolution list for 2015! Can't wait to hear your experiences!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Craft Attitude & StencilGirl Help Decorate my Supplies

Welcome back everyone! I am joining StencilGirl and Craft Attitude today and marrying their products to spruce up my studio with some fun color!

Don't we all kind of want to re-vamp and re-organize a bit at the beginning of the year? I know I do! So I decided to use the StencilGirl stencils and Craft Attitude Printable Craft film to decorate a jar to hold my mega brushes (the really tall ones). I am both organizing and crafting! :)

First thing I did was take two pieces of watercolor paper and PLAY! Uh, I mean I painted one with warm colors and stencils and the other with cool colors and stencils. See the links at the bottom of my post for all the stencils I used.

After I had two luscious painted papers, I scanned them into my computer and printed them out onto the Craft Attitude Printable Craft Film. It was super easy!

I then decided to cut the film into wavy strips.

I placed the film onto the jar ~ it sort of fit together like a puzzle. I finished off the edges with a bit of bright orange ribbon.

Such an easy and quick way to add a splash of color to my jar of brushes! You could add it to almost anything you wanted. It's very easy to use.

Hope you are inspired to get your supplies organized and have fun in the process!

Here are StencilGirl stencils I used in this project:

Here is a link to the Craft Attitude Film

Leave a comment to win! All comments on each post during the hop will be entered into the giveaway! One comment per post please. Comments are eligible through Monday, January 25, 2015 at 11:59pm CST. Winners will be posted on the StencilGirl Talk blog on Tuesday, January 27th.

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And thank you for your creative support!

Keep checking out all the great ideas by hopping along with these great artists!

Today (Wednesday)

StencilGirl Talk

Julia Kellogg

Kirsten Reed (where you are now!)

Thursday

Friday