A Little Picasso Anyone?

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!  I am welcoming in the new year in a new way for me, Today I am celebrating and sharing PABLO PICASSO.  Whether you Love his art or hate it or just don't understand it, he was a man who lived his life HIS way doing what he loved exactly how HE wanted to do it and he left his mark on our world.  Personally I LOVE his art and how it makes me feel... the energy, the sadness, the confusion, and I guess that's the key, He Makes Me Feel... 

Le Reve: (the sleep) Pablo Picasso 1932, Oil Painting

But it's his BRAIN that I am in love with the most! I never knew just how many wise and witty and wonderful things he said and left behind for us to ponder. I have discovered that I too want to make my mark on the world; I want to live MY life MY way; and I want to make art that makes YOU feel.  

Art Journal Page, Lynne Mizera, 2015 Watercolor and Pen

So today I am bravely sharing two of my journal pages as I begin my journey into the world of drawing and painting and try to pull out stuff from my own brain while honouring Pablo Picasso and sharing just two of his many, many quotes that resonate with me!

Art Journal Page, Lynne Mizera, Watercolor and Marker

PS:  This is the book that I am using to help me break through the House broken Me and get back to the Child who used to be an ARTIST!!!

So have some fun today and google Pablo Picasso and then I'd LOVE if you would share with me in the comments one of YOUR favorite Pablo Picasso quotes!

Happy Drawing and Painting Day

Lynne  Mizera

Reach for the STARS... You Just Might Become One!

I spent last night surrounded by my pens and paints and watercolor paper, with Joanne Sharpe's Lifebook 2015 lesson on my computer, as I allowed my artistic soul free licence to just DO IT... squashing that critical, artistic-soul sucking voice that is ALWAYS there (Sigh.)  But I broke through some pretty significant barriers as I just painted and doodled and outlined.  There is something about the night before last day of the year that makes you want to review the past 12 months and either celebrate or mourn each event in preparation to move on and start fresh on January 1st.

My Lifebook lesson with Joanne Sharpe was one of the first lessons we received and I became so blocked (due to me placing unrealistic expectation on myself) that all year long, every time I wanted to draw and paint words, I felt like I was up to my waist in cement. 

So I decided to use my time last night to "JUST DO IT"!  When I began I hated what I was creating, then I loved it, then I hated it again...(grin) but I kept at it, listening only to the lovely voice of Joanne on my computer, and NOT that critical, soul-sucking voice in my head.  And as I worked I broke through the block, over-rode the soul-sucking voice and then I road the waves of creativity I was generating, like a surfer in Hawaii, to create these two wonderful pages.

And as I worked on these three pages (all at the same time) the words and phrases I was drawing and painting played over and over in my head until they were imprinted on my heart and soul and I felt filled me up with joy and anticipation for the coming year.  I now feel empowered and prepared for this Next Step in both my Artistic Journey and my Life Journey.

So Nameste to all of you my friends and followers, and I am sending you wonderful, joyous and celebratory energy for 2016.

Lynne Mizera

Products used on these projects:

Angora Watercolor paints

Derwent Inktense blocks

Sharpie Markers

Black Micron Pigma-05

Kirarina Wink Paint Pens 

Joanne Sharpe's "The Art of Whimsical Lettering"

Some Final Words of Wisdom for 2015

Today on the almost last day of 2015 I am sharing some pieces that are near and dear to my heart... my Empowering Tags for women featuring Prima Doll Stamps...

I have been working on this concept for about two years now, creating these mixed media backgrounds using srays and embossing folders and modelling paste to showcase these Prima Doll stamped images that I paint using mostly my Inka Gold paints.  I then add an empowering OR sarcastic saying to make each tag a truly unique and personal gift.

And, as the concept gelled and I revealed these tags to several friends and family, the excitement generated by their reactions encouraged me to start sharing the process with other women and showing them that "Yes! YOU TOO can be Creative and Crafty and can make something beautiful and empowering!"

The response to these classes has shown me that there is a real need for this kind of project, and watching someone go from "I could NEVER do that!" to "I LOVE this and I can't believe that I made it!" is so empowering and fulfilling for me that I look forward to sharing this process with many  more woman in my new home in British Columbia.

Thank you for sharing my journey today and please do leave me comment if you like what you are seeing!

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

I am adding these tags to the following Challenges:

STAMPlorations: Stencil Sunday  #23 - Mixed Media Challenge:

Christmas Card Fun - Day#10

Happy Day everyone!  Here is the 10th and final day of my 2015 Christmas Card Reveal... I hope you Enjoyed this journey and stay tuned for more exciting-ness in 2016... 

White embossing powder on a black card base is the perfect background for this snowman and stamping him on colored paper using the same white embossing powder means I didn't have to color him in... just accent his hat and scarf using Ranger's Liquid Pearls...

Thank you all my loyal Blog followers for your support in 2015... and don't forget to "Enjoy the Journey" because the journey is the memory!

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
Craft Boots Challenges - Snow & Sparkle (Dec. 21-31, 2015)

Yours happily,

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Stamps Used in this project:

Unity Stamps Ornamental Season

Unity Stamps One of a Kind Christmas

Christmas Card Fun - Day #9

Happy Day everyone and here is Card #9 for my 2015 Christmas Card Reveal... I hope you are getting lots of ideas for next year!! Today I am sharing two of my favorite quick and easy card techniques:

1. Fussy cut images from your favorite paper and pop them onto a card base using foam pop dots for dimension, and (this is the Basic Grey 2010 Jovial collection) and

2. Stamp an image and use Ranger's Stickles to color it in... Taaa Daaa! Smile 

That's it for today ... and only One more Christmas card post to goooo.

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

I am adding this card to the following challenge:
Archi-Scraps December Challenge - Use Bling! 

Christmas Card Fun - Day #8

Hello PEEPS!  Happy day after the DAY AFTER! I hope you have all emerged from your food comas happy and ready to face the new year with a bright and cheery smile!  Here is Day #8 of my Christmas Card Reveal journey and I hope you like this one... 

I call it my Cheater Card because I go looking for inexpensive cards with simple images from my LDS (local dollar store) and just cut out the image, mount it using pop dots on the original card and enhance it using mostly Ranger's Stickles and Liquid Pearls... 

That's IT... Simple, Quick, Inexpensive and CUTE!

And here is another secret I will share... you can take your cards to a whole new level if you use a wobble instead of foam pop dots to mount the image because then it MOVES too! Grin

Thanks for popping in and stay tuned for two more days of cards.....

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Happy Happy Holiday Season...

HAPPY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS Everyone!! (Can you Hear Me NOW?.. Grin)  I hope your December 25th was filled with friends, family, food and fun and that today you are enjoying a much deserved break and are able to fit in some play time, crafting time or what-ever-you-like-to-do-BEST time before this crazy year of 2015 ends.

Today, I am sharing with you some lovely, lovely christmas tags I created for my second design team project in December for Susan K. Weckesser's "My Sweet Earth" Blog, using the Susan K. Weckesser stamp set "World of Christmas" from Unity Stamps. 

I am using these tags to attach to bags of Christmas baking going out to random people as part of my journey on the 2015 Christmas Love Campaign. 

I encourage you to join me in creating something, anything, big or small to share with anyone to just "Share The Love" this holiday season. 

Although these tags look complicated they came together rather quickly using Ranger Distress Inks, a water brush to blend the colors, gel pens to highlight details and Ranger Stickles and Liquid Pearl to accent everything.

And I still find it amazing how adding a shadow with my Copic markers just makes the images pop right off the page!

As always, Thank you for popping in to see what I am up to and I do Hope you enjoyed the journey!
 

Have a delightful and joyful Day...

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

for the Susan K. Weckesser Design Team

Products I Used for this Project: 
World of Christmas Tag Stamps by Susan K. Weckesser/Unity Stamp 
Ranger Distress Inks
Ranger Archival Ink - Black
Ranger Stickles and Liquid Pearls
Copic Markers... Warm Grey #7
Craft Ribbon 1/4 inch 

Christmas Card Fun - Day#7

Merry CHRISTMAS DAY everyone, I am sending you warm Christmas Hugs from Snowy Creston, British Columbia, Canada and hope your day is full of everything you like to do the best! Smile

For this special Christmas day Christmas card reveal post I am sharing these five cards I created using scaps of cardboard left over from cutting out my Ranger/Tim Holtz Christmas trees last year and inspired by the December moodboard over at Berry71Blue Challenge Blog.  I am so glad that I did not throw these bits away as who knew these scraps of cardboard leftover from die cutting could look so good?!

I am again featuring the Basic Grey 2010 Christmas paper pack called "Jovial"... which I glued behind the reverse die image...

Adding a bit of Ranger distress ink on the cardboard and some 1/4 inch ribbon took it up a notch...

and then playing around with my brand new script stamp from Hero Arts made it even more fun!

These beautiful cards came together in less than 2 hours, which, if you have ever worked with me you KNOW is Lightening Speed!!

Please do share this technique and concept with everyone as my gift to you this year... and my Thanks for being one of my Blog Followers!

So Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of you, my friends across the lands and seas, and please do leave me a comment if you like what you see!

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera
I am linking up these cards to the:
Berry71Blue Challenge Blog - December Mood Board

Christmas Card Fun - Day #6

Happy Christmas Eve everyone and welcome to Day #6 of my Christmas Card Reveal.  Today I am sharing a card created using one of my favorite quick and easy techniques using my LaBlanche Vintage Santa stamp.  This laser-cut acrylic stamp has so much detail that all I have to do is add a wee bit of color with my mini Ranger Distress Inks and rub it in... DONE!  of course a bit of Close To My Heart Liquid Glass on the eyes adds that little bit of sparkle that makes him look alive...

Thank you for popping in to see my card and I hope your Day before Christmas is going well and you are having a happy time... ((warm hugs)).

I am adding this card to the following Challenge:
Stamping Sensations: Anything Goes with a Stamp and a Ribbon
613 Avenue Create: Challenge #155 - Anything Goes

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Christmas Card Fun-Day#5

Well here we are on Day #5 of my Christmas Card Reveal and I am sharing these three really sweet snowman die cuts I found... 

I am not sure why I find him so sweet, but I knew I needed him the moment I saw his three little faces peering out at me from a sheet in the Bargain bin! 

Again I am showcasing the Basic Grey 2010 Christmas Collection, "Jovial" as background paper, 

And Ranger's Stickles and Liquid Pearls and Close To My Heart Liquid Glass were used to accent and highlight...

And for something just a little bit different I used a snowflake embossing folder for this one..
I am sharing these cards on the My Time to Craft Challenge #311- Last Minute Christmas Makes... because using a die cut on a pretty paper background is the quickest Christmas Card make I know!!

Happy CHRISTMAS everyone... I hope you are having a wonderful daaaay....

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Christmas Card Fun - Day#4

Well it is Day #4 of my Christmas Card Reveal and today I am sharing a card created with one of my very favorite Christmas stamps from Stampendous... the Jumbo Penguin Rubber Cling Stamp.

I love this one because all I have to do is stamp the image in black and then decorate the hats using Ranger Liquid Pearl and Stickles... some glossy accents on their eyes and that's pretty much it.  And for the background I finally broke open my Basic Grey 2010 JOVIAL Christmam paper, lovely isn't it!

I am linking this card up to the following Challenges:

Penny Black's "Anything Goes with a Stamp"

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "X" is for Christmas

ABC Challenges: "X" is for Extreme (use bold and bright colors)

Happy Holidays! Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Christmas Card Fun - Day#3

Day three of my daily Christmas card reveal and here is really different card taking Fussy Cutting to a whole new level! Grin

The background is a die cut of a city scape and I added colored paper behind the windows to create the illusion of lit-up windows... then I fussy cut out all these wee christmas trees and popped them over top of my city scape to create some perspective...

of course Rangers Stickles and liquid pearl was used to add sparkle and finish it off...I really LOVE This one!!

I am linking this card up to the following challenge:

Country View December Challenge #34: CREATE A SCENE

Christmas Card Fun - Day#2

Hello my wonderful Blog Followers... Here is the second card I am sharing on my Daily Christmas Card Reveal posts ... my little gift to you this Christmas Season... ENJOY!!

Now to create this little beauty I used white embossing powder on black cardstock to create the background and then I stamped my very favorite Unity Stamps snowman stamp by Susan K. Weckesser on Bo Bunny's 2010 Christmas patterened cardstock, cut him out and used my gel pen to add some vivid color.  The sentiment is a sizzix rubon I have had since 2007 and it still worked BEAUTIFULLY! Some sequin stickers and my white gel pen finished it off beautifully ...

and just LOOK at the new stamp I have for the back of my cards this year.... LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!

Happy Holidays!! Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

I am linking this card up to the following Challenges:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers "X" is for Christmas Challenge

Penny Black's December Challenge: Anything Goes With A Stamp

Unity Stamps {Be Inspired} December Challenge

Stamps used in this projects:

Unity Stamps "One of a Kind Winter" Christmas Love Campaign Stamp  

Unity Stamp "Ornamental Season" Itty Bitty stamp

Christmas Card Fun... Day#1

Hello Peeps!  As my Christmas Gift to you over the next few weeks I am going to share just a few of the Christmas cards I made this year for all those most special people in my life.  Not my usual 100 or more original designs as I am in the middle of  moving our entire household and life to British Columbia... a new province, a new start and the beginning of a life Dean and I have been dreaming about since we met almost 20 years ago... SWOON!

Here is the first one - a wee Christmas Giggle using several Unity Stamps and a christmas sentiment from the Dyan Reaveley collection... ENJOY!

Now for those that want to know I stamped the background using a stamp I created with moldable foam that I heated and pressed into the back of my platform for my die cutting machine... Totally Cool HUH! then I stamped, colored and fussy cut my Unity stamp images and popped them overtop.  I used my Tsuniko Gel Pens to color in those  hanging balls and my watercolors to paint my lovely girl.  The sentiment makes it don't you think??

I am linking this card up to the following Challenges:

Fashionable Stamping Challenges: Make your own Background

Unity Stamp {Be Inspired} Challenge for December

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers: "X" is for Christmas

Thanks for Popping in today to see what I am up to and please do come back tomorrow to see another one!!

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

Stamps Used in this Project:

Unity Stamp "She Always Knew"

Unity Stamps  "Ornamental Season"

Ranger's Dyan Reaveley Christmas Sentiments

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Says "X" is for Christmas!

Happy Holidays Everyone!  I hope your holiday preparations and celebrations are all going according to plan and, if like mine they are doing their own thing, I hope that you are taking a moment to smell the baking/coffee/wine/eggnog...Grin.  Today I am sending you this blog post from a lovely beach in Manzanillo, Mexico as this pasty-white Canadian soaks up all the sun she can get before the loooong, dark, cold days of December, January and February! (brrrrrrr).  But even from Mexico I wouldn't miss today's Challenge #49 for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers where Edna says:

"X" is for Christmas

(of Course!)

This year I created a series of Dudley Christmas Cards just for this challenge, so I hope you enjoy his snarkiness (grin). For those of you who don't know, "Dudley" is a sock monkey who belongs to a friend of mine and who travels the world collecting wisdom and sharing it in his own unique, slightly sarcastic way.

His personality is sooo big that I decided to create a line of cards to share his wise, sarcastic and funny words with the rest of you. So perfect for the Sisterhood don't you think?

Now why don't you come play? Create something Christmas-inspired and link it up to the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers' blog by January 8th and you too could be voted in as the Queen or Princess of Snarkiness with all the bragging rights that entails.... PLUS you may have the opportunity to be our Guest Designer for one of the challenges! 

I am not going to show you how I created all these cards this post, but I will give you a list of all the products I used in their making:

Holiday Monkey stamp from My StampBox painted using Canson Angora Water Colors

Paper is "Jovial" from the Basic Grey 2010 Christmas Collection

Ranger Stickles and Liquid Pearls
Sentiments are all from Ranger Dylusions Stamp set "Christmas Words" by Dyan Reaveley

Ranger Archival Ink - Black
Tsukneko Dew Drop Chalk Ink - Gingerbread
 

Sometimes It IS All About the Packaging...

Happy, Happy Day everyone!  Today I am sharing the project I created for my Susan Weckesser design team post.  Our theme for December is "Sharing the Love" as we kick off the 2015 Christmas Love Campaign, something Susan started after the loss of her Dad a few years ago, where you create something (Anything) and gift it to someone (Anyone, even a stranger) for not reason at all except to share the love.  

I LOVE the whole concept of this idea and a what a wonderful tribute from Susan to honour her Dad.  This year I am making cookies and squares and pickles and gifting them in these little canvas bags.  Seriously, How Cute Are They?

I picked them up at my local Dollar Store for very little money and using the following techniques I am showing below, they were surprisingly Quick and Easy to alter.  Here are the steps in my my process, I hope you enjoy the following photo tutorial...

 Using Ranger's Distress Paints and Stains I quickly colored in the background of the bags... once dry the paint provides a protective barrier which helps prevent my inks from bleeding.

I stamped my images using Stayzon black ink as it is waterproof when dried, and I used my heat gun to hurry up that process ... Smile.

Once everything was dried I pulled out my collection of Rangers Stickles and Liquid Pearls and used them to fill in my images...

Before Outlining

After Outlining

Now one of the tricks to this technique is once the stickles and liquid pearls have dried, use a fine tipped black pen or marker to outline your images and re-define the stamped lines, this makes them pop.

Before Outlining

After Outlining

I use a Sharpie Ultra Fine Black marker because it goes over everything and is waterproof once dried.  So, that's! I recommend making a whole bunch at once since it helps you remain patient while they are drying (grin).  

As Always... Thank you for popping by to see what I am up to and please do leave me a comment if you like what you are seeing, I read every single one and try to reply right back. Wishing you a Happy DAAAY!

Lynne Mizera

for the Susan K. Weckesser Design Team

NOTE:  You can find out more about the 2015 Christmas Love Campaign HERE.
Products I used on this project:
Susan K. Weckesser/Unity Stamps "Sail Away" and "Tumbleweed Houses" 
Craft Decor DIY 10"x6" Canvas Bag 
Ranger Distress Paints
Ranger Distress Stains
Ranger Stickles & Liquid Pearls
Stayzon Ink
Sharpie Ultra Fine Black Pen