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Welcome! I’m Carolyn Dube – This colorful journey is all about the freedom of play!

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Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links and I receive a small percentage. It doesn't cost you anything extra and helps keep all the free tutorials and videos coming! It's a win-win! The website is copyright Carolyn Dube, and that is kinda common sense since this is my site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Artist Trading Blocks Blog Hop

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Using Artist Trading Blocks by Eileen Hull for Sizzix by Carolyn Dube

Have you heard of Artist Trading Blocks?  These ATB’s are full of possibilities that let you create 3D!  This 15 blog hop will show you just some of the possibilities.

How’d I make that ATB?  It’s a die designed by Eileen Hull for Sizzix that will released in January.  You can see more ATB’s on their website here.

Using Artist Trading Blocks by Eileen Hull for Sizzix by Carolyn Dube

 

It was so easy to use StencilGirl stencils on it since it is wonderfully flat.   I put a random assortment of stencils all over it, added a touch of rubber stamping, and then white washed it all with gesso.  Just a bit of doubled sided tape and it was a perfect cube.

Once I had the box finished I attached the body parts.  The legs were made with another Sizzix die, the Garden Fairy.  The head and arms were doll parts I’ve had in a drawer for too long.  The ATB character needs a name.  Love to hear your ideas!

Using Artist Trading Blocks by Eileen Hull for Sizzix by Carolyn Dube

 

This blog hop has awesome giveaways.  One lucky winner will receive a Sizzix square box die (3 1/4″ block) designed by Eileen Hull, a package of matboard, Mary Beth Shaw’s NEW book Stencil Girl and (4) 4″ x 4″ stencils!  Best part, you get 1 entry for every blog in the hop that you comment on by Friday, December 13th at 11:59PM Central Time.

Then there are more giveaways…I’ve got four 4×4 stencils from StencilGirl that I am giving away.  It’s a surprise which four.  I’ll draw randomly some time on Sunday so get your comments in before then.  There might be other bonus giveaways so be sure to check out all the blogs in the hop!

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Spray Painting Christmas Decorations to Make Them New Again

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Spray painting old Christmas decorations back to life with Liquitex spray paints by Carolyn Dube

I had some very old, and not cool vintage old, Christmas decorations.  The tired, worn out, and just plain uninviting decorations had to go.  I looked at new ones but nothing spoke to me.    So, I decided to add some color by spray painting Christmas decorations with Liquitex spray paints.  No priming, no nothing.  Just took the spray paint right to those old cheap wreaths.

Spray painting old Christmas decorations back to life with Liquitex spray paints by Carolyn Dube

 

I painted these all last year and did not post photos because I wasn’t sure if the color was going to hold up to the outdoors. Not only did it hold it’s color the entire holiday season, when I pulled all the wreaths out this year they looked as bright as last year.

 

 

 

This angel was cheap, plain, and boring.   Once I spray painted her she was awesome, playful, and fun.  No priming involved.  I just spray painted right on her plasticly polyester type fabric and trims!

I did however cover her hands and head so that my overspray did not recolor her skin to alien green or Smurf blue by accident…

Spray painting old Christmas decorations back to life with Liquitex spray paints by Carolyn Dube

 

These fun Christmas lights were just the shape I wanted but the colors did not match everything else.  Not a problem!  I primed the plastic with BIN  which is a super primer that sticks to anything- truly anything.  I I buy it at the hardware store.   Then I just spray painted them.

The giant light up bulbs and the angel can be plugged in and lit up but I find that with the spray paint on it that I don’t like how they look glowing.  Bonus- one less thing to plug in at night and we don’t have to pay for electricity for them either.

Spray painting old Christmas decorations back to life with Liquitex spray paints by Carolyn Dube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I must confess I was a bit unsure how it would all turn out when I started spray painting Christmas.  But with spray paint I was able to bring back to life an attic full of outdoor decorations.  Saved me a ton of money instead of replacing them!

Have you entered the giveaway?  There’s still time to get in for Kiala Givehand’s Mixed Media Inspiration Deck!  

Sharing with Inspire Me Monday andCreative Every Day

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Playing with the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck

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Video playing with the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck with Carolyn Dube

When Kiala Givehand invited me to join her hop announcing the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck I was honored.   This is such a fun and creative deck to play with and it even helped me get unstuck in a jiffy!  I only had a few minutes to play and guess what – that is all I needed to get another layer or two on this canvas.  It’s not finished yet but at long last it is moving forward! Thanks Kiala!

Video playing with the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck with Carolyn Dube

 

What is the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck?

It’s 52 inspirational guide cards designed to inspire 
your mixed media and art journaling practice. 

The cards feature a variety of directives to guide you through your art practice as you play, explore, discover, and create. There are many ways to use the deck. 

 

 

  • PLAY — deal yourself a few cards then let your muse take over!
  • EXPLORE — shuffle the entire deck, then pull one card at a time and see what you’re inspired to create
  • DISCOVER — keep the deck near your art table and pull a card as needed
  • CREATE & COLLABORATE — create with a friend (or a group of friends). Round robin style journaling infused with a dash of serendipity. What could be more fun???

Want to win your own deck?  All the giveaway details are that end of the post.

Video playing with the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck with Carolyn Dube

 

Onto the stuck part…I had this canvas that has been at this stage for about a year.  Yes, a year.  At first I liked it so much I couldn’t bring myself to trust any idea as good enough.   Then I decided I didn’t like it but I couldn’t decide what to do to change it.  So it sat.  And sat until I used the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck.  Check out the video to see how just a few cards could get my mojo back for this canvas!

 

You can watch  Using the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck on a Canvas on YouTube here.

Want to win a deck?  Leave me a comment on this post letting me know what is the hardest part about playing mixed media style for you. No hard parts?  Tell me the best part then!

I’m picking one winner randomly from the comments on December 11th.  But that is not all! Kiala has a ton of amazing prizes too! You can find all the prizes listed here.  You can order the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck here.  And there are lots of great artists to visit in the hop too!

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!  Congratulations to the winner chosen by random.org Kathy Gledsdale!

Products used in this video: High flow paints, Damask Stencil from StencilGirl, StencilClub Stencil, Stampers Anonymous Stamps, and of course, the Mixed Media Inspiration Deck!

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