A Greek Artsy Fartsy

Video tutorial of an art journal page using Maria McGuire's Stitch a Greek Medallion stencil by Carolyn Dube

I have fond memories of Greece and am in awe of ancient Greece. Love the old temples, the history, the mystery of it all! When I saw this stencil by Maria McGuire for StencilGirl Products I was flooded with memories of my visits.

Maria and I decided this stencil was to be our Artsy Fartsy challenge– a special edition of Artsy Fartsy in celebration of her new stencil, Stitch a Greek Medallion! Over on her blog, BelieveDreamCreateWithMaria she is using the stencil too! Stop over there and check it out!

She’s modest about her design but I am not- I know good design when I see it and use it! In the video you will see how covered in paint this stencil is because it has been used to much in the very short time I have had it!

Watch it on YouTube: Using a stencil and rubber stamping in an art journal

I grabbed some rubber stamps in the Greek theme and went to town! Not perfect stamping but it didn’t have to be- this was just the first layer.

Using my Dylusions journal. Stamps are from Toybox and American Art Stamp.

Here’s the full stencil but I will tell you that you will be seeing more of this stencil on my blog in the future because it is so versatile- each pattern is magical all on it’s own and when put them all together- stencil magic!

I am a bit biased because Maria is on my dear friends and the universe works in magical ways. The dictionary page that I stenciled on has Damon and Pythia as guide words at the top. They are a tale from Greek mythology about 2 friends. How perfect for an Artsy Fartsy!

I grabbed these frames and felt so good using them up but then I thought, UGH- I don’t like how this looks. It was all glued down so I decided it was an Oops! Just an Oops no matter how tight the knot in my stomach was…since it was just an Oops I trusted (took me a few minutes to get to the trust, but I got there) that would end up somewhere wonderful.

And it did! This is the direction I intended to go in the beginning but better. That Oops that felt so horrible in the middle of the process had to be there for me to get here. And I like it here.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Preparing a blog post takes quite a bit of time and energy. If you enjoyed this post, I’d appreciate your support! How? By sharing this post however you are comfortable. Your support makes my muse happy and a happy muse keeps me coming back to the studio again and again!

Linking up to The Dictionary Challenge (letter D), Fashionable Stamping (text, book pages), Simon Says Stamp (anything goes), Creative Every Day, Art Journal Every Day, Our Creative Corner (words) and Glue It Tuesday.

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Glitter and the Emotions of Leaving My Job

Video tutorial on using glitter with a stencil in an art journal page by Carolyn Dube

I am always amazed by how art journaling connects me to my feelings. Cleaning out part of my studio led me to finding the pink graffiti paper I made long ago. All the bright colors and foam stamps and drips and splats felt right to me so I quit cleaning and made this…at least I tried to clean…Once I had Sue Pelletier’s Loose Woman in glitter, I started thinking about all the changes that have been happening in my life, especially my job. So many emotions to process.

That became the scribble journaling exploring all the emotions about leaving my traditional job teaching at a wonderful elementary school for a full-time career in art. So many changes have happened in my world of late and the loose woman covered in glitter pretty much sums it all up.

I am able to live my dream thanks to the support of people like you who read my blog, subscribe to my newsletter, share my videos and posts, friend me on Facebook, follow me on Pinterest, and put up with my novice Tweets. All that support feeds my creativity in ways I cannot begin to express. Thank you for all the support every one of you have shown me because this would not be possible without you!

Click here to watch this on YouTube Using a Stencil with Glitter.

You can find Sue Pelletier’s Loose Women over at StencilGirl Products.

Linking up to Make It Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Creative Every Day, and Inspire.

I share my art and my process because I think creative expression is so important. If you like what I’m doing I have a favor to ask. I’d appreciate it if you would support me by sharing this post!

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Gelli Printing and Stencils

Gelli Printing with Stencils with Carolyn Dube

I’ve been busy playing with the Gelli Plate! I have 2 more videos that went live today!

Check out iCreateFlix’s blog to see video of how I made the paper above and a tag (that is one of my favorites of all time).

Gelli Plate and StencilGirl Stencil with Cotton Swab by Carolyn Dube

Then stop over to StencilGirl Talk to check out the video I’ve made for using a Gelli Plate, a stencil, and a cotton swab.

Gelli Printing Video for A Colorful Gelli Print Party with Carolyn Dube

If you missed August’s Colorful Gelli Print Party there is a video over there too!

This month’s Party is starting off with a bang! So many ideas and techniques already linked up! The party goes on all month so there is loads of time to link up to August’s Colorful Gelli Print Party!