www.catherinescanlon.com

I'm really excited to announce that I've moved on over to my new website. You can find me here:

Website: http://www.catherinescanlon.com/

Make sure you update your link! 

Somerset Holidays & Celebrations LoVe!

I skipped all the way home from the mailbox yesterday -- as the long awaited Somerset Holidays & Celebrations hit my box and I couldn't wait to see my article in print. I love the way the article turned out -- the photography -- while it doesn't look that special here -- is so beautiful!

And, I already sold some of the leftover houses -- though I need to hire my neighbor (oh and did I mention -- he's also my Dad  :-D ) to cut some more for me so I can make a few more for  consignment. These are by far, my favorite ornaments that I've made over the years. 

I hope you'll take a peak at this beautiful magazine -- it is JAM PACKED full of beautiful projects to make through out the year and well worth every penny!

Thanks for stopping by, see you next time!

Fancy Frame for Sizzix

I hope you will take a minute to click on over to the Sizzix Blog to see a few more pictures and see the supplies I used to create this "ordinary" picture frame and custom mat that I created!

Enjoy and have a WONDERFUL day!

Live, Love, Laugh, Create Journal Page

Hey everyone -- happy Monday!

Today I thought I would share a quick Fast Forward video I created using some of my stamps combined with my 9x12 Grid Stencil. I love this stencil so much, it's so easy to use -- you can combine it with some doodles, zentangles and even collage. Really, you can use it with just about anything!

Here are a few pictures of the project -- and I just noticed that I have to erase my pencil lines now that the paint is dry, LoL!

The Art Gone Wild! Products I used on this page :

-- Grid Stencil CSSTL-003

-- Journal Words SC-2701

-- Clear Letter Stamps LC-2702

-- Black Eyed Susan Cling Stamp AGC1-2692

-- Frames Clear Stamps LC-2705

 Thanks for dropping by today -- I hope you have a great week! 

Oh Whatever -- It's finally time for Winston to talk!

I can hardly believe I've been telling you about the Whatevers for 13 months now and YOU HAVE NEVER heard from Winston. Well, today is the day where you start to hear where he's coming from.

But, before I get started with that -- make sure to take a look around at what everyone else is up to:

• Nat Kalbach
• Vic Chrisman
• Martha Richardson
• Cuchy Sanchez

____________________________________

Winston was still haunted by the Gang of 12.

Every where he went he saw them.

They were in the landscape where the trees were. They were sitting at the table where his family sat -- even in the car beside him as he drove down the road.

The Gang of 12 was everywhere!

He knew eventually he would have to tell Cordelia who they were -- but right now he just wanted to enjoy the beautiful country, the peaceful drive with his beautiful wife and Mother in his favorite car without having to explain why they took him. 

Cordelia just woudn't understand.

____________________________________

Here's the picture that you can use if you want, just make sure to review the specifics of using it in the list below:

____________________________________

Here is how it works:

• Vicki, Cat, Cuchy (Carmen), Martha and I and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.

• Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.

• If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers. The photo will be posted at the end of our blogposts- not on Facebook!

• There are no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  There are no rules on the length or the form of the story- it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER

• There are no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER

• Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
   
• These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission

• If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.

You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page  or add your link to the Linky List below:

Art Journal Coloring Book.... A GIVEAWAY!

I still have a few coloring books left -- and I meant to do this when I first got them but I got busy --- so I thought I would offer a give away.

Leave me a comment with your email address and I will pick one lucky winner to receive the full coloring book on Monday, August 19th. I do apologize, due to the cost of shipping this is only being offered to readers in the US.

So, make sure to leave me a comment with your email address so I can reach you to let you know if you are the winner!  

THANKS for stopping by -- and GOOD LUCK!

Art Gone Wild! and Friends - Stencil + Stamp Love!

Hello and HAPPY Friday. It's been a crazy week here -- but I'm happy to say I have crossed some major things off of my to-do list -- including re-purposing an old buffet into a new studio work table -- working out every day AND finishing some art for a fund raiser next month. Phew, it feels good to be on top of the list looking down NOT under it and LOOKING up. 

I even managed to create some art using some of my new stamps and stencils -- which I am so over the moon -- in love with. 

Today I thought I would share a bright and happy page I created using the Clear Stencil Stamp Alphabet set and the Journal Flowers 9"x12" stencil. You can view the catalog by clicking on the image below!

 I started out by laying the stencil over a piece of Strathmore 140 lb. Mixed Media Paper and spraying it with black Liquetex spray paint. I think it was the low-odor version because it didn't smell at all and I didn't get an instant headache when I sprayed in the house!

When that was dry I used black Distress Paint to paint the two focal flowers completely black -- because I knew I wanted to stamp and write in white. I also used the stencil as a template to trace the other flowers using a pretty patterned paper and used Ultra Matte Medium (my newest crush) to collage them in place.

 When all that was dry I added lots of color with watercolor paints, distress paints and watercolor crayons.

 I also watered down the distress paint a little and splattered the black paint here and there.

When all that was dry I used white stamping ink to stamp the words using the Stencil Alphabet Clear Stamp Set and added some journaling with a white Gelli Pen. I also used a the white marker from Faber Castell to outline the flowers for a final touch.

I'm so happy with the way it turned out -- the color really makes me happy!

Thanks for stopping by -- have a GREAT weekend and I'll be back next week with some more things using my line of stamps and stencils with Art Gone Wild!

Art Gone Wild! and Friends -- Another Stencil!

Good Morning -- can you believe it's Thursday already and for that matter that it's August 8th? Where has the summer gone? I know where mine has gone and I'm ok with it :-D School will be starting here in a few weeks -- so if you had plans of getting creative with your kiddos you might want to get started. 

Speaking of kids and school. I wanted to share another stencil that's in my Just Add Color line with Art Gone Wild! & Friends with you. This one REALLY WAS inspired by an article I read about kids doodling in school to take notes. The article said that if they were drawing what they wanted to remember for notes then they would have an easier time remembering the lesson. Since you all know by now that I love doodling -- it will come to no surprise that this idea immediately jumped into my head. 

Sometimes it can be a little daunting to look at a big blank piece of paper and want to start but not sure where. That's where this stencil comes in handy. Just plop it down, spritz it with some type of paint or marker and then draw in the spaces. 

  

9” x 12” Stencil CSSTL-003 Grid Art Journal 

Or, you would write. 

Or practice your fancy letters.

Or a combination or drawing, coloring and lettering like I did. 

Or, you could combine it with some collaged papers, a few doodles and some writing, like I did here. This little excerpt from Frida Kahlo really spoke to me, and made me giggle too.

You could also use this for card making, scrapbooking, or even use it for a Project Life page that's really popular right now!

Well, that's it for today! THANKS for stopping by -- and be sure to come back tomorrow I've got some MORE things from my Just Add Color line to share with you! Enjoy your day!

Nat Kalbach + StencilGirl + Crackle = HEAVEN!

 

I'm so excited to share something fun my sweetest friend Nat Kalbach has been working on this year -- her own line of stencils with StencilGirl. This one, the Crackle Stencil totally caught my eye the moment I saw it. I'm always after the elusive porcelein crackle -- and this stencil is AMAZING because it lets' me put the crackle exactly where I want it.

Will you look at this gorgeous stencil? 

Oh, and what about these paints just waiting to be used with it??

For this piece of art, I started with a piece of 10 x 10 140 lb. Strathmore Mixed Media Paper and did what I do best -- filled the space with whimsical flowers.

I used a variety of types of paint to get the color -- as well as some colored pencils, distress paint and even some watercolor crayons.

When I got to the stage where the base was painted and dry -- I grabbed the crackle stencil to use in the center of the flowers. First I laid down a pretty heavy layer of Modeling Paste using a palette knife to get that gorgeous crackle texture in the center of most of the flowers.  When that was dry I covered the modeling paste crackle with some yellow and orange acrylic paint.

I really wasn't happy with it until I added some crackle with Golden Magenta acrylic paint and a stencil brush. The crackles just popped right out -- and I knew I was done. As a final touch, I added some stems to a few of the flowers using strips of vintage text. A little deetail work here and there with colored pencils and it was complete. I love how this turned out -- and I can't wait to take it to the Brunswick 10 x 10 Sale at the Library.

Oh, and look at the mess I made. It sure was fun though.

 

I did use a piece of that newsprint I use to protect my table for some mail art. the crackle stencil made it on that piece as well!

So, now that you've seen what I've done with Nat's beautiful crackle stencil, hop on over to see what everyone else created. I know I can't wait! 

• Nathalie Kalbach
• Carmen Sanchez
• Cat Scanlon  ======== > You are here!
• Marjie Kemper
• Louise Nelson
• Maria McGuire

I'm pretty sure you might find a GIVEAWAY over at Nat's Blog :)

BUT...she tells me if you comment here too you will have another entry into her giveaway! As a matter of fact she will give you an entry into the giveaway for each blog you comment on--how cool is that!  Nathalie gives away one of the this Crackle Stencils plus you have six OTHER chances to win it.

To be eligible to win 6 TIMES, just leave a comment on each of the listed blogs and on my blog and let us know how you like the projects and Nathalie will pick randomly one lucky winner. You have time to comment till August 13, 2013 - midnight EST.

THANKS for stopping by today -- and please join me in celebrating the lovely Nat Kalbach and her amazing stencils today! 

Art Journal Page for Sizzix

I meant to post this on Friday but a summer cold kicked my butt to the curb for the weekend. The curb, of course is slang for hanging out on the couch watching tv and drawing new art designs. I'm back today -- and determined to get back on schedule as quickly as I can. 

Today (make believe it's last Friday!) I wanted to share an art journal page I did using some gorgeous Dena Designs Stamps from Sizzix. They were so fun to work with -- for a quick tutorial and more images click on the link below and head on over tot he Sizzix blog to see the whole page!

Thanks for stopping byt today, have a lovely and creative day!

Art Gone Wild! and Friends -- Let's Talk about STENCILS!

Good Morning and HAPPY Thursday! Today I wanted to share with you one of my stencils -- while I might say that it's my favorite -- tomorrow I might say something else is my favorite. I really LOVE all my products from Art Gone Wild! They are really easy to work with while giving you room to add your own artsy fartsy flair. You gotta love that!

Today I wanted to share the 9x12 Journal Paisley. This stencil is really verstatile -- allowing you to use it on cards, scrapbook pages and also in your art journals!

For this page, you can see I used it as a journal page entry and then added my flair for doodling to it. I simply placed it on a piece of 9x12 Strathmore Mixed Media Paper and sprayed it with Liquitex Low Odor (I think that's what it's called) spray paint. When that was dry I did some doodling in pencil and then added color with watercolor paints, Gelli Pens, Distress Paint and some markers and colored pencils too.

When all the wet media was dry I outlined some of the areas and added details here and there with a black Multi-Liner. The journaling in the center was done with a white Gelli.

I love how this page turned out.

9” x 12” Stencil CSSTL-002 Journal Paisley

The second project I want to share with you is a 5x7 card. To create this card I placed the stencil on a piece of the same mixed media paper and t raced the lines with a pencil. Then I went in and added the color with a lot of different mediums and let it dry. Once it was dry I rounded the corners and stitch the paisley panel to a piece of black cardstock and also to the blank card base. The sentiment was created in Word and printed on cardstock and added to the card with foam tape -- and voila -- a colorful and happy card to send someone that needs a little pick me up! 

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll be back on Monday to share some samples from another stencil! Have a GREAT day!

Thank you Tammy Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to a very special surprise blog hop for our fearless Sizzix Design Team Coordinator, Tammy Tutterow!

 

Some of the Sizzix Design Team members and myself want to say “thank you” to Tammy for all that she does for us on a daily basis. So we decided to create a fun tag to celebrate our her and everything she does and put our creative spin on a tag for her. Here's mine.

I created a folding tag that opens like a book and added some traditional elements on the front and doodled some flowers and quote on the inside, following my style. It turned out so pretty! 

I'm one of the new kids on the block to the Sizzix Team, but I've known Tammy for quite a few years now. I've always admired her creativity and sense of color and design and was super excited when she asked me to join the team.

So thank you Tammy for welcoming me into the team and for sharing your patience and creativity (and so many other things) with us.

 

 

If you have a minute, take a trip around some of the rest of the Sizzix Team and see what everyone else created for Tammy: 

• Aida Haron 
• Anna-Karin Evaldsson
• Catherine Scanlon ---------------- You are here
• Jan Hobbins
• Jeanne Streiff
• Leica Forrest
• Mou Saha
• Tiffany Johnson
• Vivian Sung Soon Keh-Hue

Thank you for joining us today, have a great Wednesday! 

Art Gone Wild! and Friends fun Cling Stamps

I'm back again today to share a few more of my favorites from the Art Gone Wild! and Friends stamp release, but I promise I'll share the stencils soon.

These two beauties are little collages that were put together using snippets of some of my drawing. Combined with some words they look fantastic. I can't take credit for the coloring on this one -- Michelle Cutts colored them using Copic Markers. Then scanned them and emailed them to me and I printed them out to create these gorgeous cards with. 

Her color choices and color blending are just amazing.

Cling Stamp AGC3-2700 Your Friendship

 

To create this card I used an x-acto blade and a ruler to cut out around the edge of the stamped imaged and mounted it on black cardstock. To get some texture I stitched it in a few random spots and added one of the larger designs over the top on foam tape. I also Fussy cut around the leaf in the bottom box and added that on 3D Dots to get a little pop. To finish it off I stitched it to a piece of green card stock that was attached to a blank Kraft card base.

Cling Stamp AGC3-2699 Makes You Happy 

I used the same steps to create this card as I did the first one, only no stitching on the blocks. I did add some lavender glitter here and there to make those funky little polka dots stand out some. I love the way the little blocks from my journal pages are highlighted with some text. 

Well, that's it for today -- I'll be sharing some samples of the stencils on Thursday or maybe Friday - so be sure to come back and stay tuned. THANKS for dropping by and enjoy your day! 

 

Art Gone Wild! and Friends Black Eyed Susan Stamp

Good Morning and HAPPY Monday!! Well, maybe I should say Good Afternoon! It's been so rainy and dreary in Maine this summer that I haven't had much time to spend in my gardens -- enjoying the beauty and scents of my flowers -- and I also haven't weeded much! LOL.

Yesterday I decided I had to spend some time because the weeds were taking over. While I was there I really enjoyed seeing the bees buzzing around all the black-eyed susan's that are in abundance. I also cut some and gave them to my Mom since she loves them so.

 Aren't they beautiful??!! You can see where the inspiration for my Black Eyed Susan stamp (Cling Stamp AGC1-2692) from Art Gone Wild! and Friends came from, can't you?

Anyway, since I've got them on my mind I thought I would share some closeups of a few projects I did using that stamp. They both came together so easily, and they do look hand-drawn! Love that.

For the first project I created a card using a single impression of the stamp that I stamped using black StazOn ink on Strathmore Mixed Media Paper. I painted the background with watercolor paint and colored the flowers with Caran D'ache Pablo Colored pencils, which I do love. When that was dry I trimmed it and rounded the corners and matted it on black cardstock and then on the kraft card base.

Of course, I did add stitching to add some texture -- no card is complete without stitching you know!  To finish it off I used my new Journal Words Stamp Set (Clear Set SC-2701) to stamp the sentiment. I layered it on the card with foam tape.                                              

For the second project I created a 9x12 Art journal page using my favorite quote "be the flower" I just stamped around the Mixed Media Paper 3 times trying to get a varied look using StazOn black ink. I used a permanent marker to draw in the design where the stems needed to extended to the edge of the image and then added a border.

Then I painted the image with watercolor paints and and colored pencils again. To finish it off I added the quote and journaling.

I am so happy with the quality and way these cling and clear stamps work, I couldn't have asked for a better company to work with!

THANKS for stopping by today, have a WONDERFUL day!

Distress Paint project for Ranger

I don't think there is anyone in the crafting industry that hasn't heard of Tim Holtz or played with and loved his great range of products. In the 13 years I've been in the industry I've used a lot of them -- from his stamps with Stampers Anonymous to his Sizzix dies to the cool Idea-ology embellishments --  and of late my most favorite -- as I have mentioned on a few other occasions -- the Distress Paint from Ranger they are all super creative, well loved and great to work with.

So you can imagine my excitement when he asked me, in the midst of my Art Gone Wild frenzy of product prep; to make a few samples using Distress Paint for the Ranger booth at CHA Summer in Las Vegas.

Today I thought I'd share my two projects for him. Though I haven't seen any pictures of them in the booth, I'm sure they are they because they arrived safe and sound when I shipped them.

The first one is 10 x 10 and used a mix of solid color and washes of layered Distress Paint colors. The lettering is done with a White Sakura Gelli Pen when the paint was completely dry.

The second is 6 x 6 and is made up of washes of layered color using Distress Paint. The lines for the doodling were inked in after the color was dry with a black Faber Castell pen.

I hope you like them, and if you are at CHA and spot them in the Ranger booth, shoot a quick photo and let me know!

THANKS for stopping by and sharing my excitement in creating something for Tim! Have a great day!

Art Gone Wild!! and Friends..........

and guess what....I'm one of the friends! Here's the cover to my product catalog -- I'm so OVER the moon about this -- excited AND nervous. YUP -- that's my exciting and BIG news that I've been holding in for a while now. However -- I do have something else up my sleeve for the 24th :-D Oh wait, that's tomorrow, ha ha. Maybe Friday I'll have a chance to tell you.

Last January I went to the Craft and Hobby Association Meeting in Los Angeles determined to find a licensing agent and show them my work and find out how to get represented. I also stopped and talked to several other manufacturers. It was a little depressing and discouraging. It's hard not to doubt yourself in those instances. Thankfully I had my great and super supportive friend Martha with me to lift my spirits.

It wasn't until the last day that I was there -- and at 4:47 no less with the show was closing at 5 for the day that I approached Stampers Anonymous/Art Gone Wild! and Friends. It was so amazing to see them look at my work -- and then look at me and say they'd been looking for me for THREE years.

 

The ball butt that I am started crying almost immediately, ha ha.  How can one not get that emotional to feel a dream coming true after rejection after rejection after rejection? It was/is an amazing feeling and I've been flying on an artistic high ever since.

Long story short, well -- ha ha. not really -- I thought I'd share a few sneak peaks of some of the samples from the catalog.

This is an art journal I made from one of the flower stamps, it's so versatile you can also make cards and use it for scrapbook pages.  I have some new colored pencils from Caran D'ache (Pablo I think) that I am totally loving -- oh and my standard issue watercolor palette that I used to color this one.

I can't take credit for the Copic Coloring on this card, Michelle Cutts from SA did that because we were pressed for time on making samples -- but I love the format of this stamp -- this one is layered with Foam Tape and a little glitter here and there. I love the way it turned out -- she's got crazy skills with Copic Markers!

 Here's a card I made using one of my stencils, it's colored with a mix of watercolor paints and Sakura Gelli Pens. Love the way it turned out -- so vibrant.

And, last but certainly not least for today -- a twinchie quilt made with a few of the Twinchie sets. These sets have 4 images each and are 2" x 2" blocks with selected images from my doodle art journal pages.

All in all the catalog has 8 pages of stamps and stencils -- and we're already getting started on the Winter release....wooohoo!

Did I mention I'm pretty excited about this?? um, yeah. understatement. So, now that things have calmed down a little -- please StAY tuned -- I'll be sharing some how-to's featuring items from the catalog!

THANKS for stopping by and sharing in my excitement -- have A GREAT DAY!