Share Your Joy; Mixed Media Shareable Art Book Review

 Title: Share Your Joy; Mixed Media Shareable Art

Author: Sarah J. Gardner

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group - Walter Foster

Publication Date: September 5, 2023

Length: 128 Pages

About the Author
Sarah J. Gardner is a mother, practicing lawyer, and self-taught artist in Southern California. She works with mixed media and seeks to help others who want to explore their creativity and play with art supplies. 

Shareable Art
Sarah Gardner provides inspiration and instructions for eight art paper projects and nine shareable projects in this colorful mixed-media art book.
The sharable projects include;

• Sewn Collage Postcards
• Printed Layers Postcards
• Watercolor Rainbow Greeting Card
• Abstract Collage Note Card
• Embellished Envelopes

My Thoughts
This is an inspiring and instructional book for mixed-media artists. The focus of the book is creating art that can be shared with others. This is a perfect selection for artists who create handmade greeting cards and mail art.

The step-by-step directions are excellent for both beginners and experienced mixed-media artists. The color photos add great value to the text. The original designs and techniques will motivate the reader to take their creativity to the next level.

The book includes interviews with two artists who have been swapping and sharing art for many years. 

Ms. Gardner (juicy.s.art) shares samples of her work on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

I read a digital copy of this book and hope to order a print copy in the future.  I really love everything about this book.

Highly recommended!!!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 

Thank you to NetGalley for a wonderful reading opportunity.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below.

Handmade Autumn Greeting Card

Click on the image to enlarge.

Hello Autumn!

I made this 5" by 7" card featuring the "Hello Autumn" digital stamp from Mo's Digital Pencil.

I colored the image with Copic Sketch markers and Promarkers. I embellished the card with a handmade paper flower, a corner die cut and tatting trim from an old pillowcase.

I will enter this card in the following challenges;
Arty Divas Challenge #7
Crafty Creations Challenge #401
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #200
Creative Moments Challenge #179 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge #67 
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #245

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below.

Mo's "Friends" Challenge

I made this card to enter in Mo's Challenge #148 - "Friends".

I used the digital image "Kimono" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I colored the image with Copic Sketch Markers and toned down the white background with pastel Pebbles chalk.

I layered Origami paper, cardboard and burlap on the background. This card measures 5" by 7".

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.



Mo's "Love Is All Around" Challenge

I made this card to enter in Mo's Challenge #147 - Love Is All Around.

This is how I made the card;
(1.) I started with a blank white greeting card that measures 5" by 6 1/2".
(2.) I glued a piece of Bazzill Basics "Coolcantaloupe" cardstock to the top of the card. I used Elmer's Craft Bond Acid Free/Photo Safe Rubber Cement for my adhesive.
(3.) I layered three pieces of patterned cardstock to the background.
(4.) I used "Que Sera, Sera" Adhesive Borders from K and Company across the top and bottom of the card.
(5.) I attached a piece of burlap to the card with glue dots.
(6.) I chose the digital image "Bella Hearts Bronte" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I printed the image on kraft cardstock and colored it with Prismacolor pencils.
(7.) I mounted the image on a piece of the Bazzill cardstock and attached it to the card with glue dots.
(8.) I embellished the card with a pink hat and red hat sticker.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Mo's "In The Doghouse" Challenge

The dog days of summer have arrived in Texas.  It is too hot to spend much time outdoors so I got my craft stuff out and made this mixed media card for Mo's Challenge #145 - In The Doghouse.

I am also trying out to be a Guest Designer on Mo's Design Team. The competition is stiff but I am giving it my best shot.

I am a self-taught crafter and I have had so much fun making cards over the past couple of years. I am very humble and honored to participate in this contest.

This is how I made this card:

(1.) I started with a blank kraft greeting card that measures 5" by 6 1/2".

(2.) I layered coordinated patterned cardstock, cork, burlap and corrugated cardboard on the card. I used rubber cement and glue dots to attach the elements to the card.

(3.) I used the digital stamp "Bronte and Louis" from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop. I colored the image with Copic sketch markers. I highlighted the hair with a white gel pen and used chalk to tone down the white background.

(4.) I embellished the card with three punched flowers.

 I would love for you to FOLLOW my blog. You may use either the Google Friend Connect or Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.



Poem - Mixed Media Greeting Card

I recently found a big box of old sheet music and music books at an estate sale. Some of these music books were very old and very worn.

I chose a song named "Poem" from a music book that was tattered and torn. I used the title of the song and a small piece of the music. I then punched birds hearts and circles from the music (Martha Stewart punches).

I used a picture of a Victorian woman from a packet of illustrations from old public domain books. I glued all these items onto a blank kraft card with Collage Pauge. I then applied two applications of Collage Pauge over the top of the paper elements on the card.

When the card was dry, I highlighted the edges of the hearts with Stickles glitter glue. I then applied three silver glitter heart stickers (Martha Stewart) to the paper hearts.

I embellished the card with a pink rose sticker (Martha Stewart) and three tiny pink bows. I punched two flowers from a piece of  pink handmade paper and made the center of the flower from the sheet music.

I am going to use this as a birthday card. Thank you for taking a look at this card.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

 

Book Review: Doodles Unleashed; Mixed-Media Techniques for Doodling, Mark-Making & Lettering

Doodles Unleashed: Mixed-Media Techniques for Doodling, Mark-Making & Lettering
By Traci Bautista

North Light Books, 2012 

About The Author 

Traci Bautista is creative director and owner of treiC Designs—a business endeavor that's entering its tenth year. She is the author of Collage Unleashed, and her artwork has been featured in over 15 mixed-media books and 40 craft magazines.

The Joy of Doodling

"Doodle" is defined in the Webster Dictionary as "an aimless scribble, design or sketch". Doodling is an art form that many of us have practiced since we were young, either intentionally or subconsciously. The purpose of this book is to provide inspiration and instruction in the art of doodling.

The author begins the book by listing many inexpensive and common items that she uses as art supplies. She instructs the reader on the types of paper, pencils, markers, paint, paintbrushes and adhesives that she uses.

Ms. Baustista begins the drawing section of the book with very basic "doodle prompts." These prompts are illustrated with color pictures that show you exactly how to design your own doodles. The author always encourages the reader to be creative in finding their own unique doodling style.

The author shares more advanced doodling and mixed media instruction as you progress through the book. This book is appropriate for artists of all skill levels and backgrounds. There are many online videos, articles and downloads that support the information in this book. 

My Thoughts

I have been scrapbooking and card making for several years, but I have very little confidence in my ability to sit down and draw a picture from scratch. I thought that doodling might build my confidence and get me started in the right direction.

I found this book to be very inspiring. The prompts are great and I love how the author starts with very simple projects and then progresses to more difficult techniques.  I experimented with some of the projects at the beginning of this book and was very pleased with the outcome.

I read the Kindle version of this book on the Kindle for PC Application. I enjoyed seeing large color photos on my laptop screen.

This book provides enough inspiration and information to keep a "doodling artist" busy for a very long time. I was amazed at all the ideas and projects that were presented here. Highly recommended for those who are ready to take their "doodling" skills to the next level.

My Rating:  5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I checked-out the digital copy of this book from my public library.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.