Blue Green Arts

Making Time for Art

2011-07-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Ever since having little Maya Claire, I've been working on how to balance time with her and my husband, work, creating art, and selling in my shops. Needless to say, life's been a little hectic. Fortunately for me, little Maya is the most perfect baby girl, and she likes to help her mom in the studio. She sits in her Bumbo chair and watches everything I do. A few weeks ago, I was able to get in the studio and create one of my first pieces in a long time. It's a fun mixed media piece featuring a bird (my fave thing to create and paint right now) in a hand made wire bird cage. It's so fun, and I hope you like it! It's freshly listed for sale in my Etsy shop too!

Decorating the Nursery

2011-06-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well, Little Maya Claire is finally here and is 12 weeks old already! Time flies when you are having fun, let me tell you! I had so many projects in mind to make her nursery a special place, and I finally finished most of them. I fell in love with the Amy Butler Love Collection of Fabrics and decided to do the nursery based on the colors in those fabrics. I had a beautiful custom made quilt made from the fabrics, and I worked on a couple little projects with the fabric myself. My mom was recently in town and helped me sew up some little fabric tie backs for the curtains in the nursery, and I worked on framing some pieces of the fabric to bring more color into the room. Here are a few pictures, feel free to leave comments!

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

(photo by Gretchen Wakeman Photography)

This Valentine's Day is a little different for me and my hubby. He's sick, I'm 8 months preggo, and neither of us wants to do anything. So, we're just going to kick back, maybe watch a movie, and cheers to a glass of Airborne tonight. Maybe we'll get crazy and order take out :)

Whatever your plans are, I hope you are enjoying your day with someone you love.

And just for today, enjoy 15% off your purchase! http://katieblue.etsy.com/ Use Code 'VDAY2011' when you check out...

Baby on the Brain!

2011-02-09T07:46:00.001-07:00

With just under 8 weeks to go, all I can think about is Baby stuff, and rightfully so. Little Maya reminds me of her presence every time she wakes me up in the middle of the night kicking my rib cage. With so much going on, I'm giving my shop a little break for a few weeks. With the move and my depleting energy levels, it was becoming too much for right now. I'm going to work on getting a bunch of product put together and ready to go, so I can open back up soon and hopefully not miss a beat...

In the meantime, enjoy some little Maya Pictures, taken at 31.5 weeks... she's a little chunker :)

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

This has been a super crazy holiday season! We are in the middle of moving, but we managed to get up a few Christmas decorations. Also, I'm 6 months pregnant, which is completely draining... and exciting! So, if you've been wondering why I have been completely ignoring my blog, that's why! I can't wait for the move to be over and to set up my little baby girl's room in our huge new house. I'm seeing some mixed media nursery decorations... any ideas?

Well, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I'm keeping the shop up and running as long as possible during this crazy time too, so feel free to check it out. There is a coupon as well... Enter 'HOLIDAY2010' for 10% off your entire order! Blue Green Arts Shop

Cyber Monday Sale on ETSY

2010-11-29T08:44:00.001-07:00

Since Today is THE day for Online Shopping, I thought I'd get in on the fun and try out Etsy's new sale tool. For Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 29-30), I'm offering 15% off any purchase in my shop with discount code 'CYBER2010'. Just type it in when you checkout for your special deal!

Also, stay tuned for new releases of Christmas themed Vintage paper packs, they are fabulous!

Antique Paris Maps for the Digital World

2010-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share one of my most favorite items in my shop. Old maps are one of my most favorite things, I collect old maps from all over the world. Whenever I go somewhere new, I hunt around until I find an old map as a perfect souvenir.
Sometimes these get buried in my listings, and then I sell one, and I remember all over again just how much I love them! I rescued these maps from a wonderful antique discarded French map book from 1905. I think what's so great about these is the wonderful colors. You really get a great antique feel on these maps. Plus, you can print them out on fabric, cardstock, kraft paper, etc. to get just the look you want!
You get 2 sheets of 300dpi French maps for only $4.00 to have and print again and again for use in your art projects. (The sheets you get do not have the watermarks on them)
Stop by my store and check them out, they are so much fun! Antique French Maps

Getting back in the Swing of Things

2010-10-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have SO much going on lately! It's great, but I've been again completely ignoring my blog and my artwork and all things creative. I'm definitely feeling the urge to get back in my studio and create! I have so many ideas and so little time - Isn't that how it always is?

Anyways, I picked up these little dice recently, and I just love them. They have so many uses in your mixed media and altered art projects! I even decided to share and offer some of them in my shop!

New for the Back to School Season!

2010-08-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

I promised some new Vintage paper packs, and here is one of them! It is the Vintage Scholar pack, chock full of vintage textbook pages. They are all so cool, with diagrams, tables, and formulas... just perfect for your scrapbooking, collaging, or any other paper crafts! You also get some vintage flashcards to top it all off. They are all wrapped up in a super cute Vintage ribbon too.

Check them out today! The Vintage Scholar Paper Pack

The Lazy Days of Summer

2010-08-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sushi - The BEST cat in the whole wide world - And VERY good at relaxing!

I've been completely ignoring my blog most of the summer... sorry about that! Work has been super crazy, and all i want to do is relax (Just like my cat Sushi in the photo above). As things cool down, I'm going to get back to more blogging and more new Etsy listings.

I do have a few new Etsy listings - some new assemblage pieces and a NEW vintage paper pack... So feel free to check those out! http://katieblue.etsy.com/

Alice in Wonderland Assemblage Piece

2010-08-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another piece I made recently, my first attempt at an assemblage type piece. I used the Alice in Wonderland Halloween paper from Graphic 45 (amazing paper line!). This piece was all about using common household items to put it together. I used a CD for the base, a tuna can for the center, and bottlecaps around the outside. It was finished off with mardi gras beads.

I'm so happy with the way it came out, let me know what you think! :)

My Pocket Shrine

2010-07-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love doing most is travel. While I prefer sandy white beaches or old castles in Europe, I'll go just about anywhere!

On a weekend Art retreat recently, we made little pocket shrines to show off our personality and what we love. Not surprisingly, mine was Travel themed! here it is... Enjoy!

Oh Summer Day

2010-07-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

There isn't much better than spending a HOT summer day inside in the cool AC working on a new piece of art! I think the hotter it gets, the more reason you have to get crafty! I just finished a new mixed media assemblage piece - "The Well-Bred Girl in Society". She looks like trouble to me... probably why I like it :)

Finally some new art!

2010-06-10T18:39:00.000-07:00

I always seem to go through spurts of creating art. I had been in a dry spell for a while now, and I'm finally finding some time to create more. Vintage paper and Beeswax are two of my most favorite mediums, which I combined in these two new pieces... Both currently for sale in my Etsy shop! Stop by and check them out... The first is of the Eiffel Tower (one of my favorite subjects :) )

The second is of a bird silhouette.

Feel free to leave your comments... Did I mention I LOVE comments?!

Fabulous Giveaway on Blissfully Traveled

2010-06-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

When you get a chance, head over to Tricia from Vintage Bliss' blog Blissfully Traveled to sign up for a great giveaway I put together. I combed through my HUGE stash of Vintage paper and put together a really fun pack of travel / vacation themed vintage papers, which would be perfect to use in your summer themed projects. When you're there, pick up a copy of Tricia's fabulous Blissfully Traveled magazine . It's chock full of fun shopping places you will have to check out and great photos!

Have a Wonderful Day!

Just let me sit a while here....

2010-06-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

There's something about adirondack chairs I adore. I love their simple inviting design. They say "Hey Katie, why don't you grab a book and a margarita and come sit down for a little bit." Yes, I believe that's what they say to me. I say, "Okay."

Etsy Craft Party

2010-05-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

(Photo taken from Etsy blog)

Etsy is organizing a worldwide Craft Party! It's basically a day when people from all over the world can get together in their hometowns and have a group craft night. I decided to organize a Craft Party in Tempe, AZ. It will be on Friday, June 18th at 7pm. I haven't worked out a location, but if you are interested, let me know. You can visit the Craft Party site: http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Craft-Party/5116/ and sign up that you are interested. If you have any ideas for projects or locations, I'd love to talk with you. This is not limited to people just in the Tempe, AZ area.

Not so shabby but Oh so Chic

2010-05-17T12:05:00.002-07:00

I created this new little altered art piece from a plain, un altered papier maiche dress form I purchased at Michaels a while back. I knew I wanted to do something with it, but I could never come up with a good idea. I started playing around with paint and paper and lace, and TA-DA! here it is! I think it turned out so cute in that French blue color, with the handmade little skirt and vintage buttons. Enjoy!

How cute would this be displayed on a shelf? Love the way it came out! Leave your comments :)

New Vintage Treasures

2010-05-08T17:26:00.001-07:00

I have always been the kind of shopper willing to dig and hunt for the best treasures. While on one of my usual treasure hunting trips, I found some great vintage items. I would normally keep them, but I thought I should share them with you this time around.

The first item is a very cool vintage metal bowl in a red and white checker pattern. How cool is that! I think it's just perfect for a backyard bbq...

The second find is a great antique embossed glass bottle. I think old bottles are so fun, and this one is no exception. It has this cool embossed crackle look and embossed letters, reading "Dr. Ellis' Special Quick Dry Waving Fluid". The back side has an embossed illustration showing how to dip your comb straight in the bottle. It must have been used in a barber shop.

I'll be working on some other art tutorials in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back in and see what I'm up to.

Enjoy! I love comments:)

Mixed Media Collage Tutorial

2010-04-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

I decided to take photos as I was creating my last mixed media collage in hopes of creating a basic tutorial to show people how easy it is to make a collage using vintage papers as the background.

Step 1. Collage an array of vintage papers to a canvas using Matte Medium or Mod Podge. You can layer and collage them however you want.

Step 2. Use distress ink pads like the ones from Ranger and distress the collage once the matte medium is dry.

Step 3. Using a paint brush or a rubber brayer, add a layer of paint across the collage. Make sure you don't add to much and completely cover your collaged background. I usually do this very unevenly to give it some interest .

Step 4: Draw the subject of your painting directly on the canvas with a pencil. You can erase as necessary. This will help you as you start adding paint and other papers to your subject.

Step 5: Depending on what your subject is, you can add gesso to certain parts of your painting. I added it to the areas where I didn't want the collage to show through, and I wanted a nice bright white background to add lighter color paints.

Step 6: You can add more paper and layers of paint to your collage to finish the subject.

Step 7: Continue using brushes, fingers, and other items to add paint to your collage around the subject. You can use so many different items, get creative. Try sponging paint on through a piece of metal screen or dipping a round cap in painting and dotting it around your painting. This is the fun part. Just let loose and see what happens. You might just surprise yourself.

Step 8: Add final details with charcoal, pastels, or colored pencils (Or all 3 like I did in this painting) When you're finally happy with the product, I recommend using a sealer to protect the painting. I like the Liquitex Matte Spray. It doesn't change the look or finish of the painting and it gives it a nice protective coat.

Step 9: You're done. Sit back and enjoy your work. Or, start a new piece.

These are just some very basic ideas on getting started in collage, and there are LOTS of techniques. What's great about collage and mixed media art is the lack of rules. You are in control. I stole Nike's slogan for creating my art work "Just Do It". You don't have to have a solid idea in your head when you start. Just let yourself go and see where your imagination takes you.

Good luck! Feel free to leave comments :)

A Sneak peek

2010-04-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting my blog this last week or so. I've been super busy re-organizing my studio and putting together a mixed media painting for a charity event hosted by the Junior Achievement of Arizona. I'm going to be putting together a tutorial for how I put this piece together, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek of just a portion of this painting. I call it "Dans le jardin" (In The Garden). Stay tuned later this week for the tutorial, and I wanted to share all the goodies I got in a Paper Swap with Hope from Paper Relics! It was amazing... You can check out her site here: http://www.paperrelics.com/index.html and here is her blog post where she showed what I sent. It was quite a swap, I got so much lovely stuff, i can't wait to show you all pictures! Till later, here's a little sneak peek of my new painting for the charity auction...

WINNERS of the Vintage French Poetry Pack Giveaway

2010-04-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Okay bloggers, I have randomly picked 2 Winners, with the help of http://random.org/

Winner 1 is #14 - Nicole

Winner 2 is #34 - Ashleigh

Congrats! Thank you to everyone who entered. I will be offering 20% off to anyone who makes a purchase in my shop who left a comment on this page. Just send me a quick note that you left a comment on my blog before you check out, and I'll send you a revised invoice with the 20% discount.

Please send me your contact information, so I can get your Vintage French Poetry paper packs in the mail to you right away. Email me at : katieblueford@gmail.com

It's Time for a GIVEAWAY!

2010-03-24T14:03:00.001-07:00

It's officially wedding season, and I've been getting a TON of emails and special requests for custom made vintage paper packs for people to use for their weddings. I decided I would put together an extra special vintage paper pack, consisting of old French poetry pages. One lucky blog winner will win!

What you have to do to enter....

1. Become a follower on my blog

2. Leave a comment telling me how you would use these fabulous vintage pages... whether that be in invitations, favors, thank you cards, decorations, etc.

I'll randomly pick one lucky person to win at the end of the day next Thursday April 1.

*****UPDATE***** THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR THE GIVEAWAY, THERE WILL NOW BE 2 LUCKY WINNERS! And, anyone who left a comment can get a 20% discount on any vintage paper purchases from my store! Just send me a little note before you check out, and I'll send you a revised invoice. Blue Green Arts Etsy Store ***************

Stop by and visit my store for more vintage paper goodness! Good Luck!

Spring is for the Birds

2010-03-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

I think it's the emergence of spring that makes me want to paint birds in my new paintings. I've been working hard at putting a bunch of new mixed media paintings together, and I just decided to finally list them in my Etsy store. I like them all... What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments :)

More about... ME!

2010-03-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was asked to fill out a few questions by someone featuring me on their blog... I liked the questions, and I thought it might be fun for my readers to get to know a little more about me. Here are the questions and my answers. :)

1. How long have you been doing your craft?

-I've been doing Paper Crafts my entire life. In fact, my mom used to call me the 'Paper Queen' when I was little. It's funny to think that my love of paper as a little girl has turned into quite a business!

2. What is your favorite item in your shop?

-My favorite item in my shop would probably be my Vintage French paper packs http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41603291

I absolutely LOVE old French paper, and these packs are the best! As far as a handmade item, I am really into making my mixed media greeting cards!
3. What is your favorite things to purchase on Etsy?

-I think my favorite thing to purchase on Etsy would probably be other vintage paper... What can i say, I'm a paperholic!

4. Is there any other craft you do but don't sell on Etsy?

- I do LOTS of other crafts, but most of the time, they get purchased or given away to friends and family members before they make it on Etsy. I really enjoy painting flower pots and creating vases out of repurposed wood!

5. What is your favorite color?

-I'd have to say my favorite color is Blue... (Blue is part of my last name... and in my shop name) :) http://katieblue.etsy.com/

6. name 3 books/movies/music that you love.

-3 of my favorite books and movies would be... Almost Famous, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and all of the Shopaholic books.

THAT'S ME!

Art, Craft, Vintage, and Antiques Show this Weekend - March 13, 2010

2010-03-08T10:55:00.003-07:00

This coming weekend in Queen Creek, Arizona will be a Huge Arts and Crafts Festival! I'm going to have a booth at this show, and I've been working very hard to put together some amazing goods for this event! I have some very unique vintage paper items, some new mixed media paintings, and more! I'm sharing my booth with my mom who creates fabulous jewelry http://vickisdesertjewels.etsy.com/. So, come on out, it will be fun for the whole family, with live music, bull riding, food, and more!

Shop mentioned on Wedding Chicks blog!

2010-03-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

My friend Kristin, an avid reader of all the great wedding blogs called me Friday to announce that as she was reading through one of her favorite blogs she saw my store mentioned! How cool is that?! They showcased a beautiful display for a Garden Party themed Bridal shower, which was beautiful! They used my favorite: Vintage Book Pages for a fun accent! Stop by and Check it out! There are some gorgeous photos and ideas on their lovely blog! (You'll have to go to their blog to check out the photos...)

Wedding Chicks Blog - Garden Party Bridal Shower

LOVE days like this!

2010-02-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

I just love days like this... I found some AMAZING vintage goodies today! I just had to share pics, I was so excited with all the lovelies I came home with. :)

Some of the awesome finds include:
*4 very cool old pocketwatches... hmmm, how should I work these into a project? They are so great, they even work still.

*Really old set of Bingo cards! How fun are these? I can see some cool art journals being made out of these... hmmm... ideas are running through my head.

*A bunch of old rubber stamps... super cool, cant wait to use these!

*6 old rusty horseshoes... Might make something really great for the upcoming show in Queen Creek at the Equestrian Park :)

Lots more too... Check out the pics, leave your comments! :)

Featured on a Blog

2010-02-17T09:41:00.007-07:00

I'm so excited, My vintage French paper packs have been featured on a lovley blog: Studio Haus
Stop by this lovely blog and vote on which item is your favorite!

http:studiohaus.blogspot.com

Lovely New Valentine's Cards!

2010-01-26T07:50:00.006-07:00

I've been really into combining fabric and paper, especially vintage paper. I really love the look of layering different textures together, like burlap layered with paper, sewn together, and then layered with tulle. There is something so pretty and interesting and about it. I spent quite a few hours last weekend coming up with some new card designs, and I hope you like them!

Feel free to leave your comments, and they are all for sale in my Etsy shop. If you have ideas for custom cards you'd like made, shoot me an email or leave a comment with your email.

Helping Haiti - French paper packs

2010-01-18T11:01:00.004-07:00

From now till the end of the month, I'll be donating $2 from the sale of every Vintage French paper pack to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Please see my shop if you would like to make a purchase!

http://katieblue.etsy.com

L'Amour Toujours

2010-01-11T09:19:00.003-07:00

With Valentine's Day only a little over a month away, I've been working on some new projects with a Valentine's theme... One of them is this mixed media painting. I was inspired by a very old piece of sheet music "L'Amour Toujours" or Love Everlasting. It had such a great vintage romantic feel to it. I collaged it on a plum colored background and added some really great black vintage lace and vintage buttons. It's such a cool piece! I have it listed in my Etsy store, I think it would make a great Valentine's gift that you could enjoy year round!

I would love to hear your comments! :)

New Year's Cleaning

2010-01-08T07:29:00.005-07:00

I'm only going to show the "After" pictures of my art studio... because even I couldn't look at the "Before" pictures! Messes happen... especially when you are working on a million different projects as I always seem to be. I took full advantage of having a week off over Christmas and I spent an entire day re-organizing and cleaning my art room. I hate organizing, but it was sooo worth it! I just love how it came out. I was even able to make room for a great big second work table, which I desperately needed. Anyways, enjoy the pics and as always, feel free to leave your comments. :)

My kind of Christmas Tree

2009-12-16T14:18:00.003-07:00

As you know, I'm always looking for new ideas of how to use my huge stash of amazing vintage paper. I took on the project of creating a little Christmas tree from old sheet music a couple weekends ago. I cut tons of strips of paper, glued sparkly red glitter on each piece, and curled the ends up. I glued them all around a paper maiche tree form, starting from the bottom. It took in total about 7 hours to finish but I just LOVE it!

Leave your comments :)

A Jar Full of Rusty Stuff

2009-11-25T13:52:00.003-07:00

I was at an estate sale a couple months ago and found this huge old pickle jar FULL of old rusty metal stuf... old screws, nails, hooks, casters, etc. It was 2 bucks... how could I pass up something like that? :) Of course my husband saw it and thought I was crazy, but I knew I could come up with something to do with all of it!

So, I sat down and dumped the whole 20lb jar full of rusty goodness out on the table and went to work. I have many more ideas, but this mixed media collage was my first project using this stuff. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to leave your comments :)

It's Time for a GIVEAWAY!

2009-10-07T07:41:00.004-07:00

I just love when it starts getting just a little bit cooler and the mornings start to feel crisp! It's October, and that means it's time for Oktoberfest! In honor of Oktoberfest and my partial German heritage, I've decided to offer my super fabulous Vintage German paper pack as a giveaway! These papers would be so perfect for scrapbooking about your favorite October memories or to make your fall cards.

Just leave a comment with your favorite thing about fall AND become a follower of my blog, and I'll pick someone at random on October 12th!

Please be sure you have a valid email address. Winner will be notified by email.

You can also find these fabulous vintage paper packs and others for sale in my etsy store.

Paper - You can even sew it!

2009-09-08T07:32:00.004-07:00

As most of you loyal readers know by now, I'm completely obsessed with paper. Sometimes I just sit in my studio with a big pile of it and see if any new ideas come into my head. While I was contemplating some new ideas this weekend, I decided to brush my sewing machine off and play around with it. I ended up seewing some adorable little vintage paper envelopes! I am just so pleased with the result. I think they would be just perfect for handmade cards or to add to your scrapbooking pages with a little note or picture inside. You could even use them in the mail, just add an address label, and a stamp, and you're good to go!

If you have any great projects that you would like to share that involve using vintage paper, I'd love to hear about them!

Shopping Girl - 1st of the Series!

2009-08-27T08:01:00.004-07:00

Slowly but surely, I'm working on new mixed media art pieces! This is my newest piece called 'Shopping Girl'. I'm going to work on a series of girls, and thhis is the first!

I started with a blank canvas, painted it, collaged on different pages from vintage books, collaged on a solid color paper, then collaged a sheet of vintage sheet music on top of all that. When that was dry, I painted the girl, collaging on her dress and her Bloomies' Big Brown Bag! I finished it up with some washes of paint and sealed it with a layer of matte medium.

Hopefully you enjoy it, and she puts a smile on your face today!

Please feel free to leave comments.

Where to find Antique and Vintage Images

2009-08-12T12:51:00.003-07:00

I get asked a lot where I find antique and vintage images to use in my art. I can tell you it's not easy, but that's only because I like to use the real thing. I love old photos printed on old photo paper, they just have a certain flair to them that can really add a lot to your project. But, depending on the type of project you are doing, you may find that using images from a CD or downloaded from the internet work just fine. Just whip out your distress inks, and they'll look authentic in no time! I have found a couple really great sites that will give you images to use for FREE! (I LOVE free!)
Here's one of the sites I have been to in the past: http://freeantiqueimages.blogspot.com/

I also hunt around alot on flickr for FREE images that people are willing to share.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrysti/sets/72057594064002193/

There is some really great stuff out there, you just gotta know where to search!

If you have a favorite site or place to get vintage images, please leave a comment and share!

STOCK UP & SAVE SALE!

2009-07-29T11:13:00.003-07:00

It's that time of year when everyone is having sales, back to school, end of summer, yada yada. So, I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon and offer some pretty good sales as well!

From now until the end of August, Buy ANY 2 packs of vintage papers from my etsy store: And get ANY 1 pack FREE! It's your choice! Just let me know in the notes section when you check out which one you would like, and it's yours - FREE!

http://katieblue.etsy.com

Altered Art Supplies

2009-07-28T12:48:00.004-07:00

I have been having so much fun searching for some great altered art supplies. These vintage dominos are my latest find. They are in black and white and bright colors, which is so cool! I can't wait to use them in some altered art projects. I may even make some domino pendants.

Do you have any great ideas for using dominos? If so, leave a comment and share your ideas! :)

Also, I am going to share a few of these in my Etsy store as well! Get 10 of these dominos for only $4.25!

Working with Beeswax

2009-07-15T07:40:00.003-07:00

I made my first attempt to work with beeswax, and it turned out wonderful! I don't know why I waited so long to get myself to work with this medium. It gives such a great aged look to things. Here is one of my original collages "J'Adore Paris". It is collaged with a beautiful fleur de lis paper, an eiffel tower image, vintage butterfly cut-outs, and text. I added details with charcoal as well, before I layered on the beeswax.

Enjoy and Please leave your comments! (Also, I have this piece for sale in my Etsy store, if you would like it!)

Christmas in July Craft Show!

2009-06-22T09:32:00.003-07:00

"Christmas in July"

Arts & Crafts Show

in Peoria, Arizona.

This event is INDOORS!!!

Don't miss this event!

30-40 exhibitors featuring handmade Artisan creations AND Arts and Craft supplies-(Paper Crafting, Altered Arts, handmade jewelry, beads, soaps, lotions, rubber stamps, card kits, handmade papers, quilts, craft supplies, general crafting, Vintage ephemera, collage, other Vintage findings and antiquities...plus, MUCH MORE!).....PLUS, a HUGE SCRAPBOOK and RUBBER STAMP YARD SALE from individuals selling their items from their own personal craft supplies!!!!

FIND TONS of bargains and wonderful treasures!!

(be sure to bring plenty of cash...some exhibitors are individuals. There is an ATM located at the CHASE Bank in the shopping center parking lot.)

Here are a few of the Paper Crafting Vendors:

BLUE GREEN ARTS

SPELLBINDERS

STAMPIN' UP!

CREATIVE MEMORIES

CLOSE TO MY HEART

GLITZ DESIGN

HERITAGE MAKERS

VINTAGE BLISS

Plus more!!!

WHEN: Saturday, July 25th--9am-5pm

WHERE: 9720 W. Peoria Ave - located INSIDE the EAST end of the MALL, between Mercer's Restaurant and the CROP GIRLS store in PEORIA, AZ.

Admission: FREE

The YART SALE (yard + art = YART)!

2009-06-10T08:08:00.002-07:00

This is my first YART SALE on Etsy, and I'm very excited to be offering some great specials!

Here's my list of deals!

1. Buy any paper pack and pay for shipping and get free shipping on ANY additional vintage paper packs! Woohoo! For example, you can buy 5 packs, but only pay shipping for one! Gotta love that!

2. The PICK 3 paper pack have been reduced to only $17.00! So, pick any 3 packs for only $17.00! Stock up now! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26239572

3. Buy any original Art Piece and get ANY pack of Vintage papers for FREE! I love FREE stuff!

Leave a comment with a link to your YART sale items, if you would like to share! Or, just leave a comment, I always love them!

It's summer, alright!

2009-05-29T13:39:00.003-07:00

It's summer... especially in Arizona! With summer comes fresh, juicy, delicious fruit... like one of my favorites, Strawberries! Here's my newest painting of a lovely strawberry. Wouldn't you like to have that hanging in your kitchen?

Vintage Treasury

2009-05-14T09:29:00.003-07:00

The lovely members of the Cottage Style Street Team have come up with another beautiful treasury! And, I happen to be featured, thank you very much! I think it just a wonderful treasury, check it out!

Here's a pic too! My vintage paper packs were featured (bottom left corner)

Please leave your comments, I love comments! :)

Featured on a Blog

2009-05-05T09:05:00.003-07:00

One of my items has been feautured on a lovely blog! Check it out!
Thank you!

http://mysticwynd.blogspot.com

Don't Worry!

2009-04-23T09:28:00.003-07:00

To all of you who participated in the Earth Day Giveaway but did not win... DON'T WORRY! I've got lots of these great little packs of vintage nature papers in stock, ready to ship out! Best of all, they are only $6.00! You get some great images of birds, animals, flowers, etc... Truly a great find!

WINNERS OF THE EARTH DAY GIVEAWAY!

2009-04-23T07:25:00.003-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered! There were an amazing 41 people who helped share what they are doing to help the environment. It was so great reading everyone's responses, and there are some very valuable ideas to be taken from this.

Down to business.... Since there were so many entries, I decided to give away 2 packs of vintage nature papers instead of 1! I wrote down all the names and had my husband draw 2 randomly...

And the winners are...

Megan and Mary Vogel Lozniak

Congratulations! I will try to send you both a message to get your info. Or, please leave me a comment of an email address where I can reach you!

Thanks again, everyone! I'll be doing another giveaway soon, since this one was such a success!

GIVEAWAY FOR EARTH DAY!

2009-04-20T08:48:00.005-07:00

It seems everywhere you go, you hear people talking about "Going Green". You can't turn on the news or even go to the grocery store without seeing or hearing about it. But, what do you do to help the environment?

I'm going to be doing a giveaway to one lucky person on my blog at the End of Wednesday (Earth Day). You will be receiving one of my fabulous new vintage NATURE paper packs that you can use in your art projects, collage, or scrapbooking! What a better way to recycle than to use recycled materials in your art work?!

To enter, please leave a comment with what you are doing to help the environment! I will choose one person at random from everyone who leaves a comment. Check back on the 23rd to find out who won, so I can contact you and send you your goodies!

In My First Treasury!

2009-04-15T13:23:00.003-07:00

I am very excited to announce that I made it into my first treasury on Etsy! And, I have to say, it's a great one! All black and white, very pretty! My item is in the first column, 2nd row, the damask bowl!

Leave your comments! :)

Mixed Media Art

2009-04-14T09:51:00.004-07:00

As you know, I love Mixed Media Art. I love the textures and the layers and how everything seems to kinda work! It's not too precise and measured, and I really like that too! This particular piece I created using flower cut-outs from vintage dictionary pages layered with flower cut-outs from a few different Basic Grey papers. I collaged some other dictionary pages on the bottom for some texture and then added acrylic paint over the whole painting for added detail and color. I hope you like it!

Leave your comments ( I love comments!)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T18:38:00.003-07:00

Happy Easter everyone! I hope everyone had a great day. It's always such a nice day at my family's house... Lots of food, fun, and great people! I have some new ideas for some new projects that I'm really excited about! I'm also going to be launching my own website in the next couple months, so stay tuned for big changes!

Shawn Lovell Metalworks Tree Bed

2009-04-09T08:29:00.001-07:00

Love this! Isn't it amazing!

Paris Charm

2009-04-07T14:58:00.002-07:00

I love the whole look of damask patterns right now. Something about them feels so traditional and classy, yet modern. I found this little wooden stand at a vintage store and decided to alter it. I painted it black and added black and white damask paper to give it a little extra charm.

I love it! I hope you do too. It is listed in my etsy shop right now!

Leave your comments and let me know what you think!

New items!

2009-03-26T08:59:00.002-07:00

I'm in the process of adding some new stuff to my etsy page. I am excited to now offer a great collage pack of all vintage FRENCH book pages! They are very cool! They range from the late 1800's to mid 1900's, and they are all very unique. I have poetry, theatre, dictionary, and novel pages. All very cool! Anyways, check them out and let me know what you think!

Inspiration

2009-03-19T14:30:00.004-07:00

One of my favorite places in the Phoenix area is the Desert Botanical Garden. As a landscape architect, I appreciate all the little details that have gone into making this place beautiful. The wonderful glass artist Dale Chihuly has an installation there right now, which is just gorgeous. The colors of the glass mixed into the beautiful desert are truly inspiring. I visited yesterday and took some wonderful pictures. Enjoy! And, if you are in the Phoenix area, you should definitely stop by the Desert Botanical Garden and check it out! It's worth it!

busy busy busy!

2009-03-09T14:48:00.003-07:00

It's been a busy couple weeks! I've been working hard on promoting my new etsy shop, trying to get some great new pieces on the site, and working on creating some new pieces. Needless to say, I've been ignoring my blog a little, but I'm back!

I did a cool custom piece this weekend, different from my other pieces, but just as cute (I think, anyways). I'll probably be making up some more like this to sell in my etsy store. Leave some comments ( I LOVe comments!)

Oh, and I wanted to share where I got the little bird piece that is on the painting. I actually purchased this little wood cut-out from a great store... PopaliciousToo... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5640245

New Craft Promo Site

2009-02-28T18:25:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone-
My shop is now being advertised on a great new site... http://www.promoteyourcraft.com/ It's a fun new way to promote your etsty stores or your craft / art websites! Check it out!

My Etsy Store

2009-02-24T16:27:00.002-07:00

New Etsy Shop!

2009-02-16T13:40:00.002-07:00

Hi All-
I encourage everyone to head to my new Etsy shop and check out the selection of beautiful vintage papers I have listed for sale. i handpicked these papers for all kinds of art and craft projects. You will love them!

http://katieblue.etsy.com

by request

2009-02-11T09:01:00.003-07:00

Paris, by request for one of my dearest friends. I hope you enjoy looking at this every day hanging on your wall :)

It feels like spring HERE!

2009-01-30T11:03:00.004-07:00

I feel bad for everyone who doesnt live in a warm climate right now! I can't imagine trying to live in such freezing coldiness (yes, coldiness... it's my made up word). Anyways, it feels like spring in Arizona right now... I think they said it's going to be 73 today... heaven! I was feeling in a rather springy (yes, springy, I really do like to make up words) mood and decided to create something that felt springy.
I hope you enjoy it and it brings a little sunshine to your day :)

Oh, how I love Paris!

2009-01-26T08:33:00.002-07:00

I'm back and with some cool new projects I've been working on. I've been obsessed with everything Paris (France, NOT Hilton), so that has been my inspiration for my latest creations. The first was done on gesso board and has some really cool textures in it. I used old French dictionary pages as the background and went from there. The second is done on canvas. I would love to hear your comments!

2009-01-19T21:23:00.001-07:00

Here are two new mixed media pieces I did on gesso board. I am planning to do a whole series of these, but these are the first 2!

MY CREATIVE SPACE

2009-01-19T21:15:00.002-07:00

I finally finished my craft room, and I LOVE it! This is probably the cleanest it will ever be... in two days, it will be covered with paper and glue and paint and anything and everything else. It's such a great space, and gets wonderful sunlight... the perfect studio!

2009-01-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

Who links to my website?

Painted Pots

2009-01-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

For some extra Christmas money, I put together a pot display at my mom's local Curves. I hand painted terra cotta pots and sealed them. I did pretty well, raking in a couple hundred bucks for my efforts. I spent about $40 total and about 40 hours of work. Leave your comments if you like them!

Inspiration

2009-01-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'm headed off to start Round 2 of a Mixed Media class put on by the City of Tempe tonight. It's my second time in this class, and I'm really looking forward to collecting new ideas and getting inspiration for some new projects. I'll be posting pictures soon of some of the stuff I've been working on. I also decided that I need to re-organize my messy craft / workout room. I've been putting it off because I dont know what I want, but I realize that I won't know what I want until I take a full inventory of exactly what I have and go from there. If anyone has any great ideas of ways to organize craft rooms, pass them on! I am looking for Inspiration today!

2009-01-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

I'm new to this blog thing and not quite sure yet how I would like to see my blog develop. As I explore and create, I will add more to this site. I am working on some new mixed media collages at the moment that I plan to add pictures of as soon as I'm done. Be sure to leave comments if there is something you like... or don't like.

This will be my space to explore day to day life and all that goes with it.

I am the Paper Queen

2009-01-08T12:44:00.001-07:00

I have been known by my friends and family as the Paper Queen for as long as I can remember. There is just something about a stack of paper that I just love. I can't explain it, and yes, maybe my love for paper makes me a little weird, but I just LOVE it!
I guess I never outgrew my love for paper. I am a mixed media artist, and I love to create collages and other original artwork with my found and collected papers.