Amazing Grace

I've been practicing lettering in my kraft journal and thought I would give you a peek. Just using a white Signo gel pen on this beautiful kraft paper. I used VWA Lettering Book Vol. 1 by Valerie Wieners as inspiration for this page, and I am so happy with it. Think I might go ahead and buy Volume 2.

ColourArte Design Team

I'm Super excited that I will be joining the ColourArte Design Team! I can't wait to get some art goodies in to show you all, and make videos with. What is your favorite ColourArte product? I am excited to learn more about their Primary Elements and Vivid Ultra Metallics.

My Journaling Bible

You can find my video for this process here on my YouTube channel.

I recently purchased an ESV Journaling Bible in Original Black from LifeWay. I'm still watching videos and trying to figure out how I want to prep and paint my pages, but I knew right away that I would want to decorate the cover. I've been doing a lot of abstracts, so I got some canvas paper and went to painting an abstract to use for the cover. I used Holbein Acryla Gouache paints (here is a good introductory video to these if you are curious) and Silks for this painting.

When I finished the painting I cropped it down, rounded the corners with my Crop-O-Dile corner rounder, and attached some flowers I painted with Dye-Na-Flo fabric paint.

Here's a good view of the cover. I secured the flowers and the cover with brads. I could have glued it down, but I ended up punching holes in the cover and adding this with brads. I know! I punched holes in the cover, I must be crazy, right? But if I ever want to change the cover this will make it so much easier, and I will be able to keep this one if I want to use it again. I used my Roper Whitney Jr 5 Hand Punch to make the holes on the cover and the painting.

I added some key charms (colored with Vintaj Patina) and beads to the original ribbon in my Bible. I put three keys, because I have always heard it death, hell, and the grave. But either way, in Revelation 1:18, Jesus says he was dead, is alive forever, and holds the keys to death and Hades. It is a thought that comforts me. So mine has three keys. Maybe the third one is to my heart!

Here's a picture of the other ribbons and book marks I made. You can see these in the video. I used ribbons, ribbon end crimps, and some beads and findings to make a couple of bookmarks, and made one out of the scrap I had left over when I trimmed the art for the cover. These are some of the beads I have been collecting over the years to make a special necklace out of, but I decided to put them on this ribbon instead.

Top view of all that bling. I take them out when I study, but I love having them there jingling and making all kinds of noise.

And here she is all dolled up with some journaling supplies: my Prima Watercolor Confections, Stabilo 88 liners, my .03 mm pencil, and a Micron pen. Now if I could just work up enough courage to work in it!

If you like the art, but don't have the paint or time to do one yourself, you can find a jpg of it here on Google Drive. Feel free to use it in your art. If you publish a piece made with this art, whether online or in print, please mention me, Shayna Butler, as a source. And don't be selling my file to anyone or I'll loose my mind!

Please follow me on Instagram @shaynabutler, and check out my YouTube channel for more videos.

Chunky Statement Necklace in Turquoise and Brass

My friend requested a necklace, and since she is making a vinyl quote for my wall I agreed. I'm not making a lot of jewelry right now just because of time limitations, but this worked out for both of us. I most of my materials from Hobby Lobby, and used some from my stash. If I were making this necklace to sell I would by supplies in bulk, but when I am making just one necklace it just makes sense to buy local products.

I layered three kinds of chain to make this look. If you are interested in seeing the video, check it out here.

Color Journal - Holbein Gouache Paints

I have been playing around in my color journal (an 8"x5" Ranger Dylusions Creative Journal )with my Holbein Acryla Gouache paints. I'm really enjoying just painting colors and not really trying to make anything of it right now. I think I will scan this in when I am done and then go back and add layers of characters or words. I'm just not sure right now. I'm just working on filling the page with color, really enjoying the process of painting and mark making.

I am also using some other products like Gelly Roll Moonlight 10 gel pens and oil pastels. I paint with brushes, my fingers, a palate knife, whatever suits my fancy at the moment.  

This next one may look familiar, it is a page I redid for my Forever mixed media video.

I invested a lot of extra income last year in my art supplies, I hope it pays off in a big way in 2016! I am enjoying my supplies and my creative time. What have you done for your creative life to start off your new year?

You Are So Loved - Fundraiser Piece

One of my Facebook friends was recently working on an adoption fundraiser and I was working on a way to help out. I had this canvas from a night of worship at church, when I was too chicken to do a large painting in front of everyone, so I decided to use it for this. I wanted a quote to reflect the love Jenifer felt for her little boy in China, as well as something we can all identify with. Something all her mom followers would want. Something that reflected the act of adoption and how it mirrors our adoption into the family of God. So this little quote came to my heart.

I did a fun abstract underpainting and did negative lettering with a white background for the final image. I liked the abstract so much I hated to cover it, but maybe one day I'll do another.

Maybe I need to invest in an easel. I do a lot of work on the floor or the table. When I had the background like I wanted it I picked a font on PicMonkey (CoffeeBreak) printed out my text, and projected it onto my canvas. I used a chalk marker to line the letters and used a mix of white acrylic paint and Pledge Floor Wax (formerly known as Future Floor Wax) in several layers to complete the image.

I'm really happy with the finished product. Here it is on the wall in my bedroom before it went out to its new owner. I love it so much I think I will make one for my dining room!!!

Forever - Mixed Media Art Piece and Video

I got some more of these wonderful Holbein Acryla Gouache paints for my early Christmas and have really enjoyed playing with them. I have used them on this piece, Forever, and plan on submitting it for a design team call today. Here are some of the other items I used for this piece. I used Distress Markers (Spun Sugar, Frayed Burlap, Black Soot, and Picked Raspberry), Silks, VersaFine Onyx stamp pad, Prima Press stamps and holder, matte medium, Strathmore watercolor paper 90 lb, a heat tool, a one inch punch by Martha Stewart, Gelly Roll pens, scissors, brushes, and a palate knife.

A few detail pictures for you. 

And here is the final piece with some of the supplies I used. You can check out the video here.

New Blog, New Art Space

Since this is the current state of my art building, and I am in no hurry to go out in the cold and set it up, I am creating mostly in my laundry room.  Most of my paints are in there right now anyway because I don't want to ruin them with the inconsistent temperatures in the building. This also works out well for me because I am still inside with the kiddos, and when they need me every five seconds I am easily found.

I repainted the walls white and covered our shoe organizers with white airy curtains, then added a shelf above my desk to hold my books and some project bins. Not perfect, but a nice little place to create that is very convenient. I have a really neat metal organizer with several drawers that my husband's grandmother Billie gave to me, and it is my favorite item in my room. It holds all of stamps, watercolors, pens and markers, inks, gouache, and Sculpey tools.

My shelf holds all my art journals and planners, and even a few reference books. I love seeing all my journals when I go in to create!

I have moved my craft paints to these organizers mounted on my walls. The ones I use most often are on a spice rack beside my desk. I also have some bins above my washer and dryer to cut down on clutter. I am very messy by nature, but require a clean space to create.

So this will be my new creative home for the time being, and this is my new blog home as well. If you want to check out my older mixed media/upcycle work, you can find it at ispywithmycraftyeyes.blogspot.com, and my jewelry work can be found at nativebloomstudios.blogspot.com. I'm trying to narrow my work down to mixed media and illustration, so I hope you enjoy what I have to offer you here. 

If you are interested in my videos, you can find them on my YouTube channel.