They are up, live, and now even have the pics of the final projects on them!

This is seriously a dream come true and I hope that some of you will log in for the live event, even for just a little bit!  I would love to know friendly faces are out in the audience!

The 2 day session streams live for free or you can individually purchase each class.  I am doing 4 projects all that are mixed media…

Here is the link to my first class and an image of what we will be making:

https://www.creativelive.com/courses/introduction-mixed-media-stephenie-hamen

You can find info on the other three classes there, plus I will continue to share info here!

Well spring has sprung and you can tell by the types of projects we have this week!

First up is a video I did for favecrafts, creating fun party poppers using toilet paper tubes and Hazel & Ruby DIY Decor Tape!

Next up is a tutorial from Margot Potter that helps you identify what you need to get started in metal stamping.

Next up, Cathie and Steve show us how to make Easter ready crackled eggs!

Mark Montano shares a DIY on how to create bright and festive Mexican tin folk art!

Margot then shares the cutest bunch of Peeps this side of the Mississippi, destined to add a touch of fun to your Easter table this year!

Cathy Attix of Trinkets in Bloom shares an adorable flowered Easter basket project with us!

And finally, I am sharing information about my upcoming class with CreativeLive in early April!

I hope you are feeling as ready for spring as we are here today and that we have your weekend crafty juices ready to rock!

I have been blessed to be able to not only be friends with the fabulous Ken Oliver, but I also have gotten to work with him and help him launch his new products.

This week we are partnering up with The Stencil Girl for a little blog hop action to help spread the love of Ken’s Color Burst products and The Stencil Girl stencils.

This is the project I put together… I hope you like it.

Oh, and  be sure to leave a comment – I have 6 prize packs of products to give away…  SIX!!!!!  I will pick the winners on Sunday, 3/29/15 at noon CST.

So this might seem like a lot steps, but really it is just adding different layers of color – the technique for mixing and applying is always the same.  The layers are the thing…

Here are the supplies you will need:

• Color burst:
  • Pthalo Green
  • Orange
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Violet
  • Ultramarine Blue
• Stencils
  • Circles Circles
  • Journal Texture Stencil #2
  • Doodle It Tornado Flowers Stencil
• White Gesso
• Clear Gesso
• F&W Liquid Acrylic Ink
• Mixing surface – I used foil sheets
• Popsicle sticks and foam brushes
• Artist Board
• Wine cork
• Paper towels
• Spray bottle
• Heat gun
• Stamps
• Ink

How to put it all together:

1.  Put white gesso onto your mixing surface, add in your first color burst color.  Mix until color is evenly distributed and the shade that you want.

2.  Using your first stencil, add your gesso to the canvas.  Pick it up and move it several times for added thickness and textures.  Don’t be afraid to experiment.

3.  Let this layer dry.

4.  This time mix your color into clear gesso.  This will give you a translucent result rather than an opaque result which is what you get from the white gesso.  You can even mix colors to create a custom shade!

5.  Let this layer dry as well.

6.  Do another color and layer…  I chose yellow.

7.  Dry.

8.  Mix a contracting color and then dab it on using a wine cork.  Simple, but it adds a different shape and texture to the piece.

9.  Dry.

10.  Add gesso straight to the board now.  Then sprinkle in a color and swirl it until you like it.

11.  Next reduce this with a paper towel and some water…  you will wipe part of it away, leaving it as more of a shadow than a bold statement…

12.  Dry.

13.  Using your ink and your stamps, add your sentiment.

14.  All that is left is to add some bright swirls using your liquid acrylic ink and you are all set and done!

Here are some final images…

Now, for more inspiration, be sure to visit our other blog hoppers:

Stencil Girl Talk

Kirsten Reed

and

Maria McGuire

I love getting to play and create for a living – it truly reminds me how blessed I am.

Getting to create this project made me even more happy because I got to create, not only with the fabulousness that Hazel & Ruby provides, but I got to use some fun products from UmWow too!

Here’s what you will need:

• Hazel & Ruby Pass the Tissue in Mod Gray/White Polka Dot
• UmWow From the Heart Flair
• UmWow Hexagon Background
• UmWow Chevron Arrow
• UmWow Border and Backer
• Decoupage
• Paint Brushes
• Adhesive
• Glitter
• Photo
• Scissors
• Acrylic Paint

How to put it together:

1.  Paint the base of the frame white so that when you add the tissue paper you get a good result.

2.  Paint the rest of the UmWow pieces and let them dry.

3.  Decoupage on a single sheet of the Hazel & Ruby tissue paper.  Let that dry completely.  Trim off any excess.

4.  Add glitter to arrow and let that dry.

5.  Begin layering pieces.

6.  Use pop dots on the photo to add extra dimension and depth.

7.  Finish adding additional pieces over the photo to complete the project!

Now you can display this lovely little piece anywhere in the house!

Hi all!

I just got an email from CreativeLive with a HUGE (UUUGGGEEEE) discount for all of you!  This deal is for my friends, family, and followers – my personal VIP’s!

By using my VIP code at checkout, you can save 50% on any classes that you purchase between now and July 9th!  This is a massive discount!

Here’s the code to use: VIPStHamen

CreativeLive has a massive library to choose from beyond just my classes – they have classes on how to Podcast, business strategies for creatives, photography, and so much more!

I hope you take advantage of this great offer before time runs out!

Sometimes it is fun to just create a quick card that it is easy to make, but also cute and seasonally appropriate!  This is one of those cards.

Having moved to Wisconsin from Illinois so many years ago, we have scattered friends and family between the two states, as well as far beyond.  I enjoy having a stash of cards that I can use to send out to say hello to them when I am homesick or just want to let them know that I am thinking about them.  This card is so summery and quick to make that I have several on-hand right now!

Here are the supplies you will need to get started:

• Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens – Spring Meadow
• Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens – Summer Holiday
• Nuvo Aqua Flow Pens – Autumn Woodland
• Nuvo Brush Script Pens – Bright Florals
• Nuvo Brush Script Pens – Pretty Pastels
• Nuvo Brush Script Pens – Essential Tones
• Nuvo Jewel Drops – Key Lime
• Tonic Tim Holtz Stamping Platform
• Tonic Hello Sweetie-Pie! Whimsical Frames Set
• Tonic Sending Big Hugs Whimsical Frames Set
• Tonic Circle Dies
• Tonic Tangerine Die Cut Machine
• Tonic Adhesive
• Tonic Floral Crafters Tool Set
• Black Stayz-On ink pad
• Ranger Heat Gun
• Plain white cardstock, kraft colored cardstock
• Washi Tape

Putting it all together!

1. Start by cutting your cardstock down to create a card that is 8.5 x 5.5, folding it in half and putting it to the side.
2. Next, put your stamps onto your stamp platform and use your aqua flow pens to begin adding color.  You will need to do this 2-3 times to create the watercolor look you are going for.

3.  Using washi tape to hold the die cut in place, begin cutting out your flowers.

4.  Next you are going to grab your brush script pens and begin adding the final details to the flowers.

5.  Using your floral crafters tools, add dimension to your finished flowers and set them to the side.

6.  Using your aqua flow pens, add some green to some white cardstock and then dry it completely.  Go in and then add some blue.

7.  Using a circle die, cut out some of the area that you painted that you like the best.  Tape it down if you want to make sure to get a specific portion.

8.  Grab the “hello” stamp and stays on ink.  Stamp the sentiment onto the circle.

9.  Using your adhesive, assemble your card.

10. Using your Nuvo drops, add a few drops for dimension and let them dry.

All that is left to do is to put it in an envelope and pop it into the mail!