Mixed Media Card @ MHKDesigns

{My DT work for MHKDesigns}

Hi friends! It's a beautiful Monday on my end and wishing you the same. Today is another showcase of my creation made as part of my design team wok for MHKDesigns and this time is my turn to inspire at MHKDesigns blog.

I did an easel card with some mixed media combination:

 To create this card, I used digital stamp sets from Get Well Flowers and Lovely Ladies:

Some close-up shots:

That's it for me today. Don't forget to play along in the upcoming June challenge.

Also be sure to check out the new digital stamp set release at MHKDesigns etsy shop.

Till the morning after. Enjoy your days with lots of love and happiness.

Hugs and smiles,

Never Hide Your Wings {Art Journal} @ STAMPlorations

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Happy Sunday friends! How is everyone doing? I have been a little bit busy the past weeks doing some commissioned art work so am not able to keep up with social media for a while although I try to in between when taking a short break. Other than that I have been doing a lot of sewing projects too. Once I started it is so hard to stop. My girls' room has new off white daylight and night curtain for a week now and they are thrill about it. The only thing left to do is give the walls a new color; probably cream or lighter brown, I shall see. I also had the urge to finish off sewing my middle girl's formal batik school uniform last week so she can wear it when school reopen on June 11. My four kiddos are now home enjoying second semester break. That's for two weeks and let me say I love it when the school is off allowing me moments to relax from driving the car. The car is so happy to rest too!

Last but not least, we are fasting this Ramadan which gives my soul and mind to stay calmer even more. 

Let me now take you to today: I bring you my Sunday Stencil feature for STAMPlorations. I created a decoupage mixed media art journal and the layers of green shades for the background is absolutely out of my comfort zone. Yes I love planting green plants in my garden and I love the greenery sights but using green background for my art work is my first time here. Even my eldest daughter finds me odd, lol. Maybe because she always sees my background is normally blues and browns.

For the first time, I used serviette napkin with roses painting in my art journal. Firstly I intuitively colored the pages with three shades of green watercolors {yellow green, fluorescent yellow green and dark green} and acrylic paints {permanent green}. On areas where I felt was somewhat darker, I toned down with white watercolor and the green turns lighter. I keep painting until I felt satisfied.

Next I applied modeling paste through Ethnic Organic One ARTplorations stencil on both pages to create patterns. For additional interest in creating jungle look according to my eldest daughter, I decided to use black watercolor and use my finger to dab the color through Plaid Maker ARTplorations stencil. I admit I had no idea what would come next when I colored the background green. It's all about intuitive {smile}.

One thing for sure though, the use of roses serviette napkin was planned for decoupage! I fussy cut the roses and leaves and placed them on the pages for composition at first before I stick it down with glue {a mixture of pva glue and water}. For areas that look somewhat blurry or blank to my eyes, I layered the adhered rose napkin with another ply of  rose napkin. At that point I would have just finished my art work but I didn't want it to look as cut and paste. So I lightly colored the edges of roses and leaves with yellow green watercolor so it absorb into the art work and leave wonder to a person who may figure out, "How did she do it?". Just the way I ask myself the same question when I look at someone's art. Smile. 

Lastly I stamped the sentiment from Trendy Butterflies 2 stamp set directly on the background. Unlike the butterflies, I stamped it on drawing paper, fussy cut, colored with watercolor pencils and glue down near the roses.

That's it for now. If you like the stamps and stencils I used, do visit STAMPlorations SHOP and get special prize simply by using my coupon code:

And you all have few days left to enter May Mixed Media challenge:

Until I see you again soon. Take care.

Hugs and smiles,

Children of the World {Art Journal} @ STAMPlorations

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Happy Sunday to all! Warm welcome to my new friend Jo...thank you for following my blog. Jo does gorgeous art journal that you must not miss to view. Check her awesome artsy here.

Today is the first Sunday in May and that means a new mixed media challenge begins at STAMPlorations. As always the theme is Anything Goes but no card creation. My teammates have created amazing projects to inspire you so please take a visit at the blog and theirs also.

I created a heartbreaking art journal this time:

A few close-up shots:

To create the background, I adhered pieces of paper scraps with pva glue so the paper is more thicker and sturdy. Then I swiped the surface with clear gesso and let dry. Next I used ARTplorations stencils to create patterns and texture with modeling paste. After that's done and dried, I started playing with watercolor paints and leave it to dry for final touches by adding an image, quotes, stamping and doodling with black gel pen.

The quote is actually a part from a popular and evergreen song lyric We Are The World. That and the image below from a newspaper trigger me to create a humanitarian artwork in my art journal. I scanned the image for my artwork to represent children of war. I had lump in my throat as I did this thinking how fortunate some children in comparison to the children of war. So sad, isn't it? 

In all honesty, I am tired of reading war news in newspapers as much as watching war news on television since schooling days let alone studying war eras in history until NOW! It never end, is it? This image of a crying Syrian child broke my heart as I read the news in the paper last Sunday. I don't know if this child is still breathing or otherwise. I don't know if this child is all alone without parents. I cannot imagine how scared this child was {and still is?}. But I know one thing that the conflicts will continue and the world be bombarded with endless war news. So devastating!
As former broadcast journalist, I am giving credit to the brave reporter and photographer who dare take the risk doing war news report from the war zone which isn't easy. Without their bravery and courage, we may not witness the happenings.
I have used a quote above by the late Michael Jackson who delivered his speech during his performance at Super Bowl 1993. 

I dripped black paint from the top as symbol of tears in darkness. To add sunshine in the war zone, I added yellow as a sign of hope, light and prayers that the war will end some day...one fine day! Hence the white paint butterflies fluttering to symbolize freedom.
May God bless the children of the war!

The colors used in my art journal was gathered from a lovely mood board at Mixed Media Warriors:

~~~ooOOoo~~~

That's it from me today. I hope my art journal inspires you to create something for STAMPlorations challenge. Don't forget to display this graphic in your blog post:

I look forward to see your entry/ies at Mr. Linky before May bids farewell.
Thank you for dropping by and I shall be back soon.

Spread peace!
Hugs and smiles,

Weddings @ Digistamps4Joy

{My DT work for DS4J}

Hello my friends! Wish you a happy Monday in lovely May. I am so happy to be here again with you my blogger friends. I wish to welcome Avril B and Jackie P Nealto my blog; thank you for joining along in the the followers group. All of you means very special to me.

Today I bring you a special post as part of my design team work for Digistamps4Joy.
 It's my turn as one of the design team to host a challenge this month. The challenge is as always Anything Goes but we have a twist and I decided on Weddings. I was married on this day 18 years ago so that's the reason I chose Weddings theme to challenge you.
Take a look at my teammates' wedding creations at DS4J blog for ideas and inspirations.

I have created a set of Artist Trading Cards with three beautiful ladies on a wedding day: 

 The digital stamp ladies are drawn by Tanya named Strong Lady 10, Strong Lady 5 and Strong Lady 4 and they are available at DS4J shop.

I printed the images on 130g acid free drawing paper and fussy cut as neat as I can with very sharp scissor. Then I glued down on the dried background before I started coloring with Faber Castell watercolor pencils.

One last look of my ATCs that will reach the recipients soon.

I'm playing along in these challenges:

1. Crafting From The Heart : Anything Goes

2. Di's Digi Designs : Use Something Digital

3. Crafty Friends : Ch#56 Anything Goes

That's it for me today. I look forward to see your Weddings creations at DS4J Inlinkz linkup by May 31, 2017. Happy designing!

Hugs and smiles,

Blossoming {Tags} @ MHKDesigns

{My DT work for MHKDesigns}

Happy May and wish you great happiness and good health throughout the entire month. I hope you enjoy your time reading my blog this moment and this is about my creation for MHKDesigns May Challenge.

That is right. If you love digi stamps and paper craft, this blog challenge is just for you. 

I made two tags using Blossoming digi stamp set.

 And here are some close-up pictures:

Here is this month's inspiration if you don't use MHKDesigns image in your entry:

I'm entering my tags in these challenges:

1. International Art & Soul : Ch#7 Vintage

2. Always Fun : Ch#4 Flowers

3. Make My Monday : Ch#45 May Flowers

4. 613 Avenue : Spring Has Sprung

5. Love to Create : Ch#8 Always Creative/Mixed Media Goes

Until I see you again real soon.

Thank you for dropping by and have a nice day.

Hugs and smiles,