Steps: Make sure to wash your plates first, to make sure there is no residue. I find it's easier to cut up my stencils (GASP!) to make it easier to lay the motifs on the plates. (Note that the 4 x 4" stencils from Stencil Club are perfect - no cutting needed! The orange/yellow middle swirl flower was designed by Maria McGuire for March 2017. All of the other elements are from my designs for November 2016. (If you don't know about Stencil Girl's Stencil Club - check it out here.))
I sketched in the motifs (plus some doodles), using regular Sharpie markers. (The recommendation you'll find on the internet is to use oil paint markers. But I used regular Sharpies and the result was good. It was good to have both the fine and extra fine tips depending on the size of the opening of the stencil.)
Once I had all the designs drawn in, I baked them in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. (you can find varying instructions on Pinterest. Some say 150 degrees, others 450. I went in the middle, which turned out to be fine.) I've washed these with soap and water and a scrubby sponge - and they're holding up just fine. (I haven't put them in the dishwasher.)
Quick and easy, one-of-a-kind gifts for summer entertaining!
Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.
I've been participating in the #100daychallenge on Instagram. My theme this year is #100daysofresistanceart. I'm challenging myself to not only do a piece of art a day around this theme, but to incorporate creative lettering. This is something I don't feel confident about. But with each effort, I gain a little more confidence.
Here are five more reasons to participate in online challenges (or any kind of challenges).
1. If you never try something new, you'll never know what you're capable of. It's super comfortable to keep doing something I already feel I've mastered and am good at. But if I don´t challenge myself and try new things, I'll never know my potential. My advice: choose one thing you´d like to try but are afraid to do wrong, and go for it! 2. Challenges help us grow.
I know that in my life, challenging situations -- even very unpleasant ones -- have helped me grow personally as well as professionally. Have you experienced this? Sometimes we have to experience failure, pain, and even near-destruction to grow and realize our true potential. My advice: Do something you didn't know you were capable of, and observe whether you become more confident, knowledgeable and skilled. You'll never grow by just thinking about trying something new. 3. Challenge breeds creative thinking. When I challenge myself to do something new and scary, it prompts realizations, new ideas, and new inspiration in ways I never even imagined. My advice: do something you feel you don't have the skills for and just see where it takes you, and how you find solutions you didn't even know were up your sleeve. 4. Challenges make you more aware and in the moment. When I keep doing things that are in my comfort zone, I get mentally lazy and tired. When I challenge myself, I am much more focused and engaged. My advice: Do something out of your comfort zone and be aware of everything about it -- even how it makes you scared or tense or insecure. And then watch how those feelings change as you make progress. 5. Challenging yourself will help you outside of your artwork, when life throws you curve balls. One of the reasons to practice difficult poses in yoga is to watch how your mind reacts to the challenge. We practice maintaining an even breath and holding our calm and peace, even when we are wobbling or throbbing. The idea is to take that practice off the mat and into the world. If you challenge yourself in your art by learning a new technique, and practice being kind to yourself as you practice, you will see the value in every experience whether it is good or bad. As a result, you will be that much more calm and resourceful when faced with challenging and unexpected events outside your studio. My advice: do something new and scary, and know that every time you persevere, you are taking an important step to realize the possibilities that life has in store for you.
Why did I choose the theme of Resistance Art? Because I have decided to be involved, on a daily basis, in what is going on in our country. We recently celebrated the holidays of Passover and Easter - both of which involve themes of rebirth and renewal. In addition, in the Passover seder, we recite the reminder: Never turn your back on a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt. It is an imperative to be an up stander - not a bystander - to injustice whenever you see it. ONWARD!
AND - THE WINNER OF LAST TUESDAY'S BLOG HOP IS:
Jill commented on all three blogs, and I pulled this comment out of the hat! Jill - please email me your snail mail address - jessicasporndesigns at gmail dot com. Thanks all!
Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.
If you are entering a GIVEAWAY, please add your email address in the event I need to contact you.
To avoid SPAM, please write it like this: jessicasporndesigns (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi all! I'm so excited because today, I'm hopping along with members of the my Creative Team. We've used Deco Art Media products to make fabulous creations around the theme of SPRING. I hope you've been enjoying the Creative Team posts - I know I have! Here's a chance to see the highlight of these amazing artists all at once, because today I'm hopping along with:
Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.
If you are entering a GIVEAWAY, please add your email address in the event I need to contact you.
To avoid SPAM, please write it like this: jessicasporndesigns (at) gmail (dot) com
No one really enjoys doing things they're not good at. I've never liked the expression "Practice Makes Perfect." Because perfection is an illusion. Practice itself IS perfect. Here are two images that sum it up perfectly:
One of the things I've been challenging myself to do is to paint loose watercolors. It goes against all of my instincts for control and predictability.
But here's why it's important to keep practicing and to share my progress -- even if I'm not where I want to be with this technique.
1. If you never try something new, you'll never know what you're capable of. It's super comfortable to keep doing something I already feel I've mastered and am good at. But if I don´t challenge myself and try new things, I'll never know my potential. My advice: choose one thing you´d like to try but are afraid to do wrong, and go for it! 2. Challenges help us grow.
I know that in my life, challenging situations -- even very unpleasant ones -- have helped me grow personally as well as professionally. Have you experienced this? Sometimes we have to experience failure, pain, and even near-destruction to grow and realize our true potential. My advice: Do something you didn't know you were capable of, and observe whether you become more confident, knowledgeable and skilled. You'll never grow by just thinking about trying something new. 3. Challenge breeds creative thinking. When I challenge myself to do something new and scary, it prompts realizations, new ideas, and new inspiration in ways I never even imagined. My advice: do something you feel you don't have the skills for and just see where it takes you, and how you find solutions you didn't even know were up your sleeve. 4. Challenges make you more aware and in the moment. When I keep doing things that are in my comfort zone, I get mentally lazy and tired. When I challenge myself, I am much more focused and engaged. My advice: Do something out of your comfort zone and be aware of everything about it -- even how it makes you scared or tense or insecure. And then watch how those feelings change as you make progress. 5. Challenging yourself will help you outside of your artwork, when life throws you curve balls. One of the reasons to practice difficult poses in yoga is to watch how our minds react to the challenge. We practice maintaining an even breath and holding our calm and peace, even when we are wobbling or throbbing. The idea is to take that practice off the mat and into the world. If you challenge yourself in your art by learning a new technique, and practice being kind to yourself as you practice, you will see the value in every experience whether it is good or bad. As a result, you will be that much more calm and resourceful when faced with challenging and unexpected events outside your studio. My advice: do something new and scary, and know that every time you persevere, you are taking an important step to realize the possibilities that life has in store for you. Here's where I am with my watercolor flowers. I'm making progress!
What have you been afraid to try? Share in the comments below, and let's all pledge together to support each other and try something new.
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In general, I keep politics off my blog. But it would be odd to have this post, which I wrote a month ago, go out without acknowledging the presidential election in the USA. Without getting into it too much, I offer these two graphics, which you are free to download for your personal use.
Imagine if each of us donated $10 to similar organizations in their honor. I figure I can allocate $50 a month to protect the rights I hold dear.
If you decide to do the same, you can have your thank you cards sent to: Donald Trump, The Trump Organization 725 5th Avenue New York, NY 10022, email: info@donaldjtrump.com; and Mike Pence: 200 W. Washington St., Rm. 206, Indianapolis, IN 46204, email: info@mikepence.com
ONWARD!
And the winner of the Archetype Book is...
Congratulations Angelina. Check your inbox for my email!
Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.
If you are entering a GIVEAWAY, please add your email address in the event I need to contact you.
To avoid SPAM, please write it like this: jessicasporndesigns (at) gmail (dot) com
