Download instantly!

Hello gorgeous,

I hope you're having an amazing, creative day!

I revamped my giveaway these last few days, yaaay.

Download instantly when you sign up for me newsletter.  It is a 37-page manual on getting started with art journaling. Some of you are seasoned artists, but if you're just starting out, art journaling is a great way to get your feet wet. It's like a journal where you record your life, but with added art. You can still write in it of course. I like to write what is going on and then I cover it with art (sometimes.)

The 37 pages also include the Stargirl mixed media tutorial I offered before, so it's not lost. There is just SO MUCH MORE, and lots of pictures. My aim is to inspire...

...because life happens NOW!

You can download your FREE copy by signing up on this link HERE.
You can also sign up in the side bar at the top. 

Until next time, keep making art.
xo
Maria

Visionary art journaling, win a free spot to my e-course!

Hello gorgeous ones,

Are you ready for something visionary?

I have been super busy lately.  Not only did I finish my fiction writer's e-course but I will soon be done with an art journaling e-course based on the six senses.  It is really cool, and I can't wait to share it with you!

We are going to get deep into the six senses (yes, six) and create art with our inner experiences.  I'm doing short meditations to get us in a receptive mode, and then we are going to create six journal spreads.  This course will run six weeks with one meditation and one art tutorial a week.  The price will be $75.  Early bird pricing is $60. The purchase link: CLICK HERE.

SUPPLY LIST: CLICK HERE

Enter the drawing to gain a free spot!  If you are already signed up for my newsletter, just leave a comment in the comments area below, and you will have a chance to win. :)

I'm sooo excited!  This is going to be a great e-course.  No experience necessary; come one, come all. 

You can sign up for my newsletter in the side bar, or HERE.

xo, Maria

Manila folder journal tutorial and giveaway!

Hello lovelies,

I have been on a tear making art journals lately.  Funny how things go in waves isn't it?  Anyway, I made a manila folder journal this weekend and I'm raffling it off to one lucky winner.  I had so much fun!  The pictures are not the greatest, but I had only artificial light when I took them.  I wanted to show the step by step process.

Speaking of cameras, I was talking to a geeky friend the other day about buying a new camera and what kind I should buy to get better a resolution for my online prints.  I don't like it when only small prints are available.  Anyhoo, he gave me the low-down and I realized it would cost me about $200 to get a decent enough camera to capture my art work.

Then I went to lunch yesterday with a dear friend and she handed me a bag with a black pouch inside.  What is this? I asked.  She said, open it, which I did.  Inside was a Nikon camera!!!  It will fit the ticket perfectly.  She was gifting it to me since she just got a new camera herself.  I had no mentioned that I was looking for a new camera.  Talk about manifesting.  I have been working on the law of attraction a lot lately. 

Now for the tutorial...

 

I started with a used manila folder and blacked out the text on the tab.  I used a liberal amount of Mod-Podge to glue the folder together, being careful that the edges stuck well.  I still ended up with some air bubbles once it dried.  Grrr.  

 

I used a strip of washi tape over the uneven edges and glued down some white cardboard to reinforce the tab.  I made sure to lay down a strip of glue to hold down the washi tape forever, lol.

 

I used a bone folder to really press down the fold hard once the Mod-Podge had dried.  This was before the washi tape obviously...

 

I cut the white cardboard to the shape of the tab and now had a very sturdy tab.

 

I now laid the folder flat on my table and spread out a layer of paint...

 

I spread some paint on the back of the folder.  I like the shabby uneven look.

 

I used several layers of paint, mostly spread with an old gift card.  Both sides are similar, just a slight difference in the colors.

 

I painted the tab purple and wrote the words "Good Dreams" on it.  I stamped the front cover with the word Imagine, and there is plenty of space for embellishment.  The back cover has only paint on it, so you can fix it up the way you like it.

 

 

I cut out some paper stars to cover the air bubbles (grrr...) on the inside cover and stamped some inspirational words.

 

I used card stock paper for the signature.  There are 24 empty pages to embellish when all is said and done. They are a bit narrow, but that's the shape of the folder. Card stock is not as durable as watercolor paper, but you can certainly use wet medium and paints on it.

 

I tried to get a picture of the various paper colors, but it is not so good.  There are two sheets of green, two yellow, and two manila colored.  I thought it was fun to add varied colors.

 

The inside front cover adjoins a green paper...

 

And another close up of the back inside cover.  The picture is pinkish, and I blame my camera for that (my old camera..lol.)

So, enter to win!  By entering you agree to receive my newsletter, which is filled with great stuff. :)  If you don't want to enter the raffle, you can subscribe in the window at the top right hand column. Good luck!

THE RAFFLE HAS ENDED, AND THE LUCKY WINNER IS SUSAN PETERSON.

Giveaway time! :)

I have been planning to arrange a giveaway on the blog for a while, and I came up with the idea of making you a beautiful handmade art journal with all the backgrounds all ready for you to embellish.  I actually got really excited about it, and spent hours making one, forgetting time, and forgetting to eat lunch. Maybe I should make more of these?  (Less calorie intake.)  I used Strathmore Bristol watercolor paper, really heavy duty.  After making the backgrounds, I folded and sewed them together with embroidery thread.  The journal measures 7x11" - that's what you get when folding a 11x14" sheet of paper.  There are 16 pages, 18 if you count the inside covers.  You can of course embellish the outside covers too.  Yay!  It's a $30.00 value.  Here are a couple of pictures.

When you enter, please respond to this question in the Rafflecopter window:  What is your favorite kind of art to make? By entering you agree to receive my artsy newsletter.  Good luck!!  :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog hop, enter to win a Kindle Fire and Amazon gift certificates!

My book, TRIALS OF HALLION, is part of an exciting blog hop and giveaway May 19-21.  If you're interested, you can enter on my writer's blog: http://mariagreene.me