Randomly speaking

Making Pretty things....

I have been a creating maniac for the last several months...ok years! Right now, I'm in my zone...in my good place, that place that allows me to do what I love every day.  I look at all of my art supplies, I look at what my job entails, and I say "Self you are damn Lucky"

and on that note...OH my goodness, I am loving my renewed relationship with Primary Elements Artist Pigments by Luminarte. I have been using them everyday....Seriously...every day! The photos above are an art journal cover thatI created using Polymer Clay and Primary Elements. Don't you just love the intense vibrant colors. I used to be a very resistant to working with a lot of color...but these days...I am a whole new person when it comes to every shade of color known to man,I love it all! I have to thank Leslie Ohnstad for that...she is the queen of creating color and all things Luminarte. If it werent for her, I'd still be in my comfort zone. Below is a video I made of the Process creating the journal cover...enjoy.

Living La VIVA LOCA----An entire BIG rig full of VIVA COLOUR arrived!

We have been working towards this day for nearly 9 months, building up our mixed media business until bit by bit...My Co workers at SPLASH OF COLOR and I have been immersed in VIVA COLOUR and LUMINARTE, so much so that we live and breathe it. We have been pushing boundaries, stretching our creativity, creating a new company and showing how all of our products mesh together as one fabulous melting pot of pure awesomeness! Seeing this shipment arrive made me feel a huge sense of accomplishment for all of us!

This is a totally cool sight. Sotero unloading an entire tractor trailer....FULL of VIVA COLOUR.  That my friends is a lot of mixed media in the near future!

That is an insane amout of pallets lining the aisle...and that isnt even all of them.  The thought of all of that painty goodness makes me positively giddy...like a kid in a candy store for sure.

Now  for the crazt bit of trivia....it all had to be air freighted in from Germany, so the it  wouldnt freeze. Can you imagine that cargo hold....full of fabulous paints???? Now we have to get down and dirty ...and send it back out the door, so that all of my creative cohorts, and friends can make pretty things. On that note...I am going to go and make something pretty.

 

Mold Making....a cool way to use my stash!

Every once in a while you find something that sparks renewed passion for being creative. I have been making molds off and on since i was a little girl. Its something my mom loved and still loves to do...how ever, recently I found this fab product thats been around for a while but i had never used. Amazing Mold Putty...Suffice it to say, this stuff is awesome! I normally don't want to use my vintage treasure, this gives me a way to actually use my collection while saving the originals!

It is a 2 part process that requires little to no measuring...it is not an exact science, meaning you can eye ball the two Putty compounds that need to be mixed in order to activate.

Just "eye ball" your "balls"....giggle!

Mix well for about 20 seconds and embed your treasures you wish to mold.

After 25 Min remove object from new mold and use with Polymer Clay, resin, UTEE...and as an added bonus this product is also food safe! Hello candy molds!

Polymer Clay ready to be baked after being cast in my  newly made vintage watch mold and dusted with Primary Elements by Luminarte.

Heres the Video...Enjoy!

 

Lucky Beer in a Buddha Bottle=Happy Marah

I have to admit I do love a good beer...and thanks to our operations manager here at Splash of Color, I was introduced not only to a great tasting beer, but one with a really cool bottle. So me being me had to do something with that really cool bottle....after I enjoyed the beer of course!

After drinking my delicious beer...I very throughly washed the bottle.

I dried the bottle completely, then painted entire bottle with a coat of thick gesso...for this project I used Studio Gesso by Claudine Helmuth for Ranger. Let first coat dry and Apply second coat.

I let my gesso set for several hours. I find that paint dries to the touch pretty quickly much of the time, but it really needs to cure. I my world it means that I have several projects going on at the same time. After the Gesso has set, its time for the magic of INKA GOLD by VIVA COLOUR. I used a paint brush to apply the INKA. Since there is a lot of texture on this bottle, the paint brush allows me to get into the nooks and crannies with out filling the nooks with inka and loosing detail. I actually ended up putting two coats of Inka on my bottle.

How cool does he look? I should probably mention one more thing.  The normal manufacturers suggestion is to buff the inka after it dries to bring the INKA to a high shine, however i kind of liked the warmer look of a brushed metal looking gold.

and yes...I have several more Lucky Beer bottles waiting to be painted. I will show you how i plan to incorporate them into my decor at home.  

Check out Lucky Beer here or Follow them on Facebook Here

Heading to Scrapbook Island in San Jose

So excited to be heading up to Scrapbook Island in a few weeks. Laurie, the store owner really is like a sister from another mother. I can"t explain how much I adore her and her handsome hubby...aka the "Hot Mexican" It always feels like i am at my home away from home when i am with her.

I created two fresh...fun...get your hands all kinds of dirty classes for everyone there. This first class is an Vintage Beach inspired altered Bottle....so fun. We will be upcycling old bottles and creating some awesome new art.

Everyone will recieve a face for their bottle that i made using polymer clay...you will be painting , and using INKA GOLD on your faces to give them a personality all their own.

The second class we will be doing is a Mixed Media 101 Sampler

This class is truly a great way to dive right in to Mixed Media and play with Many Viva Colour products such as Ferro, Crackle paint, Inka Gold, glitter pens, Pearl Pens, Paper pens, and more....and of course loads of SILKS.

here's a close up of my new..."glitter in the cracks technique" sooo pretty in person! If you love gettting your fingers full of paint then join me for hours of painty goodness!

Until then....make something pretty!

Call  Scrapbook Island for more info

 

1375 Blossom Hill Rd
Ste 46
San Jose, CA 95118

(408) 978-8900

 

More Inka Gold love to share

I am pinching myself these days....It's amazing to me that my job is to play and push a products boundaries. I mean seriously, I am sitting here pinching myself! 

Today i made a quick video about tinting INKA GOLD by VIVA COLOUR using mica and pigment powders. Can I tell you the results of my testing various Mica powders...like Perfect Pearls by Ranger and Pearl EX by jaquard along with Primary ELEMENTS by LuminArte was nothing short of magic! Check out the video and see what I mean!

 

What to do if INKA Gold Dries out...and is no longer creamy.

I often recieve emails asking questions about INKA GOLD by Viva Colour. The most commonly asked question is....

What should I do if my INKA GOLD dries up and is no longer a nice creamy consistency. There are two answers I give out and one request....first lets talk about the two ways to recitfy or use dried INKA

1. INKA is waterbased and even though it is dried in the container, it can be hydrated with a paint brush and a bit of water. Think of it like cake water color....you need to wet cake water color before painting.

If Your INKA is starting to feel dry or is like the photo....so dry its cracked like the Sahara desert. There is still hope! 

Don't cry...your INKA can be saved!

Get a couple baby wipes of any kind. Every studio should have baby wipes handy...they seem to be used for so much more than keeping cute baby bottoms clean. Fold one or two into a size that will fit INSIDE the INKA GOLD jar

 Because this jar of INKA GOLD is happily used I will put two wipes in it.

Close Jar and set aside

for at least 24-48 hours and like magic your INKA GOLD wil be rehydrated and ready to be used either by your finger or paint brush again.

NOW FOR MY REQUEST

Dont throw your INKA away if its dried....it still has  life left in it as long as you rehydrate.

 

 

Inka Gold....need i say more

 

Have you had a chance to play with INKA GOLD yet?  If yes...well then you know this is one freaking awesome product...if no....Then run dont walk and get at least three colors so that you can feel the goodness. Inka feels like cool softened butter, and blends like frosting...less the calories!

There is something almost magical about Inka Gold by Viva Colour. I know how weird that sounds, but from the very first moment I put my fingers into a freshly opened jar, I was hooked. You will be hard pressed not to find it in   all of my up coming classes and in nearly every project i do. It is incredibly versitile....so much so that I going to make a series of videos professing my undying love...ok maybe not my undying love, but perhaps instead all kinds of ideas and ways for you to fall in love too. Here are the first couple to get you started in feeling the love!

 

A Class This Friday Nov 9 at Creative Imaginations

There are some spaces left on a first come first serve basis.....(aw heck I will make sure we all fit)

Express Yourself-Mixed Media Wall Art Class

 

Join Marah for a Mixed media class like no other…Create a piece of wall or Mantle art that expresses your thoughts. Choose a holiday word or a word that means something special to you.  Your word can be up to 5 letters you will receive additional letters to recreate this again at home. Each letter is 8”x8” so your finished piece will be a pretty good size masterpiece…and you will leave inspired to create many more wonderful pieces for your home or for gifts. If you love collage, Luminarte, Viva and inky fingers and all things that glitter…this is the class for you

 Please choose word before class!!!!

****photo shows holiday sample….store sample will be an every day word.

 3 hours

Location

17832 Gothard St

Huntington Beach CA 92648

November 9th 10am-1pm

Class fee  $30.00 (click here to pay)

 Students Supply List

Scissors

½” flat nylon paint brush

gesso

matte medium

large flat glue dots

liquid glue(zip dry , 3in one)

craft knife small cutting matt

A reminder to myself.

My art journal pages often reflect messages to myself. It seems I am often my own cheerleader, confidant(yes I talk to myself)  and motivator. Several pages in my art journal this week really reflect the fact that my week was crazy busy...a bit over whelming and at times I couldnt tell which way was forward.

Usually when my days, weeks, times are crazy my coping skill is art, or just making things. The more my hands are busy the more calmed and relaxed i feel. My art supplies are like drugs....i need a constant fix.