Trena's Creative Space

I Don't Have A Style. I Want Every Project to be a Surprise!

Hello Beautiful!

I Don't Have A Style. I Want Every Project to be a Surprise! I heard that quote from Bill Bensley. I immediately became a fan of Bill.  I looked him up, saw his work, and heard him talk about his process. He captured something I've been struggling with - finding my style.

I am inspired by so many different things I see/experiences I have. Why do I have to pick one way to do my art? I have come to the realization that I don't have a singular style AND I don't have to have one.  I heard Marie Forleo talking about how it's ok to have more than "one thing." She was talking to me, I know it. I have more than one favorite of everything!  I have many goals and many interests in life. I don't want to be labeled by any one identity that I have - I have many identities and I embrace them all!   I clearly understand that in order to achieve a goal, I do need to focus and work diligently towards it. I have lead several successful projects as a Project Manager. :) I am finding joy in coloring, drawing, painting, stamping, creating, sharing, being in a variety of art communities. How many Facebook Groups can one person join?! 

So where I am going with this?

(1) Just wanted to say that out load and share in case you may be going through some similar thoughts. I encourage you to check out Bill and Marie.

(2) I'm sharing the next direction I am talking my art - surface and pattern design! For almost a year, I've been taking classes, engaged in communities and peer groups, and getting some coaching from successful designers.  So, in addition to posts with stamping, coloring and painting, I'll be sharing my patterns.  Cocktails anyone?

This pattern started out with watercolor. I took a class in SkillShare [when you use that link, you get a free trial] with Ohn Mar Win.  That lovely handmade palette is from Lilian May Studio.

I imported the images into Procreate on my iPad and created a repeating pattern. I learned how to do that in another SkillShare class, that one with Cat Coq.  Yes, I am a SkillShare fan, maybe even a groupie. :) I am a Lifelong Learner! I know I still have a lot to learn and I am enjoying the whole process.

 Shout Out: to all the generous people who share their art methods and encourage others

#trenabrannonart #patterndesign #watercolor #skillshare

Take Care and Stay Positive!

Three Kings

Sharing a design I did over at my Stampin' Headquarters. Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made it - including the full supplies list.

  

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

A Flower of Faith in the Forest

 

I've been having a wonderful time creating with stencils.  They are perfect for designing cool backgrounds.  For this design, I started with the background.   I sprayed greens and blues onto the cardstock, then laid a clean piece of cardstock over the color , pressed it down and pulled away to have 2 lovely colored pieces of cardstock.  After it dried, I laid the stencil down and spray water over it. I let the water sit on it for about a minute, then dabbed with a paper towel roll.  To see  more information of this technique, visit Dyan Reaveley's blog and her videos.

Next,  I stamped the large poppy onto the background and colored with silky acrylic paint (2 coats).  I colored the center with a black Spectrum Noir marker.  After it dried, I stamped the poppy over the paint with LUXE ink - a lovely rich ink pad created for mixed media.

After it dried, I re-colored the center and added a little bling with china black Twinkling H20. 

I added touches of highlights with a gold metallic Sharpie. To help brighten the center, I added just a little broken china Distress Ink around the edges.

 This card is special for a special woman that my husband and I know. 

 Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Happy Easter!!

Sharing some darling little girls ready for Easter Sunday.

Jesus is the reason for the season. Images by Mo Manning.  Colored with Copics Markers.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

Trena

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, !Feliz Navidad!, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays!!!  Jesus is the reason for the season for my family. We are celebrating His birth and celebrating the opportunity to get together and enjoy one and another.

Thank you for visiting my blog throughout the year!! I hope you have been inspired!!

Stamp by Paper Inspirations.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena    

Michael Strong Scavenger Blog Hop

We are tag hopping today!!  We are also having a scavenger hunt!! Here's how it works: visit each blog and look for a letter. When you have all letters,  make a sentiment out of them and send your answer to Hetty privately at: [email protected].  She will pick a winner  on Wednesday the 7th of December.  The prize is Michael Strong stamps!

If you get lost along the way, go to Hetty's Blog to see the complete list.

Here at my blog, you will pick up the letter "P"

 Visit Jennifer's blog post next to get continue on the hop and get your next letter!

1. Inked up mini tree image with watermark ink pad and stamped onto white glossy card stock. 
   Repeated five  times.  Sprinkled embossing power and heat set.
2. Mask a moon with a circle. Used torn paper to mask hills for snow.  I used B23 to air-brush the snow, and B24 to air-brush the sky.
3. Used die cuts to cut out trees
4. Used craft knife to cut small slits in the snow hills.
5. Adhered trees.
6. Used glitter pen to add snow.
7. Used stamp positioner to line up sentiment image and stamp.
8. Tied ribbons.

Stamps : Michael Strong, Stampin' Up!
Inks: VersaMark watermark ink pad, VersaFine onyx black ink pad, Copic Markers B23, B24
Paper:  Zig-Zag Triple Tags, Stampin' Up! glossy
Accessories:  crystal white embossing powder,  heat tool, Stampin' Up!  ribbon, Copic air-brush system, Stampin' Up! 1"circle punch, Eclipse tape, Stamp-a-ma-jig,  Michael Strong die cut, Sakura glitter pen, craft knife and mat

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 In the USA, we are celebrating a time of 'Thanks.'  A time of more giving, more kindness, more joy, enjoying overeating, oversocializing, overwatching football, and just enjoying each  other!

God Bless you and your families!! 

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Sincerely,

Trena

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays!!!  Jesus is the season for me and my family. We are celebrating His birth and celebrating the opportunity to get together and enjoy one and another.

Thank you for visiting my blog throughout the year!! I hope you have been inspired!!

Stamp by Paper Inspirations.

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena     

Inconceivable Seasons

Inconceivable Seasons by Theresa Dear is an absolutely wonderful book!  It is a book of hope, inspiration, and overcoming challenges.  I highly recommend i!!  I participated in a book discussion last night lead by the author, Rev. Dear. It was outstanding!!  We presented her with This thank you card.  All the participants signed it.  What a lovely evening!! 

The flower on the cover of the book is a crocus. It is not only lovely, it is resilient.  Rev. Dear talks about it in the book.

1. Cut card stock to match book cover layout
2. Stamp the flower images with gold ink. Add leaves with VersaMark marker.
3. Sprinkle gold embossing power and heat set. 
4. Ink up 'thank you' image with VersaMark, then magenta and stamp onto light green card stock.
5. Sprinkle clear embossing power and heat set.
6. Add color to flowers with markers by coloring in a small area and spreading color with water brush.
7. Adhere the layers
   

Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Paper: Stampin' Up! gable green, always artichoke, Club Scrap, Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb hot press, Papertrey Ink
Inks:  Memento lilac posies ink pad, Encore Ultimate Metallic gold ink pad, VersaMark watermark ink pad
Accessories: VersaMark watermark marker, Stampin' Up! clear & gold detail emboss powder, heat tool, Tombow markers 027, 725, waterbrush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena