My Daughter's Wish

embark on embossing...

I think I have fallen in love with heat embossing again, I recently finished a  mini album about me and my 29 years. This 4 x 4 maya road album is about my name... legally Ruth Rebecca (Garza, maiden name) Harper, and how I go by Ruth legally, but I am known as Rebecca or even Beckie.  This album was very fun and creating the cover gave me more inspiration to heat emboss on acrylic paint.

Rebecca's MDW Challenge/Contest

Heat emboss on chipboard covered with acrylic paint and add a commnet/link to your creation by Friday, May 16th and the MDW team will pick a winner.

Here is what I did...

Adhere chipboard to desired cover and paint over completly with arcylic paint.  For this demostration I used a white background with clear thick embossing powder.

Supplies used: Basic Grey Chipboard Alphas, Fancy Pants Chipboard Flourishes, acrylic paint with a gel medium mixed in.

After the second layer of paint, I use a light layer of the same paint on top so that the embossing powder would stick.

Watch out for small spaces between the letters and/or chipboard decorations, the powder seems to get stuck in those places.

Time to heat things up... if you have a large area, I suggest to seperate the heating process into smaller sections. 

Here is the fron and back cover for the mini album that is still in the process of being finished for Mother's Day.I had so much fun I decided to make the front and back cover using this chipboard covered with acrylic and thick embossing powder technique.

Here is a close up picture of the front cover.

Try this MDW Challenge and post a comment/link by Friday, May 16th  for your chance to win this....I had one kit left of my reusable box mini album and would love to share this with you.

If you don't get a chance to embark on embossing this week, check out the awsome classes on Saturday, May 17th.  Laura has a great class on gettting that graduation mini album ready to gift or check out Lisa's paper mache dress form class that is sure to enhance your creative skills.

share your life all day, everyday....

R.Harper

challenges and contests

Watch out for new and excited challenges and contests from the MDW Design Team.  Casey, Daniela, Laura, Lisa, Lydia, Nanci and Rebecca will be posting every week to challenge YOU in an artistic way.  Join them by leaving a link/comment to your blog for everyone to see.

Check back tomorrow, May 11th for the exciting adventure.

Make sure to stop by the MDW class schedule to sign-up for classes.

Whew

What a day!  As of 7pm today we are sold out of all classes.  However I am going to see if we can add a few more seats, I have to talk to TIm and he is on his Alaska Floating classroom adventure.

Stayed Tuned we will update via email Monday night.

Also everyone who registered via Paypal you should get an email confirmation by Monday please contact the store if you have not heard from us!

thanks everyone!!!!!

Tim Holtz Sign ups are coming!

Sign ups will begin Friday!  You may call the store or better yet sign up online.  A paypal store will be visible Thursday at Midnight! 

Here are the class descriptions if you have any questions or need help picking please call the store and we can help find the right class for you.  Do not miss this opportunity to create something unique and beautiful.  Intimidation does not apply! 

Ladies who have had to pleasure of taking a Tim class before comment on this post!  Encourage your fellow artists to join in!  We will draw for winner of a signed Tim Holtz Canvas bag and a set of his ATC stamps!  You have until June 7th.

Workshops with Tim Holtz 2008
*price of workshop includes all supplies

“ASSEMBLAGE OF FLIGHT” – (3 hours $65) Friday 1:00pm to 4pm
Explore the world of whimsical winged people in this one of a kind workshop.  Discover great ways to use the new digital distressables in creating wearable dimensional collage pieces. Learn Distress Ink techniques, aged edging, composition and more.  Layers of ephemera, words, and charms are assembled in these unique art pieces.  Your creative bliss awaits you to take flight…

“NOSTALGIC MEMOIRS” – (3 ½ hours $75) Friday 5:30 – 9pm
Create a hand-made journal to treasure your nostalgic memoirs, photos, and secret thoughts. You will discover the art of book binding with a simple stitch that will have you on your way to mastering this craft.  We will explore waxing collage on canvas for the covers, distressing with inks, and unique hardware assemblage.  This technique can be used to create various sized books from just about anything once you learn the tricks of the trade…

“WORDS AND WINDOWS” – (3 hours $65) Saturday 9am to noon
Layer your thoughts, words, and images behind translucent layers in this one of a kind mini book.  Discover the many uses for fragments and transparencies to create a journal filled with your most treasured memoirs.  Learn distressing with paints, painting with alcohol inks, and layered collage as you embark on assembling and embellishing this dimensional see through book. Explore the possibilities and take a peek into the words and windows of your world…

“INDUSTRIAL GRUNGE” – (3 hours $65) Saturday 1:30pm-4:30pm
Simply put, industrial means relating to or resulting from development.  In this workshop you’ll develop your own mechanical and technical inspired art pieces using very common yet clever supplies.  Learn uses for Metallic Paint Dabbers, Distress Inks, wire, eyelets, and other metal elements.  You will create several industrialized assemblage pieces to wear as jewelry or use on your projects.  You’ve just entered the grunge district…

 

“ELEMENTS OF THE CREATIVE MIND” – (4 hours $95)  Saturday 6pm to 10pm
Capture your thoughts and artistic visions in this dimensional mixed media illuminated shadow box.  Explore the techniques and possibilities of working with colorful pearlescent acrylics, and stamped images.  Discover innovative uses for found objects, vintage ephemera, and various hardware in this illuminated encased work of art showcasing your artistic expressions.  Unleash your inner voice and unlock the secrets to the elements of your creative mind…

Summer Camp Details!

Here are all the details for summer camp, we will be posting project previews mid June.

Call the store to register 925 952 4437

Wet and Wild
Watercolor
Ages: 8-12
Dates: July 7-11
Time: 9:30 am- 2:30 pm
Price: $249

Get wayward with this art camp where you will explore the wild and wonderful world
of watercolor. In addition to some key drawing, design
and painting skills, you will learn the elements of design, line, shape, value, color, size, pattern and movement. At the end of the week you will
have made an 8" x 8" hand- bound photo album, containing 10 beautiful pages painted by you and ready for all your summer photos. Class format opens with a brief lecture, followed by some exercises, an assignment, a lunch break and then studio time to work on your project. Come join us and create with wild abandon!

Doodles, Dots
and Design
Dates: July 14-18
Ages: 8-12
Time: 9:30 am- 2:30 pm
Price: $249

Design on your mind? Direct your attention to this delightful week of drawing as we learn the Principles of Design—harmony, contrast, rhythm, repetition, gradation, balance and dominance. Don't you dare think we'd forget the elements of design, either! Materials and media you'll be experimenting with include print making, collage, painting and drawing. The format for each class will be to open with lecture, then exercises, an assignment, a lunch break and finally studio time to work on the 6" x 12" album that you'll be bringing home at the end of the week. We know you'll be delirious with design!

ARTrageous
Art & Acrylics
Dates: August 4-8
Ages: 8-12
Time: 9:30 am- 2:30 pm
Price: $249
Activate your mind with this action-packed week as we learn about the style and technique of the masters of art. We'll teach you how to acclimate to acrylic paint and focus on a new artist each day. Allow your mind to travel back in art history and learn to paint like Matisse, Cezanne or Van Gogh! Each class will start with a lecture, then we'll move into some exercises and give you an assignment and a lunch break. You'll then have studio time to work on your 6" x 6" canvas accordion-style album. By week's end, you will have a unique memory album full of your own art and photos.

All sessions are for ages 8+Unless approved by teacher. Cost of attendance is $249.00 per person. Price includes all projects, materials, instruction & snacks. Campers and parents receive a 10% discount on all purchases during camp session. Campers please bring: Class tool kit including adhesive (both wet and dry), scissors, pen and pencil, and a smile! Further details about what to bring will be discussed in class. A $100.00 non-refundable per student deposit is required upon registration. Final balance is due 7 days prior to camp session.

hey what's happening here?

Our blog is getting a makeover, me next please...just kidding.   We are cleaning things up to make all the info right at your finger tips!  Plus our Fab design team will be starting challenges and posting weekly inspirations, class up dates etc... so stay tuned!

From the desk of PurpleGirl...

Me oh my we had such a good time this weekend thanks to all the girlies!!!!

I wanted to drop a quick email letting you all now PRIMA is in the House yep crazy flowers, paper stamps oh my! Come get them quick they are going to FLY out the door.

Thursday night is a super great class with Daniela the little tin is cute but the accordian album INSIDE will KNOCK your socks off!!!

Plus this Saturday Class is a Gorgeous purse album by Lydia,  it focused on the poise and grace of Audrey Hepburn, with plenty of space for your  own photos.

Hugs to all,

Sheri Ashton
aka PurpleGirl
My Daughter's Wish

Ann Alley is our winner

this girl is lucky!!!!

Full Sheets Hand Made!

Full Sheets Hand Made!
Originally uploaded by MDWPurpleGirl

one pic of the handmade paper we are all drooling over it!

New Handmade paper in the store

Handmade paper
Originally uploaded by MDWPurpleGirl

Gorgeous!!!!! Super well priced too, .99 to 1.99!