Brenda Pinnick -news, ideas, events and more...

Scoreboards picture frame

Hi all, I hope you're finding time to enjoy the holiday season and to do a little crafting or art making.

Below are a couple of last minute projects you can make up quickly and easily.

The first one is using Sizzix scoreboard die- picture frame- from Eileen Hull. You'll want to be sure to visit her blog and the other bloggers who are featuring this same die on Eileen's blog hop, all listed on her site.

One of the challenges I always face when starting a new project is clearing off my work table first. I'm really bad about letting it get knee deep with supplies, tools, glues, glitter, etc. - maybe it's because I usually have about a million projects all going on at once! Anyway, I decided it would be a fun and interesting challenge to use only what was already out and on my table! Here is what I ended up with...

 I started with the picture frame die and added one of my papers from my Sucerie collection. Next, I added beads and some ribbon to create texture, shine and dimension. I'm happy with the way this turned out and quite honestly, I never would have done this without the challenge of using only supplies which were already on my work table. The image is softly out of focus which I think is a nice look paired with this decorated frame.Tip; I'm a huge fan of Grafix products. Here I've sandwiched the image in between two pieces of Grafix craft film to create a protective cover. 

Another last minute holiday project made with my Sizzix dies;

 I just love glitz and glamour for the holidays and finding a fast, fun and inexpensive way to add more to my holiday decorating makes me feel almost smug – like I've found a secret! Well, I'm sharing it with you here today. When I say, "fast, easy, fun"...I mean it! 

Let's start with the dies -beautiful shaped dies are a must have for your crafting studio. They offer opportunities way beyond mini-books . I love this classic cartouche shape, the "Frame, ornate" die, paired with the "Frame Back, ornate" die, both from my collection of dies available from the Sizzix.com shopping site or from fine retailers. This is one of those dies you could find a million (or at least thousands!) of uses for, it's so  functional. 

I used these two dies ,http://www.sizzix.com/product/1981 , http://www.sizzix.com/product/1985 from my collection and paired them with some fabulous metallic card stock and sticky backed prismatic foils from the Grafix company - http://www.grafixarts.com/index.htm . I'm a huge fan of their products and they sent me some to experiment with. 

It's so very easy to make these "ornaments", which could also be used as tags for gifts, on the front of a holiday card or as place cards for your holiday table setting. I stamped on each one, using first a gold toned pigment ink and then white embossing powder. This gives the white a bit of a warm tone. These stamps are some of my own design, (available soon) but you can use any elegant stamp to recreate this look. These ornaments would be a wonderful way to display memories from past holidays by placing a picture in the frame instead of stamping a design. 

You'll notice I added a few crystals on top of the embossed design.

Here's a tip for placing the prismatic foil onto the base shape;

Start by peeling back 1/2" or so of the backing. Place the shape in it's proper position and press down the exposed section. Then, slowly and gently peel back the rest of the backing as you use your hand to press into place. No worries if you don't get exactly right the first time, it does lift off and can then be repositioned. None of mine are perfect...it simply proves it's handmade! 

I'll be back here in two weeks or so with another project idea for you to try. 

I hope your holidays are filled with love, laughter and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the meaningful part of this special time. 

 

sunshine makes me happy...

When you’re self-employed, there’s a measure of freedom that you can chose to either control or ignore.

I worked much of last weekend, as I do on more occasions than care to admit to myself.

This last week has given us rainy, cold, even some snowy weather. It happens, even here in Atlanta.

I’m a girl of certain needs. ONE is sunshine on my face. Yesterday I confided to a friend or two that I was way down in the dumps. Holidays do that to me. My parents have long since passed away and my brothers are scattered. Something about missing the kids of your youth…

 Anyway, today brought us weather akin to April. I swear, it’s spring in ATL the sun is shinning, the wind is blowing, and I’m once again finding myself on the front porch working. What a blessing this is.

 The advantages of being self-employed are just this. Okay, Worked all weekend in my cold studio with my measly little space heater and my jacket to keep warm. Oh, and occasionally my dog in my lap. Today, I’m feeling no guilt, (okay, maybe just a bit) sitting here in the sun, dog at my feet, wind chimes playing amazing music to my ears and while I shut my eyes to brainstorm, I’ve allowed myself to feel the moment. Wind is loud. Sun is warm; music is “in the moment”. All is god. I mean, good. What’s the difference? 0.

Happy day my friends, happy day.

More Scoreboard fun with Sizzix and Eileen Hull's dies

I'm participating in a blog hop to show off the many ways of using my friend Eileen Hull's new product line with Sizzix! It's called SCOREBOARDS ™ and they are a  ton of fun to use because of their versatility. This week's projects are created around her pocket notebook die. (Shown here, as the base piece.)This came in handy when designing my purse sized color reference minibook. 

Take a look-

 

  
 View this photo click here to download a full sized, printable jpeg file

I used the Sizzix/Eileen Hull's Scoreboard dies:

 Box with Flap die

Notebook Pocket die

Sizzix/Brenda Pinnick Album Cover and Page die

Brenda Pinnick Scrapper Keeper album (QVC.com) (now available only in the UK) papers and elements

I glued the smaller sized, Box with Flap onto the bigger Notebook die to create a place for stickynotes or other color reference. Here, I used a tag from my Scrapper Keeper kit and added some pretty ribbons.

I use these minibooks for color reference as I work. I build a color palette for each new collection of art and keep it filed with my print-offs, mock-ups, etc. You could use this for shopping, wardrobe building, crafting, designing...whatever you wish! 

I purchase paint fan books from different paint companies and cut them up to create my library of color swatches. I keep them sorted by color family, chroma and tints. It's so handy for experimenting with color and helps you get out of your color rut! (you know who you are...)  

Of course, I know you've already thought of a million more uses! So...get busy!

Learn more about Brenda PInnick Color U here.

Download November Color Palette series here.

Continue with the blog hop by following these fantastic people:

ennifer Ellefson
Candice Windham
Denise Clason
Ann Butler
Fabrizio Martellucci
Korie B
Barbara Matthiessen
Brenda Pinnick
Karen Burniston
Bonnie Bruns

Meet Paisley!

I  just had to share...

We have adapted a rescue dog. HOW could we say no to a dog named Paisley??? I mean, really. 

She's so adorable, so sweet and is my new best friend. She follows me everywhere and when she's sitting next to me, she gazes adoringly at me. She likes the cats, although they haven't totally warmed up to her yet...they're still on the fence with all this. Paisley met her cousins, the pugs, yesterday and they are all now fast friends and looking forward to their next play date! Here's my illustration of Paisley ...

Of course, I will be sewing her a coat made with my purple paisley fabric, (Henry Glass & Co.) shown above! Can't wait to get started on that!

Here's another project I made with my fabrics a while back -

Just click on the link below to see what pattern I used and learn how you can purchase scrapbook papers to go with the fabric!

http://www.brendapinnick.com/2009/05/26/opulence-market-bag/

November's color palettes

How has November come and almost gone so quickly??? Holy smokes!

From now on, I'll be posting my ongoing color palette series once per month, or, you can get them delivered into your email box each week by signing up for When Creativity Knocks, here. 

Please visit my website to learn about how your group can schedule a ColorU workshop tailored to your needs. 

 

Download BPCU_5

Download BPCU_6

Download BPCU_7

Download BPCU_8

I'm crazy busy right now, getting ready for the biggest time of year in art licensing. Making art is only a fraction of what takes place in a professional studio. There's scanning, mock-ups, photos, marketing materials and press releases to be done. Trying to juggle everything at once has once again, gotten me frazzled! Of course, there's the holidays, too!!

I hope you're taking some time for relaxing during this busy time of year. Remember to feed your creative soul!

Go here to watch my latest Brenda Pinnick Color U offering on Inspired at Home LIVE! http://ow.ly/Ddje

Here's one of the plein-air pastel paintings I did while in Costa Rica this last year. It was amazing, sitting on the patio of a popular watering hole/restaurant, spreading out my pastels and relaxing and painting. I so want to go back to see the rest of this amazing place! This is Montezuma, a popular town known for being a bit of ahipppy refuge!

a different point of view

Over the years, I have had many different "creative spaces". These include, of course, the kitchen table, a corner in the bedroom, a work "shed" studio detached from the house, a rented 1000 ft. space in an artist's resource building and now, in my basement. Each space has it's own energy, it's advantages and disadvantages. My rented space was huge, well lit, accessible for drop in business. It was also too cold or too hot, having no hvoc system, just small appliances I used. I greatly disliked having my toys 12 miles from home and the "rawness" of it which translates to unwelcome critters. 

The outside shed hubby built for me also had no heat, water or air and where we lived at the time, we experienced the seasonal extremes of hot and cold. It was away from the house and I often felt isolated. Of course, the kitchen table is a whole different problem and the bedroom corner...totally unworkable for me – I need space!

Right now, I'm spread out in three locations in my house and for the last 3 days, I've added the back porch as number 4. I feel like I'm chasing moonbeams- well, actually it's chasing sunbeams!

 I've got a serious itch for new space...

My friend Kathy Fincher has an amazing studio room which is full of light, is spacious and comfortable, has great views while meeting all of her needs. I'm lusting after this and want desperately to create, or I should say, re-create her space, only attached to my house. So, my goal for this next year is to make this happen, one way or another. I feel that after years and years of creating, it's about time I honor and reward my hard work. 

Here's my inspiration: 

 

 

Kathy's space is filled with authenticity, warmth and positive energy. I think that's what every studio should be, a truly inspired space that reflects the respect you have for your creative energy, your spirit and your business as a professional artist. Watch out, in on a mission!

Here's some additional inspiration on the subject:

 Where Women Create - http://www.wherewomencreate.com/ Inspiring rooms in which artists, artisans, crafters create.

Valley Ridge Art Studio - http://www.valleyridgeartstudio.com/default.asp ( I LOVE this place and hope to visit it this coming year as an instructor and a student)

http://www.bohonus.com/artists/ This is a Photographer's site who went on a creative journey to photograph artist's studios.

Blog hopping...

Here's the free download I'm giving away, but you'll have to visit my other blog http://www.brendapinnick.com/blog/ to leave a comment to win one of my Greeting Card Kits seen and sold on QVC, and to see the instructions for making this project, (easy peasy, I promise!)

 View this photo (the project) just click to download a pre-designed jpeg project ready to print, cut and make.

Here's the finished project...

Enjoy!

This blog hop is with a bunch of talented artist friends (surface designers) who all license their art for use on products. There will be give-a-ways and some fun projects shown on each blog.

Can you believe the Holiday season is upon us already? I’m planning on really enjoying this year’s festivities and to take time each day to remember the true spirit of Christmas, to enjoy my family and live in the moment. I hope you do likewise.

This blog hop is different in that each artist is featured on a specific day: Be sure to check them all out, this is one talented and generous group of professional artists. I'm honored to be hanging out with them!

1.     Terri Conrad  http://www.terriconraddesigns.typepad.com/ (nov 14)

2.   me   http://www.brendapinnick.com/blog/ (nov 15) (my other blog, connected to my website)

3.   Tori Higa   http://www.torihiga.blogspot.com/ (nov 16)

4.   Joyce Shelton   http://www.joyceshelton.typepad.com/ (nov 17)

5.    Phyllis Dobbs  http://phyllisdobbs.info/ (nov 18)

6.    Cherish Fielder  http://somethingtocherish.com/archivepage (nov 19)

7.   Joy Hall   http://joyhall.typepad.com/ (nov 20)

8.  Barbara Johansen Newmanhttp://johansennewman.typepad.com/designrocket/ (nov 21)

9.    Sharyn Sowell  http://www.sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com/ (nov 22)

Go visit the wonderful Tori Higa next!!!

menu table embellishment

I'm participating in a blog hop to show off the many ways of using my friend Eileen Hull's new product line with Sizzix! It's called SCOREBOARDS ™ and they are a  ton of fun to use because of their versatility. This week's projects are created around her check book cover die which, when I saw this, immediately my mind went in a million different directions.

I've recently discovered Plaid's chalk board paint and am having fun turning just about everything into a writable surface! My favorite is the red- there's just something so crisp and wonderful about red with white lettering!

I'm short on time lately due to the busy time of year, getting ready for the various trade shows so my goal was to design a project which is minimal in effort yet high in impact - I think this fits the bill ;

I painted the outside with Plaid's Chalkboard paint, red over orange board. It took two coats to get it the depth I wanted.

Assembly consisted of a simple yard's length of skinny ribbon, starting at the bottom and working my way up to the top, where I tied a bow on the inside of the menu. Start by threading the ribbon through the bottom holes and centering it. Create the x pattern on the outside or create a pattern of your choosing. Matboard accepts chalk pencil really well so if you don't wish to re-use your menus, you can just write on the board itself and skip the paint. I used a sharpened pastel pencil to write with, it works great! If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year, this would be a good way to denote any food which was made to accommodate allergies or glutton intolerance. You could also use it to assign seats, sometimes a good strategy for a family get together! What if it were left blank on the inside, for your guests to write out what they are thankful for, then pass them around the table? Write their names on the cover and then they can take it home with them as a reminder.

You can follow this blog hop by visiting the following -

Eileen  Hull

Fabrizio Martellucci

Jennifer Ellefson

Ann Butler

Lorine Mason

Karen Burniston

Bonnie Bruns

Gabriela Delworth

Candice Windham