Make your own clock

This idea have been in my head for a while, and finally I made it. A personalized wall clock, that is easy and fun to make; the best part kids can participate.

For this you will need:

1. pretty cardstok ( I used a BoBunny heavy cardstock "Sophie")
2. matte or gel medium ( you can use mod podge or any glue)
3. acrylic paint and brush
4. piece of round wood or plywood (or any shape you want your clock to be; mine is 10 inches in diameter)
5. clock mechanism
6. number stickers or rub-ons, markers or anything to make the numbers. I used embossing powder and embossing pen (VersaMarker watermark pen).
7. battery

I know that the clock mechanism can be a bit expensive, as well as, the wood panel depending on its size; a good alternative is visiting the kids section of your craft store or department stores and look for clock kits. I used a kit that I found at the kids craft section at my local Wal-Mart for just $10; which is a great deal.

In the video below you can see a time lap of how I made my clock, however below it are some tips and  what I would have done in a different order, and think it would work better.

Tips:

1. Place the wood piece over the decorative paper and lightly trace its shape with a pencil. Make sure that you place the wood or your clock base covering the part of the design that you want as focal point in your clock.
2. Use a circle cutter (if your clock is circular) or scissors to cut out the paper.
3. Paint the borders before pasting the decorative paper.
4. Apply matte medium or any adhesive you are using, liberally on the wood surface and place your paper. Make sure you make the center whole in your paper prior to pasting it, it will help as reference to keep your paper center.
5. Add the numbers, using stencils, sticker, rub-on, markers or any way you like. (you don't have to add numbers if you don't want to).
6.  Add the hanging piece on the back before installing the clock mechanism.
7. Install the clock mechanism and add the battery. The kits and even the separated mechanism comes with instructions on how to do it.
8. Hang it in the wall and enjoy it.

Oil portrait: "Eclectic"

I really like this one, I was not aiming for a realistic portrait but for one that looked kind of "cartoony". It has lots of elements that I like, for example: colors, the greek column, egyptian looking eyes and jewelery. This was fun to do and I love how it looks.

"Eclectic"

To my hearts content

I painted this the other day that i felt like painting but did not have a concrete idea of what to paint.

 
I just grabbed my acrylics, mediums and spatulas (the brush only for signing it) ,and started adding colors as they called my attention. I added some textures and played with it to my heart content.
This was a great exercise to relax and free my mind of all the stressful thinking I was having.

Valentine's cards

Here are my Youtube video tutorials for the Valentine's cards I've made so far.

My first oil paintings

These are my first try at oil painting, and I have to say I'm really happy with them. The light and shadows might not be perfect but I kept "messing" (remember there are no mistakes with art) them every time I try to make something else. Anyway, got to say that I love the medium and plan on keep practicing with it. If any of you have any tips that would like to share with me, I will love to know them.

For those that haven't use oil paints yet, I recommend you to try this medium, and for a try you can just buy a $5 set of oil paints. If you don't like it, you didn't spend much on it, and if you do, while you get better you can keep using them and then gradually start moving up to very grade paints. Whatever you decide to do, have fun and happy painting!!!

My first hand carved stamp

I am really excited, this is my first attempt at carving my own stamp from one of my drawings, and guess what? I love it! I have made stamps with my Cricut but this is a whole new experience. I used the Speedball started kit, which I bought at Michael's with a 40% coupon (love coupons ;)). I already have lots of ideas for more stamps, since this is a great way to personalize, even more, all your projects. I recommend you to try it, believe it or not, it is pretty relaxing.

My latest artist journals

I just made these art journals and love them.

This one I made using canvas panels to make the cover. Also the papers are a mix of watercolor, canvas, acrylic, pastels, drawing and charcoal papers sew together. I had a lot of fun binding and painting it. You can check the three part videos part 1, part 2 and part 3.


The second one I just made it for my upcoming holidays trip. It is simple and was quick to make with the your story machine and one of their albums. Here a short fast forward video showing the making of this watercolor travel journal. Enjoy it.