"Enter In Peace" Shabby Fall Garden

WELCOME Sweet Friends to my Rustic Shabby Fall Garden!

After you stroll through the flowers and linger on the bench out back... please feel free to come in my back door and chat...

ENTER IN PEACE.

When I was young, my Grammie has 20 acres of nothing but her flowers, veggies and grapes.  How she loved them!  I was her helper when I stayed with her.  Afterwards, we went in the back door for a long rest and a Pepsi (her favorite drink).  To me, her back door was much prettier than her front door and she always welcomed anyone who entered.

I began by just sketching out my plan on an 8x10 canvas board. 

 I erased the stones in the center and began painting in some colors. 

The bricks were done first with DecoArt Media Modeling Paste. 

Then I began adding DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste for the stucco look of the walls. 

Using a DecoArt Andy Skinner Tread Carefully stencil, the stepping stones were made with DecoArt Media Crackle Paste. 

First phase finished!

Definitely needed some DecoArt American Weathered Wood on my little fence rails!  I always had a white fence in my mind but for the weathered wood you start with an undercoat of paint!

Here you see some of the crackle coming through after adding DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream to both the fence rails and the stepping stones. 

Painting the brick with DecoArt Media fluid acrylics was rather fun.  Here you see the beginning of the painting but as the projects progressed I played with the brick over and over! 

Phase two complete! 

I recently purchased some Dynasty liner brushes. They are just amazing.  Look at the tiny lines I was able to make on this lamp. 

From the beginning, I knew I wanted to do the door and windows entirely with DecoArt Metallic Lustre paints.  Oh such a joy to use - they spread just like butter.  The first coat on the door was done with Copper Kettle but I just kept adding one color after another of Metallic Lustre until they looked like I had envisioned. 

I wanted to bring some of my garden clippings in and make a garland for over the door! Using the DecoArt American Feathered Friends stencil I began adding the garden clippings!!!!  

I added five layers of boughs on each side. 

While waiting for my boughs to dry, the Americana Jacobean Floral stencil worked perfectly for a bit of shabby chic decor on the door. I just scratched out the design with my punch.

Using my wonderful Dynasty liner brush again... I painted in the leaves with DecoArt Media Green Interference. 

I added some motif on the windows too - just by hand.

Oh - and the planters are just free-hand with modeling paste!

Phase three complete!!

From this point on, I just began painting free hand the flower garden!  So relaxing and fun creating flowers!!! 

The "Enter In Peace" sign is a piece of bark from the ranch! Again, the Dynasty brush made it possible for me to just paint the words on free-hand.  Truly amazing to me - wow! 

Here are pictures of my completed mixed media Shabby Garden. 

Hubby made me a lovely cedar board stand to accent my garden! 

Truly wish you were at my backdoor right now!

Have a peaceful day. 

Hugs. j. 

Products Used: 

DecoArt Media Mediums:

Gesso, Modeling Paste, Texture Sand Paste, Crackle Paste

DecoArt Media Paints:

Hansa Yellow Light, Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide, Transparent Red Iron Oxide, Sap Green, YellowGreen Light, Green Gold, Carbon Black, Quinacridone Gold, Quinacridone Violet, Vermillion, Cadmium Red Hue, Phthalo Green 

DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream:

Carbon Black, Patine Green, Titanium White

DecoArt Media Green Interference

DecoArt Media Andy Skinner Tread Carefully stencil. 

Americana Feathered Friends stencil

American Jacobean Floral stencil

DecoArt DecoMagic Brush & Stencil Cleaner

Dynasty Paint Brushes

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Excited to share my creativity with:

Anything But Cute Challenge

Shabby Garden

The Anything But Cute mood board inspired me by the peely paint, the doors, the windows, and the lovely flowers.  I'm not much of a romantic, so didn't go with that aspect but did add the following:

Peely white fence

Peely stucco showing brick beneath

Crackled Stepping Stones

Vintage looking, shabby door and windows

Planters in the windows

Shabby motif on the door

Lantern light (could be romantic!!!)

and lots of flowers :)

Thanks bunches! j. 

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Mixed Media Monthly 
Challenge #28 - Rustic

How fun! I love rustic - of course, living on a ranch!
My little shabby garden seems very rustic too. 
Thanks for the opportunity to play along. j. 

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Stamps and Stencils
September Challenge: The Colour of Autumn

Take a walk thru my fall garden and then open my autumn colored door and chat awhile! Loved including stamps and stencils in my creativity.  Thanks bunches for the fun of being part of your challenge. Xj.

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Stamplorations Artplorations
September Mixed Media Challenge

Mixed media fun with the help of several stencils!!! 

Thanks so much for this Mixed Media Challenge. Xj.

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Abstract or Not? DecoArt Media on Canvas

Howdy sweet friends....

Here I am, cringing a bit, because I am sharing an 8x10 canvas painting that seems to be ever so popular with everyone but ME!!! 

Have you ever had that happen????

I painted a series of white lilies. The instructions were to do one on a blue background, one on a yellow background and one on a pink background. 

A while back I shared the first pink one with you.

This is it! 

The second pink one was to be abstract. And apparently, somehow it passed the abstract test and is well loved.  

YES - I'M SHOCKED! 

Now this will come as a surprise to you since you know how I adore bright colors but I do not care for the second pink lily.  On the other hand - I rather enjoy the first one.  And... let me remind you too that I am not a fan of pastel pink. So... hello???  What in the world is happening to me!!!!???

Nevertheless... here are some pictures of the hot pink, abstract, wild and willowy white lily. 

I began with a light pink background. Then drew in my lily design with a Stabillo All pencil. Next, I loosely painted in the colors with my fingers - my favorite way to paint.  

On the background I used DecoArt Media Tinting Base to change the DecoArt Media Primary Magenta Fluid Acrylics to lots of different colors.  YES - every color of pink you see in this painting is made from the Primary Magenta!  Fun huh???

Below you can see all the DecoArt products used.  My brush and stencil cleaner is a mess but that is the BEST stuff on the planet.  I always grab it with the messy hands of a finger painter. I can't seem to keep any of my paints very clean though.  My work space is neat - just not my bottles!

And here are a few more pictures. 

And the old switch-a-roo question?  

Should it go vertical or horizontal??? 

Moral of this story....

Some like it hot, 

some like it cold,

Some like it very much...

not me... truth be told!!! 

Heheheheheh - HUGS, joi

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A bit of INKY FUN!!!

Hehehheeh - wow - did I have fun being inky!!!

Every month I send an envelope full of receipts to one of the sweetest little lady I have ever met named Judy.  Honestly, I have decorated very very few envelopes in the day but it just seemed like this gal really needed a little brightness sent her way so.... 

out came the Ranger Adirondack Inks!! 

I am not a speedy artist - too perfectionistic.

So this little project was a total joy for me!!

Just had to share my fun!

Hugs. j.

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1950 VOGUE - A Vintage Journey Guest Designer

Howdy from Texas on a 100 degree summer day.

All our ranch hands, summer 'Warriors' (interns), and hubby are out working in this heat. Whew. 

I'm quite thankful to be inside playing with 1950's Vintage Vogue!  But the colors used are definitely reflective of the Texas heat. 

How delighted I am to be a guest on A Vintage Journey is not up for debate... I am totally happy. :)   

Tracy has the theme of monochromatic which is something I have always enjoyed doing. It's such a fun challenge. 

Here is a glimpse at my creation. 

Go to A Vintage Journey... there is actually a photo of MY incredible face - eheheheheh!!! Go see!!!  

That's all for today except to send my love to you all.

Thanks bunches and bunches for stopping by.

Leave me a message if you have a minute to spare.

Hope you will hop on over to A Vintage Journey and leave me some love there too !!!  I would sure appreciate it :)  XXj.

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DecoArt Media Challenge: UNDER THE SEA

HOWDY from Joi@RR in Texas!

Hope you are having a great time creating your "Under the Sea" project for the DecoArt Media Challenge!!! It's soooo exciting.  I truly cannot wait to see your creations. 

Click HERE to enter the Under the Sea Round Up before August 12th! Then, find out on August 19, if you are the winner of the wonderful DecoArt gift card for products from our online store. 

As part of the DecoArt Media Design Team...

I am honored to take you to my little Under the Sea world.

It is a 16x20 painting on canvas board.

Have you ever  - literally - been under the sea?

I have not.  I've been in it but not under it!!! So when this challenge was announced my friend, Sonshine, sent me some links to help me find inspiration. She lives very near the ocean.

The photo below was taken in April 2006 by Lady Reefneck.

It says that these are called "zoanthids". 

After further research, it seems that there are lots of them under the sea in every shape and color imaginable. 

So I used Lady Reefneck's photo as my inspiration.

I began by just drawing a line to separate the sea from the zoanthids.

Then began adding colors for the sea. 

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Cerelean Blue, Translucent White and Prussian Blue Hue (one of my favorites!)

And of course, one must have texture under the sea!

I applied DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste with a knife. Seems like there just has to be some yummy sand texture in the ocean somewhere since it's on the shorelines :)

And lots of DecoArt Media Crackle Paste. 

Then begins the parade of vibrant DecoArt Media colors.

For the deep blue sea behind the zoanthids - Shimmering Turquoise Mister. And for the sand - Transparent Yellow Oxide.

The DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream in Patina Green was the perfect addition to the lumps and bumps of my ocean crackles. 

And here is the finished background...

go ahead - dive right in!!!!

Little by little I began drawing zoanthids and adding DecoArt Media Phthalo Turquoise to add depth to the water. 

Out came the LUSCIOUS DecoArt Metallic Lustres. 

And slowly the zoanthids began to come to life.

For me, every painting is all about the layers.  I like to see lots of depth of color and pattern.  After playing with the Metallic Lustres, DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics were added again. 

Another layer to the green but this time with DecoArt Americana NEON Thermal Green.  Love that glow!!!

And how in the world could it be a Joi@RR Under the Sea wonderland without glitter??? 

I used the wonderful DecoArt Glamour Dust to add some dimension to the insides of the zoanthids. 

BUT... I also smeared glitter - with my fingers - all over the entire canvas.  Did my heart good to see ALL that FABULOUS sparkle. 

Here are close-ups where I'm hoping you can see some of the glittery bling that makes up a lot of the dimension in this painting. 

I'm not sure what these sweet little red creatures are in the upper corner. But they for sure needed something to make them pop.

Can you believe what I used???  

The DecoArt Snow Writer Dimensional Paint was perfect!

Definitely not just for cold weather projects!

And now, here are some more looks at the finished creation after adding DecoArt Media Gloss Varnish.

DecoArt Products Used: 

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics:

Vermilion

Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide

Cerulean Blue

Translucent White

Phthalo Turquoise

Dairylide Yellow

Yellow Green Light

Prussian Blue Hue

Metallic Gold

DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream: Patina Green

DecoArt Media Misters:

Purple

Shimmering Yellow

Raspberry

White

Shimmering Turquoise

Blue

DecoArt Media Crackle Paste

DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste

DecoArt Media Liquid Glass

DecoArt Media Gloss Varnish

DecoArt Metallic Lustre:

Rose Gold

Radiant Red

Cosmic Blue

Majestic Purple

Elegant Emerald

Brilliant Turquoise

Copper Kettle

DecoArt Americana Neon Thermal Green

DecoArt Glamour Dust:

Iced Crystal

Copper

Black Ice

DecoArt Traditions Glazing Medium

DecoArt Magic Brush & Stencil Cleaner

DecoArt Snow Writer Dimensional Paint

For those of you that have actually seen the beauty UNDER THE SEA... it must be an amazing adventure.  For me... I am quite happy just painting what 'could be' UNDER THE SEA!!!

Thanks bunches for exploring with me today.

It was a fun adventure.  

Hugs. j.  

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