Merry Christmas!

 

Unlocking Holiday Magic; My Artistic Advent Calendar Experience

As a kid, advent calendars were pure December delight. But as grown-ups, the thrill often fades. Until now. I decided to try artist advent calendars this year, and it was a game-changer. Check out the video where I open all the surprises at once – pure joy!

No more cheap chocolates; this time, it's a beautifully crafted, oddly shaped box with artistic treasures behind each door. The excitement was contagious, and I'm now gifting some pieces to my favorite watercolorist. Can you guess which ones? Let me know in the comments!

Worth it? Absolutely. The Arteza's artist advent calendar not only revived the childhood magic but also came with sweet coupons for future buys. If you're curious about adding a dash of creativity to your December, this might be the way to go. Share your thoughts below – let's make this holiday season extra magical! 🎨✨

Miniature to magnificent take a singular ATC into an 11x8 inch canvas

 In today's blog post, we're thrilled to share the enchanting process of transforming a single Artist Trading Card (ATC) into a larger canvas measuring 11x8 inches. Join us on this journey as we witness the magic of blending the small-scale with the grand to create a truly magnificent masterpiece.

Artist Trading Cards, or ATCs, have become a beloved form of artistic expression, providing a canvas of 2.5 by 3.5 inches for creators to showcase their talents. In this unique venture, let's focus singular card, exploring the challenge of expanding its impact onto a larger canvas.

Often, the prospect of working on a larger canvas can be intimidating, overwhelming even the most seasoned creators. By choosing to expand the essence of a singular ATC onto an 11x8 canvas, here we offer a unique perspective on how these miniature masterpieces can serve as stepping stones, helping artists overcome the initial hesitations associated with larger formats. This approach allows for a focused exploration of theme, style, and technique, providing a bridge between the intimate world of ATCs and the grander canvas of artistic expression.

The objective here is to elevate the intricate details of one card, turning it into a focal point within a larger canvas. This approach allows for an in-depth exploration of the chosen theme, style, and technique.

The transformation from a single ATC to an 11x8 canvas demands a thoughtful selection of materials and techniques. Sometimes we have to carefully navigate this process, experimenting with our mixed media, layering, and replacing items that are not available in the size or style we need to ensure the enlarged canvas complements the original card.

 Gain insights into the decision-making process, from adhesive choices to color schemes, as we bring our vision to life. It's a behind-the-scenes look at this singular transformation.

 The finished 11x8 canvas. The singular ATC takes center stage. The result is a visually striking composition that preserves the essence of the original card while presenting it on a grander scale.

As you delve into my artistic journey, let the transformation of a single ATC into a larger canvas inspire your own creative pursuits. Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting, experimenting with unconventional formats can lead to exciting breakthroughs and new perspectives.

We invite you to share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas in the comments section. How do you approach the challenge of expanding small-scale art onto a larger canvas? Connect with fellow art enthusiasts and contribute to the ever-evolving dialogue of artistic exploration.

making photo album with cardstock part one

creating a photo album pt2

why I do videos

 

Come out to the craft fair it's for a good cause.

Even though many items nowadays can be found online and delivered in hours from the web,
a local craft fair is a great place to get your steps in and find the local artist or talented crafters in your neighborhood. 

I've been doing craft fairs as a vendor on and off for 46 years, from gingerbread houses to miniatures, jewelry making, and paper crafting. 

There is a social aspect of craft fairs that I love. For the crafter, yes, we want to sell our things and make a profit, but I really enjoy meeting the people at the show. It's all very reminiscent of a small town. They are willing to help. I've seen people help others set up their tents. If you've forgotten something, they'll share. Or send a customer to their neighbor if they don't have what they need. They'll even watch your area while you hit the restroom. 

As a consumer, I love seeing how many talented people there are in my area. I sometimes meet like-minded people whom I would have never met had I not ventured out to the show. I'm happy to spend my dollars at their tables instead of going online to purchase gifts or items I might want. I'm helping support a family by buying the item. 

Yes, there are some things I don't need or want, but I like visiting with the crafter. The one thing I don't like as a shopper is a vendor who tries to sell things just to sell them. You know the one who, when you touch something at their table, it's a conversation about that item, how many colors it comes in, the sizes, and if you try to be nice and just acknowledge them, it's a big sales pitch. UGH. Cannot tolerate that I might wander away as quickly as possible. The crafter's table with a big crowd is nice to wander over because then you can really look at what the person has without being pounced on. 

Of course, we don't want to approach the vendor who looks like this is their worst day ever, and they are unhappy to be there. So there has to be that happy medium. It takes a vendor who can read their viewer and know what approach to take with each. Does the person want to be engaged, or just let them browse? It's so difficult to read people anymore. I suggest just waiting for eye contact and saying a nice hello. Thanks for stopping by. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have; just let me know. Then leave them to it. 

Almost every craft fair I attend has a fundraising component to it. Some of the proceeds go to a specific group, like an animal shelter, food bank, etc. Our monthly craft fair raises funds for local charities and non-profits. The people that show up there are really friendly and kind. But our attendance is low at the moment. I expect it will grow like the others; it's for a good cause. Each month a different organization benefits from the donations. 

The nice thing is a representative from the organization usually stops by or shows up for a while, which is always nice to see. It sort of validates the fact that the funds are going where the show said it's going.

First Sunday craft fair of 2023

 You can find pictures at 

https://maryannescreativemix.blogspot.com/ 

I am dedicating that blog to only my crafts for the crafts fair. 

Here will be all my other arts-n-crafts. I think it gets confusing for some people, so I hope this helps. 

So if you landed here looking for my craft fair items, please go to the blog listed above. But if you are here for just hanging out and seeing some of my youtube adventures, welcome. 

Coming up are the hops I'm involved in this month 

#3rdSundayprompt

#4thartsaturday

and then my random uploads on my own. Please subscribe to get info when I post. Comment below if you want more details listed here from my video such as ingredients and etc. I've decided to not add that information to my videos unless asked. It takes days to produce these things and it just adds to my list which I fail miserably at doing anyway. I'll do it but only if I know peeps want that stuff. The uploads take such a long time and I like to get things out as soon as I can. 

Well enough of that. Thats it for today. 

Happy New Year. 

Mimi