Blog Series: Fall Decor Day 5

Welcome to the 5th and final day of my Fall Decor Blog Series! Today’s decor project doubles as party favors. I also created a tutorial to show you how to make them.

Supplies:

Now, let me walk you through the steps.

To die-cut the treat bags, create the following Sizzix Sandwich – on Sizzix Accessory Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies, lay a Standard Cutting Pad. Place kraft cardstock on the cutting pad and lay Treat Bag die blade side down on it. Arrange  one of the Frightening Faces dies and the ‘boo’ sentiment from the Sizzix Sidekick Side-Order Set – Halloween inside the Treat Bag die, making sure that your design will be upright after the bag is cut out.  Cover with the other Standard Cutting Pad and pass the whole Sizzix Sandwich through the Sizzix Big Shot Machine. Repeat with other face designs for an interesting variety.

Here are some of my Treat Bag die-cuts.

Fold along the score lines of the die-cut Treat Bags and apply adhesive to the flaps to assemble each bag. It hardly takes 2-3 minutes to make each bag from start to finish.

Rub some ink to the bags to add a touch of grunge. Dilute some Gelatos colors from the Steampunk set and drip them down the edge of each the bag. Let dry.

Stuff the bags with some candy and line them up on a trey. They look SO CUTE together!

Hope you enjoyed this Fall Decor blog series and have fun creating your own!

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Blog Series: Fall Decor Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the Fall Decor Blog series! Today’s inspiration piece is another whimsical tag.

Supplies (affiliate links):

Be sure to be back tomorrow for some more fun inspiration and a tutorial!

*All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.*

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Blog Series: Fall Decor Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of my Fall Decor Blog Series! Today I have a tutorial for a DIY Entomology Specimen Display or to put simply, a bug box.

Now, if you are not fond of creepy crawly bugs, let me just tell you that neither am I. So, instead of painting realistic looking insects, I decided to give my bugs a flare of fantasy with bright colors and made-up patterns. Let me show you how. You can also use the stamp set that matches the Sizzix Framelits Die Set 14PK – Entomology. 

Supplies (Affiliate links):

To die-cut the insects out of watercolor paper, create the following Sizzix Sandwich:

Here are all the die-cut insects. Depending on the size of your display case, you’ll need to select the ones that work best for you. I ended up using only eight of them.

TIP: If your display case is big, you might have to die-cut multiples of the same design and color them differently to look like unique specimens.

Start coloring the die-cut insects with watercolor pencils and Gelatos Iridescents. You can let reality or fantasy be your guide for this step. I leaned more towards fantasy.

NOTE: There is also a stamp set that’s available separately to work with the Sizzix Framelits Die Set 14PK Entomology. It’s called Stampers Anonymous Entomology Cling Mount Stamps (CMS 328).

Here are my finished insects. I added some pen details once the paints dried.

Next, create a backdrop for the insects to be mounted. For that, measure the back board of the display case and trim a piece of watercolor paper to that size. My case is 5.5 x 5.5 inches, so I trimmed my paper to that size and then drew about a quarter inch margin all around to make sure all the insects are properly visible once I put the display case back together with my decorated insert.

To create a patterned background, you could simply attach patterned paper or paint one. But I wanted one not only with patterns and colors but also with some texture. So, I decided to create a stencil with one of the dies from the Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK – Mixed Media Halloween #2.

To create your own stencil, start by creating the exact same Sizzix Sandwich as above. Use a heavyweight cardstock for this. Once you make the first cut, rotate the piece of cardstock around and lay the same die blade-side down on the cardstock at a facing angle to complete a square-ish design.

Lay your stencil down on the background piece and apply Whipped Spackle or another texture paste with palette knife.

It turns out that my background piece was slightly larger than my stencil. So, I simply repeated the stencil pattern allowing the paste to dry in between.

Once the texture paste dries color the piece with Gelatos colors or your favorite paints.

Mount the insects to the background with 3D foam squares making sure to stay inside the margins you drew earlier.

At this point, you can re-assemble your display case with the insert you just created. I wanted to add a finishing touch to my piece. I inked up a script background stamp with a neutral color ink (so it doesn’t clash with the colors and become a distraction) and stamped over the entire piece. As soon as the ink dried, I placed the piece in its display case.

Place the piece on your fireplace or shelf to add a festive touch to your home!

Be sure to be back tomorrow for some more fun inspiration!

*All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.*

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Blog Series: Fall Decor Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of my Fall Decor Blog Series!

Today, I have a whimsical inspiration piece for you. This tag looks more gorgeous in person, if I say so myself  😉

Supplies (affiliate links):

Here’s a close-up.

Be sure to be back tomorrow for some more fun inspiration!

*All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.*

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Blog Series: Fall Decor Day 1

It’s only nearing the end of September but it’s getting rather chilly here already. The slice of warm sunshine on our honey-colored wood floor, the crab apple tree outside,  a few maple leaves starting to turn into their gorgeous glorious colors are all getting me into the mood for autumn decor. All of this week, I am planning to share with you inspiration and/or tutorials for the Fall crafts I’m creating around my house.

Here’s a not-too-frightening Halloween decor tutorial for Day 1.

Supplies (affiliate links):

Now, let me walk you through the steps.

Trim grey cardstock to 5″ x 6.5″. On Sizzix Accessory Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies, lay a Standard Cutting Pad. Place the grey cardstock on the cutting pad and arrange the Halloween Hangouts dies blade side down on the grey cardstock. Cover with the other Standard Cutting Pad and pass the whole Sizzix Sandwich through the Sizzix Big Shot Machine.

Repeat the same step with a piece of white cardstock.

Trim three pieces of kraft cardstock to 5.5″ x 6.75″ each. Layer the three pieces together with adhesive to strengthen the paper.

On the topmost layer, draw a box with pencil and ruler leaving about a quarter inch margin all around. Color this box with Translucents Gelatos colors as shown. Blend the colors with a wet paint brush. Let dry.

Mount the grey die-cut piece to the kraft background with 3D Foam Squares.

Cut out the Halloween Hangouts from their frames from the white cardstock die-cut piece from before.

Color the pieces with Translucents Gelatos.

Ink up the background stamp with Black Stamper’s Big Brush pen and stamp randomly around the grey cardstock layer.

Attach the Halloween Hangouts pieces with 3D Foam Squares, slightly offsetting toward the left on the corresponding grey layers.

Add some pattern to the grey layer with Stamper’s Big White Pen. I love how solid that white ink is!

Add a little more depth to the background by making marks with the Brown PITT pen.

Die-cut the boo out of  kraft cardstock using the Sizzix Sidekick Side-Order Set – Halloween using the same Sizzix Sandwich as described above. Color the ‘boo’ cutout with Brown PITT pen. Cut a speech bubble out of white cardstock and color it with Translucents Gelatos. Mount the ‘boo’ to the speech bubble using a glue pen. Inlay the kraft cut-outs to the ‘boo’ also using the glue pen. Attach it to the grey layer with 3D Foam Squares next to the owl.

Use the Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 12PK – Shadow Script Halloween to die-cut the word ‘beware’ out of white cardstock and its shadow out of kraft and grey cardstock using the same Sizzix Sandwich as described above. Attach the word to the kraft shadow with glue pen. Use 3d Foam squares to attach the whole word to the grey shadow offsetting slightly toward the left. Attach the word above the block with glue pen.

Die-cut an easel stand for your decor piece using the Sizzix Bigz Die – Small Easel. Simply place your paper on the bladeside of the Bigz die and place the die between two standard cutting pads. Pass the entire Sizzix Sandwich through the Sizzix Big Shot machine. Attach the easel to the back of the block as shown. You can store it flat when not in use by simply folding the small groove fold back up.

Place the piece on your fireplace or shelf to add a festive touch to your home!

Be sure to be back tomorrow for some more fun inspiration!

*All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.*

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Free event! Join me on The Life Book Creativity & Wellbeing Summit!

Hello my creative friends!

Something new and amazing has just been born! 🙂 My friend Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts has just opened registration for The (free) Life Book Creativity & Wellbeing Summit! She has interviewed a wide range of Life Book 2019 Teachers for it and guess what?! I’m one of the speakers AND I’m also a teacher on Life Book 2019 next year!

Yay!!!

Not only is this Summit filled with inspiring interviews with amazing artists, but we each also provide a FREE creative and wellness activity for you that you can access for 2 weeks!

The Summit is filled with inspiring interviews, art sessions, meditations and wellbeing activities to help you get present and connected to the healing power of your creativity!

When you attend the Life Book Creativity & Wellbeing Summit you are able to

  • Listen to sessions in your own time!

  • Join our Facebook Group with like-minded people from all over the world!

  • Wear whatever comfy clothes your want and enjoy the Summit from the comfort of your own home! We like bed hair no worries! 🙂

  • Play, make mistakes, be fabulous or sad, it’s all welcome and ok on the summit! You are accepted just as you are!

  • Enjoy free art & wellbeing activities!

For my free activity we’ll do a Tag Book Timeline of your Creative Journey. Here’s a quick peek at mine!

So:

  • Do you want to learn how to create more wellbeing in your life?

  • Do you want to create, express, develop and grow?

  • Do you want to play with paints, get messy with collage, enjoy mark making and drawing?

  • Do you want more hints and tips on how to use your creativity to become a happier person?

  • Do you want to learn how to use creativity to become more grounded, present and kind to yourself?

These are all topics we discuss on the Summit with some of the leading mixed media artists out there!

It’s completely FREE so join us now by reserving your seat HERE!

The Summit begins on October 1st and ends on October 15th!

Life Book 2019 (which I’ll be teaching on yippee!) will open registration on October 16th and guess what? If you join Life Book 2019 you’ll get life long access to the Summit content as well as a year of amazing art activities + a virtual gift bag filled with extras and goodies also! More on this later, but keep an eye out for Life Book 2019 sign up details!

Join Us Now for The Life Book Creativity & Wellbeing Summit

See you there!
Love
Mou

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Blog Series: Art Journaling Week Day 5

Welcome to my Blog Series – Art Journaling August Inspiration Day 5.

Over the next five days, I will share with you five art journal pages. These pages all have the following common threads –

  • photographic ephemera as the focal point

  • layers created with table scraps (stuff left on my desk after finishing bigger projects – giving them new life instead of discarding them)

  • the page is completed in 30 minutes or less

I’m listing the supplies I used. Feel free to choose from your stash. I want to give you some starting points and not directions, so you can explore freely.

If you do create some pages along with me, please use the hashtag #mousaha and tag me on Instagram @mou.saha.studio and on Facebook @MouSahaStudio.

Supplies*:

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Brights

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Pastels

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Steampunk

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gesso

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Goldfaber Aqua pencils

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Collapsible Water cup

Embellishments –

Other: old book, paper towel, thread, found bits

*Some are affiliate links. All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.

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Blog Series: Art Journaling Week Day 4

Welcome to my Blog Series – Art Journaling August Inspiration Day 4.

Over the next five days, I will share with you five art journal pages. These pages all have the following common threads –

  • photographic ephemera as the focal point

  • layers created with table scraps (stuff left on my desk after finishing bigger projects – giving them new life instead of discarding them)

  • the page is completed in 30 minutes or less

I’m listing the supplies I used. Feel free to choose from your stash. I want to give you some starting points and not directions, so you can explore freely.

If you do create some pages along with me, please use the hashtag #mousaha and tag me on Instagram @mou.saha.studio and on Facebook @MouSahaStudio.

Supplies*:

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Brights

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Pastels

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Steampunk

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gesso

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Goldfaber Aqua pencils

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Collapsible Water cup

Embellishments –

Other: old book, paper towel, thread, found bits

*Some are affiliate links. All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.

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Blog Series: Art Journaling Week Day 3

Welcome to my Blog Series – Art Journaling August Inspiration Day 3.

Over the next five days, I will share with you five art journal pages. These pages all have the following common threads –

  • photographic ephemera as the focal point

  • layers created with table scraps (stuff left on my desk after finishing bigger projects – giving them new life instead of discarding them)

  • the page is completed in 30 minutes or less

I’m listing the supplies I used. Feel free to choose from your stash. I want to give you some starting points and not directions, so you can explore freely.

If you do create some pages along with me, please use the hashtag #mousaha and tag me on Instagram @mou.saha.studio and on Facebook @MouSahaStudio.

Supplies*:

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Pastels

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Steampunk

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gesso

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Goldfaber Aqua pencils

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Collapsible Water cup

Embellishments –

Other: old book, paper towel, thread, found bits

*Some are affiliate links. All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.

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Blog Series: Art Journaling Week – Day 2

Welcome to my Blog Series – Art Journaling August Inspiration Day 1.

Each day of this week, I will share with you an art journal page. These pages all have the following common threads –

  • photographic ephemera as the focal point

  • layers created with table scraps (stuff left on my desk after finishing bigger projects – giving them new life instead of discarding them)

  • the page is completed in 30 minutes or less

I’m listing the supplies I used. Feel free to choose from your stash. I want to give you some starting points and not directions, so you can explore freely.

If you do create some pages along with me, please use the hashtag #mousaha and tag me on Instagram @mou.saha.studio and on Facebook @MouSahaStudio.

Supplies*:

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK – Mixed Media Halloween #2

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Brights

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos Set – Pastels

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos set – Iridescents

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gesso

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Gel Medium

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Goldfaber Aqua pencils

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft Collapsible Water cup

Embellishments –

Other: old book, paper towel, thread, found bits

*Some are affiliate links. All contents, words and images are copyright of Mou Saha.

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