Phew, what a couple of weeks I've had!  The hard drive on my computer crashed shortly after posting my last blog post.  I ended up replacing the hard drive and luckily had backed up all of my pattern files but had not backed up any of my email contacts.  I was able to replace all of my pattern files, which was a blessing, but I've had to reconfigure all of my email contacts and newsletter addresses.  The moral of the story is back up your email contacts.  LOL.  Easy to say now, I wish I would have taken my own advise.  Needless to say I'm still working on putting all of my addresses back into my computer, consequently I have not had time, or a computer, to be able to blog, not to mention am still trying to reload software which was on my computer prior to meltdown.  I'm hoping to have my computer back up and running by next weekend and can post the next bottle which is finished and ready to be posted as soon as I can access my photos.

Hope you have a great week.

Turn an Ordinary Bottle into Something Extraordinary with Deco Art Glass Paint Markers

My last post was all about tips and techniques that I have learned in my glass painting journey using the Glass Paint Markers.  In this post I thought that I would show you a bottle starting at the beginning, or close to the beginning of the design process and give you some insight into the creativity process.  Are you with me as we take this from a boring dark colored bottle to a stunning piece of art?

• This is your basic dark colored beer bottle, Guinness to be exact, it has a plastic label which made it enticing since the prep work was very minimal. I removed the label with a sharp knife, washed it in the dishwasher and looked at it for a few days.  In my mind I am envisioning what design I think will enhance the features of the bottle.  This bottle seemed to call for an overlapping line pattern to form diamonds. The marker colors used was predetermined by the color of the bottle.  I have now completed enough dark colored bottles that I am beginning to get a feel for which colors work and which do not and how to add brighter colors if I decide I want them.  
• It was actually fairly easy to accomplish, I used 1/4" green masking tape to mask the lines after I sketched the general design in with my white Stabillo pencil and used the tape to help me draw in fairly straight lines with my white marker.  
• Next I drew the diamond shapes to fit in each area with my white or gold paint marker and colored them in.  I gave these two coats of paint, let each coat dry completely otherwise your paint will scratch off, and added dots to enhance the design. 
• It is difficult to describe what goes into the process of developing a design on a bottle except that I look at  the bottle for a period of time to see what calls to me.  This bottle seemed perfect for this design but am now at the stage where it needs to sit again for a while so I can determine what to add to the top and bottom portion of the bottle.  
• Often I will sketch a random idea on a bottle to see how I think it will work out and then rework the design until I find something that I am satisfied with although I have been known to just sit down and begin doodling randomly and just go with the process.  
• However you look at it it is a fun process and you are re-purposing the bottles.  
• I will keep you posted on the next stages of the bottle.  

Leave me feedback!  I'd love to hear your comments.  

Patron Bottles and Glass Markers, A Match made in Heaven!

 I am a fan of Margaritas, especially those made with Patron.  That is one of my go to cocktails when we go out to dinner.  Before Christmas my husband and I were finishing up our Christmas shopping and decided to stop at our local state liquor store and saw these absolutely adorable mini Patron bottles.  Of course I couldn't resist, Patron and an adorable bottle to go along with, it was a match made in heaven.  Sooooo I got two, one is good two is even better.  Naturally because they were so small I poured the alcohol into my larger Patron bottle, removed the labels, put them through the dishwasher and started doodling on them.  So cute!!!!!  Kind of like a puppy, cute and adorable but won't mess on your carpet!  Woo Hoo!!!

I have been experimenting with a variety of bottles and have had some great successes and some not so great.  I will keep you posted on some of my faves!

Now that I have been using these markers for quite some time I feel very comfortable giving you tips and techniques which seem to work well for me.

• First of all let each color dry before trying to change colors.  LOL.  Seriously this seems like a no-brainer, I  must be a slow learner because I had a few messes before I realized that you cannot rush this process.  When you first add the paint to the glass piece the color will be sticky, let the paint dry to the point where you can begin to layer paint colors, if you rush the process you will lift your paint.  Experiment with this because it will depend on your weather and humidity level. 
• If you make a mistake and need to make a correction you can easily remove your mistake for a short period of time with your finger or a wet tissue.  If you wait too long your paint will adhere to the glass and you will need to scratch the paint off.  Trust me on this one, remove the paint early on.  
• The white and black paint markers are opaque and can be used to mask out areas which you may not be completely happy with.  The colored markers are transparent.
• If you are using a colored bottle many of the colored markers will  not show up except on a clear bottle, use the white marker to mask out an area, let it dry completely and then color over the white area with a colored marker.  Make sure that this area is completely dry otherwise the white paint will lift.  I would recommend that you allow this to dry overnight before applying your colored layer.  
• You can easily shade and highlight with the markers just make sure that each paint layer is dry before working over another color.  
• The paint will blend somewhat when placed in the oven to heat set and the paint colors will become slightly more intense.  
• I do not worry if you see my strokes as I color on the bottle, that is part of the charm of each bottle.  The whimsy that occurs as you develop your design is part of the charm of each piece.  
• Don't sweat the small stuff, have fun.  

I will post more tips and techniques as I discover the ins and outs of glass painting.  

Aren't these mini Patron bottles adorable?  

Everyday with the Artist's Club

I was so thrilled to be selected to be a part of the Artist's Club first compilation artist book.  The group of artists is so talented and I am honored to have been asked to be a part of it.  This is a first for me, as many of you know I published my own e-book this year and now to be a part of a compilation project is a dream come true.  LOL, check and check off of my bucket list.  This is my project which is called Life Is....... and is the first in a series of banner projects that Artist's Club has asked me to complete.  The second will be out as a pattern later on this spring or summer.  The banner is painted on Roc Lon and the  Life banner holder is a wood piece.  All can be purchased at www.artistsclub.com.