March Customer Creation Challenge

An InLinkz Link-up

Some cards I've missed sharing...

Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for the comments on my last post! I really appreciate your feedback. It helps me to get over being shy about posting my own artwork.
Here are a couple of cards that I just realized that I haven't shared yet. They're from Christmas as well. As you can see I don't do seasonal well ;) Hope you like them!

I've really enjoyed learning how to create background texture with acrylic paint. Especially like how it turned out in this one. I used Spiral Branch Set and Flying Hummingbird 3 from my stamp collection.

In this one I used an old plastic doily that I found at my grandparents house to sponge paint through (top left and bottom right). I also used Hanging Droplets Set and Luna.

.

Well that's it. Just a short one from me today :) Hope you have a great weekend!
Ryn

A card for my dad

Hey everyone,
I wanted to show you a card that I gave to my dad a little while ago. He's always been one of my biggest supporters. I remember making cards to "auction" to him and my grandparents for .10 cents and .20 cents when I was just a little person. 20 years later I'm still making cards. Makes me smile to think about. Continuity :)
I still show him all of my creations and look forward to his always enthusiastic response and critique. I've learned a lot of what I know about composition and design from him. Better yet, I learned how important it is to show enthusiasm. I can hear it in his voice and feel the excitement off of him when he sees something that inspires him. It's wonderfully contagious!
When I showed him this card before Christmas he loved it! I knew from his response that it belonged to him. How could I give it to anyone else when it made him so happy? I guess this post is for him too. Just want to say Thank You dad for teaching me about art, but more importantly for showing me how to get excited about it :) I'm so thankful for your continued influence in my life!

To make this card, I made a background with Dylusions ink sprays. When it was dry I rubbed green Distress Ink through my Maidenhair Fern stencil.
I then coated the background with Golden Matte Medium. That gave it the texture that you can see in the second shot. See the paintbrush strokes?
On top of that I used Versa Fine ink to stamp Selini from my stamp collection. I then used Golden acrylic paint to colour it in. I mixed my colours with an iridescent paint from Golden to give it a slightly metallic look (also visible in the second shot). I am in love with Golden iridescent paints. The golds look like liquid gold leaf!!!
Lastly, I added some crackle accents on the wings to give them some dimension and texture. C'est fini!
Oh! And I should probably mention as well that Selini is coming soon as part of an unmounted sheet. I've decided to put my whole moth collection on a 8.5" by 5.5" sheet. It should be ready mid-March. I will keep you posted!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I always love reading your comments if you have a moment to leave me one :)
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!
Ryn

February Sales!

Hello everyone,
I can't believe we're in February already! Just a quick one from me today. I've picked some stamps to discount by 50% for this month and I have the January Customer a creation Challenge winner to announce.

Customer Creation Challenge Winner

I have also randomly drawn a winner for last month's Customer Creation Challenge. A big congratulations to Clauida Mowitz!!! Here are her three entries for the challenge...

Many thanks for all of the entries last month - 35 in total. That's amazing! Way to go everyone! Starting off the New Year with lots of inspiration :) I've posted Februarys' Challenge so please do contribute again this month. You know I love seeing your art!

February Sales

Leopard Spots - $4.99

Fish Scales - $4.99

Starfish Set - $6.99

Sending my very best to all of you! Thanks for stopping by :)

Ryn

February Customer Creation Challenge!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tammy's Amazing Works in Polymer Clay

Hey everyone,

It's been a while since I wrote up a Guest Designer post. This will be the first of 2015! I love doing these! I get to introduce you to a new artist and show how they interpret my stamps in their unique style and medium of choice.

I can't wait to show you the polymer light switches of Tammy M. Baker. They're so unique! Tammy has also done something really nice for us. She's offered us a 15% discount coupon on any of her original art pieces (RYN15) on her Etsy shop. More on that later... First things first, here's a bit about the artist :)

A Bit About Tammy

"I live in Sunrise, Florida, just west of Ft. Lauderdale and north of Miami. I have always loved to create, be it painting or making jewelry. For many years when my kids were young we traveled the state doing Art Shows on the weekends selling my mixed media jewelry. Then for some reason, life just got in the way of creating. I packed up my supplies and put them in the garage. Many years passed and my daughter grew up and had my granddaughter, Tiffany. When cleaning out the garage and opening up the boxes of beads, gems and filigrees, Tiffany asked me why I didn’t make things anymore. Her curiosity and enthusiasm sparked that creative fire deep inside of me. This was in 2009, since then I have two shops on Etsy and a few items on Society 6."

Creative Process

"This is how I make them… I start with a light switch cover made of metal, condition the polymer clay and stamp or texture a background sheet. I apply the sheet to the switch plate and then layer with other stamped images. Then mica powders, acrylic paints or inks are added for color and shine. The switch plate is cured in an oven for almost and hour and Viola! a unique accessory to replace that boring old switch plate. I have used Ryn’s mermaid stamps, since I live in Florida, with a sea life theme. I love the deep texture and detailed images of each stamp."

Polymer Light Switch Plate Gallery

As always with my Guest Designer Spotlights, I didn't ask Tammy to use my stamps exclusively. I don't like to limit creativity so these pieces are a mix of my stamp designs and those of other companies.

Striped Reed Set and Circle Cluster Set. I just LOOOVE this one!

In this piece Tammy used one of the stamps from Koi Set (bottom left).

Isn't the marbling in the Koi fish neat?!

Koi Set again. Love the eyes!

Fiddlehead Set at the top of the plate

Fiddlehead Set in neon. Fun combo with the Indian themed designs!

Striped Reed Set. The copper and blue colour combination is really stunning in this piece.

Ornate Leaf Set and Sea Bubbles Set in earth tones

Contact Tammy

Thanks everyone for taking a look at this Guest Spot. If you liked Tammy's art you can see more of her creations in her Etsy store: tmbakerdesigns.Etsy.com She also does custom pieces. If you've got an Etsy account you can also send her a message. I'm sure she would love to hear from you :)

Here's a screen shot that I just took... She's got mixed media pieces in there as well. I'm so inspired by her art! I'll be doing another Spotlight on her soon featuring her mixed media approach with Designs by Ryn stamps.

Special 15% Off Coupon

I mentioned her special coupon... As I said, it's for 15% off and can be applied when you are checking out. She told me that she will keep the coupon active for a year. Isn't that wonderful?! You can see her pricing in the screenshot. Totally blows my mind for original works of art! The code is RYN15

You can also find Tammy at this site: studiotambria.Etsy.com In this store she sells handmade pendants and beads. It's all one of a kind.

Well that's it for now. Thanks so much for stopping by. Please do leave a comment and feel free to share. Tammy doesn't have a blog so I'm sure she'll be popping by to read any feedback that you leave here :)

Bye for now!

Ryn

My Second Video Tutorial

Hey everyone,

You were all so encouraging with my first video that I got to it and made another. Lol. How is it possible that I am more scared to post my second video than the first?! Maybe because I want to keep doing a good job for you. Hopefully after I'm done a few the jitters will go away ;)

Watercolour Technique using Mohair Wool

This one is a Watercolour Technique using Mohair Wool to create subtle background texture. This technique works with any fur-like fibre. I actually stumbled across it by accident thanks to one of my cats. The story is at the end of the video ;)

I use Dylusions ink sprays to demonstrate the effect but you can also use Watercolour Paints, Tombow Markers, or most inks/water-based paints.

The video is 4 minutes long. I'm trying to keep my video tutorials short while being as clear as possible. I would love for you to leave me a comment. They really motivate me to step out of my comfort zone to make more videos for you :) Here goes!

Bye for now,

Ryn

 

January Customer Creation Challenge

An InLinkz Link-up

Lucine in Daylight

Hey everyone,

Here's one of my latest experiments. I sent it as a non-traditional Christmas card to a special lady. It arrived already so I can post it now. I didn't want to spoil the surprise! I've got a few more to show that I did around the same time. First things first...

I've been teaching myself how to colour my stamps with acrylic paint. I'm also learning how to make layered texture in the background. Really enjoying the process!

This is the card before I added a focal point to it. Striped Reed Set stamped in the background and also stamped, coloured, fussy cut and glued on overtop. I stamped Raindrops along the left side and used white paint and a very fine brush to highlight the drops. I liked it at this stage but felt like it needed something...

Below is what I finally settled with. I added Lucine from my moth collection and sponged on some gold paint along the left side of the card.

A close up of the detailing on Lucine. Painted with Golden acrylic paints. Stickles sparkles along the edges and finally some Crackle Accents. The cracks add to the fuzzy look. Completely unintentional but I like it!

Trying to catch the iridescent paint in this shot below.

That's it for now :) Hope you like my card!
Bye bye,
Ryn

January Sales, Challenge Winner and a Card...

Hey everyone,

I can't believe we're in the New Year already!!! Thanks so much to those who left me comments and well wishes on my last post. I do read all of them and so appreciate you taking the time to send some good energy my way :)

On to January sales, the December Customer Creation Challenge winner and a card that I made...

January Sales

I've discounted the following stamps by 50%... Thinking ahead for Valentine's Day...

Vine Heart - $4.99

Flower Lace 2 - $4.49

Flower Lace 1 - $4.99

December's Customer Creation Challenge

Lots of beautiful creations in last month's challenge. Thanks to all who shared their art with me and the community! Here's a link if you want to check out last month's entries. Anyone is welcome to participate. Whether you are just beginning to explore creating or if you've been at it for years. If you've bought my stamps from one of the retailers carrying Designs by Ryn that's fine too. Please send along your art. I love seeing what you make :)

I've randomly picked a winner for December's challenge to receive a free stamp. A BIG congratulations to Ricki!!!!

One of my latest cards...

I've been having fun using my moth collection to learn how to paint the stamped images with acrylic paint. The background was made with a combination of Dylusions Ink Sprays and Golden acrylic paint.

I applied modeling paste to Maidenhair Fern (stencil). When dry, I put the stencil back over the image and sponged on some Golden Iridescent Pearl (Fine) to the tips of the leaves. I also stamped Snowflakes subtly in the background using Golden Interference Blue.

I stamped Lucine, cut it out and glued it onto the card. I then painted it and added some Golden Iridescent Pearl (Fine) to tie it in with Maidenhair Fern. I then added Crackle Accents to parts of its body for added texture.

I tried to capture the right angle to show the blue snowflakes in this photo. I stamped them with Golden Interference Blue.

The finished card

That's it for now! Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my post :)

Ryn