Time for Backgrounds

Sometimes when I am feeling a little empty creatively or just don't have a lot of time...I like to sit down and work on backgrounds. I will have about 5 or 6 going at one time. I will use my journal, wood pieces, canvas, and cardboard. I use whatever my hands can grab and just build up some yummy layers. 

The backgrounds come pretty easily. I love working on them. I can really stick to my "don't think too much" rule when I am working on backgrounds. There are times when I want something very specific on a canvas and I will really plan that out. But, for the most part it just comes to me as I go. 

Look! I used all the slips with names from my giveaway for my first layer! :)

Then, when I have a creative burst, I have several different pieces to grab and work on top of. Like I said, I don't always work like that. But it sure does end some of my "creative blocks." :)

 One of my favorite tools...well, maybe a mild obsession...is a brayer. Oh, how I love the way a brayer can spread paint in a completely random yet beautiful way. I love the effect, don't you? Unfortunately my beloved brayer has gone missing. A certain little 3 year old loves to lurk around all my art goodies (what 3 year old wouldn't!) and I have a sneaking suspicion that he has found a lovely place for my brayer. A place no one can find! :) He loves putting keys in toy boxes, camera SD cards in his sister's Barbie house, and you should see all the things he has hidden behind the couch. Anyways, I have been working without one for over a month...and I think it is time to get a new one. You know it will turn up a day after I rip open the new one. It always happens like that!! :)

I was wondering...are you a "start to finish" artist or do you work on several things at once? Any favorite background tools in your artistic stash? 

Giveaway Winners!!!

Oh my gosh! I had so fun doing this giveaway. Thank you so much to all who participated, left comments, and shared about it on your blogs. I liked it so much...I have to do it again soon. Hmmm, maybe when I reach 100 followers. :) I am pretty close!!

But, now enough of the talking...let's get to the winners.

I had another super adorable studio assistant help me 

pull names out of a bowl.

Sooooo.... Here we go!!

Third prize goes to the ever lovely

Daniele Valois from Creating Learning Flying!  

Second prize is flying all the way to dreamy New Zealand.

 Congrats Michele from Just Pipi!

And finally, drum roll please...

First Prize goes to the very talented  

 Diane Salter from My Art Journal!

Congratulations to all of these wonderfully creative ladies. 

Please email (sadielanestudio@gmail.com) me your addresses 

so I can get your packages into the mail this next week.

Thank you all, and I am looking forward to visiting all your blogs soon.

Have a beautiful weekend,

Naptime Journaling

Most of my time to "get painting" is during my son's nap. You know, those 2 (Yeah right!) golden hours of the day when my little man is nestled away in his bed. Those delectable 2 hours where I can do almost anything I want. Hmmm, well now that he turned 3 and he is a "big boy" he seems to think that naps are obsolete. 

What?? 

No, no...you must sleep. 

Please, pretty please. 

Today he lasted about 20 minutes and instead of napping, I had the most adorable studio assistant around. :)  I can't complain about that!!

 Here are some journal pages that I started today. I am really loving the blue, green, and yellow color combination for the background on the left. I have found that my color of choice...the color I am drawn to most is turquoise. It always seems to find a way into most of my paintings or journals. 

background doodles

The circles on the right page are punched (using my one inch punch) from the craft paper that I have down under my work. I line my studio table with cheap craft paper. Keep it there for a couple weeks (maybe even months) and then use those yummy textured bits in my art. 

I am hoping I have time this weekend to finish these two pages!!  Tomorrow I will be back to post the winners of my giveaway. I am so excited to see who wins all the goodies. :) I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to shower me with love. Your comments and support mean the world to me. Thank you!! See you tomorrow.

Find me on Instagram @ sadieinspired

Linking up to Paint Party Friday and Sneak Peek Friday

Journals and Insta-Love

I am so close to finishing my art journal. (Happy Dance!)

Truth be told, I like to work in a few different art journals at once.

Some I make from odds & ends, scraps of paper, and things headed to the recycle bin. I also buy some of the journals from Michaels or Dick Blick.

But, my "main" journal has been an XL Canson Mixed Media that I bought last summer to start during Kristin's (LOVE!) Summer of Color. (Who by the way is continuing again this summer with Summer of Color 2! You must join along. It is a fabulous way to gain inspiration and more creative connections. SO much fun!) I am only a few pages away from completing it. Yeah! I have a 9x12 Strathmore Visual Journal waiting in the wings to take over. :)

Also, as you can see I have taken the Instagram dive. Like I need one more thing to distract me. Lol. But, really who wants to scrub showers and do laundry anyways. Let me sit and ponder photo filters instead. I ADORE taking pictures so this is right up my alley. Plus, I am attempting Project Life (Oh, yes...yes I am.) this year & these little pictures make my heart skip a beat. :)

A picture of my dog - just because.

 I hope you are having a fabulous week. It is a GOR-geous day today, and I am looking forward to my daughter's Open House at school tonight. My poor little baby had to miss school yesterday (Um, this future President bursts into tears at the thought of missing school...she loves it so much!) and was panic stricken when she thought she may have to miss Open House. So thankfully she is well and we are ready to celebrate  her.

Her Royal Cuteness

Thank you so much for joining in my 100th Post Giveaway!! 

If you haven't had a chance to enter, there is still time! 

Please visit this post and leave a comment.

Thank you!!

MY 100th Post and a Giveaway!!! :)

 Hi!

I am SO excited. I have made it to 100!!!

100!

If you knew me in person (and some of you do) you would know 

that I am a really shy, quiet girl. 

So the fact that I have actually taken this artistic journey out into the public 

and pushed that publish button 100 times is a celebration. :)

I have been so completely blessed 

by those of you who take the time to read, comment, follow,

 support, and share your stories with me.

From the bottom of my heart - THANK YOU!

SO in honor of my gratitude & 100, it is time for a giveaway. Yay!!

Let's start with FIRST PLACE...

• An original "Spread Love" 5x7 painting with a stand
• A $25 gift card to Michael's...so you can get your shop on :)
• A darling Dream bottle cap necklace
• Two clear patterned stamps
• Some vintage Hamlet book pages & a variety of other papers
• A goodie bag filled with various bits of my loot!

SECOND PLACE...

• An original 4x4 painting with stand
•  A Strathmore Visual Journal (5.5x8)
• A cutie Dream bottle cap necklace
• Some vintage Hamlet book pages & a variety of other papers
• Another goodie bag filled with various bits of my stash!

    

Nope, not done yet - THIRD PLACE...

•  An original "Love Trusts" 4x4 painting with stand
• Some vintage Hamlet book pages & a variety of other papers
• Yes! Another goodie bag filled with various bits of my supplies! (I hoard!)

Now, here is the fun part - how to enter.

Simply leave a comment on this post and you will be entered.

That's it! Easy. :)

If you want your name to be entered a second time, I would love for you to mention my celebration giveaway on one of your blog posts.

Just come back and leave me another comment with a link to that post. 
I will leave the comments open until Thursday, March 22st at midnight PST. 
***Update: This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who participated.  Winners will be chosen soon! 

GOOD LUCK Friends!! :)

On the Table...

Yesterday I started a large (for me) 16x20 canvas.

Sometimes it takes me forever to finish a small 5x7,
but I was determined to get this one close to completion. 

I was very fortunate to have a couple hours all to myself!

So naturally I put on some good music, grabbed some coffee (seems to be my creative companion),
and painted like a mad woman. :)

I used the same process as I did before here.

I am having fun experimenting and finding my way down this creative branch.

I was only using acrylics, so I actually felt like I was missing

book pages, paper, stencils, and stamps.

Next time I think I will try and incorporate them into the background.
I still hand yummy "painty" (yes, totally made up word) fingers.

So here she sits now. Very bright colors for me. But, I just went with it. 
Both my in house art expert (Hubby) and I think it needs 
more layers of paint, mainly in the yellow & orange areas. 

I am looking forward to working on it and adding words. 
(Of course. Lol. I always feel like it needs words!)
I am also looking forward to joining Paint Party Friday & 
Sneak Peek Friday this week. 


ALSO...please, please, please (yes, this is me begging - pretty please!)
come back Sunday for my 
100th post!! 
I will be having my first giveaway and 
I would love for you to join in the celebration!!


Until then have a beautiful, inspired weekend.

Floating in a Sea of Inspiration...

That is exactly what I feel like.

(So much inspiration.)

I have so many things running around in my head... but, sometimes nothing gets to canvas.

Today was not one of those days.

Still super inspired by Traci, having a total art crush on Flora, and watching some awesome videos of Donna - I really wanted to get into my paints to play.

I started with 2 small 5x7 canvases, put on some music, and swirled away with my acrylics. 

I focused on a few different colors for each piece.

Then grabbed some black and made some designs.

Fun finger painting came next. It is amazing how freeing using fingers can be!  I was using Americana craft paints, which I love. But, they dry very quickly so I imagine professional paint like Golden would have worked better.

Here is the first canvas. I HAD to add white pen here & there because I am obsessed with it. :)

It is still a work in progress, and I am thinking about which words I want to paint onto it.

The second canvas also needs a little more work and some words.

Hmmm...what should I write?

All I know for sure is my creative mojo was flying today. 

I also finished a journal page, prepped another, and worked on a Life Book lesson. I was also lucky that my son was enjoying his time in the studio too so mommy could get messy! Lol. I can't wait to make more like this. I think some 16x20 canvases are calling my name. :)

What is inspiring your creative juices today?

Almost...

It is almost here...

Can you feel it?

I can, and I can't wait!

Doodling in my journal with Sharpie & watercolor

What do you like about spring?

Trust and Listen

 I just finished my journal page from Mystele's lesson from Life Book.

I completely enjoy her style of teaching.

I always feel so relaxed and hopeful when I watch her work.

I created the background last week. Then pulled the images from the shapes I saw. It is interesting to watch where the painting goes...when I start without any real plan. 
Play, relax, layer, don't get attached, and repeat!
I think I might go back and add a few more things. 

But, in the meantime...just trust and listen. :)

Have a beautiful rest of the weekend.
Sharing my work with Studio Sneak Peek and Paint Party Friday.