I have a new tutorial ready to post but I am sorry to say it is going to have to wait a day or two, I just have too much homework and other things that need to be done before I can spend any real time posting here.  oh how I wish it were summer!! I promise to get it posted asap! I did at least want to post…

…clue #6: Sometimes we get a second chance to leave a first impression.

TTFN

thank you for looking at my blog

KP

a pendant/pin by me, kristen. Made using my paper jewelry technique and wood icing.

Here is a pendant /pin I made. It is different because  I have been experimenting  with wood icing on paper. I will tell you all about the process soon, as it will be one of my upcoming tutorials. As you can see from the picture, the painting is dimensional.  I really like the effect and it is easy and fun to work with.  I have done a few pieces and it seems to be working out great! Look here this weekend for more pictures and projects.

Clue # 2:  I am going around the block.

No I’m not running for office! I have entered my typography owl design in a bag contest on bagstab . If my design wins then it will get sold on the bagstab site! So if ya get a chance please click on over and vote. In the meantime, I am so sorry for not posting lately. I have just been really busy working on a few major projects!   But stay tuned and continue to LOOK here on my blog for the unveiling of a BIG Surprise. Each day from now until Valentine’s Day I will give a little clue…..

Anyway, here is my messenger bag design. Go to bagstab even if you don’t vote for mine it is a really cool site!

My Type of Owl messenger bag design by me, kristen! (made completely from symbols & typefaces)

cheers,

Kristen

Happy Friday! I was not going to post a new tute until Sunday but I had this idea and I couldn’t wait! I have always loved “Nesting Dolls”. I didn’t even know until recently, that they are called Matryoshkas. My good friend, Elana, is from Russia. She went home to visit her family at Christmas and I asked her to bring me some “nesting dolls”.  She just gave me a blank look until I described what I wanted, then she smiled and said, “Oh,  you mean, matryoshka doll!”  Yes, that is exactly what I meant! And she did bring me back a beautiful set. (Thank  you Elana. I love them!) I have been wanting to create some cute charms or do some illustrations of these beautiful, whimsical, colorful dolls ever since and, well, this is the first thing that ‘came out’. I thought it would be pretty simple and it really is! Once again, I try to create projects that are versatile and that you can ‘make  your own’…. Make some big and some small, try different color schemes or  make up a few different sizes  and string them on a necklace…whatever you want. But, whatever you do, have fun!

matryoshka doll earrings by me, kristen!

Here is a short list of things you will need:

1) air dry clay

2) eye pin(s)

3) acrylic craft paints

4) small detail paint brush

5) wire cutter

6) earring hooks

the supplies you will need for matryoshka doll charm(s)

get a pinch of air dry clay

(about this size)

roll your clay. you want to make a pear shape.

pinch it a bit. be gentle and use a bit of water if you need to smooth it, but only to moisten, you don't want it too wet.

it will look something like this...

cut your eye pin down to approx. 1/2 inch.

insert your eye pin into the top of your pear shaped, wet clay. let dry overnight or until completely hardened.

letting it dry overnight. tick tock, tick tock...... waiting is the hard part.

after it has hardened overnight, paint it in the base color of your choice.

paint the face. this is where you can get really creative! make her as simple or as detailed as you wish. maybe give her rosy cheeks and a little heart shaped mouth...black hair or blonde? If you are not sure, then make a few little sketches first. remember, if you make a mistake, you can always paint over it with your base color, let it dry and start over!

here is my example with her finished face and the start of the body design...

here she is with her body design completed, i used hearts, swirls, flowers and dots...

now add a little something to the back.

add your earring finding or a jump ring...(and I added one, quick coat of glossy mod podge.)

if you want earrings, make two!! awwwwww. pretty darn cute huh?

* here is a view of the back and front!

valentine angel pendant by me, kristen!

Here is another angel that I recently made as a paper pendant. I think she has such a sweet and angelic face! Sorry I don’t have much time to write tonight, weekdays are super busy for me now that school is back in full swing. I will post more this weekend….look for a new tutorial on Sunday night!

The Phoenix is such a symbol of hope and renewal. Perfect for a cold day in January!

It’s Sunday evening and I have so much going through my head right now. I start back to school tomorrow after a much needed (and much too short) break! Most of the time didn’t really feel like a “break” anyway with all of the busy-ness of the holidays and the many hours of shopping, cleaning and cooking. I’m not complaining because it was fun to have time with the family and it’s always wonderful to have my oldest girl home from college.  But as usual, time just flies by and before Calgon can take me away, the time has passed.  Like I said, it’s back to school tomorrow and it’s going to be a full load. The kid started back last Tuesday but then had a four day weekend due to the snow and ice and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s going to be rough on all of us getting back into a routine in this frigid weather, ugh!

I sure hope you have enjoyed my tutorials and the new look of kristen powers ink!  I plan on posting at least one or two craft  tutorials per week. I hope that if you like what I am doing you will subscribe. I have a lot in the works for this year, so please check in often!

Artfully yours,

Kristen

make this to hang in your studio or as a sweet gift for your favorite creative friend!

Hi ! Here is another craft idea that is really fun to do with the kids! It’s pretty simple to make and it is just really sweet!

Here is the list of things you will need:

here are some supplies you will need to make your little colored pencils...

1) a few ’round’ toothpicks

2) a tiny wood flower pot (or you could use a thimble)

3) white glue

4) craft acrylic paints in the colors of your choice

5) small paintbrush

6) scissors

This is a versatile little project! You can paint the pot with whatever colors, designs or message you would like (of course you can!) And you may turn it into a magnet, a pin or even a super cute pencil topper! See the photos for full instructions! Have fun…..

cut your toothpicks to desired length (if the cut end is rough you may want to smooth with a nail file).

paint your toothpick with craft paint, leaving about 1/8 inch of the pointed end unpainted.

now paint just the very tip of the toothpick with the same color.

here is what they will look like when they are all painted!

paint your pot with whatever colors or designs you wish.

here is my fnished pot!

put a few drops of glue into the bottom of your painted pot.

place your pencils into the glue....

now you may add a magnet or pinback or find some other clever use for this whimsical little pot of cuteness! Enjoy!

Hope you make lots of “colored pencils” (it’s so funny because people ask me all the time if they are real pencils!) Please check back soon and I will show you a couple more cute things you can do with these tiny treasures! TTFN…

Artfully yours,

Kristen

Here is my first ever blog craft tutorial ! You can make this sweet angel pendant/pin with a few supplies and a bit of time!

Here is a list of items that you will need:

1. poly shrink plastic

2.fine black sharpie

3. colored pencils

4. 24 g. craft wire

5. wire cutters, round nose plier, 1/8 hole punch

6. a few beads (with holes big enough to fit on the wire)

7. pin back

8.industrial strength glue (I use quick grab or e-6000)

* for shrinking the plastic, I use a craft heat tool and a couple of blocks of wood. You may want to use and oven-follow the shrink plastic instructions…

start with a piece of shrink plastic approx.3.5x4.5 inches. sand one side until sheen is gone.

draw your image on the sanded side using your sharpie marker. (if you are satisfied with your drawing, I recommend making a copy of your image so that you may trace it again in the future).

cut out your shrink plastic image

color (the rough side) using your pencils

punch holes for the arms, legs and "hair".

this is what the rough side looks like once it is all colored and the holes are punched.

now you can shrink it using a craft heat gun (you may also use an oven or toaster oven-follow manufacturer directions for this procedure).

shrink it until it is flat. let it cool before handling.

add wire and beads for hair. "curl" hair using round nose pliers.

continue adding wire to make hair full and cover up the punch holes and add arms and legs.

make a separate little heart on scrap of plastic, cut out and shrink.

glue on a pin back and/or bail on the side that you colored on-the opposite side (shiny side) will be your front.

Isn't she cute?

If you don’t want to make one yourself, you can purchase one that I have made by visiting my Etsy shop!

January 5th already? Is that even possible? Aargh! I start back to school in just 6 short days and my biggest consolation is that it will be summer in the blink of an eye…Well,  I know I have been remiss in my blogging but I have made a promise to myself that I would post something at least 4 times a week. Now I can’t say for sure what I will blog or how long the posts will be, but I am going to put something up to at least keep the visuals fresh. Of course my ultimate goal is to have a blog with tons of art and craft ideas and instructions along with interviews and pictures of great artists and craft-apreneurs. I hope to strive more towards those goals once I am finished with school. But in the meantime, I hope to continue to post my new art and chat about my oh-so-exciting- life!!!

TTFN,

kristen

"The Fun in Fungi"

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If you have looked at my blog at all, you know I love rainbows! I wanted to paint a different sort of rainbow! And here she is!