three important things

important thing number one:

if you've been wanting to learn more about watercolor, but didn't know where to start, check out a new class called "pear-ology"!  it's being offered by my dear sweet friend and art buddy martha lever,  and she will share all her secrets of painting a great pear!   you'll learn tons of wonderful watercolor and background tips along the way to becoming a bonafide pear-ologist!  the doors to this fun class are now open over at creative workshops, and you can find more information about it here!  

important thing number two:

you have left me absolutely speechless with your overwhelming response to my giveaway.....

thank you, thank you, thank you!!

the random integer has chosen number ninety-seven, and that means that the blank watercolor journal will be on it's way to sharon over at "my art journal"!

and for all of you bloggy sweeties, i'm sending a huge hug the size of texas to you

right now!  i appreciate your love, support and kindness more than i could ever express!  xox

super-important thing number three:

i hope your Easter weekend is filled with
abundant blessings and promises for a beautiful springtime!
happy Easter!!
xox

inspiration monday giveaway!

as much as i love to create in a blank journal,
i also really love to create the blank journal itself!
and i've especially loved creating this particular journal, because it's for a
reason that's very close to my heart.

because with each poke of the needle into the paper.....

and each stitch made with the waxed linen thread....

i was thinking about how much i appreciate each and every one of you bloggy sweeties!
and even though i don't say it nearly often enough, please know that all of you beautiful little rays of sunshine who so lovingly stop by here from time to time to leave a sweet smile, words of encouragement, and inspiration galore, are cherished more than i could ever say!  

so please leave just one comment on this post to enter my giveaway,
because i would love for you to have this blank watercolor journal!
and even though it's a very small token of my gratitude,
the thought comes from the top, middle, and bottom of my thankful heart
(and everywhere else in between!!).


thank you, little bloggy sweetheart!!  
i think you're awesome!!

{to enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment here on this post 
(just one per person, please!) by 10:00 p.m. EST on wednesday, april 4th. 
a name will be chosen using the random integer, 
and i'll announce it on thursday, april 5th. 
please make sure that your comment either links back to 

your blog, or you leave your e-mail so i can contact you if your name is chosen!

(this giveaway is open to all bloggy sweeties who are 18 years of age or older.)}

{this blank journal was created using davey board, arches text wove paper for the covers, PVA glue, strathmore 140 lb. CP watercolor paper, waxed linen thread, metal eyelets}


edited:  comments are now closed......thank you for participating!!

giveaway winner!

in my heart of hearts, i never once dreamed there would be such a wonderful response to my giveaway!  thank you SO much for participating, for your lovely comments, and for your visits to my blog!   when it comes to bloggy sweeties, you are the best of the best, and i appreciate you more than you'll ever know (insert enormously big hugs here!!)!!

for the giveaway, i paid a little visit to mr. random.org, and he chose lucky number 17.....

and that means that beth over at simply B will be joining us in the letterLAB!  woo hoo!

congratulations, beth!  i've sent you an e-mail to the address you listed in your comment!

and for all of you who have already registered, thank you from the top, middle and bottom of my heart.....i'll see you in the LAB on monday!!  xox

inspiration monday - halloween giveaway!

today is halloween......it's a day to be inspired by some goofy fun!

it's a day of candy corn!  those little yellow and orange sugar triangles with white tips have been a favorite of mine since i was a kid (and i have all the fillings in my teeth to prove it!)

it's a day of mini pumpkins, extra large pumpkins, and every pumpkin in between.

and once the perfect pumpkin is picked, then the master-carving begins.

 it's a day of chocolate, nougat, peanuts, caramel and everything else that tastes great and has lots of calories........all wrapped up in a perfect little package of oooey-goooey mini candy bars.  this is another traditional favorite of mine.....not only on halloween,  but every day of the year! (my hips tell the story so much better than i ever could.)

and it's especially a day of trick-or-treating!  but i must admit, 
i've never been a big fan of the tricks....i'm all about the treats!  
and today i'd like to treat one of you with a giveaway for a seat in 
my online letterLAB class that begins on november 7th! 

all you have to do is leave a comment (just one, please!) on this post by 
wednesday, november 2nd at 8:00 p.m. (EST)!  
once the comments are closed on wednesday, i'll randomly choose a name 
and announce it on thursday, november 3rd!
please make sure that your comment either links back to 
your blog, or you leave your e-mail so i can contact you if your name is chosen!
(this giveaway is open to all those who are 18 years of age or older.)

and.....if you've already registered for the class, please join in the giveaway!
if your name is chosen, your registration fee will be refunded to you!

happy halloween!!  xox

{letterLAB is my new online class that is being offered over at creative workshops and focuses on cursive handwriting and different variations!  you can read more about it here!}

edited:  thanks SO much for your support of my giveaway!!!  comments are now closed!

the random.org wizard speaks.....

***giveaway results***

 the response to my giveaway was overwhelming......THANK YOU!!

so instead of choosing one name as i had originally planned, i asked the random.org wizard to pick three bloggy sweeties for me......and this is what he said:

so means that
twyla, #14
leslie, #16
and jeanette, #24
have a new art print coming their way!

thank you, thank you, thank you to each and every one of you for 

the sweet, precious comments you have left here on my blog!!  

i am truly overwhelmed and overcome with sheer delight in knowing you!!

i've said it before, and i'm sayin' it again:

you are the bloggy best!!!

xoxo

{inspiration monday coming up shortly!}

friday giveaway hug!

i have received so many wonderful blessings since i began this blog......but without a doubt, my absolute sweetest blessing has been meeting so many wonderful bloggy friends!  it would be really difficult to try to put into words just how much i adore you.........how much i'm inspired by you.......and how much i truly appreciate all of your support and sweet comments every time you visit here.

there are many days where i have lots of doubts about what i'm doing (well, actually,  i usually have no idea what i'm doing!!), but i think that's where being able to turn to your blog-buddies for feedback helps so incredibly much!  and it's only because of your encouragement that i've felt brave enough to put my artwork "out there".
and for that......please consider yourself bear-hugged.....and i mean bear-hugged BIG!!

in celebration of YOU, my bloggy sweeties, i'm having a little giveaway.  i'd like to offer one of the prints in my etsy shop (your choice).....to say thank you for taking the time to stop by here and say hello......and for cheering your fellow bloggy sweeties on......and for leaving a smile.....and well, for all of those other things that are on my heart that there really are no words for.

xox

{giveaway details:  just leave a comment (one per person, please) on this post by 10:00 EST sunday, the 14th of august,  and i'll choose a name via random.org and announce it on monday!} 


{other:  please make sure you leave a link or an e-mail address where i can contact you.....
and if you're under 18 years of age, make sure you have permission to enter this giveaway!}


edited:  comments are now closed for the giveaway......thanks SO much for your support!!!

and the stamps go to.....

thanks to everyone who participated in my giveaway!  i wish i could tell you how much i truly, truly appreciate your heartfelt comments and support of my artwork.....you are the absolute bloggy best!!

shortly after midnight the random integer chose comment #36.......

and that's you connie jo!!

congratulations!!  

your new rubber stamps will be on their way to you pronto!

thanks again, sweet bloggers.......happy weekend to all of you!

xo

new stamps + almost 600 = a giveaway!

i noticed on my bloggy dashboard that i've almost reached 600 posts!!  woo hoo!  

let's celebrate!  and the timing's great because i've got the perfect party favors.....

new stamps in my shop!!  

so how about our first party trinket celebrate something that we all have in common: 

 we're artists.....say it loud and say it proud! 

(and stamp it all over your house, car, and your life!!)

and just because two favors are always better than one......here's the perfect way to let the special recipient know that "hey, it's handmade!" and you put all of your magnificent-artist-effort into that fabulous masterpiece you created for them!

  these stamps are made of deep-etched red rubber and are mounted onto high-density cling foam......and i'm giving away both of them!  all you need to do is leave a comment (one per person, please!) on this post by midnight friday the 18th of march, and i'll randomly choose a name and announce it on saturday!

you inspire me, encourage me, and always share a smile with me......

and i have 600 hugs for each and every one of you!  

thank you from the top, middle and bottom of my grateful heart!  xox

edited:  comments are now closed......thanks so much for participating!

red rubber results!

a huge thank you to everyone who joined in my red rubber giveaway!!  i SO appreciate all of your  heartfelt comments and sweet interest in my new rubber stamps......consider yourself bear-hugged!!!

and here are the giveaway results:

shortly after midnight, the random integer chose the number 9......

and that means that milkcan a.k.a. julie over at balzer designs has a package filled with three new art stamps coming her way!  woo hoo!!

(p.s.  if you don't know julie yet, check out her blog......it's busting at the seams with fabulous ideas and tutorials!)

thanks again for playing along.......i hope you have a fantastic sunday!!

red rubber giveaway!

it's thursday.......it's december.......(and baby, it's cold outside!)......

what better reason to celebrate than with a giveaway of my new rubber stamps! woo hoo!  

so let's start with a reminder to always "be you".....nobody does it better!

and how about a little incentive to keep those colored pencils, paint brushes, and crayons moving to color every delicious part of your world!

and because you inspire me so, i'm adding this one to the mix, too!

these stamps are made of deep-etched red rubber and can be used with almost any ink or paint......and i'm  giving away all three of them!  all you need to do is leave a comment (one per person, please!) on this post by midnight saturday the 11th of december, and i'll randomly choose a name and announce it on sunday!  

edited:  comments for the giveaway are now closed.....thanks to everyone who participated!!

you can read more about my new stamps in my etsy shop here!

and the treats go to......

the random integer has chosen three numbers as the recipients of the giveaway tags and bags, and they are......

number 10, julie bagamary!

number 13, marcela!

and number 36, chrissy!

thanks to everyone who played along with me!!!

and thank you again for your sweet support of my blog......

i appreciate each and every one of you!!!

xoxo

giveaway treats

that time of year is upon us......the time for pumpkins, apple bobbing, hay rides......and trick-or-treats!!  i've never been so much into tricks......i've always been a treats kinda gal.  especially where chocolate is concerned.  or candy corn.  so i pulled out these little tags and bags i made last year......

and decided to add this spooky guy to the mix.....

meet my "going-batty-thumbat"!   

this year, the tag is much larger in size (about 4.75" x 2.25").....and it may just be a little too large.....but i made some a little smaller, and somehow his wacky-goofy-eyes and little i-want-chocolate-now-fangs got lost......and let's face it, if you're gonna do treats, you may as well do them large, right?!!

so with treats in mind, i'm celebrating my 300th follower*  (woo hoo!!) and giving away not one, not two, but three sets of these tags and bags.....that's five of the candy corn tags, and five of the thumbat tags,  along with ten twist ties and ten plastic bags to put all of your sweet goodies inside.  

(sorry, candy corn not included......i already ate all of that....)

to participate, just leave a comment on this post by midnight saturday (the 16th)!  

(one comment per person, and please make sure i can contact you!!

also, you must be at least 18 years old since i'll need to ask you for your address if your name is chosen!)

i'll use the random integer to choose three names and announce it on sunday!!!

*i'm celebrating reaching 300 followers.....which means that i'm really celebrating YOU!!  thank you SO much to each and every one of you for treating me to your sweet comments and bloggy love every time you stop by for a visit!!!  i will always be searching, but feel like i'll never really be able to fully express my gratitude for your heartfelt encouragement and support of my artwork!!!  

consider yourself bear hugged three hundred times!!!!

party on.....

the dancing shoes have been danced in, we've shown off our party dresses, used our noisemakers, bobbed colorful balloons around the room.....and eaten cake......yes, we've eaten lots of chocolate cake!!!! the only thing left to do is hand out the door prize!!

mr. random.org chose number 49.....

.....and pat over at lost and found, that's you!!! woo hoo!!!

thank you everyone.....SO much(!)......for helping me to

celebrate my 500th blogpost! xox

i love a good party, and you made this one so special!!!

here's looking forward to the next one.....

party on, bloggy sweeties!!!

p.s. pat.....i'll be contacting you shortly for your address!!

five hundred hugs and a giveaway!!!

i'm celebrating today......in a five-hundred-blog-posts kind of way!!

five hundred posts!! woo hoo!!!

i've got my party shoes on, along with a fun hat and a cute noisemaker....

but wait, a party just isn't a party without a door prize, right?!

so i wanted to create something a little "five hundred" special .

it all started with this fun teal and black doodle paper

by elsie flannigan.....

and i couldn't resist adding a few of my own doodles using my white uniball signo pen!

then i covered a couple of davey boards with it......

after that, i found myself pawing through my party-paper-stash, and started folding all kinds of fun things to write on.....graph paper, plain paper, ledger paper, lined paper, colorful decorative paper.....and i even found some kraft envelopes.....for tucking in all of those other important papers that are top, top secret!

once it was all folded, i poked some holes in the boards and the papers, took six needles and some waxed linen thread and did some coptic-stitching.....just to bring all of those delicious papers together in proper party fashion.....

and just to make sure that everything is tucked neatly inside and won't wander off,

i added an elastic band to the side to keep it closed!

and presto.......a five-hundred-blogpost-doodle-journal-door-prize!!

so let's get this party started!!!

grab a balloon and a piece of chocolate cake (before i eat it all)!

and to make sure your name gets in the party hat for the door prize,

just leave a comment on this post by midnight thursday

(one comment per person, and please make sure i can contact you!).

i'll use the random integer to choose a name and announce it on friday!!

{important note: even with hats, noisemakers, and door prizes,

YOU are what makes this celebration so special!!!

my heart is filled with thankfulness that i have met so many

fabulous artists and sweet, sweet people over

these past five hundred posts.......

it truly is one of the most unexpected,

and greatest gifts that i've received!!

thank you for hanging in there with me, encouraging me,

and inspiring me.....

i give you five-hundred-times-ten bloggy hugs!!! }

edited midnight thursday: comments are now closed......

thank you SO much for joining my party!

winner to be announced friday!

400 hugs and a giveaway!

four hundred posts ago i wrote this, my very first blog entry:

thank you, martha, for encouraging me to start this blog...a digital journal of growth and progress in my world of art. i look forward to this crusade...armed, of course, with a bar of chocolate and a bag of potato chips.

and four hundred posts later, i'm celebrating the fact that things are still growing strong here in elvie studio, i'm still having fun being creative, and i'm still eating chocolate and potato chips...

but mostly, i'm celebrating you.....and thanking you for hanging in there with me through four hundred posts of babbling, blathering, and yada yada's. i could never truly express how much i appreciate your checking in with me every day, leaving such heartfelt and encouraging comments, and inspiring me by inviting me to over to your blogs to share in your world. meeting you and becoming friends with you has been the absolute highlight of my bloggy journey.....and i'm grateful for you four hundred times over!!

but what kind of celebration would this be without a door prize?!! my very first blog entry featured a handmade journal, so i'm following that lead, and i've created this little journal using repurposed hobby lobby gift cards and offcuts of my favorite decorative papers, and then bound it all together with some waxed linen thread and a coptic stitch.....and just to help keep your secrets safe inside, i've included an elastic band to keep it closed!

to make sure your name gets in the hat, just leave a comment on this post by midnight thursday (one comment per person, and please make sure i can contact you!). i'll use the random integer to choose a name and announce it on friday!!

and in the meantime, i'm sending you four hundred

woo-hoo-bloggy-hugs.....!

edited: thank you all for participating!! i'll be announcing the winner of the journal tomorrow!!!

a journal and a dancing mango

when i saw this paper, my memory reminded me of a time when my favorite outfit was a pair of stonewashed blue jeans and a beautiful brown suede fitted jacket.....you know, the kind with big leather patches sewn on the elbow section of the sleeves (which kinda indicates how far i'm going back in time!). for whatever reason, these denim blues and brown flourishes really spoke to me. isn't it amazing how one little piece of paper can provide such a random slice of joyful nostalgia?!

and speaking of random, the number 45 was chosen for the giveaway...... which means that darlene over at a dancing mango will be receiving a set of holly jolly note cards!! congratulations darlene! i'll be contacting you shortly for your address!

and thanks SO much to everyone who participated! your sweet comments and support mean more to me than i could ever express!!

i hope you have a fabulous weekend!!

holly jolly giveaway

it's the first day of december and i can't think of a better reason for a giveaway!! this is a card design that i created last year, and my little friend lenny thought it was high time to get them back out!! each note card is a print of my original calligraphy and watercolor onto white classic linen card stock, and there's a blank piece of confetti text paper inside to give you a smooth surface to write your own message!

this will come to you packaged with six cards and six white envelopes.....and all you need to do is leave a comment (just one comment per person please!)! a name will be randomly chosen on this thursday evening and announced on friday!

you all make my entire year so holly and jolly......and i thank you SO much for your visits, your comments and your sweet bloggy love!! :))

edited: comments are now closed and a name has been drawn! thanks to all who participated!

and the journal goes to.....

i am completely overwhelmed by your response to my giveaway!! thank you SO much for supporting my little blog....you are awesome!

random.org has chosen the number 14, which means that doda has a new journal coming her way! (doda, i'll be contacting you shortly for your address!)

i'm planning another giveaway in the near future.....it's easy to find things to celebrate, don't you think?! now if i could only figure out a way to serve ice cream, we could really have a party! :))

spill it with carmen torbus

have you heard the buzz in blogland? carmen torbus is offering her first online class, called "spill it"! if you're not familiar with carmen's work, she is a very accomplished, skilled and talented artist! i'm always in awe of her beautiful painted backgrounds and her use of rich, juicy color....and she's definitely not afraid to get her hands dirty (as a matter of fact, i think it may be a requirement!). and how can you not love a class that simplifies things by listing these four things as absolute "must haves":

*something to paint on.

*paint.

*something to paint with.

*a positive attitude.

head on over here for more details.....and to find out how you can enter her giveaway for free tuition!!

and speaking of giveaways, if you haven't already, make sure you leave a comment here for my journal giveaway....winner to be announced on thursday!

giveaway on inspiration monday!

i'm celebrating! 305 bloggy posts, 102 bloggy follower friends, 42 "inspiration monday" entries, 372 etsy hearts, and 55 etsy sales! woo hoo!! that's a lot to kick up my heels about, so i made this little butterfly book as a special "door prize" for this bloggy party!

it's filled with creamy mohawk superfine writing paper, some distressed decorative papers, and for inspiration, a little rub-on message here and there.

i bound it using a 4-needle coptic method, making the covers completely independent of the pages, and held together by a flexible "chain" stitch going down the spine enabling the book to lie completely flat.

and.....i'd love to send it to you! just leave a comment, i'll let the computerized random generator choose the recipient, and i'll announce this little book's new owner on thursday!

thanks so much for your visits to my blog....i appreciate you more than you'll ever know!!

edited: comments are disabled for this post....random.org has chosen the recipient!