Three Things : Creative Books (+ a giveaway)

Threethings_books


Three books to inspire, challenge and fill you up creatively this week:


True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling by LK Ludwig : I got to meet LK at Artfest last year and enjoyed her art just about as much as her personality. I ordered this book last night and am looking forward to some new ideas (it's been quite awhile since I picked up my art journal). After looking through the next book on the list (see below) I have some good ideas for backgrounds to try.


Acrylic Revolution by Nancy Reyner : This book is packed full with techniques for working with acrylic paint. I have been looking through it the last couple of evenings, dreaming about potentially doing some painting, and being really inspired to get out my paints and try something new and different (new + different for me).


Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings by Kelly Rae Roberts : I was lucky to see an advanced copy of this book on my recent girl's weekend and I can't wait to get my own. There are a bunch of mixed media how-to's as well as a lot of words (of which you know I am a fan - I like to know the thoughts behind the actions whenever possible). According to Kelly Rae, "this book isn't a traditional how-to book, but rather a book that dives deeper into telling our stories about how we came into the creative life - as a way to inspire others to stretch their wings and see what is possible for their own creativity."


Here's one of the Amazon reviews on this book:

Kelly Rae Roberts is an amazingly talented artist and apparently
equally gifted as a writer as well. This book is a journey from her
soul right into yours. It's part journal, part sitting around getting
deep with your girlfriends, part interviews with other talented artists
and part art instruction. So very different from other art books, even
from the same publisher. It goes above and beyond and straight into
your heart & head, making you think about your own creativity.

And until you find your creative spirit, the how-to make art
sections are very clearly thought out and well written. I know that I
will be able duplicate even the pieces that had materials I've never
used before.

This book is a treasure that I know I will refer to again and again.
      


I have two copies of Taking Flight to give away this week. To be entered into the drawing leave a comment below and let me know about your favorite creative technique is these days (it can be scrapbooking, mixed media, anything). Comments will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday) at 5pm Pacific and the winners announced shortly after.


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[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]

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912 thoughts

  1. Sharon F. says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite mixed media is creating fabric scrapbooks. Love to use the stamps, paint, photos on fabric...Am making a heritage book and a pet book. Love the hands on feel of them.
    By the way, I love that you and your sister are sharing this pregnancy journey - for you both and the cousins yet to be born. How special and fun. For Simon and Henry too.

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  2. Barbara B says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite creative outlet is photography - Love trying new setting and poses with the kids and get thrilled every time I upload the shots.
    Barbara B

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  3. Melissa says…
    09/02/2008

    OOPS - forgot to leave my favorite creative technique... I would have to say that lately it's finding different things to JOURNAL ONTO and to make journaling MORE the focus of my pages in doing so (since it's all about TELLING THE STORY). I am using things like doilies, ephemera, wrappers, etc. & trying to be a little less structured as to what I view as "acceptable" on my pages in that way. :-)
    Thanks again!
    Melissa

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  4. Anna Aspnes says…
    09/02/2008

    Photo Blending.....Layer masks plus brushes for cool digital techniques.

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  5. Tobi-Lynn says…
    09/02/2008

    definitely could use some challenge to try new and different ideas! Currently I am making the Book of Days (Big Picture Scrapbooking class with Tena Sprenger last Feb) which incorporates using bits of daily life --- receipts, mail, magazines etc. to represent what has happened during the month. it's very fun to look at - and to go back and remember some daily details, of just daily life - that get forgotten.

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  6. Trine says…
    09/02/2008

    I'm into layering paper with mod Podge and painting with acrylic paint these days! All three books looked so interesting!

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  7. jenny says…
    09/02/2008

    I enjoy stamping and embossing on my scrapbooking pages, I think you can do so much with it. I like to make my own embellishments also!

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  8. laura says…
    09/02/2008

    Happy Monday, Ali!!!
    My newest creative inspiration for my scrapbook pages would have to be the Fiskars border punches, and some really fun gel/glitter pens I found at a local store. I love using the punches to make my own edges and borders, and with the gel pens I can add my own pizazz to projects! =D
    laura in sc

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  9. Jessica says…
    09/02/2008

    I have more into different textures in my layouts and have been taking out my paint more. Jess

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  10. Jamie V says…
    09/02/2008

    Sadly, I was NOT very creative this busy, busy summer.
    But I have big plans for this month and it has alot to do with paint....
    :)

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  11. jen davis says…
    09/02/2008

    Not sure that this would exactly qualify as a technique, but sometimes I find that I enjoy using the papers that I use to catch my paint (glitter, run-over stamping, etc) overflow as an actual element on my journal page (or other project). Most of the time I find that the design is really a cool one!
    Thanks for the giveaway Ali!
    Take Care,
    Jen D.

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  12. Erin says…
    09/02/2008

    My creative technique these days currently is FINDING THE TIME TO BE CREATIVE AND SCRAPBOOK! It seems like if I can do that, the layouts and projects just spill out of me. But to my defense, I'm 35 weeks pregnant with a 2 1/2 and 4 year old at home.

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  13. Susan E in VA says…
    09/02/2008

    Lately my favorite technique it using Photoshop Elements. But I still love my paper! I love inking the edges on that lately too!

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  14. MissKoolAid says…
    09/02/2008

    One of my favourite techniques to use in anything "paper-arts" related is to use sequin waste as a stencil with an ink pad (I even heat emboss the result sometimes) or as a rubbing plate with wax crayons that I then cover with watercolours.
    Cheers. And happy back to school to Simon!
    Sophie in Montreal, Canada

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  15. CIndy Trimble says…
    09/02/2008

    I've been spending a lot of time working on mini albums. Just got your book!

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  16. Stéphanie Pouliot says…
    09/02/2008

    Using Crystal Lacquer on all my scrapbooking pages or projects, love to add the glaze touches to the papers or chipboard elements! The "Stardust" pen is also one other thing that I love to use to add some "glitz and glam" to my papers!
    Thanks for this amazing giveaway Ali and wishing you a great week!

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  17. Sandy says…
    09/02/2008

    Lately, I have been doing a lot of sewing. But, I find that making my own patterns and quilt patterns allows me a similar type of creative freedom as scrapbooking.
    The quilt I am working on now is a t-shirt quilt that will tell the story of our lives over the last 20 years...an exciting and daunting task all at once. I am not trying to do the same old t-shirt quilt you see out there all the time, so I am going to change things up a little, much like I want to do with my scrapbooking.
    Maybe the fabric is just practice!

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  18. trish says…
    09/02/2008

    I would LOVE to win !! my favorite technique-TODAY- is outlining my letter stickers with stickles:)

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  19. Amy says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite thing to do is to work on my post processing of my photos in Photoshop, making the photos really pop and then going back and playing with the textures of the paper to compliment it.

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  20. scrapfin says…
    09/02/2008

    I have been dabbling in a little bit of digital hybrid scrapbooking (thanks to your new stuff at digital designs). What a great giveaway, thanks for the chance!

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  21. Jingle says…
    09/02/2008

    These books all look so wonderful! I'm going to have to check them out! My favorite creative technique lately is actually stamping backgrounds -I know...old school, but sometimes you leave a technique behind and then realize that you love it all over again!

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  22. Lynn Judge says…
    09/02/2008

    I love all of the mini albums you have been doing!! They are awesome - also i just love the cocoa daisy kit - my daughter had tons of photos from a trip to ireland and has stolen the cocoa daisy kit to scrap them with!!

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  23. Lori P says…
    09/02/2008

    Hi Ali,
    I just used my first digital scrapbook elements yesterday...I can this is going to become a complete addiction! Have a great day!
    Lori P, SLC, UT

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  24. Jenny Alfonso says…
    09/02/2008

    My first love is scrapbooking of course :) But I am signing up to take Candice Stringham's online photography class next week and I can't wait to learn new things!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Steph says…
    09/02/2008

    I have been way into ATC swaps lately. I love to see others creative takes on a theme!

    Reply 0 Replies

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