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. Michelle Gauthier says…
    09/02/2008

    These books look very interesting and I'll be checking them out and seeing if they need to be added to the library. :) My favorite technique lately is distressing - sanding, wrinkling, inking - anything to give that "used and loved" feel to my projects.

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  2. Holly says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite techniques right now are buttons (again - this one seems to go around and around with me) and writing right on the pictures (which is something I've just recently tried and am loving).
    These books look awesome btw!

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  3. Jennifer says…
    09/02/2008

    Right now, I'm in to layering with everything from clear overlays to vellum to rub-ons to paint to glitter to anything that allows you to still see pieces of the beneath layers. :)

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  4. Michelle says…
    09/02/2008

    These books look great! I would love to win Taking Flight--it's in my amazon cart as we speak, so I hope that I can win it instead!! My fave thing at the moment is art journaling with all kinds of daily scraps laying around. Just having fun getting messy.
    Thanks for the giveaway Ali!
    www.savorit.typepad.com

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  5. stephanie peachey says…
    09/02/2008

    i love my scrapbooking and have recently got into mixed media scrapping. i particularly love the look acrylic paint gives.

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  6. Christine Plaxco says…
    09/02/2008

    These days are spent making a mass production of 175 Thanks cards for our clients for Thanksgiving time. I love the repetition and the reward of seeing so many cards getting completed and being Thankful to great clients.

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  7. Jaimie Mulheron says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite creative technique would have to be playing with my photos making little adjustments in Photo Shop and learning cool effects is facinating me right now.

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  8. Joyce says…
    09/02/2008

    Hi Ali! My favorite technique is definitely stamping! I stamp on everything! I love how it is so imperfect! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Dixie says…
    09/02/2008

    Mine is stamping. Thanks for the give away.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. SueB says…
    09/02/2008

    I use Faux Stitching all the time - for me it adds a nice dimension and it brings the eye to it.

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  11. noell says…
    09/02/2008

    I just showed a technique on a Paperclipping video tutorial where I create a mask that is a little larger than my photo and ink it's edges; then I lay the mask where the photo will go and smudge ink around the edge of the mask. After I take the mask away, I have a cool-looking frame for my photo.
    I think that's my new favorite technique right now.

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  12. Jessica C says…
    09/02/2008

    It's not really a conscious decision, but I've found myself slapping the words right on top of the pictures lately. I'm loving that. :)

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  13. Melanie says…
    09/02/2008

    my favorite creative method at the moment ... is whatever I can do! With three kids, time isn't always there. But I have to say, mixed media/hybrid scrapping is top on my list at the moment. With all my children, my 'art' has progressed ... my first baby has a paper scrapbook album; my second baby's is all digital and now for my newest, I just completed a mixed media mini-album for his birth.
    I have heard wonderful things about this book and I would so love a copy of it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Michelle Cooney says…
    09/02/2008

    I like so many techniques! That's hard to narrow down. I guess lately I've been obsessed with layering and using my white gel pen to accent things! I love your giveaways! :) Have a great day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Rebecca says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite technique right now is trying to find new ways to use my old stuff. I have been looking through older Scrapbook mags trying to get inspired!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Rebecca says…
    09/02/2008

    my favorite technique... it has to be using mod podge and making collage. I have been crazy with it lately. I would love to have a copy of this book and learn some new techniques. I am just starting to get into more art-style techniques and away from what I consider more traditional scrapbooking techniques. This would help on my journey!

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  17. Linn says…
    09/02/2008

    My favorite creative pursuit right now is sewing. I've pushed the scrapbooking aside for a bit and it's refreshing to pursue a different art form for a little while.

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  18. Gracie says…
    09/02/2008

    I love to craft and my latest addiction is scrapbooking and altered art. I try to find new techniques with each creation I make. One of my favorite technique is painting chipboard embellishments with nail polish. I particularly like polishes with the glimmer effect. I often look around the house for things I can use, sometimes I find stuff even that we don't usually use for scrapping like left over tea or coffee and use it for creating distressed or aged look on paper. I try to be as resourceful as I can be and adventurous with new techniques too. We shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when creating art because sometimes we end up creating a masterpiece out of them. :)

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  19. Carissa T says…
    09/02/2008

    hi ali
    i always love watercolor pencils, sometimes
    blending them can be so satisfying!
    congrats on the baby news for you and your sister!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Carissa T says…
    09/02/2008

    hi ali
    i always love watercolor pencils, sometimes
    blending them can be so satisfying!
    congrats on the baby news for you and your sister!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Connie C says…
    09/02/2008

    Lately, barely fitting in scrapbooking with working full time and the 30 minute commute. I do need to find time for all of the painting/crafts that I used to fit into the schedule.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Deborah says…
    09/02/2008

    My new fav technique is using recyled stuff... junk mail, especially envelopes with windows, coffee cuffs, candy wrappers, tissue paper lining from shoe boxes, etc!

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  23. Becky Swisher says…
    09/02/2008

    I have to say photo collages with words are my favorite way to scrapbook these days. Working with many images at one time just makes the story jump off the page and jog the memory!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Jen Keith says…
    09/02/2008

    My new thing is mixed media. After taking a Donna Downey class the other week I am so in love with it. I loved the chipboard and watercolor. I am so into the watercolor now. I made a travel journal using a bunch of thing's I learned.

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  25. Laura B. says…
    09/02/2008

    Getting more into stamping and card making these days. These books look awesome!

    Reply 0 Replies

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