Glue Gun Review

How many glue guns do you possess?  If you have been using them for years like I have you will know that it is easy to go through a range of glue guns until you find the one you really like and need for your uses.  In the video below I share with you some of the ones that I have used.  

I do have my eye on another one I saw in the hardware store but I will have to save up and take another look just to make sure I wasn't enamored by the 'new store syndrome'

Check out the review below.

While you are there you can also check out some cool ways to create your own stencils using a glue gun.  

Glue Gun Stencils

You can make the glue guns to the size that you choose and custom them for a particular project that you may have.

Glue gun stencils - Amanda Trought

You can use them with spray paints that you may have, brushes and sponges will also work.  Let me know what your favorite stencil that you have made is.  

I have also used the glue gun to create outlines for art journals and paintings.

They are in the long run economical to use because you are create the stencil to suit your needs, and can be used in a variety of other projects.  They are also unique to you which is great especially if you are planning on selling your work further on down the line.

I would love to see what kind of designs you can come up with for your glue gun stencils.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Art Supplies

Darice Glue Gun Mini Hot Temp
from: CreateForLess

Glue Guns on Amazon

Check out these additional supplies on Amazon

Art Supplies Review - Inspirational Shorts

In this post I share with you a selection of product reviews as part of Inspirational Shorts, to share with you the way in which I use a range of supplies and also how I have found using them.

I would love to hear what your experience of these supplies are.  You can also check out my Amazon page to see other supplies and resources you will be able to see.

Conte Pastel Pencils

Bees Wax Review

Apple Barrel Review

You can also Listen to the Podcast to hear about the Inspirational Shorts reviews as well.  Click on the link or the image.

Thank you for joining me, stay blessed and be a blessing

inspirational Shorts - Video Review Series - Mod Podge Review

Welcome, today I will be sharing Episode 188 of Inspirational Shorts where I review the art supply Mod Podge sharing with you how I use it and other varieties of mod podge that has been created.  The word for the day is Brave, so it is to also look at your creative life, or activities and see where you either have been brave or need to be brave

Listen to the Podcast

Watch the Video

We all need to step out of our comfort zones at times and try something new, or take our art into a different direction.  Learn about a new artist or get some supplies in that you are new to.  

Get out your art journal and maybe create a page that has tapped into the answers to some of the questions that you might be asking yourself as you decide where the next brave steps will lead you to.

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Creating in Faith - Sentiments - Episode 177

Listen to the Recording

There are certain things that we can hold on to because it reminds us of another time, or brings back memories of when we used to, could do and that warm fuzzy feeling as you go down memory lane recalling the incident.  There are those memories that you also maybe don't want to bring back into the present day.

How often do you think of something you have done and remembered some of the amazing things that you have done to get you to the exact point that you are now.  You are amazing and It brings a smile to my face when I remember those times you used to do those amazing things all those years ago.

You remember, you could and did light up the room with your energy and laughter, your fantastic sense of humor and you would make everyone feel so special, though you didn't realise it.

It is easy to remember the times other people impacted on our lives, now think about the impact you have on other peoples lives, think about your gifts and talents, and how you have made use of them.

As you go about your day be reminded of how special you are and when people think about you they hold you in high regard!  So from time to time, begin to think about yourself in the same way.  

Have a blessed New Year - I hope that you have been working on your focus for 2020.

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Creating In Faith Encouraging Recordings are to bless and inspire you to be the best of yourself. It can be really great to pull out your art journal/Journal and express what comes up for you either with images and colour, with words or with both. Check out the weekly and monthly videos to help you spend more time in your art journal.

If you would like to see some behind the scenes, images and additional tips HERE

You will find the 2 art journal videos available to consume at your leisure - the Making of the art journal for the month and an art journal page process - Check these out HERE

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There are so many FREE ways in which you can support the podcast and the work that I do on some of the other channels and it is always a blessing when you connect -

• listening each week and leave a comment,
• Subscribe to any or all of my channels, visit the
• YouTube channel (remember to hit the notification bell)
• Let me know how the content impacted you and if you were inspired to make changes/additions to your work or life.

YouTube www.youtube.com/amandatrought

Blog - http://realityarts-creativity.blogspot.com

Patreon Blog - http://www.patreon.com/realityarts

Twitter - www.twitter.com/Realityarts

Instagram www.instagram.com/realityarts/

Facebook www.facebook.com/realityartss/

Check out some encouraging boards on Pinterest

Artwork available from the title image HERE

I also have an Arts and Health NHS Network for information on activities and organisations working in the field. You are welcome to join, it is a FREE resource and if you have any activities or want to talk about your work you are welcome to send me the information and I will see that it gets uploaded. You can create your own profile on the network and connect with others who are passionate about the arts in health too.

Creative Encourager - If you want to talk about creativity and the direction you are going and need a listening ear, sign up for a FREE 30 minute call http://bit.ly/Encoura

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Wishing you a Creative Happy Christmas

Wishing you a Fantastic Christmas, as you spend time with family and friends my you be inspired to be your best self, may you achieve those things that you set out to do for 2019 and go on to make courageous steps into 2020.

Spare a thought to those who may be on their own, and check in on them.

As the year comes to a close I have been thinking a lot about the things that I would like to achieve for 2020, lots of creative pursuits ahead - Exhibitions, Studio Tours, Talks Travel, Social Media and I would love to have you come along for the journey so make sure that you have subscribed to the mailing list or my YouTube Channel, pack your creative supplies and prepare for an adventure.  

Think about things that you want to achieve and what is needed for those things to be realize and know that you can create your own reality so step up, value yourself and what you bring and 'lets do this'!

If you would like to know how to created the images check out Paperless Post and see some of the designs that they have available.  I just dropped my art into their template and edited it is a fantastic way of showing your work in different formats.

I am looking forward to seeing what you come up with so remember to share and if you want to talk about things that you want to put in place you can schedule a free 30 minute call to talk about things that you would like to do or are working through.

Creative Encourager Sessions

So are you ready for the adventure?

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Paperless Post - Customizing Designs

Pastel Paintings

I have been playing about with the card designs on Paperless Post and as well as having an amazing selection of card designs, there are unlimited ways in which you can customize the cards you create to suit your own preferences.  I use their card layout designs in several different ways;

• Sending as cards and just changing the wording - there are some lovely images that they include in their designs.

• Customizing the cards by changing the images, as in the design below, this is in their wedding section and I wanted to use the layout and add my own images.  See my previous post - (There are many free designs and some you have to purchase coins to use).

• Cards can be sent via email or printed - on your own computer or using their printing service (minimum order of 20 cards)

• You can use their card designs in other ways - and I will show you how I edited some of my images to use the design below - You can check it out on their site HERE

Original Design - Starts at 2 coins

 This is the card that I chose because I wanted to include several images that I have made into prints from a series of Pastel Paintings that I had completed.

Customized using my own images

In this design I added a selection of images and changed the wording, it is very simple to add your own photos to the designs and there is also a very useful support section that runs through the steps for you to follow.  To save it to my computer all I had to do is click the right mouse button and save.  I then started to experiment further.

No Filter, Black Border

In this on I added a black border.  Paperless post comes with an assortment of backgrounds that you can use with your images, I thought the border set it off quite nicely.

Black and white filter

There are also a series of filters that you can use on your images, so I used the black and white filter on this next one, and again used the black border.  I wasn't able to change the color of the gold outline, but I felt that it made the wording stand out so it wasn't an issue for me.

Varied Filters, Black Border

On this design I used several different filters, including sepia, technicolor and black and white.  There are additional motifs that you can add to your design.  

The possibilities are endless, so have a play around and see what you come up with.  The other great thing about these are I can schedule the cards to go out to a select list of my collectors as online cards, send out printed cards or use in my social media.

I hope you give it a go!  Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Course Sale! & 100 Day Project Pastel Sketches - 17 - 24

Pastels 17 - 24 - Amanda Trought

Here are the latest sketches for the 100 Days of Pastels.  It has been quite an interesting week seeing what comes up each morning.  I start the day with a sketch and find that it is a good way to loosen up the creative juices and also get you in the right frame of mind because you have spent time with your inner child playing.

I start each of the sketches with playing with colour laying down what comes to hand.  Some days I might start with a particular colour in mind but essentially it is what ever is speaking to me and I go with it.  I don't decide what I will draw but still look within the colours on the paper to see what images are coming out.  I am amazed at the variety when you let yourself be free.

Playing about with pastels - Check out Amazon 

The other thing that I wanted to share with you is the Mixed Media Play Date.  It is in full swing and we are having a wonderful time creating.

I am constantly trying to push the boat out and experiment with the different supplies and as a teacher learn new things as our learning never stops, and it is great to be able to see the fantastic work that is being done in the classroom.

Here is am image that I did while being inspired with Tiares session.

Mixed Media Art

Mixed Media Art - Amanda Trought

If you have been thinking of joining the Year Long class, you can do so and get $25 off the price of the course now through Mother’s Day, May 12, 2019. Just enter code: MOMLOVE at checkout to save.

You can sign up for the course HERE and when you sign up using my link I will also be sending you a host of bonuses! You can find out about all the bonuses HERE (Send me an email once you are signed up and I will get them sent out to you.)

I hope you are enjoying the creative challenge that you may have been doing and I look forward to hearing from you.

Realityarts Podcast - Weekly Episodes 73 and 74

Welcome to the episodes for this week on Realityarts Podcast, It is a pleasure being your host for the show, I am thankful that I am able to share and blessed when you have listened and manage to get a nugget or two to take away.

On Monday's Episode - The Writing is on the Wall we talked about the way that we look at time, and after much is spent, that which is wasted will not be refunded.  Do you have regrets about things you did in your life, and how can you change your perspective about them?

Creating in Faith - The Writing is on the Wall

Inspirational Shorts

Our word for Friday's Inspirational Shorts is Comfort.  Do we settle rather than getting out of the comfort zone and into something that will challenge us?  What does the word 'comfort' conjure up for you?

Thank you to those who listen to the podcast from all over the world we are glad to have you with us.

If you would like to donate to support the work on the podcast and make it accessible to more people you can do so HERE

Thank you in advance and stay blessed and be a blessing.

Stamps - My 31 Art Studio Essentials

Stamps - The Video

Check out this video on some of the stamps in my supplies

Thank you for joining me in my studio for the Art Studio Essentials Daily Series. 

I had hoped to have finished at the end of January, but you are in for a treat as it will go on for a couple more weeks into February.  I hope that throughout the series you have felt that this has been a way to kick start your creativity as you check out some supplies that I have and sort through ones that you have in your stash.  

Today I will sharing with you my Stamp supply, ones that have been brought, free gifts and then ones I started making.  They come in all designs and sizes.

It is quite easy to get sucked into purchasing lots of supplies and then you end up only using a few because you realize that you just don't need quite so many - you can't use them all at once.

We all have 5 minutes that we can give to creative play, why not see how you can fit creativity into your every day, and dig out those stamps you may have and see what you can do with them!

Handmade Stamps and Embossing Powder

If you are just starting out and on a budget I would suggest you think about what projects you might need to use the Stamps for and how else you might be able to use them - with Mixed Media the ideas are endless! Some stamps work good on their own but equally as part of a background, you can get great patterns from the whole stamp or use just a part of it.  You can also use a variety of other things like embossing powder as above, on fabric, there is no limit to what you could try.

  

You can check out discount stores that may have a good supply, I have listed some below, and also check out my Resources page, for current discounts.  You can also get free stamps on some of the Craft Magazines on sale, so it is a good idea to have a look in some of these.

I did a post on how to make stamps and you can find it HERE in my Handmade Recycle Projects

If you are researching how to be more creative on YouTube then check out the tips and advice on ways to be Creative and regaining your Creative spark, sign up to my Mailing list and receive the publication 25 Ways to fit Art and Creativity into your day!

  

I am also Teaching on the BADASS Art Journal Course which started on the 5th February, so you can still sign up. I am giving away this Bonus when you sign up - Check it out HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Check out some of these Craft/Magazine and Book resources below.  There are some discounts available on each, and also check out the Resources page for updated discounts.

Adorn it 

Dollar Tree 

Blick 

Book Outlet 

Stampington 

C&T Publishing 

Dover

Craftsy Kits

Creative Bug

Altered Directories - My 31 Art Studio Essentials

Altered Directories

It is great to have you join me for another day in my studio.  I kind of got a bit backed up, life happens and you roll with it, so I will be running slightly over into February with the Series.  You will still get 31 Art Studio Essentials in this Daily Series, so I hope you will hang in there with me.

Even in those times where stuff happens, what are you doing with your time?  There should always be time spent for something creative even if you only have 5 minutes to spare, and what you do with it is vitally important.  

Directory waiting to be altered

Today I will be showing you a selection of Altered Directory Journals.  This is a great way to recycle and you probably have a directory laying around that could be put to a creative use. 

I also did a series on my blog called 31 Art Journals showing you a variety of cool Art Journals that you can make.

It is great to check out the different shapes and sizes that directories and catalogs come in and the ideas you can come up with as you re-purpose them.  When your running low on time you can break up the tasks in small chunks and say stick some pages down, or add gesso to a selection of pages.

In this directory I prepped the pages when I had time with gesso.  I could then go back and either add images, journaling or whatever took my fancy.

Check out the Video and get a closer look at the Art Journals created.

If you are researching how to be more creative on YouTube then check out the tips and advice on ways to be Creative and regaining your Creative spark, sign up to my Mailing list and receive the publication 25 Ways to fit Art and Creativity into your day!

I am also Teaching on the BADASS Art Journal Course and will be giving away this Bonus when you sign up - Check it out HERE

Stay blessed and be a blessing!