Losing weight has come to a HALT and a *NEW* Paper Cut!

Well, I was in the process of losing weight UNTIL I found out I am pregnant! WOW! That was fast! I am still taking time to get on the treadmill 4 to 5 times a week. I'm not running, but brisk walking for about 25 to 30 min. So, we are super excited and I have my first ultrasound in a couple of weeks along with Anya's 2nd birthday party!

On the flip side of things, I have been doing a little bit of creating. I made another Alice In Wonderland Paper Cut. The Tea Party one does so well, I decided to make another rendition. I am going on this fairy tale kick. Anya brings it out in me I guess. I hope she loves it as much as I do. We're saving up money to go on a vacation when both of our kids are old enough to enjoy it. (I'm hoping for Disney World!). Disney World is such a magical place. My favorite part are all of the little details around the park. Things that most people wouldn't catch. Like the little mice inside Cinderella's Castle. I would have loved to be apart of that design team in creating.

Anybody ever been on a Disney Cruise? Would you reccomend it?

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How I Papercut...

Ok, so I'm teaching myself how to papercut with the help of some online papercutters. Though they don't know they're helping me. Basically I have done research on what the best paper to use and tools. That's about it, the rest I've taught myself. Supposidly Etsy has been going around shops asking to prove they do their own work. Glad Zibbet doesn't do this! Well, I thought I might as well have it ready, you know, just in case they come after me! Also, I thought some of you might like to see my process.

You will probably see a lot of papercutters using Photoshop to make their designs (Or stealing images off of Google). I don't do this. #1: I can't afford photoshop. #2: I am an artist, why not use my God given talent? Who needs the computer? Although I do use the computer to research and get inspiration. If I see something I like on Google search I'll use the image as inspiration and change it to make it my own. NOT COPY IT!

First I draw out my design. Nothing fancy. Just a pencil and my sketchpad. I do this sometimes at night while watching a movie or before I go to bed.

 Here's the completed drawing.

 The silhouette pape is black on one side and white on the other.

 I then tape the image to the white side of the paper. I only put tape on the part of the image that will be cut away.

 I get my tools ready. My X-Acto knife and a swivel knife. Pink of course.

 I then cut out from in inside of the picture to the outside. It's easier this way. get all the tiny details first!

 Then I pop it out.

 .....Voila! I can't wait to post this one up. I love it!

Some more of my cutting abilities...or lack there of?

OK, so I've gone nuts with the cutting art.  Ideas are just flowing. I have been doing my daily devotions for over a month now and I truely believe God planted this artform in my head. Before I had never had a second thought about cutting art...probably not even a first thought. I prayed about where he wanted me to go with my art for a while.  I want to use the gift He has given me the way He wants me to use it.  I know I'm not fantastic with it, but I know with some practice (and a better knife) I will get better. So for now while I'm practicing, I'm having fun. Take a peek at what I've accomplished thus far!

Right now I'm working on a Cinderella piece I'm on the fence about. I think I have to finish it before I can judge what I think about it. 

Feel free to leave comments on what you think!  Productive criticism is always welcome!

Who Needs A Cricut? The Art of Paper Cutting.

This happens to me quite often. I get an idea for something and run with it.  It all started when I decided to pick up Anya's scrapbook and work on it.  I went out and bought some of those adorable stickers to adorn it with.  I spent 13 some dollars on paper cutout stickers and that was after the 40% off each one.  So, I went on my merry way home and started to look at them and think....I could make these.  Then I started to think of the Cricut machine.  Wishing I had one, but they cost like 300.00!  Then I got to thinking more.."How are these things made??"  How would I make these?  Then it hit me.  "You're an artist, dummy.  Draw it out and cut it out with an X-Acto knife"!  I just had to relearn positive and negative space.  It didn't take me too long to figure it out.  I drew out a haunted house and cut it out with what I had.  A matt cutter.  Let me tell you, it came out okay for my first attempt, but not nearly as well as an X-Acto knife would have done.  My blade got dull halfway which started to tear the paper. Not good.  So I started doing some research and started to really fall in love with the art form.  I found this artist on Etsy who does some of my favorite work so far.  Check him out here  http://www.etsy.com/shop/reevpapercuts?ref=seller_info

Leave it to me to find the most intricate work available.  That's just how I am, go big or go home.  In college I was always picking the hardest thing to draw or paint.  How can I grow if I don't challenge myself? I'm drawing out a picture of Alice in Wonderland to cut out.  It's turning out awesome, so I was up all last night tossing and turning because ideas were running through my head like a marathon runner. The possibilities are endless and the creativity is just flowing. I can't wait to get my hands on an X-Acto knife!

"What about your painting?"  you may be asking.  Yes, this happens. When you get tired of looking at a painting and get tired of painting rocks, sometimes it's good to walk away and clear your mind with another project. At least for me it is.  Plus, we are moving here soon and I don't want to move a wet canvas! Do you know how long it takes for oil paint to completely dry??  Up to a month or longer!! So I will get back to it eventually, but for now, I'm all about paper cutting!!  Below are some wonderful examples!  Below is the seller I referenced to above. His name is Rene, and he lives in Germany and by far my favorite cutting artist. I love the detail and the stories they tell. It keeps you looking at it for long periods of time because there's just so much going on. Enjoy the work I have posted and go visit his shop!