Ronda Palazzari Designs

Create Daily: Repetition & Leftovers

The design principle of unity is the harmony of the elements of a piece of art that helps all the elements function together.  In other words it's the visual linking of the elements.  A great way to achieve a sense of unity is repetition.  Any design element can be repeated -- line, color, shape, texture, direction, etc -- to create harmony.  The above tiny carved stamps are all different, so how do i bring them together to create unity?

First let's talk about these tiny pieces.  These carved stamps were created using leftover bits cut away from the design like the pieces above.  These bits make great tiny stamps.  As you can see most of them are just simple designs without thought, just whatever popped into my head using lines, circles, etc.

But when stamped over and over again using black ink, i bring all the stamps together to create unity.  I started the page by stamping a triangle piece to create the big circular flower on the bottom right of the page.  After that i filled around the flower with other little stamps using both positive and negative stamps.  I repeated most of the stamps around the page as well.  I love the way this page looks in beautiful black & white with those tiny leftover carved stamps. 

A little Reminder

brought to you by the letter R...

Respect yourself

October Stencil Round Ups & Winner

The new stencils have hit the stores, both online and brick & mortar.  Have you picked up yours yet?  i love seeing all the different types of projects & uses of something i design.  i am always happy when someone shares with me their designs.  Feel free to tag me on twitter, instagram, or facebook, or add it to the Ronda Palazzari Designs Flickr group.  Here are a few of the latest i spotted & pulled from flicker, scrapbook.com, instagram and twitter.  Thank you for sharing with me!

If you haven't seen Sanna Lippert's guest blog posts over at The Crafter's Workshop blog, you are missing out.  She shares many step by step on how to create her beautiful creations. There are lots more up on her blog so i encourage you to go check her out.

Karen Liz Henderson is another guest blogger over at The Crafter's Workshop blog who has been sharing her many talents.  She has a fun colorful style creating unique pieces.  i love the way she thinks outside the box!  Did you notice the Fancy Feathers on the Portrait piece?  Or that the cut outs on the ATC like cardboard pieces are Abstract Leaves & the Moroccan Tile Stencils? 

How cool is this acrylic album Nina Roganova made using my Picture Perfect Stencil!  I love how she left the raised image white against the colorful album.  It really is spectacular and you can see more details on her blog. 

I love how Cyndi Bundy used Pan Pastels with my Fancy Feathers Stencil on her art journal page.  The color is so rich and beautiful.  The tone on tone is a really cool effect.

Did you see Darby Smart has another DYI kit up for sale?  This one uses my Moroccan Stencils to create these cool sophistocated coasters.  They were even featured on Apartment Therapy.  WOW. 

Feel free to grab the above badge and show me how you want to be stenciled in with my designs!

and now for the winner of the Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate sponsored by Frog Dog Studios.  A big thank you for all who entered by liking their facebook page.  I really appreciate it!  Congratulations...

Anne Jobes

Anne please email me your address to [email protected] and we will get your Gelli Arts Gel Plate & brayer sent to you! 

CK Mixed Media 2 Blog Hop

Creating Keepsakes magazine recently published their special edition titled Mixed Media Volume 2.  It is available in print and you can get your hands on it now.  There are so many talented artist in this special edition that will fill you with inspiration.  I feel very blessed to have three layouts in this magazine including the cover layout.

In celebration of this awesome special edition, some of the artists in the magazine are hosting a blog hop. (Thank you Liz for putting this together). We are showing sneaks of our projects as well as sharing our thoughts on the other artist in the magazine.  You can see my sneak of the cover layout.  Inside the magazine, you will find a step by step on how to create the mixed media linen heart you see on the layout on page 130. 

Here's a sneak of my "Change" layout.  You can find it on page 51 of the magazine.  It's one of my current favorite layouts.  You will find a recipe on how i created the background of this layout. 

"Oh Snap" can be found on page 29.  So many layers of patterned paper, gesso, paint, etc.  There are step by step photos with this layout, showing you how to jazz up your layouts with gesso.   

The magazine is filled with tips, techniques, and step by steps from so many talented artist.  I really like how Marion Smith used drywall tape & embossing enamel to create some super cool embellishments.  I seriously want to break out my melting pot right now!

Today's Blog Hop includes:

• Liz Hicks 
• Courtney Walsh 
• Noel Culbertson 
• Ronda Palazzari <------ YOU ARE HERE 
• Angela Magnuson
• Marion Smith
• Sharon Laakkonen
• Terri Anderson
• Candy Rosenberg

Tomorrow's Blog Hop includes:

• Liz Hicks
• Stacy Cohen
• Kim Watson
• Agnieszka Bellaidea
• Susan Weckesser
• Layle Konkar
• Stephanie Ackerman
• Sherry Mendoza
• Ashley Harris
• Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Stencil Round Up: August/Sept Edition Vol. 2

The new stencils have hit the stores, both online and brick & mortar.  Have you picked up yours yet?  i love seeing all the different types of projects & uses of something i design.  i am always happy when someone shares with me their designs.  Feel free to tag me on twitter, instagram, or facebook, or add it to the Ronda Palazzari Designs Flickr group.  Here are a few of the latest i spotted & pulled from flicker, scrapbook.com, instagram and twitter.  There were so many i decided to break them up into a couple posts.  Thank you for sharing with me!

Maggie Alvarez tagged me on instagram, sharing her beautiful art journal page using both the honeycomb and urban landscape stencil.  She was feeling a bit upside down and took her emotions to the art journal letting them flow across the page.  It proved to be a good release for her and now the world is right side up again!

Maryse Borne This is the Good Life & You are the Sun of my life

Maryse created some beautiful layouts using my Urban Landscape stencil & Picture Perfect stencil.  I love the white embossed skyline on the patterned paper.  The travel words look so great nestle into the layers of embellishments.  On the other layout, the cameras look so cool on the painted transparency background.  I love how some of them are incomplete and outlined.  Quite ingenious!

Cheiron Brandon - Oh Happy Day

Cheiron creates so many beautiful cards.  I love how she can take a stencil, like my kaleidoscope one, and make it into such a cool eye-catching card.  You know i adore the rainbow colors and how they fall across the page.  The script title is just perfect. 

Sharmaine Kruijver - Four & One and International Connection

Sharmaine knows how to work a stencil onto her layouts.  To me the Subway stencil screamed her name.  Her August Cocoa Daisy kit with the subway stencil complementing this collection landed on her door and Sharmaine finally proved me right.  i just love how she used it on her layouts. 

Denise Morrison - Are we There yet?

Denise got the same kit and came up with a totally different look using the same color for the stencil.  Gosh i love the way she uses texture on her layouts.  I would like to just crawl inside her mind as she creates.

Karen Grunberg - Mommy I have an Idea

Karen always amazes me with her layouts.  Imagine my surprise as i opened up the DT boxes at the summer CHA tradeshow to see this beautiful layout using my picture perfect stencil.  I just completely adore her approach to color and embellishment moments that happen around her pages. 

Tami Sanders - Cork Memo Board

Tami heard my plead for photos of her other projects and kindly obliged by emailing me them.  The above Cork Memo board is so beautiful.  She used my Moroccan Tiles stencil to create this colorful piece.  She will also be sharing tutorials soon on her pieces so make sure you check her blog. 

I will share her other pieces on the next stencil me in blog post along with some more creations from others soon.  Prepared to be amazed!  In the meantime, feel free to grab the above badge and show me how you want to be stenciled in with my designs!

CPS STUDIOS: The Art of Storytelling

The Fall edition of Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS magazine has hit the stands.  I feel very blessed to be one of the eleven studios featured in the magazine.  Earlier this year i worked hard on reorgnizing my studio to reflect me.  While i always continually "tweak" it, i know it's closer to who i am right now. 

There are a lot of awesome artist & designers featured in this edition.  I think you will find lots of inspiring stories and cool studios in here.  I haven't posted any new studio shots so you get your first peek by picking up the magazine. 

I absolutely adore the title of the article for it captures me in just a few words.  In the magazine you will read more about me and my thoughts on my studio. i open up my studio doors to you sharing my world through the art of storytelling. 

Stencil Round Up: August/Sept Edition Vol. 1

The new stencils have hit the stores, both online & brick & mortar.  Have you picked up yours yet?  i love seeing all the different types of projects & uses of something i design.  i am always happy when someone shares with me their designs.  Feel free to tag me on twitter, instagram, or facebook, or add it to the Ronda Palazzari Designs Flickr group.  Here are a few of the latest i spotted & pulled from flicker, scrapbook.com, instagram and twitter.  There were so many i decided to break them up into a couple posts.  Thank you for sharing with me!

Tami Sanders - Mix Tape Pillow, Kaleidoscope Pillow, & Birthday Wishes Card

When the top pillow showed up in The Crafter's Workshop booth at CHA my chin hit the floor.  Tami Sanders created it and a few other samples for the booth using my new stencils.  I wish i had pictures of the rest of the projects to share but after digging through her blog i did find the above samples.  Aren't they so cool?  I will be making a pillow or two!

Leonie Neal-Dawson- Daydreamer Enjoy the little things & the Boss

Leonie was kind enough to tag me on instagram using #rondapalazzari.  I was blown away with her projects and asked her to send me "Daydreamer."  I had to go scroll through her blog a bit more and found so many beautiful pieces including the above layouts featuring my stencils.  I love the texture of her pieces.

Miriam Prantner - I miss You Card & Stay Young Card

Miriam has been such a lovely loyal reader.  She always brightens my day with her comments.  I was so happy to spot these cards in the flickr group.  They are just stunning and a great way to see how one stencil can be used in two totally different ways.  The glow of the urban landscape on the stay young card is magnificant.  The colors of the i miss you card are perfect.  Of course you knew i would say that being a ROY-G-BIV gal!

Teresa Jaye - Dream Big Canvas

Teresa is another one i spotted in the flickr group.  I love her canvas using tazo tea bags amongst other goodies including my quatrefoil stencil.  I love how that black just grounds the canvas.  You can see more details on her blog!

Feel free to grab the above badge and show me how you want to be stenciled in with my designs!

Scrapbook Soup: Unique Embellishments

In June i traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to film Scrapbook Soup with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  It was the most thrilling experience and i absolutely loved doing it.  The full episode will air on PBS so check your local listing.  You can also find lots of inspiring videos at Scrapbook Soup/KSProductionstv Youtube channel.  Guess what i am sharing today?  One of my segments from the new season, showing you how to change patterned paper into all kinds of cool embellishments. 

EDIT: it's LIVE!

Don't you think Julie & I work well together?  I have to tell you it was so much fun on the set and in the green room.  KS Productions is a great team and i am blessed for this opportunity. 

Here's the layout you see me creating above. In the background you see my ceiling tile stencil peeking through the layers of patterned paper. 

I just love the way the leaves look with the text peeking through the gesso & watercolors.  You can also see the flowers cut from the patterned paper as well as the blue "label" piece i created using a circle punch. 

 

Art in Action: Color & Design Theory Weekend

This past weekend i was teaching up at Rocky Mountain Memories in beautiful Estes Park.  If you have never been to Estes, it is so worth the trip to this incredible mountain town.  In the summertime, it is teeming with tourist since it sits right next to the Rocky Mountaint National Park.  While i have spent time in Estes & the national park, this weekend i was in Cheryl's quaint store (it has so much character) teaching all about Color & Design Theory. 

The first day was all about Color.  Although Color is part of Design Elements, it deserves a day of its own because there is so much information involved in Color Theory.  We spent the day talking all about colors, their relationships, and created a custom color wheel to not only help understand colors but also mixing. 

it was a good but as they said "tedious" day, mixing does take some time especially when you have to fill out all the papers i gave them.  Even though they had to work hard, they really enjoyed the class and they felt like they learned a lot.  i am all about filling their heads with good knowledge that will really help in all their arts.

Along with all the knowledge i was feeding them, i had many examples with me to help them visual the color relationships.  I love my version of a  Mondrian style painting using my Ceiling Tile stencil. 

The next day was Design Theory, teaching all about Design Elements and Principles of Design and how it applies to their art of choice.  i admit that i completely love teaching these kinds of classes.  i really enjoy seeing the light bulbs buzzing brightly above their heads when things click. 

They also had a chance to dig through and play with some of my new stencils.  We finished the day by talking about some of their pieces they wanted to fix.  Armed with their new knowledge, i loved the way they dissected their designs.  They thought about what they liked, what they didn't like, and how to rescue pieces.

Interested in having me come teach at your store or event?  I would love to inspire your students.  Contact me at [email protected].

Abstract Leaves, Dots & Dashes, and Well Rounded

I had a blast at CHA debuting all my stencils at the Crafter's Workshop booth.  I will continue to share my summer stencil release here on the blog so you can see all 19 in detail.  They are hitting the stores soon and i know BLUEMOON scrapbooking has them in NOW.  Scott, the owner, ships really quickly and calls you when your order is ready.  How's that for incredible customer care?  They do have most of my previously released stencils in stock.  i have been working hard to bring you creative inspiration.  So far you have seen:

• Fancy Feathers & Giraffe Print
• Climbing Vine & Moroccan Tiles
• Mix Tape, And So On, & Squiggles
• Sweet Home, Raindrops, and Switchback

Today i am sharing Abstract Leaves (TCW 395), Dots & Dashes (TCW 397), and Well Rounded (TCW 384) but you can see all my new stencil releases at The Crafter's Workshop, from And So On to Mix Tape. 

Abstract leaves are fun patterns in various shapes & sizes found all in one stencil.  The leaves average 3" to 3.5" inches tall on the 12x12 stencil and 1.25" - 1.75" tall on the 6x6 stencil.  Use them all or repeat one shape for a fun pattern. 

Here are both sizes on tags using black paint over a Ranger colorwash background. 

This layout (literally ;), uses both the 12x12 stencil and 6x6 stencil.  I colored the background using watercolors and then layered the larger leaves using white paint the smaller leaves using black paint. 

Dots & Dashes is one of those fun background patterns that can be used on almost any project.  Cover the whole creations or use it in bits and pieces, either way this is one of these stencils that you will find yourself pulling out over and over again. 

I completely adore both sizes of this patterned.  On the left is paint & modeling paste over a distress paint background.  On the right is Wendy Vecchi's clear embossing paste (Oh my goodness, it is AWESOME) with some distress stains.

My Travel Buddy Layout uses both sizes.  The big blue piece off to the left is a gelatin print using my Gelli Arts printing plate. I love the monochromatic print.  the smaller tags were made with distress inks.  I then layered my previous stencils (Subway & Urban Landscape) over the top. 

Well Rounded, oh how i love you.  This stencil is similar to Confetti because it allows you control over those inky splats, rings, and cool grungy shapes.  You get to decided where they land on your projects.  This stencil looks great with all kinds of mediums too!

Both sizes are so much fun!  On these tags i used acrylic paint and modeling paste to create layers of texture using one stencil. 

Even though these images have a grungy feel, it looks great on softer projects too like this "Virtual" layout using a soft palette.  I adore the way it adds those cool touches to my layouts.