Join Me for Day 30!

Well hello!  It's time for the last page of my little Art Marks Challenge journal!  I also have some news, but we'll get to that later.  For now, I hope you enjoy this last page of my journal.  I feels like forever, but I'm glad.  Even art projects shouldn't go on forever.  You can make a few layers, leave it, come back, all that kinda stuff.  But it's good for projects to come to an end to move in to something new and exciting.

Today I'm sharing the next page in my mini art journal for the September Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 30 -Joy

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  It was hosted by Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.  Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt.  My art journal was made from envelopes and baker's twine.  Art journals can be simple or elaborate.  Rae's journal, which she taped her pages into, is small and chunky and has a fabric cover.  It looks so gorgeous!

Joy is something really wonderful.  Everyone needs joy in their lives.  Without it, you're going through the motions.  Everyone find joy in different ways.  Some in a quiet night reading, some spending time with friends and/or family.  Some like going out.  And some would love all of those.  It can be hard to find joy, especially every day.  Sometimes you have to work at it.  It can be a struggle for sure, but so worth it in the end. 

I used a gelli print for my background, but definitely added to it.  I mixed some purple paint, and a touch of blue with gesso to lighten the paint color before putting it through a stencil by Traci Bautista.  Then I pounced black paint through two different stencils, both the words and half a heart from a Dina Wakley stencil.  I also added details using a Sharpie pen and a paint marker.  I grabbed a tag from my stash, used my palette knife to add some leftover paint to the tag, then added a word sticker and some punchinella.   finally added some phrase stamping.

Some people can be very particular about where they get certain supplies.  I try to keep my options open, and one option that works well for me is here, from Dick Blick.  Even the store brand is good quality.  Sometime you have to do a couple layers to get a good coat, but it all depends on how solid you want the paint layer.  I find that sometimes I like the thinner layer so the underneath layers peek through.  That gives my art texture and dimension, which I love.

I really liked making this page, and I hope you enjoyed me sharing it with you.  And now onto the news.  I'm not new to crafting, but I am new to this blogging thing.  I also have other respnsbilities, hubby, kids, regular 9-5, and my short foray into blogging has shown that while I really love the craft, keeping up the blogging as well is becoming more difficult than I anticipated.  But have no fear!  The blog will continue, just under new management.  A wonderful crafty friend of mine, Tracy, has graciously agreed to take things over.  Our styles are quite similar, we've been arting it up together for years.  We even have a lot of the same supplies because we loved them so much.  I'm also getting her into the affiliate side of things, so she can share with you all of her amazing talent and you can enjoy making art along with her!  I will say she can be a bit snarkier than me, but I love that about her.  And I know she'll take great care of this blog.  And who knows, I may make a guest appearance sometimes.

Please know I hate to give this up, but I also want you to have the best experience possible, and I cannot give that at this point.  So instead of ending this, I want it to continue.  I do want to say thank you for joining me on my short journey, and I so appreciate you coming along for the journey.  I really hope you continue to visit, and I know Tracy will do an amazing job, and create some seriously awesome art.

Thank you, Georgie, for that fantastic introduction, and I'm going to do my level best to live up to that high praise!  As she said, our style are quite similar, and yes, I think we can be accused of loving the same supplies so much that we both got one of different stencils, stamps, stickers...the sky was the limit! :)  Great minds think alike, right?  I do a lot of art journaling, mixed media, tags, ATCs, and I do like to experiment.  Gelli printing, embossing, die-cutting, oh yeah, I like to play.  I love texture!  And layers, and color.  I will be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of brown, however, I have been known to art up some kraft paper like crazy.  I hope you enjoy the art as much as I love making it.  Thank you, truly, for coming along on this journey.  I can wait to play and show you what I make

Join me for Day 29!

Hello and welcome!  I'm so glad you decided to join me!  Today I'm sharing the next page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge by Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

 

Day 29 - Uplift

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt. I made a little art journal out of envelopes and baker's twine; simple but effective.  Though what Rae did with her pages was simple but very interesting.  She just used tape to add her pages to this chunky journal with a fabric cover.  Really amazing.  It reminds me to not stick to doing things only one way.  That there are always options when it comes to art.

How do you uplift yourself?  Or someone else?  Do you give a kind word, a hug, or are you the kind to bake cookies?  What does it mean to uplift someone?  And can you uplift yourself or just someone else?  And what does it even mean to uplift someone?  At the very least it means to lift someone up that would otherwise have stayed down.

The background is a gelli print that I actually didn't do a lot with.  I added some more color and some details with a Sharpie pen.   Then I stamped and colored an image with Tombow markers and added some die-cuts and sticker words.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now

Time for Day 28!

Greetings everybody!  Welcome back and thank you so much for visiting.  I'm sharing the next page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge by Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 28 - Believe

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt. My journal is very simple.  A bunch of envelopes held together with some baker's twine.  Rae actually taped her pages into an already existing super chunky journal, which I think it an awesome idea.  It helps me to remember to think outside the box.  And to remember that there are always options when it comes to art.

For Day 28, the prompt is believe.  Beliving in yourself is a powerful thing.  It's not always easy, and I don't know about you, but I struggle with it on a daily basis.  Belief in general is a powerful emotion.  It's capable of allowing you to do amazing things.  I'm not talking arrogance, but knowing you can do something.  Not exactly hope, but belief is also very powerful.  Belief can also be snarky, which is why I used a Dylusions stamp set for my sentiment on this page.

I started with a gelli print and used a white paint marker to outline a bunch of details.  I also smeared the page with a Sakura solid paint marker in fluorescent orange and used the end of a paintbrush to do some scribbles in the paint.  I used my Cuttlebug and a die-cut set to cut some flags from some scraps of patterned paper and grabbed the leftover scrap from a heart I had cut freehand.  I also added a skull digi stamp from Oddball Art that I colored with colored pencils and  Tombow markers and colored pencils.   I also added doodles with a sharpie pen and some lovely drips with some Liquitex Ink in carbon black.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now!

Join Me for Day 27

Hello everyone!  Thank you for joining me, I'm so happy to see you!  Life has been busy to say the least, but I'm working to share my last three pages of my Art Marks Challenge mini art journal, that was done back in September by Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 27 - Rest

I'm also entering the following challenges:

A Place to Start Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt. I made a little art journal out of envelopes and baker's twine.  Simple but effective.  Though what Rae did with her pages was amazing, while also being simple.  She has this chunky journal with a fabric cover and she used tape to add her challenge pages to the existing journal.  Really amazing.  It reminds me to not stick to doing things only one way.  That there are always options when it comes to art.

How do you rest?  What does it mean to rest?  You can also be rest assured that you are doing the best that you can.  Sometimes that's not the usual path or sometimes some people are going to be completely against it, for any number of reasons.  However, self-confidence is important. 

The background is a gelli print that I just went to town on.  I added doodling with paint markers.  I added stamping.  I used a Sharpie to outline some of the stenciling.  I added some digi images from Oddball Art and Octopode Factory that I colored with Tombow markers and colored pencils.  I added digi images from Octopode Factory and Oddball Art and a sentiment from Dylusions.  I also used my a white paint marker for lots of splatter.  I pressed the tip against my work surface to get the paint to pool, then tapped the marker with the extra paint to get the splatters.  I also added a clear tag that I used a paint marker to cover the bottom design because it didn't work for me and then added a die-cut from my stash and outlined it with white paint marker.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now

Sneak peek time...

 Please enjoy another sneak peek of my next journal page...

Fun in My Art Journal on Day 25

Have you ever lost track of time?  Or lost track of days on the calendar?  Yup, I have so been there!  With all that we have going on in life, between marriage, kids, work, life in general?  Sometimes it's a wonder I get anything done, know what I mean?  I try to keep track of everything.  Reminders, lists, notes.  It can certainly be a lot.  And so it was that I discovered I had I completely overlooked this page from my previous sneak peek.  Whoops!

I'm backtracking and showing off Day 25 in my mini art journal that I made for the September Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.  I'm in the home stretch and I think you'll really like the rest.

Day 25 - Root

I'm also entering the following challenges:

A Place to Start Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt. I made a little art journal out of envelopes and baker's twine.  Simple but effective.  Though what Rae did with her pages was amazing, while also being simple.  She has this chunky journal with a fabric cover and she used tape to add her challenge pages to the existing journal.  Really amazing.  It reminds me to not stick to doing things only one way.  That there are always options when it comes to art.

Root can mean a lot of things.  Putting down roots usually means one's life is becoming more stable, like buying a house or perhaps someone getting married, even having a child.  It's usually a cause for celebration in some respect.  Putting down roots is something to feel good about, if not a bit nervous.  You can also root for something.  Maybe you're cheering someone on in a new endeavor.  Or patting yourself on the back for a positive change in your life.  Everyone needs a cheerleader.  It can help calm your nerves from a big event.  Sometimes even something that is not huge in the grand scheme, but big for you or someone you know, such as a big test or a personal milestone.  I find myself rooting for myself because as I said, everyone needs a cheerleader to help accomplish goals and celebrate when those goals are accomplished.

I started this page with underpaper and pretty much kept the background as is.  Using several different colors of paint and a few stencils, including Dylusions Stars stencil, I kept the white space already existing on this page.  Now I'll be the first to say I love layers, different colors, and getting texture going.  But I do try to experiment and step outside the box every so often.  Though funny enough I also have a box on this page, compliments of a rubber and wood stamp I have from Amy Tangerine.  I don't even remember where I got it.  I believe it was a set.  The wood is a big thick block with good old-fashioned rubber attached to give the image.  In this case, the frame.

Using a digi stamp from Oddball Art, I colored it with colored pencils and pulled a die-cut from my stash.  And used my Sharpie pen and Uni Posca white paint marker for doodles.  I really like my white pant marker.  Its solid and has a fine point tip, which allows for different types of markings, both thick and thin.  It can be hard to find nice white markers, especially because the tips can end up absorbing some of the color you writing or doodling over.  This marker creates lots of possibilities for using them in your art.

A lot of my paint comes from here.  There's so many luscious varieties to choose from and allow for layering without making mud.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now!

Join Me for Day 26!

Well hello!  For those who saw my sneak peek, earlier, welcome back.  If not, you're still in a for a treat!

Today I'm sharing the next page in my mini art journal for the September Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 26 - Replenish

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Creative Fingers Challenge #264

Crazy is Our Fame Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt. I made a little art journal out of envelopes and baker's twine.  Simple but effective.  Though what Rae did with her pages was amazing, while also being simple.  She has this chunky journal with a fabric cover and she used tape to add her challenge pages to the existing journal.  Really amazing.  It reminds me to not stick to doing things only one way.  That there are always options when it comes to art.

To replenish usually means to refill, in a sense.  However, sometimes, if you take a break to replenish, you actually change something.  Taking time to replenish also is a time for introspection.  Sometimes that involves change.  You realize as you're refilling the tank, that you need to make changes to refill the tank.  What do you need to replenish?  How do you do it?  Have you ever taken time away to refill your tank and realized you needed to make changes in order to do that?  Or to make your refill last longer?

Sometimes I get intimidated by a blank page, and sometimes I get intimidated by a page filled with color and marks.  The background for this page is a small section of underpaper.  I really liked what was on the paper, but I still struggled.  I wanted to keep certain parts but I wasn't sure how.  So I decided to cover it up a bit and then add to it.  I first used a scribble stencil with some black paint.  And I thought about how while replenishing my energy, I've realized I've had to make changes.  I grabbed a couple die-cuts that were in that vein, and then used some card packing I had saved with the graph paper design and cut a scalloped border to go along the bottom, outlining it with my orange Uni Posca paint marker.

The fairy and the heart are digi stamps, from Oddball Art and Octopode Factory respectively, and colored with Tombow markers and colored pencils.  Then I used my Sakura Solid white paint marker and emerald green Uni Posca paint marker to make my top scalloped border.  I use paint markers a lot, and while I could use regular paint and a think paintbrush, a paint marker with a fine point works much better, especially if you're in a situation where you can't have the extra supplies.  It also helps with doodles.  It's much easier to doodle with a paint marker because it's like a pen.  So I have several paint markers from a few different brands.  Although not all paint markers are the same.  Some paint markers have different tips, so it is important to consider what you want to do with the paint markers.

In general, getting my paint from here works out very well for me.  Even the store brand is good quality.  Sometime you have to do a couple layers to get a good coat, but it all depends on how opaque you want the paint layer.  I find that sometimes I like the thinner layer so the underneath layers peek through.  That gives my art texture and dimension, which I love.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now!

Join Me for Mini Art Journal Day 24

Hello there my crafty friends!  Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the next page of my Art Marks Challenge art journal.  The Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene is technically over, but I was delayed, so I'm sharing my journal pages a bit after the fact.

Day 24 - Build

 

I'm also entering my page into the following challenges:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge

The Crafty Addicts Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use different whatever materials you have on hand, including scrap or underpaper.  That can result in some pages already having stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

Different challenges cause a person to think and possible create art, a certain way.  What I love about art journaling is it allows for whatever level of art.  Depending on why you keep an art journal, your deepest thoughts can make it onto a page.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

For this one, Build was a tough one.  Questons like what do I want to build?  Can I build on something that already existing?  In general, I'd rather build something up then tear something down.

My background is a part of a gelli print.  I used several stencils, including Tim Holtz Patchwork Circle.  I then used a large arrow stencil with Ranger Archival black ink. 

 

I added a few die-cuts from my stash and doodles with my Sharpie pen and my Uni Posca water-based white paint marker.  I also added one of my favorite things in art, ink drips.  These were made with Liquitex Liquid Ink in Yellow Medium Azo.  To do the drips, I put the tip right along the edge of the paper and tap the paper to get the ink to roll down.  Then came the hardest part: waiting for things to dry.

But waiting is worth it.  It allowed me to build up the page without sacrificing what I wanted to do.  And in general art journaling and mixed media is all about communication.

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 22

Welcome back my friends!  I shared a sneak peek, and as promised, this post will have all the details and pictures!  I'm so glad you could join me today!

I'm sharing another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 22 - Less

 

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

A Place to Start - October 2023

Creative Fingers #263

 

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use many different things, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing that your art covers up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

For this prompt, I had to really consider it, especially because I like putting more on my pages, not less.  However, there's more than one way to have less or be less.  I think it's more that some people need less self-doubt, less hurt, less being stuck.  So I think this page works well.

 

My page started as some mop up paint and and then I added part of a gelli print on deli paper to add more dimension.  One stencil I used on the gelli print is The Crafter's Workshop Pie Chart with green paint.  I added black paint from Artist's Loft through a Dylusions border stencil, and a eyeball flower digit stamp from Oddball Art.  

I also used the bigger plus signs/"X"'s from a Balzer Designs stamp set with Ranger Archival black ink, as well as a triangle stamp with ColorBox Blue Lagoon pigment ink.  You can also see where I added some doodles tracing the chevron part of the pie chart stencil with one of my favorite supplies, paint markers.  In this case, a Uni Posca paint marker in Emerald Green.  This paint marker is a weird one because the color doesn't look at all green, but it's still a wonderful color.

I also used my trusty Sharpie pen for some tracing and added my sentiment from a rubber stamp and the same Archival ink.  Here's a great place to get acrylic paint. There's several brands to choose from, the prices are reasonable, and they carry a huge number of colors and types of paint (like heavy body and free flow).

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 21

Oh hello!!  I'm so glad you chose to stop by today.  How are you, my friends?  I'm sharing the next page in my little art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 21 - Grace

 

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

Crazy is our fame - October Challenge

To learn some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she made for each prompt.  If you're just starting to read my blog, first of all, welcome!  For this challenge I made a little art journal out of envelopes and some baker's twine.  You can be as simple or as fancy as you like.   If you use paper that's from other projects, it just means those pages will already have leftover painting, stamping, or stamping.  That's makes a great jumping off point, for those who have difficulty with a blank page.  That's a difficulty I run into, staring at a blank page and wondering where to start.  It can be fun, but also a chance to overthink instead of getting something down and just playing.  

Some days about this challenge have been, dare I say, a challenge.  I've thought about all of them, but a few have given me real pause.  A good brain dump can be helpful, though whether it becomes part of your page or covered up.  There's no wrong answer

In thinking about grace, I thought about all the different meanings, and there's actually a lot.  I looked this one up in the dictionary, because I was curious.  One of several definitions speaks to showing kindness.  And I would love more kindness in the world.  I think we all need to show ourselves a little more kindness.  Not a blank check for excuses, but understanding that one person can only do so much.

My background is another section of gelli print and I went to town on this pages with the doodling, mostly, if not completely, with my amazing Uni Posca white paint marker.  I seriously love this paint marker.  Finding a good white paint marker can be difficult, but my Uni Posca stays opaque and looks just wonderful.

You can see I used my Dylusions Stars stencil, as well as another Dylusions stencil with large numbers.  There's also spots of other colors, including orange and green.  I really like getting my paint from here because there are several brands available including bargain brands.  And I've found that bargain brands work quite well when creating all my tags, cards, art journal pages, etc.  And even the brand name products are well-priced, so it's a great deal all around.

I used several different stencils, which is the fun of gelli printing!  You grab some paint, grab your stencils or stamps, and just play.  Twist the paper at weird angles for different designs.  Use colors together that would normally make mud.  The possibilities are endless!  I added a star digi stamp from Oddball Art colored with colored pencils.  The arrow is a die-cut from my stash that I altered with supplies from my stash, including Sakura Gelly Roll pens.  These pens, oh my gosh, can I tell you?  I love them!  The coverage is opaque and the colors are delicious.

 

I did also stamp a border stamp from my Dylusions Inbetweenies stamp set and Archival black ink.  Have I mentioned how much I love Dylusions?  They're just so snarky and fun!  Yes, I love a bunch of my supplies.  I can't help it.

Thank you so much for coming by and I hope you enjoyed this art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 20

Hello there my crafty friends!  Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the next page of my Art Marks Challenge art journal.  The Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene is technically over, but I was delayed, so I'm sharing my journal pages a bit after the fact.

Day 20 - Learn

 

I'm also entering my page into the following challenge:

Creative Fingers Challenge #263

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what she made for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use different materials, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages will already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

This challenge has been very interesting, because it makes you think, which can be different for an art journal.  Depending on why you keep an art journal, your deepest thoughts can make it onto a page.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

For this one, Learn seemed easy, but it wasn't exactly.   However, I think everyone knows the phrase you never stop learning.  I took my cue from that and incorporated learning into my at journal page.

My background is a gelli print, and I spy at least three different Dylusions stencils peeking out: in the border on the left, the arrows on the right from a shimmery spray, and there's also an alphabet stencil with Liquitex titanium white. 

 

The girl with a book is a digital image from Oddball Art, and I colored her with a combination of colored pencils and Tombow markers.  Then I used my Balzer Designs stamp set that includes stamps for every day of the week with the Archival black ink.

 

I added some stamped stars with the same black ink, along with other small stamps with Distress Ink in Ripe Persimmon and Cracked Pistachio, and traced both the arrow from the stencil and the stamped images with a Sharpie pen.  I also added details with my Uni Posca water-based white paint marker.

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 19

Hello my friends!  I'm so glad you could join me today!

I'm sharing another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 19 - Balance

 

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use many different things, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages, and I do plan to post them all.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Not that I mind thinking.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

Life always seems to be a question of balance.  Balancing time, money, quality time spent with family and friends, your job, maybe getting back into shape or it could be as simply as remembering to laugh.  However you find balance, it's worth the search.  The added texture for my page is the star.  I use a lot of baby wipes in my art.  One of those essential supplies, in my opinion.  Among other uses, I clean my gelli plate and clear off my stamps when I am stamping paint.  Many time the colors don't bleed as much, even if they're not supposed to mix.  And sometimes a single color gets fades and such which look terrific when a shape is cut out after the wipe is dried.  The big star for this page is from just such a case.

 

My background is another gelli print on deli paper.  You can see one layer is red paint through The Crafter's Workshop Chevron stencil as well as aqua green through another stencil from The Crafter's Workshop called XOXO.

I also used a Dylusions stencil with some ultramarine paint and did a lot of doodling with my Uni Posca white paint marker.  I also used some die-cuts from my stash and used some little stamps sets from my stash as well.  A great place I get my paint is Dick Blick. There's several brands to choose from, as well as a huge number of colors and types of paint (like heavy body and free flow).

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 18

 

Hi there my crafty friends!

I'm so glad you're visiting!  I have another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 18 - Tend

 

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes.  You can use many different types of paper, including scrap or underpaper.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages, and I do plan to post them all.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Not that I mind thinking.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

When I saw the prompt, a lot of ideas swirled in my head.  What do you think of when you hear the word "tend."  Granted, the word tend has different meanings.  However my mind immediately went to the definition of caring for something.  You can tend your child(ren), a garden, a relative, or even yourself.  I've been doing a lot, in a sense trying to do everything, even though that's impossible.  So tending to myself can fall by the wayside.  And I think many people fall into that.  Everyone gets busy with life: work, kids, friends, taking care of the home, and I'm sure you can come up with many more.  Tending to yourself, caring for yourself, can get pushed the bottom of the priority list, which isn't good either.  So I need to tend to myself more.

My background is actually two layers of gelli prints.  One is on cardstock, the other is on deli paper.

I used a border stamp from Dylusions Inbetweenies stamp set, with Ranger Archival black ink, and  heart stamp with Ranger Distress Ink in Salty Ocean.  I know I've said it before, but I love my Ranger archival ink.  I really want it in more colors.  And there's lots!  Sometimes I don't mind the ink not being crisp or maybe spreayed with water and a tag dragged through it for a nice effect.  But the archival ink always give a crisp image and doesn't smear.  You can add any wet medium over it and it will stay put.

 

All the die-cuts are from my stash. I used a Sharpie pen and my Uni Posca white paint marker for the doodles.  I also used a red marker from my lovely Tombow markers to add some doodles to a die-cut.

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 17

Hi there my crafty friends!

I'm so glad you're visiting!  I have another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 17 - Poise

 

I'm also entering my page into the following challenge:

Creative Fingers Challenge #262

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use many different things, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages, and I do plan to post them all.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Not that I mind thinking.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

For this day's prompt, Poise, what defines poise to you?  What gives one poise or how is it expressed?  Being poised could mean to be balanced.  It can also mean holding oneself or an object in a certain manner.  I've heard being poised and being graceful can go hand in hand, which is certainly one way to look at it.  I like that my page shows being balanced between having fire while not sacrificing respect for yourself.

My background is another gelli print, a simpler one.  I was experimenting with sprays, which I really love.  I love the effects you can create with them.  They dry fast, but depending on how you spray, they can stay wet long enough to mix colors.  I also love using the top part for adding drips or tiny drops.  I was using a Dylusions stencil with some Heidi Swapp Color Shine sprays.  They're sparkly, but not overwhelming.  I don't mind some sparkly, but I don't necessarily go fully glitter, sequins, etc.  So these sprays are really nice.  I used Teal with the Dylusions stencil.  The Color Shine sprays came in many colors, like Sweet Mint, Raspberry, and Ocean.

 

I added a border out of gelli printed deli paper that I made using various paint colors, some die-cuts, doodling with my Sharpie pen and my Uni Posca white paint marker.  The butterfly is from a package of corrugated cardboard shapes from my stash, colored with a red paint marker.  I also added stamping with Archival black ink.  The tag is actually an experiment.  I used an acrylic stamp from Badass Art on some scrap and I really liked it, so I cut it into a tag to use later.  Enter later.  My Sharpie outlined the edge, I added a tiny heart from Oddball Art.  I also traced a Dylusions girl mask near the bottom for some added punch.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 16

Hello there my crafty friends!  I'm so glad you could stop by!

I'm sharing another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 16 - Notice

 

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

Creative Inspiration Challenges #6

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use many different things, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages, and I do plan to post them all.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Not that I mind thinking.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

What do you notice about the world around you?  What do you notice about your own life?  I've been noticing both aspects of my life that I'm not super happy about as well as other aspects I do like.  Or something I need to alter, but not necessarily get rid of.  Then there are simply aspects that I want to notice, to remember, because I am reminded that moments are fleeting.

My background is another gelli print on deli paper, and I really like the color combination on this one.  It's a little different, not always something that's usually found.

Now normally I'm not a fan of brown.  I much prefer to use colors, though I do find that I am, on occasion, freely using pieces that are brown or gray, such as plain chipboard.  I have also found myself just painting paper just to see what happens.  I will at times just grab my collage papers and cut out different shapes.  That's what I seemed to do in this case.  I used the gelli print for the background, and then cut out the top border from some brown paper that had a bunch of paint randomly strewn on it.  Then I used some black paint through my small sized (6x6) punchinella stencil.  I like adding pops of black or white to my page.  I like how it adds interest and I feel it helps showcase the colors more.  I also used a stamp set that had not been used at all really.  Sometimes you find that happening.  You grab a product because of a sale, or you really like the designer or the stamp design itself, and then it sits.  Gather dust while you use other products.  That's what apparently happened with this one.  And I'm really glad I used it.  It's almost like you need to give yourself permission to us a supply that you've been neglecting for whatever reason.  In this case, it's a Dylusions background stamp, one of four different patterns.

 

I used a stamp I've actually used before from Dina Wakley called Boy Star with a Distress Ink mini pad in Salty Ocean and cut out with my Tonic Studios scissors.  My trusty Sharpie pen got a decent workout on this page, but my Uni Posca white paint marker wanted to play too.  After I added a cut up die-cut and phrase die-cut from my stash, I went to work with my Sharpie pen, adding lots of doodle details.  I do have to be careful, because if anything is still wet or a bit tacky but not quite dry, the pen will pick it up fast.  But on a dry surface, it's wonderful.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!

Mini Art Journal Day 15

 Hi there my crafty friends!

I'm so glad you're visiting!  I have another page in my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge from Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.

Day 15 - Evolve

 

What does it mean to evolve?  Usually it means what you don't need anymore goes away and what results is something better.  For some reason, a butterfly immediately came to mind, or rather the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.  My brain works kinda weird, because I was then thinking not caterpillar but work, and that led me to bookworm.  I love books.  My taste in books have definitely evolved.  Perhaps it's inevitable because some books you grow up with you also grow out of.  Or the books help you on our journey through life.  So I decided to make a book butterfly with lots of doodles.

I'm also entering my page into these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge

The Crafty Addicts Challenge 5

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows what's she's making for each prompt.  For those who haven't seen my previous posts yet, I'm working in a mini art journal I made out of envelopes, but you can use many different things, including scrap or underpaper, so some pages already had stuff on them.  A hole punch and some baker's twine later and a mini art journal for the challenge ready for art!

I've mostly posted individual pages, but I do plan to post them all.  I do hope you're enjoying the pages.  Sometimes it's super easy to make the art, sometimes it's a challenge, no pun intended.  Or maybe I did?  Some challenges are simply design concepts, like stripes or circles.  This challenge has been very interesting thus far, because it makes you think.  Not that I mind thinking.  Sometimes a good brain dump on your art journal page is just what you need.  Whether it's actual writing that you incorporate, writing and your art covers it up, or the art itself represents the brain dump.

 

I played around with a technique I've used before here.  I used a print from a gelli printing session, then used a Royal and Langnickel wash brush to cover the print with Liquitex titanium white and used the opposite end of the brush to make scribbles, allowing the pattern, color, or design to peek through.

 

The background has a lot going on, including lots of doodles.  However, I did use a background stamp of mini stars with Archival black ink in several places on the page.  I traced a Dylusions alpha stencil using a Sharpie pen. My Tombow markers got a workout with filling in the letters from the stencil, the red in the "tell your story" on the butterfly wings and the worm from my butterfly.  I also did a bunch of doodles using a Craftsmart purple paint marker (there's one in this set), a Molotow One4All shock blue paint marker, and the Sharpie pen.

 

The butterfly is a stamp I've used before from an old Balzer Designs stamp set through Impression Obsession.  The worm is a digital stamp from Oddball Art.  Confession: it's not actually a worm, though I thought it was originally.  I trimmed the "tail" to make it more worm-like.  I also added doodles that remind me of Teesha Moore using my Uni Posca water-based white paint marker

Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out my art journal page.  Bye for now!