Showing posts with label art journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art journal. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Courage to Go For It ATC

I had an idea to try something new with this ATC and I really like how it turned out.


 

I used a lot of different supplies with this ATC.  Stamping, rub-ons, acrylic paint, die-cuts, adhesive enamel shapes, paint markers.  Did I mention I used a lot?


I'm entering my ATC into the following challenge:

Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge


What supplies do you put together a lot?  Thanks for visiting and come back soon!

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Fabric Fun...

I've long admired fabric art journal covers.  The change in texture you get from adding fabric.  Eas to add pattern, depending on the fabric you choose.  The frayed edges as if the fabric was torn instead of cut.  It's just lovely and I've always wanted to try it.  So finally, I did.



This is a mini journal I made a few years ago for a monthly challenge.  I don't have thick fabrics, but I have several patterns.  This pattern has a retro vibe with tic-tac-toe symbols.  I rough cut a piece that was bigger then the journal cover itself.  Then I used my Cutterbee scissors to snip all the sides one at a time and ripped the strips off, creating a frayed edge.


The fabric goes over the edge of the paper, which I think adds to the charm.  You can see some paint splotches from the paper I used.  I think it looks lovely, and to touch and feel the fabric, it's really so cool.

You can use any fabric you want, though I would suggest a heavier fabric.  It could be harder to rip it, but worth the look and feel, for sure!


I've include affiliated links for some items I used for this project or similar products.  If you click the link I get a small commission.  The price does not change at all for you.  Enjoy the links and thank you for your support!

 

Have you ever considered using fabric?  Have you tried it?  Is is something you absolutely adore?  Comment below!

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Art Journal - It's So Me

Hello friends!  Is the weekend really over?  Yikes!


I have a great project to share today to enter into a challenge.




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

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

 

I had leftover from an experiment where I mixed Liquitex Gesso, Liquitex Bright Aqua Green, and Ranger Gel Medium and pushed the mixture through my Dylusions Trees stencil. I need to get some sleep, so I will update tomorrow, but please enjoy!


And if there's something you want to see me try or do, please leave me a note in the comments!






Thursday, November 23, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I scheduled this to post today because like many of you, I hope, I'm enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with my family.  I truly hope you enjoy this holiday, whoever you're celebrating it with.  I also hope you find at least one thing to be thankful for, especially if you've been going through a tough time.  It can be hard to see in hard times, but there's always something to be thankful for, small or big, simple or complicated.  So Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this visit to a previous post about being thankful.

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Hey everyone, I hope you're enjoying the rest of your weekend.  Weekends can be tough.  It's a terrific break from regular life, but they can also go by really quickly, right?

Simon Says Stamp has a new challenge, with is Thankful.  I do my best to be thankful, for all the things in my life.  Even the challenges are good because those are opportunities to discover new ways of thinking or come up with new ideas.  And of course, Thanksgiving is coming up, which reminds us all to be thankful for not only the good things, but the challenges.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

I made an art journal page for this theme, and it's kinda funny.  My art journal has a lot of mop up pages.  Sometimes that helps me, sometimes it can block me.  Other times it can inspire me, but I add back in detail I really like.  In this case, I was going to keep part of it, then changed my mind and covered it up, but added back in details.  I had stenciled some red stars from a Dylusions stencil, but covered it up with more paint to make my spread.  I added it back in after composing my page and I think I really like the results.


 

The numbers in the purple are leftovers from the mop up, but I covered everything else, though I hadn't planned to.  I combined Liquitex Titanium White with Liquitex Bright Aqua Green, and covered the left area with just the white.  Then I added Artist's Loft Neon Green and some Artist's Loft Orange mixed with white to add some more interest.


 

I added a strip of washi tape, spots of Heidi Swapp Number Rub-ons, and traced a Viewfinder stencil with a red Tombow marker.  The TO is Heidi Swapp Alpha Stickers with Dylusions Calypso Teal Color Spray.  I used a journaling card from my stash, swiped some orange paint on the edges, then used Archival black ink with a small stamp set from my stash for WEEK.  I used an alphabet stamp set with Distress Ink Festive Berries for SAY and the "thank you" is from an American Crafts Thickers set called Wild.  The star is from a gelli printing session complete with doodles from both a Sharpie pen and a water-based white Sharpie paint marker.

 
 
I've included affiliate links to many of the products I've used or similar products, which means if you use the links to make a purchase, I make a small commission with no price increase for you.  I really appreciate your support.

I hope you enjoyed my art journal page as much as I did making it.  Are there any challenges you're thankful for this year?  What else are you grateful for this year?



Sunday, November 19, 2023

Thank You

Hey everyone, I hope you're enjoying the rest of your weekend.  Weekends can be tough.  It's a terrific break from regular life, but they can also go by really quickly, right?

Simon Says Stamp has a new challenge, with is Thankful.  I do my best to be thankful, for all the things in my life.  Even the challenges are good because those are opportunities to discover new ways of thinking or come up with new ideas.  And of course, Thanksgiving is coming up, which reminds us all to be thankful for not only the good things, but the challenges.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

I made an art journal page for this theme, and it's kinda funny.  My art journal has a lot of mop up pages.  Sometimes that helps me, sometimes it can block me.  Other times it can inspire me, but I add back in detail I really like.  In this case, I was going to keep part of it, then changed my mind and covered it up, but added back in details.  I had stenciled some red stars from a Dylusions stencil, but covered it up with more paint to make my spread.  I added it back in after composing my page and I think I really like the results.


 

The numbers in the purple are leftovers from the mop up, but I covered everything else, though I hadn't planned to.  I combined Liquitex Titanium White with Liquitex Bright Aqua Green, and covered the left area with just the white.  Then I added Artist's Loft Neon Green and some Artist's Loft Orange mixed with white to add some more interest.


 

I added a strip of washi tape, spots of Heidi Swapp Number Rub-ons, and traced a Viewfinder stencil with a red Tombow marker.  The TO is Heidi Swapp Alpha Stickers with Dylusions Calypso Teal Color Spray.  I used a journaling card from my stash, swiped some orange paint on the edges, then used Archival black ink with a small stamp set from my stash for WEEK.  I used an alphabet stamp set with Distress Ink Festive Berries for SAY and the "thank you" is from an American Crafts Thickers set called Wild.  The star is from a gelli printing session complete with doodles from both a Sharpie pen and a water-based white Sharpie paint marker.

 
 
I've included affiliate links to many of the products I've used or similar products, which means if you use the links to make a purchase, I make a small commission with no price increase for you.  I really appreciate your support.

I hope you enjoyed my art journal page as much as I did making it.  Are there any challenges you're thankful for this year?  What else are you grateful for this year?


Wednesday, November 15, 2023

A look at a work surface

 
Ever wonder where some artists and creatives get the weird looking paper with odd patterns and marks?  I know I did, and it's called underpaper.

I will share more tomorrow, but underpaper is any kind of paper that you put on your work surface that catches the drips, dabs, and splotches when you are working.  And it can e beauty in its own right.

Above if a peek at some of my underpaper.  And it includes leftover marks from TCW's Punchinella stencil and Liquitex gesso.

I've included some affiliate links for products I've used.  If you use the links and make a purchase, I get a small commission, with no price increase for you.

I really hope you enjoyed this peek and please join me again for more!  Have fun creating!


 


 

Sunday, November 5, 2023

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

Saturday, November 4, 2023

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


Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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!



Sunday, October 29, 2023

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

Friday, October 27, 2023

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

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!







Friday, October 20, 2023

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!






Thursday, October 19, 2023

Sneak Peek Time

 Please enjoy this sneak peek and tune in later to see more!  Enjoy and see you soon!

 

 


Thanks for visiting!  You're not going to want to miss this.  Bye for now!

Monday, October 16, 2023

Join Me for Day 23

I'm so glad you're back!  I'm sharing Day 23 of my mini art journal for the Art Marks Challenge that was hosted by Rae Missigman and Sandi Keene.  The challenge already ended, but I'm still catching up.  So today I'm sharing my page for the prompt Invent.

Day 23 - Invent

 


I'm also entering Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge.

For some Art Marks Challenge history, you can click here.  And Rae's Instagram account here shows Rae's interpretation of the prompts.  Rae made tiny cards and put them into this gorgeous little pocket journal, which is super thick.  I think it has fabric covers as well.  Swoon!  I love chunky journals and textures

 So for the prompt Invent, I remembered when I had been playing with gelli prints, I had used a small stencil from Balzer Designs that's a light bulb.  It's blurry, but I like how it turned out.  And I knew it was perfect for this prompt.  I was also thinking about the process of inventing.  When you're inventing,you're usually writing and drawing.  So I used some patterned paper with words all over it and ran it through my Cuttlebug using Altenew's Flat and Fold Alphabet Dies.  I did some of the letters backwards, whoops!  Then I thought, when you're inventing, things happen.  So I kept the backwards letters.

 

I added a few die-cuts from my stash. I also used two paint markers, both Uni Posca, in white and emerald green.  Then I used my Liquitex Liquid Ink in Naphthol Crimson to make some lovely, funky drips!

 
 

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



Sunday, October 15, 2023

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!


Sneak peek

 My newest art journal page...come back soon for all the details!





Friday, October 13, 2023

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!







Monday, October 9, 2023

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!


Busy, busy, busy...

I am so sorry I have been absent without a word.  Life can definitely get busy and sometimes unexpected events lead to adjustments. I will b...