Category : Creativity

612 posts

My new wonky junky journal is proving to be a fun challenge to work with. The pages are different sizes and textures. Different colors and finishes. I loving how it makes me think outside the box.

I’m really not able to preplan a page. I have to trust the process and let go.

I was planning to use some really wet mediums but I realized that the magazine page on the right would never hold up to that abuse.

I ended up stacking layers of papers, beginning with a card front for stability. After adding the floral scrap and photo off-cuts I knew where I was headed.

I stamped a flower garden across the bottom of my pages then used watercolor paints to add a bit color. All that was left to do was add the right words.

 

Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Jo’s theme of Texture.

Art Journal Journey

A few days ago I was very inspired to make art. I actually had two pages that I was working on simultaneously in different journals.

This is the one I started and finished first. Once again…lots of texture going on…which has been an overarching theme of my Ivanhoe journal.

I’m not in love with the colors on this one, with the exception of this pop of teal on a citrasolv paper. The teal made it work for me when I was feeling the page too muddy. I added a couple other pops of color such as the gold to try and draw the eye to a more pleasing color. Not sure if it worked as planned.

I added so many textures on this side of the spread. Fabric, wallpaper, paint, book page, washi sticker…all layered up. I do really enjoy the look of this…especially the cut lemon on the wall paper. It makes me smile.

When I was nearly done with my page I decided to add a bit of dark green to anchor the spread. I’m not sure if I am entirely pleased with the result but that’s ok. Art journals are a great place to play and experiment…learn from mistakes…grow as an artist.

Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Jo‘s theme of Texture.

Art Journal Journey

My plan for the morning was to go for a walk immediately upon waking…the weather didn’t cooperate. Instead I made art.

The page on the right was the inside of a security envelope…I decided to do a gradient of color from light to dark blue. That, honestly, was my only plan or inspiration.  Next I added some random stamping to the background.

By this point I was starting to get an idea of the direction I was headed.

The gradient blue represented standing at the edge of the unknown…like the edge of the ocean. Nothing certain…endless possibilities. The branches are what I’m holding on to…my support. My stability.

I cut a tag from another chunk of masterboard. This piece had a scrap on which I had tested a compass stamp. It seemed fitting. There is guidance but really we just need to navigate our way through.

My current journaling has been really helping me express my feelings leading into the coming school year.

It’s all so unknown…uncharted…unpredictable and frightening. But here I am…standing bravely…ready to go support my kiddos at school the best way I know how.

Marvin gets credit for his supervisory role in our photo shoot.

Linking up with Art Journal Journey again for Alison’s theme of  Pockets and Tags.

Art Journal Journey

This page and the words I used are multi-layered in meaning.

First…I’m using a new journal in a new way. Junk journal being an art journal.

Secondly the words reflected how I am feeling about this new school year. Both my kids are doing college from their bedrooms, while I will be in the classroom 4 days a week and remote another day. A school year that no one can predict. Something to tell the grandkids some day…a long, long time from now. ;)

I layered up a couple of tags that were cut from masterboards. I love having pieces like that in my stash. They really make quick work of journal pages while adding depth and interest.

The ticket was a last minute addition…it’s my ticket to the new adventure ahead.

Linking up today with Art Journal Journey for Alison’s theme of Pockets and Tags.

Art Journal Journey

I was thinking about what I wanted to post about for the T stands for Tuesday, I suddenly realized that I never have posted a couple of journal pages I made early this month. I guess that would be part of the August acceleration I talked about last week.

I know I gave a sneak peek of this page several weeks ago. It was my first page in my Ivanhoe journal.

I can’t get enough of looking at the texture… The gold and bronze are UTEE. The white is your basic embossing powder.

I chose these words after thinking about the Paris image I had used…dancing and wine seemed fitting.

This next page had me again playing with some metallic colors.

I used so many layers! This book will be another chunky one… The words I used reflected my mood. Things it seems will never be the same. Its sad really.

Moving on to more pleasant things.

I am attempting to make apple cider vinegar again. My last attempt did not turn out. I think I used tap water which killed off the fermenting bacteria plus I never feed them any sugar in the beginning. These apples were heading for the compost pile since they were getting soft and shriveled. Blech. Hopefully in 6 weeks I’ll have some lovely ACV to show off.

My second crop of beans is continuing to impress me with how quickly they are growing. There are even some tiny blossoms beginning to form.

The deck box garden is nearing the end stages. Several green tomatoes, beets and summer squash will all hopefully make it to harvest.

My pole bean plant is definitely determined…it is reaching out to whatever it can find to continue to grow. I’m thinking I really need to grow more of these next year. And bonus…no fuzz!! Nice smooth green beans like they should be!!!!

I’m posting Monday evening since I have my first back to school work meeting tomorrow. Thankfully its a remote meeting…unfortunately its FOUR HOURS LONG!!

What are you doing today?

As so often happens, I was inspired to create smack in the process of cleaning up my art space. I had bits of this and that laying around…parts of projects that went astray…papers headed for the recycling bin…you know the usual junk that seems to take up my precious space.

The inspiration to make a small hand bound art journal was from Susanne Rose art. I follow her in Instagram and always love seeing her work in these small journals

All of the pieces I had laying around really worked well in a small size.

 

Including these upholstery fabric strips… again cut for another project that never came together. They worked perfectly stitched down on a stack of book page and plain newsprint paper.

 

I stitched my signatures in using waxed linen and a pamphlet stitch.

I was sure to leave lots of space this time around. I tend to make very chunky pages… especially when I don’t have the space.

I goofed a little here. The needle didn’t pierce the gold fabric on the first stab through. I may use some lace to cover or just leave it as is.

It’s not meant to be perfect. It’s wonky. It’s junky. It’s fraying. It’s just perfect for experimenting.

I feel as if time rapidly accelerates when we flip the calendar to August.  I haven’t gotten a thing posted for two weeks…even though I have been doing a little creating.

Here’s a little snippet of something I will post later today hopefully.

I know its awful to tease like that but sometimes I just can’t help myself.

I replanted my garden with a few things and three of the four items are growing nicely.

Green beans, snap peas and zucchini. I also have a volunteer tomato plant in the corner of the garden. I decided to leave it and see if it gets big enough to produce any fruit before the frost hits. I planted some carrot seeds in the deck box garden but they never sprouted. I think it got too hot for them. Oh well.

Speaking of carrots….this was a volunteer that I pulled from a pot of nasturtiums.

The faux watering can has a false bottom about 4 inches down so that’s why the carrot is so stumpy.

Marvin and I were enjoying a bit of sunshine yesterday. It was simply gorgeous. Low humidity, beautiful temperature…just a perfect day. While keeping one eye on Marvin, I noticed seed pods on the nasturtiums. You know me…had to save the seeds.

I’m super excited about this…likely more excited than one should be about seeds. I just have to let them dry. Ideally letting them dry on the plant is best but evidently you can also pick them off at this stage. These just fell off into my hand when I touched the plant. Time will tell if they are viable seeds. I also read that you can lacto-ferment these to make sort of a caper. In other artciles I read that the plant is very edible. The leaves have a pepper, mustard flavor and the flowers can be eaten raw or made into tea. Who knew?!?! I’m not one for eating flowers but I may try some leaves on a sandwich.

Since my last post I also found out what the fall will bring for our family. J goes back to campus for a mix of online and in person classes. Mini-me will be taking her college course online from home and choir through the high school…also online at this point. I will be starting the year in hybrid learning…meaning I will be at school 4 days a week. Monday-Tuesday group “A” kids and Thursday- Friday group “B” kids. Wednesday is all distance learning. I have very mixed feelings about this. I want to be in the classroom but I’m also afraid to be there. I can’t see how I can possibly do my job in person maintaining a 6 foot distance.

Today has me knocking super boring and lame items off my to-do list.  Phone calls, dentist appt, etc. Not one of my favorite days. I wish we could roll back the clock to last year this time…Mini-me and I were in Yellowstone!!

Oh well…time marches on…

What are you doing today.
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