• Art - Blog - Creativity

    T Tuesday: JJJ part 4 edition

    July 15, 2019 - By 

    I have taken the liberty of shortening #junkjournaljuly to JJJ for the sake of my blog and my annoyance of typing the hashtag with all lowercase letters over and over…hope that’s alright with you.

    I do have to tell you what a great time with this challenge and it’s keeping me creating each day. I’m not working ahead even though it would make sense some days.

    Day 8: minimalist

    I struggled with this prompt. First I attempted to cover the original page with tissue and colorize it with distress paint. It was a complete disaster. After walking away for a bit I decided to use the back side if some textured wallpaper…or at least I think it’s wallpaper. Next, I grabbed a tiny souvenir postcard which went perfectly with the Tim Holtz word sticker I found. That’s as minimalist as I can do.

    Day 9: favorite quote

    I have used this quote in several projects over the years. It really holds true…and is always a good reminder for me. There were a lot of tears when I made the decision to return to the workforce after being home with my kids for 17.5 years. The tears were real some days thinking of all the change. Now I look back and think that it really was the perfect time to return to work. And guess what?!?! I love my job.

    before


    after

     

    Day 10: handwriting

    I decided this one should remain fairly simple with my handwriting being the focus.

    Day 11: unconventional

    This is another quote that I absolutely love…and it is a very unconventional thought.

    before

    after

     

    Day 12: washi galore

     

    I decided to use a selection of some of my current favorite washi tapes on this page.

    Day 13: elements

    It may be summer but my head was still in the classroom when it came to this prompt. How else could a science nerd take that prompt?!?

    before

    after

     

    Here in Minnesota, we are currently in the grip of a brutally hot and humid stretch of weather. Watering the garden twice daily from my rain barrels is completely necessary. I’m “watering” myself with a bit of local brew as well. 

    Not too shabby.

    I harvested the first of the green beans today…take that you thieving deer… We ate them before I even thought to take a picture.

    This week has me driving Mini-me back and forth to work each day…her Jeep is out of commission for the week until Mr. G can get the part and install it.  So thankful for his previous profession and that this didn’t happen when he was traveling for work in his new profession because we wouldn’t have known it was critical that it not be driven…yikes!

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Junk Journal July part 3

    July 14, 2019 - By 

    So far so good with #junkjournaljuly. I’ve been keeping up each day. I was only late in posting once on my Instagram. I call that a win!

    In previous posts, I shared the concept and prompts list as well as days 1-5. So I guess that makes this post part 3.

    I knew I needed to add a couple of pages to make this journal last the full 31 days of July.  The page was quite flimsy so when I found a greeting card that I liked it seemed the perfect thing to glue straight down to add stability to the page.

    I also wanted to add the list of prompts somewhere. This blank white page was the perfect canvas. I dug out my typewriter and crossed my fingers that the ribbon still had some ink.

    The ribbon was decent but there was something else funky with the carriage. I had to really fuss with it each line. As you can see some lines I was more successful than others. Oh well…that’s what makes it eclectic and unique.

    Day 6: Note to self

    Fairly self-explanatory. I ended up covering the entire card on this one since it was pretty boring white.

    Day 7: Florals

    I covered the top of this page with a vintage look floral paper. I added a calendar cut out stamped with the date in proper placement.  Next, I stamped flowers with Staz-on ink. I loosely watercolored the blossoms with my used but new to me watercolor set. This really helped set the calendar back into the page. The words felt perfect.

    This is what the fold out looks like both open.

    I know I’ll definitely need to make another fold out perhaps two since I am still a few pages shy of completion with the journal.

     

    I could have used the front of the card but those bunnies were just too darn cute.

  • Around home - Art - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: great outdoors edition

    July 1, 2019 - By 

    This weeks T stands for Tuesday is dedicated to the great outdoors. I wish I could take you on a current up to the moment tour but…its raining…again. You’ll have to settle for some photos that have been taken over the past week or so.

    Shall we start with the pest that is digging up my garden?

    Cute isn’t she…pain in my @$$ is what she is. Her and her now babies are digging up plants everywhere!!!! Did you notice she seems to be red and grey…I looked it up and there seems to be some crossing of the species. These squirrels are closer to grey squirrel size but with a red squirrel temperament. “Fantastic” she says dripping with sarcasm.

    We’ve also had a bunch of deer around eating my tiger lilies…I can’t blame this little fawn…mama left him rest in the tall grass by the fence.

    She’s looking at me like I’m the paparazzi….

    Here’s some adorable and equally destructive critters in the patch of clover my neighbor has in their yard.

    This robin and the cedar wax wings are busy eating the service berries from our tree like they do every year…the only problem is the berries seem to go right through them if you catch my drift.

    Do you notice the netting over my patio tomato plant? Squirrel deterrent. My in-laws used to have a huge strawberry patch…this was the leftover netting. Thank goodness!!

    I also have it on my deck boxes and the raised bed. Marvin is out on a supervised visit of the great outdoors on one of our non-raining moments.

    He’s such a handsome guy. I love how he poses for me.

    He enjoys sniffing the air, watching bugs and birds and generally lounging around.

    How do you like my new signs….

    My MIL bought them for me. There are a few more but I need to repaint to reflect what I actually have planted.

    My garden is finally looking pretty good. I’m excited to see how the yellow pear tomatoes do in this garden vs the raised bed by the deck.

    Yesterday I put up a few flags…immediately after placing this one atop the fence post on the garden this dragonfly landed. Must have been an excellent hunting position since he would not move even when I adjusted the flag.

    Marvin doesn’t love the heat…even though we’ve brushed and brushed him…he still has quite the coat. We know he’s warm when he does this… His other position is belly up on the floor. Poor baby…he’s a winter cat.

    Are you still with me…I know its a long post…

    For my art/beverage tie in we have this journal page. I kept meaning to post it but it never happened…as you can see by the date it’s a couple weeks old.

    I love how the book page shows through the napkin so much!!! The page really didn’t need a whole lot more in my opinion. A little recycled sari fabric and found text…done.

    Tuesday has lots of errands in store getting ready for the Independence Day holiday.

    T stands for Tuesday
    What are you doing today?