Tag : art journal

259 posts

202008/28

Bravely

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 | Blog | Creativity

art journal, Art Journal Journey, challenge, Marvin, tags, wonky junky art journal

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halleday

202008/26

The adventure begins

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 | Blog | Creativity

art journal, Art Journal Journey, challenge, tags, wonky junky art journal

6 Comments

halleday

202008/24

T Tuesday: Ivanhoe journal pages edition

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?

art journal, gardening, Ivanhoe art journal, kitchen, layers, T Tuesday

16 Comments

halleday

202008/23

Junky art journal

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.

Art | Blog | Creativity

art journal, handmade journal, junk journal

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halleday

202008/18

Beautiful moments

I was inspired to create this journal page while reminiscing about our trip west last summer. So many beautiful sites. So many memories made.

The page started out quite simply.

I used Tim Holtz tissue to reinforce the spine of my Ivanhoe journal. I knew I wanted the focal point to span across the two page spread. I added lots of texture to begin with since I thought I was going to be using a lot of spray inks again. I went in another direction and used watercolor color crayons instead.

While the watercolor was still wet I sprinkled some baking soda in various places. It gave some nice subtle texture as it puled the color into the soda.

I also added lots of texture with the different choices in papers. From the vintage souvenir photo to textured card stock…

I layered tags, photo off-cuts, scrapbook paper, book page and stickers with wild abandon.

In the end I had a journal page that echoed my thoughts of our trip.

Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Pockets and Tags hosted by Alison.

Blog

art journal, Art Journal Journey, challenge, Ivanhoe art journal

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halleday

202008/05

I didn’t dream it

I’ve started working in a new journal. So far this one is focused on texture. Not a conscious choice but I see the pattern developing.

The sky was the limit on what I used on this page, which may seem odd since there isn’t that much color going on.

I started out by taping down the center of the binding with masking tape. I added some ripped pieces along an imaginary horizon line to start my texture process. Next I added ripped pieces of drywall tape. The texture wasn’t feeling right to me so I grabbed some light texture paste. I’m not sure what has happened to the jar but it was weird…I used it anyway but it got my pages really wet.

After drying them with a heat gun, I grabbed a jar of white house paint I’d been using for paint pouring a couple years ago. It has really thickened over time in the old peanut butter jar. Perfect!

I walked away for a while as I often do. Do you complete a page in one sitting? Doesn’t happen much for me…always seem to be waiting for something to dry. When I came back some of the white paint was STILL wet…I decided to sprinkle some baking soda over the wet areas. I rubbed some of it in…other areas I continued to let dry.

I knew that I wanted to make all the texture pop so I used sage green distress paint and sprayed water to make it flow. While it was still wet I dripped some brown and gold glimmer mists as well. I used a paper towel to mop up excess moisture in places. Used the heat gun to partially dry…and start the process all over again.

It wasn’t quite blue enough for me so I used a watercolor crayon to make the blues pop since I had already picked out the teal textured card stock and tiny piece of vintage wallpaper.

Since I’ll never be accused of less is more…I grabbed some pigment powders and knocked some powder off a fluffy brush onto the wet page. Now I was really loving where this was headed. I took it outside and sprayed satin clear coat to set the powders.

I used the same products to color a small piece of plaster casting to add yet another layer. The tag is punched from Tim Holtz packaging. It was too pretty to toss.

I didn’t lie when I said I used a little bit of everything on this page!

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

Art | Blog | Creativity

art journal, Art Journal Journey, challenge, found text, Ivanhoe art journal

7 Comments

halleday

202008/04

T Tuesday: typical Tuesday edition

It’s just a typical Tuesday at my house. I had a brisk morning walk…52°F. It was refreshing but I’m not going to lie…I wished I had worn long sleeves.

Next it’s time for a bit of coffee and list writing. Lists help me stay focused. Trust me…I was WAY off task this weekend and Monday. Mr. G took yesterday off so typically I take that “time off” as well. I don’t create lists and sort of go with the flow. Not always the best choice for me.

Good news though…last week I was very productive.

I replanted green beans, snap peas and zucchini.

They have all sprouted! Hopefully I’ll get some good production before our first frost.

My tomatoes are ripening. My squash lost the battle with pests…squash borers got to them…but now I know what to look for.

Marvin was busy watching the birds while I was snapping a few photos.

My tiger lilies are in full bloom and the deer have left them alone!

Perhaps its the new guard bear my neighbor painted and gave to Mini-me. That or the bar of Irish Spring soap I have hanging from the cage around the lilies. I heard that deer don’t like the smell of clean people. :)

I’ve started working in a new journal. I’m not loving this book as I’m afraid that its not well made enough to withstand the abuse that I put my art journals and altered books through.