• Art - Creativity

    Memory course

    I had to take a break from sewing to work on and an art journal page. I definitely have to have more than one project at a time. My attention span demands it. A short browse on my workspace was all that it took to get the ideas flowing.

    I grabbed a piece of cardboard, scrapbook paper and distress paints to get started. The scrapbook paper had an off-road motorcycle theme…I liked the colors but not the theme. That’s where the paint comes in. Just covered up what I didn’t want. I always have a small bin of words and phrases close at hand so I picked out a few that seemed to speak to me while the paint dried.

    memory course art journal page

    The page from an old math book seemed very fitting. It made me think of all those formulas that are so important that you have to memorize. I still have a few of those banging around in my brain that surface when I need them. I’m always the first to point out to my kids when I’m actually using some of that knowledge from school that I swore “I’d never use again”. I certainly don’t use it every day but I do use it.

    I had a very unexpected result when I was heating the embossing powder around the edges of my page. The old, dry math book page started to burn…not flames but turned brown and smelled like it was burning.  I’ve never had that happen. Now I’d like to try it on purpose. I think it could be a really cool effect for say an old letter or map. I need to do it next to the sink though, just in case. 🙂

    memory course art journal page

    Yes now that I look at my date stamp I realize that I read the 9 as a 6 when looking at it backward on the stamp. No, I did not make this page in the future and travel back to post it. If I had the ability to time travel I’d do something much more interesting than that!!!

    I’m linking up today with Art Journal Journey with the Back to School theme.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Looks familiar

    There is a new theme over at Art Journal Journey…Back to School. Well that certainly is a timely theme since mine have been back for a week now.  On typical years the kids don’t go back until after Labor Day but ours went back early to make up for the week they’ll have off at the end of September.

    Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

    Of course school as we knew it is gone. No black boards…they have been replaced by first white boards then smart boards.

    Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

    And remember these…you’d look up the book you wanted in a card catalog then check it out by writing your name on the library card which would be stamped with the due date. That system has been dead a very long time. Bar codes and scanners with emails to remind you of due dates is the way of today.

    Looks familiar AJJ: Back to School theme

    This page is a tribute to school the way we knew it.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Impressionist poppies

    Yesterday a recommended video came through a YouTube update email. Normally I ignore those but this one combined with the fact that I actually had the time to watch one made quite the impression…or perhaps that should be impressionist. *wink* Thanks Jane.

    I was instantly inspired to give this technique a try. This also gave me an excuse to start another journal. Yeah I know…like I really need another journal. This one is actually a Creative Memories scrapbook album.

    album turned journalI decided to get real with myself.  I’m never going to scrapbook. And certainly not in this album. It’s the same as some of those clothes in my closet. I’m never going to wear them so why have them unless they can serve another purpose.

    Since Creative Memories albums have a metal edge on each side of the page, I decided to cut a piece of scrapbook paper down to the proper size to fit in between. IMG_1391

    I had originally intended that some of the original pattern would show through but evidently I was heavier handed with the paint than expected.

    Impressionist Poppies

    I created the page in a similar manner to that described in the video. I really like the result. I’m not into recreating others work but I do really appreciate the inspiration and willingness of others to teach and share.

    Mini-me saw my practice page and said she’d really like a painting of this in her room.

    Impressionist Poppies

    I think it would really look great on the grey walls. I’m sure there will be a few more practice attempts before the real deal on canvas.