• Art - Blog - Creativity

    I knew where

    Time is ticking away so quickly for June. My Words to live by challenge on Art Journal Journey is almost over. I figured I’d add a page…and maybe more…before the month comes to an end.

    I got a little carried away with texture on this one. I just kept layering it on. The background got so wrinkled and wonky that I had decided to tear the sides in and stitch it to a piece of kraft card stock.

    I’ve been really into orange this month I’ve noticed. It definitely is one of my favorite colors.

    Stacking layers of fabric and paper is also big on my list lately. I just love the look of it.

    And of course the found text. It was the perfect phrase. I could really go for a relaxing warm day at the beach…staying all day to watch the sunset.

    I know you can’t join me at the beach but won’t you join me for Words to live by at Art Journal Journey.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Warm in the summer

    Today, since it’s the first official day of summer, I thought I’d share a salute to summer journal page.

    The page began as so many do with a piece of what I like to call mop-up paper. Basically copier/printer paper. I have tons of it in various colors that came in a lot of scrapbook supplies I acquired several years ago. Working in loose sheets allows me to use thinner substrate knowing that it will be adhered to an existing page in the final journal.

    For background interest I glued book text in random places before covering the whole sheet with tissue paper. I love the texture tissue paper provides plus it softens the background.

    I used gelatos to colorize, blending with a baby wipe.

    After the background was settled, I chose a photo I had taken while on vacation a couple years ago. After resizing by tearing, I used my trusty sewing machine to stitch it into place. While I was at it I created a stacked fabric and paper collage embellishment for the top edge of the page.

    Next it was time for the words…the oh so important and vital part for me. Warm in the summer jumped out at me. I layered the words over script stamped tissue and fabric.  At this point I thought I was done, until I noticed a tiny pinwheel charm in my box of bits. It was the finishing touch that the page needed.

    Won’t you join me for Words to live by on Art Journal Journey?

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Retro feel journal page

    I was playing around in the craft room since I had actually cleaned up a bit…always happens that way. Can’t leave a clean space. I saw a strip of scrapbook paper that completely matched the yellow piece of mop-up paper next to it. I knew it was meant to be.

    I folded the copy paper in half and used a glue stick to adhere the page together for a bit more substance. I’m in the beginning stages of creating a new journal and this size is perfect…more on that in a later post.

    I layered the chocolate and mint scrapbook paper with book page then added a faded piece of last years garden bunting fabric…which incidentally was black background with red cherries with green stem and leaves.

    Next I knew I had to use some of the lace trim I scored while out at garage sales yesterday morning. I got a ton of fun stuff…

    Like all of this for less than $2 at one sale! Tons more stuff but likely not of interest here on my blog so I won’t bore you. Anyway…the lace was $0.10 per roll. Do you have any idea how much is on those rolls?!?! I’ll never run out.

    Back to the journal page…

    By this time my page had a very retro color scheme. A quick search through my scraps revealed a sewing pattern with the perfect colors. Don’t you just love her fist…like she’s shaking it at those darn kids. My words came from her expression. I happened to have some ransom letter rub-ons again with the perfect colors to highlight her emotions.

    Last but not least I used black pen to draw around the words and border the page.  I think I killed two pens before finally getting one to work properly. Paint or gesso and pens are not a good combination. I really need to remember that.

    This page is yet another for my theme of Words to live by over on Art Journal Journey.

    Art Journal Journey