• Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: The book

    July 10, 2026 - By 

    I’m stretching it with this one.  There is just one small piece of fabric on here but it actually helped shape the page. The use of all the dark colors came directly from this tiny scrap.

    Once again I used a many layers to create a focal point.

    I didn’t care for the stark dictionary page in the background so I used a bit of napkin backing to tone things down. There were also some words I didn’t care for that remained seen…nothing a bit of acrylic paint can’t handle. Layered on top is a piece of digital art I created long ago. The Book seemed fitting because of the dictionary page. I probably could have done without words but that is very difficult for me…but I’m trying.

    The bottom could have used a bit more paint had I noticed but oh well. It just makes me laugh.

    Won’t you join in on my Art Journal Journey July challenge theme of Fabric, lace and trims…oh my!

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: Waltz of the Flowers

    July 1, 2025 - By 

    I’m pleased to be asked to host Art Journal Journey for a fourth time.  It’s always easier for me to do a challenge during the summer months while school is out.

    Since its summertime here in Minnesota, that means I’ll be enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible. I love puttering in the garden, getting my hands dirty. I’m especially fond of flowers so I thought the perfect theme would be Botanicals. The theme is pretty broad…from beautiful vintage images to wonky sketches, stamped images to stickers…as long as it relates to plants, it’s fair game. Are you in?

    This first page in the series was inspired by the vintage sheet music I found in my stash. Then I started pulling items that I felt might work on a page. This is my general process when working with a theme.

    The vintage wallpaper strip piece set the color scheme…all that was left was to pull pieces that would coordinate.

    I knew I had printed one of my digital creations that would fit the bill. It was absolutely the perfect color.  I really love creating in Photoshop. That is for sure going on my summer list of things I want to do.

    After all the layers of paper I knew it needed just a little something more. This piece of tatted lace was exactly the right length. I love it when things work out like that.

    I hope you’ll play along with my challenge and post your link over at Art Journal Journey!

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Everything’s coming up roses

    July 5, 2024 - By 

    For the second piece in my “I’ve got a notion” series, I went with a vintage feel using elements from the sewing room.

    The background is the instruction page from a pattern set. The vintage paper has such a lovely color.

    I used a label rubber stamp around a spool image from a dictionary to add a notion.  I like to use this technique to harvest images from old book pages.

    The printed papers are my own digital creations. I haven’t played much with that technique lately. I did take a USB thumb drive to Kinkos and have a few pages laser printed a couple years ago just to see how they’d turn out. The rose paper is one of those.

    I added the lace down the side because who doesn’t love roses and lace. Once again butterflies are appearing in my art.

    I hope you’ll join in with me for “I’ve got a notion” over at Art Journal Journey sometime this month.