48 posts
The other morning I just couldn’t help myself. I had to create. Everywhere I turn there are pumpkins. My emails are filled with fall decor and pumpkin spice lattes. 
I ended up working on this page until moments before I had to leave for work. It just had to be done.
Linking up with Art Journal Journey for POLKA-DOTS, STRIPES, PLAIDs or PATTERNS. I think this qualifies…
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.
Since I’m guest hosting over at Art Journal Journey this month I thought I’d make this a twofer post.
The journal page I created for my theme of Words to live by completely fits the bill.
I wish I could remember exactly who gave me the stamped handmade paper piece but I’m not sure.
I have an idea but maybe if she recognizes it she can speak up and I’ll know for sure.
I have quite a bit of coffee themed items that were collected and traded for long ago to create an altered book. With that book complete, I now have lots of fun items to use in other creative ways.
The background for the page was layered with random papers from my scrap bucket. Over the top I spread red, turquoise and cream with my fingers in a loose fashion…almost giving the appearance of peeling paint. The colors were a bit to bright so I first used some distress paint then glimmer mist to tone it down. Now I was at the color I was searching for.
I added washi tape with my sentiment boldly across the page then softened it with some torn washi in a complementary color. I then added a stacked button flower embellishment from my stash for a bit more interest.
This is another loose leaf journal page sized for a new art journal I’m working on. I love working in loose leaf. Being able to add stitching, eyelets or brads simply anywhere frees my creative process. Of course this page is not an example of that.
My new journal is an old recipe binder. I cut pages to fit out of black card stock and will adhere each completed journal page to the card stock.
The binder is yet undecorated as I’m not sure what I want to do with it. I was thinking about giving it some gorgeous texture but now I’m leaning more towards a fabric slipcover. Indecision at its best.
I’m not even worried that the journal pages I create are an exact fit for the pages.
This page from my previous post will leave a bit of black page showing on both sides. I almost prefer this look to the fit of my coffee page.
This week has a college visit tied into a mini-vacation for Mini-me and I. We are both super excited for a little time at the lake. Hopefully the weather cooperates with us!
At my school the last day is grade level field trips. I went with 7th grade to Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America. Nothing like setting 6 bus loads of kids free at the mall (and that was just from our school).
We walked in under this beautiful and interactive art installation.
There was a rope attached with a sign that read “Pull rope to help her fly“. The kids had fun helping her flap her wings. Here’s a little news clip about it if you’d like to see more including a video of it in motion.
I went on 3 rides during our time at the mall. The first was the worst…hard on the body…very jerky, spinny and not for the feint of heart. The second was also pretty scary but not so hard on the body.
All those teal twists and turns made me scream a few times much the the glee of the students.
This was the view from the Ferris wheel…nice and slow with a great view of the park.
Over the weekend I did some outdoor sprucing up. I stitched up some new buntings for my gardens…
FYI…My glass of water is just out of frame on the step in adherence with T stands for Tuesday.
And refreshed some metal garden art…
I used several cans of spray paint to brighten up the flower. I’m not sure I love it but it’s so much better than before!
This little sign really needed help and a 3D element. I had two of these metal flowers. They have a metal pin out from the back. I used a tie tack back and a washer to hold it on the sign. IT hangs from a shepherds hook along the front walk.
Today I took Mini-me to take her drivers test…and she passed!! Then I sent her to Target on an errand.
Woot! She did great. She is so happy…so am I! Now she can drive herself to work and school and volleyball and well you get the picture…
Tuesday morning we are getting a new roof put on the house. I know…super exciting. I’ve got all kinds of busy work to do in the house while the nail guns are hammering.
Last week I found this image I’d printed ages ago…I knew immediately that it would become a focal point in an upcoming journal page.
Since I’ve been using the term “mop up paper” quite often lately I thought I’d share a bit of a process post to give visuals to my words.
This is where my page started. A sheet of blue copy paper 8.5 x 11 inches. I used a glue stick to adhere it to some lightweight card stock.
After the glue was dry I cut it down to my desired size of 7 x 7 inches. Next I got out craft paints and used my favorite tool…my fingers…to spread several colors of paint over the page.
Some of the colors are more transparent than others allowing the original color and marks to show through.
Look at that yummy texture… I decided to let this air dry overnight instead of drying it with the heat gun.
Of course this is where my process failed…I totally forgot about the fact that I was taking photos step by step.
I used rubber stamps to create some background texture. The black ink harlequin was super subtle…I felt I needed a bit more color and shape. Since most of my stamp pads are pigment ink I used clear embossed powder to set the ink.
I also took the completed background to my sewing machine to stitch a funky border in black to contain everything.
Next I created some layers with paper and fabric to give an anchor to my image.
Last but not least was the words of wisdom to a little girl learning to tie shoes with her daddy’s shoes. I love that they are on the wrong feet too.
Not only am I linking up with Words to live by on Art Journal Journey guest hosted by yours truly….
but I am also linking up with Try it on Tuesday for Make a Mark.
Welcome back to Halle’s Hobbies. Glad you could stop by today to check out another page for Words to live by on Art Journal Journey which I happen to be guest hosting this month. Yay!
I had really thought I posted this earlier but I had only uploaded the photos. I guess that’s what happens to our brains during the last week of school. Mush…mush for brains. Anywho…
I started with a page of thin blue/green mop up paper. Since it was too thin I adhered it to another sheet of thicker paper. Next I began using my favorite tool…my fingers…to paint over the chaos with bright happy colors…yellow, pink and orange. It was a little crazy so I muted things down with some white paint. After setting it aside to dry a while I cut it down to my 7×7 scrapbook journal size.
I pulled out some scraps that complemented my color scheme at this point. I began to play with layers until I found something that pleased me. Before gluing them down I decided some spatters of black were needed to help form a cohesive look.
Next I added some cheery flower stickers that just happened to match my color palette. The last thing was the words. I searched through my stash of words and phrases and quickly found the perfect one. 
Share the joy.
It wasn’t until I was taking these pictures did I notice that the scrap with the words had JOY visible twice.
I’d love it if you’d join me for Words to live by at Art Journal Journey this month.
Recently the cold weather had me reaching out for warmth anywhere I could think of…it really showed through in the warm colors of this journal page.
Can’t you feel the warmth radiating off the page?? Come on now…use your imagination..ah isn’t that better. Toasty warm.
The image I chose made me think not of a masquerade ball as intended but to something sneaky…not dark and sinister but sly and cunning. I had to find the right words to match my thoughts.
Don’t you just love it when things work out like that!
Did you check out the texture!?! My first layer on this page was tissue paper. Over top I blended several shades of yellow and orange with my fingers until the overall look pleased the senses. Seeking more texture I attempted to stamp with some nearly ancient pigment ink pads…alas they left very little mark. Then I had the idea to smudge them here and there then sprinkle clear embossing powder over top. I had hoped I’d get more color from the ink…it was not to be. Then I decided to get even more aggressive with the ink pads and use some UTEE in copper. I really love the end result.
I also added some bits of leftover rub-on quotes I had laying around. I think it adds to the mystery of the page and what the masked woman is planning to deny.
My last step was to add a bit of India ink loosely around the edges to act as a frame.
Linking up today with Art Journal Journey for Yellow.
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