• Blog

    T Tuesday: long time, no see edition

    This Spring has been a real challenge for me to stay creative AND post about it…or even catch up with my blog friends. It’s been 10 days since my last post…ridiculous!

    I did sit down and do a bit of creating last evening and finished this morning.

    I kept adding layers to the background. In fact the paper I started with was oversized for my scrapbook journal. It was a purposeful choice. I wanted to just work on the layers, then cut it down the the part I loved the most.

    My only regret is that the image I used of the woman buckled from the wet glue I used. It’s ok though…art journals are a perfect place for all those imperfections.

    Speaking of layers and imperfections…

    I love how my little stack of papers and fabric turned out. Frayed and torn but lovely.

    Did any of you T Tuesday people notice the coffee mugs in the background? Yep I’m counting it.

    This afternoon after returning from another funeral, I found this baby bird.

    It was still alive and breathing really hard. I was afraid it had crashed into the patio door but looked ok. I checked on it on and off for a while. Finally I decided to go see if I could help or at the very least scare it enough to fly into the nearby tree with low branches.

    After a few attempts it was able to find its way to the tree.

    I texted my bird loving cousin, who I happened to had just seen at the funeral, asking what kind of bird it was. She is pretty sure its a Tennesse Warbler. I hope he/she is able to continue its migration with the rest.

    I am happy to say that there are only 12 school days left of the year. Not that its been a bad year but I’m ready for a break…the kids are too. I have so many things I want to do this summer, way more than I’ll be able to fit in but it will certainly be fun to try!

    What are you doing today?
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Scrapbook journal finished!!!

    I am very happy to say I’ve completed another art journal. This was a loose leaf type journal. Technically it was a Creative Memories album but I knew in my heart I’d never actually scrapbook this album…or any other for that matter if I’m being completely honest with myself.

    album turned journal

    On Friday night I completed my last entry. It was a very simple page that started with a piece of artists paper from one of the Stampington family of magazines. I used distress paints to alter the color.

    Next I used gelatos to created the base of a flower using my finger to spread the color. On top I drew the loose details of a flower with India ink.

    I wrote with a white gel pen some thoughts I had at the moment. I purposely wrote very messy so I’d be the only one who knew what it said while creating some visual interest to the page.  This was one of the quickest pages I’ve ever completed and a perfect way to end my journal.

    Although I really love working in loose leaf I do struggle with a completely blank page. Many of the papers I used as backgrounds were surface protection pages already smeared with ink, paint and glue.  I think I will always tend to stay with vintage books as the base for my journals. The background text and texture of the pages inspire me.

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    Tea Tag quote journal pages

    I had Thursday and Friday off work for MEA (Minnesota Educational Conference). Since I wasn’t attending any of the conference I was able to get a bit caught up on things around home. The kids and I did yardwork while the weather was gorgeous. So many leaves!!!!!

    Yesterday brought rain…no yardwork to be done. That left time for indoor pursuits.

    When I sat down to create I didn’t realize that I’d finish one page much less two. I was on a roll. It felt amazing to get my hands dirty with crafty goodness. 

    This tea tag quote spoke volumes. Bliss…that’s what being creative again felt like.

    The dimensional line of purple circles are actually tiny shells that have been dyed. I have no idea where I got them, I just happened to notice that they matched the punched flower and felt it would add some balance to the page.

    This page came together from two parts that didn’t feel as if they belonged at first. The lavender is a napkin from Patty from some long ago gift she sent. Thank you Patty! Anyway…I had adhered the napkin over book text on a piece of cereal box and there it sat…for years. Yesterday it found a home.

    Along with a few bits of this and that that spoke to me. The bit of lace helped mute the loud orange color down to a soft complement.

    As I prepared to take photos for this post I realized that I made two pages that would work beautifully side by side in the journal. I didn’t even plan that. Obviously I had a palette in mind without thinking about it.

    The pages flow. I love it when things work out like that!!

    Linking up with Art Journal Journey for LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUL. 

    Art Journal Journey