• Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: Adore

    July 25, 2025 - By 

     

    My journal page for today I simply Adore…yep, I said that…couldn’t help myself. When I came across the handmade paper in my stash I knew I had to use it. The leaves and flower petals that are embedded were so inspiring!

    Just look at that texture!!

    Next I found the back of an envelope that was beautifully aged. The ideas really started flowing at this point. I thought about a romance…love letters….flowers.

    Whoa…I didn’t think I was that much of a romantic.

    This couple looked like they really adored each other.

    I used elements from several different ephemera packs including some Tim Holtz.  I’m on a mission to use up some of the things that I “just had to have” which pretty much turned into hoarding them.

    I hope you’ll stop by Art Journal Journey and check out some of the other artwork that is being created for my theme of Botanicals this month.

    Side note: Yesterday I realized, while updating my challenges and collaborations page, that this is my fourth time hosting over on Art Journal Journey.

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: recycled bag

    July 23, 2025 - By 

    Today’s page for my Botanical theme over on Art Journal Journey was inspired by a paper shopping bag.

    A few years ago a teacher I worked with knew my love of collage. One day she brought me a stack of colorful and unique shopping bags she didn’t have the heart to throw out. She was a bit sheepish about giving them to me but I was thrilled!

    The background is one of those bags…slightly wonky and torn. I loved the cyanotype leaves and chartreuse “A” over the top. The words up the side made me think of a sunny morning when the dew glitters in the sunlight. The birds are singing and butterflies fluttering about.

    After selecting a strip of scrapbook paper that fit my color scheme, I once again I used some pieces from my Tim Holtz ephemera pack…can you tell I’m trying to use up some things from my stash? I layered these on top of a bit of mulberry paper as well as a scrap of handmade paper and a label.

    Simple collage that fits my Botanical theme.

     

  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    AJJ: fabric floral

    July 19, 2025 - By 

    I had a little play this morning with some fabric I picked up at a church rummage sale on Thursday.

    I cut a paper scrap down to 7×10 to fit in my planner journal then tore the fabric to approximately the right size. Next I put a bit of tape runner in the center to hold the fabric in place while I stitched around to create a stable base to work.

    Teal and orange are such a wonderful color combo. The bits of teal against the warm palette were very inspiring.

    I pulled from my stash and starting the layering process.

    Adding more and more bits from my table.

    I keep this glass cookie jar on my sewing table to toss little bits of this and that in as I am crafting. This system works really well for both containment and inspiration.

    This color scheme really spoke to me. It was hard to decide when this one was done.

    The mix of fabric, lace and paper has me very pleased with the end result.

    I’d love it if you’d stop by Art Journal Journey and play along with my Botanical theme this month.