• Blog

    Beautiful moments

    I was inspired to create this journal page while reminiscing about our trip west last summer. So many beautiful sites. So many memories made.

    The page started out quite simply.

    I used Tim Holtz tissue to reinforce the spine of my Ivanhoe journal. I knew I wanted the focal point to span across the two page spread. I added lots of texture to begin with since I thought I was going to be using a lot of spray inks again. I went in another direction and used watercolor color crayons instead.

    While the watercolor was still wet I sprinkled some baking soda in various places. It gave some nice subtle texture as it puled the color into the soda.

    I also added lots of texture with the different choices in papers. From the vintage souvenir photo to textured card stock…

    I layered tags, photo off-cuts, scrapbook paper, book page and stickers with wild abandon.

    In the end I had a journal page that echoed my thoughts of our trip.

    Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Pockets and Tags hosted by Alison.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Art - Blog - Creativity

    I didn’t dream it

    I’ve started working in a new journal.  So far this one is focused on texture. Not a conscious choice but I see the pattern developing.

    The sky was the limit on what I used on this page, which may seem odd since there isn’t that much color going on.

    I started out by taping down the center of the binding with masking tape. I added some ripped pieces along an imaginary horizon line to start my texture process. Next I added ripped pieces of drywall tape. The texture wasn’t feeling right to me so I grabbed some light texture paste. I’m not sure what has happened to the jar but it was weird…I used it anyway but it got my pages really wet.

    After drying them with a heat gun, I grabbed a jar of white house paint I’d been using for paint pouring a couple years ago. It has really thickened over time in the old peanut butter jar. Perfect!

    I walked away for a while as I often do. Do you complete a page in one sitting? Doesn’t happen much for me…always seem to be waiting for something to dry. When I came back some of the white paint was STILL wet…I decided to sprinkle some baking soda over the wet areas. I rubbed some of it in…other areas I continued to let dry.

    I knew that I wanted to make all the texture pop so I used sage green distress paint and sprayed water to make it flow. While it was still wet I dripped some brown and gold glimmer mists as well. I used a paper towel to mop up excess moisture in places. Used the heat gun to partially dry…and start the process all over again.

    It wasn’t quite blue enough for me so I used a watercolor crayon to make the blues pop since I had already picked out the teal textured card stock and tiny piece of vintage wallpaper.

    Since I’ll never be accused of less is more…I grabbed some pigment powders and knocked some powder off a fluffy brush onto the wet page. Now I was really loving where this was headed.  I took it outside and sprayed satin  clear coat to set the powders.

    I used the same products to color a small piece of plaster casting to add yet another layer. The tag is punched from Tim Holtz packaging. It was too pretty to toss.

    I didn’t lie when I said I used a little bit of everything on this page!

    Linking up with Art Journal Journey for Alison’s theme of Pockets and Tags.

    Art Journal Journey
  • Around home - Art - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: typical Tuesday edition

    It’s just a typical Tuesday at my house. I had a brisk morning walk…52°F. It was refreshing but I’m not going to lie…I wished I had worn long sleeves.

    Next it’s time for a bit of coffee and list writing. Lists help me stay focused. Trust me…I was WAY off task this weekend and Monday. Mr. G took yesterday off so typically I take that “time off” as well. I don’t create lists and sort of go with the flow. Not always the best choice for me.

    Good news though…last week I was very productive.

    I replanted green beans, snap peas and zucchini.

    They have all sprouted! Hopefully I’ll get some good production before our first frost.

    My tomatoes are ripening. My squash lost the battle with pests…squash borers got to them…but now I know what to look for.

    Marvin was busy watching the birds while I was snapping a few photos.

    My tiger lilies are in full bloom and the deer have left them alone!

    Perhaps its the new guard bear my neighbor painted and gave to Mini-me. That or the bar of Irish Spring soap I have hanging from the cage around the lilies. I heard that deer don’t like the smell of clean people. 🙂

    I’ve started working in a new journal. I’m not loving this book as I’m afraid that its not well made enough to withstand the abuse that I put my art journals and altered books through.

    It was the only one I had laying around at the moment. Since I’m not thrifting at all, it will have to do.

    I thought it was funny that it had traveled half way across the country into my hands just for me to destroy alter it.

    I’ve completed 4 spreads so far. This is a snippet of a page. I’m having a lot of fun playing with texture.

    The T Tuesday post from last week had another one of the spreads. I’ll share more in another post. I’ve already rattled on too long for today.

     

    What are you doing today?