• 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.

     

  • Blog - Creativity

    Planner becomes art journal

    July 7, 2024 - By 

     

    A couple years ago I attempted to use this Rae Dunn planner that I was gifted.

    I collaged the corners to give it a little bit more of a “me” feel to it. But it just was too big! It took up way too much room no matter where I tried to keep it. Instead of tossing it out, I set it aside.

    When I began preparing to host “I’ve got a notion” over at Art Journal Journey, I remembered how much I love creating journal pages in a loose leaf manner. Especially since I often like to sew on my pages.

    I decided to add a bit more collage to disguise the year on the front cover. Since the bird looked weird just hanging out by itself I added the nest and butterfly to keep it company.

    I glued two planner pages together to give it a bit more strength then glued the journal page down. I am removing some of the planner pages to reduce bulk but I am happy that I am reusing the planner in some fashion.

  • Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Gnome ornaments

    January 5, 2023 - By 

    I always like to have a little something to give to friends… usually it’s handmade…what else would you expect from me.

    Mini-me brought home a large spool of kitchen twine that she had used in an art installation last year. I wasn’t sure how we were ever going to get through all the yardage until I started making these cute gnome ornaments.

    I was inspired by a Pinterest video. https://pin.it/4wRPmea

    I wrapped the kitchen string around my hand until it felt thick enough. I tied the middle then slipped off my hand and cut the opposite side from the tie. I then tied a loop of bakers twine to serve as the hanger before beginning work on the hat.

     I made a circle template with a bowl then cut it in half. I used scraps of flannel from my stash for the hats. After rolling my half circle of flannel into a cone shape.  I used a hot glue gun to adhere first the hat together then stick the hat to the gnome body being careful to thread the hanger loop through the top of the hat. I then added a coordinating button or two to the hat and a wooden bead tucked up under the rim of the hat for the perfect gnome nose.

    Thankfully I also have a stash of wooden beads to make the noses.

    They turned out so cute and I used up the whole spool! Renew, reuse, recycle. ♻️