From My Heart

This week’s cue word over at CASology is HEART.  I made this card using the heart images from Hot Off The Press’s Flights of Fancy stamp set.  The sentiment is from 7 Gypsies’ Trousseau.

Hello Card

I recently came across the CAS-ual Fridays, the Clean And Simple Challenge and decided to try to participate in their Tic Tac Toe challenge.  For this card, I used the three challenge prompts of stenciling, die cutting, and embossing.  I stenciled TCW’s  “Mini Dots & Dashes” with Ranger Archival Ink in Pale Ochre.  The die cut is Sizzix;s “Phrase, Hello.”  The flowers were stamped with an old Stampin’ Up! stamp (I’m not sure what it’s called) and then embossed to complete the challenge.

What Balloon?

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything here.  I’m not really sure why that is, but I’m hoping this is the start of more frequent postings.  Here is a card I created for the Clean And Simple challenge at The Outlawz.  The challenge was to create a project that features one or many balloons. I’m not sure if this girl is bashful, or if she’s trying to hide that balloon behind her back!

Time To Play

So there is a new 1-2-3 Challenge that I thought I’d try.  This one requires 1-a line from a song; 2- two musical instruments; and 3- three music notes.

The song line I used is from a Jackson Browne song called The Load-Out.  The song contains a line that reflects how I feel about crafting, and, well, life in general, really.  The line is, “the only time that seems too short is the time that we get to play.”

I had an old issue of Guitar Player magazine, and I was able to use some content from the magazine for this journal prompt.  I found pictures of guitars and a drum set (my two instruments), and I found some sheet music (three music notes).

I used acrylic paints, stencils, card stock, markers, and ribbon to create the following.

I love 1-2-3 Challenges. Not only are they fun, but they stretch my creativity.  What art challenges inspire you?

Make A Promise

Wow, I can’t believe how long it has been since I have posted anything.  It’s not like I haven’t been creating; I have.  I guess I haven’t been finishing things, and I know I haven’t been participating in any challenges.  Well, that changes today.

I recently came across what’s called a 1-2-3 challenge in one of the facebook groups I belong to.  The challenge is to create a journal page with 1- one handwritten quote, 2- as many pieces of scrapbook paper as you would like, and 3- three triangles.

I played and played and this is the result.

The handwritten quote is: Make a promise to yourself.  The scrapbook papers are from an old envelope and from my stash.  The three triangles are around my girl’s neck.

I hope I can keep a promise to myself to finish more project, participate more regularly in challenges, and to post more often.  Are you making any promises to yourself?

Who Loves You?

My friend at Kerri’s Kreations recently showed me her rendition of a mixed media owl.  She made such a cutie of an owl using an array of different paints, stencils, and papers, but there was one thing missing.  This owl needed a friend.  I mean, the owl was even asking the question, “Who loves me?”  I felt both obligated and inspired to create a friend for Kerri’s owl.

Cre8tiveCre8tive by Andrea Gomoll has a wonderful mixed media owl video on youtube.  I followed her process using Faber-Castell gelatos, book paper, stamps, and a doodle pen.  In addition, I also used  my newly acquired water soluble pencil.

Here is my new friend for Kerri’s owl.  He answers her question.  He is the one who loves her!

The One

The month of February is coming to a close, and that means another monthly challenge at Just Some Lines is closing too.  This month’s theme is Hearts & Love.  The rules of the challenge are simple: 1) stick to the theme and 2) use an image from Just Some Lines. Freebie images are provided (yeah!).

I chose to use this month’s freebie in my art journal for my project.  It’s a girl dreaming of love.  She looks to me like she’s dreaming of one particular love.  I created a background collage from magazine pictures of boys/possible love interests.  I gave the collage a paint wash to help unify the background.  I colored the Just Some Lines image with markers, and adhered it to the journal page.  I added some more paint around the edges of the page to help draw the eye to the digital image.  Finally, I used my new Scarlet Lime pen (thanks, Kerri’s Kreations!) to provide a caption, and colored around the words with a Sharpie.  She knew in her heart she had finally found “the one!”

The Just Some Lines monthly challenges start on the first Saturday of the month.  I hope you decide to give it a try.

The Two of Us

Last Tuesday night Terri Sproul continued giving a lesson in using the color wheel.  During her live show, she created an art journal page using acrylic paints, Dylusions ink sprays, gelatos and stamps without creating “mud.”  I’ve had issues with making mud in the past, so this lesson was perfect for me.

First we sprayed some book paper with Dylusions  Ink Spray, and we set it aside to dry while we played in our art journals.  We stenciled images on our pages with acrylic paints, and then removed some of the paint with baby wipes.  We used Faber-Castell gelatos to edge around our pages using our fingers to spread the gelatos.   We cut heart shapes from our ink sprayed paper, and applied them to our pages using gel medium.  We stamped images using Staz-On ink.  Finally we added rub-ons for sentiments.  Here is my art journal spread.

The Tuesday night shows with Terri Sproul  are so much fun.  Hope to see you there!

Mixed Media Monday

I just finished my version of the page Tracy Weinzapfel showed us last Monday night during her Ustream show.  The page we created is called “Grateful.”  The quote on my page is, “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.”

I chose this quote because it reminded me of a wonderful woman who willingly and enthusiastically helped me when all others involved were disinterested and not inclined.  My heart will never forget and will forever be grateful.  Thank you, Gayle. xoxo

Here is what I created using acrylic paints, Bic markers, pencil, stencil, and bubble wrap.

If you get the chance, check out Mixed Media Mondays with Tracy Weinzapfel.  You can find her on Ustream on Monday nights 9 pm (EST).

Can We Bee Friends?

Last month I tried something new in my art journal.  I incorporated a digital image in my project. I liked the result, so I submitted my project to the Just Some Lines December Monthly Challenge.  As beginner’s luck would have it, I wound up being one of their winners!  Are you wondering what I won?   I got a cool digital stamp of my choice from the Just Some Lines shop (I chose Emo Amber and Pup).  I also got a new challenge addiction.  🙂

The January Challenge theme is Favorite Color Combo.  We are asked to stick to the theme and we must use an image from Just Some Lines. Freebie images are provided, which is really nice for folks on a tight crafting budget.

I chose to use this month’s freebie for my project.  It’s a little whimsy bee.  So cute!  So cute, in fact, that I printed a trio of bees in varying sizes!  I colored the bee images with Crayola watercolor pencils.  I painted a watercolor background for them using Niji Pearlescent Watercolors.  Finally, the bees needed some flowers to buzz around, so I gave them a field of orange and yellow flowers with Crayola Washable Watercolors.  Bees sometimes have a reputation for being mean and aggressive, but these bees just want to BEE friends!

The Just Some Lines monthly challenges start on the first Saturday of the month.  I hope you decide to give it a try.