Tag: Mixed Media

February AJ Collab-You Are Enough

Hello friends!  I’m back again today to share some more inspiration with my Art Journaling!

Today starts another AJ page with my crafty friend Carol (from Crafty-Stamper) who is collaborating with me to “SMASH OUR STASH”! We get creative trying to use up our never-ending stash piles along with a prompt for each month.  I know she always has great inspiration to share, so please check out her blog too! Here’s my AJ page with the “SMASH OUR STASH” February prompt of “MUSIC” (of course!): 

Really had fun with this page as it’s got that bright and cheerful background which is a great reminder to yourself especially when the world looks black and white.

I was able to pull out several stash items like the DecoArt Fluid Acrylic Paints, the stamp sets and dies, some of which, I’ve had for a long time and some never used!

For the background:  I started with a canvas cardstock 140# measuring 8.5″x5.5″ and attached a music sheet of the same size over it. (I have tons of sheet music ephemera!)  I then used the DecoArt Fluid Acrylic Paints to go over it in a horizontal bright rainbow.  Once dry, I splattered white paint over it.  I also went around the edges with a black paint marker.

The flowers at the bottom came from the Taylored Expressions Botanical Beauty Background (retired), that I stamped in black and colored with cool grey markers.  I liked that it covered the entire width of my panel.  I used a coordinating die to cut it with and attached to the bottom.  I layered a black strip at the very bottom…because I thought it needed it.  

Moving to the top of the page, I used a Lawn Fawn Little Heart Strings border die cut out with some shimmer vellum.  (I also used the same vellum for the butterfly wings.)  I attached this to the top of the page with double sided adhesive strip.  I glued down the tiny hearts. This is the first time I’ve used this die because I had to cut it apart!  The butterfly dies came from a very old My Favorite Things die set that is no longer available…not sure of the name even.  The sentiment at the top over the heart string border came from the Taylored Expressions “You Are” that was white heat embossed over black cardstock and cut out with the coordinating die.  I attached it over the border.

Lastly, I used my Cricut Machine to cut out some single music notes in black glossy cardstock and I attached those to the center of the die cut butterflies.  I used some black Stickles glitter and put “dots” on the heart strings border, the butterflies and the center of the flowers.

Here’s a song that inspired me for this page:  

and if you need to hear this today,  just know that YOU ARE ENOUGH too

Thank you so much for stopping by today and sharing your kind comments and support!  I read them all and appreciate it!  Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Challenges:

  1.  Art Journal Journey – MUSIC
  2. Moving Along with the Times – – Things with Wings
  3. A Cut Above – Anything Goes + die cuts
  4. The Neglected Stuff – challenge (I’ve used musical sheet ephemera, paints, butterfly dies)
  5. Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone – No cards
  6. Creative Artiste – Anything Goes Mixed Media
  7. We Love to Create – Anything Goes Mixed Media

Art Journal Inspiration-Happiness, Harmony & Joy

Hello friends!  Brr!  It’s a very cold start to the week over my way, so that means I’m staying inside the warmth and crafting up some fun to share!  I’m really enjoying putting together these pages this month as I get to pull some things from my stash that I’ve really been wanting to play with.  This gives me a chance to use things for myself in whatever way I want because I don’t give these pages away and I think I find it to be a bit more “freeing” to do or try things that I may not normally do on a card.  

Maybe I can encourage you to try something for yourself!  I have more inspiration to share for the “MUSIC” prompt I’m hosting this month at Art Journal Journey:

For this page, I pulled out an AALL & Create stamp set that I’ve been wanting to use “Call the Tune” and I wanted to use the trumpet from the set.  I always think of trumpets as a bold and happy musical tune, so I thought flowers and my favorite colors would make me feel happy too!

For the background:  I started with an 8.5″x5.5″ watercolor panel and watered down some purple and turquoise acrylic paints so that I could use them like watercolor.  Once dry,  I attached some musical note tissue paper off the side and I also stamped the trumpet image in black on the top of the page.  I then used the flower image and gold heat embossed it on the bottom and top of the page.  I then took some black paint to splatter over it.   Lastly, I took the AALL & Create Reverse Triangles Stencil and some metallic white embossing paste over it in random areas.  Once that was dry, I went around the edges with the black Distress Crayon.

Moving towards the bottom of the page, I stamped the flower image twice, colored them with Copic markers and fussy cut them out to line the bottom of the page.  Before attaching them, I splattered them with gold watercolor and white Copic Opaque.  I also used the black Distress Crayon to go underneath the flowers before I attached them.

The musical notes were cut from my Cricut Machine with black glossy cardstock.  I also attached a few select words from the AALL & Create Motivation Station Ephemera pack and used a black marker to line around each one.

I stamped another trumpet image and colored it with Copic markers and then fussy cut around the colored images to attach over the black image I stamped on the page.  I even used a knife to go in between the sections of the trumpet.  It was a bit tedious, but worth it.

I finished the page off with some gold Stickles in the center of the flowers for a touch of sparkle because sparkle makes me happy too!

  • So what do you think?  Does this page bring happiness to you?  It gets me looking forward to Spring and seeing some flowers grow!  I’m going to go check out the fun musical inspiration in the Art Journal Journey gallery and I hope you check it out too!  Thanks for dropping by today and I’ll see  you soon!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – Music
  2. Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone – no cards
  3. Creative Artiste – Anything Goes Mixed Media
  4. We Love 2 Create – Anything Goes Mixed Media/Paper Crafts

Art Journal Inspiration-For Those About to Rock

Hello friends!  I hope you’re having a great start to your week!  We’re supposed to be getting some snow coming in tomorrow, but this will be the first heavy snowfall that we’ve had all winter!  I can’t complain too much and I enjoy looking at the snowfall. (from my window that is! LOL)

When I’m playing in my craft room, I enjoy listening to music.  I enjoy all sorts of genres and will listen to pretty much anything, as for me, it’s another form of art to appreciate.   Speaking of genres, I have more inspiration to share for the “MUSIC” prompt I’m hosting this month at Art Journal Journey:

My husband and I both like the “classic rock” and there are several bands that we grew up listening to over the years.  So if you know rock, then you know the lyrics on the guitar pick comes from an AC/DC song!

For the background:  I started with a 8.5″x5.5″ canvas paper 140# (using the backside without the canvas texture) and attached some printed paper of several music bands I found online.  I ripped some sections and then covered it with white gesso to lighten it up…I wanted it faintly in the background.  I took a vortex circle stencil and sprayed it with oxide sprays in Fired Brick and Salvaged Patina.  I then splattered some white and black paint over it and also added some splattering with silver watercolor.  I sponged some grey ink around the edges and then used a black distress crayon to go along the edges to darken it more.

I stamped the guitar, colored it and positioned it in the center of the circle and then stamped a few music notes around it in the background.

I used my Cricut machine to create the layers of flames at the bottom.  The guitar pick was found online, printed and cut out.  I went around the edges of that with a black distress crayon as well.  I placed a black sparkle strip at the bottom and cut some stars with silver foil cardstock.  I black heat embossed the hand and punched it out with a circle punch to pop up on the largest silver star.

Lastly, I’ve used some rub-ons for the stitching details and then went around each star with a black pen.

Here’s a closer look at some more of the details at the bottom of the page.

 

A few years ago, we went to the Rock & Roll museum in Cleveland, OH during a road trip the following year after COVID.  It was a fun museum!

We were standing in front of the museum and we were trying to get the entire sign in view of the photo… it was cool and rainy that day.

I took a photo of the AC/DC display with some clothing, guitars and even some song lyrics they had wrote down.  It was pretty cool as most of the items were donated to the museum from the artists themselves.  Some of it was really weird and random, but very interesting!

(The items on the right were from Angus Young of AC/DC)

(The Jack Daniel’s guitar is from Michael Anthony of Van Halen)

  • I hope you’ve enjoyed my inspiration today and will take some time to create your musical art journey page to share it with us over in the gallery at Art Journal Journey!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – MUSIC
  2. Simon Says Stamp Monday – Spritz & Splatter
  3. Creative Artiste – Anything Goes Mixed Media

Art Journal Inspiration-Sing From Your Heart

Hello friends!  When it’s winter time, something I miss hearing are those birds happily chirping throughout the day.  We get the occasional bird chirp, but nothing like it is when the weather is warm.

So in honor of those singing birds, I have more inspiration to share for the “MUSIC” prompt I’m hosting this month at Art Journal Journey:

I had fun putting this one together with a quirky bird who’s singing with all his heart!

For the background:  I started with a 5.5″x8.5″ Bristol Smooth cardstock piece so that I could do some ink blending.  With a stencil, I inked over it with Salt Water Taffy oxide and then painted over it with a layer of white gesso.  (I was trying to keep the colors soft and light.)  I then took a different stencil and sprayed over it with Speckled Egg Oxide Spray and then used the left over from that in other places.  I then took Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn and Salvaged Patina oxide inks to go over the rest of the stenciled layers until I got the look I wanted.  I used a water spray over top and then splattered white paint over the page for more texture.

For the bird: I cut out the body, wing and beak shape in different pattern papers, used a distress crayon rubbed along the edges and pieced it together with the wing being popped up with foam tape.  I used a pen to doodle around the bird and create the legs.  The eye and heart on the bird were punched out pieces. (the heart paper is from a music sheet scrap)

The words were printed on my computer over some pattern paper.  While the ink was still wet from the printer, I clear heat embossed over it.  I cut out each word and attached over page.  I took a pen to doodle around each section.  I also doodled around the edges of the entire page with the same pen.

Lastly, I took some white paint and brushed a “heart bubble” coming from the bird’s beak.  I stamped a few music notes inside the bubble with brown ink.  I also stamped a few solid hearts around the words in pink ink to finish it off.

  • I hope you like my page today and have been inspired to play along with us this month!  I have enjoyed seeing all of the wonderful inspiration so far in the gallery!  Thanks so much for stopping in and I’ll be seeing you soon!

Challenges:

  1. Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone – No Cards
  2. Art Journal Journey – Music 

Art Journal Journey Host for February-MUSIC

Hello friends and welcome to February!  Hoping that wherever you are that this is a great month for you!  This month I’m excited to be the host over at Art Journal Journey for my second year!  So be on the look-out for several art journal pages from me this month!

For my prompt, I was feeling a musical theme🎵 would be a broad area to cover for art journaling.  You could pull out some old sheet music, use music notes and/or instruments, song titles and/or lyrics, musical quotes, etc.  I look forward to seeing all of the musical inspiration in the gallery, so I hope you can join too!  Here’s my first sample page to get started:

I had made a card a few years back that I made my own piano, but in a smaller scale size and I thought it would be fun to try and incorporate that idea onto a page.

For the background:  I started with my usual size 5.5″ x 8.5″ cold press 140# watercolor paper and used a ruler to line ” white keys” for the piano at the bottom with a black marker.  I cut strips of black glossy cardstock for “black keys” and attached them over top.  BEFORE attaching the sheet music in the center, I attached some baby wipes to a ruler with rubber bands and dropped watercolor in rainbow on it.  I then dragged the ruler down several times to achieve the rainbow pattern at the top.  (I made a video a few years back if you want to see how it’s done on a card HERE.)  

I die cut a scallop curved border on the sheet music and added some black ink around the edges before attaching in the center of the page so that the piano keys and rainbow pattern shows.  I then took some gold watercolor and splattered over the page but covering the piano keys to prevent them from getting splatter.

Once the background and piano was done, I die cut the “music” lettering from more of the glossy black cardstock and added a musical note brad next to it.  I took a white gel pen and wrote the quote in the center and then lined that black strip and the keyboard area with strips of gold metallic paper.

  • Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you’ve enjoyed my art journal page today and have been inspired to play along too!  I look forward to seeing your musical inspiration in the Art Journal Journey gallery soon!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – MUSIC (hosted by me)
  2. We Love to Create – Anything Goes Mixed Media
  3. Little Red Wagon – “A” is for Anything Goes
  4. Penny’s Paper-Crafty – #589 Anything Goes Using Paper
  5. Simon Says Stamp Wed – Anything Goes

January 2025 “NEW” Art Journal Page-Smashing Our Stash Continues!

Hello friends!  I hope you’ve had a great month so far and staying crafty while also trying to keep warm and cozy!  Thank you for your kind support with my crafting journey and I’m so happy you’re here however you like to follow along.❤️

Today is the start of another year of art journaling and I’m thrilled that my crafty friend Carol (from Crafty-Stamper) is collaborating with me again this year to “SMASH OUR STASH”! We get creative trying to use up our never-ending stash piles along with a prompt for each month.  I know she always has great inspiration to share, so please check out her blog too! Here’s my AJ page with the “SMASH OUR STASH” January prompt of “NEW” (challenge/technique): 

As you know, we are forever trying to “smash our stash” and included within that stash are possibly some “new” stash or something that hasn’t been used before.  But if that’s not the case, then that’s totally fine too because there always seems to be a new “challenge” to over come or something like a new “technique” that you’ve always wanted to try and using up your stash helps with that too!  I’ve done this on my page in several ways…

NEW = art journal book used here.  I have a few AJ books that I haven’t used at all, so I pulled this one out which is a 5.5″ x 8.5″ spiral mixed media book.  I’ve never worked from a book before and not sure I like it as the pages do curl up on me and you can see that I’ve clipped it along the side to keep it from curling.  Going forward, I might make a separate page and then attach it to the book.  I’ve been so used to making my own book, so this was a new “challenge” for me to try.  If you art journal, how do you like to compile your pages together?

NEW = technique used for background with distress crayons.  I have a tin full of those distress crayons and I’ve barely even touched them, so I found a fun technique to try by taking a dotted stencil and applying gesso over the blank page.  I used several colors of the distress crayons to rub over the stenciled paint and then blended it together with a baby wipe.  It was fun!  (I’ve also used a black distress crayon around the edges of the page and went over the words inside the heart with a white distress crayon to mute it a bit.)

NEW = Lunar Paste colors used through a stencil.  I bought several colors of these metallic/shinny pastes last year and never broke them open, so I thought this would be a good time to see what they look like and they’re really pretty!

NEW = alphabet die letters used.  I got these set of alphabet dies with upper and lower case and haven’t had a chance to use them until this page.  I like that it includes both upper and lower because it seems you always have to get them separately.  

A closer view of the heart that I die cut.  I pulled out some cardstock in coordinating colors to match up with the distress crayons in the background and made strips with stamping words and then placing them together on the heart that I cut off the edges to keep the shape.

I was going for a “happy” rainbow style with all of it, but not sure after looking at it as I think it may be a bit too much/busy.  But, I’m just going to go with it and be happy! LOL  

I hope you’ve enjoyed my page today or at least have been inspired in some way!  Thank you for stopping in and I’ll see you soon!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – DOTS
  2. Anything Goes in a Card Free Zone – no cards
  3. Ally’s Angels – #90 Anything Goes 
  4. Love to Scrap – #171 Anything Goes

December Art Journal Page-SNOW

**DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY I’M OFFERING IN THIS POST – OR SCROLL BELOW THIS POST TO SEE!**

Hello crafty friends!  I hope that you all had a happy Christmas time with your loved ones and friends!  2025 is quickly approaching us and I know there will be lots of changes coming to look forward to!  Although I’m not feeling 100%, so I think I’m going to rest for the remainder of what’s left of the year🤒.

Today is the monthly Art Journal Page collaboration with my crafty friend, Carol (from Crafty-Stamper)! We get creative trying to use up our never-ending stash piles along with a prompt for each month.  I know she always has great inspiration to share, so please check out her blog too! Here’s my AJ page with the “SMASH OUR STASH” December prompt of “FOUND OBJECT(S)” (something you found or discovered):  (I’ve also combined 2 other past prompts with this one that I’ve missed out on earlier in the year!)

SNOW SNOW SNOW!  I know people that hate it and people that love it!  Whatever YOUR favorite place to be with it…or not…mine is being inside the warmth and watching it from the window!  I don’t mind shoveling if I need to help my husband, but I enjoy watching it peacefully from the window.

The prompt for THIS month (December) is “Found object(s)” and I found some VERY pretty blue ribbon on a present this year and decided to keep it…and I have plenty left for another project!  I used it above the die cut window.  (This page is my normal 5.5″ x 8.5″ with pre-punched holes at the top…I would have a book finished, but I wasn’t feeling well enough to get one done, so I’ll have to do it later.)

And for the other prompts I’ve missed this year:  August I was away and didn’t get to complete that one and the prompt for that month was “Vintage/Old“.  The background wallpaper area looks vintage to me and it came from a VERY old pack of paper that I’ve had along with the letters on the side of the window.  I also missed November and the prompt for that month was “Food“.  I love me a good cup of cocoa in the winter and I thought I would make myself some Linzer cookies to add with it in the shape of snowflakes with frosting on them!  I even took a bite out of the one in front of the cup!

Since I’m not feeling well, I’m going to stop typing and get some sleep now.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the page as I’d be happy to answer!

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop in!  I really appreciate it and will try to reciprocate when I feel better.  Happy New Year friends and I’ll see you in 2025!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – SNOW

GDT for Creative Artiste Mixed Media Nov Challenge – Autumn Teapot

**THERE WILL BE TWO POSTS FROM ME TODAY.  THIS IS THE FIRST POST OF TWO**

Hello friends and happy November!  The weather has finally decided to give us a bit of a cool down and it feels more like that Autumn Season right now.  We’ve been waiting on some rain as it’s been dry and then the wind blew in some cool with it too!  I always like to give Autumn it’s “due justice” as it never seems to have a spotlight as much I think it should.

I’m very excited to share a mixed media project I made for a guest design spot (that I had won a top spot from a previous challenge).  I was asked to join this month as a guest designer for the Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog!

The theme for these monthly challenges is always “Anything Goes Mixed Media“.  So be sure to check out the wonderful inspiration from the team and share your mixed media project over there!  I look forward to seeing your inspiring makes!

I’m always excited when I have an “excuse or reason” to get out all of my mixed media things and play around to make something!  I thought since it was November, it would be a great time to pull out the Autumn media:

I made this fun center/accent piece for Autumn and pulled out the cool Finnebair rusty metal teapot from my shelf to finally decorate on!  It actually looks pretty cool by itself, but I had to add some other details to it that I thought would make it my own.

For the base:  The only thing that was missing for me was a “handle” for my teapot and I went through my husbands things and found an old metal coat hook that I had him screw onto the side.  I also had some extra pieces laying around from the molds I made with resin, so I attached those along the frame opening with 3D matte gel.  I wanted to also add some texture to my teapot and that’s where I added some crackle paste in various areas…all of these things had to dry for quite some time.  It didn’t look pretty at that point as those pieces were white. LOL  The “hurry up and wait” had begun.

After the long drying time:    I started by covering the entire thing with two layers of black gesso so that all of those white areas were completely covered up.  I pulled out some acrylic paints in Raw Umber, Burnt Orange and very light touch of Marigold.  I started with the darkest color first and did not use a brush to apply the layers.  Instead, I used a sponge after each layer was dry.  I very lightly and sparingly used the yellow.  I even went back in with the Burnt Orange and Raw Umber to get the look I was wanting.

After all of the painting, I used more of the 3D matte gel and wrapped some jute/rope around the top handle.

Going to the right side of the teapot, you can see where I’ve added all of that crackle paste and the painting that I’ve done over it.  The only thing missing at this point was the “highlights” to make it look like a found rusty metal teapot.  Since it was Autumn themed, I pulled out the Finnebair Vintage Gold Wax and rubbed over the raised areas with my finger.  You can see the look it gives over the paste and decorative molds around the frame and even the raised “dots” along the top of the teapot.

Moving over to the left side of the teapot, you can see where I’ve screwed in the metal hook to the side of the teapot.  I just incorporated the silver screws with the design by adding paint.  I told my husband that I thought it looked cool to turn the coat hook up-side-down as it looked more like a handle.

And now if we take a closer look to the inside of the teapot frame, you will see an Autumn scene in there.  The back of the teapot comes out so you can decorate how you’d like.  I know it’s a bit hard to see in the photo, but I found some leafy background paper to attach over the metal backing and I also splattered some gold paint over it.

For the bottom of the teapot, I attached some woodland moss mixture with 3D matte gel and also used it to attach the gold splattered gourds, eucalyptus, a wood slice, a cardboard squirrel, sticks and some acorns.  I also went around the outside areas to attach some Fall leaves and more acorns.  The only thing I didn’t have in my stash were the acorns and sticks.  My husband said that he could get them for free…and of course he went to our local park and picked them up! LOL  So those are the only “real” things on my teapot.

I had thought about maybe adding some fairy lights inside at the top so the inside would be more visible, but not sure if I would like that or not…what do you think?

And in case you might want to know, the measurement of the teapot are 12″ across (including the added metal coat hook), 8″ tall and about 3.5″ in depth.  I currently have it sitting in my cabinet at home.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my mixed media teapot!  I would love to see your mixed media project as well if you play along with us this month at the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog!

Thanks so much for stopping in!  Stay tuned as I will have another post coming up in a couple of hours!

Challenges: (if this project doesn’t fit with your challenge, just delete.)

  1. Ally’s Angels – Anything Goes
  2. 613 Avenue Create – October Anything Goes with optional: lots of leaves (Fall/Spring)
  3. Dragonfly Dreams – October Anything but a Card
  4. Krafty Chicks – #740 Anything Goes
  5. Classic Design – #10-2024 Anything Goes with optional twist:  Anything but a card
  6. The Creative Crafters – #81 Anything Goes

October Art Journal-A Strange Feeling

Hello friends! **THIS IS A PRE-SCHEDULED POST AS I’M AWAY AT A STAMP RETREAT!!** 

The weather is finally starting to cool down now and we’ve finished cleaning the yard to prepare for winter months to follow soon.  Halloween will also be here in a few days, so I thought it would be fun to make my page today with that in mind!

Today is the monthly Art Journal Page collaboration with my crafty friend, Carol (from Crafty-Stamper)! We get creative trying to use up our never-ending stash piles along with a prompt for each month.  I know she always has great inspiration to share, so please check out her blog too! Here’s my AJ page with the “SMASH OUR STASH” October prompt of “ODD/Oddities” (anything unusual or strange): 

I don’t know if this is considered odd to anyone else, but I certainly do!  This weird scientist looking guy has a strange facial expression as he’s holding up a head in the bottle!  I’ve put so many details in this page that I thought you’d need to see close-up photos below.

For my background:  Starting with a 5.5″ x 8.5″ heavy watercolor paper with pre-punched holes at the top for binding later, I sprayed the background with mica sprays in Hocus Pocus, Jack-O-Lantern and Flickering Candle.  I sprayed some extra water over top to get them to blend together as they seem very concentrated and they didn’t move much over the watercolor paper after spraying a few times.  I took a leaves stencil inked over places with light brown ink.  I then ink blended the edges with black ink and stamped some lettering stamped randomly.  Lastly, I splattered with black and gold watercolor. 

Upon a closer look at the bottom:  I needed an area for shelves to hold the potion bottles, so I took some Tim Holtz Halloween collage paper and attached it with matte medium.  It crinkled a bit, but I sort of liked that look.  I then found some decorative strips in my stash and added those for the “shelves”.  The crow and “curious” ephemera was also found with all of my Tim Holtz Halloween stash….along with the paper doll “guy”.  I cut off a head from one of them to place inside the jar.  I added some thin metal wire around the jar and cut a slit in the guy’s hand to make it look like he’s holding it.  I also added a bit of color to the guy’s flower and bow tie on his jacket outfit with markers.  BEFORE popping up the paper doll guy to the page, I ripped some black cardstock for the ground underneath him and tucked in the bones.

For the Bottles:  I used a Taylored Expressions “If You Dare” Stamp & Stencil set to make all of the bottles.  I also used the TE “If You Dare Halloween Labels” to foil and cut out to place over each jar.  To die cut some extra “strange things” to put inside a few of the jars and the bones at the bottom, I die cut pieces from the TE “Little Bits Cauldron Confetti” dies.  (The die cut bats from this were also used on the top of the page.)  For more finishing details, I doodled in some of the jars and then added some colored glitter/sparkle and pearl drops for the inside contents.  If you look closely at the crow’s eye, you can see I’ve added a tiny dot of yellow sparkle.  Some of the details were popped up and some were just glued down.

A closer look at the top:  Mostly die cut pieces were used at the top and the first I put down was the spider web and spider from Whimsy Stamps called Spiders and Webs…they’re huge!  (this store is so good at spooky things!)  I drew a line with a black marker from the spider to the web.  For the window, I die cut it out from a really old Mama Elephant die I’ve had in my stash…not sure if it’s still available.  BEFORE I placed the window down, I die cut the moon from the Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Halloween Add-On die set.  I blended in some yellow and gray  and covered it with a glitter sparkle pen.  I added the die cut bats and placed the window over top.

Lastly, I took some Tim Holtz Halloween clippings word strips and added to the page.  I took a black marker and went around the strips above the paper doll “guy”.

I know there are people that are not Halloween fans or care for the spooky things, but I really enjoy the weirdness of it all and have fun making things with it!  In the words of Lydia from Beetlejuice:  “I myself am strange and unusual“.

Winona Ryder in a hat as Lydia in Beetlejuice

I do hope you’ve enjoyed my page today and I really appreciate you stopping by!  I will be back later with things we’re doing at the retreat!  See you soon!

Challenges:

  1. Art Journal Journey – Autumn Colors & Inspiration (Purple, orange, yellow and black!)

September Art Journal-Fall Texture

YAY!  I’m back…but a tad bit late for my monthly AJ post!  (So sorry about that Carol!!)  I’m trying to get back into crafting again as it feels like I’ve been away from it for a long time!  It was a fun, crazy, beautiful time away and there a few photos below this post if you care to see….

BUT FIRST, TODAY (BETTER LATE THAN NEVER)….is the monthly Art Journal Page collaboration with my crafty friend, Carol (from Crafty-Stamper)! We get creative trying to use up our never-ending stash piles along with a prompt for each month.  I know she always has great inspiration to share, so please check out her blog too! Here’s my AJ page with the “SMASH OUR STASH” September prompt of “TEXTURE” (anything to create texture): 

Texture is something that I really enjoy using, but sometimes when you’re making cards, you don’t always want that texture or bulk adding to your design because you want to be able to slide it into an envelope to mail out.  Doing an art journal page with lots of texture and bulk is something I can do because it’s my own piece of art to keep and it’s fun to play with lots of media from my stash to create it!

For the background:  I started with my usual 5.5″ x 8.5″ heavy weight watercolor panel with pre-punched holes at the top using my Bind-It-All machine.  Starting with some media paste and my “go to” dotted stencil, this was a quick way to add texture to the background.  I then pulled out some watercolor in blue tones and covered over the background with it and sprinkled some sea salt over it, let it dry completely and then brushed it off.  This leaves some cool effects to the watercolor and it creates some texture as well!

Moving down the page, I have die cut lots of pumpkins and leaves!  These are all die cut sets from Taylored Expressions that I’ve had in my stash for a few years now.  All the pumpkins were cut from orange cardstock.  For the largest pumpkin, I’ve used my Copic markers to give it some dimension/texture.  The other pumpkins had another piece that I cut from a darker orange cardstock.  The stems all cut from green cardstock.  I decided to splatter some brown, gold and white paints all over them for even more texture.  Before attaching the pumpkins, I used some printed tissue paper that was sprayed with color and scrunched up and attached to the bottom of the page with media paste.  Lots of texture going on at the bottom here!

For the leaves, I die cut them out from kraft cardstock and ink blended over them in various fall colors.  You will notice around the edges of the leaves as well as the textured paste background on the page, that I’ve used some gold wax and rubbed around the edges and over the texture.  I then arranged all of the leaves and pumpkins at the bottom of the page with some popped up with foam tape.  I’ve also taken some green wire and curled it to use for a couple of the pumpkins that were attached to the back of them.

Lastly, I’ve added the sentiments that were die cut, gold foiled and attached at the top along with the thin strip of orange cardstock.  The “FALL” letters were popped up with foam tape as well as a portion of the leaf on the side of it.

  • Really hope you’ve enjoyed my art journal page today!  It was fun getting messy and playing around with crafting again!  I really missed doing it!

Here are just a couple of photos to share on our time away.  We started by flying to Seattle as we’ve never been and visited the Space Needle.  We took a bus to Canada where we boarded a Cruise ship that took us into Alaska to see the glaciers!  We sailed for a week, but went further up to Denali Park in Alaska where we stayed an additional week and made our way back home.  This was certainly a once in a lifetime experience that we’ll never forget!  The photos look nowhere close to how gorgeous it was to see in person. 

While we were traveling on our way back home, it seems that one of our pieces of luggage decided to take a trip to Mexico!  So once we figured all that out, got our luggage back and tons of laundry, cleaning, groceries to get, done….I had an appointment to get an impacted tooth removed the other day!  Been feeling a little overwhelmed, but starting to get better!  

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND SUPPORT, COMMENTS AND COMING TO VISIT ME HERE!  I’VE MISSED CRAFTING AND CATCHING UP WITH ALL OF YOU!  HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND AND SEE YOU SOON!!

Challenges:

Art Journal Journey – Anything Goes