All about ME

Today's make is a journal page I created using gel pen, markers, diecuts and fun quotes printed off of Pinterest. I have enjoyed a sudden and prolific burst of inspiration, and wanted to highlight this week of artistic endeavors with a new page in my journal.

While most of the quotes I collected are about ART, some just describe the way I'm feeling right now, including my insatiable appetite for cozy mysteries. Honestly, I'm swallowing them so fast I'm surprised I don't have ink on my lips!!

This week I've painted three canvases, tried two new techniques, prepared a large metal wall hanging to alter/upcycle and gathered supplies to create some fun specialty pens. I hope to have them on hand for the Fall craft fair I'm selling at this year. These tasks are in addition to my never-ending de-cluttering project. I've started cleaning out the garage. I'm storing the winter tools and supplies, bringing out the summer items, and filling the trash can with stuff that I never should have kept to begin with! 

How is your month coming along? I hope it's a creative one!

Challenges I am ENTERING:

Art*Journal*Journey  - What Makes You Happy

  

I Will Always Walk on the Path of Positivity

I have always tried to walk the path of positivity, but it's been a long time since I created something for the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. After my husband passed, I needed time to grieve and settle in to being mother, houseowner, handy woman, landscaper, snow blower, gardener, carpenter and painter--by myself.

Then Covid hit, and all our lives took a detour along that path. Once I had time to myself, I stretched out into all kinds of crafting and art styles. I created memes, upcycled thrift store finds (my favorite), painted canvas, wood, metal, doors, light switch plates, outlet covers, and walls.

I crocheted, sewed, carved, wired jewelry, along with a number of new techniques and media. And I'm still reaching outward and challenging myself to create positivity with my artistic endeavors. I can't say all my "experiments" were successes, but I learned and practiced.

One of my favorite ways to create has been journaling. Whether I am Zen doodling, collaging or writing, I have filled several journals, some of them over-sized, some small travel books. So when I finally revisited the Path of Positivity's challenge blog, I was inspired by the "twist" to this month's challenge.

 I've taken this month's "Fashion" twist in a different direction. I created a journal page of my dream room. I pulled photos from 3 different magazines (Elle, HGTV & Good Housekeeping) and collaged them to hopefully look like a real room. I love the colors I found; teals and aquas are my go-to paints. I like wooden floors but know the value of a good carpet or two. I just wish I had a floor-to-ceiling bookcase in reality, but in this "fashionable" room, the windows were needed to bring light to the space. What do you think?

The challenge over at the Path of Positivity is Anything positive Goes, but they always offer a "twist" for your inspiration. This is the midway point to the challenge, and prizes are offered from Scribbles Designs for winners each month. I hope to see your positive project there! Meanwhile, keep crafting!

Quill Power

 

Today's post features a Hedgehog using a Scribbles Designs digital image. After coloring my buddy with a light pink Copic, I pulled out my container of paper flowers and arranged them on my hedgehog's body. Afterward, I realized I wanted to create a background, and to do so, I had to remove all those tiny flowers! 

Once I drew and colored the flowers and grass. I adhered the flowers onto my pet (again) and then adhered her onto my new background. I found a cute hedgehog quote on Pinterest, but then thought to  add the "disclaimer" at the bottom. It reads, "not really. I walked thru the flowers, got scared and came out this way." Those quills are pointy and sticky, aren't they?!

You can find at the Scribbles Design Store HERE. It is actually a FREEBIE at the moment, and is called F#188 Dust Bunny. This artwork is a page in my Art Journal. I really like her, and shall name her Dusty.

It's the Year of the Dog at Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog

I love to journal - using words, pictures, photos, items cut from magazines, and sometimes digital images. Today I used digi images from Scribbles Designs called  #417 Dog Bone and Dog Cookie (a freebie) to create my animal rights page. 

My daughter and I rescued a Silkie Terrier almost three years ago, and we feel strongly about rescuing shelter dogs. At first my page was going to reflect my love for Wilson, our rescue pup, but people should be stewards to all living things. 

Anyway, once in a while, a digi image will inspire me to create a page for my journal. I colored him in blue just so he could stand out on my page. My journal is almost complete. l started it three years ago, altering a composition book into a kind of "my life story" look into my thoughts and emotions and challenges and triumphs.

Do you journal? I have a couple journals in which I write mostly, although I will take out my colored pencils and illustrate a few pages. Then I have my vacation journal, a couple art journals and my water colors journal. Oh, and of course, I have my "book of lists" which is a journal whose pages are comprised of lists (I love making lists).

Whatever you create, have fun with it, and don't forget to link up your project or card with Scribbles Designs Challenge Blog, where the optional challenge theme through the 14th of the month is the Year of the Dog. See you there! 

What's NEW with You and Ike's Art

Welcome to a New year, and a New challenge at Ike's World Challenge Blog. The first theme of the year is "What's NEW with YOU?"  This optional theme can be interpreted by creating with the New Year in mind, or using New supplies, trying a New technique, or, like me, thinking about a New ME.

And why not? 2017 was a tough year for me, and I say good riddance to it. I lost my husband and my best friend, Sue. My financial future is a little shaky, and I'm looking at a lonely future without hubby. But...

As the New Year begins, I can not only count my blessings, but make a plan for the days and weeks ahead. Creativity is one of the biggest pleasures I have in life, so it's a major part of my planning. That's why I colored (with Copics) an Ike's Art image, called Plotting, and popped her onto a journal page. I like to mix writing with collaging and add some mixed media. So there's a little of everything on my page.

My plans? I want to relax, to focus on what I really want to accomplish this year. I want to be brave and try new things, have adventures and travel. I want to be more forgiving and more thankful, and to give back with my time and my talent. I especially want to become healthier and to heal, working through my grief, taking the bad days with the good.

And I want YOU to join in this new challenge for your chance to win a gift certificate to Ike's Art Store. AND, if you use an Ike's Art image, you get 2 entries for your 1 creation - cards, ATCs, mixed media, altered art - just create!!  And Link it up at Ike's World Challenge Blog.

Good luck and Happy Crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Art*Journal*Journey - New Year, New Adventures