Diary of an Artist

Some people call it an art journal, others a smash book.  To me, it's a diary of an artist.  It contains poetry, feelings, memories and discoveries.  It uses a lot of experimentation, creativity and time.  It causes smiles, laughter, nostalgia, surprise, tears and freedom.
I'd like to share my first page with my friends.  I call it my "Inner Eye".  I started with the paper, embellishing it with Copic marker, paint and a googly eye.  I love Piet Hein's poem about life's ultimate question.  To put a personal stamp on the poem, I placed my painted handprint onto the page and printed the poem onto it.  It reads, "I'd like to know what this whole show is all about before it's out."  Another googly eye gives it a searching feel, don't you think?
My bit of self-discovery came about when I colored and added the dancer.  Me?   I am a great dancer--in my chair.  Rarely do I get up onto the dance floor-let's face it, I have two left feet!!  And I didn't color her in modest shades, but brilliant colors, and many of them.  The ultimate clue to my secret dancer came when I added the feathers and I thought to myself, "There I am!"  Who would have thought?!
I finished off the page with some doodling in black and white, and had to add a bit of bling with a few scattered sequins.
I don't know yet if I'll post the rest of my pages.  After all, it is my diary of sorts.  But I urge everyone out there to let your creativity flow onto your own diary.  You never know what you might discover!

Get in Shape with a Squigglefly Challenge

I 'm featuring a shaped card today for the Squigglefly Challenge blog.  Their theme is shaped cards.

The image is another February release from Squigglefly.  It's called Juggling Hearts Bear by artist Cheryl Alger.  This bear looks so happy, juggling all those hearts.  I bet he has many girlfriend bears to who he can give them!
I gave this card to my granddaughter for Valentine's Day.  She is a card maker, too.  In fact, both my granddaughters love to craft with Grandma Pat!  We spent a day before Christmas making cards and presents for the holidays.  I feel the need, the need to craft with them again!!  Can't get enough of them coming over and creating with me.
Like what you see?  Check out the DT's cards for more inspiration.  Play in the challenge for the chance to win free digi's.  Why are you still here?!  Hop along, and tell them Pat sent you!!

Just a couple of Love Birds

That describes me and my hubby of over 30 years, so what better to show him how much I love him by making a card featuring a Queen Kat Designs stamped image called Love Birds.  the stamp is from artist Laura Macy, and I love to color this pair over and over!

Here I colored the birds with Copics and cut it out with my Nestabilities Die.  I edged my card with my Creative Memories Border punch system (Lacy Scallops).  Embellishments include a ribbon bow and some adhesive-backed pearls.
There are lots of stamps for sale at the Queen's Shoppe!

Inspired by a Song

Forever Night Creepy Challenge Blog has a new theme this week:  Be Inspired by a Song.

I was inspired by the song "Love Potion Number Nine".  I had this lovely image from  Kenny K Designs called Cabaret and already knew I wanted some sheet music for the background.  I distressed the heck out of the paper and the rest of the card fell into place after coloring the image with a mix of Copics and Spectrum Noir markers.
I like that touch of black magic, using a Halloween vellum sticker of the potion bottle.  I added a rub-on of the "No.9", and added some Stickles to make the bottle look like there was a bit of potion left in it.
I will add that Kenny K's image, Cabaret, is lovely enough to not ever have to resort to love potions, but maybe she was in a slump? LOL
Enjoy this week's challenge at Forever Night Creepy Challenge Blog, and as always, keep crafting!!

Tipping My Crafter's Hat to Mr. Poe

Today I honor one of my fave authors, Mr. Edgar Allan Poe.  One of my fave stories from his compilation of writing includes the short story, The Tell-Tale Heart.  

I remember doing a college independent study on him and his macabre works of fiction.  I also remember that I got an A on that 30 page final. 

So I’ve been playing with Mod Podge a lot lately, mostly on mixed media canvas art.  I decided to see what it looks like on a card, so I used a smidge of it on this card, adhering a torn piece of leftover Valentine napkin and some vellum sheet music to create my background.

Then I distressed with ink. I used a mirrored tile and some ribbon to give it a little shine.  I tore up the phrase  "master of macabre” and placed the words on the embellishments on my card.  

The arrow, heart and banner are chipboard stickers from Basic grey.  The phrase, ribbon and mirror are all part of a generous card kit I received from my good friend and fellow artist, Jean.  We have a Facebook page on which crafters can join in monthly card kit swaps create, and show off their work on our page.  Here's the link:  

 Jean & Pat's Card-a-Month Cafe

Hope to see you there!

Sentimental-ly Yours

Time for a new challenge at Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  This week calls for a Squigglefly Sentiment as the focus on your card.

I chose to make a Swing Card with my sentiment swinging in to show off a feathery butterfly on the back.

I first discovered swing cards while attending a Stampin Up workshop, but I hadn't made another one since that day back in 2001!!

So although this isn't a NEW technique for me, it's one that I have re-discovered.  I like the way it turned out, and will have given it to my hubby this valentine's Day.

Now it's your turn to showcase a Squigglefly sentiment.  There are hundreds of cute, sassy, funny, loving, witty, thoughtful sentiments at Squigglefly Designs, so check them out and play for a chance to win free digi's this week!!

You Light Up my Life

We love to light candles for a romantic night at home together, but we are always forgetting to distinguish them before going to bed.  So I bought some flameless tea candles and snagged a couple tall glass containers from Goodwill and made us some safe romantic lights for our next "night in".
I used a Queen Kat Designs February release stamp called Love Birds by artist Laura Macy.  I stamped and embossed the image in purple onto vellum paper and cut the vellum to fit the glass jar.  I adhered it to the outside of the glass and added some fiber and my project is finished.  Very safe, very pretty, very simple.
For more of Laura Macy's stamps, as well as all the new QKD releases, check out the Shoppe.