Evolution Of An Art Journal Spread

Hi everyone! Today I am going to share a bit of my process and a few techniques with you.

Really...I'm just going to show you how my brain works when I am creating. So when I pull out my art journal, I always cover my pages with some gesso to create a rough blank canvas.

The book I am using is from Fancy Pants Designs and it has a photo sleeve in between these two pages...in case you were wondering, and that second page in my spread actually has a folder. 

 My next step was to add some patterned paper to my pages. I pulled out the fun School Days collection from Ruby Rock-It for this part. 

 Because these serve as my background, and I like my backgrounds more subtle, I covered my papers with gesso.

 Next, I pulled out some fun treats from our swap partners at Ruby Rock-It. I used a die blank from Spellbinders (the Birds One set) and some Mayan Gold velvet dimensional paint from Art Anthology. I used the die blank as a stencil and painted around it: 

 Leaving it like this: 

 Then on the second page in the spread, I hand cut petals out of patterned paper from School Days and adhered to my page to make flowers. 

 I painted around my petals and hand wrote the word blessed: 

 I decided I wanted to tone down the black a bit, so I added stitching around the flower petals and painted more gesso over the word blessed. 

 I was much happier with that look. :) 

 Then I went back to my first page. I decided to make the third bird in that row stand out, so I used my Birds One dies and cut a bird from patterned paper and added it on top of the third bird. I added paint around the edges and wrote the words "stand out" underneath it. 

 One of my favorite things to add to my pages are ink rings. So I took some Watermelon Colorations Color Spray from Art Anthology and sprayed some ink onto a small plastic tray. I then took a random lid and dipped it into my ink to create my rings: 

 I actually think I went a tad overboard on the rings. I usually like to add 3 to a page or 5 to a spread. I did more. :) So here's the second page with the rings and I also tucked some school photos from the boys into the pocket. 

 And then I also created some 4x6 cards to slide in the photo sleeves in between the two pages. So here's what it looks like: 

 Well there you have it. :) 

 Thanks for stopping in today!!!

Playing Catch Up

Got a bunch to share with you guys.  

I guess I will start with a couple of pages in my art journal that I shared on the Ruby Rock-It blog.  Art journaling has no rules, and it is really just time to play and get a little messy.  I really enjoy it.  :)  And I like to use bits and pieces of collections in my art journal.  

So here's my first page:

I used parts of the At Last collection on this page.  I just love that bike...isn't it so cute?  The background is just white gesso, and I used a lid from some embossing powder to make the circles.  I added strips of color as if they were coming off the bike.  

Here are some close up's:

And then I also did another page in my art journal.  This time I used pieces from the borders and project cards from their new wedding collections. 

I'm not as happy with this one...but it's a lot easier to just move on to the next page with my art journal...I'm like "ok, that's done, what's next?"  I don't know why.  :)  

Here are some close up's:

And then I also have some cards to share with you guys that I also shared on the Ruby Rock-It blog.  We swapped with Scrap FX last month and I got to play with some of their fantastic chipboard pieces.  :)  

Here's my cards:

I just love the colors in the At Last collection from Ruby Rock-It.  It has certainly become my go-to with the new collections.  :)  On my first card, I cut my one chipboard piece in the middle to make it stretch so I could use it on both sides of my focal point. And the second one is pretty simple.  It could be used for a wedding, but it could also be used for graduations, promotions or a variety of achievements.  

And then finally, I also wanted to post a sneak of a layout that I had posted on the Fancy Pants blog.  

You can view that layout, as well as find out what I have to say about using buttons, here.  

Speaking of Fancy Pants...did you know that they are doing a cool blog hop with Tombow this week.  Every day on their blog they will be posting two projects (twice a day).  I have a card and a layout that will go up tomorrow that I am very excited about (had a lot of fun creating these)...I'll share sneaks soon.  Or just check it out yourself.  :)  

Ok, well thanks for stopping by this slacker's blog.  Some day I'll get back to blogging regularly (but doubtful that it will be soon...I'm just busy).  

Have a wonderful day!!!!

The Fruit of the Spirit and Worshipping With All Your He{art}

* In case you missed it...I did announce a winner for the last sketch, you can find that here.

Hi everybody!  Just wanted to share a project...well two projects that I did with you.

A while back, I was working on a group study called Worshipping With All Your He{art}.  I decided to go ahead and share that online and I posted the first chapter here.  I would love for you to check it out!

And this is a canvas I made that is part of this chapter and currently hanging over our fireplace.

I am actually really pleased with how it turned out.  And I really had fun making it.

Here are some close up's:

 

Well thanks for popping in!  I hope you have a fantastic day!!!!

Some Art Journal Pages

Hi everyone!!

Well, awhile ago I mentioned that I use my Brag Books as Art Journals.  I was going to share some new pages with you in a new book and I was looking through my blog and saw that I never posted any of my other art journal.  Not sure why.  I will probably come back and post some of my older pages, but for now I'd love to share some of the new stuff I have done.

I just started a new book.  Here's the cover:

The cover is pretty simple.

It uses a Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs, as well as their Trendsetter and Artist Edition collections (both the cover and the pages I share today all use these).  I think the Trendsetter is my favorite collection right now...I just can't stop using it even though I have other cute collections waiting to be used. :)

I pretty much do my art journal pages in the same way.

1.  I start with gesso and brush it over the page (doesn't have to cover it entirely).
2.  Add ink and paint...this is the part where you just PLAY.  :)
3.  Embellish with drawings, paper, and journaling.

Here are three pages (spreads) I have done:

This first page actually uses my current sketch, sketch 235!  :)  Which, of course, there is still time to play along with.  ;)

The thing about Art Journals is that they don't have to be perfect.  You generally don't show them off or try to sell them.  They are for YOU.  At least mine are for me.  I love that.

So just remember...I'm just playing here.  :)

Thanks for stopping in!!!
Have a FANTASTIC day!

Just Be.

So I thought I would pop in and share another canvas I made.  I was working on it the same time as the one I posted yesterday.  But this one I really like.  :)  

The funny thing is, my husband and son don't like it much.  They like the one I posted yesterday way more.  It just proves that art is subjective.  People have different tastes and opinions.  And that is ok!!  :)

Well I will be back on Monday with a new layout.  Yes, a layout.

Have a wonderful day!!!

Choose Love Now

Hi everyone!  I have something new to share with you.  It's a canvas I made.

To be honest, I am not completely happy with this one.  But I am setting it aside and calling it finished. I just want to start something new.  :)

And I am sharing some quick digital art with you too...go ahead and grab it and use as you like.  :)

Click on either of the images to view larger and then right click to save.  :) If that doesn't work, just let me know.  I can always email them to you if you request it.

And I would LOVE to see what you create using these, so please do share!!!  :)

Thanks for stopping in today!!!!

A Fun Canvas

Hi everyone!  Today I wanted to share a home decor/canvas project that I made with you all.  I used the fun Time For Spring collection from Fancy Pants Designs for my project.  And really this collection is great for anytime...not just spring, so don't let the name fool you.  :)

I started with 6 pieces of paper, cut into almost squares (one side is slightly longer than the other simply because of the size of my canvas).  The pieces do not fit perfectly but that is ok because I know I am going to cover the edges with paint.  I adhered the papers to my canvas.

I took white paint and covered the edges and brushed over the papers, over the middle of the canvas.  Ideally, I wanted some of the patterns to show through a little.  

I hand-cut three large leaf shapes from 3 different patterned papers.  I arranged those and a strip of green paper to make a flower.  I also added the words "practice gentleness" to my canvas, overlapping the stem on my flower.  

For a final me step, I added a bit of stitching around the papers in my flower.

And my final project ended up looking like this:

Well there you have it, a simple but fun canvas to hang on your walls.  Thanks for stopping by the blog today! 

Konnichiwa!

Well technically I guess this greeting is used for just the afternoon, but it is widely just used as "hello" these days...especially for those of us here in the US who do not typically speak Japanese.

Anyways...

Today I wanted to share a couple layouts that I made with you.  Both of them use the fun Konnichiwa collection from BasicGrey.

First up:

I just had fun with this layout.

And the close up's...

And then the next layout:

I really like how this one turned out...love those beautiful papers.

And the close up's:

I really love this collection...I think it is beautiful and fun!

Well thanks so much for popping in today!  I hope you are having a fantastic day!