'beautiful memories'

Hello my creative souls, I'm back today with another art journal

spread I created, this time trying to make it a little more

personal with some old photos and with my favourite color - pink.

'beautiful memories'

 Photos are from my modeling days back when I first moved to Miami, which seems 

like a lifetime ago....I found them while sorting through boxes in my studio.

I wanted to add some journaling but not quite sure how to incorporate it into

the spread...maybe I'll write something on the page behind it.

I wanted to add some depth using some black charcoal pencils, but I might have gone a little

overboard...I've never used charcoal before, so I'm still experimenting. It's also altogether too busy, but I'm a beginner and this journaling is going to take practice.....The most important thing 

is to just try and let it flow..... 

 

Thanks for looking,

Hugs, Lisa xoxox

'epiphany'

Hello my lovely readers!

If you are still here reading my blog...welcome!

I'm so glad you stopped by....I haven't been creating any pages lately,

as I have had quite a dry spell when it comes to my creativity,

but I recently purchased an online art journaling course, 

and I have promised myself to at least try to keep up with some journaling 

pages as they are quicker and easier to make. 

'epiphany'

The classes I purchased are from Laly Mille, and I love her style.

Her course called  'The Artist and the Journal' 

taught some great techniques about breaking a blank white page -

(yikes! that was so welcome - as I'm sure all of us have felt a small sense of dread while

cracking open a brand new journal), and some cool ways of incorporating paints

into the spreads (using my fingers - it's fun and I highly recommend it).

I also have enjoyed listening to her thoughts about incorporating personal

meaning into the pages, emotions drive us to create art, and exploring 

how to capture a little bit of yourself using papers and mediums is so 

relaxing and rewarding. I created this spread using watercolors, watercolor

pencils, tea stain, a few stamps and some die cuts. 

Here are a few close ups:

The postage stamps are from a package of paper that I ordered from Poland.

I love to collect bits of unusual papers, they can add a lot of character

to your journaling. It can be packaging, vintage book pages (my favorite)

or pages from a magazine, which I haven't yet tried.

Hugs always,

and a Happy Easter!

Lisa xo

'Only You'

Hello girls, I have a vintage art journal spread to share today created

with the March Scraps of Elegance kit.

'Only You'

I love doing these spreads and when I saw the vintage images in one of the Scrapberry's papers
included in this month's Paper Add On, I knew what I wanted to do. The cool stamp in the main kit
really added a lot to the design too. I created a messy background using some Lindy's inks, and then layered on some lace, and the Petaloo flowers from the Floral Add On.

The best way to make sure you never miss a kit is to become a subscriber,
more info on that here, and don't forget to check out our blog here.

I saw a wonderful post all about art journaling in old books, and there
were some lovely examples of different styles that you can try,
you can find that post here.

Here are a few close ups:

Thanks for looking,

Lisa xo

January Challenge at Words & Painterly

Hello crafty friends! It's been a bit quiet on my blog, but lots of things going on behind the scenes :)

Today I'm happy to show you an art journal spread that I created for the new

January challenge at Words & Painterly!

Looking for some inspiration this time, I found a BoBunny ephemera pack in my stash
(read:hoard) that had some vintage circus images that were the perfect colors.

To be honest, the colors were a bit hard for me this month, I started with the brown and blue 

easily, and then added some pops of red, voila! I really hope you'll give it a go this month!

To red more about the challenge and check out the prize pack, please go here.

Here are a few details...

The 2 Crafty Chipboard piece called "Glenda's Swirl" added some vintage flair.

That's all for me today, hugs! Lisa xo

'Winter's Frost'

Good morning friends....I hope you are all having a lovely weekend....

I am dropping in to share another art journal spread I created for the new March 

challenge over at Words & Painterly.

'winter's frost'

I have admired art journals for quite some time now and I am so happy that I finally started one of my own. I love the smaller format and the rich texture of old book pages, a little heavy gesso to prep and the possibilities become endless! 

Here is the color palette for this months challenge...

For more information of this month's challenge please go here....

And to join in on the Words & Painterly facebook page please go here....

Here are a few close ups...

I started with heavy gesso through one of the new Prima stencils 'Dots and Stripes' and then added some pieces of a paper doily and a few scraps of white gauze and lace. I really loved how the dark blue mist really soaked into the doily and created a beautiful pattern. Once that was all dry I did some stamping with some new Finnabair stamps, 'Honey Comb' and 'Messy'.

For color I used several Lindy's Stamp Gang mists.....'Danny Zuko's Denim, 'Hydrangea Blue', 'Tea Pot Purple' and 'Autumn Maple Crimson'.  I also used some 13@rts silver glitter paint which gave a nice little bit of sparkle.

I will try to do a step by step tutorial the next time I do an art journal page, just to show how uncomplicated and fun it really is....I love not knowing what is going to happen....it really is a great way to experiment with your mediums and have fun.

Hugs, Lisa xo

'I am free...' Guest Design spot at 13@rts and my very first art journal spread

Hello girls...I hope this post finds everyone well and enjoying the weekend...

I was invited by Aida and her creative team to Guest Design for their latest challenge over at 13@rts this month. The moodboard is a mixture of deep rich forest greens, gold, and black, perfect for the month of March.

'I am free....'

Well...here it is...my very first art journal spread.....When I first saw the moodboard I knew what I wanted to do. I went looking for some paper for a layout and couldn't find any that matched....I then eyed a beautiful old book that I had bought some time ago with the intention of starting to art journal, and just decided...today is the day! LOL...so be kind dear readers.....this is just a start! 

Here is the gorgeous moodboard to get those design wheels turning...

For more info on how to enter the challenge please go here.....

As you know, I love 13 @rts products so to visit their on line store please go here.....

Here are some close ups...

I started by gessoing two pages of this old book, and then added some texture with some heavy white gesso through several 13@rts masks. I used one of the masks on the two pieces of Blue Fern Studios wing chipboards before embossing them in gold. 

I then used a black watercolor pencil to draw some large circles and then went over them with a little water...I love this effect. Now I know why I want those new Prima watercolor pencils so badly....

I used a photograph of Frida Khalo, a famous Mexican painter who used creating art to help her cope with her life's tragic circumstances. 

After the gesso was dry I applied several different color of 13 @rts mists with a paintbrush, added some stamping, and then used 13 @rts gel medium to apply some gold micro beads.

I know I will be doing more in my art journal, it was fun! 

I hope I have inspired a little today to just go ahead and try.....

Thanks for taking a look, 

I appreciate every visit so much....

Lisa xo