Choose Courage...

 "Every time we choose courage, we make everyone around us a little better and the world a little braver." ~Brene Brown

 My soul journal is filled with layers and layers of collage and mixed-media.  I will sometimes journal and then gesso right over the words on the page and then create a whole other layer.  I love texture and use text pages and dies and different media to create it -

 and then sometimes I'll collage an inspiring magazine photo over it or maybe draw or stamp something that I think is beautiful and suits my mood...

but sometimes, I just want to write something simple, yet powerful and then leave some empty space so that the pages can answer back with a response.  Whatever my heart needs at that moment.

And look!! Only a few pages left here and it's on to a brand new book!

CHOOSE COURAGE my friend.  Be gentle and kind to yourself. You will make this world a better place for it. 

What I Know For Sure... ONE

• Everyday brings a chance to start over.
• Life - it goes on.
• Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. I admit it.
• The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.
• I am loved unconditionally by my Savior, my husband and my children.
• I never stop myself from doing something because I'm afraid of what people might think... Okay, yes I do - But I need to stop!

• I like salty and sweet. Like Dark chocolate caramel with sea salt. oh.my.word.
• I forgive easily, but I never forget.ever.
• I may cry, but it's not because I'm weak.
• Potato skins will clog the garbage disposal. every time.
• I prefer being at home to going out - unless it's with my family. 
• Take this moment. Enjoy it.

• I can't stand bullies.
• I am a loyal friend and believe in life-long relationships.
• I will not let others write my life script - ever again.
• Crayons (Crayola brand) make me happy.
• Coffee is essential to life.
• I am enough. Enough.
• Everyone deserves to be safe.

I was obviously inspired to do this page by a page I saw in O (Oprah) Magazine.  She has this section, I believe, in each monthly issue.  I have always kept a list of thoughts and quotes that I've agreed on or thought were a revelation that I wanted to remember.  I transferred them to these two pages and decided that I'd like to do this regularly.  I chose just some of the ones I've written in my journals and I'm saving the rest for another time.

Supplies: 

Gesso - covered both pages with gesso to give it some "tooth" and thickness.

Acrylic spray - I put some acrylic craft paint mixed with a bit of water in a spray bottle (travel size found at 99cent store), sprayed the background.

Magazine - torn out words, quotes and pictures

Rubber stamp - swirls for border

Black Staz On Ink - my favorite ink. Water proof and permanent

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut stain color for edging

Black and White Faber Castel Gelato crayons - for shading - can be used dry or like water colors

Green fine tip Sharpie Marker - Journaling

Post Card Swap with Artists in Blogland

I recently participated in a postcard swap with a community of artists at Artists in Blogland.

I used a 12x12 piece of brown chipboard and cut it into 4 - 6x6 squares. 

I painted/inked it with different Distress Inks and then mod podged pieces of homemade paper to it. 

The swirl stamp was inked on with Staz On.

I added some vintage ephemera photos (copies) and then edged them with oil pastels.

The last thing I did was add the quotes. I used black Sharpie markers and white Signo pens.

"I did my best and it was enough."

"Believe you can."

"Do what you love."

"Sing your bravest song."

I have received two post cards in return so far and will posts those soon.  I had lots of fun and am always glad to do something fun and creative.

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal| two.

I've been trying to make sure that I make more time for my art/soul journaling.  Even if it's a little doodle or just a bit of paint for a background, I know that I feel better and am happier if I can do something.  So, I sat down and gesso'd two pages.  

I then took my blue acrylic spray and just sprayed a bit here and there on the pages.  Then a little bit of walnut ink spray found it's way onto the pages.  I sat and looked at the paint and ink as it made little streams down both sides of the crisp white canvas.  I decided to hit it with some water, so I sprayed just a bit to see it all start melding together.  

At this point, I was so happy with what I had that I could've just left the pages like that.

Another process that I like to do when I don't have the energy to be super creative, but I want to push myself is look through magazines for useful images for my journals.  There are a few different things that I look for.  I like large bold images that pop with color or geometric shapes. I love circles, eyes and hands.  I look for titles or words that stand out and can be used on my pages.  I just flip through the magazines and tear pages. I keep the pages in a large ziploc baggie and then go through the bag and see if anything jumps out at me and "calls" to be used for that days spread.  I don't always use a magazine image on my page though.  It's good to have it there though when I need something more.

 I had this picture of a hand holding a large pearl, and it was perfect for something I've been wanting to journal about.  I recently took a personality quiz that a friend recommended to me.  It's not even really a quiz, but more of a thing where you read each description of the different gems and decided which fits you best. It's even better when someone that knows you very well can read through them and then tell you what they think.  I read through them and the decision was unanimous.  I was a Pearl. No doubt about it.

 You can find the quiz here.  I'd love to hear which personality type describes you best.

 So, I cut out the picture of the hand and used my gel medium to paste it down. I did some doodling on the picture and added a red heart (my favorite) with Sharpie paint pens.  I wanted to keep the background the way it was. I loved it so much when I first put it together.

Finally, I printed out the PEARL's description and marked it up with some personal notes.  I then used some washit tape to secure it to the page.  I love how this spread turned out.

I am almost done with this journal, but I've got a new one ready to go!! 

Hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of the process.  Let me know if you take the quiz!!

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal|two

I am happy to be taking part in A Year in the Life of an Art Journal challenge again.

This year the prompts are for photographers as well as art journalers. 

The challenges are given out on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Here is the challenge for January 30th, 2013.

PROMPT: Rainy Day

SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug near a rainy window

Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 02.04

This was the shot I shared for my Monday Mugshot photo.

I was HOPING for rain to get a *perfect* mugshot, but our rain came a week early.  

No worries here! Like Rachel says, you can do whatever you want with the prompts!

(Sharing on Monday Mugshots on fb also)

BOOKERS: drip some paints on your page, 

and share a little bit about what the perfect rainy day looks like to you. 

I think I will actually take pictures of the process of making my page next time, but for now, I will just share some of the materials I used to make my pages. 

• acrylic paints
• Faber-Casteel Gelatos
• Random Alphabet Stickers
• Tim Holtz Crackle paint
• gesso
• Glaze pen for journaling
• ripped magazine pages

I wanted the background to look like a frosty window on a rainy day.  

I must admit that it looks the way I want in real life, but in this picture -

not so much. 

Journaling Reads: When I think about rain, I think about how the water always seems to come just when we need it.  Rain is soothing to me.  The sound of it...the smell it brings.  Even a good storm brings cleansing.  RAIN is like ART to me.   Soothing, cleansing and always right on time when I need it.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

~Pablo Picasso

Do you art journal or like taking photos? You can join in on the fun twice a month too!  Just head over to Rachel Whetzel's page to play! 

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal|one

I am happy to be taking part in A Year in the Life of an Art Journal challenge again.

This year the prompts are for photographers as well as art journalers. 

The challenges are given out on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Here is the challenge for January 15, 2013:

PROMPT: New Year's resolutions or ONE WORD. 

Do you make New Year's resolutions, or take part in the ONE WORD project? 

SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with your word or something that symbolizes your word.
(Sharing on Monday Mugshots on fb also)

BOOKERS: Use watercolors on your page to emulate your word... (if you don't have water colors, watered down acrylic paint will do just fine.) use color to convey that word and what it means to you. While your paint is WET, sprinkle salt on it, and let it sit. When your paint is dry, brush off the salt.  (people taking part in the creative prompt can put their mugshot for this prompt on this page.) 

 I have been choosing a word for my year for the last five years.

I tend to over-burden myself about unnecessary things 

and this year, I've decided it's time to MINIMIZE.

 For these pages I used a double spread in my almost complete (YAY) journal that was already gesso'd and started covering it with a layer of mod podge and then random pages of vintage text from dictionaries, old scouting book, vintage hymnal, worn copy of Pride and Prejudice, etc.

I just mod podge'd away and didn't worry if there were wrinkles or anything.

Then I started painting on a water color wash of orange...my favorite.

(Make sure your page dries in between each thing you do.)

I added two pictures that I printed off quickly on my regular printer.  One is of my coffee mug that I wrote my One Little Word on.  I used a Sharpie Marker and free-handed on the mug. Then I placed it directly on the oven rack at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or so.  Won't wash off now. :)

The other picture is a little setting I made with some Scrabble tiles to spell out MINIMIZE.

   I added scribbles of oil pastels and gelato here and there.  Did some smudging.  Then I took some Bahama Blue acrylic and just let it drip down my page.  Just anything that made me smile and broke up the orange a bit.

 I began to write random words that represented things I wanted to minimize.  I used a Sharpie marker for the bold words.  Then around the word I used a Glaze gel pen to write how I would MINIMIZE those areas. 

I have found that the Glaze pens work great on top of any type of medium - even the waxy oil pastels.

 I may continue to add things to the pages that I want to MINIMIZE as I think of them, but this is it for now.  

To MINIMIZE fear:

Psalm 56:3~But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Colossians 3:15a.~Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

Do you art journal or like taking photos? You can join in on the fun twice a month too!  Just head over to Rachel Whetzel's page to play! 

ATC's, a couple good quotes and One Little Word

 "I did my BEST today and it was ENOUGH"  ~Oil pastels

 "Don't stumble over something behind you." ~acrylics

 My One Little Word for 2013 "minimize" ~watercolors

 My One Little Word cards for the last 5 years. (Click on photo to enlarge)

To read my post about my One Little Word - Go HERE to visit my other blog HE{ART}

Caged In...

 I covered up some old journaling that I had already done on this double page spread with gesso and then covered it with some striped tissue paper.  I applied the tissue paper with matte gel medium.  I left it like that for a while before I decided what would go on the pages.  I drew out bird on an old piece of map paper, cut it out and colored it with oil pastel.  Then I stuck it on the page and drew the cage  and the heart - also with oil pastels.  I journaled using a black Sharpie marker.

This page was covered with gesso and then I added some torn map paper here and there with matte gel medium.  I used water color pencils to fill in the color on the background.  I also did some light journaling just to get some "stuff" off my chest and then promptly covered it up.  My bloggy friend, Lea, sent me a sweet package a way back when and there was all kinds of ephemera and goodies tucked in it.  One thing that was in it was a piece of material that was painted.  I've had it in my drawer forever waiting for a special use.   I tore it into strips and then used Mod Podge to adhere it and I also covered it with Mod Podge.

I added some details with the oil pastels again and also some Tim Holtz Distress Stain.  I love that stuff.  They come in bottles with a little dauber at the end for application.  Title was added with a black Sharpie.

When working in my soul journal, I am more interested in what I have to write or say than I am the "art" work usually.  However, because of the personal nature of the journaling, I often end up covering my words.  That's okay.  I'm still getting the journaling out there and I'm also allowing myself to be expressive.  There are times that I write out my words like a prayer and there are other times where they are just random sentences, thoughts, rambles that just come to mind.  I was speaking to a friend about this recently and I think I will be approaching my journaling a little differently and see what happens.  I really feel like I'm playing it safe sometimes and not being fearless with my art or my words.  That has to change. It's just something I know.

When you art journal, is it serious? Light-hearted? Does it mean anything?  All of the above? =)

Finding My Wings...

I guess you can see a progression here on the pages.  I didn't realize it, but I think I tend to turn to my soul journal more often during the difficult or confusing times.  I don't know, I think it may be because I don't have to betray myself with words that would not suffice.  I am not a complainer.  I don't like to be negative - even with my closest friends or family, so I turn to my books.  I do journal happy times to of course, but sometimes your heart is heavy and you just need to have an outlet.  I find myself praying as I play with the different mediums and textures.  I may not always love what I've created, but I always feel a little better in spirit.  You should try it.  Clearly, you don't have to be an artist.  Just do what moves you. 

A Beautiful Life...

This canvas has been re-purposed and re-painted several times.  It has recently just been a work in progress for me and I think I'm finally happy with it...for now.

Thank you Rita!!

A few weeks ago, Rita was celebrating her 100th blog post and decided to do a give away to one lucky commenter. To my surprise - I was the winner! I felt like I had won the lottery. Well, I guess I did win the Mixed Media and Altered Art lottery, huh? =D

I loved every bit of it, but especially loved the old post cards, envelopes and the cancelled check from the late 1800's. The vintage labels were really cool and I've got all sorts of ideas for the beads, buttons and other items. My favorite item in the bag though, has to be the Lillian Russell tag that says, "She dreamed." Just looking at this tag is an inspiration.

Head on over to Tattered Past and meet Rita for yourself! You'll be glad you did. Thank you again Rita. You were so generous. I will be paying it forward soon, so make sure you all check back!!

Altered Tag: Swap hostess gift

Now that my post cards are ready to go, I was able to have some fun making a little gift for the hostess of the swap. This is an altered mini-file folder and tag. I had a great time using some fun stamps as well as some vintage sheet music, mulberry paper, and vintage ephemera.

Inside of file folder and flip side of the tag.

I hope she likes it!

Halloween Post Card Swap (Prompted)

This is my first post card swap. I am new to a mixed-media/art journaling group and I wanted to jump right in and get involved. It was exactly what I needed to kick start me back into my studio.
This swap was prompted. This means that there were certain obligations that we had to fulfill when completing the cards. Here were the prompts:
*Size: 5 3/4" x 4 1/8"
*Add Orange and Black
*Needs a brad to make some kind of moveable element
*Must include a Jack o'lantern or Pumpkin
*Write a Halloween memory or favorite treat on the back.
This is what I came up with!

Front

Inside

Front

Inside

Front

Inside

Front

Inside

So, now I am going to work on a little something to give to the hostess of the swap and then it'll be ready to send off. I can't wait to see what I get back! I will be sure to share them with you!