Art Journal

Putting paint to pages of a book is very freeing.

This was a cookbook I never used. 

All it did was take up space,

 so...

a new journal is born.

Little bits of this and that hoarded over time. 

Such as the paint strip. 

Bayou blue is the color Big J picked for his room. 

It reminds me of medical scrubs but whatever...he likes it.

Pieces of projects and experiments.

Like bits of rusted fabric.

Polymer clay leaves from the one and only time I crafted with it. Yuck! Hate the smell of that stuff.

As well as a deconstructed silk flower that I used a script rubber stamp across for interest.

 

Journal pages

Over the weekend I was inspired to do a bit of art journaling. 

Not sure that it will actually become a "project" but it was nice to play.

 

Another sneak peek

 

These are the last pages in the 6 person "Colors" swap that I've been participating in over the last 6 months or so. 

The pages will hit that mail stream today...I'll be able to show you all of it very soon.

 

Jade tip-ins

I can finally show the completed pages I gave a little sneak peek about so long ago. I was very behind with these and then when I actually finished them...I set them aside and forgot to mail them for a week or two. DUH!

This photo doesn't show it that well but there is a blue-ish tint to the green giving it more of a jade color.

This second one was inspired by 

an early episode of Mad Men. 

Mr. Cooper's office had an Asian theme. 

He had this great bamboo plant in the corner near the window. This is my interpretation.

I added words from a fortune cookie to get a little red into the page.

Pages have landed in Cyprus

I've been anxiously awaiting confirmation that the package I sent to Cath in Cyprus had arrived safely.  I was getting very worried even though the post office assured me that things can get tied up in customs from time to time. 

Cath is another member of the colors swap I've been particpating in over the last few months.

Her colors were yellow and black. Not my usual fair but that's where the challenge lies. 

                                                                         

 The photos are not the best...I can't remember why anymore but alas...once they are sent off there isn't much chance for retakes.

                                                                               

 This one is a kalidescope that I made from 

a photo of a marigold.

These black eyed susans are from my in-laws garden.
Thanks to Elizabeth 
for the awesome yellow handmade paper!!

Art journal

After being inspired by The Art Journal Workshop, I started work on the inside pages. 

I found the book that I disassembled for the covers at a thrift store quite a while ago. When I got it I hadn't realized that all the pages were glossy which doesn't work very well for altering.  

I still loved the covers and knew I'd use them 

in some way.

The inside pages are recycled cardboard from cereal type boxes. I obsessively save them to use as substrate for so many different projects. The pages are all a uniform height but the width is very random. I felt this might give the journal an interesting look.

So far, I've slathered leftover paint from other projects on a few pages and completed one from scraps on my table. 

The journalling reads: 

Forget the darkness behind you. 

Turn your face towards the sun and bloom.

Awesome book

I just had to share my excitement about this book I checked out from the library! 

The Art Journal Workshop by Traci Bunkers

I have major art journal envy of those who do it so well. I just haven't been able to set myself free enough to do it I guess. 

I feel like this book can help me.

It's definitely going on my wish list...

It's fully of step by step photos for some great background techniques.

Tip and tricks...

By the way...
I'm not being compensated in any way shape or form by anyone. I'm sure that Traci Bunkers doesn't have a clue who I am nor do the publishers of this book.
Just wanted you to know that before I went any further.

I've gotten inspired.
First I did a quick, no thought page
in a practice book.
Not bad...not great but I'm working at it.

I've got an idea in mind for a bunch of recycled cardboard as well.
Just working on getting it prepped with my horrible gesso. I say horrible because it is some lame off brand and it's so watery.
Live and learn then buy the good stuff.

Little bits of creativity

I've been working on a few things over the last couple weeks.

I made the cover for my ABC_alteredbookclub 8th Anniversary swap book. I'm waiting on the last page to arrive before binding.
I used Citra Solv paper for the background then cut the flower from a photograph I took a few years ago.
I added the paper flower and "Joy" brad for interest.

Since we have a few September birthdays in our family I've been busy making cards. This one is for my mom. She loves butterflies and flowers.

Lastly, I'll share a little peek at a mixed-media painting I've been working on. It's not finished...definitely a work in progress.

Altered Puzzle piece

Finished another one and popped it in the mailbox yesterday. 

One of the postmen said he gets a kick out of the mail art and postcards I send and receive. 

He asked me about the postcards one day when I was mailing a very boring package.

I had no idea they paid that much attention! 

Fun to know that mail art not only brightens the recipients day but the postal workers day as well.

Found text ATC

Sometimes I grab a random page torn from a book to give me inspiration. 

That is when my quirky sense of humor takes over....

8th anniversary swap

Since we had a totally open theme this time around for the annual abc_alterbookclub anniversary swap...I decided to use this photo of myself and my grandpa that always makes me giggle. Neither one of us looks to happy about the whole deal.

Here's the original photo...

We both look so crabby.  I did have a cute little dress though. *grin*

Tea and books

I really enjoy my tea. It's a daily ritual for me...at least until the hot weather comes.

I also love books! I'm especially drawn to old books. I love the way they look and feel.

Some I would never alter in any way and others scream at me to make them my own with paint, paper, fabric and glue.

Hop on over to Kimmies blog to see what the other girls are doing today.

Candle wrapping

In the continuing effort to use what I have...I decided to make a new wrap to go around this candle tin.
I got the candle a few years ago after Christmas on clearance...super deep discount that I couldn't pass up. Especially when I realized that the ugly Christmas paper would come right off. 

Sweet!


I used watercolor paper as my base. The background color was achieved with distress inks, dress pattern tissue and found text.

I sifted through some of my new stash from a couple of swaps. I'm sure some of you may recognize some of your stuff. I love new fodder. It can be very inspiring.

This is going to be a gift...I hope the recipient likes it!

Gothic Arch

This was made from stuff I had in my scrap bucket.  I'm trying to back to making art but sometimes I feel as if I'm trying too hard. Maybe I just need to let it happen.

Citra Solv with National Geographic background technique

I am totally hooked on this "new to me"  technique. I've seen it in a magazine, You Tube, blogs etc. Trust me...this technique has been around the block a time or two. Of course, I am super late in actually trying it but I had said I wouldn't buy any new art supplies. Well...technically I didn't buy a new art supply, I bought a concentrated cleaner. That counts right!?!?

Anyway...Since not everyone on the planet has read about it I'll tell you what I did. It is so simple and has such cool results.  A word of caution...this will be messy...protect your surfaces, hands and clothing.

First you take the CitroSolv concentrate full strength and pour a bit into a small container. I used a foam brush to apply it directly to the front and back of the Nationtal Geographic pages I wanted to use.  The more ink on the  pages the better. After slathering on the CitroSolv to as many pages as you'd like...close the magazine and walk away for about 20 mins or so. When you come back...put on a glove and start opening the pages...they will likely fall right from the magazine as the CitroSolv seems to un-glue the binding as well.

I hung my pages to dry with clothes pins overnight.

I painted a few pages with CitroSolv before going to bed to see if the effect would be any different. The effect seemed a little more "muddy" to me rather than having the cool bubble effect. Still totally usable papers...just different.

These are some of my favorites but as you can see below...I ended up with a bunch of fun papers to play with.