APPROACHING 2013

As I approach 2013, I am thinking there are some things that happened in 2012 that I would just like to leave behind.  It is that thought that prompted me to create the oh-so-simple journal page entitled MOVE ON!

The blue diamonds in the background were created when I removed ink from a stencil that I used on a previous project.  I applied a coat of Gesso over the top to "dull" the color just a bit.  Next, I used rub-ons the create the foreground.  Even the title was created using alphabet rub-ons!  It's that simple!

Thanks for stopping by, and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to each of you!

Cheers!

LINCOLN, MY HERO

I vividly remember my first trip to Washington, D.C., for two reasons.  First, and the purpose of the trip, was to be present when my brother was awarded the Silver Star for meritorious action in the face of danger in Vietnam.  It was thrilling to be present at such a proud moment in our own family history.  Second, I was able to visit the Lincoln Memorial, where I stood and wept.  You see, as well as my brother, Abraham Lincoln is a hero to me.  He is a man who stood for what he believed was right, in the face of those who were sure he was wrong.  Today, thanks to President Lincoln, these United States are indeed "united."

Another technically simple page, but, this time I began with a coat of black Gesso!

Next, I used a stencil (called "chicken wire") and applied white paint on a sponge through the stencil.

The unique photo was cut from an old magazine found in a "swap shop" on Cape Cod!  I just love it--maybe because it is both black and white.  The circles were cut from a card.  I added them because of the bit of orange on the right side of the face.

Lastly, I took a background stamp and a bit of orange paint to add a bit of texture.  And that was it!  Another KISS page!

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THE KISS PRINCIPLE

Most times, art journaling is all about layering--in fact, the more, the merrier!  There are times, however, when what one has to say is important, using the "KISS principle" is the better plan.  In this art journal entry, I am sharing a quote by Abraham Lincoln advising us to make good use of our days--and I want this quote to be the highlight of the page.

For the background, I chose a scrap of paper from the scrapbooking side of my studio.  I brightened the burlap pattern a bit by adding a bit of gold paint.  Next, a floral stamp and my quote.  To frame the quote and add a touch of color, I used a self-adhesive border strip cut into four pieces.  I then added a bit of washi tape with numbers.  The white frosting was created by painting white paint onto a small square of bubble wrap and using that as a stamp.  Here are the details:

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DOCUMENTING YOUR WISHES

As art journalists, we need to remember to base some of our creations on ourselves.  Today (at almost 69 years of age), I was remembering that my father discouraged me from traveling as a young single woman--adding that it would be so much more worthwhile to one day travel with my husband.  Although my father was a smart man, I think his advice long ago was a disservice to me.  Although I eventually traveled, even internationally, I wish I had done it as a much younger person.  Here is my journal page about this lament:

It was an easy page to create technically.  Following a coat of Gesso, I began by tearing into pieces those maps that sometimes come with your pocket calendar.  I adhered the pieces with ModPodge.

The title TRAVEL was added by using alphabet stickers.  Then I added a few of my background stamps using black ink.

I don't use the "drip" technique often, but decided to try it on the page.  After using distress ink and allowing it to drip down my page, I blotted it with a sheet of paper towel.  I then used one of my homemade Perfect Pearl spray misters to age my background papers.

Lastly, I added a sticker with one of my favorite quotes about travel:

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A DIVERSION FROM WORRIES

It seems during the holidays, for most of us, our worries come in numbers.  We ponder the number of calories in those traditional sweet treats.  We dread the resultant weight gain.  We try to budget our gift purchases.  And then, in the end, we worry about having enough time to get everything done.

I have found that getting your worries down on paper, whether in the written word or a more "artsy" form, helps get those worries under control.  Here is my attempt to find some relief.

Again, this is a very simple art journal page.  One layer of acrylic paint lightened a bit using a baby wipe. A numbers stamp upon a face cut from a magazine.  The face was then framed by adding a bit of white Gesso.  Then stickers and a Sharpie pen to create the "worries."

Thanks for stopping by and Happy holidays!

"CREATIVITY TAKES COURAGE"

I ran across the title quote today by Henri Matisse and was inspired to create an art journal page.  It is simple, mostly paper, ink and stamping, but I just love the message!  Enjoy!  Be inspired!

Cheers!

CLEVER BACKGROUND USING MASKING TAPE

No need to use Gesso to "prime" your art journal page when using this background cleverly created with masking tape!  Just tear small strips (1 to 2 inches in length) and overlap to cover your entire page.  This creates a great texture!  What's next is up to you, but I used orange and blue acrylic paint to cover my page. I cut my silhouette from a magazine, then used several stamps and black ink to add a bit of interest.  I also used white acrylic paint on a stamp for that "bubble wrap" look.  A snippet from the dictionary and computer-generated title and I was done!  Here is the result:

For those who have missed me, I have been recuperating from a complex spine surgery.  I have always believed that art is healing, so I have now added some creativity into the healing mix!

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CREATING A BACKGROUND WITH PERFECT PEARLS

In another life, my sister taught French in a university setting.  It was just not French that she loved, but all things French, including history.  During her more than 70 years, she has amassed quite a library of books, and recently decided it was time to pare down her collection.  I am lucky enough now to be the owner of a book more than 50 years old, entitled THE AGE OF IDEAS, dealing from "reaction to revolution" in eighteenth-century France!  So, am I interested in French history?  No, but I am definitely interested in the photos inside this wonderful, only slightly musty, book!

First, let me introduce you to Madame Emilie du Chatelet in a photo of the original work created about 1736.  To me, she appears a beautiful woman, full of femininity, poise, intelligence, and strength...perhaps even power.  I found it interesting to learn that Voltaire, one of her lovers, declared in a letter to his friend King Frederick II of Prussia that du Chatelet was "a great man whose only fault was being a woman."  Ah, but I digress . . .

Following the application of a healthy coat of Gesso to prime my journal page, I chose three colors of Perfect Pearls to create my background, Forever Green, Blue Smoke, and Perfect Copper.  Using the bristles of my brush, I lifted just a small bit of this pigment powder and placed it directly onto my non-stick craft mat.  Using a mini-mister, I sprayed water directly onto the powder and swirled it around with the paint brush until all the power had dissolved.  I then just "painted" each color onto my page, overlapping them so that they blended together as they met.

I hand tore the photo of Madame de Chatelet directly from the page of the book, then cut from the same page both her name and approximate date.  I added a bit of text from the same book, then a butterfly for interest.  I enjoyed working with Emilie, so also gave her some rub-on flowers at the bottom.  What doesn't show in the scan of my page is the pearly luster created by the Perfect Pearls.

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THAT DREADED COLOR ORANGE!

Orange has never been a color I liked.  I wouldn't use it in decorating, and I would certainly never wear it!  Even when orange lipstick was in vogue, I wouldn't buy it!

However, while on the Design Team at the popular "Let's Scrap" scrapbooking website, I was forced into using it in a monochromatic layout!  My head spun, my eyes glazed over, my knees shook, and my hands trembled.

Near this same time, my husband and I took a day trip to New Hampshire to one of our favorite wineries.  As is usual for us, the camera went along.  Once inside the winery, I began to notice all the oranges and started clicking!  I will show you the layout I created, but first I want to show you my most recent art journal page.  And, yes, I got over my displeasure with orange and have used it happily here!

For the background (after laying down a coat of Gesso), I used 3 shades of homemade mist created from Perfect Pearls (for shine), distress re-inkers (for color), and water.  I then used the circle stamp, followed by the numbers stamp.  I wanted to try to "drip" technique, so I used an orange shade of distress re-inker right out of the dropper, stood my page up and let the ink travel where it would.  On the left side, the ink from the stamped image began to travel with the re-inker, but I actually like the outcome!  I used ModPodge to adhere my "art" (cut from a museum brochure and unidentified).  The last layer is the "life is art...." stamp--one of my favorites!

Just in case you are curious about my Design Team challenge, here's how it turned out:

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USING MAGAZINE FIGURES AS SILHOUETTES

I found an intriguing picture of Sherlock Holmes in a magazine ad, and promptly cut it out.  I had read about using magazine figures as silhouettes and had even seen this technique used by other artists, but had never tried it.  When I recently visited my sister on Cape Cod, I accompanied her to the "transfer station" (aka the "dump") and found what is called a Swap Shop.  It was a free-standing building and inside were shelves and tables of usable goods and things of interest--all for free.  This was "one man's trash is another man's treasure" come to life!  Well, I spied the magazine rack and the rest is history!

So, back to Sherlock.  I used torn book pages (also picked up two books while in the Swap Shop) and adhered them to my page using ModPodge.  Next, since the ModPodge wasn't quite dry, when I placed my silhouette into position, it conveniently clung to my page.  I covered the page with black ink using a Tim Holtz applicator, hoping to create what I imagined would be a smoky aura of mystery--ok, that didn't work *quite* as I imagined it!

The title of this page came from the expression that explains the unexplainable, those things of mystery:  THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO, HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! 

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