altered book pages

Last week-end I taught an altered book class in which we created "tunnel" pages.  I love this project because the pages are so interesting, so interactive.  I thought I would give you a peek at the beginning of my pages.  I will continue to "play" on these pages with my Frida Kahlo theme.  (I HAD to have an excuse to use my NEW Dina Wakley Frida stamps.)

"Altering" a book is a fun mixed media project...if you have never tried it, I highly recommend it.  Try it, you'll like it!

happy new year!

Happy New Year!!!  Every year I choose a Word of the Year...a word (with its corresponding thought, definition, etc) to watch for, to focus on.  It is amazing how significant these "words" become as I live with them over the course of the year...and it is so much F-U-N to see them pop up...like a surprise...found treasure.  I highly recommend giving this "exercise" a try and see how it impacts your life.

My Word of the Year (WotY) for 2017 is SHINE.

I will now begin to incorporate this word and its various meanings and what I am discovering about this word FOR ME during the year into my journal pages.  This is the cover of a composition book that I altered.  I used an S dictionary page (S is for shine!) and then used my acrylics, a stencil, and cut the star...easy peasy...cheery and fun!

2017...I'm ready!!!

joy to the world

Art journaling...

Joy!!!
Merry Christmas art friends!!!

a party on the page

Here is a peek at an art journal page that we did at Play on the Page at the Stamp Art Shoppe in Roseville. Tis the season to be jolly...with lots of celebrating happening, so we created a party on our page.  Our journaling prompt was what gift has this past year given you, which we tucked behind the gift box.

I hope you are finding time for a bit of creativity...as you enjoy all the festivities.  :)

yummy texture!

One of the things that I LOVE on my journal pages is texture...

This page included texture paste, crinkled and glued tissue, textured cardstock, a doily, a kraft paper (brown paper bag) scrap, a manila paper die cut (with a Tim Holtz layering texture die), dictionary paper-of course!  :), and the perforated edge of a spiral page.  (You can "play" Where's Waldo and hunt around to find and identify these different elements :)...)  I glued all these down, "embracing" any wrinkles.  Then I applied the texture paste to overlap and touch the different elements.  When the paste was dry I applied a thin coat of gesso which really enhances the texture of the cardstock and the wrinkles in the tissue and kraft paper...YUM!!!  For color I used watered acrylic paint...

I now have a great foundation for my art journal page.  I could add my focal image at this point, or continue to layer on collage elements and more color, or...well, the possibilities are limitless!  Too much fun!

Time to play!  :)

summer bucket list

August!?!  Already?  Can you believe that summer is winding down already?  Didn't it just start?

One of the things that we have done in a couple of my art journaling classes is create an art journal  page documenting...declaring? our summer bucket lists...you know, those things that sing of summer to you...the things that would make your heart happy to do this summer...

Here is what my page looks like...

I share this with you to encourage you to enjoy these summer days and do something "summer-y" that makes your heart happy.  :)

Enjoy!

the gaze of the soul

Another art journal page prompted by the Documented Life Project. (The challenge was to include fabric on this page.)  Here is how it came together...

The yellow circle is a piece of fabric that I adhered to the page with gel medium.  This photo is a favorite of my sister and I...part of my story...and I am currently reading a book by A.W.Tozer and that is what I journaled...I love to include on my journal pages notes from my reading that are significant to me...it is all part of the processing.  And it seemed to suit the photo.
Hope you are adding a little art to your summer days!  :)