BUT FIRST ... COFFEE

This bright and cheerful panel hangs on my computer monitor and greets me each morning as I write my journal pages. I journal now most mornings -- something I started a month or so ago. Nothing really specific, just random thoughts to get them down and out. It helps me clarify things that may be bothering me or things I want to focus more on. Those hazy first moments and words tend to be very raw. It's given me a creative bump and this panel was one result!

I started with distress oxide inks in Fossilized Amber and Light Spruce and , then light molding paste through a stencil. A few random splashes and circles of Vintage Photo paint to mimic spilled morning coffee! Teacup and lettering are also Tim Holtz.

A detail of the cup with a wisp of cheesecloth steam.

Where the panel hangs to greet me. :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

I’m entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Bright and Cheerful .

Mitch

Beauty in Simplicity

Hello there! Adding a page from my art journal inspired by the challenge at the Frilly and Funkie Blog challenge “It's Heating Up” featuring yellow, orange or red. I had a bit of a challenge keeping it simple it is just some distress inks with a few stencils and dies. Different from the messy collages I’ve done.

Discover the Sea

I have always loved the sea and learned to sail when I was a teen. With a sigh I now live in the desert, which I love, but hundreds of miles from the sea.

So I made this oversized tag inspired by two trinket charms I received from the Funkie Junkie when I placed an order with them.  I used a variety of Tim Holtz products, starting with distress oxide inks, over stamped with a couple sea shell stamps with clear embossing ink  covered in a light wash of picket fence paint. Then I used a variety of die cuts from gears to greens and the seashell. A mix of embossing crystals, blue and black glitter a la Mr. Tim created the sand topped with a few gold and blue beads from my stash and a wisp of cheesecloth. Finally topped with a triple layer of thinlets for the DISCOVER and glued on sailboat and anchor embellishments, along with a funky bow.

Plus, here's a few close up on the details. The sand, shell and greenery:

And the sailboat embellishment:

I entered this in the Frilly and Funkie challenge -- Embellishments, Trinkets and Trims

Go to the challenge here!l

Time to sail away!

Mitch

Art Journal Page: Explore the World

When I saw the Simon Says Stamp challenge for Vacation, I immediately thought of the Tim Holtz "Adventure" dies. I wanted to do a mixed up collage with them, and after playing with them for a while decided I should also use the globe die from my stash.

This reminded me of a work acquaintance who once asked me: Do you vacation or travel? At first I was a bit insulted at the implication that one is better than the other (she made it clear that traveling was a much more intellectual and therefore higher pursuit than vacationing). At the time, I wasn't sure how to answer as I do some of both and I don't believe they are mutually exclusive. I've taken a few Disneyland/Disney World vacations that have broadened my perspective on things AND I've traveled to Alaska as part of a small ship expedition with National Geographic that was thoroughly entering as well as enlightening.

Either way -- vacationing or traveling -- exploring something new is fun! My art journal page is a nod to exploring new destinations.

I struggled with this one a bit, trying out a different style and it came out more busy than I had originally envisioned. Looking at it now, I'm thinking I should have opted for more white space and left off the stamps in the three corners. Your thoughts?

I'm entering this in the 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Vacation.

I Love It Art Journal Page selected by Frilly and Funkie blog

Very excited that this art journal page was selected as a top three for the Frilly and Funkie I love it challenge . This was the second time – I’m really trying to up my game by studying mixed media artists.

Ordinary Moments

Ordinary days, ordinary moments. I made this tag to remind me life isn't always about "big adventures" -- the day to day moments make up the building blocks of our lives.

I used a variety of TM dies, chitchat stickers and distress inks. The background is a resist technique using picket fence distress paint.

Happy Spring Greetings!

Happy Spring! To celebrate I'm sharing a birthday card for my daughter. Her birthday was in April but I wanted to wait to share until after I sent it to her! I used TH funkie flower dies, distress inks and a collage of old dictionary pages for the background.

I'm entering this in the Frilly and Funkie challenge: Spring is in Full Bloom

http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/2019/04/spring-is-in-full-bloom-challenge.html