Relax ... we're all crazy

I hadn't worked with my gelatos for quite some time, so pulled these out to create a background in my art journal and had so much fun with the creamy colors and smooshing them around with a spritz of water and my fingers. Then I pulled out some of my favorite stamps and knew I wanted to work with Tim Holtz Crazy Birds and voila! An art page was born.

Sing

This simple art journal page uses a variety of mediums. I started with adhering two old dictionary pages into my journal with matte gel then colored over them with gelatos and covered that with a thin layer of gesso to tone things down a bit. Some stenciling and stamping completed the background using Dina Wakley and Tim Holtz stamps. The bird was stamped on white paper, colored, fussy cut and adhered with matte gel. The letters for "sing" are stickers from my collection painted black.

Thanks for stopping by! 

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

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.