A Year In the Life of an Art Journal | one

I am happy to be taking part in A Year in the Life of an Art Journal challenge again.

This year the prompts are for photographers as well as art journalers. 

The challenges are given out on the 15th and 30th of every month.

Here is the challenge for January 15, 2013:

PROMPT: New Year's resolutions or ONE WORD. 

Do you make New Year's resolutions, or take part in the ONE WORD project? 

SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with your word or something that symbolizes your word.
(Sharing on Monday Mugshots on fb also)

BOOKERS: Use watercolors on your page to emulate your word... (if you don't have water colors, watered down acrylic paint will do just fine.) use color to convey that word and what it means to you. While your paint is WET, sprinkle salt on it, and let it sit. When your paint is dry, brush off the salt.  (people taking part in the creative prompt can put their mugshot for this prompt on this page.) 

 I have been choosing a word for my year for the last five years.

I tend to over-burden myself about unnecessary things 

and this year, I've decided it's time to MINIMIZE.

 For these pages I used a double spread in my almost complete (YAY) journal that was already gesso'd and started covering it with a layer of mod podge and then random pages of vintage text from dictionaries, old scouting book, vintage hymnal, worn copy of Pride and Prejudice, etc.

I just mod podge'd away and didn't worry if there were wrinkles or anything.

Then I started painting on a water color wash of orange...my favorite.

(Make sure your page dries in between each thing you do.)

I added two pictures that I printed off quickly on my regular printer.  One is of my coffee mug that I wrote my One Little Word on.  I used a Sharpie Marker and free-handed on the mug. Then I placed it directly on the oven rack at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or so.  Won't wash off now. :)

The other picture is a little setting I made with some Scrabble tiles to spell out MINIMIZE.

   I added scribbles of oil pastels and gelato here and there.  Did some smudging.  Then I took some Bahama Blue acrylic and just let it drip down my page.  Just anything that made me smile and broke up the orange a bit.

 I began to write random words that represented things I wanted to minimize.  I used a Sharpie marker for the bold words.  Then around the word I used a Glaze gel pen to write how I would MINIMIZE those areas. 

I have found that the Glaze pens work great on top of any type of medium - even the waxy oil pastels.

 I may continue to add things to the pages that I want to MINIMIZE as I think of them, but this is it for now.  

To MINIMIZE fear:

Psalm 56:3~But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Colossians 3:15a.~Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

Do you art journal or like taking photos? You can join in on the fun twice a month too!  Just head over to Rachel Whetzel's page to play! 

31 Days Fall Challenge: Week Three ~ Hidden Clutter... Part 2

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Welcome back to the second part of this post.  If you read yesterday's post, you saw two spaces in my house where I have "hidden clutter".  Our air conditioner was not working for a couple of days and it was just too hot in the house to care about de-cluttering.  Thankfully, our landlord came today with the AC guy and now it's a cool 74* in my house. =) No excuses - time to get to work on the mess!

As you know, this challenge is all a part of the 31 days Fall Challenge - Making Your Home a Haven.  She challenged us to also set a timer for twenty minutes and go through the house with a trash bag and just clean up.  I did that this morning and was glad to have gotten so much done!

Well, there was a second part to the challenge and that was to take care of some of the "clutter" in our spiritual life.  She reminds us to think about unconfessed sin in our lives and challenges us to take care of it.

1 John 1:9~If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When I think about "spiritual clutter", I always think of our hearts being like a closet.  I am glad that my closet is one area that I keep in order.  I like all my hangers facing the same direction and I like to group my pieces.  I also line them up by color and length.  It sounds like a lot of work, but the system works for me.  I used to hoard my clothes, even if I didn't wear it that often or if I grew out of it - but I came to grips with the nonsense of that and took several bags to the Goodwill.  

So, let's take a look at the "closet" of our hearts.  Is your heart neat and tidy or are you overwhelmed with an abundance of unnecessary things?  You may have some things in your heart that you just feel you can't let go of...but those things no longer "fit" you. They may have been okay for the old you, but not the new child of God that you are now.  Maybe you have some bitterness in your heart.  How about jealousy?
Just like you wouldn't want a closet full of dirty, ill-fitting, or outdated clothing - I don't think you'd want sin, bitterness, anger, jealousy or any other thing to go without attention in your heart.  The only way to take care of that problem is to confess your sin.  Just because you are a child of God, it does not mean that you can live however you want.  Our freedom in Christ was bought with a great price and we should live in a way that is honoring to our Lord.  We are human and of course, He knows that.  We will fail often and when we do, we need to confess it to Him.  It's better to keep the closet of your heart clean and in order.  You will feel better for it!
James 1:21~So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
My clothes closet may be in order, but I know that I there's always some cleaning to do in my Heart Closet.  I'd rather own my sin and come clean than live in the filth of denial.  Besides, who doesn't want a lighter, clutter-free heart? =)

31 Days Fall Challenge: Week Two~Setting the atmosphere with music

Welcome back friends! We are into our second week of the 31 Days Fall Challenge hosted by Courtney at Women Living Well Ministries.  Last week, she challenged us to burn a candle in the home to cozy up the atmosphere, but also to remind us to say a prayer of peace for our home and our family.  I am happy to say that I was able to meet the challenge and while I do often burn a candle in my home, my children noticed that this one had a special meaning to it.
My four year old knows not to touch the candles or play with them in any way.  He also knows now that he is not to blow them out unless I want them blown out.  A couple times he came to me and asked if he could blow out the candle for me and I explained that I wanted it to stay on because it reminds us to pray for each other.  Now he goes over to it and says that we can't blow this candle out 'cause it helps us pray for each other. =)

See how far our candle has burned down already? =)

Now, on to the challenge for this week.  This was copied from Courtney's blog:

"This week’s challenge is two-fold also:

Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose music that the family enjoys.

Then, focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships.

Role model gentleness with your words this week and while you’re add it have a little fun.  Since the music is going,  grab your husband or children and dance!"

Well, it sounds so easy, doesn't it?  Our family loves music.  We love all kinds of music.  My daughter Hannah has an especially diverse taste in music.  She is like most teenagers and likes to have music on all the time and she likes it loud.  I love that she usually shows great discretion in the music she chooses - but she likes all genres.  I love to play music in our home.  I usually play Contemporary Christian Music, because that is my preference, but sometimes I will play something like Big Band, top 40, oldies, country... haha Just to switch things up a little.  I usually don't mind different styles as long as the lyrics are clean and the topic isn't off the wall inappropriate. Everybody has their own standards, right?  My little guy loves to show us his "dance moves" and we are his best audience.  It's all fun and brings us together!

Well, Courtney goes on to challenge us with some other thoughts that I'll let you go to her blog to read, but that is where I got a little nervous about this weeks challenge. haha.  She talks about speaking kindly, refraining from talking harshly or yelling.  I grew up in a very loud home.  We yelled even if we weren't upset.  She challenges us to not let someone else's anger get us angry.  THIS will be the real challenge for me.  I'd love to say that I am the epitome of how a meek and quiet spirit should look, but that would be a bold faced lie. haha.  That is why I NEED this challenge.
 Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Remember that this fall challenge is all about making  your home a haven.  It's about creating an atmosphere in your home that is peaceful and loving and kind.  

I am definitely going to have the house clean, my candle burning and the music on when my kids come home from school.  I know that it's harder for mom's that have a different schedule or work outside the home - that was me last year and all the years before - but you can still be thoughtful of this and maybe play some music and work on having quiet conversation during dinner or right before bed time or maybe you all need to get your wiggles out and play something fun and upbeat like "Walking on Sunshine".  Let all the kids have a little dance off in the living room.  Join in and have some fun with them.  Show them your silly side and let loose.  These are the memories that your children will look back on when they're older.

If you don't have an iPod or MP3 player, you could always use free music services that are on-line.  I like Pandora.  You can set up the music you like and delete anything you don't like.  Just play it from your computer if you have to!

Here's a fun song that we love in our home!  Enjoy!

Are you taking part in the challenge?  I'd love to see what you are have to share. Leave me a link!

Fall Blog Challenges...

Simple As That blog: Simple Things Sunday ~ The reminder to take notice of the simplest of moments, the excuse to pull out my camera and capture the everyday and especially for the chance to see all of your beautiful photos!

Time-Warp Wife blog: "31 Days of Love" Marriage Challenge  ~ For example: Day 1:

Today's Challenge:

Read 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) and jot down some of the thoughts that come to mind such as:

• What is God's definition of love?
• What are the characteristics of love?
• In what areas of "loving" do I stumble the most?
• What are a few of the steps I can take toward change?

Good Morning Girls blog: 1 John Bible Study ~ You have a reading schedule (just a verse or two a day).  I have been keeping my notes in a notebook that I altered and I am LOVING this Bible study.  The book of 1 John is so powerful.  I am enjoying it immensely! You can join one of the groups to be accountable to or you can work on your own. This was her introduction to the study: 

We’ll be taking baby steps this week as you focus on 3 things:

1.  Rising early in the morning!  This means you might need to go to bed 30 minutes earlier!

2.  Getting the method of SOAP down 

3.  Connecting with your Good Morning Girls group

Women Living Well Ministies: Making Your Home a Haven Fall Challenge ~ This challenge is right up my ally. Each week, Courtney will post one practical tip and one spiritual tip towards helping your home be a haven.  I love this kind of thing because even though I may do some of these things already, this brings it to mind and helps me to be more thoughtful of why I do them.

For example: This is the first challenge for October 3rd ~ Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home.  Each time the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace in your home.

Balzer Designs: Art Journal Every Day ~ Julie Fei-Fan Balzer hosts a place for you to share your daily work in your art journal.  She encourages you to work in your art journal every day, even if it's for 15 minutes only.  She also shares tons of advice, techniques and inspiration and often has guest hosts for the day to share how they keep up with it all.  There's a new link up every month.

I enjoy participating in challenges that I can keep up with.  I have a very busy schedule, but I love to learn new things and share what I'm learning.  If you know of a cool challenge you think I'd like - let me know.  Click on any of the buttons to go to the original blog to learn more about each one.