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! 

ATC cards that I made while in Washington...

I like to take some sort of art or journaling supplies with me whenever I go on a trip. You never know when you'll be inspired and want to do more than a pen/pencil sketch. I pack a little pencil pouch with some watercolor pencils, gel pens, ATC cards, cat's eye ink pads, etc. and go. I also have my SMASH book, but am still trying to figure out my groove with that one. My favorite time to journal and create is early morning or late at night while everyone is still asleep. I was inspired to create some ATC's that would remind me of my mom and dad when I returned back to my home in California. Here's what I came up with...

Some people may think they have a green thumb, but my mom has a green hand! Her house is filled with beautiful and exotic flowers. She has already started a vegetable garden in her new backyard too. Her favorite flowers are orchids and she has so many varieties. I was amazed at how full they all were with blooms. I will always think of her when I see a delicate orchid.

As long as I can remember, my dad has enjoyed eating Snyder's of Hanover Hard Sourdough pretzels. My grandpa loved to snack on them as well. With my dad though, it was almost like an art. haha. He'd get a chunk of sharp cheddar cheese and he'd grab the well-known brown box of pretzels and sit down to watch t.v. or whatever and start munching away. Makes me crave them just thinking about it. The way he'd take a bite of pretzel and then the cheese. Even my kids love them now. It's just a bit of comfort for him after a long day at work. Now the brown box and hard pretzels bring me comfort when I think of them. =)

Bye-bye Judgement...

ATC Love

Background painted with water color paint and water color crayons. Rubber stamped bird cage, bird and date with Jet Black Staz On ink. Book text from an old copy of Pride and Prejudice. Felt flowers from the dollar spot at Michael's. Hand-written script with Sakura Glaze pen - my favorite for mixed-media writing.

One Little Word|Captured|Week 8

"Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the JOURNEY."

Left side

Right side with boost.

Join Jill and many others at her blog to participate in One Little Word Captured. It has really helped me stay in tune with my word this year.

Simple Things~Paint and Play~

Watercolor paints, creativity and playful attitudes led to this Simple Thing today. I love these girls!

You can join in the fun and share your Simple Things each week. Just click on the button below and follow the link to Rebecca's blog for more information.

You Can Soar...

I gave this little ATC card to my daughter Hannah on Monday. I made it the night before as I sat at my craft table and thought about her and prayed for her. She would be facing her first "real" week of high school finals this week. Good grades do not always come easily for her. She has to study hard and really apply herself.
I have been very proud of how well she has transitioned from being homeschooled or going to a small Christian school her whole life to going to a very large public high school that has very high academic standards. She makes good choices and shows strong balance in her life. She loves fun, music and friends like any normal teenager - but she also loves the Lord and it is evident in her walk.
I wrote her a little note on the back of the card telling her how proud I was of her. I never really heard that growing up - and I hope that she knows how important it is to me that she believes me. =)

*I used watercolors for the background. I first painted it red and then after it dried, I painted a wash of black over that. I then took an absorbant paper towel and blotted it dry. I was pretty happy with the result. I then painted the black circles...I love circles =) and then sharpied around them. Then I stamped the bird images using Staz On Jet Black. I believe they are Studio G brand found in the $1 section at Michael's. I colored in the heart using a red Glaze pen and finished it off by writing "Soar" and adding details with my Black PITT artist pen. Those have become a favorite, by the way!*