Catch #2 - Summer DLP

 

The pictures above and below are from Week 22 of the 2014 Documented Life Project which has truly been a wonderful experiences. The prompt this week was: Houses.



 

Week 23 was something about gratitude. In the end I was grateful to be a cancer survivor and be alive, which I journaled about behind the race bib. The Alaska Run for Women celebrates breast cancer survivors, and even though I didn't have breast cancer it was a totally cool event. My first (and quite possibly last) 5 mile walk. The following pix is the inside of this spread.

Week 24 was use bookpaper. I used some of that, and some left over bingo paper which happened to strike my fancy that day.

 

Week 25 was use a heart. So easy when you have heart stickers from Shruti Deve in India, and beautiful heart dollies from Anne Ryan in Seattle. Smiling now, even just thinking about them!

And finally week 26 a bible verse. Hmmm. Went for a spriritual quote from the Dali Lama. Love the quote. The page? Not so much. Oh well. Can't win them all.

Lots more to post. Someday....

November Tim Holtz Tag

As I explore new paths in art I am still fascinated by the creative mind of Tim Holtz. And I do really like dies....so when I saw his November tag I knew I wanted to try. Small problem, didn't have the leaf die and emboss and everyone was out of it. As I was laying in bed last, not sleeping, it occurred to me I should try the new emboss and die snow flake and see what I could do with it.

Believe me when I say this went through quite a few iterations! I loved Tim's idea of transferring metal through a stencil, but I didn't have the right metal sheets - hence the sliver snowflakes. I did however, apply the sticky embossing powder and then put some glitter on the embossed snowflake.

Believe me when I say it glistens! I really am in love with the paint and the glitter and and the frostiness of it all! 

I followed all the steps Tim laid out but I just didn't like the cardboard with the snow flake, so I tried some pattened paper. That was too much too ---  and as I some how managed to let myself run out of picket fence paint, I used alcohol ink over the paper and it I decided I like the messiness of it....kind of like snow in little piles.

So indeed - this is life.  And all of this is just about perfect....because it finally snowed here yesterday! 

Catch Up #1 on Summer DLP

This has been a busy, busy summer - as witnessed by the lack of blog posts. But I have been keeping up on on my weekly challenges with the Art to the 5th Documented Life Project. At the beginning of the year my recollection was the DLP would be part calendar, part journal, and part art journal. And that's exactly I how I have been using, or abusing, my little mole skin planner. Here are my takes on a few weekly challenges. 

Week 31 - Add a pocket and recollections of the week. 

I used a library pocket I'd had laying around forever and started playing around the new Tim Holtz dragonfly die and embossing set. I am in love with it. I used twinkling H2O's to paint and then used the left over paint to color up the scraps and that's what I used to make the flowers the dragonfly is soaring above.....I filled my pocket with goodies from the week, including some photos of art projects and activities.

Week 30's challenge was the "Smash Book" style. Since that is kind of what I do anyway, and I wasn't aware there was a style - this is what I went for....

This was towards the end of the month, so I made a collage on the right hand side using design elements from my desk, clips, from magazines, and a bit of happy mail.

Sometimes throughout the week I add journaling, quotes I pick up, and essentially this and thats....like below. It's all so much clearer now isn't it??

Week 29 - Make a Wish List. Not my favorite page - but you know - not everything is a home run.

Week 28. Add an instagram or other tiny picture. My honey and I on a whim took a great day trip on July 4, and we took this selfie along the way. I love the picture, and it's a great reminder or a fun, fun day. Again, I used some Happy Mail, doodling, die-cuts, left over paper cut into circles....I seem to be on a real circle kick lately!

That's it for now...I have lots more pages to share....whenever I get a minute!!!

Watercolor Flower Fun

I've been following action over at the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 3 even if I haven't had the time to participate in all of Linda Ledbetter's and the Curosity Crew's calls to action. Beautiful work - be sure to check out the site if you haven't already.

We're using Tim Holt'z third book of techniques....cleverly entitled Compendium of Curiosities 3! These books are just great - overflowing with inspiring ideas. This time the challenge was Distress Watercolors. I just had to play along!

As you can see I went with a floral theme. Each of the flowers used a minimum of three of the distress markers on each of the paper flowers. I remember the first time I tried this technique; I felt like I was actually painting! If you haven't tried it, get your hands on the book, and turn to page 39 and 40 for a full description from Tim.

I layered the paper colored flowers with some metal flowers (an inspiration from Hels Sheridian, a member of the Curiosity Crew, who used metal flowers on her piece). I love the contrast in texture of metal and paper but wanted to mix it up a bit from Hels, so I  colored them with alcohol inks and/or distress embossing powder.

Other bits of using the magic of Distress with water include the ribbon colored with inks, and the second background. For that - I used the cute little mini distress inks on an embossing folder, misted with water and embossed. LOVE this process. Thank you Paula Cheney for that idea.

Okay - one thank you card done, only about 10 more needed!! 

Dragonflies by Moonlight - CC3C

This fortnight Linda Ledbetter and the Curiosity Crew over at the Compendium of Curiosities #3 Challenge have asked us to use Distress Glitter in a piece. At first I must admit, I thought glitter is glitter. No. Absolutely Not. Distress Glitter sparkles more, has more facets, or deeper color or something because it is just the coolest glitter EVER on the face of the planet! I started using it around Christmas time and had kind of put it away. So glad that I got my colors back out and started to play. I really do LOVE this stuff.

Compendium of Curiosities is Tim Holtz's third book of techniques....and this week the Funky Junkie Boutique is the prize sponsor.  Those nice guys, Tim and Mario have also donated a bundle of goodies for prizes each week too. So join us over the CC3C and give it a try.

The distress glitter techniques are on pages 55 and 56. In Dragonflies by Moonlight I used Mustard Seed in the Moon, and a mixture of Clear Rock Candy, Pumpice Stone and Tumbled Glass on the dragonfly wings.

The large dragonfly from the Classics #1 set was stamped directly on a piece of palette paper I had been using the other day. I had some paint left over, so I smooshed it around with a credit card and left it to dry. I love using the "leftovers" in my art. The two little dragon flies were cut using a Memory Box die cut on the same paper.

The moon is Distress Paint in Picket Fence, Weathered Wood, Brushed Pewter and Squeezed Lemonade marbled together. The bottom circle is covered in glitter. To finish things off I used a border of gold embossing powder.

I love dragonflies, and I saw my first one in the "wild" (you know, in my driveway) a couple of days ago. Now I'm just waiting to catch on by moonlight!

CC3C and Art 365

The past couple of months have left little time for blogging, but I just couldn't let the new Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge start without me. Tim Holtz was the man who brought me to the party - the party of creativity, art, and mixed media. No matter which directions my art goes, this portion of the journey was inspired by his creativity.

The Challenge is being sponsored by Inspiration Emporium and the Funkie Junkie Boutique. Plus Tim and Mario have sent a bushful of cool surprises for weekly winners. Be still my heart.

Linda Ledbetter is the hostess again for each of the bi-weekly challenges, based on the techniques included in Tim's new book - Compendium of Curiosities 3. The first challenge was to incorporate marbled paint, explained on page 43.

This is my finished product. I have to say I love how the marbling turned out this time.

We recently returned from a cruise where my sweetie and I spent a lot of time appreciating the sea and sky. When I started this little project, I thought there would be stars, the sea and the sky. But then while using Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Dried Marigold and Tarnished Brass distress paints I got a portion of the tag that cried out to had be the moon. Who am I to disregard serendipity?

I was just as happy with the sky as well....it seemed to be made for the moon, so I scrapped the star idea. I used just Chipped Sapphire, a bit of Salt Ocean and Faded Jeans Distress Paint to create the sky. And because I've not yet gotten over my bling addiction from last Christmas I used a piece of gold paper behind the orb to give it a bit more POP.

And just for Mario - who knows I like word bands, I gave a nod to all the discoveries we made on the trip.

On another front, I have been keeping up with the Art 365 challenge of making an inchie every day - although I admit I did have a few make-ups from the vacation!

Spring has finally sprung in Alaska and we are loving it - hope you are too!

Catch-Up!

I'd complain about being busy, but what's the point? My life is full of work, art, family and friends and I feel very lucky (most days ... that is when I'm not eggs-haunted which is family speak for exhausted!).

But I do get into the Fun Room most days for the Art 365 challenge. Every day make a little bit - and they do mean little bit - of art. Mostly I work on 1" x 1"; if I'm feeling really expansive I go to a whole 2" x 2". Some days its nothing more than a quick little doodle. It always invovles whatever is on my work desk at the time. It's a great way to experiment.

Here are the March results:

I've also been playing right along with the Documented Life Project (DLP). I'm just in love with it...so many wonderful, generous, giving, talented people in that little word. Last week's prompt was write your name and embellish. Well, let's be kind and say I am just at the beginning of my embellishing career. I found it pretty relaxing though.

 

 

DLP was created by five ladies in southern Florida who share their talents and tips. One week Sandi Keene   demoed her deli paper flowers. I'm in love,  can't make enough of them.

 

 

And finally there is the amazing Dyan Reavely, queen of color in my book. She suggested a springtime bonus lesson in Lifebook 2014...quick, fun, and yep, colorful!

 

 

Here in Alaska it's still winter...14 degrees this morning, with fresh snow two days ago. But the days are long and it's sunny...hope you're enjoying you're version of spring no matter where you are!

 

Happy 250 WOYWW

For 250 weeks (oh my goodness!) our friend Julia Dunnit has hosted an every changing and always constant array of desks around the world. The next couple of months have been and will be super busy with two trips, lots of classes, kids moving back to the area, but I did want to say Happy Anniversary this week to WOYWW.

It's surprisingly tidy. On the corner of the desk is my Planner....for the Documented Life Project. Here are my last two weeks. On the left is the week with "add a bird" and the week on the right is "include something from a magazine".

I just finished a class at my local store The Stamp Cache on stencil techniques. A GIANT shout out to Jennie Atkinson for her amazing flower tutorials on her blog...I found her when Tim Holtz called her out as a February tag winner. I love the internet!!

In the US we have something called the Cooperative Extension Service which is program of our University system...they have wonderful information about home and hearth. For three days last week some shop keepers in our town worked with CES to host a lot of classes throughout the town. I was asked to do do something with paper...in an hour...that wasn't messy. Hmmm. 

Yep I went back to the guy who brought me to the party...Tim Holtz. Turned out of the seven people who signed up for my class, six were already friends, and of course I made a new one out of Annie. We made little 3" x 3" books out of a piece of scrap book paper. 

We had a blast!! Hope your finding fun in your days too. 

Uncle Frank Was a Mariner

I had a variety of bits and bobs and time pieces on my desk since January and the pocket watch Tim Holtz used in his January tag. And now with the new Vintage Journey Anything Tim challenge I thought I might see if I could get them to play nicely...the final addition was Uncle Frank...a newly Found Relative. 

It started with a burlap panel, a piece of cardboard and a collage of Industrial papers from Tim Holtz and some white acrylic paint I applied with a brayer. Next I used a foam stamp made from die cut gears applied in grey and desert sand pinks. Then I started playing!!

The lace was cut from a thrift store find, stiffened and colored with paint and matte medium. I imagined it belonged to Uncle Frank's long lost love...a remanent he some how managed to keep through the years. The rusty mesh and a key were found in his rooms. I think Uncle Frank lived at No. 109 and was actually part of a secret society...I imagine the flying heart was their symbol. 

I knew he was a Mariner when I found his watch...encrusted from years under the sea....but brass at it's core. Unfortunately, the case fare as well.  

Uncle Frank, and the few remaining pieces of his life are now hanging in the Fun Room, as a reminder of journeys from all ago. 

WOYWW #248

I love the internet. What did we do before we had it? I now regularly post to Ms. Julia's What's on Your Work Desk Wednesday, as we trip around the world sharing our desks. I found the Art 365 challenge, although I don't think the good folks at Blue Twig Studio call it that - where I make a small one inch by one inch (or 2 x 2) piece of art every day. And I, and about 5,600 other people are seriously into the lovely ladies at Art 5's Documented Life Project, or DLP for short. Not to mention Lifebook 2014, a series of classes every week.

The usual goodies. Underneath the top of the ruler, you can see a piece of Happy Mail I received today. And boy do they make me happy.

This is the start of the Week 10 Lifebook project - should be intersting. Hopefully I'll be able to show you the finished product next week. Ooo. And peaking out from behind this is ANOTHER piece of Happy Mail I got today!

I have developed a serious addiction to washi tape of late...all that COLOR and PATTERN. Be still my heart. I'll knock these back with paint probably and see what develops. Who knows?

Here is this week's set of inches. Happy colors....I often just start with what's on my desk and see where that takes me. Over the weekend I was really into little strips of paper I had colored or covered in yes, washi tape. Did I mention I like color a lot?

And finally here's last DLP prompt - recycle. The background is made of the insides of billing envelopes. The flower and leaves were the left overs from making background paper a couple of weeks ago. I used a stabilio pencil to outline it and then went around with a fine paint brush dipped in water. I like how it grounds the heavy piece.

Well that's it for me this week. Thanks for stopping by! If you feel so inclined let me know which inchie is your favorite this week.

Glad for Wednesday

Even if it Tuesday night....because I love participating in What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted each week by Julia at the Stamping Ground.

My desk is kind of boring. Messy, but not really much to show on it.

I've been keeping up with my Art 365 project, an inchie or twinchie a day. I am really loving it. Sometimes I just pick something from my desk, some time I try new techniques, sometimes I just start and see where I go. Very fun. 

I finished the painting I was working on. You know, I can't believe I just wrote that sentence. I'm sure it's a first. Tee Hee. I like some things about it; love the color of the flower although I had such trouble with the shape. 

It was a Lifebook lesson, with a lovely woman by the name of Alena Hennessey. Intuitive painting indeed.  

Stated here: 

Flipped it and changed colors here:

And ended up here:

Sorry so quick this week; still working on samples for next month's stencil class. Enjoy!

Another WOYWW is Here

So another week has passed and I've had some time in the Fun Room. And thanks to Julia, I'm showing you What's On My Work Desk since it's Wednesday somewhere in the world. One of the things I've been doing lately is Lifebook 2014. This week's lesson is what is on my desk this week. 

It's been so much fun - especially since we had Monday off and I had a few hours to work on it. 

This is the first layer....believe or not. Water, ink, fluidity. Very fun. 

This is the current state - in progress....unlike anything most things I've done before. 

I also did some of the old stuff...making colorful papers. 

This is one of the papers I made. I needed to do it for my Documented Life Project; this week's prompt is a tip-in. I was fortunate enough to receive HAPPY MAIL!!! and I used a heart I received as my tip-in. So not only was I blessed with a beautiful gift, it was also inspiring! Thank you Anne Ryan!

It makes me happy just to look at it! And then I made several ATC's for my own version of happy mail!

And for those inquiring minds, the cassoulet turned out beautifully. How, how, how did you all know this???

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead...