My Living Art Journal

I’ve mentioned that I’ve been taking a lot of artsy online classes but I haven’t been sharing much of the art that I’ve been creating.  Today, I’m going to share a project I made for Christy Tomlinson’s Living Canvas class.

I am loving this class.  Remember the She Art class that I took last year (my artwork here).  Once again, I’ve made other pieces for this class that I haven’t shared!  I have learned so much from Christy about collage art that when I heard about this class I jumped in with both feet.

I truly believe that ART HEALS and this is what the Living Canvas class is all about.  Christy has teamed up with Art McCracken.  I’m not sure what is official title is but he’s a kind of life/business coach.  Each week, Art shares an exercise dealing with specific things in your life.  I’ve only worked on the first week, but Christy shared some art journaling (3 different pages) using at least one technique that she has never shared in one of her other classes.  The first exercise was to create your art journal cover.  This is mine.

I have made a couple of small changes since this picture.  I’ll share it again with you when I share my first page.  It’s currently in a drying stage with more stages to go.  I’ll be sharing it sometime this week.

The journal is a Visual Art Journal from Strathmore.  I love these because the have nice thick paper and are spiral bound so I don’t have to worry to much about adding bulk.  I used a lot of stuff laying around my room.  I used Studio Calico dp (from the Scarlet Lime mixed media kit) for the background.  The Embracing Change image is a card from GCD by Melody Ross.  The tassel and the loop fringe is from my friend Nancy from Linens and Laurels.  She has some beautiful trims on her site.  The flowers are Prima and most of the rubons are from Chatterbox, Melody Ross’ previous company.  Everything else is just from my stash, including the vintage bingo number!

Also, I didn’t mention on my McMahon Five Designs post last week that we are taking somewhat of a break this summer.  We will only be having two releases each month—the Breast Cancer Awareness image on the 26th of each month and a new image release the last Friday of the month.  That’s to give the design team and the illustrators a bit of a break for the summer.  The store will still be open and orders will be processed but we will not be releasing as many images.

Thanks for stopping by.  I’ll be tending my mom’s doggy this week.  Let’s hope that I don’t have fur flying around here!!!  Chloe and Cutie (mom’s pup) see each other twice a week when mom and I get together for art days so I don’t think there will be a problem.  Chloe will just probably eat all the food so Cutie starves to death!

Now, back to my art journal I go!

Blessings,

Christine

What I’ve Been Up to Lately

I have been creating a lot lately.  My sister, Rose, was here for over a week.  She went home last Friday but we did so many things while she was here. 

When my mom and sisters used to get together, it usually revolved around shopping.  Every once in a while someone would suggest something different like a drive in the mountains to a place we would go as children.

But lately, when we get together we make art!  It has been so much fun!!!  One day my mom and Rose came over.  I had set up everything outside on the deck and helped them in making some collage art.  This is a new type of art for them.

Another day, we all met up with at my mom’s including my niece, Alicia and of course her bee-bee, Landon.  We all painted faces following along with Willowing’s Art, Heart and Healing.  This is the third face that I have painted following along with lesson 1.  (I’ll share those when my girls get some hair!)  I think it’s now time to move on to lesson 2.  I'm going to have my mom over so that we can work on lesson 2.

Anyway, today I’m sharing an art journal page I did while following along with The Greeting Farm’s He-Art Journal classes.

I used Tim Holtz Sizzix die for all the hearts.

The theme this week was wings.  The page says “Spr(e)ad Your Wings and Fly to where your heart tells you.”  (Yes there is a spelling error.)  This has special meaning for me because I have recently started volunteering with our Organ Donation Registry, “Yes Idaho”.  I can’t wait for our first project.

I also had the great privilege of getting together with some wonderful women, the Design Divas.  They are a group of local women that get together once a month.  Each month, one of the members is responsible for putting together a project for everyone to make.  I’m kind of a slow crafter so I didn’t get mine done but I work on it a bit while waiting on other projects.  I can’t wait to share that one.  I’m hoping that they will invite me to join them again.  I love sitting around with people who love to create as much as I do!

I have so many things to share with you.  I’m going to try really hard to get on here and post a little more often.

Blessings,

Christine

Art Journaling

I mentioned before that one of the things I’ve been doing this year is Art Journal Everyday.  I’m pleased to say, that I have journaled everyday.  I have to admit that I have considered my Soul Restoration class to be journaling but I don’t know how it couldn’t be considered art journaling.  You are thinking about your feelings on a subject and then creating art about it.  That’s art journaling!!!

So, other than Soul Restoration (which I’ve already shown), this is what I’ve created.

 

This is the inside cover of my main art journal.  I spent the first several days working on this spread to get myself excited about art journaling. 

 

This is a page I’m working on for the Strathmore class.  They suggested using your own artwork but since I don’t really have any, I found a picture that would fit with what I was going to journal about.  The journaling will be a quote by Marilyn Monroe.  This seems to get put aside and hasn’t gotten completed yet.

 

I completed this spread in preparation for my Soul Restoration class.  What I didn’t realize is that this was very similar to our first lesson.

One of the things that I’ve been loving about art journaling is gathering things from around the house and my craft room to express the things that I want.  This page didn’t turn out exactly as I wanted but it was a lot of fun to put together!

 

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a really bad couple of days and just wasn’t feeling very Brave.  Are you signed up for the Brave Girls daily emails.  If not, you should be.  They send out some very inspirational emails each evening.  I remembered a particular email where Melody wrote about your good mood being a flower and I decided when I read it that I was a daisy.  So the day I wasn’t feeling very brave, I wrote my sad feelings on the right and then drew daisies all over the page.  It really did help me feel better.

Another nice things about art journaling is to try out new products.  I used two new to me products on this page, watercolor crayons and Pitt pens.  As you can see, the pens ran a little bit on the left but not on the right.  I did some water coloring before the pens had completely dried on the left.  I kind of like that look better!!!  It really softened it.

Also, I’m getting a little more comfortable drawing.  I know, I was only drawing simple flowers here but I’ve drawn more this month than I have in the last 25 years and that’s definitely a good thing!

 

The final page I’m sharing this month is a page I did about this week’s Soul Restoration lesson.  This week was kind of hard for me and I realized so many things about myself.  I needed to write some of the things down about how I was feeling.

I used a painting technique that Melody showed us in the Soul Restoration class.  I’ve seen it before but hadn’t tried it yet.  You squirt a bit of craft or acrylic paint on the page and then you spread it around with an old credit card.  I LOVE this technique and have already used it on other things.

I will share this weeks Soul Restoration project plus a couple of truth cards I have made with you on Monday.

I have finished my project for the One World One Heart giveaway.  It’s drying now so I will be photographing and posting it tomorrow.  After that, I’m going to work on some DT things for the week so I can get right back to my Soul Restoration when the new lesson is posted on Tuesday!!!  I live for Tuesdays lately!  I’m not sure what I’ll do when the class is over.

Speaking of Soul Restoration, registration is now open for a new session that will start in April.  They also have Soul Restoration II that will begin in June.  I’ll be in on that one for sure!!!

I guess that’s enough for now.  Have a peaceful Sunday everyone!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Missing but Busy

Sorry I haven’t been on the blog much lately, plus not visiting as much.  However, I’ve really been busy in my studio.

First of all, I bought myself a new camera for Christmas and when I received the confirmation page, it said that it was on backorder until February.  Well, it came yesterday and I’ve been taking pictures of EVERYTHING around my studio including…

my Chloe!!!  Isn’t she sweet!  I have to watch her around my sister because she want’s to take her to the orthodontist to get her teeth fixed!

A few weeks ago, I outlined my schedule for the first several weeks of 2011.  I have mostly been working on Brave Girls Soul Restoration class and Art Journaling Everyday.  I have been working on my art journals each day and I’ll share some of that with you in the next few days.

So, we’re nearing the end of the second week of Soul Restoration and I want to share some of the projects with you.  Some of them are very personal and I don’t plan to share them on the blog.  I have purposely made many of these photos small because the are very personal and contain a lot of raw emotion.

Our first assignment was to make a book cover and title page for our Soul Restoration book.

I love the Oregon Coast and it’s my favorite place to vacation.  It recharges my batteries!!!  I found a photo on a realtor site for a beach cottage.  (I want to own this house if anyone would like to give me $295,000-1bdr-yikes!)  I used the cracked photo technique (with UTEE) to make it look like an old postcard.  I forgot to put the postmark on it before I embossed it.

I made the album cover with duck cloth canvas and then colored it like sky and sand with watercolor paints—back and front.  I don’t like the ribbon I used so I’ll be changing that out with some crinkled rayon seam binding in tan colors.  Then, when the book is finished, I’ll add some more crinkled ribbon in blues and tans to the rings.

 

This is the title page for the book.  I’m not going to get into much of the meanings behind these out of respect for Melody Ross and all the work that she and the rest of the Brave Girls Club staff put into this class.

 

More pages in my Soul Restoration book.  (DP is from Melody Ross’ paper by GCD that is now available at Paper Maniac.  Love this stuff!)

 

The principle of a truthteller is a big part of Soul Restoration.  A truthteller is a very private decision that must be made before the Soul Restoration process can be completed.

 

We only had one main project for week two—our timeline.  Since I’m over 40, my timeline went onto the second side.  Can you see the three small manila pages in there.  I’ve reserved those for actual photos from those periods of time.  I’ll probably be adding bits and pieces to these in the next few days.  I already see something that I left of.  I want to put a chipboard heart at the time point where I received my transplant.

Thanks for taking a look! 

 

I’ve been working on a project that I will be giving away at the One World One Heart blog event.  I’ve got everything done but the embellishing—the fun part!!!

I’ve got a few images colored and ready to make into cards so I’m hoping to get a few of those done soon.  Tomorrow I’ll have another new M5D image from Thursday.  That’s the first thing on my list for tomorrow!

Plus, in a few days I’ll be back with some things from my art journals.

Have a beautiful Sunday please!  After what seems like weeks and weeks of rain, we will be having sunny weather in the 40s!  Yay-maybe things will dry out a bit!  My lawn is so soggy you  can see my footprints when I walk across!!!

Blessings,

Christine

The Pursuit of My Happiness in 2011

…and Creating Art Makes me Happy!!!

As I’ve mentioned many times, I’m lucky enough to not have to work (because of the health issues I mentioned in the previous post).  As a follow up to that post, I wanted to share the things that I will be doing in 2011 to pursue the peace and beauty that I want in my life.

First of all, if you remember last year, I chose a word of the year – Believe.  I’m going to continue choosing to believe in myself this year.  To believe that I’m worthy of a healthful life, to believe that I am and can be an artist, to believe that I deserve a comfortable home containing all the things that make me happy and to believe that I can achieve those things.  Belief in myself is always something that I have struggled with.

I have enrolled myself in a few creative classes/pursuits for the beginning of the year and will continue to do so throughout the year as time allows.  If you would like to join me in any of these, I have included links for each one.  Just click on the applicable photo or section title in pink.

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Brave Girls Soul Restoration.  This, I’m sure will be an event not to be missed.  Melody Ross and her sister Kathy have planned a curriculum similar to that which we used at Brave Girl Camp and I believe in that so much that I have also signed up for this class.  If you want to see the things that I shared here on the blog about Brave Girl camp, click here.

Soul Restoration will probably consume most of my free time for the entire 6 weeks.  I’m pretty excited that I will be going to my sister Rose’s house for a few weeks during the course. I will enjoy the time spent creating Brave Girl art with her once again.

I received my class materials in the mail the other day.  (If you decide to join now, the materials are no longer available.  But don’t worry, everything is easily obtainable and most things you probably already have around the house.)  I’m so excited to get my fingers inky, painty and Mod Podgey again!!!  I’m so ready for that soulful feeling of Brave Girl camp.

 

Art Journal Everyday.  Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is another giant (along with Melody Ross just in case I haven’t mentioned that before) in our artistic/scrapbook industry that we love so  much.  She is challenging us to simply work on your art journal everyday.  There is no need to actually finish a page everyday, just spend a few minutes each day in those creative pursuits.  Of course life will get in the way at times but I’m going to give this one my very best attempt.  When I’m creating, the body pain that I almost constantly endure, seems to go away.  I wish I could create 24 hours a day!!!

There are many similar challenges out there in blogland but I have chosen Julie’s because I love her style of art, especially her water coloring and doodling.  Of course, I like the more pastels colors than the bold bright colors that she prefers, but I’m sure that I will be able to learn a lot from her techniques and adapt them to my own style.  I also love that she alters and paints all over patterned paper—even the stuff that she designed for a French scrapbook company.  Click here to have a look for yourself at Art Journal Everyday.

 

Strathmore Visual Journal Art Workshops.  A Brave Girl sister talked about this on her blog.  It’s a series of workshops:

• Jan 1 – Recycled Art Journal Pages.
• March 1 – Start Where You Are.
• May 3 – Building Your Visual Journal from the Page Up.

I’m excited about these workshops for two reasons.  I will learn many new techniques and THEY ARE FREE!!!  Click here for all the information and detail about each class!

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I started a few things in 2010 that I’m excited to continue into 2011.

Donna Downey Inspiration Wednesdays.  Another giant in this industry, I have been following Donna’s blog for sometime now and find so much inspiration in her store, her products (especially her stamps) and of course her Inspiration Wednesday posts where she shares a video tutorial of an art journal page each week.  I have yet to play along with her although I diligently watch each week.  I’ll definitely be playing along with her this year.  I haven’t watched the video on the above piece yet but plan to follow along with this one!!!  If you click here, you’ll magically be transported to Donna’s blog.

 

Art, Heart and Healing by Tamara LaPorte.  I originally started this class because I wanted to learn this beautiful style of portrait collage but am really enjoying the healing part as well.  I will be continuing this class to learn more of Tam’s healing and art techniques.  She is a beautiful soul and has such a cutie patootie family!

My mother came over the other day and asked me to download the class materials for her as well so I guess this is a workshop for all ages!!! lthough she offered this as a free e-course that started several months ago, the classroom will remain open indefinitely.  What a gal!  If your interested in this class, click here.

 

Of all the above creative pursuits, I will/have only paid for one, yes ONE!  It just goes to prove that you don’t need to spend a lot of money in your creative pursuits!!!

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And now for the things on the horizon.

 

One World One Heart 2011.  I will be participating in the One World One Heart event this year.  When I first started blogging I stumbled across this even and have met MANY of my blog friends through One World One Heart.  Plus, I won a few goodies!!! 

From the event organizer:  “One World One Heart is a worldwide event for bloggers only. It gives all those who blog a chance to meet and mingle and form connections with those they may not have otherwise met from all over the world.  In the past 4 years this event has grown to over 1,000 participants with lasting friendships (and even one love connection) formed along the way.  Think of it as a GIGANTIC open house allowing you to travel without ever leaving your home........going from blog to blog (in various countries) seeing the wonder each one has created and meeting all the fabulous people behind those blogs. As a bonus each blogger participant will offer up a "door prize or prizes"....just for dropping by, saying hello and seeing their world.  It's really that easy.”

Added bonus:  If you sell handmade goodies or supplies online, this is a great way to get traffic to your blog and, likewise, to your store.

 

Suzi Blu Workshops.  I am in love with Suzi Blu.  Her beautifully whimsical style of art is what I aspire to!!!  One of Suzi’s classes is definitely on my to do list for this year and I WILL be signing up for one of her self paced workshops as soon as I finish Soul Restoration.

 

Collage Basics and/or the Vintage Glue Book.  I fancy myself as a collage/altered art artist and look forward to learning more about the art of collage.  Almost every collage I make starts with vintage book print.

I have admired and wanted to make an altered book ever since I saw the first one a long time ago.  I’m looking forward to learning more about these types of art.

 

Mixed Media Mayhem.  I love this class for all the new techniques that I will be able to learn.  A few of my Brave Girl sisters are or will be taking this course.

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So that’s my 2011 in a nutshell.  What’s on the horizon for you?

Happy 2011 to all my blogging buddies!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Simple Woman’s Daybook

I’m going to start posting my Daybook on Monday’s since I will be posting for Paper Maniac on Tuesday’s.

FOR TODAY November 22, 2010

Outside my window...snow and melting snow.  I love living in Boise where the snow doesn’t stick around very long!
I am thinking...about the things I am planning for our craft day on Saturday.
I am thankful for...my family.
From the kitchen...clean, clean, clean and then maybe some rice Krispy treats!
I am wearing...navy Yellowstone sweat shirt and gray sweat pants.
I am creating...haven’t planned it yet but probably a couple of M5D cards.
I am going...to fix my outside faucet.
I am reading...the same two books.  I haven’t been reading much lately. :-(
I am hoping...that the weather will be good so that my sister can come up for Thanksgiving.
I am hearing...the Young and the Restless!
Around the house...I’m going to try to do my very best everyday and then start every new day fresh! (see the photo I’m sharing)
One of my favorite things...pumpkin pie.
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Thanksgiving Dinner!
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing..

Sorry for the picture quality but it says, “It’s a new day, a fresh start.”  I’m going to read this out loud to myself every morning!

If you would like to take part, go to the Simple Woman’s Daybook blog and share your link.

Blessings,

Christine