a quick how-to

I started off my journal spread by applying gesso to both pages with a paintbrush.

In order to avoid getting the gesso all over, 

I typically place waxed paper under both pages that I am applying the gesso (or paint for that matter) to

so I don't get too much on the other pages 

(life is messy!)

For this spread,

I used my Caran D'Ache Neocolor II Watersoluble crayons

I colored the circles of varying size

and then added water with a water brush (you can find a brush at Joann etc) 

The background is also crayon with water.

I felt that the spread was a little too bright for my liking,

so I splatted on some paint (Golden Titan Buff) and 

rubbed it around with a brayer. 

I had the perfect collection of stamps ...

so I stamped a variety of circles and stars

but found some of the stamps didn't turn out too well 

(maybe my paint wasn't dry enough)

I added just a wee bit of texture on the side

(actually I also added a sticker but it wouldn't stay on 

so maybe the painted surface was not ink/sticker friendly?)

and of course,

I added my favorite.... text!

Ahhh......

Yes....

when living with three kids (ages 19, 16, and 13)..

there is bound to be drama!

I like to make my text bold and highlighted.

I also added some spray ink with a stencil

and a few shapes by dabbing ink over a stencil.

There you have a simple art journal spread.

Can I interest you??????

Have you ever checked out the Urban Dictionary?!

Well, I looked up the definition of enable and I guess this is what I am about to do....

enable	23 up, 12 down
	to encourage bad behavior, habits, etc. Erin's parents enable her and her brother by giving them cigarettes just after he had just quit smoking. If you're a smoker or have other addictions and have parents like hers, don't count on quitting because they will just lure you back into your old addictions.

LOL
I don't think I am that kind of parent (and I don't smoke!),
so I won't try to get you to try
but....



My dear online friend, Laura, recently asked if I could do a blog post about my art journaling...

 how it all began and the tools that I use.

 So here it is....

It all began over 50 years ago now...

 

Actually, my entrance into the world of art journaling began just a few years ago.

I had been perusing magazines, websites, and blogs for a couple of years

mesmerized by the beautiful art journal pages that people created.

I had some favorite art journalers I followed...

Teesha Moore, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, Tracy Bunker, Dawn Sokol

and the list goes on.

Well, I got a little daring and emailed a couple art journalists

asking how I could start... I felt stuck and unable to figure out 

what to do first.

Dawn Sokol responded by telling me to just get myself an inexpensive journal, 

some craft paint and a pen and just try it.

And so... 

this is my first journal spread....

and before you know it,

I was having loads of fun creating art journal pages!

What they neglect to mention is that art journaling is not for the faint of heart...

it is a messy business!

but fun!

Just like any other craft hobby,

you really don't need many supplies to start 

but it doesn't stop me from buying loads of new things to try!!!!

My go-to supplies include...

Gesso!

You can buy cheap or expensive brands. 

You will develop preferences.

 I like to coat my journal pages first with gesso

I like the surface it provides before I add color

however, I also find it is not always friendly to some of my pens

(nor are some of the other additions like paint, crayon.....it's a learning thing).

After the gesso dries,

I add acrylic paint (again cheap or expensive)

and you will want to experiment with the implements you use to apply the paint...

paint brushes, expired credit cards, baby wipes, etc.

Once your budget allows, 

you can add other means of color to your journal background 

(or foreground too)...

Once your color is dry,

you can add all kinds of collage items...

 

paper, magazine pictures, stickers, fiber, ephemera

(the possibilities are endless!)

Of course, if you are going to glue on 'stuff',

you will need more supplies...

    I typically use gel medium (matte or semi gloss)

or some times, if the surface will accept it 

and when I add photos, I will use a scrapbook adhesive tape roller

Luckily, I didn't give away all my rubber stamps from 

my short-lived scrapbooking days!

Stamps are fun to use on journal pages!

I love Stazon ink and Ranger Distress inks too!

After this addiction settled in,

I discovered the art of carving your own stamps...

 and I loooooove my spray inks!!!

 

you can just spray on your paper as a background or foreground

or you can spray through stencils (loads of fun to collect!)

And then I usually wrap it all up with some text...

using a variety of my favorite pens (Faber-Castell, Pigma Micron)
or gel pens.

So.....
 if you are in the market for a new craft hobby,
I am your enabler!!!!

(PS in my next post, I will do a step-by-step of a recent journaling page!)

Yo Amy...

If you have followed my blog (when I actually used to post regularly),

you will know that I have been a gym-goer for many years

and I am there pretty early in the day. 

After some changes to my old gym,

I decided to try out a new place.

I have been going there for over a year....

it has lots of machines 

but unfortunately, no classes 

and no bandanas!!!

What? ... you say.

Well, for a few years, I have been folding up bandanas

 and wearing them on my head
indoors and outdoors to

(1) keep my short hair off my face, 

and 

(2) soak up the sweat on my head

(and even occasionally keeping my ears warm!)

BUT

when I signed in on Saturday,

I was told that the gym rule is ...

no wearing bandanas!!

WHAT?!

I was given no reasonable explanation

but asking around later

apparently, 

there are some connections between gangs and bandana-wearing.

ABSURD!!!

Regulation "head gear" includes baseball caps (like they aren't gang magnets!)
and sweat bands,

so I have started wearing butt ugly, terry sweatbands...

however, 

today, I cut up a 21.5 inch square of some older Amy Butler fabric

finished the edges with two rounds of zigzag stitching 

and voila....

I have a designer sweat catching headband!!!

And if questioned..

I will tell them at the gym 

that I belong to Amy's gang!!! 

Our weapons are rotary cutters

and we are really mean with a sewing machine!!!

And just so you don't think that all I have been creating 

are bandanas  headscarves,

Last week, I revealed my latest quilt for
our blue challenge at 

Tangled Textiles....

"Homage to a Clothing Staple or Yes, Neil, Forever in Blue Jeans"

You can see all 8 of the quilts here

Now if you don't mind
I am gonna go hang out with my homeys (Robert Kaufman, Amy Butler, Moda.....)!

Challenged.

Definition of CHALLENGED

: presented with difficulties

but...
I am beginning to create!

I have been journaling and working hard to stay in a positive frame of mind...

that is a challenge in itself!

When one idea for challenge #9 didn't go well as expected,

I tried something new...

I would love to add some embellishments but am not sure what to do next...
decisions like this can be a challenge!

 so I have ordered a couple of books to see if they might give me some ideas 

(just hope they arrive before the deadline! yikes!)

But then yesterday, another idea popped into my head
 and so between history lesson with Nature Boy and English lesson with Sugarbaby,
 I crouched on the floor of my studio and played...

not sure what I will do with these!

And I have been to the gym 10 times... getting closer to the 21 days to create a new habit!

I have joined the challenge with my online friend Alex and others in running 500 miles this year!

I started today...



more to come...

I am still blogging!

Thanks to those of you who commented on my return to blogging.

Taking it slow!

In order to bring more creativity into my life,

I have been reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

(also taking it slow with my reading).

Early on, the author suggests making a vision board 

and so I cut up some magazines that I borrowed (albeit permanently)

from Mr. U's office

and came up with this...

Already, some of my desires are beginning to appear....

Today, I enrolled in a 6 week beginner's yoga class!!!

And on my previous post, I mentioned the statement that it
takes 21 days to create a new habit.  

Well, I am slightly more than one-third of the way there--
I have been to the gym 8 days and am building back up my endurance.

My goal is to run the 5 mile Shamrock Shuffle again this year!

And I have slowly been getting myself back to creating.

For the upcoming 'blue' challenge at Tangled Textiles,
I did some hand dyeing..

but I was really disappointed in the results...

 

this does not say 'ice blue' to me!

This is...

                                

ice!

                                      blue!                                       

So I am working on Plan B!

And finally...

two blog posts 

so far this week!!!

Not bad!!!!!