Art on a Friday

 

Taking some time off work is heaven! I have lots planned to do while away, and a few art projects are on the top of my list.

Here are my pages for Michelle as part of our art journal swap. For her pages, she requested cool colours, greens, blues, purples. I had so much fun with this theme.

Layers of color and gesso was the start. Then stamped over with a script stamp. Also though hard to see I added scraps of book pages and then blended them in.

The flowers are a new stencil I just purchased. There are three sets and they are all background patterns. I used gesso to form the flowers. After it dried, I sponged a light shade of lavender ink for the petals and used a golden orange paint pen to create the centers.

The edges are purple paint lines with penned dots.

Just a few finishing touches and I will be sending this off. I am really having fun making pages for this swap over at Paper Traders Yahoo Group

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

1st page in Ocean Art Journal

The 1st page of my Ocean Art Journal is coming along. I used lots of paint for the background. I added strips of book pages to give some layers. I kept adding gesso to blend the colors. To create the shore I used sea shell and starfish stamp, and added some real shells I have collected over the years.  Also used a wave stamp to add dimension for the ocean. I still want to create better edging but this is a good 1st page.

This quote came to me while I was working on the page and right now a process I am using a lot to get through work.

Lots to be thankful for this week and the top 5:

1. Even when I may feel that life is complicated, Art can soothe it all
2. My favorite hymn"The Summons" was the gathering song at Mass today
3. Stencils
4. Still working and know that each day I will do what I can
5. Everyday a new chance to try again

Have a wonderful week, Amanda

A Labor Day of art

It has been awhile since I have added to my blog. I miss checking in and visiting other people I am following. But most important is that I have been doing some art and it is time to get back into the swing of things. I have been working on my art journal for my Tip-In project over at Paper Traders.

I was playing with some Alcohol Inks and gesso. The rings were made with gesso and a bottle top. The little circles were from a homemade stencil of punched out circles.

It needs some edging so still a work in progress.

 This is a page I made inside. I used crumpled paper bags for the pages. I liked the way the gesso and the paint made a textured look. The image on the left was some goodies given to me from one of my swap partners. They are a great group of people.

And then more circles and rings of gesso and white paint.

 Here is one of the pages I have received from my swap partners. This is Shelly. The pieces are sea glass from the Bahamas where she lives. TOO COOL! The edge is hard to see in the picture but is has some of the sea sponge from there too.

I love the colors and her beautiful coral art work. She added on the page a quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow... "My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea" So true!!!

This is another swap tip in from Pam C. The fish are so awesome. The are embossed and have great colors and dimension. She added the quote from J.F. K. "We are tied to the ocean... And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch. we are going back to whence we came. I could not agree more!

Here is one more swap tip in page and this one is from Heather. What a great collage. I love the colors and the fun fish! I feel very blessed to be with such a great group and love all the wonderful pages I am collecting for this journal.

I will have more to share as I fill up my journal and fill in more of my own pages.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Amanda

Another Art Page

 

I was behind getting my page done this month for the Word Prompt Journal. Check out the sidebar link to see all the great pages created by members and others who have joined in.

I did want to try some new techniques for this page, so used a dollie and gesso for the first layer of my page.

 This is the dollie. It had four corners so I decided to use each one on each corner of my page. I see that this technique is tricky to know how much gesso to use. It is a fun surprise each time to see what would show up.

Next I blended some alcohol ink on the page to add more color. The theme for the page was to use some symbols of time. I used my stamps with clock faces and clock hands.

I am trying to practice my art lettering. It is a work in progress. I stamped letters and then tried to add to it. I need to let it be.. I will keep trying.

Then I wanted to add this little bird. I created a nest using strips of paper and layered to create the effect.

Here is the final page.

Time to be creative

  

A day off of work is so exciting. I have several projects that I am working on and I finished some recently. Though it is past Valentine's Day; these were some fun projects.

 

These cute mail boxes are from this fun blog. She has the design measurements and process photos. I was on a roll and made some for my office, my daughter's office, and even my other daughter's track team. Making cards and little things like this is a great stress reliever for me. These were good to make as I used up a lot of my white scrap paper!

 



 

Then I finished an ATC for February over at Paper Traders. The photo is a little washed out so it doesn't show the background too well. I am trying some new techniques. PINTEREST has so many great ideas!! The background started with chalk ink. I pressed the pad over a vegetable bag. Then added gesso and more inks. The random hearts are tissue paper, glitter paper, and scraps of paper. The lace was another scrap I had. I have scraps of paper, ribbon, and lace all over the place. How do you organize your scraps???

Well hope you have a great day, Amanda

Blank Slate

Art can do so much and I found that it helps me in many ways.

I am working on my next tip-in trade pages for the swap at Paper Traders. The request is White on White pages. I love this idea. So here is my first phase. I cut the pages and there are elements I want to use but do not know if it will all stay.

 

The heart is something I cut with the cricut on some ledger looking paper and the very tip has a butterfly.

 This is some texture wallpaper with leaves.

This is some tissue paper with a light pink pattern. She said that muted color was acceptable. I am still thinking but gesso could cover some. I really love this paper because of the shine and the pattern.

Even with a request of white on white there are many options. Starting with a blank slate is refreshing and reminds me that there is always an option to restart and hope will guide you through.

Wonderful days and much to be thankful for and the Top 5:

1. So much to learn and enjoying every minute

2. PINTEREST fun

3. Stressful job helps me to value my art time

4. Time with my girls

5. The many blues of a morning sky

Have a wonderful week and wishing you projects that give you hope.

Amanda

Working out the bugs

 

 

I am going to remember one day to take step pictures. These are ATCs for a SWAP at Paper Traders. The guidelines were to use the colors pink, brown, and white. I wanted to have layers for the background so I started with ink various shades of pink.  Then stamped the script writing with brown ink. Used some gesso to get a more aged look. The flowers are from a old napkin and I decoupaged them on. The bottom is an embossed brown paper with pink ribbon and an old button. I did want to add some letters but ended up with a small pink tag and stamped love on it. Still looking for a better way to ink backgrounds. Any ideas?

New Photos

Days and time go flying by and somehow my project list is getting longer and longer. This one kept getting put off but I slipped in late last night and may add to it but it is off to a good start. These are pictures from our anniversary trip to Fort Bragg this year. I really loved the size of the frame, it was just begging to be altered! Added some Glass Beach pieces and shells that I have collected from our visits there. When I take photos I think that I would like to add photo taking class to my list! Haha.. Oh well, I will always be happy to learn more another day. Have a wonderful weekend.

Sunday summer

Some Sundays start out peaceful and slow, I just tend to relax, pray, and think about things with a different mindset. Today, I enjoyed being with my mom and sister. I feel very comfortable with them, I don't have to be a certain anybody with them. I am just who I am. It was a simple day of breakfast and then some errands, it kept me in a Sunday peaceful mood. I also had created this ATC as a thank you to the post card swap host. I used a inked background and lighten the color with some gesso. I then stamped the "Thank you" on the tissue paper and added it on. Then stamped a heart on red decorative paper and added it.  Added the ribbon to the bottom with a butterfly sticker. Then to give an edge, I added more gesso. The final thing was to add the three brads to the top. On the back side, I wrote my thank you. This was a fun card to create and I am very thankful for what this day brought and my Top 5 are:

1. Breakfast with family
2. Summer breezes and simple days
3. Remembering that nothing is forever
4. Working outside my comfort zone
5. Sending off my first swap items

Wishing all a mellow and simple week.

Sunday Sentiments



Here is another card I made for my daughter. She went to a bridal shower yesterday and asked me to make a card for her. I feel this one is a mix of the old and new me. I love traditional stamping and my favorite scrapbook paper. However, my new loves are gesso, torn cardboard, and adding elements I would not have before. I had fun creating the dress. I used netting for the skirt and added gesso to the bottom for a "lacy" look and then glued the pearls. I outlined the bodice using a glaze pen and then covered with micro fine glitter. (Fun technique learned at a stamp show). I did stamp a heart and some flowers inside, I just forgot to take a picture. I feel that my creativity is growing and I have learned so much from blog friends and my sister!

Here is my weekly thankful top 5 list:

1. GESSO
2. Learning to appreciate what I have done
3. Accepting that I have to try no matter how much my head tells me that I can't
4.Old scrapbook paper
5.Blog hopping and learning so much

First thing Monday

A gesso experience. It adds such great texturing. This is a card flyer (junk mail) I  had saved for experimenting with. So I covered the card with white paint and then added gesso. It was interesting to play with it and make the texture. After it dried, I added paint and water to get the different colors.

Could not help my self and created another simple scene with scraps. I loved making the little flowers. My favorite is the lavendar rolled rose flower. The momma bird feeding her chicks was just too fun to add. A monday morning in nature is busy too. Have a great week!

Inspiration_Avenue_Celestial

My favorite artist is Van Gogh. And then this week's challenge at IA was Celestial. So here is my ode to Van Gogh's Starry Night. I put my favorite elements from the painting into this collage. I always dream what it would be like in that little town with the church on the hill. Of course in the Van Gogh, the details of the darkness to the side of the town has a spooky feeling to it. So really wanted to add that detail to the collage. And then the details in the sky on Van Gogh painting is amazing.  I don't even come close but I had fun creating the stars with cardboard and gesso.

Pay it Forward item

Back in January I ran across a fun project called "Pay it Forward". So I joined in. The project was to provide a little art project to whoever commented that they would like to join on my post. I finished it and sent it to my one person that joined, Erin at Altered By The Sea. The piece was my first time to use gesso. I added it to the frame, covered some old pages to create the snow covered mountains, and sprinkled on the sky. The piece had to include a little scrap panda of course! This was fun, I would like to find more share projects.

Put it together

In my art journey, I have learned that I really like putting pieces together. Trying not to judge myself so harshly when it doesn't seem to fit. I guess that is why I love SCRAPS.. Even though I have a tiny desk, I cover a lot of it with scraps.

I love the design of Art. Not sure if that makes any sense but it is the best way to describe what I am learning. I like to see how paint works with ink. I like different types of paper and how it works with different medias. 

My plan today started with thoughts of ART.. and what I did was create lots of layers and pieces.

I did complete a piece I have been working on. Can't show it all right now as it is part of my "Pay it Forward" and I want it to be a surprise. I had fun with gesso today. I tried it with paper and then I added it to the frame. Then I had fun putting the frame together. I will show more another day.