Life Outside the Fishbowl

A View of My Room

Karen stopped by to art journal and I not only haven't put away the table, I've moved things onto it. Which isn't a good sign. Scrapbook layouts that need to either be finished, scanned or put away.

And my desk isn't that much better.... pile of journals and sketch books. Another journal in progress which I really need to stitch... and it's a good thing this shot doesn't show the "stuff" on the floor.

But I can close my eyes and image that my space is all neat and organized ... like this....

It's all a matter of perspective, right?

Viva Decor - Inka Gold

Our Michaels has added a whole bunch of stuff - literally overnight. Including Viva Decor's Inka Gold. Which is great, because the handful of tiny bottles I bought several years ago had all dried out.

And I just dove right in, sticking my finger into the green yellow and trying it out in my collage junk journal. I used it on the right-hand page, ontop of the black and white photograph and down the side of the page. I put it on lightly, and I like how it looks like the photo is tinted almost.

So much so I think I need to pick up a few more colors.

More Swatches - Collaged Backgrounds

A few more backgrounds I've been working on in my Swatches junk journal. I'm really, really enjoying this process. It's quite liberating to just grab, rip, cut, arrange and glue. Although I've had to force myself to keep my hands off the current magazines in our living room.

This page spread started with marks on the left-hand size and bold patterned paper on the right, which you can see on this post. I recently rediscovered my boxes of Tim Holtz tissue paper, and have liberally been using them in this journal. There's also bits of sewing patterns and magazine cut outs. I'd say these pages are about half done - I still need to add focal images and journaling, but I like how they are coming along.

And another spread. This one has been built up by layers. And lots of texture, thanks to the line drawings and text.

I started with the black and white drawings on the edges, cut out of an old Washingtonian magazine. On top of that I added a teapot, flowers and clocks. Next was more Tim Holtz tissue paper - a large chunk on the left page; random torn chunks on the right. 

I feel like the left-hand side needs more to balance it out. I've got a kinda revolutionary war/tea party thing kinda going. However, the right page is about ready to add some journaling.

And one final page. More layers, but these are overlapping. The text here is from sewing pattens. And the right hand side? I'm still debating. I really like the doodle on the paper and want to keep that. While I really want to keep this primarily a collage journal I'm considering gessoing around the doodle, or mabe adding an image transfer. Something transparent.

Coptic Journal

My first time making a coptic journal. Yes, I signed up for another online class.  This time it's Jeanne Oliver's "The Journey of Letting Go." Like I mentioned, sometimes I need a big push and this class covered quite a lot of area - from mixed media to charcoal drawings to pastels and more.

So.... I used 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper for the signatures and started with an old Basic Grey paper for my cover. On top of that I collaged quite a bit, used a bit of oil sticks, stamping and stenciling. The edges are covered with Tim Holtz's tissue tape for a little extra durability. The stencil is Dylusions.

And Still More Swatches

I spent a chunk of time yesterday working on this collage book, and managed to make a good start on four new pages. This, after trying to sort through and arrange a basket and large pile of material. Which happened after a good hour sorting through lots of my idea-ology stash after the drawer overflowed....

This spread is pretty finished. I'm debating whether or not to add journaling on the right-hand side.

And I made a good start on a few more pages -

More Swatches

A few more pages from my collaged art journal. Sound like fun? Check out Kelly Kilmer's Swatches class.

The right-hand page of this one was newsprint. I glued a book page on top that had been painted. It's only just started, but I know I want to leave chunks of the background showing.

And one more for you. Here I left the newsprint showing, as I liked the ink.

Collaged Art Journal

I signed up for Kelly Kilmer's Swathes class to push me to try something new. And, to just push me to art journal. It had been ages since I had reguarly done art journaling and a class can be a great way to get back on track.

Kelly's class is more collage style, something I hadn't tried before. I'm having a fun time with her sketches, although I always seem to veer off in my own direction. I'm enjoying putting together these pages without a lot of planning, grabbing images that catch my eye and going from there.

As part of the class I made a scrap journal, stiching together various papers - scrapbook paper, newsprint I'd used to blot stencils, pages from an Ikea decorating book.....

And I'm collaging on every page. Since this book is really just for me, I'm using whatever I have lying around as far as magazines. I've got a handful of magazines, an Ikea book I picked up on clearance just for collaging, napkins, tissue paper, rub ons and scraps of papers.

Here's the first two pages....

 

Spring Cleaning

Well, sort of. 

I do often get prone to bouts of cleaning, but springtime for me means redecorating. And usually, repainting.

Last month I had bits and spurts of energy and a strong desire to work on the house, resulting in repainting the kitchen (well, finishing the first coat), painting the front door, updating our bedroom, and finally decorating the large empty wall going down the stairs.

It started with the large watercolor in the middle. We had it reframed and hung it in the middle - really, it was the only vacant large space. But after staring at it for a few weeks it really looked wrong all by itself. 

When I started moving pictures around in our bedroom after purchasing new bed linens (and more pillows that you can shake a stick at) I thought I'd try adding more artwork to the wall. And it just escalated from there. I'm still thinking of adding a few more and switching out the gold frames to black, but this is a great start.

I love finally having a good place for the photo of Rachel and Thomas, as well as the flag artwork we bought at the Lorton Workhouse (which had been sitting on top of our china cabinet).  And now the wall makes me happy.

It's funny how just a few small changes can make a big difference.

Scout Scrapbooking

I decided in January to put together a Cub Scout scrapbook for Thomas as he prepared to move into Boy Scouts. Well, I say that but I had really thought about it for months and finally got started in January. And realized how few layouts I'd done of his time in Cub Scouts.

Anyhoo... I picked up duplicate rank & insignia at the scout store to use in some way.  I used the Best Glue Ever by ScrapPerfect to adhere all these patches - which worked brilliantly. You can get the details here and here. But seriously, this is the best glue to use.

Here's the finished pages -at the front of the album. Along with a few of his various shoulder patches.

And inside are scrapbook layouts, programs, mementos and more. Here's one from his first year as a Tiger.

And another from just recently getting awarded his Arrow of Light, ready to move to Boy Scouts.

More Art Journaling

Catching up on sharing some pages. I had a nice time working at Karen's this afternoon. It's been ages since I did any art journaling and it was wonderful to flip around in my book, adding to pages and starting new ones.

This is one I started back in January. I collage onto the paper then added paint and stencils on top.  I had recently purchased a dip pen and journed in white india ink. I did a bit more stenciling on top with gesso and I'm going to leave this page alone -- for awhile at least!

Here's one that I change a lot. I bought all of Tim Holtz's Distress Paints when they were released,  but hadn't opended them at all. Today was finally the day to try them out. With a stencil, using my fingers to spread the paint around. A bit grungier than if I'd used a sponge to dab, but I like this look.

And another added-to page. This page started it's life as a sample for a class, showing them using gelatos to stamp. So it had a bunch of writing and things to cover up. I added paint to make a background and some stenciling and it sat for  months.

Karen had some stamped images with Dylusions stamps lying around that I confiscated. And I added a bit of 7gypsies tissue paper. This one isn't finshed, by a long shot.