New Journal Pages...

Hey there, hi there, ho there friends!  Happy Saturday!  I'm ecstatic today because my computer is back to it's old speedy self FINALLY!  I have been having such problems with slooooooowness this past week it's been ridiculous.  I felt like I was back in 1994 with my first Mac, when I could click on a website, and go make and eat a sandwich, and hopefully, when I got back the site would be loaded.  Do you remember those days?  ACK.  Anyhoo, my computer wiz of a husband figured out and fixed the problem and now things are humming along wonderfully again.

Anyhoo, I've got a few more pages in my Book of Days to share with you today...

With this one I tried out a new stamp I carved myself.  It's the flower with the striped center...

I also added in a clear pocket with a handmade postcard I did for a swap stashed inside

here's the back of the postcard, where I was working out my current journaling system...

For this one I used a transfer technique from Judy Wise' class to get the girl on the page (I did not draw her freehand)...

She came from this magazine article...

and finally, this week's Book of Days Lesson...

My favorite thing about this page is the way her eyes and lips came out.  I was going to paint them, but I didn't because they looked kinda wild with just the color from the background showing through.  A happy accident!

Before I go, I wanted to share a cool thing that I found out about this week.  It's called Derwent Art Academy.  It's completely free, and they have six lessons that you go through, and when you complete all six, you get a set of Derwent Colored pencils of your choice, plus a certificate of completion.  How fun is that?  Check it out here!

And don't forget, there's still plenty of time to join us over at One Little Word for this month's challenge!  Check it out here!

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I appreciate you so much!  Have a wonderful weekend!

A Perfect Day and more...

I've been working along in my Book of Days, and have three new pages to share with you...

A Perfect Day

(an exercise from Judy Wise' workshop)

 Loved the exercise of drawing a face quickly, not worrying about getting it perfect.  It made the process so much fun!

Inner Peace

(from B.O.D.)

 The words are a combination from an article at lifebuzz, things my therapist has told me over the years (that still stick with me), and things I have learned that I want for myself. 

Shining Rainbow

(techniques from Judy Wise' workshop)

 Another quick face; and I was really excited to finally be able to use spray paint in my journal (the pink rainbow and word unfinished)!  At our old place, there wasn't anywhere outside that I could spray that wouldn't be near the bird feeders.  Now at our new place, we have a big back yard and I can go way up the hill and spray - yeayyy!  So fun!


I am loving how these two workshops complement each other!  I think I have found my groove with the combination of big spreads and multi-day journaling spreads.  Even after the workshops are over, I'm feeling this will be my rhythm.


I just ordered some new sheets of watercolor paper, so I will be ready to bind my next journal when this one fills up.  Did you know that Blick is having a sale right now on Daler-Rowney Cold Press Watercolor Paper Packs?  Buy one get one free!  Can't beat that!  Check it out here!

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend my friends!  Thanks so much for visiting - I appreciate you!

Notes about my Creative Process - A Virtual Blog Tour...

Hi friends!  My friend Lee Clements has asked me to participated in a virtual blog tour, which involves answering some questions about my creative process, and I am happy to oblige!  I hope you enjoy this little peek into my world...

1. What am I working on right now?
I am currently working in three different journals, and taking a number of online courses.  (I LOVE online courses!)  Some pages in each journal are prompted by workshop lessons, and some are not.  Here is an overview of each journal, along with workshop links where applicable...

Book of Days:
My book of days is a handbound journal, that is a record of what you might call my "inner world."  It contains a weekly foray into my soul, as well as my daily musings with a visual twist.
(Workshop pages in this book include BOD and Judy Wise Mixed Media Journaling)

My Planner:
I am using a Moleskine XL Planner to create a log of what's happening in my outer world.  Dates, Appointments, weather, etc,  along with weekly challenges from two online groups.
(No Excuses Journaling, The Documented Life Project)

My Creative Practice Notebook:
I am using a  Strathmore Toned Sketchbook for this journal.  This is a new adventure for me - thanks to the Creative Practice workshop taught by Lisa Sonora Beam.  It holds things that inspire me, class notes, ideas, images, etc.  It's not an art journal, but more of a guidebook for my creative journey.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
People tell me they recognize my work by my bright colors and whimsical style.  Emotions and color are the two things that drive my art.  My love for animals, music and the 1970's inspires my creations too.

3. Why do I create what I do?
Creating is my therapy.  It soothes me.  I love the format of mixed media journaling for a number of reasons.  A journal feels like a playground to me.  I love seeing the book fill up and get all fat and chunky.  I love being able to flip through it when I'm done and see the progression of life and learning.  It just plain makes me happy!

4.  How does your creative process work?
After my day job, I usually take a nap.  It provides a division between work and home mode, and a little rest gets me ready to create.  Then I spend the evening in the studio, with the cats, working in my journals.  I don't have a schedule right now as to what I do when.  I just go with my mood.  If I don't have any ideas, or I'm feeling stuck for some reason, I've always got workshop lessons to work on.  If I have an idea I want to try,  or some feelings I want to get out, I will dive in there. 

Next week, the blog tour moves on to these two women who have inspired me for a long time.  Catch up with them on Monday, May 26 at their blogs...

Sharon Fritchman:
Sharon is a nurse by day and an avid scrapbooker by night.  She started scrapbooking about a decade ago when she adopted her second daughter from China and never looked back. She lives with her husband of almost 25 years, 2 daughters, and a pet dog she rescued from the Rottweiler Society.  She loves all kinds of music and worked together with Michelle on the "Scrapping the Music" design team in the past!  Recently, she started getting into some art journaling and mixed media pages after taking some online classes.  And she loves photography, too!

Visit Sharon at her blog:  That Girl Fritchey


Julie Tucker-Wolek:
Julie is a prolific scrapbooker, and very creative at upcyling common items into art. Her blogposts are always filled with beautiful pages and creative ideas!

Visit Julie at her blog:  Life with the Tucker and Wolek Clan 


Thanks so much for visiting me today!  I hope you've enjoyed the tour of my creative process!  Hugs and happy Wednesday!

Time for another One Little Word Challenge: What "WILL" you create?

The new challenge is up at One Little Word, and this time our inspiration comes from the word WILL.

Here's what I created...

 This started out as a No Excuses challenge in my planner.  The challenge was to take inspiration from needlework designs.  I saw this design and right away it reminded me of my mom.  She loved owls.  I drew a simplified version of the owl and colored it in with Neocolor II crayons. Then I added the typed words in honor of Mother's Day; and realized it would be perfect for the One Little Word challenge.  From there I just kept adding bits and pieces throughout the week til I ended up with what you see above. 

 Here's the whole spread in my planner...

The word WILL has so many possibilities!  Come on over and check out what the rest of the design team created!  It would be great if you want to play along with us too!  Click here to go to the challenge!

Thanks so much for visiting today, and have a fabulous Thursday my friends!

One Journal Ends and a New One Begins...

Hi friends, how is your week going so far?  I started a new journal, and I'm excited to share the first three finished spreads with you...


 For week one of Book of Days, we prepared a manifesto to start our journey.  I chose a quote I found on pinterest, and included my personal journaling around the edges as a border...

 (acrylic paint, stenciling, paper tape, rubber stamps, photograph, stabilo all water-soluble pencil, paint markers and alpha stickers)

This one is my personal journaling for the first week...

 (dictionary paper, gesso, high flow acrylics, magazine images, stencil, acrylic paint, journaling marker, stabilo all pencil, and oil pastel)

 Week Two in Book of Days - we played around with watercolor techniques inspired by the song "True Colors..."

(watercolors, walt, dictionary paper, stabilo all pencil, acrylic paint, paint markers and rubber stamp alphabet)

I forgot to take pics of the new journal before I started filling it, but I will do that for the next post, along with pics of my last journal all filled up!

I'm looking forward to the next One Little Word challenge which will be up on Thursday!

I'm also looking forward to next Monday when I will be participating in a virtual blog hop, thanks to my awesome friend Lee Clements. The hop is going from blog to blog on a weekly basis, and I was invited by Lee to be next in line.  Check out Lee's post here.

Thanks so much for visiting me today!  I really appreciate you!