Spin Art Fun...

One of my favorite things at the State Fair every year has always been doing Spin-Art. Just in case you're not familiar, Spin-Art is done by dripping thin paint onto paper that is spinning on a machine. The fact that you don't have control of how it turns out if half the fun!

I was excited to see that using a spin-art machine was part of the fun in the Child's Play workshop. I purchased a kid's spin-art toy at Wal-Mart and was amazed at how well it worked! Here are how my samples turned out...

Oh, I should say that I didn't like the poster paint that came with the machine, so I used my own craft paint and it worked great. It just has to be thin enough to spread on the page.

The first one was done in just the regular way, with the paper that came with the toy...

Then I tried using colored cardstock for a background...

I also tried using some spray mist before adding the paint...

On this one I took a waterbrush to the green paint on the first layer to give it a different effect. Then added a regular layer on top...

Here's one done on a book page...


These next two were done by touching a paint-filled brush to the page as it was spinning. Topped with a layer of dripped paint...


Here I added some india ink to the page at the end...

This is one of my faves - it's a mini cupcake liner. I think it will make a great journal tab...!

and here's the whole lot of them together. Which one is your fave?

While I was feeling nostalgic for my childhood, I also purchased a vintage spirograph from 1967 off of ebay. It's the exact model I had as a kid! I loved that thing! Can't wait to get it. I will be sure to show you how it works!

Did any of you love spin-art as a kid, or an adult? How about spirograph?

It's Child's Play...

Hi everyone! I spent all night last night playing like a child and let me tell you it's so therapeutic. The third workshop I am taking as a part of 21 Secrets is called "Child's Play" and the super-talented Alma Stoller is the teacher. I'm so excited to share what I've been doing!

The first thing we did was prep magazine pages. I played with five different techniques and prepped over 40 magazine pages for journaling or collaging with! Here's just a sampling of magazine and book pages drying in the scraproom...

Then, I made my own stamps out of sponges. I used the expandable sponges, which start out almost as thin as paper, so you can draw on them and cut them out pretty easily...


Then you add water and poof, they turn into sponges! Here's how mine looked after I was done stamping with them...
The circle stamp with the strings on it is another technique we learned in the class. Very fun and unique.


and here are just a few of the papers after they were prepped and them stamped on...
I will definitely be doing more handmade stampmaking. This is taking my journaling to a whole new level - it's a real horizon-expander!

I will be back next time with another Child's Play update! Thank you so much for visiting!!!

One Project Finishes and Another Begins...

My "Becoming Brave" Journal is all finished and ready to use! My last divider was for being brave in life...


And I found this poem in "O" magazine and thought it would be perfect to add to the inside back cover...
In case you can't read it, here's what it says:

"In a serener Bright,
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear
Each little discord here
Removed."
~Emily Dickinson

I put some watercolor paper between each divider, and bound it with rings and here it is, all done...

I can really see putting this journal to good use. Whenever an issue comes up that requires some courage to deal with it, I can bust out a page in this journal. I could also see using the dividers as prompts to think about courage in each of these areas of my life. Another thing it could be used for would be periodic check-ins with myself about how each of these areas of life is going. In any case, "Becoming Brave" was an awesome workshop - thanks so much Erin Kenepp! If you want to know more about Erin, you can visit her blog right here.

The next workshop I started over at 21 Secrets is "Child's Play," with Alma Stoller. Wow oh wow is this one therapeutic! Tonight I prepped over 40 magazine pages for journaling! No stress, just playing - so much fun! Here's a peak at a few of the pages that are drying...


If you want to know more or sign up for 21 Secrets, click here to go to the info page.

Another thing I want to mention is that I am going to be doing a guest blogpost for the Art Journal Every Day project over at Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog on April 22nd! I'm very honored that she asked me to contribute and I hope you will stop by over there and say hi! Thanks for the invite Julie!

That's it for today but I will be back soon with another update! I hope your week is going well! Thanks for visiting me!

Day Three of 21 Secrets...

Hi everyone! Today I finished two more dividers for my "Becoming Brave" journal!

One for being fearless at work...


and one for being brave in love...

I only have one more divider (the one for being fearless in life), and the journal will be all done and ready to use! I should be able to finish it by tomorrow's post. I think this journal will be so much fun to fill up!

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again tomorrow!

Day Two of 21 Secrets...

One thing I am really loving about 21 Secrets, is the diversity of the teacher's artistic styles! I can take a break from one project to let it simmer in my brain a little; and while I am doing that, start something completely different! For me that really keeps things fresh, and the amount of learning that happens grows by leaps and bounds!

Today, I worked on two projects. I did another divider page for my "Becoming Brave" workshop. This one is all about being fearless about taking care of your body...
I'm loving working with this color palette, and plan to carry it throughout the creation of the journal. Right now I'm working on the "Fearless About Work" divider. I will share that with you tomorrow. This project is 8x8 on chipboard.

Next I enrolled in the "Connecting with the Goddess Within" workshop, which includes a guided meditation; followed by creating a journal page about it. Here's my journal page in progress...

That's me with my spirit guides. The rabbit is a new one I just met on my journey today. The raven comes with me everywhere, he is my spirit totem. The deer greets us from time to time on my life's path. I sketched this out in pencil and am filling it in with colored pencil and a black pitt pen. It's going in my Soul Journal, which is an 8 1/2 x 11 sketchbook.

Another cool thing about 21 Secrets is seeing the gallery fill up with all of this gorgeous artwork from all the different workshops! It's so inspiring!

That's it for today, but I will be back tomorrow with another update. Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments! I really appreciate you!

Becoming Brave...

21 Secrets has been amazing so far! I got access around 4am on Friday morning, and couldn't wait to get into the forum and check it all out. It's set up really well, with a welcome area, and even a checklist, to help you navigate all 21 workshops.

I was tempted to spend all day just looking at everything, but I knew I wouldn't get anything done then, so I picked one workshop and got started.

The one I picked is called "Becoming Brave," and the teacher is Erin Kenepp, who is a mixed media artist and Art Therapist. You get to make a journal to help you become brave in a number of different areas of life. I figured I could use a little bravery right now, so it was the perfect place to start.

So far, I finished my cover and I'm really liking how it turned out...

Tonight I'm working on the inside divider pages and it's really alot of fun! If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time! Click here to find out more and/or register.

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's "AJED" April signup is posted - check it out here.

Thanks so much for visiting and I will see you again soon!

Hanging By A Moment at Scrapping The Music...

Hey there everyone - the new challenge at Scrapping The Music is "Hanging By A Moment" by Lifehouse. It's a song with lots of great lyrics that inspire me, I could have gone many different directions with this one, but here's what spoke to me...
With the tough year we've been having, Michael has been my rock; and I am so grateful for him! Love you darlin!!!

I used my March Scarlet Lime kit for this one, plus I busted out the sewing machine AND paint! I think it's the first time I've done both on one layout - it was fun!

Come on over and play along with us at STM! We'd love to see what you create!!! Click here to go to the challenge!

Today is April 1st - the day I've been waiting for for awhile now....

It's the starting day for 21 SECRETS!!! I can't wait to get my access to the workshop forum, so I can dive in! I will keep you posted!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments - I appreciate you so much!!!

What's Your Fave Scrappy Tool?

The new challenge is up at Fave Things, and it's all about scrapping your favorite creative tool! So, what's yours??? Mine is PAINT...
I had so much fun making this layout because I absolutely used just what I had on hand. The kraft paper in the background was the paper on my scrap desk, used to catch all my paint splatters. And the hearts were cut from a piece of watercolor scrap where I had tested my new watercolors to see how they would look painted over white crayon. As you can tell, I can't bear to throw any painted scraps away!

I also grabbed a tube of gouache that I just finished and pasted it right on the page...
That tube of gouache is at least 20 years old - no lie! I bought a bunch of tubes in college and they lasted this long! With that much history I just couldn't throw it away!

Come on over to the Fave Things blog and play along with us! Show us what your fave scrappy tool is! Click here to go to the challenge!

I've been sprucing up my art journaling tools in preparation for 21 Secrets, which starts tomorrow! I hope I see some of you over there - that would be totally fun!

One More List...

Tuesday's subject at 30 Days of Lists, was "Favorite Foods." That was an easy one!
The photo of the cute little bird was taken one time a few years back, when my mom and I were sitting at an outdoor cafe. I just thought he was so cute, and I've been waiting for a chance to use him - Fave Foods seemed like a good opportunity! Here are links to some of my fave foods:

Pizza Luce (best vegan pizza ever! My fave is the Little Gracie)
Hummus - (my fave brand is Sabra)
Edy's Frozen Fruit Bars (Love them all, but Pomegranite and Tangerine are the best!)
Clif Bars (Love them all!)

Only two more days til 21 Secrets! Yeayyy!

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again soon! Have an awesome Wednesday my friends!

A Couple of List Catch-Up Pages...

I'm wayyy behind on the 30 Days of Lists challenge, but I did do a couple more pages tonight. The first one is Prompt #27: Vacations to Take...
I tried to stick to places I've never been, but I just had to include Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Renee and I went there about 7 years ago, and it was so amazing, I really want to go back again someday. The rest are places I've had on my mind for awhile - some longer than others.


The second page is from Prompt #26 - Books I'd like to read this year...
I only included the three that I recently bought. If I get through those three, it will be more books than I have read in the last eight years or so. I used to be a big reader, but I lost my ability to focus on books when I went through my divorce, and I never got it back. I think my mom is watching over me, because suddenly now, I can read again. Mom was a big reader. I may have mentioned this already, but I will say it again, because it really is amazing to me.


I will leave you with my latest photo of the boys in the scraproom. I love their perky little ears...

The "Closer to Fine" slideshow is up at Scrapping The Music, and it looks fabulous! Click here to check it out!

Only 3 more days til 21 Secrets starts! I'm getting so excited!!!

Thanks for visiting and I will see you again soon!

Time to Start Another New Journal...

I finished my Pre-Smashbook Smashbook, and so it was time to start another journal for my daily writing. I've been inspired by Rebecca Horwood's journals lately (click here to be inspired too!), so I decided to try something with a similar, grid-like format. I'm using an 8 1/2 x 11 Canson Sketchbook. The pages are beautifully thick and perfect for writing on with no show-thru. Here's how it's shaping up so far (click image to see details)...
It's fun to play with this format, kinda like putting a puzzle together. I'm using a suggestion from my Life's Companion book, to make a collage at the beginning of each volume of your journal, with a current photo of yourself, and stuff that is going on in your life and the world at that moment in time. I think I will do this at the beginning of each month.

(Bookplate and Calendar Card are free downloads)




I also made another journal for collage (to replace the one I sent away for the Scrapbook Soup episode). The glue is still drying so I will share that one with you next time!


Thanks so much for visiting! I will be back soon with another update!

Big News and a Friday Update....

Hi everyone! I've got big news to share! One of my journals is going to be on TV!!! This one to be exact...
If you read Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's blog, you probably already know that she is going to be hosting a new TV show on PBS this fall, called Scrapbook Soup. She recently asked for submissions for the show that used specific techniques, one of which was "sewing pattern tissue." I submitted my journal cover and she accepted it! Yeayyy!!! My little journal is now making its way across the country to the PBS TV station, and I have sent a tutorial to Julie which will appear on her blog when the episode airs. Now the hard part will be waiting til fall to see the show! I will keep you posted as I find out more details! Thanks Julie for the opportunity!!! and thanks everyone for letting me share my big news!!! I'm so excited about it!!!

In other news, Happy Mail has once again arrived at the Rydell household. Johnny saw it and claimed it as his own immediately. He recognizes those packages by now, and knows that fun is on the way...

We always open the packages together and both the cats love to investigate all the pieces. This box held the newest Noel Mignon kit called "Jump and Jive." Here are the contents in all their glory (click for a more detailed view)...
I also got a "Sew Easy" tool and an extra blanket stitch head. Can't wait to try them out!

Oh, and I finished my "Urban Journal!" I just love it in all it's grunginess! Here's how it turned out...

I developed my own closure for it so I will be able to keep it shut as it fills up. I used an old button and some vintagey lace that has a little bit of stretch to it...

Here's more shots of the journal. My favorite thing about it is it gives me a way to bind single-pages, which is going to come in handy a lot in the future...

P.S. I think it will go nicely with the Nancy Drew journal that Renee gave me...


and yes, I wrote journal upside down by accident. Ha. Oh well, it just adds to the charm - at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

If you want to check out the Urban Journal Class, click here. It's alot of fun and it didn't take me long to complete the journal at all!

Thanks so much for visiting!!!