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!

Finishing Up My Wildly Inspired Weekend...

Oh my goodness this week is flying by!  I intended to get this post up for you all on Monday, but things have been wildly busy around here, and now here it is Wednesday night already!  EEK!

Anyhoo, I had a lot of fun finishing up my Wildly Inspired weekend.  I came super-close to finishing up my current journal.  Here's how it went...

My interpretation of Wildly Inspired Episode Eight...

Episode Ten...

Then I threw in a lesson from Sketch Into Spring: doodled raindrops, using the Palette Play color scheme for April...

and I used the leftover paint from the raindrops to start this spread which will be the last page.  I have since finished it with journaling...

The weekend was a success, and I feel so much better! Art as therapy.  It works for me!
 

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate you!

Day Two of a Wildly Inspired Weekend...

I continued my Wildly Inspired art journaling marathon yesterday, and it really helped my mood!  Here's what I got done...


My interpretation of Episode Six...

Episode Seven...

Then I did this one, which is not a Wildly Inspired page.  I just loved the pattern on the background paper on the right, so I continued it on the left, and added a quote.  Simple, and done!

and then I got this far on Episode Eight...

By that time it was 4:30 am, and I needed to go to bed. Ha.  Now I'm up and ready to begin again!  I've got four spreads left in my current journal, and I plan to finish all of them by the end of the day.  No naps for me!

Thanks so much for visiting!  I appreciate you very much!

A Wildly Inspired Weekend...

Hey everyone, how's it going?  I'm not gonna lie - the end of my work week was stressful.  I needed something to help me calm down and bring back the happy, so....

I decided to treat myself to a marathon paint-flinging, Wildly Inspired weekend!  If you haven't heard of Wildly Inspired, it's a free art-journaling series led by Effy Wild.  Up until now, I hadn't had time to participate, but this weekend, that is changing! I am going to see if I can finish all ten episodes. 

I started last night, and got through two...

Here's my interpretation of Episode Two...

and Episode Five...

Art journaling as therapy.  It works for me.

Want to play along?  Click here to go to the Wildly Inspired Series link.

I will be back tomorrow to share my progress!

and p.s.  there is still time to play along with the "Adventure" challenge over at One Little Word!  Click here to check it out!

Thanks so much for visiting!  Have a super duper Saturday!

Finish 'er Up Friday - Making the Key to My Own Freedom...

Hi friends!  I'm still working on finishing up my Life Book 2013 lessons, and I'm making progress!  I have one more to share with you today...

Making Your Key to Freedom with Danita Art...

 

 Underneath the background we were to list all of the negative self-talk that holds us back in life. I loved the symbolism of covering that up with a girl holding her own key to get out of the cage she's in.  So fun and empowering!

On the left side of the page, we listed all of our good traits, things we love about ourselves.

If you are working on finishing some projects up, how is it coming?  Are you enjoying the process?  I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I wish you a happy weekend!!!

Planner Journal Update - Collaborating with Michael...

Hey friends!  I'm excited to share with you one of my favorite weeks in my planner so far! 

The Documented Life challenge was to ask someone else to draw something for you, and you have to finish it. 

I asked my husband Michael to draw a little doodle or something, and he came up with this whole scene! He even had a name for it - "The Road to Nowhere." I colored it in with watercolor pencil, and added a little bit of pitt pen. We both signed it at the bottom. I love that I now have this collaboration in my journal!

Here's how it looks taped into my weekly spread...

 and here's the weekly spread with the flap lifted up to reveal the No Excuses challenge to doodle on a magazine clipping and journal around it. 

 I used the underside of the flap to create my tribute to the artist of the month:  Marc Chagall.  It started with this intro...

 

and then the flap opens to reveal some quotes and photos of Chagall's work...

 I love all that I learned about this talented man. He seems like he was such a sweet, romantic and humble person.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I wish you a fabulous Thursday!  See you again soon!

OLW: Life is an Adventure...

I'm so excited because today I am hosting the One Little Word challenge for the first time since I became a design team member!  The word I chose is....

ADVENTURE!

Here's the page I made...

(gesso, tissue, decorative napkins, misc collage papers, acrylic paint, rubber stamps, molotow markers, stencils, stabilo marks all pencil, children's book illustration, and magazine image)

Here's a couple of process photos...

 At first, I had no idea what I wanted to do for this page, so I just started by gessoing the spread, and randomly adding some layers of tape and tissue.  Then I stenciled on some gesso...


Phase 2...

 I added some dylusions spray ink in bubblegum pink, then doodles and words with pencil, then some teal acrylic paint...

 The next step, which I forgot to take a photo of - drat - was to place mask letters of the word adventure on the page, and cover the whole thing with a light coat of gesso.  Remove the mask and you've got the word adventure showing through with all of the color and texture from the background!

Here's the final page again...

all that was left was to add collage elements, paint the rainbow, finish the title and add the journaling.

I would absolutely love it if you came over the One Little Word blog and played along this time!  You can also see what the other design team members created, and find out more about why I chose the word "adventure" for the challenge!  Click here to go to the challenge!

Planner update and Cat Stevens...

Gosh, it's been forever since I did a planner update for you, so here we go with some catch up pages from March...

(click on any image to make it larger)

 (tombow markers, pitt pen, sticker, washi tape and magazine word)

My tip-in was a no excuses challenge to be inspired by a quote...

 (decorative tape, gelatos, pitt pen and magazine images on watercolor paper)

 Flip over the tip in and you see the Documented Life challenge for the week, which was "What Makes Me Who I Am?"  I took inspiration from Lorraine Bell for this one, and used tracing paper to "peel back the (proverbial) layers..."

 Layer 1...

Layer 2...

Layer 3...

Layer 4...

I was so excited to hear that Cat Stevens (now Yusuf) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week!  I grew up with Cat's songs and he still remains one of my all-time favorites.  I have fond memories of listening to his songs over and over again, pondering the meaning of the lyrics and of life itself.  I have so many memorized in my heart.   Yeayyyy  Yusuf!

Here's a screenshot from his facebook page...

I will leave you with this recent video. He is being interviewed about how his songs came to be the soundtrack for the movie Harold and Maude; which just so happens to be my favorite movie!  I found this so fascinating.  I hope you do too!




Have a super Saturday my friends!  Thanks so much for visiting and for your comments!  I love hearing from you!