Art Journal Prompts

Hello friends!

How many of you have an art journal?  I guess I have always done an art journal because I have always kept a sketch pad of random artwork, I just didn't realize it was called an ART JOURNAL.  I use it to keep artwork that goes with feelings, sometimes that is a rush drawing or quick sketch because I am just needing a creative outlet and sometimes it is a long process because I need a stress reliever.  

Last year I wanted to do an art journal that was more like a memoir, I am not going to show you too much of it, because I want my kids to be the first to read it (you know afterward).  The inspiration for this memoir book were two books called The War Bride's Scrapbook by Caroline Preston and Century Girl: 100 years in the life of Doris Eaton Travis by Lauren Redniss.  To say I love these books would be a gross understatement.  The illustrations are incredible and Lauren's book is EXACTLY what I have always dreamed of a book looking like, and how I make my scrapbooks.  Century Girl is non-fiction and  features a lot of photos from Doris's life and wraps them around illustrations. War Brides is a fiction book and features ephemera and lots of colorful artwork.  Both book are completely worth a gander (also check out all of Caroline's books).

My first illustrated book is my life from "birthish" to present day. 

Since I have gone about as far as I can go right now, I have started a second illustrated book.  This one has the theme of Michelle's Musings (that may be the title).  The "brand" is all about being random,  FBSP (fly by the seat of pants) and completely off the wall, this book will be full of that type of stuff. I have started with a "Strange Alphabet".  I call it that because each letter is an odd topic and not your typical "A stands for Apple" kind of book.  Sometimes the topic makes sense and other times you may think I am a lunatic (wait, you may already think that of me). I am more willing to share this one with the world in it's entirety where I am keeping the other one for my kids.  

If you art journal I would so love to see some of your work.  Remember there is no right way so if you don't journal, why don't you?  This is a non-judging, don't show anyone unless you want area where you can be free, creative and honest. If you are struggling with an issue, draw or paint it!  If you are excited about that promotion, draw it.  If you love that song and want to create about it, do it!!! You can use as little or a much supplies as you want.  You really only need to start with a pencil and a piece of paper...let your imagination take you from there. 

 

A crowning birthday

I absolutely LOVE to wear a crown for my birthday. I don't know why I do it...but I do.

For years I have worn cheap children's crowns, but this year, going on 41, I should probably wear a grownup crown.  I decided to make one that reflected who I am. A keepsake crown...that's HUGE!

I started by drawing out a pattern.  This proved to be a tad challenging, as I wanted two layers to the crown.  I had to match up the layers so that it all made sense. Therefore, I had to cut out each pattern and put them together to see if they worked.  Making the patterns took me about 2 hours of trial and error and (insert GASP here) MEASURING.

Once I got the pattern like I wanted it, I drew it on the back of a pizza box.  I used Jack's pizza 4 pack pizza box.  It worked out perfectly to fit the two layers onto one pizza box.  Then I cut it out.

I decided to decorate every single side of the crown.  The insides (the sides facing toward the inside of the crown) were made using pages from "Song of the Siren" and a sheet of K&Co paper.  I mod podged these papers to the crown then I let dry.  The next step was to trim the edges.

I did not take photos of the next stages...my hands were covered in mod podge and I was the only person awake so there was no way I could photograph these steps.

Once the inside was dry, I took K&Co polka dotted paper (Wild Saffron) paper and tore into long strips. I adhered with mod podge to the front of the inside layer.  I then took pink Bohemia paper by MME and glued in full to the small outer layer.  I mod podged both of the crown pieces.

The embellishments were made by making a  two 2x12 inch wide strips and 1x12 inch strip and using my scoring board I made rosettes.  I took Domestic Goddess paper by Graphic 45 (I simply LOVE their paper) and used for the main lady and the top lady on the left.  The lady below on the left is a 1920 stamp I have (I do not have a brand name).  I glued dream chipboard to the smaller rosette and the larger of the two ladies and glue to the larger rosette.   Added a dragonfly and some tulle.

All inks are by Tim Holtz. Glues are Aleene's and Mod Podge in matte.  Sparkles provided by Stickles (Tim Holtz), lace by 7 Gypsies.

This is going to be a great birthday!  Happy 41, Michelle

A canvas of a different color

For this canvas, I wanted to do something that I had never done.  Something really different.

First of all, I took a blank 12x12 canvas and glued a tissue paper tree with many layers on the right side. I actually got this idea from another artist, but I ended up not really having it visible in the final product. 

My next step was to post a photo of myself right smack dab in the middle.  I chose a color photo that I was not too in love with.  My thought process was that the photo would take a back seat to the "stuff" I was adding.

The next step was to add the "stuff".  I used various objects that I have collected, flowers, magnets, game pieces, foam things, beads, rope, charms, and baubles.  I had to use many different types of glue to adhere to the objects....E6000, hot glue, craft glue, and modge podge. After all that dried and stuck around I "painted" everything but my photo with gesso.  This was a long process.  I wanted to get this thing ready for many layers of paint.

I covered my photo with a paper towel.  Now starts the fun...I used many of my Michelle's Musings misting sprays as well as the commercial sprays.  I layered and layered these paints and in spots, I used acrylic paints. I just really wanted to add colors.  When I got it like I wanted I removed the paper towel. I added gesso horizontal lines to give movement.

viola!!! It's all finished!

A simple thought and a simple design

Today is just a simple thought....We were at a ball game today getting killed.  The boys were looking kind of rough.  The heat was intense (and it is only May).  The score was very one sided....but my son was still smiling to his friends.  Still giving hi fives, still displaying a good attitude.  I am very blessed in this little boy...very very blessed.  I need to work on that kind of attitude, when things look hopeless I need to find the good.  It's there, I just need to find it. 

This is my first time doing the retro sketch.  When I found it I knew this was a site for me!  Here's my first entry:

I used a Ditto stamp by Hampton Arts for the background.  The ink used it Ranger Archival.  On top of that is a scrap piece of teal and another of pink.  It is a simple design but I think it has a big impact.  

I opted NOT to use the bow because I intend to mail this.  It would not be very post office friendly with a giant bow on the front.  However, it would have looked FANTASTIC!!!

Because I used the color combo for CR84FN I am also sharing it with my buddies there.

If you are a big scrapbooker, or even just beginning I encourage you to check out either of these sites.  Get you a jump start on ideas and have some fun while you are at it.  

Smoothing out my altered journey (CR84FN)

I have always been a little off the beaten path from what others have been.  I have enjoyed off the wall things, and been interested in the most bizarre objects.  Since I discovered the internet I realize there are others out there that have the same type of random thoughts.  That think their head will explode if they cannot pick up a paintbrush and just paint. Someone that gets a thrill just from walking down an aisle full of paper. Someone that feels that with a writing utensil and some paper you can make anything.Someone that dreams all week of the weekend so they can create ANYTHING!  Someone that has to take their art materials with them wherever they go, just in case somethings hits their very busy brain.  Someone that brain NEVER shuts off.  Yeah, that's me.

I have always taken pride that I am not like anyone else and I celebrate it in every way that I can. I have tried to convince my children to have this attitude, but that is not so easily done.  That is my work in progress, in the meantime here is how I am displaying my individuality today.  



A bit ago I began an art journal.  This was a regular John Grisham book that I picked up at McKay's for a quarter.  I decided  to alter it in every way possible.  The cover will be last because I want it to reflect what is inside the book.  I had to take out some of the pages because my art tends to be 3d and the book would not close.  Here are my journal entries for today.  I was very lucky that the colors match my favorite challenge CR84FN

 Poem found on the internet
Parenthesis and plastic like flowers-from a CKC class
Blue and pink paper open stock at Hobby Lobby
Girl and postmark stamp-Hot off the press
Flower on rosette-Stampin UP!
pink flowers from my parents 40th wedding anniversary party
blue flowers by prima
background inks by Michelle's Musings
other paints by Americana, Folk Art and Apple Barrel all acrylic
Image of Titanic from the internet (but I flipped it from the original photo)

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Hog Heaven tag, pink photo corners are Forest Friends by K&Co

Pink and blue card stock open stock from Hobby Lobby

Butterfly by Melody Ross and it was painted at an Archiver's class

Ghost Letters by Heidi Swapp

Special chipboard from an old kit.  I think it is Westrim Crafts (I was a beginning scrapper when I got it)

Quote from the Sound of Music-Maria

  Doily from my mom in laws house

bodice of dress made from Stampin UP! file tab punch

border punch by Fiskars!

Kraft card stock by Recollections

Be Yourself, believe, shoes and dress stamps are from the Dawn Houser set by Inkadinkadoo

Paint by Apple Barrel and Folk Art

Pink flowers from my parents 40th anniversary party

Shimmer and spray paints by Michelle's Musing

Distress paint by Tim Holtz

Houndstooth stamp by Technique Tuesday

quote by Edna Turnblad and Hairspray

Girl stamp in the corner by Hampton Arts

moon from a kit my daughter used when she was about 4 (she is now 15)

Patterned paper for dress by K&Co

CKC and growing up

 This was an event that I had looked forward to for months and months.  I planned the classes and activities with a friend then the countdown to the event began.  Life somehow got in the way during the 3 months it took to countdown to the event.  My life began to take a drastic turn.  I began to question life and my career.  I realized I was missing out on so many things...my kids were growing up, I was never home, and had no insurance.  Plus, there was a drastic feeling of my wheels being spun over and over and over with no end result.  I had hit a wall, a burn out?  Probably, so I began to change course.  Focus, on my home life.  To learn to be at home.  Change was coming.  I went on a few interviews and almost had a couple of jobs.  I felt that maybe God was telling me to wait.  I waited.  It happened over the course of 4 days.  Four very fast paced, but very welcome days.

Then began more of a growth, of a goodbye.  A goodbye to so much.  So much I will not bore you with here.  You came to learn of my CKC event.  It is just that the backstory of a life beginning over was part of it.

CKC was to be in September and I could see that it was going to be a solo event for me.  I decided to put on my big girl britches and do it myself. I was outgoing, I was going to have fun and I would have no regrets about it.  I called my aunt to arrange for a place to stay and called a scrapbook company and asked to work the event in their booth.

It turned out to be just as wonderful as I had planned.  I proved something to myself, I CAN DO IT!  On so many levels, I proved I can do it!  I still have bridges to cross, roads to pave, mountains to climb, but with God and my family.  I CAN DO IT!!!


I am not to old to GROW!

where have you been?

I look forward to things but I do not wish life away. I see so many people just wishing things away. Counting down to a future instead of trying to help fix today. The countdown doesn't bother me, it's the "I wish the next few weeks would fly by" or "I can't wait until next year".

I often end the day with questions, where did I screw up today? What did I do right today? How did I make a difference? The last question is the one the resonates in my brain. Where did I make a difference? Where did I make a difference? Where did I make a DIFFERENCE? I sure had better have an answer to that EVERY DAY!!

A difference does not have to be a gigantic world wide thing that everyone knows about. Only a few people might know, only a family might know, only one person may know, only God may know....

There have been sometimes lately that life has bothered me. The older I get,the more I see that mankind is not what I thought. There are people that truly care only about themselves,that have no morals, no spiritually, no decency , no respect, no compassion, no values, no love and no ability to take one for the team. I just can't understand why people seem to take the "easy road" or what I like to call the lazy road. Why people can't be treated as they wish to be treated? Why people can't put the good of the many in front of the good of the few, or the one. (thank you Mr Spock).

I have a cousin that has been talking about this sweet precious child that 11 weeks ago she was this happy little kid playing with her family and friends. In a short span of 11 weeks, she was sick, diagnosed with a brain tumor, and now she is gone. She was 5 years old. Do you see exactly how short life is? 11 weeks!!! You have to make your plans TODAY!



I challenge my friends to this...if you don't have a relationship with God, what a GREAT time to develop that! If you don't treat others as you would be treated, what a GREAT time to put yourself LAST! If you don't spend time with your children, what a GREAT time to make a deposit in their future! If you don't take care of the Earth, what a GREAT time to better it for the future! If you have NEVER voted, what a GREAT time to register! If you have been making plans to make a difference, do it NOW! If you are wishing away til Christmas break...remember a lot can happen in just 11 short weeks! And for those that were alive on September 11, 2001, you all know how life can change dramatically in less than ONE HOUR!

Live for today! For the moments that you have! Make a DIFFERENCE!!! Be a GIVER not a TAKER!