Me and Daily Life Project. Daily Life Project and Me.

Like many, I started keeping a daily calendar with the Daily Life Project gals at Art to the 5th.

I bought a calendar at our local bookstore, took the cover off and personalized it using the same technique as this art journal.

I was going to be organized (I'm terrible about dates), I was going to art journal more regularly, I was going to follow directions...

And I did, at first.

I added my tip-ins, I followed the challenges, I even remembered to write in a few appointments and remember them.

Then I went berzerker and made it my own.

I paste pictures that I like.
Sometimes I end up with a theme of sorts.

I doodle.

I try out new products.
Giving my gelatos here.

I write menus, save tags and sleeves.
I talk to myself.

 I decorate weeks that haven't even occurred yet.
Isn't that Bear and squirrel card AWESOME!?!

Sometimes I even look up and complete the challenges, I just do it in my own way.

I think the  Art to the 5th Artists would appreciate my using their project as an outline and letting it be a jumping off point for me.

They seem pretty cool like that.

And I do thank them for getting me started on my messiness.
It has helped me to be more creative, not organized so much, but I take full credit for that!

Colors of Summer: Hot Pink and Tangerine

I have been having fun with my supplies this week.

I started "Go Green" with Rae Missigman   --a class in the 21 Secrets Workshop series.

 

At first I didn't think I'd like the class too much since Rae's style isn't quite mine, but I decided to give it a shot.  As soon as I saw her flinging gesso all over the place, I couldn't stop myself from rushing to my art room!

 

Actually...I fling.  Rae is incredibly neat and doesn't get gesso or paint on her glass table or herself  (I think she might be magic).  I got gesso, paint, ink, and chalk on my work table, my shirt, my belt, hair and in my nails.

I started working in a box lid because I was so messy.

 

I decided to combine this journal project with this week's Summer of Color 3 Challenge at twinkle, twinkle.

A Journal Cover in hot pink and tangerine with LOTS of gesso!

 

I've been experimenting with gesso stamping too.

 

Just paint gesso on your stamp and press--the effect is much more texture and is lighter than using ink.  Be sure to rinse your stamps right away--do not let the gesso dry on them.

Rae uses paper towels for her layering to give the cover a multilayered, grungy-chic effect.

I went with paper doilies--they're are much harder to layer, but I like the lacey look.

 

Confession:  I'm still finishing the cover.

  Up next is embellishments and packing in the pages.  I'll be sure to share!

 

Spirit Doodling

 

Does that sound totally funky weird?

Trust me (maybe that sounds funky weird)...it's not!

 

This is my first exercise in Whitney Ferre's "Sacred Journaling"class--

One of 21 classes in the 21 Secrets Art Journaling workshop

 

 $59 for 21 classes.

Work at your own pace. 

Take all the classes, take three, take 10....it's up to you.

 

Crazy or not (and I didn't think it was crazy, but was thinking the general public might), it's a fun exercise and lets you warm-up your creative mind.

It could even help you dive into your inner self!

 

A Very Good Place To Start

Blank page staring right back at you?

Watercolor palette not issuing specific instructions on what to with it?

 

Fool them both and fill that blank page with a painting of your watercolor box!

I saw this on somebody's blog somewhere and I wish I could remember who it was so I could give them proper credit.  Thanks for the inspiration and helping me break in my supplies!

 

 

There's nothing simpler...watercolors are usually circles or squares of pigment arranged in a rectangle.  You don't need to add your brush like I did, but why not go for it! 

 

Actually, when I started the squares of color were all neat and tidy, but I when I noticed that after initiating them they'd become quite messy and I wanted to keep painting, so I did

 

Oh!  Yes, that is purple ink.  I was so excited to get started that I grabbed purple instead of black.  I was too engrossed in what I was doing to even notice that I'd done it, but I like it!

 

Talking to my colors

I'm in Alisa Burke's

Wonder & Whimsy Online Workshop!

 

So I went for it with my colors as part of the 1st lesson.

BTW...no worries that I'm giving away Alisa's lesson here.  As usual, I didn't follow directions well at all, but I sure had fun

 

Barbara Smallover, if you're out there, I STILL remember playing the alphabet art game with you!

In some cases I journaled TO the colors.

 

Black is just not going to be able to take a starring role in this workshop--my own choice after this exercise--and I needed to work through that.

 

Natural colors will have their usual place. 

No making fun of the "teeth sheep".  I'm not going to point to it, but if you find it?  No laughing...even though it is pretty dang weird looking!

 

 

 

Linking To: Whatever Goes Wednesday #160

Room's Clean & I'm Back With A Booker

A Year in the Life Art Journal Challenge

Week One: One Word
 

BOOKERS: Use watercolors on your page to emulate your word... (if you don't have water colors, watered down acrylic paint will do just fine.) use color to convey that word and what it means to you. While your paint is WET, sprinkle salt on it, and let it sit. When your paint is dry, brush off the salt.

Can you see the Caffeine Atom in there?

 

I actually took some time out from cleaning and did this last week.

I was waiting for some sunlight to take a picture and post.

Alas, I had to settle for the flash on my camera.

 

You can check out my mug shot for this challenge here

 

 



Three Years Late To The Party....

Nonetheless,

I shall party with the best of 'em.

Ali Edwards'
known-by-everyone-in-the-world-but-me
December Daily 2012

You can stop laughing at my expense now.
Yes, I am the LAST person to discover this, but doesn't it look FUN?!!

There's a flickr group for tons of ideas, Ali Edwards has a workshop if you want to make one just like hers, or you can just Google "December Daily" (I use images) and see even more ideas.
EEK!!!

Tons and tons of free printables too.
Here's some I found:
 

Labels from Creativity Prompt

Ormolu's Everyday December Journaling Set

December Pages from Pretty Little Studio

Green & Red Number Labels from Odrai

 

And I must thank Claire from Handmade in the UK.

for my invitation to party.

She didn't know she was inviting me, but that's how I found out about this whole December Daily Journaling Party Thing.

 

For even more ideas:

 Claire is deciding on a what to do this year and has been featuring

December Daily Journals by other bloggers.

She also has a FABULOUS blog!

November Witch in Pink

I'm done!

From Kaffe Fusion Crochet-Along

With the squares, anyway.

25 crochet bordered PINK squares!!!!

Now I've gotta arrange them, put them together and crochet a border.

Celebrate the small victories!

 

Like "stuffed" pumpkin, but don't want to sew and stuff?

 

Check out my tutorial here.

Now's the time to pick up faux pumpkins on MEGA SALE!!

 

I just purchased three more at 80% off at Michael's yesterday.

I think I'll go with some tweedy material for them.

 

Another prized purchase yesterday...

 

The Complete Decorated Journal by Gwen Diehn.

Very excited about learning some more techniques.

Art Journaling has been so fulfilling for me lately.

 

Fulfilling and relaxing.  All good.

Linking to: Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

 

D.C.

We're headed for a week in DC Saturday!

It'sthe  second time for me and Joel.  Addie's first :).

We didn't even come close to covering the town last time we were there--so much to see and show Addie.

 

Very excited!

I'll take lots of pictures!

 

And I'll journal.

In order to do that I  need a journal, so I started by folding and sewing signatures out of fun, busy papers...

 But then I discovered that busy, fun journals are like curtains to me.

I love the IDEA of them, but can't have them in my house.

I like plain.

 

Enter one plain moleskin journal, covered with a more subdued, government-worthy paper and stickers I got in a sale bin for 25 cents and periwinkle polka-dot washi tape (blue for democrat with a periwinkle twist for liberal)*

 Don't worry, I'll messy it up by the time I'm done.

 

 This one started out with nothing but text and a hula girl on the front.

 

 I had stuff glued in before I even got off the plane!

Really, though...would you have snacks labeled "Oh NO!" on a plane?

And that spoon from Yogurtland that's sticking out? 
Hello Kitty special edition, my friend!

*Note on the liberal dem tape...if you're not one that's fine. I live in a very conservative town that I still love and have MANY friends who are conservative Republicans.  Turns out we all just want the best for our kids and we're nice people--that's a better thing to go on than political/social leanings!

Trash Talk

 I did it!

I got to 10 on my Trash List.

Can trash be a list?

Why not?  It's a Reuse.



First off, IGNORE the plaque filled arteries. 

That's a separate thing (duh!)

Okay, here we have:

1.  Via packet

2. Tea bag packet w/a comment about environmentally-friendly loose leaf

3. Hot Cocoa directions for idiots

4. Extra add from a Pez dispenser w/ an invite to visit

8. Twistie tie

9. Perfume tester from Sephora

10. Meat sticker

Here we have Bo's nose.

We haven't taken a walk yet and he'd like to know why I'm wasting time blogging.

And the final Trash:

5. Hair appt. card that I never remember to take out of my purse anyway

6. ATM receipt

7. $10 coupon for Oriental Trading--won't even cover shipping.

 

THAT'S TEN TOTAL!

Reaching trashy goals can feel so right! ;)