Three weeks ago, I started taking Christy’s She had Three Hearts workshop. In the first week, Christy had 29 videos. Most of them showed different products and how they can be used for art journaling. While I had several of the products, there were a few I’d heard of but never tried and I ended up buying a few of them after watching the videos.
I’m a firm believer that talented people can work with whatever they have at hand. You do not need expensive art supplies to create great art. However, I’ve also come to believe that some mediums work better for some people. For example, I don’t like working with acrylic paint most of the time because I am impatient and don’t like to wait for it to dry and it never comes out the way I like. But I love watercolor (on watercolor paper). So I decided that I wanted to experiment some and find my favorite mediums. Christy’s videos not only prompted me to buy some new supplies but they also were the catalyst for me to sit and do some art journaling.
The first thing to do was pick a book. I didn’t want to buy something new and I’m already using the A4 watercolor moleskine for my weeklong pages so I had a few large Sketchbook Moleskines I’d bought earlier this year (for the portrait drawings) and I decided to repurpose one of those.
My goal was to just play so I can find my way of creating art journaling. I also decided my colors are happy colors. I like bright, strong colors on my scrapbooking so I thought I might like the same in art journaling. I slapped a bunch of color on my background using the watersoluble crayons and then I drew some hearts and just went from there. I ended up with this:
The amazing quote stamp is from cat’s life press and the doily one is from My Mind’s Eye. Everything else is just sequin waste and random texture.
I was pretty happy with this page. Didn’t adore it but felt much better than my previous pages. Two days later, I received my Graphtint pencils and wanted to try them out, so the background here is created by those pencils. I then added some handwriting, some lace, flowers, etc and a lot of journaling. I ended up with something like this.
I stared and stared at the page, worked on it for a long time and just did not like how it turned out. I really really disliked my handwriting especially. So, the next day, I covered it up with book paper, recreated some more background, added some more flowers, layers, etc and ended up with this.
which is still not great but i like it so much more. So much.
The next day, my long awaited panpastels arrived and I was in heaven. I had waited so long to get these and I was suddenly so so glad to have them. I love and adore this medium. It’s like it was invented for me. I created this simple page right away. Back to my happy, bright colors.
I used my cricut to cut a bunch of shapes so I could use them as templates and it worked like a charm.
I loved this medium so much that I did two more pages that same night. One of them is now saved for another project but here is the other:
This page also uses the Crafter’s Workshop template I bought. See those bright penpastels? I love them!
And then I used another new medium I adore, the Liquitex Acrylic Ink! to create this page. I had also resisted buying these but I adore them. Even though I don’t usually like acrylic, these are wonderful in that they are very pigmented and very vivid and they dry right away. I love them.
And that’s it for now. More pages coming next week. I haven’t stopped making pages since I received all these products and I am so happy. I love these happy pages. I love creating and I am just enjoying the process for now. Thank you for letting me share.
This morning David had a breakfast/show thing at school so I got up at 6 and did my exercise first thing so that we could all go to school together. The classroom was really beautiful and all the kids were wearing PJs (it was also pajama day) and they sang to us and got their kindergarten certificates and memory books. It was wonderful to watch. Then we came back home and Jake went to work and I got to work too. A few hours later David’s school called (which always scares me) and told me he had pinkeye and I had to come get him.
So I did. You can see it a bit here but I’m still not 100% sure it’s pinkeye. Nonetheless, it looks really red. (though he says it doesn’t itch or hurt at all.)
Little boy is still a bit cranky and his nose is still dripping like crazy. Here’s the I-m-watching-tv smile again.
And a few more.
Just for me.
I love him so.
I am still feeling worn out and a bit rough on the edges. Maybe it’s hormonal. No idea. Just wish it would go away. Also still art journaling like crazy. I’ve done 12 pages in less than two weeks. Truly enjoying the process. No plans for tonight. None of the todo list items are getting done cause I am too tired and don’t feel inspired to do anything (except art journal apparently.)
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for my sister’s wedding anniversary. 17 years! That’s a long time to be married! I love you both so much.
2. I am grateful that I work at home. I was thinking about that as I drove to school to get David today and how flexible my schedule is that I could drop everything and go get him right away. I am deeply grateful.
3. I am grateful for my husband and my kids who always ground me and who are constant reminders of what I have to be grateful for in my life and that my life is so very full.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that it was pajama day. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that daddy will spend some time with me.
3. I am grateful that it’s one more day to my wii day.
Here are the sketches from this week. In my opinion, this week’s sketches leave much to be desired. I was just not in my element this week. Oh well, at least I still did it daily.
On Wendesday, I started with a quick girl.
right after, I did another one the same artist. First I drew a quick outline:
then i colored it:
Thursday I did this sweet girl.
Friday was this boy and girl. I love this artist and have some of her artwork in my home.
on Saturday I made the gothic tree. I wanted to go back to graphite.
on Sunday, I tried to do this amazing painting and failed miserably. Especially with the face.
Monday, I went back to graphite and drew the houses:
and Tuesday I drew this girl. Like the hammock one, I drew it first:
and then colored it in:
and here we are.
I am finding myself a little rough around the edges for the last few days. I am tired and worn out and this morning as I picked up Nathaniel from his crib, I injured my back a bit so that didn’t help. Nathaniel’s still super cranky and has a runny nose. That’s not helping either. But such is life. Some days are great and other days you just get by. I have so many things I want to say and write about but I find myself too exhausted.
Here’s the little one watching some Calliou. He’s been getting to watch TV only cause he’s sick. I am a bit more lenient cause it’s been a rough week but things will turn around.
Here he is giving the camera a smile as he watches.
And, David writing his journal.
And giving me a smile while watching TV, too.
I am still doing a lot of art journaling and I am enjoying it tremendously. More than just about anything else right now. All I can think of is making pages in my journal. I know I will slow down soon but I am making the most of playing with paint for now. Tonight’s a quiet night and I think I will curl up with my Soul Restoration 2 homework and a good book. And maybe, just maybe, a little art.
I hope you are doing well. Sorry I’ve been mopey lately. I’ve been thinking about the blog a bunch, too and not sure if I should add more, different content. Is there something you’d like to see here?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a quiet night. I need the rest.
2. I am grateful for public television. That it has good, high-quality shows for my kids to watch.
3. I am grateful for honesty and candidness and connection.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got some polished rocks at school because of Lia’s birthday. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I we finished our book.
3. I am grateful that tomorrow is pajama day!
Here’s this week’s truth cards:
ninth card [inspiration]
and tenth card: [inspiration]
and eleventh: [inspiration]
and here’s the twelfth: [inspiration]
that’s it for this week.
Truth cards are ATC-sized cards I am creating as part of my homework for Soul Restoration. You can read more about it here.
Today was one of those days where I feel like the whole day was wasted away. Nathaniel was doing fine early morning and drew while I did the same.
I love watching him at his table.
Then I sketched and he played with the kitchen timer.
Then it was time for a nap and the whole world collapsed. He wailed and wailed and wailed. I finally got him to calm down and sleep and then it was super short-lived and he wailed for an hour when he was up. Finally his mood changed again and we could all breathe. Then it was time to get David, of course.
and by the time Daddy got home, everyone was rejoicing and life was good again.
Phew. Long long day here and nothing much to show for it. I think I will spend tonight relaxing and doing more of my Soul Restoration homework. Hope your day was less insane than mine.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for soul restoration 2. I love and adore that class deeply.
2. I am grateful for art journaling. I’ve managed to do nine pages in the last week and I can’t seem to stop. I just want to play play play.
3. I am grateful that, as of tomorrow, David has one week of school left. summer is almost here!.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I saw a talent show at school. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I read my book (called “one”) to the whole class.
3. I am grateful that daddy gave me a flashlight.
This page was inspired by a scrapbook page I saw a long long time ago that I cannot find anymore. But all I did was just pinger paint colors. And that was it.
Here it is empty:
I took a ton of photos as I did each of the steps in this page, you can read all about it in an upcoming write.click.scrapbook. post.
This is one of the rare pages where I mostly embellished on the top.
here’s the left page:
And the right side:
And here’s the filled page:
I love the way it looks with all the colors. Happy page!
Weekly Art Journal is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here. And you can find out more about the weeklong daily journaling here.
The little boy was super duper cranky today. I think he’s a little sick. His nose is super-drippy and he’s warm. I’ve been giving him a little medicine but mostly just trying to be nice and let him have his way more often than not. He’s been drawing a lot.
And going through David’s things.
David’s being quite nice to him, too. He seemed happy today and I think it’s funny that he’s wearing all those silly bands but he likes them.
And Nathaniel loves having the book basket on the couch. He goes through it several times a day.
He also loved that he got to watch TV today.
It was a quiet day here (except when Nathaniel was cranky). I did a little art, a lot of work, and now I am off to date night. So I will keep this short. more tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for all the art I’ve been immersing myself into lately.
2. I am grateful that my watercolor class began today and soul restoration begins tomorrow. I am so looking forward to it.
3. I am grateful for date night. Love going to the movies.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got a silly band from Lia. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I watched TV.
3. I am grateful that I played with one of Alec’s cars at school.
Well here’s to another fantastic weekend day! I woke up relatively early and Nathaniel was still sleeping though as soon as he woke up he started rummaging through the books.
I love how he checks out every single one to find what he likes.
Then I exercised, showered and set up for family photos. Nathaniel was in charge, of course.
Here’s David wishing he had the remote.
beginning of tickle time.
full-on tickle time. We all love tickle time. David’s been asking me if we can make the whole session tickle time.
Nathaniel was wearing pants that were too big on him so they fell off and here’s David helping him put shorts on. I love this photo even though it’s blurry.
And then we each did our own thing for a while. David did his workbooks. Nathaniel drew.
And drew more.
Then David was on the computer.
I love watching him type and use the laptop keyboard.
And while they played I did a lot of art.
I did more and more art pretty much the whole time. Art journal pages, background for my weeklong journal, truth cards, etc. Then it was family night so we played Blokus and it was a lot of fun. Now the kids are in their room and I am off to do a little more art. Then I have to send emails and prepare blog posts. I feel very happy and full at this moment. I really love all the art I immersed myself in this week. I promise there’s a post coming about all my pages. I just have to stop doing art and write about it. Just not yet.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for getting to do more art.
2. I am grateful for podcasts and hulu. Both of which have been keeping me company while I do art.
3. I am grateful that my exercise felt a lot more manageable today.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that it’s family night. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with Daddy.
3. I am grateful that there are eight more days of school left.
I am growing more and more fond of our empty weekends. It means we can take our time, relax, and do things at our own pace. I started this morning with my exercise and then of course some family shots.
As always Nathaniel was running the show (even if he wasn’t looking at the camera himself).
He got devastated when I took the remote.
But not for long since it was tickle time!
then we all hung out and played and relaxed. I worked on my art journal on and off. I just got the pan pastels and I am officially in love.
Nathaniel napped, I worked to help Jake, read some of my book, and did some more art. Then it was time for all of us to go to Sunset Celebration Weekend since we had comped tickets. We walked around for a bit, ate some yummy food and then came back home. Nathaniel tackled David’s books to find all the car and train ones. His eye is much better, thankfully.
And David played Wii, of course.
That was pretty much our day. I’ve already started another art journal page. My fourth this week. They seem to take a long time and I am always unsure of whether it’s finished or whether i should add more. But I am learning. I am going to keep going until it feels more comfortable and I’ve tried lots of mediums.
Tonight I plan to rest and read. And then early sleep. Tomorrow, we rinse and repeat! yey!!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for art journaling. For getting to play with and learning to use new mediums.
2. I am grateful for Nathaniel’s eye getting better so glad not to see it tearing up anymore.
3. I am grateful that I have another weekend day!!
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that we went to sunset celebration weekend. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with Daddy.
3. I am grateful that I played Wii.
Happy Friday! Today was one of those “i don’t know where the time went” kind of days for me. I did a bunch and had a friend over briefly even but I still feel like the day got away from me. When I put Nathaniel down for his nap he wasn’t happy. He then said ouch ouch after a while so I went back up and he was pointing to his eye. But when I took him out, he seemed better so I thought maybe he was faking it to not nap. I put him back in and he finally fell asleep.
When he woke up 45 minutes later he was still super cranky and would not relax for a long time. As we went to get David, I noticed his eye was still watery and I couldn’t tell if it was because he kept rubbing it or cause he was hurt. I called the doctor and they said to come in so they could check. So I picked up David and we went in. And I am so glad we did!! It turned out that the little boy had somehow managed to scratch his cornea. No wonder he was so grouchy and frustrated. My poor poor boy.
When we got back home, I snapped some super quick photos.
But none of us were in the mood really.
We read David’s book, ate some dinner and Jake came home so David and I took a walk just the two of us cause I didn’t want to risk any dirt getting in Nathaniel’s eye. We gave him his medicine and he’s finally asleep. I feel so bad for the little boy and how much pain he must have been in without being able to express himself.
No plans for the weekend. Sunset magazine is nearby to us and they’re having their celebration weekend so we might stop by there but we’re expecting a lot of rain here so I plan to sit at home, curl up with books, play with my wonderful new art supplies and just cuddle up with my kids. To me, that’s the best kind of weekend.
Hope yours is great, too.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I called the doctor and took Nathaniel in. I am glad I didn’t ignore it. I am glad it’s a small scratch and it will heal very soon.
2. I am grateful for a quiet weekend with no major todo list items.
3. I am grateful that I did a little art journaling today. Even though I didn’t like how the page turned out, I love that I tried, experimented and I will keep doing so.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got a Pokemon card and two lollipops. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I get a notebook tomorrow. I told him he could bring one to school to write in during lunchtime.
3. I am grateful that I got to have a lollipop.
Well, today’s exercise was super-hard, too but I did it. I powered through it and I was very thankful when it was done! Then I made a layout and sketched and spent some time with Nathaniel. At his insistence, his little table is now right next to mine so he can color as I scrap and we can be physically close to each other. I love that!
And then he napped, I worked and worked. Then it was time to get David. He was wearing a green shirt with blue jeans and looked so handsome so I asked him to pose for some photos. Nathaniel got jealous right away so he ran to give him a hug.
Then he made some goofy faces for me.
then Nathaniel interrupted again and they laughed and laughed.
and hugged some more.
Then David fake-fell on the floor so Nathaniel did too.
He said a fake “ouch!”
So David did, too!
and then Nathaniel sat on him and they hugged some more.
Aren’t they wonderful!! I love my kids and feel so blessed.
I am off to do some more scrapbooking. When I have things due, I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting to finish them so I will not rest easy until these are done. But just two more to go so I can see the light. I have also begun to art journal a bit (as well as my weeklong one) but I can’t figure out which day to post them since I have too many posts already. I don’t want to overwhelm anyone. Maybe during the weekend?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for happy happy colors. My current layouts are filled with super happy colors and I love that.
2. I am grateful for pinterest. I haven’t been using it as much lately but it still makes me deeply happy.
3. I am grateful that I got my new fitbit. My old one has battery problems so they sent me a replacement. I am hoping it will fix my problems and I am so happy to have the new one.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played on the computer. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I did word searches at school.
3. I am grateful that Daddy came home early.
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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