Back to my roots with art journaling on a scrapbook layout!

It's been a while since I pulled out texture paste, and glass bead gel. It's been forever since I used roller stamps and just randomly stamped around a page mark making. And it FELT SO GOOD! I know that being back to this style of scrapbooking and creativity is right for me, because it speaks to my heart.

I can't wait for you to see my latest creation here:

If you want to create beautiful pages, watch my process and learn new techniques, then start now by subscribing to my YouTube channel so that you don't miss any new projects.

A Masculine Layout with Feminine Touches? YES!

It's been a beautiful weekend here in the Pacific Northwest. Hot and sunny! I hope you enjoyed yours! My husband and I celebrated 15 years of marriage this week, and he bought me some lovely gifts to be used in my craft room. I cannot wait until my new project case arrives. I'll be able to craft more freely, being able to bring incomplete projects from one room to the next, so that I can finish them while watching TV or when I want to be in the dining room instead of isolated from my family. It's been a wonderful stress reliever, being able to get into doing something creative, while this pandemic rolls on. It's given me stress relief, my own space away when I feel overwhelmed, and just a place to be me, on my own. Once in a while we need that, right?

I know that very soon, I'm going to throw art journaling back into the mix as well, because it gives me a voice. Scrapbooking is wonderful, don't get me wrong! But I find it hard to journal out emotions on pretty pages about events that have nothing to do with how I am feeling in THIS moment. That needs another outlet; enter art journaling. When I did art journaling in the past, it was an act of pure creativity, abandoning perfection and an idea of what the end product should look like. And I could just sit, and add layer after layer, being mindful, and work through emotions in my own head, in my own space. That's how titles for pages would often come out. Something random would pop into my head, and end up on the page. Now that I'm reading about Morning Pages, I realize that I had been doing them in my own way in the past as art journal pages.

Now though, I'm scrapbooking again because I have so many memories to get down on pages. After my mother died almost two and a half years ago, I realized that there were so many of her pictures that I had seen, but I didn't know the story behind them. And there was no journaling. My mother had been a bit of a scrapbooker in her single days but decorated her pages, and not done any storytelling. And I inherited these pages, and that changed how I look at scrapbooking. Originally I had viewed it as another beautiful form of creative expression, art really. Now I see them as so much more. A legacy. Someone will read these once I'm gone. I need to tell the story. So you will definitely see a transformation in my pages in the near future. I will still do artsy pages believe me. I have too many beautiful embellishments to use. 

Which takes me to my latest layout. Here's a masculine layout with feminine touches. Who says that scrapbooking the boys and men in our lives has to be snips and snails and puppy dog tails? It can be an eclectic mix of metals and woods, along side flowers and flourishes. Want to see what I mean? Here's the process video for you. I hope you enjoy it and if you do, please subscribe and share it with friends.

So check in with me next post to see a storytelling page and see if you think I'm on the right track.

My own Fauxdori - a new obsession

I have a new obsession. Planners. Recently I bought an Erin Condren planner to help me with my business and myriad of appointments. I love it. It's pretty, but I find it too big to carry with me every day. 

Then I saw a friend of mine post her fauxdori on Facebook and I had to know what it was. What followed was a plethora of Google searches on Midori Traveller's Notebooks, and their DIY versions, along with insert. I found that I could have a planner, a journal, a sketchbook and more all in one lovely purse-sized notebook.

So I did some research on YouTube and other areas, and found Ray Blake, and decided to use his method for making a cover. Instead of leather, I decided to go with some denim that I glued to scrapbook paper for reinforcing. I sprayed it with sprays and painted some feathers through stencils too. I used several  different embellishments that I had laying around, namely Tim Holtz charms, clips and chain, some washi tape, a Simple Stories Snap Album insert, some metallic elastic, and journal cards.

I made my own inserts for my bullet journal using Ray Blake's inserts that he has generously put on his blog for download, and went to town making my own fauxdori.

I made a pen loop from duct tape and a brad, and it holds my pen quite nicely.

I love how thick and juicy it is without being cumbersome. And the discovery of a bullet journal works for me! So easy to keep notes, lists, and a brain dump all in one spot.

Hope you like the project and I've listed links below to the places where I found my inspiration and downloads.

Inserts:
Ray's insert downloads
Plastic pocket inserts

Cover:
Ray Blake's DIY notebook cover which inspired my cover

Other great resources for your own notebook on YouTube:
Rhomany's Rhealm
Jennifer Harvey

I love GRUNGE journal cover

Hi everyone! I shared my recent project on the Gauche Alchemy blog. Did you catch it there? No?? Here it is! 

Kiki here with my first project for Gauche Alchemy. As you’ll soon find out, I love grungy texture. No, scrap that. I have an OBSESSION with texture. I cannot seem to create without it, and look at the project and say I’m done. The more texture the better. And the more unusual the texture, the more fun it is to play with it.

This month for the February Challenge, I put a lot of different textures into the project. I love grunge. Love isn’t always pretty, soft and lacey. Sometimes it’s messy, chaotic and dirty! LOL

Want to see what I mean?

There’s so much texture in there I get giddy. I used gesso and drywall tape, inked up canvas, washi tape, paper scraps, cardboard, wood, cork, thread….ahhhhhh.

So what did you get out of the monthly challenge inspiration? I’d love to see your projects so make sure to play along, and please link me up to them so that I can go and leave you some love!

Quick peek inside my altered book!

I absolutely loved getting into the textures and sprays today. I hope you enjoy!

A delightful return

I love days like this - where the sky is grey and looks so cold but I set out to do something creative and productive. I dug out my art journal supplies and loaded them into a box I had and brought them downstairs to the kitchen table. Then I started on a page with splatters and streaks of colour.

It felt so good to dive into the stencils and textures, and get my fingers into gesso, and sprays. And so the name of the page - Return. In hindsight, I did notice a little something on the page that might be an alternate title. See if you see it as well.

Did you notice the title that popped off the page? Return Ticket. I thought that was kind of fun. I had no intention of that going together but they did.

This page really is like a return to art journaling for me. A return to my roots of journaling with textures, sprays, stencils, inked canvas and cardboard. I definitely live for the grunge when it comes to journaling.

I hope you enjoyed looking at this and get to journaling too sometime this week. It's a great way to clear your head after a week of craziness.

On an art journal train

When I cleaned up my craft room I found my Train CD that I've been missing so much. And then saw a quote from Drops of Jupiter, and figured it was time to do a Train inspired art journal page.

I sang this once with a band of friends at a large party. Was really fun! Those were the days!

Now that she's back in the atmosphere

With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey, hey

She acts like summer and walks like rain

Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey, hey, hey

Since the return from her stay on the moon

She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey, hey, hey

But tell me, did you sail across the sun?

Did you make it to the Milky Way

To see the lights all faded

And that heaven is overrated?

Tell me, did you fall from a shooting star?

One without a permanent scar

And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself out there?

Now that she's back from that soul vacation

Tracing her way through the constellation, hey

She checks out Mozart while she does Tae-Bo

Reminds me that there's room to grow, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere

I'm afraid that she might think of me as

Plain ol' Jane told a story about a man

Who was too afraid to fly so he never did land

But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?

Did you finally get the chance

To dance along the light of day

And head back to the Milky Way?

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?

Was it everything you wanted to find?

And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken

Your best friend always sticking up for you

Even when I know you're wrong?

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance

Five-hour phone conversation

The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?

Did you finally get the chance

To dance along the light of day

And head back toward the Milky Way?

But tell me, did you sail across the sun?

Did you make it to the Milky Way

To see the lights all faded

And that heaven is overrated?

And tell me, did you fall from a shooting star?

One without a permanent scar

And did you miss me

While you were looking for yourself?

na na na na na na na na na na na na na

And did you finally get the chance

To dance along the light of day?

na na na na na na na na na na

And did you fall from a shooting star?

Fall from a shooting star?

na na na na na na na na na

And were you lonely looking for yourself out there?

 

Gelli print background with stencils, hearts cut from previously inked paper,
paper towel, canvas, lace, Heidi Swapp heart, Dina Wakely stamp and a little Prima heart button.

And for the first time ever, I played with some embossing powder from Lindy Stamp Gang to give this heart some purple shimmer. I love the effect!

And I'm back to loving my SEI sprays in neon colours. I just can't resist that neon pink.

Have an amazing weekend!

Back in my journal

I had so much fun today getting back into my art journal. I used my altered book that I've been using for a couple years now and just sat down to play. There are so many layers in this spread that I really don't know how to explain where the pages begin and end. But there are a few gems that are tucked into the pages, like the seed beads that I adhered, and the music paper, as well as yummy texture paste.

It felt really good to sit down and play with my Lindy's sprays and stencils, along with my stamps and texture pastes. I had almost forgotten how much fun it could be. You'll be seeing more of my art journal pages in the future for sure.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Blast from the past - Art gives me wings

Today I thougtht I'd share a blast from the past, and an art journal page that I really loved working on.

Putting stencils on paper and spraying vibrant colours sometimes is all I need to get my mojo going and pour out my feelings onto paper. Today I woke up feeling rather down, for no apparent reason, but I decided not to waste my day in negativity.

I put Crafter's Workshop stencils and Dylusion stencils down on watercolour paper. I sprayed with some vibrant Dylusions sprays, and then my muse came out to play. I layered more stencils, sprays, strips of Basic Grey Plumeria papers I had from my Scrap'n with Flair July kit, down on the page. Texture paste ... and of course my trademark canvas and inked paper towels. Add some Prima resist canvas pieces, sprayed lace and I was well on my way. Christy Tomlinson stamp for some texture, dew drops and Prima gems and crystals. I dove in head first into my art journal. Grabbed a coordinating paint swatch and stamped my journalling down.

The complete spread in my Prima mixed media art journal

Left page

Right page

Inked paper towel ribbon and resist canvas stamp

Art gives me wings

Inked lace and gems on Plumeria papers

Inked paper towel flower on Prima resist canvas flower

Inked canvas and texture paste, Basic Grey papers and stamps. Heaven.

Negativity does not live in this mind today, not any more. I cut my paper in half and glued it down into my Prima mixed media art journal. And I am happy once again.

Mixed Media Playback

Starting today I'm going to be bringing back some of my favourite projects I've posted on my blog in the past years. Hope you enjoy them...again! You'll find a sneak preview of this post at Party Time Tuesdays blog!



Putting stencils on paper and spraying vibrant colours sometimes is all I need to get my mojo going and pour out my feelings onto paper. Today I woke up feeling rather down, for no apparent reason, but I decided not to waste my day in negativity.

I put Crafter's Workshop stencils and Dylusion stencils down on watercolour paper. I sprayed with some vibrant Dylusions sprays, and then my muse came out to play. I layered more stencils, sprays, strips of Basic Grey Plumeria papers I had from my Scrap'n with Flair July kit, down on the page. Texture paste ... and of course my trademark canvas and inked paper towels. Add some Prima resist canvas pieces, sprayed lace and I was well on my way. Christy Tomlinson stamp for some texture, dew drops and Prima gems and crystals. I dove in head first into my art journal. Grabbed a coordinating paint swatch and stamped my journalling down.

The complete spread in my Prima mixed media art journal

Left page

Right page

Inked paper towel ribbon and resist canvas stamp

Art gives me wings

Inked lace and gems on Plumeria papers

Inked paper towel flower on Prima resist canvas flower

Inked canvas and texture paste, Basic Grey papers and stamps. Heaven.

Negativity does not live in this mind today, not any more. I cut my paper in half and glued it down into my Prima mixed media art journal. And I am happy once again.

Another peek at my altered book

I've gotten back to art journaling and I'm loving it! So much texture, so much play. Especially when you start without knowing what the ending will look like.

I used lots of gesso, book paper, Prima papers, lace, Helmar Decoupage Craft Paste and more to get the texture I wanted on the page. And then I pull out my Shimmerz....love them! Had to use some lovely greens and pinks. My favourite colour combination lately.

Hope you enjoyed this look into my altered book art journal!

A little art journal fun!

It seems like forever since I've worked in my altered book art journal. The timing just seemed right, and I really wanted to play with all my new Shimmerz and Blingz. What fun I had!!

Layered flower using a die-cut baby wipe (previously used)

Shimmerz are just positively juicy!

Use your scraps and packaging in your art journals

Have a great week and play in your journals!

Something to celebrate!

Sometimes it's difficult to find something to celebrate. Especially when you live in this area and get a freezing rain and snow storm in the middle of April. And it's still on the ground too. So it can be challenging to look around and be positive about your surroundings. 

I've been challenging myself to "tip the scale" when it comes to having a positive outlook. I fully believe that if you are focused on positive things, you see more and more positivity in your life. And sometimes it's just a matter of increasing your outlook by 1% to get that scale tipping to being more positive than negative. 

So I recently decided that I would create art that would help me be more positive, such as my recent art journal page I did for Scrapbooking from the Inside Out, and a positive affirmation mini album using Prima's Songbird collection.

Using Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's April Fortune kit

You can read the positive journaling

My positive affirmation mini using two paper bags and Prima Songbird

And I have some pretty amazing news to share as well today.

It's going to be an amazing year, because I've been selected to join a group of very talented ladies on the 2013 Helmar Design Team. It's such a thrill to be on this team, because I love their products and am anxious to challenge myself to use their adhesives and products differently.

Needless to say, this boosted my positive outlook and I really am in celebration mode, ready to continue to tip the scale every day and reap the benefits.

I hope you've had a great weekend so far, and continue to be positive about the future. What are you celebrating today?