A Secret Santa gift!

Hi everyone! As I said in  my first post for December, I am very excited to be the host of Art Journal Journey Monthly this month.  It is my very first time hosting and I am having a blast so far.

Here is a little bit about Art Journal Journey Monthly:

"Each month there is a new challenge theme for you to take part in. Our participants are art-journalers, altered book artists, rubber stamp addicts, and mixed media artists from all over the world. You are invited to take part by linking via the Link tool on their site.  

Please be considerate and remember that greeting cards, ATCs, and tags will not be accepted unless they are part of your journal page, and we will be forced to delete the link.  

However, as of November 1, 2021, we are no longer limiting the size of the journal or journal pages.  If you want to create a mini journal, it will be accepted.  However, it must look like a journal and not a card or tag.

Artwork created in an art journal, altered book, on canvas, or loose pages as well as digital and fabric art of any size are now acceptable."

My theme for December is "Snow."  You can interpret it in sp many ways - snowfall, snow storms, snow flakes, etc.  Or you can use your imagination, for instance "the snowball effect!"

Today I am sharing a Secret Santa gift that I made: 

I had so much fun making this handmade item for my first Secret Santa swap! I decided to make a framed canvas using Tim Holtz dies, distress oxide inks, distress grit paste, texture paste and frosted crystals! 

For reference, I used a step-by-step tutorial by Anne Kristine Holt, found on the Sizzix UK blog, on November 12, 2013! 

I am very honored to have been asked to host Art Journal Journey this month.  I hope you get a chance to head over to their blog.  You will be amazed at all of the beautiful entries you will see from talented artists all over the world!

I love what I have seen already and I cannot wait to see the next projects that YOU create.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Snow Joy for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone! I am very excited to be the host of Art Journal Journey Monthly for the month of December:

Here is a little bit about Art Journal Journey Monthly:

"Each month there is a new challenge theme for you to take part in. Our participants are art-journalers, altered book artists, rubber stamp addicts, and mixed media artists from all over the world. You are invited to take part by linking via the Link tool on their site.  

Please be considerate and remember that greeting cards, ATCs, and tags will not be accepted unless they are part of your journal page, and we will be forced to delete the link.  

However, as of November 1, 2021, we are no longer limiting the size of the journal or journal pages.  If you want to create a mini journal, it will be accepted.  However, it must look like a journal and not a card or tag.

Artwork created in an art journal, altered book, on canvas, or loose pages as well as digital and fabric art of any size are now acceptable."

My theme for December is "Snow."  You can interpret it in many ways - snowfall, snow storms, snow flakes, etc.  Or you can use your imagination, for instance "the snowball effect!"

Here is the first page I created for December:

I took this photo on one of my morning walks last year - it just happened to be on Christmas Eve day!  For my layout, I used pattered paper that I had on hand that had a snow flake background.  I added matts and  my photo, then some more die cut buildings, a tree, snow flakes and my title  . . . and I was finished!  

I am very honored to have been asked to host Art Journal Journey this month.  I hope you get a chance to head over to their blog.  You will be amazed at all of the beautiful entries you will see from talented artists all over the world!

I cannot wait to see what YOU create.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  Happy December.  Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Let's Make a Splash . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone!  It's nearly the end of November and the holiday season will officially be upon us!   This year has literally flown by! 

I am here today sharing my latest project made for ArtStacks!

ArtStacks revealed their new MiniStacks on November 8th:

They have three new packs - Tea Break, Coffee Time and Happy Hour. They are all available in tissue, cardstock and digital formats. Head over to their shop to see what's inside the packs!

Here is my project made using their Happy Hour MiniStack:

I started by painting a watercolor background in green, yellow, and blue on 12″ x 12″ paper.  I made my background by using the Tissue Backgrounds pack, Tracy Verdugo's Under the Sea Artist Series pack, and Claire Stead's Colourful Zine Kit Artist Series pack. And the balloons are from the All Dressed Up pack.  I added 2 photos that I took during our "girls week at the beach" trip last summer.  And I had to add elements from the new release Happy Hour MiniStack to my page!  They were perfect here because we were celebrating happy hour at the beach in the photos!

I hope I have inspired you to make a project of your own using ArtStacks' beautiful products!

 

I am also linking my page to Art Journal Journey Monthly's theme for November:

This month is hosted by Wendy K from wendysartandcraftjournal. Her theme for November is “About the Sea.” She says:  This can be anything that is on, in or by the sea. Have fun with it!

My page contains photos taken by the sea, and has tissue paper fish and a starfish.

I would like to thank Wendy and Art Journal Journey for helping to inspire me to create my page!

And thank YOU so much for stopping by my blog today.   Enjoy the rest of November! 

We Love Coffee . . . for ArtStacks!

 Hi everyone!  I am here today sharing my latest project made for ArtStacks!

ArtStacks was so excited to reveal their brand new MiniStacks on November 8th:

They have three new packs - Tea Break, Coffee Time and Happy Hour. They are all available in tissue, cardstock and digital formats. Head over to their shop to see what's inside the packs!

Here is my project:

I had so much fun making this 12 x 12 mixed media scrapbook page using ArtStacks new Coffee Time MiniStack. And I also used their Tissue Backgrounds pack as well.  Head over to ArtStacks' blog to see a step-by-step tutorial as to how I made my page.

I hope I have inspired you to create a project of your own!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!

Precious Friends . . . for Challenge YOUrself!

Hi everyone.  I have been so busy this month that I am just getting around to posting the new challenge at Challenge YOUrself.

Challenge YOUrself #131 opened on November 7th, 2024 and closes on December 4th, 2024:

The theme for this month's challenge is a grid challenge.  We would like you to create a layout using a grid pattern and we love creativity!

Here is the page that I created for the challenge:

The background paper is from 49 and Market's "Rusty Autumn" collection.  And I loved creating my grid pattern with rick-rack!

You can check out Challenge YOUrself #131 on Facebook and their blog.  Each month you have a random chance to win a 12 x 12 scrapbooking kit!

I hope you get a chance to play along with us at  Challenge YOUrself this month!

Thank YOU, so much, for stopping by my blog today.  I hope the rest of your November is wonderful.

Blessed . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

 Hi everyone.  It's October and time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself:

Challenge YOUrself #130 opened on Octoberber 7th and closes on November 4th:

This month's challenge is to create a project using circles.  They can be cut out circles, drawn on circles, die cut circles, stamped circles, brads, enamel dots, etc.  And as always, include at least one photo of YOU!

Here is the mixed media scrapbook page that I made for this challenge:

I always try to create my projects based on a photo or group of photos that mean something to me.  I have always loved this photo taken during a pre-school field trip (to the pumpkin patch) in 2008. My mom was able to go with us, which made the day even more special!   For the challenge, I made a number of different die cut circles using coordinating colors to go with the background paper, which is from the 49 and Market "Rusty Autumn" collection.  It was simple and easy to make.

I hope you get a chance to check out  Challenge YOUrself this month!  We would love to see YOUR circle inspired projects.

I am also linking my page up to Art Journal Journey's October challenge:

This month is hosted by Alison from Craftytrog.  Her theme for October is “Autumn Colors and Inspiration.”   She says:  "We're well into Autumn here in England and have beautiful red and gold leaves falling from our trees.  Toadstools are popping up everywhere and the ground is littered with acorns, conkers, and chestnuts.  I'm asking you to use Autumn inspiration and colours in your pages.  I look forward to seeing what you make."

As you can see, my page is all about Autumn.  It is my favorite time of the year!

I hope you get a chance to head over to Art Journal Journey Monthly and to see all of the amazing entries this month.  I am always in awe of the talented artists that participate in these challenges!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.  Happy October!

A Collection of Memories . . . for ArtStacks!

Hi everyone!  I am here today sharing my latest project made for ArtStacks!

I made a 'zine' using one of Claire Stead's new Artist Series releases, her Colourful Zine Kit:

I confess that I actually never heard of a zine before I saw Claire's new packs.  I was totally intrigued and couldn't wait to make mine.  I followed Claire's video (the link is included in her pack) and found that it was simple and fun to make.  I printed out my own photos as I wanted to make is a collection of memories about me, but you can use Claire's amazing pictures that are included in her kit, too!

Here is my project:

The front cover:

Page 1 and 2:

Page 3 and 4:

Page 5 and 6:

Back Cover:

My tags - front:

My tags - back:

I cannot tell you just how much I enjoyed creating my very first zine.  I especially liked personalizing it and making it about me.  I added some of my own handwriting, type-written words, washi tape, twine, and photos.  The rest was made using Claire Stead's Colourful Zine Kit and following her video!

And what's fun is that you can make YOURS about anything you like!

Thank you, Claire, for the inspiration. 

I hope I have inspired you to create a zine of your own!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!