A Wonderful Expression of the Universe . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

 Hi everyone!  ArtStacks has exciting news this month!

They recently released 2 new Artist Series packs!!   They are thrilled to announce that their new Artist Series artist is Tamara Laporte!  "Tamara is known on Instagram as #willowing and her incredible art is an inspiration to us all."

Here are Tam 's new Artist Series packs:

Fabulous Faces:            

Artsy Animals:            

 

To kick things off,  ArtStacks is featuring 12 DAYS OF #WILLOWING INSPIRATION on Facebook and Instagram! They are sharing inspirational art from their Design Team using Tamara Laporte's new release papers for 12 days!

Today is Day 9, and my turn to share an art journal spread I created using Tam's Fabulous Faces pack:  

I made my pages featuring Tam's woman with red hair from the Fabulous Faces pack. The quote, the flowers, the butterfly and the flourishes are also from this same pack. I absolutely LOVED creating this page using ArtStacks' pack with Tam's images. And the background paper is from 49 and Market's Sherbet Foundations collection.

To learn more about Tam's packs (and all of the available packs), please head over to ArtStack's shop.  And while you are there, you can check out their blog to see what the talented design team members are creating. 

I am also linking my spread to the March Art Journal Journey Monthly challenge: 

This month is hosted by Valerie of Bastelmania!  Her theme is ANYTHING GOES!  She says . . . This is a good time to journal your heart out, play around, try things you haven't done beforehand, experiment with different mediums etc.

Thanks so much, Valerie and Art Journal Journey for your wonderful inspiration.  I am having so much fun this month!  YAY!

And thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

Happy crafting . . .

Trust the Universe . . . for ArtStacks!

 Hi everyone!  It's my turn to share my March art journal spread made for ArtStacks  . . .

I always enjoy working with ArtStacks'  packs and love that they work so well together:  I am still crushing on Lisa Oxley's Artist Series packs, and used them for my spread:

Floral Fetish:

Bright and Bold:

And here is my art journal spread:  

 

I made my page featuring an image from the Lisa Oxley's Floral Fetish Artist Series pack, and the paint swatches and title( written in Lisa's own handwriting) are from Lisa's Bright and Bold pack.   I cannot tell you how  much I enjoyed making these pages! 

If you are looking for more information about ArtStacks, you can check out all the available packs in more detail here.  And while you are there, head over to their blog to learn more about their talented design team members.

I am also linking my spread to the March Art Journal Journey Monthly challenge: 

This month is hosted by Valerie of Bastelmania!  Her theme is ANYTHING GOES!  She says . . . This is a good time to journal your heart out, play around, try things you haven't done beforehand, experiment with different mediums etc.

Thanks so much, Valerie and Art Journal Journey for your wonderful inspiration.  I am having so much fun this month!

And thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

 

 

Wishing you all a very happy March filled with lots of crafting!

#Celebrate . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone. 

It's time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself!

Here's Challenge YOUrself #111:

Challenge YOUrself #111 opened today, March 7th, and closes on April 4th.  This month's challenge is to create a "sports themed page!" (It doesn't have to be about the sports that are depicted in the photo, you can use your creativity!) And as always, include a photo with YOU!

Here is the page that I made for the challenge:

I created my mixed media background by using some red and black inks and a stencil that I had on hand. I also used papers and bits from my stash.  The photos were taken at a Phillies baseball game that we attended last year with my sister and her husband, who were celebrating their anniversary.  It was one of my favorite memories from last year!!!

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

I am also linking my page to the Art Journal Journey Monthly theme for March.  

This month is hosted by Valerie of Bastelmania!  Her theme is ANYTHING GOES!  She says . . . This is a good time to journal your heart out, play around, try things you haven't done beforehand, experiment with different mediums etc.

 

How awesome it this?  Thanks so much, Valerie and Art Journal Journey for your wonderful inspiration!

Thank YOU for stopping by my blog today!  I wish you all a very happy March.

Take Me Home . . . for More Than Words and AJJ Monthly!

Hi everyone! It's March 1st and time for some new challenges . . .

First, the March Challenge at More Than Words opened today!

More Than Words has simplified their challenges this year and the challenge will no longer have two parts. Instead, it has one main theme to inspire you - this month it's all about HOME.   Feel free to be inspired by the theme in any way that speaks to you.

More Than Words is looking forward to seeing what you do with their challenge prompt this month, and if you need more inspiration, their new digital magazine is amazing.   Inside there are weekly prompts and lots of other things to inspire you. You can check it out at their blog here.

And without further ado, here is their March Challenge:

And here's is my finished art journal page:

Ever since my college days, I have loved John Denver's song about HOME. (And that was a long time ago! LOL!) I featured those lyrics on my art journal page, along with the gorgeous ArtStacks' (tissue paper) tree with the swing, from the "Trees and Leaves" pack. This definitely reminds me of my grandparent's home.

The background paper that I used is from the 49 and Market "Spectrum Sherbet" collection. And the beautiful tissue paper tree is from the ArtStacks "Trees and Leaves" pack.

I hope that you get a chance to check More Than Words his month!

I am also linking my page to the March Art Journal Journey Monthly challenge: 

 

This month is hosted by Valerie of Bastelmania!  Her awesome theme is ANYTHING GOES!  She says . . . This is a good time to journal your heart out, play around, try things you haven't done beforehand, experiment with different mediums etc.

 

 Thanks so much, Art Journal Journey and Valerie for your wonderful inspiration!

And thank you for stopping by my blog today.  Enjoy March.  We woke up to 3 inches of snow!

Tears in Heaven . . . for ArtStacks!

 Hi everyone!  It's my turn to share my February art journal page made for ArtStacks  . . .

I really enjoy working with ArtStacks'  packs and love that they work so well together:  I used the following packs:

The black and white striped paper is from Deb Weiers' Wonky Backgrounds:  

 

The figure of the boy and the little sign are from All Dressed Up:

 

The boy's wings, the butterflies, and the stack of books that he's sitting on are from Wings & Things:

 The window frame was used from the Doors &Windows pack:

And here is my art journal page:  

I made my page featuring the figure of the boy from the All Dressed Up pack with his beautiful wings from the Wings and Things pack.  My quote is from Eric Clapton's song "Tears in Heaven." 

I seem to always go through a sad period at the beginning of every new year when I think about my beloved family members that have passed away.  I would have never guessed that family gatherings for holidays would be so small as I get older.  But I am comforted by my family and my faith, and know that spring will soon be here.  Working on pages such as these are very therapeutic for me, too!

If you are looking for more information about ArtStacks, you can check out all the available packs in more detail here.  And while you are there you should head over to their blog, too! You'll learn more about all of the talented members of the design team and see their amazing works of art.

I am also linking my page to the February Art Journal Journey Monthly challenge: 

 

This month is hosted by Erika from BioArtGal,  her theme is "Seeing Red" and I have included red paint splats on my page. Thanks so much, Art Journal Journey and Erika, for the inspiration this month.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!

 

 

Wishing all of you a happy February and hope that it's filled with lots of crafting!

Don't Hate. Meditate. For Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

 Hi everyone. It's February 7th!  

That means it's time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself!

Here's Challenge YOUrself #110:

Challenge YOUrself #110 opened February 7th, and closes on March 4th.  This month's theme is Meditation. This month, they'd like you to create a layout about meditation and or the ways you meditate.  You can make it about meditation for ourselves and our world, it can be about why you enjoy meditation, or simply how you relax and meditate!  It's your choice how you interpret this theme. (And please don't forget to include a photo with YOU on your page.

Here is the project that I made for the challenge:

I used 12 x 12 paper, specifically the flip side of "Typeset" from Vicki Boutin's new Print Shop collection to make my page.  I also used the stamps and stencil from this collection.  I like Challenge YOUrself's theme this month because my hope is find ways to stop hatred and meditation is a good start.

You can check out Challenge YOUrself this month and play along with us.  We'd love to see what you create for the Meditation challenge!

I am also entering my page in the Art Journal Journey Monthly  challenge for February.  

This month is hosted by Erika at BioArtGal and her theme is Seeing Red.  I used a red background around my title to help it to stand out and added touches of red (dots) to my page.

Thank you, Erika and AJJ for the inspiration!  And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today!  I wish you all a very happy February!

#Love . . . for More Than Words and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone! It's February1st  and time for some new challenges . . .

First, the February Challenge at More Than Words opened today!

More Than Words has simplified their challenges this year and the challenge will no longer have two parts. Instead, it has one main theme to inspire you - this month it's all about LOVE LETTERS and LOVE.   Feel free to be inspired by the theme in any way that speaks to you.

More Than Words is looking forward to seeing what you do with their challenge prompt this month, and if you need more inspiration, their new digital magazine is amazing.   Inside there are weekly prompts as well as details of where to download the free printables available for the February challenge.  You can check it out at their blog post here.

Please note - they made the decision to cancel the Mini Challenge from the schedule.  If you are sad about this, they would like to hear from you because if there is enough interest, they may consider bringing it back.

And without further ado, here is February's Challenge:

Here is is my finished art journal project:

When I saw that the February theme is love, I just had to use a photo from my wedding day. We met on a blind date 33 years ago and were married 2 months later. I guess when you know it's love, you know! LOL.  (John was in the Army when we first met, and we actually wrote many letters to each other during that 2 month period!)  I used the lyrics from Elvis Presley's beautiful song "Can't Help Falling In Love."

The background paper that I used is from the 49 and Market "Spectrum Sherbet" collection, specifically the Sherbet Foundations pack.

I hope that you get a chance to check More Than Words his month!

I am also linking my page to the February Art Journal Journey Monthly challenge: 

 

This month is hosted by Erika from BioArtGal!  Her awesome theme is "Seeing Red."

 

As you know, my page is all about love, and I have included a red heart next to the photo that definitely stands out!  Thanks so much, Art Journal Journey and Erika, for the inspiration this month.

And thank you for stopping by my blog today.  Have a wonderful February!!