Love You . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone.  It's hard to believe that it's June 7th already, but here it is.  Time seems to be flying by faster than ever this year! 

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

Challenge YOUrself #126 opened today and closes on July 4th:

This month's challenge is a sketch challenge.  The theme is to create a project using this PageMaps sketch:

You can use the sketch in any way that you like, and combine it with any other challenge, just not another sketch challenge, for obvious reasons.  And please remember to include at least one photo with YOU in the frame.

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

As you can see, I followed the sketch pretty closely.  I just love PageMaps sketches and really get inspired to create when I see them.  The background cloud paper is from Vicki Boutin's "Where to Next?" collection entitled "Window Seat."  

The photos are of my hubby and me . . . the first is on our wedding day and the second was taken 30 years later.  Being married to him has made be so happy over the years.  Don't get me wrong, we have had our ups and downs (like most marriages) but we have worked hard to get to where we are today!  

I also want to mention that the rainbow and heart are from ArtStacks . . . Lisa Oxley's Artist Series "Bright and Bold" pack.   

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

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

This month is hosted by Matilde at 100% Handmade/Craftowanie. Her theme for June is What Makes You Happy?  

Madilde says "Please show us everything that makes you happy.  I'm looking forward to seeing your ideas for this theme.  I hope you will enjoy it and join is this month."

As you can see, I made a page about me and my husband, John.  We have been married for 34 years and I couldn't be happier!  

I hope you get a chance to check out the all entries from the talented artists that take part in this challenge every month.  And I want to thank Matailde and Art Journal Journey for having this amazing challenge. 

And thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.   Have a wonderful June! 

Love It . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

 Hi everyone!  Today I'd like to share my new mixed media art journal page that I made for ArtStacks. 

I used ArtStacks' new releases:  Deb Weiers' Wonky Critters and Wonky Bits Artist Series packs as the focal point of my page.  I can't tell you how much I love working with these packs.   I couldn't wait to start creating as soon as I received them!

Here is my art journal page:  

I made my page featuring Deb Weiers' wonky pony from the Wonky Critters pack!  I also used lyrics from one of my favorite songs by Joni Mitchell - "Circle Game."  And the background paper is Vicki Boutin's!   You can check out the new releases in more detail here.

 

 

And I had Art Journal Journey Monthly in mind when I made my page.  

This month is hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth and there are 2 themes to pick from - collage fodder and/or food & drink.  I picked collage fodder.   

 

My background is from Vicki Boutin's Color Study collection.  My pieces included torn black and white striped paper, images from the Wonky Critters and Wonky Bits packs, and song lyrics that were printed on white paper and cut into strips.  I collaged them together and stitched some into place.

Thanks so much, Art Journal Journey for the inspiration this month.

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

True Love . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone. It's August 7th and time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself!

August's challenge is to create a page about tough times in your life:

Everyone has rough patches and difficult times in their lives.  Sometimes it helps to just talk about them and document what you went through.  That is what this challenge is all about.  Challenge YOUrself wants you to get out of your comfort zone this month!

I was inspired to create my layout about the 2 hardest things in my life that I lived through - first, the death of my sister, Cathy, and second and more recently, the death of my mom.  Cathy battled ovarian cancer for many years and passed away at the age of 52 and my mom had dementia and passed away at the age of 89.  

Here is the photo that I used that was taken on Mother's Day of this year:

Mother's Day always reminds me of my sister's and mom's love, but sometimes I feel sad as well.  Here, our dog, Abbey, gave me a great big kiss and helped me to feel much happier.  Dogs really are our best friends, aren't they?  We always had a dog and that is one of the fond memories I have of my childhood!!!

Here is my completed page:

I used Vicki Boutin's papers and embellishments to make my page. 

Sharing some different views of my project:

 

I hope you get a chance to check out Challenge YOUrself this month. Making this page was wonderful therapy for me!

I am also linking my project to Art Journal Journey, Monthly.

 

This month's theme is When We Were Young and is hosted by the talented Chris from Pearshapedcrafting.  Thank you, Chris and AJJ for having this wonderful challenge!

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you have an awesome August! 

 

Be Colorful . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey!

 Hi everyone. It's June 7th and time for a new challenge at Challenge YOUrself!

 

June's topic is this beautiful mood board!: 

I was inspired by the gorgeous sunset photo, the beach, and of course, the pinks on the mood board.  Here is the photo that I knew I wanted to scrap when I saw the mood board.  Anne and I were standing on the boardwalk of Atlantic City while John took the photo in August of 2017! 

Here is my completed page:
 

I loved making this mixed media journal/scrapbook page.  As soon as I saw this challenge, I knew that I wanted to make it about a beautiful sunset! I used Vicki Boutin's gorgeous papers and embellishments to make my page. I love that vibrant shade of pink!!!

 

Sharing some different views of my project:

 

 

 

I hope you get a chance to check out Challenge YOUrself this month. I had a lot of fun using the mood board as the inspiration for my page.

I am also linking my project to Art Journal Journey, Monthly.

 

This month's theme is FISH and is hosted by the talented Mia of Craftartista.  Although my page is not about fish, if you look closely, you can see colorful fish on the card next to Anne's and my photo.  The fish are courtesy of Echo Park paper!  

I want to thank Mia and AJJ Monthly for the wonderful challenge.

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you have a wonderful June! 

Happy Memories . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

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

 

March's theme is about creating a layout about a pet or animal:

 

I just love this challenge and couldn't wait to create a layout about our beloved Abbey.  Here is my completed page:

I loved making this mixed media scrapbook page.  As soon as I saw this challenge, I knew that I wanted to make it about Abbey!  I used Vicki Boutin's beautiful papers and embellishments to make my page.

 

Here are the pictures that I chose to scrap from Easter of last year:

Sharing some different views of my project:

 

I hope you get a chance to check out Challenge YOUrself this month. If you head over to their blog, you can see all of the design team inspiration!

I am also linking my project up to Art Journal Journey, Monthly.

The theme this month is Spring, which I think is just perfect for the month of March!  And their host for March is the very talented Valerie of Bastelmania.

I am so happy to submit my page to AJJ this month.   My page is about Easter which is the epitome of Spring!  And the weather was absolutely perfect last year.  Hopefully it will be the same this year.

I can't thank you enough, Valerie, and AJJ Monthy for the inspiration!

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you all have a wonderful March. HUGS!