Fall Fun . . . for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone! 

I’m loving hosting Art Journal Journey Monthly this September and using my Hello Autumn theme!  Your projects this month are amazing!

I’m excited to share two Halloween-themed posts (this one and my next post!) about a Halloween party tradition that I loved when our daughters were growing up.  One of our travel group moms would host an amazing (and I mean really amazing!!) Halloween party every year. 

Today, I'm sharing a scrapbook page I created to commemorate Anne’s first Halloween party in 2005.  It was fun to take her to this incredible Halloween party when she was just 3. It was an outstanding experience, complete with outdoor pumpkin decorating stations, a spooky piñata, and a horse-drawn hay ride! Wow!

Here is my mixed media scrapbook page:

I put together my page using photos from Anne’s first Halloween party. I used two coordinating patterned papers I had on hand, a "fall fun" die-cut title, some fall leaves, and a die-cut scarecrow I purchased on eBay years ago.  I finished it off with a blue striped ribbon. I enjoyed making this page for Anne so she can look back and remember her first Halloween party. To me, this is what scrapbooking is all about!

I hope you’re enjoying AJJ’s theme this month.  Stay tuned! My next project is about a Halloween party we attended a few years later at the same home.

I am looking forward to seeing what YOU create!

I’m also sharing two photos from a morning walk around the pond. The signs of fall are definitely starting to pop up!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today.  Happy September!

All That We Behold . . . for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful September! Here in eastern PA, the weather has been hot and humid lately. I’m really hoping for cooler temperatures and less humidity soon!

I'm also very excited to share another project I created for my September Hello Autumn theme at Art Journal Journey Monthly!

I decided to make a hybrid, double-page art journal spread:

I used a background I already had, and I mixed in some images from an old Mary Engelbreit calendar to create this hybrid spread. I digitally painted the blue sky and light green/yellow grass, and then I added another Mary Engelbreit image of the child in a pile of Autumn leaves. I remember jumping into leaf piles as a child, so this was very nostalgic for me! Finally, I digitally typed my sentiment, which I found in another old Mary Engelbreit calendar.  It was a lot of fun to make!

I’m so excited to see all of your Autumn-themed projects this month at Art Journal Journey Monthly!  I love getting the opportunity to connect with incredible artists from all over the world.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy September!

Before She Became a Mom . . . for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

I’m so happy to be hosting Art Journal Journey Monthly for the third time! I’ve enjoyed seeing all your entries so far—they’re truly amazing!

Fall always makes me feel nostalgic, so today I'm sharing a scrapbook page I made in memory of my beautiful mom.  She passed away at the age of 89 during COVID on December 20, 2020. Luckily, we were able to see her after she entered hospice care.  I know that a lot of families were not allowed to see their loved ones during such a painful and restrictive time, and my sisters and I were very grateful that we could have a chance to be with her and say goodbye.

Here is my project:

I created a 12 x 12 mixed-media scrapbook page featuring a photo of my mom "before she became a mom." I think she looked so carefree, stylish, and beautiful here! The 12 x 12 background paper is from Bo Bunny, a brand I had in my stash for years. The rest was pretty simple and easy to put together.  I printed and cut the photo to fit into the background paper. I added the title, some chicken wire chipboard, and a typed label. For my September theme, I incorporated fall colors like dark and light browns, tan, and sepia.  Also, the photo was taken in the fall of 1949.

I'm finishing my post with a photo that I took during our morning walk.  I really felt my mom's presence that day!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today. I hope you’re enjoying AJJ’s theme this month as much as I am!

Good Vibes Only . . . For Art Journal Journey Monthy!

Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to host Art Journal Journey Monthly again this year.  Thank you, Erika and Elizabeth, for asking me!

For September, I chose the theme Hello Autumn. I love Fall and how versatile this theme is, and I hope YOU will love it, too!  You can create pages about Autumn activities, holidays, weather, parties, or anything else that inspires you about Fall.  Whatever you come up with, I’m sure it’ll perfectly capture the essence of Autumn.

If you’re new to Art Journal Journey Monthly, it’s a fun challenge site where a different artist takes the spotlight each month and chooses a theme for everyone to explore. The community is super diverse, with amazing art journalers, altered book artists, rubber-stamp fans, digital artists, and mixed-media creators from all over the world. Each month, you can join in by sharing your projects on their site.

Here’s my first project, a mixed media scrapbook page:

I was inspired by this adorable photo of Anne that I took in the Fall of 2012! Playing in the leaves and hiking with us were two of her favorite things to do! The moment I saw this adorable photo, I knew it was perfect for my first project with AJJ this month! I matted it and added it to my page, using fall colored patterned paper, fall burlap leaves, yellow washi tape, a fun tag with orange rickrack, and a little messy thread to make it all look complete. 

I’m so honored to be asked to host again at Art Journal Journey Monthly! Please visit their site (at the highlighted link) and join in on the fun! I know you will love it!

And I am also sharing some photos that I took at the farm by our home.  The wheat fields looked so colorful.

The deer created pathways through the wheat fields:

The trees are still green, but the grass is turning yellow, signifying the beginning of fall:

And here's Abbey enjoying a little rest during our walk:

That’s me snapping the photo! We rescued her 7 years ago, and now she’s my morning companion!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today! Wishing you a very Happy September. I hope you can find some time to join me at AJJ this month.  Also, take time to relax and truly enjoy the beautiful season of Autumn, my absolute favorite time of year.

My Ideal Summer Day!

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re all having a wonderful August.

I’ve decided to participate in the August theme for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

  

Erika from BioArtGal is hosting this month, and her theme is "In the Good Old Summertime."

Here is the project I made, a double-page art journal spread:

I used a spread that I had already started working on and added little houses to give it a neighborhood feel. Next, I cut some white puffy clouds and inserted a banner to the top left. I also adhered 2 trees and some poppies from my ArtStacks stash. I did some stamping around the edges to create a border. Finally, I added my sentiment. That’s it! It was a lot of fun to make!

Thank you so much, Erika, for hosting this month.  I loved joining in on your theme!

I hope all of you paper crafters get a chance to check out Art Journal Journey Monthly! I’m sure you’ll love seeing all of the stunning entries, and you will get the chance to connect with talented artists from around the globe.

I love photography, so I’ve decided to share some of my photos from time to time. To begin, here are pictures I took at sunrise while walking our dog at the pond and farm by our home. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Happy August! ❤

Love Days Like This . . . for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone!

This summer in eastern Pennsylvania has been quite the adventure! We started with rain and some seriously damaging thunderstorms. Then, we went through a dry spell and are now facing a severe drought. To top it off, we’ve been dealing with smoky, hazy skies from the wildfires in Canada, which have reached dangerous levels! Yikes!

Not being able to get outdoors has given me the perfect excuse to get back into crafting. Plus, this month’s Art Journal Journey theme really sparked my interest!

 

Halle from Halle’s Hobbies is hosting July, and I couldn’t resist joining in on her fun theme, “Fabric, Lace, and Trims, Oh My!”

But before I show you my project, I wanted to share a little 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.  

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

Here is my project, a mixed-media art journal scrapbook page:

I had a blast creating this page! I began by giving a 12 x 12 sheet of white Bazzill cardstock some fun splatters and drips with spray inks. Next, I added an orange burlap circle that I cut from an old piece of burlap, torn patterned paper, and orange and lime-green ric-rac from my stash. I machine-stitched the orange ric-rac onto my page, along with some fibers that had come loose from the orange burlap. I also added some digital butterflies, leaves, and words from ArtStacks digital packs. Finally, I added my photo, title, and journaling. What a fun project!

Thank you so much, Halle, for hosting this month and coming up with such a fabulous theme.

Now it’s your turn! I hope you get a chance to check out Art Journal Journey this month! I know you’re going to love seeing all the beautiful entries from talented artists all over the world.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today.

Wishing you a wonderful rest of July! ❤

Time to Say Goodbye to Challenge Yourself and ArtStacks!

Hi everyone! I’m sad to share some big changes happening in my crafting world.

Challenge YOUrself will be closing after this month's 150th challenge.  

Yes, it was a difficult and bittersweet decision, but it is time for Challenge YOUrself to close. 

Challenge YOUrself #150 runs from June 7, 2026, through July 4th, 2026, at midnight EST.

This month, Challenge YOUrself is focusing on saying goodbye.  As they close, they’d love to hear your thoughts on what saying goodbye means to you. Whether it’s a heartfelt emotional farewell, a funny or unique way to say goodbye, or anything related to saying goodbye and its significance, they’re all ears! PLEASE  DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE A PHOTO OF YOU IN YOUR PROJECT!   

I created a mixed media scrapbook page for their final challenge:

I used a combination of “49 and Market” papers with “Mintay” embellishments. I typed my journaling, and I believe that says it all! I will miss Challenge YOUrself, but I am certain that this is the appropriate moment to say goodbye.  

I hope you have the opportunity to join in on the fun at Challenge YOUrself this month.  They would be delighted to see your projects for their final challenge.

ArtStacks also has changes:

ArtStacks’ main hub will now be located at the offices of The Dusty Attic, a renowned Australian business that has been supplying chipboard and other crafting materials to the paper-crafting community for years.

However, you can still order ArtStacks’ papers through the ArtStacks website at www.artstacks.com.au/shop or Dusty Attic's website at https://dustyattic.com.au/

Also, new posts will appear on the Dusty Attic social media sites. You can find them at https://www.facebook.com/dustyattic and https://www.instagram.com/dusty_attic/

ArtStacks will no longer have a dedicated design team. I’ll miss being on their team, but I completely understand the need for change.

I am also linking up my project at Art Journal Journey Monthly's June theme:

Matilde from Craftowanie, is guest-hosting for June, and her theme is "Houses and Buildings."

As you can see, there are 2 birdhouses (from Mintay collection) on my page.  Thank you so much, Matilde, for hosting AJJ in June!  

And I hope you get a chance to play along at Art Journal Journey Monthly.  

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