My Happy Place . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

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

Challenge YOUrself #115 opened today:

This month's challenge is "My Happy Place." You can interpret the theme any way you like, for instance, it can be about a favorite place to travel, an area of your home that you love, etc. And as always, don't forget to include a photo with YOU in the frame!

Here is the page that I created for the challenge:

I started by using patterned paper from 49 and Market's Spectrum Sherbet collection.  I added the matted photo of John and me taken at the beach in Atlantic City a few years ago.  Next, I adhered the flying butterfly (and I LOVE when they show up in my happy place!!) from the tissue paper page of ArtStacks' Artsy Animals pack by Tamara Laporte:

 

The hearts, the leaves, the black dots are all embellishments that I have in my stash.  My title was made using letters and words that I have on hand, too.  I even added some stitching!

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 Art Journal Journey Monthly's theme for July.   

This month is hosted by Alison - her blog is Craftytrogs Arty Adventures.   Alison's theme for July is "Come Fly With Me."

 

Alison says: "For this theme, you can use anything that flies.  Birds, Insects, fairies, aircraft, hot air balloons, etc,  can all be used on your pages.  I hope you have fun, and I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful art!" 

I want to thank Alison and Art Journal Journey for July's wonderful challenge. 

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

You Shine . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly

 

Hi everyone!  

Today I am sharing an art journal page with all of you.

I am using new images from ArtStacks:

They recently released 2 new Artist Series packs featuring their new artist, 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 releases:

Fabulous Faces:            

Artsy Animals:            

 

Here's the art journal page I made using Tam's packs:

The image of the woman and the flowers are from the Fabulous Faces pack. The tissue paper butterflies with the tiny stars are also from the Artsy Animals pack. I used 2 sheets of background paper that are recycled from the 49 and Market's collection that I had in my stash. I also used some molding paste and a stencil (from my stash) to make the sun's rays. And of course, the stitching was made with my sewing machine. In addition, I added some extra tiny black stars that I made using a Tim Holtz die and black construction paper from a tablet that my mom gifted me many years ago when she retired from teaching.

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 Bleubeard and Elizabeth, AKA Altered Book Lover and  they are focusing on ways to save the planet in their journal pages by Recycling, reusing, and repurposing.  

Elizabeth says:  "Recycle a portion of that beloved birthday or Christmas card, reuse those patterned security envelopes, repurpose those cardboard boxes Amazon is so famous for, or those 512 used tea bags you’ve been hoarding.  Turn them into collage fodder for your art journals.  While you’re at it, let us know what you recycled in your entry, so we can applaud you, too."

 

This topic really caught my eye.  I recycled everything on my page except the ArtStacks images, which are new.  Thank you, Bleubeard and Elizabeth, for hosting this amazing challenge.

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

Happy crafting . . .

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 . . .

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!

#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!!