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!

Let Your Light Shine . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly

Hi everyone, I’m excited to share something new I created for ArtStacks! 

I used three of ArtStack's beautiful packs to make an art journal page that is close to my heart.

The first is "The Homemaker Limited Edition" pack:

The second is Deb Weiers' "Wonky Backgrounds" pack:

And the third is their "Tissue Backgrounds" pack:

I loved creating this mixed media art journal page using these packs: 

I used papers from the first 2 packs to make my page, and I also used the Tissue Backgrounds pack to add interest with the grid and newspaper-print backgrounds.  The sepia photo is an absolute favorite of mine.  It's of my mom and dad, taken in 1945!  I also added lots of extra leaves (from trees!) just because I love them so much and am ready for Spring! 

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

I am also linking my project to Art Journal Journey Monthly's April challenge:

This month is hosted by Gillena Cox at Lunch Break, and her theme is "Trees are awesome, aren't they?"

As you can see, I've used lots of leaves from beautiful trees!!!

Thank you, Gillena, for hosting AJJ this month.  

My hope is that I’ve inspired you to explore Art Journal Journey Monthly. It’s an incredible platform where you can discover remarkable artwork created by talented and friendly artists from all over the world. 

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

Exploring Ireland . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly

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

Challenge YOUrself #148 runs from April 7, 2026, through May 4th, 2026, at midnight EST.

This month, Challenge YOUrself is focusing on utilizing a Design Seeds spring color palette. For a more detailed look, you can refer to their color scheme here: Color Nature

I created a mixed media scrapbook page for this challenge:

I absolutely love the colors in this palette because they bring back memories of our recent trip to Ireland. My entire page was dedicated to that theme, utilizing 49 & Market and Mintay papers, along with pink rick-rack and a blue embossed chipboard piece that I had saved in my stash.

I hope you have the opportunity to participate in Challenge YOUrself this month. It’s the fourth of their final six challenges! They will be closing their challenge blog after their 150th challenge, which will take place in June of this year.

I am also linking up my project at Art Journal Journey Monthly:

This month is hosted by Gillena Cox at Lunch Break, and her theme is "Trees are awesome, aren't they?"

As you can see, my photo taken in Ireland is filled with beautiful trees!!!

Thank you, Gillena, for hosting AJJ this month.  

I hope you have a creative month of April and that you get a chance to play along at Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Enjoy the arrival of April and the new spring season.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!

Together for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone, I’m so excited to share something new I created for the ArtStacks design team! 

First of all, I used three of ArtStacks' beautiful Artist Series packs!

The first is by Tamara Laporte (@willowing):

And the next 2 are by Shana Bebelkis (@shanoukiart):

I loved creating this mixed media art journal page using these packs. 

To learn more about how I made my page, head over to the ArtStacks blog!

I hope this has sparked some ideas for you to start your own project!

I am also very excited to link up my project at Art Journal Journey Monthly for February.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth from Altered Book Lover are hosting this month, and their theme is "Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone."

Elizabeth says:  "I have never read any Shakespeare, nor seen any of his plays, but I once heard someone say the reason his plays were so long was because he chose to use 10 words when one would have sufficed.  Therefore, in that same vein, Bleubeard and I give you this month's theme: Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone."

I absolutely love this month's theme!  Thank you, Bleubeard and Elizabeth! 

I hope I have inspired you to check out Art Journal Journey Monthly. It’s not just a chance to contribute to this month’s challenge, but it’s also a great way to discover the incredible artwork submitted by talented artists from around the world. 

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

Family (through thick and thin) . . . for Challenge YOUrself and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone. Challenge YOUrself's January challenge is now open.

Challenge YOUrself #145 runs through February 4th at midnight:

This month’s challenge is all about celebrating a single One Little Word for 2026.

If you’re new to Ali Edwards’ One Little Word concept, you can learn more about it here.

I decided to create a mixed media scrapbook page for this theme:

I’ve chosen FAMILY as my One Little Word for 2026! I’m excited to make some changes in my life and spend more time with my husband, daughters, sisters, and extended family. I’m envisioning reducing my computer work and prioritizing quality time with them.  

This photo was taken at Princeton University during the Christmas holidays last year! We all went to see ‘The Nutcracker’ that day and had an amazing time. We’re already planning to see it again next year in Philadelphia.

I enjoyed creating this page for Challenge YOUrself! It’s a fun challenge where you get to scrap photos with YOU in the frame.

I’m also linking my page up at Art Journal Journey Monthly for January:

Erika from BioArtGal is hosting this month, and her theme is "What's Up?"

Erika mentioned that there are a few options for her theme. You can choose a theme centered around things that are UP,  like planes or clouds. Or,  you can interpret the phrase more casually, like asking, “What have you been up to?” or “What’s new with you?”    

I went for the classic route with Erika’s theme, using a window and a balloon. 

Erika, thanks for hosting this month. I love your theme.

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  Have a wonderful January!

Frosty . . . for Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone!  I am LOVING guest hosting at Art Journal Journey Monthly for the month of December!

Have you heard of Art Journal Journey Monthly? 

It’s a super fun art journal challenge blog where you can join in on a different theme every month! The themes are picked by guest hosts or their awesome blog administrators. There are so many talented and friendly art journalers, altered book artists, rubber stamp addicts, and mixed media artists from all over the world who participate. You can join in on the fun by linking your project to their site using the Link tool they provide.

So, for December, I decided to go with a WINTER theme! My latest project started with a love of snow globes. I’ve always been fascinated by them since I was a little girl, especially after watching the movie Heidi with Shirley Temple!

I recently came across a photo of my best friend, Barb’s snow globe. 

I decided to make it the focal point of my project. First, I converted it to black and white:  

Then went from there . . .

All of my page elements and background paper are from the PinkFresh “Christmas Wishes” collection, which came out about 10 years ago. I love this holiday scrapbook paper with its trendy colors and whimsical designs. And guess what? I never throw away any craft supplies - LOL! (I may need to change that a bit in the new year.) Anyway, I put together a little scene, added some threads and machine stitching, and sprinkled in some sequins for a touch of sparkle.  It was easy to make.

Here is the finished page:

What do you think?

I’m thrilled that Art Journal Journey Monthly invited me to host again this year! 

Now I'd like YOU join in on the fun!  Just head over to their site at the highlighted link and take a look. 

I really appreciate you taking the time out of this busy holiday season to visit my blog. 

Have a very happy rest of your December and Holiday Season!

Happy Halloween . . . for ArtStacks and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone!  I am here today sharing a project that I made for ArtStacks.  First of all, I cannot believe that September is here already!!  And secondly, I would love for you to take a look at what I created . . .

I've made a mixed media art journal page using a pack from ArtStacks' newest "Seasonal Celebrations" category. 

Tamara Laporte (#willowing) has done it again with a fabulous ArtStacks pack full of all sorts of Halloween trickery! Gorgeous witches, scary bats and spiders and oh-so-cute little monsters and pumpkins are supported by words and other images to match.

This pack is available in both digital and printed forms.

Head over to www.artstacks.com.au/shop to see what's inside this pack!

And here is the art journal page that I made:

I couldn't wait to create something with Tam's new, amazing "Trick or Treat" pack. 

Here are my creative steps:

• Tamara Laporte’s “Trick or Treat” pack was used to create a Halloween-themed art journal page.
• I used digital images that I printed at home.
• “Spooky” sheet music was adhered to a page in my manilla art journal.
• The 'witch, cat, and pumpkins' images from the pack were used as my focal point.
• Complementary water-colored swirls and machine-stitched circles were added.
• Tissue paper bats were added using gel medium and allowed to dry.
• The fussy cut crescent moon was glued to the top of the page.
• The entire page was stitched around.
• The “Happy Halloween” title from the pack was added using pop dots.

It was so much fun combining the paper and digital images. I hope you’re inspired to make a Halloween-themed project of your own!

For more information about ArtStacks, head over to their website - you can see what their talented design team has come up with at their blog!

I am linking up my page to Art Journal Journey Monthly's challenge for September.

This month is being hosted by Mia from Craftartista.

Her theme for September is ‘Make Your Own Background!' 

I loved making my own background on my art journal page for Mia's theme. 

I also want to take a moment to say "thank you" to everyone at AJJ. I look forward to creating something for their challenge every month.

That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by my blog!  Enjoy your September.