Happy Halloween . . . for More Than Words!

Hi everyone! I cannot believe that October is already here and fall is upon us. Time flies by so quickly these days and before we know it, we will be celebrating Halloween. YAY!

The October Challenge at More Than Words is open:

More Than Words is an art journaling challenge blog with one main theme to inspire you each month. 

Here is the October Challenge :

"Welcome to our October challenge which is all about using ORANGE or PURPLE in your journal pages.  Can you guess why we chose these colours?  I'll bet you can because this month is also Halloween.  Of course you don't have to create a Halloween page but you do have to use PURPLE or ORANGE or BOTH if you like!"

Use the #MTWartjournalchallenge

Here's my art journal page:

I love Halloween and so does my entire family.  That's why I chose to use BOTH purple and orange for my Halloween-themed, 2-page art journal spread.  I started by using acrylic paints, MetaMica and Pearlise mediums to create my background.  Then I made my trees with black acrylic paint and a stencil.  I fussy cut the witch, pumpkin, black cat, and dog from an old Halloween card I had saved, and adhered them to my page.  Next, I gave the witch some black wings from the ArtStacks' "Wings and Things" pack. 

And finally, I added some stamping - the spider and web, the "Happy Halloween" and the black grass.

I hope you can play along with us this month at More Than Words!  If you are interested in participating in the challenge, please head over to the More Than Words blog for all of the details. It's so easy and fun, and there are prizes to be won, too!!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you all have a wonderful October!

An Irish Blessing . . . for More Than Words and Art Journal Journey Monthly!

Hi everyone! It's April 1st (can you believe it?!) and time for some new challenges . . .

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

More Than Words has simplified their art journal challenges this year and will have one main theme to inspire you. This month's theme is BEING GREEN. Feel free to interpret the theme in any way that you like. What does being green mean to you? 

Here is April's Challenge:

 And here's my art journal page:

 

 

The theme Being Green immediately reminded me of my Irish heritage.  I remember my dad telling me about the Irish Blessing, so I made it the focal point of my art journal page!  I used one of ArtStacks' new releases to create my page.  I thought that the image of the woman from Tamara Laporte's "Fabulous Faces" pack looked like me, so I added digital glasses like mine!  I also placed her in the palm of a tissue paper hand. (The hand image is from ArtStacks' "Faces and Figures" pack that I had on hand.) In addition, her crown is from the same pack.  I fussy cut it and colored it green.

And in keeping with the "being green" theme, I recycled the background paper from an old pack of 49 and Market "Spectrum Sherbet" that I had on hand. And the beautiful tissue paper images at the top and bottom of my page are also from the ArtStacks "Fabulous Faces" 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 Bleubeard and Elizabeth;  their blog is Altered Book Lover and  they are focusing on ways to save the planet in their journal pages.  

 

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."

 

Okay . . .  I recycled a piece of cardstock paper from a pack of 49 and Market papers that I had in my stash.  I cut it apart and adhered it back together to form the rectangular background of my art journal page.  Also, the hand image was used from a pack of ArtStacks papers that I had in my stash.

I cannot thank Art Journal Journey and Bleubeard and Elizabeth enough for their wonderful challenge and all of the artist's inspiration this month!  I know it will be a pleasure to see how all of the AJJ artists interpret the theme.

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

And don't forget to recycle, reuse, and repurpose! 

The Best Adventure Brings You Home . . for More Than Words!

 Hi everyone! It's August 1st and time for a new challenge . . .

The August Main Challenge at More Than Words opened today:

More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that contains a word inspiration and a creative challenge.

Here is August's Main Challenge:

The word inspiration for August is ADVENTURE and the creative challenge is MAP. 

Here is my finished art journal spread:

My family has always enjoyed traveling! What it has taught me over the years is that the best ADVENTURE brings you home. Because after-all, there's really no place like home! When making this art journal spread, I used a subtle vintage MAP of my home town as part of the background.

Here is a different view of my project:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the Main Challenge at More Than Words his month. 

Thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  Have a great August! 

What a Wonderful World . . . for More Than Words!

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

The July Main Challenge at More Than Words opened today:

More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that contains a word inspiration and a creative challenge.

Here is July's Main Challenge:

The word inspiration for July is WONDERFUL and the creative challenge is WATERCOLOR. 

Here is my finished art journal page:

I am LOVING Lisa Oxley's beautiful pink canvas paper from ArtStacks! I used it as my art journal page background and added a WATERCOLORED sun, clouds, a tree, and a mom holding her baby. My sentiment is one of my favorites from the song "What a WONDERFUL World" that was sung by Louis Armstrong.

I hope that you get a chance to check out the Main Challenge at More Than Words his month. 

I am also submitting my page to Art Journal Journey, Monthly:

The theme for July is "Doors and/or Arches." Their host is the talented Wendy from wendyscraftjournal.  My page contains an arch in the form of a rainbow!!  It's in the right upper corner.

Thank you, AJJ and Wendy for hosting this amazing challenge.

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  Happy July! 

The Ocean is Calling . . . for More Than Words!

Hi everyone! It's May 1st (can you believe it??)  and time for a new Main Challenge at  More Than Words:

More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that asks you to incorporate both a word inspiration and a creative challenge into your projects.

Here is the May Main Challenge:

The word inspiration for May is OCEAN and the creative challenge is SPLATTERS. 

Here is my finished art journal page:

I have always loved the OCEAN! My parents didn't have a lot of money, but they made sure we took a trip to the New Jersey shore every summer, if just for a day! I loved walking along the beach, feeling the the sand at my feet, and especially liked seeing the OCEAN rise and fall. It had a magical quality and I had many a dream of seeing a mermaid. In making my art journal page, I scattered black and white paint SPLATTERS around my silhouette mermaid and added the quote "The OCEAN is calling and I must go."

Here are some different views:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the May Main Challenge at More Than Words! 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  HUGS to one and all!

I'm Just A Vintage Soul . . . for More Than Words!

Hi everyone! It's April and time for a new Main Challenge at  More Than Words:

Just to let you know, More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that asks you to incorporate both a word inspiration and a creative challenge into your projects.

Here is the April  Main Challenge:

 

The word inspiration for April is VINTAGE and the creative challenge is COLLAGE. 

Here is my finished art journal page:

 

I knew that I would enjoy making my art journal page for this month's theme because I love anything VINTAGE!  My COLLAGE was made from a mix of Blue Fern Studios' cardstock and ArtStacks tissue paper that I had in my stash.

Here is a different view:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the Main Challenge at More Than Words his month. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  HUGS!

Mother . . . for More Than Words!

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

The first is the March Main Challenge at  More Than Words which opened today:

Just to let you know, More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that contains a word inspiration and a creative challenge.

Here is the March Main Challenge:

The word inspiration for March is POEM or QUOTE and the creative challenge is ADD A TAG or POCKET. 

Here is my finished art journal page:

When I saw the March challenge, I knew I wanted to create an art journal page using this photo of my mom and me taken at my wedding. I featured a QUOTE about a Mother's Love. My TAG is peaking out of the torn POCKET underneath the photo.

Here are some different views:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the Main Challenge at More Than Words his month. 

The second is the March theme Art Journal Journey, Monthly.

The theme this month is Spring!  It's wonderful for the month of March right?  Their host is the very talented Valerie of Bastelmania.

I am thrilled to submit my page to AJJ this month and to let you know that my page is about my wedding day, which was in March, the beginning of Spring!  The weather was absolutely perfect that day - sunny and warm. 

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

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

Love is . . . for More Than Words!

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

The first is the February Main Challenge at  More Than Words which opened today:

Just to let you know, More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that contains a word inspiration and a creative challenge.

Here is February's Main Challenge:

 

The word inspiration for February is FLORALS and the creative challenge is STENCILS. 

 

Here is my finished art journal page:

 

I truly love flowers!  I love to give and receive them at any time, not just on special occasions.  That's why the word FLORALS made me think of this John Lennon quote, which is one of my favorites!  I used different STENCILS from my stash to make my painted stamped, and fussy cut flowers, and my water-colored background.

Here are some different views:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the Main Challenge at More Than Words his month.  I must say, I have been enjoying getting out of my comfort zone and making these art journal pages for More Than Words! 

I am also linking my page to the February theme Art Journal Journey, Monthly.

This month, AJJ has 2 hosts:  Bleubeard and Elizabeth.  You can find them at Altered Book Lover.  Elizabeth explains that Bleubeard is the beautiful face and support behind their blog while she supplies the art!  This month they are asking What's Your Style?

Elizabeth said the following:  "You may have your own specific style, where you rely heavily on abstracts, architecture, travel, drips and splatters, nature, stamping, stencils, watercolor paints and pencils, words, or backgrounds.  Remember that digital art and sewing on your pages or fabric are always welcome.  However, maybe you're like me and don't have a specific style.  You might even have a different style for every day of the month.  Regardless, Bleubeard and I want you to share your own style or styles this month.  We are looking forward to seeing what you conjure up."

I don't think I have a specific style per-say.  But I do believe that it's eclectic.  Therefore, today I am sharing my eclectic art journal page about flowers stencils!!  

I can't thank you enough, Bleubeard and Elizabeth, and AJJ Monthy!

And thank YOU for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you all have a wonderful February. HUGS to one and all!

Pause for a Moment . . . for More Than Words!

Hi everyone! Happy New Year.  Welcome 2022!!!  

It's time for the More Than Words January Main Challenge!

Just to let you know, More Than Words is a monthly art journal challenge site that contains a word inspiration and a creative challenge. Both need to be incorporated into your art journal page. 

Here is January's Main Challenge:

As you can see, the word inspiration for January is REFLECT and the Creative Challenge is DOODLING.

I am new to doodling, so I looked for inspiration on the internet.  Here is my finished art journal spread:

  

Every time we move into a new year, I always look back and REFLECT on the previous one. We’ve had some adversity this past year, but I am ready to look to the future with a hopeful heart. For my project, I DOODLED and water-colored the barn on the hill that my husband and I pass every day when we walk our dog!

Here is a different view:

I hope that you get a chance to check out the More Than Words Main Challenge this month.  I know you will enjoy it as much as I did. I am really getting out of my comfort zone making these art journal pages.  Doodling is something new to me!!

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

 This month's theme is hosted by Erika at BioArtGal and is entitled Lets Face It.  

Erika said the following:  "This month you should use a face on your journal page. It could be a human face, an animal face, or a face on something that doesn't usually have one like smiling flowers or a mustached mushroom. It might not even be a living thing that has a face. Or perhaps instead of an actual face you have another interpretation of this topic. You can stamp a face, draw a face, use a digital face or cut out a face from something printed. You could also paint a face or stencil a face. And if you're going for a symbolic interpretation of the challenge phrase, then just tell us how it relates to faces."

I went for the symbolic interpretation here.  I can see my husband's and my faces looking towards the hill and barn each day as we take our walk.  (I hope this interpretation is OK for the theme!!!)  Thanks so much, Erika and AJJ Monthy!!!

And thank you for stopping by my blog today.  HUGS!  Have a wonderful and healthy 2022, everyone!!