Another Homemade Smash-type Journal

Today I used some pretty Graphic 45 double-sided scrapbook paper to make my own 8.5” x 5.5” Smash journal. I used the Cinch for binding. Here are a couple of pictures of the album, before I put anything in it.

Front Cover

 

Inside Front Cover

 

Smash Journal Pages Completed

I work often in Smash journals and do not post pictures of all the pages, but here are a few recent ones. These happen to be about our trip to the Pacific Northwest, end of February.

More Tulips

Sketched these tulips and then painted with Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze.

Spring is Coming {Faith}

I have faith that spring is coming, because God’s creation is faithful!

Inspired by one of my artist friends, this little bunny is ready for spring. I sketched and then watercolored in my journal.

Spring Sketching and Sparkly Tulips

Since I am still so new to this “art-thing,” I often get my inspiration from others and then try my hand at “copying” what they have done. The bunny looked easy to sketch, and it really was (the eraser is my best friend). The tulips, inspired by Dion Dior, were a bit more involved. The sketching part wasn’t too bad, but the painting with Luminarte Silks was a bit more involved. But I’m pleased with the end result.

Crocus {Mixed Media on Wood Block}

In Junelle Jacobsen’s Saturday Mornings class, this Saturday’s project was to do a bloom on a 2x4 wood block. I chose the crocus, because I LOVE the first blooms of spring, and I LOVE purple. I googled some crocus images and found one to sketch and then paint on the wood block. I don’t think I realized there are white crocuses!

This kind of project takes a lot of time for me. First, I’m so new at sketching, that it takes a long time to come up with something semi-acceptable. Then, on the wood block, there is tons of layering of papers and acrylic paints.

Repeating Stamp Pattern {Art Journal}

I often have a mixed media art journal page in progress while I am working on several other projects. Such was the case with this one. It gives me a fun break when other projects become stressful!

Mixed Media Art Journal Page {Believe}

Several layers of paint, stamps and collage. Inspired by Roben-Marie Roberts Smith.

Linking to Creative Every Day and Artist’s Play Room #97.

My Little Owl Fella {Mixed Media Wood Block}

Working in Junelle Jacobsen’s Saturday Mornings class, I first sketched this little owlet and then transferred him to a painted 2x4 board (cut at 4.5 inches tall). I used lots of paper piecings and acrylic paint layers. Fun project and a nice break from art journaling, Smash-ing, and scrapbooking.

Linking to Artist’s Play Room and Creative Every Day.

Two Are Better Than One {Art Journal}

This is one of our daughter’s favorite verses, and in fact it was she who first drew my attention to the verse.

I tend to “work alone,” and that is not always a good thing. Studying Rick Warren’s The Daniel Plan and Lysa TerKeurts’s Made to Crave, I notice that both emphasize working together with others, when it comes to commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Must be something to it! (Duh!)

The background is layers of blue and purple and white acrylic paint, Perfect Pearls mica powder, and clear gesso. The stamp is a Roben-Marie stamp, and I watercolored it.

Linking to Artist’s Play Room.

Spring in My Heart {if not in the air—YET}

I have been gone on a pleasant family trip for a couple of weeks and am just now back in my “studio” gearing up for some spring projects. I am working in the 2014 Scrapbook, a Smash Journal, a Healthy Lifestyle Bible Study Journal, among other projects.

Watercolor fascinates me, and yet when I have “looked into” classes on watercolor, I find it is just not me. But I have some artist friends who encourage the whimsical, do-whatever-you-like style, and I’m good with that. For example, watercolor is often very, well, “washed” out. In this phase of my life, I am drawn more to intense colors. So, MY watercolor will tend to be more intense than “real” artists would do.

These pieces were done on watercolor paper (I found an inexpensive 140# tablet for children at Target). The paints are real watercolor paints (although I sometimes use NeoColor Crayons, not this time).

I admit to still being surprised that I can actually freehand sketch ANYTHING. I’m very grateful for my eraser.

Linking to Artist’s Play Room.