Our traditional Easter celebration centers around our thankfulness to God for the glorious resurrection of His Son Jesus, who paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross!
We always enjoy some family time as a part of the celebration. This year part of our family could not be with us, and we surely missed them!
(Click on image to enlarge.)
These days my mind is heavy with many thoughts, some too heavy to blog at this time. So, I’ll share a happy project I have been working on, inspired by The Art of Spring class with Junelle Jacobsen.
Each canvas is 6x6. I sketched the bunnies and then used Claudine Hellmuth acrylic paints (sometimes mixed with molding paste, and for the pink in the ears, I combined acrylic paint with glass bead gel). For the grass, I made water color puddles on water color paper and then cut them in tiny strips. The bunny tails and the pink flowers are made from tissue paper.
Barely got this one done in time for Easter, and that was my goal!
My heart is heavy with family sadness. But The Art of Spring Class with Junelle Jacobsen is lifting my spirits, when I get time to play with sketching and painting.
This is in my Junelle-style art journal (a book that has been made into a journal).
LInking to Anything But a Card Spring Challenge.
I know it’s like second-nature for so many people, but I am 65 and never in my life thought I could sketch or make art, really. So, the “Art of Spring class” with Junelle Jacobsen is opening a new world for me. It’s not “fine” art but it is whimsical and fun, and though I am not excellent at the projects, it’s just amazing to me that I can do ANY of it. Here is some of the work from the last couple of days.
I did not originate “the idea” for these sketches—the class provided the inspiration.
From my sketch book (Me? a Sketch Book? this is crazy). These little bunnies were inspired by the work of another member in the class—hers were so adorable, I had to see if I could sketch some similar cuties.
Sketched the practice duckling into my “art journal” (a second copy of Purpose-Driven Life, made into an art journal).
Water colored the sketch.
Finished with pen work and splatters.
This is the beginning of an art journal layout—I will finish out the two pages and post the finished product, but this is where I am right now.
This class has come at a good time for me, as it is cheerful and bright and renewing. I need this right now! It is a blessing, really.
(Click image to enlarge.)
I am really enjoying The Art of Spring class with Junelle Jacobsen. I actually sketched the bunny and the jack rabbit. Me. Sketching. Unreal.
Barbie Bunny and Jackie Rabbit
Then I took the sketches to the art journal, where I used a lot of acrylic paint. There are many layers of green paints here. The flowers and leaves were water painted and then cut with Tim Holtz Tattered Florals and Tattered Leaves dies. This project was all about the bright colors of spring!
June is a delightful teacher, and I think I can actually learn how to sketch little whimsical characters. Maybe it’s just because I am so ready for spring, but it really was quite fun.
Linking this project to Fussy and Fancy Flowers Challenge.
(Click image to enlarge.)
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to search and a time to give up…
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Yes, it is a season of letting go, for me. Without thinking too deeply, I can easily name at least fourteen areas/things/people that I am being called upon to let go at this time in my life.
It’s a difficult season, a challenging time. It is not a crisis of faith, however. I know that I know what I know. And what I know is that God is in control. He is the Only One who knows His plan. All He asks from me is that I trust in His plan. And, since He’s done pretty well with running the show in my life to this point, I am trusting Him with the rest of it. That doesn’t mean I like it or that I get to be happy all the time. But it does mean that I trust and believe His promise:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28
I put together this art journal layout with basically “stuff” in “piles” on my table. The main part of the background is Gelli prints on coffee filters (blue and green acrylic paints).
I used a couple of new stamps ordered from Paper Bag Studios (the little postal stamp and the checkerboard), and with my order, Roben put in a couple of prints. I used one of them on each page.
Then I added yellow highlights, stamping, and some ephemera that has been in a stack for a while. I also used several little collage pieces torn from coffee filter Gelli prints.
The butterflies are also Gelli prints on white card stock, cut on the Vagabond with Tim’s Movers and Shapers die and then dipped in melted UTEE. So, they actually stand off the page.
This is a color combination that makes me happy.
Linking to the Anything But a Card green challenge and to Simon Says Stamp Challenge A Bit O’ Green.
Top Row, Left to Right:
~Gelli Print (acrylic paint) and stencils on Bunn coffee filter
~Dylusions Sprays and stencils on #4 coffee filter
~Gelli Print (acrylic paint) and stencils on Bunn coffee filter
~Tim Holtz tissue paper, painted with four colors of Distress Paint (before cutting)
Second Row, Left to Right:
~Book text (and a couple of pieces of muslin) sprayed with Heidi Swapp Color Shine (after cutting)
~White cardstock covered with washi tape (before cutting)
~Dylusions Sprays and stencils on #4 coffee filter
All leaves were cut from #4 coffee filters first sprayed with Dylusions Spray.
Well, I learned something about myself. Or rather, I should say I reminded myself of something I have always known is true about me. I do not love to do a project for the sake of a project. For me, there always needs to be a reason for the output. That is, while I do enjoy a process, I’m more about the product. That was always true in my teaching/learning as well. When I first started teaching myself about computers, I realized that I could learn about any software program if I needed/wanted to be able to DO something specific with it after I learned it. Otherwise, learning something just for the exercise of learning, no, not so much.
So, I decided to participate in the Tattered Florals Challenge on Tim Holtz’s blog, but right away I realized it wasn’t going to be a rather large time for me. I don’t typically create elements ahead of time, just to have on hand if I need them. If I am making a tag that calls for a certain type or color of flower, I come up with the flower THEN, for THAT project. So, I started off with a bang, cut flowers and leaves out the wazoo (using the Tattered Florals Die and the Tattered Leaves Die, of course). Then I became increasingly more irritated at the pieces of florals all over my work area. So today, I gathered them all up and finished, without getting all complicated in my creations (as is obvious).
So, in the end, in the end, these will each find their way onto a scrapbook page or a tag, or maybe even an art journal page, and THEN I will enjoy the project!
(Click image for larger view.)
One of my favorite Valentine tags this year was made with a vintage photo from Vintage Image Craft. Here is the tag by itself:
Today I used the tag in an 8x8 display frame (Creative Memories). For the grouping, I printed off my mother’s high school graduation picture onto cream cardstock, inked the edges with Vintage Photo, and got out my almost-forgotten chalks to give her a little blush. I added a lot of flowers, lace, ribbons and other embellishments.
Mother (age 85 now) has not been feeling well, and I am hopeful this little display will help lift her spirits!
Needing something to lift me from my down mood, I just made a page with lots of paint, stamps, and collage items (including pieces of left-over, gelli-plate-printed coffee filters).
Didn’t quite pull me out of my “doldrums of despair” (to quote Anne of Green Gables), but hey, I tried!
I am learning from the online Bible Study based on Suzanne Eller’s book The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness. This is an area of the Christian walk that has always been difficult for me, and is especially challenging at this stage of my life, having experienced tragic pain that has resulted in a seemingly hopeless situation. I know I need to be able to forgive, not for the benefit of anyone else, but for my own health and happiness.
In Chapter 1, Suzanne discusses the meaning of “forgiveness.” Colossians 3:13 says “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” What does it mean “to forgive?”
Suzie writes,
“Forgiveness is an intentional act to let go of the burden and restrictions of bitterness, anger, rage or unresolved emotions connected to a person or event. In other words, forgiveness is surrender. It’s offering up resentment. It’s giving up the desire to punish. It’s letting go of anger. It’s getting out of the ‘debt collection’ business.”
If indeed “to forgive” is defined as above, no wonder I am challenged. To do those things, in specific areas where I know I need to forgive, is a description of what I have NOT been able to do to this point. But it is also a description of what I WANT to be able to do.
So, I will continue the study with the goal of reaching that place of freedom where my heart is no longer burdened with the resentment and bitterness that is certainly residing there now.
I have been art journaling for about a year. I don’t “study” it or “train for it,” as I want it to be a free personal expression. I do enjoy seeing techniques that others use in their journaling, and I just combine ideas into a mish-mosh that is MY journaling! In this case, I covered the pages with gesso and then with a Lumiere Paint (Halo Violet Gold, applied with a catalyst wedge). I used music for my theme, adding collage elements and stamping. I used direct selections from the book.
For the prayer (from the book), I used a window envelope and left it open at the top. Behind the prayer is some private journaling.
I highly recommend Suzie’s book. You can order it from Amazon, or from the Store at my favorite devotional web site, Proverbs31Ministries.org.
Oh, yes, it is such fun to participate in Tim Holtz’s 12 Tags of 2013, and I look forward to the first day of each month, for a creative challenge.
With the inventory I have on hand, I own most of the elements Tim used on his inspiration tag. However, I chose to use my Cricut Easter cartridge for the bunny and the grass. For the seam binding ribbon, I used Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage Distress Inks.
I find that it is difficult to get a photo to show dimension and bling. These close-up views might give a better idea.
I am linking this project to IBS Challenge #48, using White, Light Pink and Sage. Almost every project I create uses layers and a single word sentiment, so I am once again linking to Frilly and Funkie’s Challenge with those requirements. Simon Says Stamp! Challenge Blog has an Anything Goes Challenge, so here goes!
This was so much fun and provided some great therapy while my tweaked back slowly returns to normal.
Just felt like throwing down some spring colors on an art journal page. I thought I was finished with this page several times (happens to me a lot with art journaling). The first try did not include the silhouette, and I had left the tulips (stamp from Wendy Vecchi) uncolored. Then I decided it was too plain, so I pulled out a silhouette I had cut from a catalog, traced around it, painted it with Golden black acrylic and journaled on it with a white medium gel pen.
Then, because I can’t leave well enough alone, I colored the tulips with Distress Markers. I called it done and shared it several places. Looking at it later, I realized the colors were not right, so I went over the tulips with a white Sharpie Poster Paint marker, dabbing with a paper towel. Now, I’m done.
Not my best work, I don’t think, but, hey, it lifted my spirits on an otherwise dreary day!
Just needed to prove to myself that I CAN still make a tag! I saw this fab technique demonstrated by Birgit on the Wow! embossing powder blog, so I had to try it. I used her idea for the hearts and the sentiment.
I made a Gelli Plate print using Making Memories Cranberry acrylic paint, into which I stamped a Hero Arts stamp. I cut the print into several little pieces and ran them through the Vagabond with Tim Holtz’s Movers and Shapers hearts. I then used clear embossing powder to heat emboss the hearts, three times. I copied Birgit’s idea for the wire as well.
I had some new Inka-Gold paints that I wanted to try, and here I used Lava Red and Old Silver on the corrugated cardboard (tag edged with Old Silver).
Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon, key is from Graphic 45. “Love” is from My Mind’s Eye paper pack.
I am linking to the Wow! February 2013 Challenge, Simon Says Anything Goes, and Frilly and Funkie Layer it On and Share a Word!
Love to see the creek at the bottom of our property, with snowy ground and trees in the foreground! This was the inspiration for today’s art journal page.
One of my goals is to have some variety in my pages. Since my pages tend to reflect my moods, this is not too difficult for me (different moods=variety in pages). This was a simple page, using Making Memories Navy paint, Dylusions Let it Snow stencil with Liquid Pearls Opal White, and white acrylic paint.
One of my favorite passages is Proverbs 31. This page made me think of the verse about snow. The passage is describing the virtuous woman who cares for her family.
I am participating in an online Bible study on forgiveness, based on Suzanne Eller’s book, The Unburdened Heart. So far, we are in the Introductory phase (so it’s not too late to join), and we have been given a thought for the week: “It’s not what was, but what can be.” As we prepare to see what God’s Word has to say about forgiveness, I can understand how it will be important to embrace this thought.
Suzie said, “Prayerfully remind yourself of this phrase. Write it on the mirror. Put it on the dashboard of your car, or on a sticky note on the computer screen.”
Here lately, any time I hear a meaningful phrase that I want to think on, or set before myself, I think “art journal page.” So, I decided to do something with a background I had just put down in my Inspiration Journal, using Lumiere Halo Blue Gold (light body metallic acrylic). I love this paint, because it is really several colors in one. Here is the background. All I did was spread it around with an old gift card. The two pictures that follow were taken from a little different angle, but it is the very same page (the metallic color is amazing-one paint does this!).
I had also been wanting to use some stamps from Artistic Outpost. I love the stamps but had never used them. So, I decided the idea of birds fit rather nicely with the “unburdened” theme.
I stamped the images on watercolor paper. For the robin and nest, I painted them with Perfect Pearls (mixed with water in a palette and allowed to dry and then painted from the palette with a water brush). For the other images, I used Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils and a water brush.
In retrospect, I’m not thrilled with the way the water colored images look on the page, and I wish I had not been so intent on using them. But, it does convey a meaning, and it’s just a page, after all, so I’ll get over it!
Also on the background, I used Golden Molding Paste (left it white) and Golden Glass Bead Gel through a stencil. The Glass Bead Gel is transparent, so it looks like the color of the background, but in actuality, it is clear and raised, as is more obvious here:
For other background dimension, I stamped with a Tim Holtz background stamp and a Wendy Vecchi script stamp. I used a charcoal pencil to outline the words and the images.
Since I am using some stamps I have owned for some time but have never used, I will link this project to the current challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show, a stamp you love but don’t use. My favorite of these is the nest with bird eggs.
Also linking to Frilly and Funkie’s Challenge, Layer it On and Share a Word.
Since all these stamps are from Artistic Outpost, I am also linking to their February Anything Goes Challenge.
This was one of those “have no idea where I’m going with this” pages. I saw a video where someone used Tim Holtz Crackle Paint on the background of a journal page, so I just smeared some Vintage Photo Crackle Paint on both pages and left it for a few days (no plan). Yep, it crackled. You can barely see it in the photo, but this is a closeup.
Around the edges of the crackle, I painted with several paints and stains to get a brassy, coppery feel.
I had the “feel” of old, timeworn things from the background. I went through my box of left-overs and found this partial clock (Tim Holtz die) and an embossed clock page done on the wrong side so cast aside (so for this I used the “wrong” side, and it worked great). I used Archival (Coffee and Jet Black) for most of the inking and stamping, as I wanted a permanent ink. I stained the grunge board clock with Tim’s metallic stains (copper and then brass).
All of the stamps, except for the chevron, are Tim Holtz stamps. The torn pieces of paper with clock faces are from Tim’s paper stash.
After I decided on the clock/time theme, I just made up the quote. I almost put the word “Right???” after the quote, but I wanted to believe it, so I left it as is!
As a “seasoned” Christian (“mature Christ-follower” aka “older lady who has been a Christian for a long time”), I have always struggled with “forgiveness.” I don’t struggle with what it means, or what the Bible has to say about it. I struggle with understanding it to the fullest so that I can actually apply it.
Today I am participating in a several-week, free online Bible study with Suzie Eller, of Proverbs 31 Ministries—Unburdened Heart Study. The study is based on her book, The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness.
I dread it, because I know I will learn some things that I need to DO that I am not DOING. I know I will be working through some emotions that I would rather bury (or keep buried). But, I hope I never get too old to learn and to strive to follow God more closely.
So, here goes!
