My Own Smash Journal

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Inside front cover

I just got a new Cinch binding machine yesterday and couldn’t wait to see if I could actually figure out how to use it. I put together a book that I will use for a Smash Journal (as I’ve gotten quite “into” making Smash books). I had some beautiful double-sided scrapbooking cardstock from Graphic 45 and pulled out a couple of 8x8 packs. So that I could wrap the paper around the sides of the cover and back (chip board), I made the book at 7x7.

I like it! I’ll have to talk myself into covering the pages with “smash” stuff.

Art Journal Craziness

One of my crazy, messy art journal pages, it began with some second and third generation prints from a Gelli Plate, several months ago. I added some Distress Paint, some pieces from a water color page I painted, a magazine title, and lots of stamps.

Bright Colors to Brighten My Mood: Art Journal

For those in my “real, not-art” world who wonder why I write blog posts about such, I like to share my work sometimes on various sites, and the only way I can do that is to link to a blog post. So there you have it. My excuse.

With hubby out of town on business for a few days, I have been unstoppable with my projects, and believe it or not, have NOT posted pictures of all of them: scrapbook layouts, Smash Journal pages, art journal pages, mixed media canvas, as well as learning from online tutorials about my new cutting machine (Silhouette Cameo), organizing my craft room, etc.

One of the things I enjoy just for fun is this style of art journaling where I just lay down lots of layers of color, with paints and inks, doodling, and a little journaling. For this one, I even used the little sewing machine I have for just such a purpose.

Mixed Media Camera Canvas

Inspired by my favorite teacher, *Junelle Jacobsen, this is a 6x6 canvas that features a camera that I sketched and then used as a template to cut patterned papers to collage in layers. There is lots of paint on the canvas, so it was lots of fun. I first painted the canvas with a coat of light aqua. After the camera was all done, I went over the canvas with black, leaving some of the aqua peeking out here and there.

*Somerset Workshop, Junelle’s “Whimsical Mixings of All Mediums, p 62.”

2014 Smash Journal Started

In addition to traditional scrapbooking (which I keep current) and art journal projects, another fun thing that I do is to keep a Smash Journal. It is the place where I go to be random, and where I use photos, memorabilia and embellishments that I am not using in my traditional scrapbooks.

I typically use most of the background page that is already there in the Smash Journal. This particular album is the light teal one, called Retro. This page had some elements that I did not want to use, so I simply covered them with some card stock that I had on hand that coordinated with the colors on this page, which I did like. I added a couple of Cameo cutouts (the number stack and the “before” and “after” words).

“Smash*ing” is fun and another one of those “areas” where I can enjoy both the process and the product (both are necessary for me).

Darkness into Light Art Journal {Gelatos}

A couple of days ago, I read this Scripture verse, and I pictured exactly what I created here, using Gelatos. Since the picture that came to mind was very simple, I decided to leave it exactly like that—crazy simple.

Scrapbook Page and {Stronger} Art Journal Layout

I scrapbook multiple layouts weekly but rarely post them. This one was really fun!

This art journal spread is for my sweet and beautiful daughter.

Mixed Media Class Continues: “She loved deeply” Canvas

I took a break from my Creatively Made mixed media class to work on holiday projects. I like to finish what I start (okay, so I MUST finish what I start), so I picked back up on the class a couple of days ago. This is an 8x8 canvas that I created as a project in the class.

I am not an artist and am especially bad when it comes to drawing/painting people. I decided to go for it on this vintage girl, and she turned out okay I think.

Yes, she does remind me of me. Believe it or not, this is the way my hair was styled at a brief time in my life, around the time my husband came home from Viet Nam, as one of my goals while he was gone was to let my hair grow, and it was fairly long by the time our son was born in June 1970. The style back then was somewhat poofy. During that time, it was common to wear a dress, and for afternoon events as a Marine Officer’s wife, gloves were required.

You will usually find one of my calling cards (required of all officer’s wives) in most of my mixed media canvases/boards.

I always enjoy using some of the vintage papers we found during our treks through antique stores.

Art Journal: Mercy

It has been literally months since I created an art journal page, what with the holiday Smash journal, tag-making, huge photo album project and regular scrapbooking—oh, and life. Today I wanted to use a verse that I especially love, with its reference to “through all generations.”

Prior to doing this page, I worked several days on a smash journal that contains the overflow from 2013 (those pictures and memorabilia that did not go into the 2013 scrapbooks).

Projects

January usually finds me knee-deep in organizational projects (as opposed to random and creative projects much of the rest of the year). I just reached my goal of going through literally hundreds of pictures in old albums from 1982-1991. I tossed the old albums and many poor quality photos from those years, scanned 10-20 photos from each year for electronic archives, and re-pocketed each remaining picture in acid-free albums. I had previously done that with 1970-1981. The photo albums from 1992-2002 are in pretty good shape, so I’m leaving those alone for now. I started scrapbooking in 2003 and have kept up with all photos since then. SO, big huge sigh of relief.

Today, back to something a bit more creative. I use Smash Journals for pictures and memorabilia that do not make it into my traditional chronological scrapbooks. This is a page done today, from my fourth Smash Journal (which will house 2013 “stuff”).

Winter in Missouri

We keep talking about how we would like to live in the south—just for a couple of months of the year, at least. We are less and less amused by Missouri winters. We really don’t like the cold. And yet, here it is. And here we are.

This was Sunday evening. In reality, this morning’s temperature was –32 wind chill.

My 12-inch ruler pretty much going under!-Yesterday afternoon.

This handsome jake (much larger than it looks here—I used my Rebel zoom lens), with a 12-inch beard, was so obvious in our snow-covered woods this morning. He would have been embarrassed to know how exposed he was!

Our Christmas

Blessed by a wonderful Christmas with our children and their children, at our home, for a time of celebration of the Gift of God’s Son.

Sibling Christmas

We were pleased to host my Sibling Christmas this year. Each of the two couples comes from opposite directions, about two hours away, so our “central” location works great.

We always have a great time together. Serious talks, hilarious stories, lots of laughter, a time of reading the Christmas story with songs, and sharing gifts.

While it’s great having siblings as you grow “up,” it’s even greater to have them close as you grow “older.”

More Pages from Holiday Smash Journal

More Pages from my Holiday Smash Journal

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