Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! May you have an art-filled 2016!

It's finished! I completed the last spread in my Documented Life Project journal on Wednesday, just in time!  I am quite pleased that I created a spread for every week, even if a little late sometimes, and that I tried to follow most of the art challenges and journal prompts.

Week 53 - Dec. 26
Art Challenge: Storytelling
Journal Prompt: Storytelling as an underlying fabric

For this week I wanted to sum up what the experience of DLP meant to me. I used the idea of the woven fabric of relationships and that art is the common thread that unites us. 

At Thanksgiving my daughter gave me a box of upholstery samples left over from when they bought a chair. She didn't want to just trash them and thought I could maybe use them. Of course, I never turn down any supplies!  I cut small pieces of the different swatches and glued them in a heart shape over a loosely watercolored background. I challenged myself to leave white space as that is usually impossible for me!

I used journaling labels for the days of the week. The circle sticker inside the heart is the DLP 2016 logo sticker that came with the new 2016 kit.

I outlined the heart and journaled around it. Finally, I glued some randomly placed string on top of the heart to represent the common thread.

This last page is bittersweet - I'm relieved to have finished all the weeks' pages but also will miss the weekly challenges.

Here is my finished journal, just bursting at the seams! It doesn't close and has expanded exponentially.  I have yet to decorate the covers as I didn't want to mess them up while working on the pages. I also intend to print out the weekly challenges and attach them to the back pages.

This has been a very gratifying and challenging exercise for the year. It will be a keepsake for me to remember all that happened in 2015, along with 53 spreads of art! Thank you so much to the original Art to the 5th gals - Robin Marie Smith, Rae Missigman, Lorraine Bell and Sandi Keene.

For 2016 I will be participating in the Art to the 5th Documented Life 2016: the "unPlanner." I can't wait to see what the gals have in store for us this year.

Documented Life Project - Week 52

Week 52 - Dec. 19

Art Challenge: Hidden Journaling

Journal Prompt: The greatest gift I can give myself...

Since this challenge was for the week of Christmas I decided to go with a Christmas theme. Time was short so I just created on the left page and used the entire right page for the days of the week.

I took a few process photos along the way.  I started by glueing on a pretty printed tissue 

paper that a gift was wrapped in.

Then I "stamped" with white paint and bubble wrap all over to tone it down.

For the hidden journaling, I wrote in the area that would be covered by the angel's dress.

This shows the angel decoupaged on the background. I used music paper for the dress, manila paper for the head, and gold paper covered with a layer of loosely-woven white fibrous paper.

Once that was dry I painted the head a flatten, swiped Inka Gold metallic paste over the textured wings and painted the dress green. (Sorry, got in the zone and forgot to take photos of the final steps!)

To decorate the dress I used some white and black Christy Tomlinson scallop border rub-ons along with some very old white Recollections snowflake rub-ons. The Christmas ornament border and the large 25 are also from Recollections. (It feels good to use up some of these miscellaneous items in my stash!)

I sponged on a very light white paint border around the entire angel to make it stand out more from the background. I also doodled around the shapes with a black pen, used a white paint pen to draw scallops on the wings and a gold Krylon pen for the halo.

52 weeks down - one more to go!

Documented Life Project - Weeks 50 and 51

December Theme - Storytelling with the Written Word

Week 50 - Dec. 5

Art Challenge: Words, Front and Center

Journal Prompt: Life is a book. We fill the pages.

For this week's spread I wanted to use this large "I Am Artist" stencil from Donna Downey. I've had it for awhile but never had the perfect place to use it.  For "words front and center" this fills the bill!

The background started out like this. I collaged many under paper scraps and also 

the text wrap from a candle.

Then I toned it all down with some brayered white paint. I topped that with lots of stamping in black ink and the stencil in black paint.

Week 51- Dec. 12

Art Challenge: Using Quotes and Lyrics as Storytelling

Journal Prompt: "One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can't utter."  James Earl Jones

For this spread I didn't follow the journal prompt but concentrated on using a quote. 

The background is collaged "under papers". If you're not familiar with that term it's the paper used underneath a project while painting to catch the mess! Often it is prettier than the project itself!

I added white paint with a palette knife to tone it down and blend the background together. The black and white chevron is washi tape. There's lots of random stamping with black ink.

I found the quote on Pinterest - it is watercolored by Amy Tangerine. I simply printed it and taped it in place with more washi tape.

With these spreads finished, the end is in sight! I have last week and this week to finish before the end of the year!

Documented Life Project - Week 49

November Theme - Stencils, Stamps and Masks

Week 49 - Nov. 28

Art Challenge: Combine all three

Journal Prompt: "Three things in human life are important - the first is to be kind, the 

second is to be kind, the third is to be kind." Henry James

Needless to say, my title this week was "Be Kind." 

For masking I originally intended to use masking fluid to write the title before doing any of the background. But when I discovered that my never-used-but-I've-had-it-for-a-few-years masking fluid was dried up I had to go to Plan B. Instead I used letter stickers and then, luckily, was able to peel them off leaving the white of the unpainted page. I also doodled with black pen around the letters to make them pop.

I used reduction stenciling as well as regular stenciling with paints on the background. Then I stamped with paints (diamonds, "raindrops" and diamond border). The scallop borders are portions of gelli® prints I had made.

I have two more weeks' spreads to share in another post. I'm trying to get them all finished before the end of the year!

I'm back - and Documented Life Project - Week 48

November Theme: Stencils, Stamps and Masks

Week 48 - Nov. 21

Art Challenge: Masks

Journal Prompt: Masquerade

I had this spread finished beforeI left for Albuquerque last week but had no time to post!

For this spread I painted a random backgtound and then used a new geometric circle foam stamp with white paint and a chevron-pattern roller stamp with gold paint. I wanted to make a colorful page that would pop when I used the masks on it. Here is the background:

I then laid down several old masks (from Tim Holtz) and painted the page with Dina Wakely "Night" paint. This color is a very dark navy - not quite black and is less stark than using a black paint.  I added "Masquerade" in gold glitter stickers and added a photo of my daughters from a trip to Venice in 2006 during "Carneval."  I journaled a bit with a gold gel pen and added gold dots for a border.

One of the reasons I'm behind on my page spreads is this little cutie. We've been keeping him for over three weeks - both at his house in Albuquerque and here in Tx. (Love those non-rev Southwest benefits!) His babysitter took a 6-week break for the holidays and left them in the lurch - not that we minded filling in!

Documented Life Project - Week #47

November Theme - Stencils, Stamps and Masks

Nov. 14 - Week 47

Art Challenge - Use Hand-carved Stamp

Journal Prompt - Tapestries

I'm a few weeks behind - story of my "documented life" it seems.

I decided to use this iconic photo of my hometown (Stowe, VT) in the fall and create a "tapestry" of sorts.

I first spread yellow, gold and orange paints across the pages with an old gift card for a random background.  Then I printed out the photo and cut it into vertical strips. I attached the strips, leaving a  small space between each to insert a thin metallic sticker strip. I then wove fine gold thread into the bottom portion, glueing as I went. I had intended to do this for the entire photo, but it was so tedious I scrapped that idea quickly.

I hand-carved 2 leaves and stamped them with copper, brown and orange inks and orange paint. I also added three "silk" fall leaves for a bit of dimension.

The title is: "Autumn is a tapestry of color." I gold embossed "autumn" and wrote the rest with a gold pen. Finished this up yesterday and I'm now on to the next week!

DLP Project - Week 45

November's theme - Stencils, Stamps and Masks

Week 45 - November 7

Art Challenge: Stencils, Made or Bought

Journal Prompt: On the edge of uncertainty ... what are you afraid of?

The art challenge was right up my alley this week as I love using stencils and building up layers with them. But the journal prompt??? These always make me stop and think... Many this year have been very challenging!

I started out with turquoise acrylic paint and the "reduction" technique with a stencil. You lay a stencil over the paint while still damp and use a baby wipe or wet paper towel to rub off the paint through the stencil. This gives a lot of texture and interest to that first layer.

Then I used a slightly darker ink pad and rubbed through the same stencil giving more texture.

Then came a diluted wash of a violet paint. At this point I hated it! But journal pages usually go through many transformations as layers are added so I kept going, though I must admit I was toying with the idea of tearing out the page and starting over!

I decided it needed to be lightened so added white paint through a small squares stencil, then darkened by a small circle stencil and very dark midnight blue paint.

I added the scalloped border (also a stencil) with white paint as well as the feather stencil with white.

For the prompt I decided that when things are uncertain or you are afraid of something, it's best to just  "Be brave...Dare to fly". These letters were cut out of a catalog and glued on. Because of the word "fly," the bird just had to go on the spread - it's also a stencil. 

Some outlining with black Stabilo pencil and a water brush and a white pen and I called it done!

Documented Life Project - Week 44

Week 44 - Oct. 31

October Theme - Translucent Papers

Art Challenge: Tea Bags, Dryer Sheets, Fibrous Papers

Journal Prompt: Just Create

So this was for last week and we were still doing the October theme even though it was the end of the month (the challenges are posted on the Saturday before the week). One more week of translucent papers - this time tea bags, dryer sheets and fibrous papers.

I started with collaging tea bags and fibrous papers on my background. I'm glad I took these photos as none of this can be seen in the final spread except possibly a tiny bit of texture here and there!

Then I added a thin coat of white gesso to unify all the pieces.

From there I just started adding layer upon layer of paints scraped on, painted with my fingers, sponged through stencils and "stamped" with a bottle cap (circles) and edge of a gift card (lines). (Sorry, no photos as I got into the zone!)

For the flower stems I painted horizontal black stripes on a sheet of old book paper and cut into vertical strips. The flower centers are circles cut out of dryer sheets that I Mod Podged together, dried and then painted. I machine-stitched the outer edges. Once they were glued down I painted the petals with black paint and added white with a paint pen. For the leaves I glued painted dryer sheets to book pages and handout leaves. They are also machine-stitched down the centers.

I used Dyan Reaveley's alpha stamp set for the title and outlined with a white Signo pen.

I had fun creating this spread, especially since there was no specific prompt other than to "just create." I'm looking forward to the November theme!

Documented Life Project - Week 43

Week 43 - Oct. 24

October Theme - Translucent Papers

Art Challenge: Glassine

Journal Prompt: Windows of my Mind

This is my spread for Week 43. I actually finished it over a week ago but never had time to post. (Busy creating projects for our Christmas Open House tomorrow!)

I started the background with collaged music paper and scraped paints over. Then I randomly made lots of marks with stencils, paints and spray mists. The circles are punched from copies of old backgrounds and I painted white blocks for the days of the week journaling.

No, I cannot draw but I had recently purchased this wonderful face stamp from Stampendous. I stamped her on the page and then used paints and colored pencils to color her. I extended her hair.  The feathers is a stamp that came with the face which I stamped twice on a piece of glassine envelope, colored with pencils and cut out. I then added Stickles over which made the glassine curl but it gives some dimension to the page.  I splattered alcohol inks on another piece of glassine and cut it into a circle to fit into the sketchy circle die cut to kinda represent inside my mind.  I have always loved the quote "Sometimes there was a storm inside her brain" and never had an occasion to use it but thought it fit the "window of my mind" for this page.

Here are a few closeups.

Documented Life Project - Week 42

I'm back from visiting the grandbabies for Halloween and jumping into designing and creating for Christmas! Our Holiday Open House will be next week so lots to do before then!

I'm caught up on the Documented Life pages except for last week! Here's the spread for the week of October 17, still using the theme of translucent papers.

Week 42 - Oct. 17

Art Challenge: Vellum

Journal Prompt: Sheer Genius

I'm happy that vellum is making a comeback - it's fun stuff to work with. I dug out some old vellum sheets from my stash and even found some printed vellum I'd been saving (pansies). I wanted this spread to be light and airy so I used watercolors sparingly on the background, taking my color inspiration from the printed pansies. Have you ever tried leaving white space? It's really hard for a mixed media artist who loves texture and lots of mediums!

I stamped the butterflies with several colors of Brilliance ink - this is one of the few inks that dry well on vellum.  My ink pads are really old so I was pleasantly surprised that they still were juicy and stamped well.  I used Graphite Black which is a pretty grayish black with gold in it as well as Pearlescent Purple and Violet. The Brilliance colors are beautiful - wonder why you never hear of them now.

I stamped on the background where I wanted to adhere my butterflies and attached them only along their bodies so they would be dimensional and lift off the page. I also stamped more butterflies randomly over the background.

I used an old frame stamp for the days and computer generated the quote ("Only as high as I reach can I grow, Only as far as I seek can I go, Only as deep as I look can I see, Only as much as I dream can I be.") which was all I could come up with for the prompt.

I glued on small areas of pearl glass glitter to give the background some bling and used Wink of Stella in the centers of the flowers.

Documented Life Project - Week 41 - All Caught Up!

Finally, I'm caught up!  I actually finished this lasts week's page on Friday night but had already scheduled my post for Saturday, so now I can work on the current week during the current week!

October Theme: Translucent Papers

Week 41- October 10

Art  Challenge: Tissue Paper

Journal Prompt: The Disappearing Trick

I was happy to not have a quirky journal prompt this week and to be able to use one of my favorites - tissue paper. 

I have long been a fan of Rebekah Meier's work and have been stalking Joann's Fabrics since early September when her new line of fabrics, stencils, tissue papers etc. was supposed to be in-store. Last week I finally found the products and went a little crazy purchasing many of them. (Hey, it was my anniversary and my husband was out of town so I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and needed some consolation!)

The tissue paper comes in a pack with two sheets each of two printed collaged papers and then several pastel solids.  It was perfect for this spread!  I tore pieces of both patterned papers and collaged them on the background. I also tore small pieces of the turquoise solid and glued them on as well.

Next came magenta, yellow and turquoise paints splodged on with an old credit card (my favorite method of applying paints). Then I scraped on some white paint to lighten it a bit.

I stamped with bottle lids and white paint; stamped small dots with a permanent black ink and finally lightly scraped gold metallic paint over all. It's hard to see in the photo but it adds some shine and highlights.

I wasn't sure what to do next as I didn't want to "ruin" the background so I decided to just write out a favorite saying with diluted black paint and a tiny paintbrush. (This is much harder to do than it looks. I think the trick is going quickly and not hesitating - something more to practice!)

I inked around the edges with black to frame the page and then added the final touch with diluted black paint specks.

Done and caught up! Feels great.

Documented Life Project - October

Whew, I'm finally in the weeks of October - catching up!

October Theme - Translucent Papers

Week 40 - Oct. 3

Art Challenge: Deli Paper

Journal Prompt: You Had Me at Hello

This is my page spread for Week 40.  Being from Vermont, I love fall - all the beautiful colors of the changing foliage and the crisp, cool weather. Now that we live in Texas we don't experience much of fall but I do miss it! 

 I decided to use the fall theme and fall colors for this page and started by journaling my thoughts about fall on the blank page (see below).

Then I glued torn pieces of dictionary, book pages and sheet music randomly over the journaling.

Next came a wash of white gesso to mute everything.

After that step I got in the zone and forgot to take more photos! I used Distress paints and finger-painted a background. Then I stamped many leaf shapes all over the background using various coordinating colors of permanent ink.

The large scallops and also the borders between the dates are Gelli® printed deli papers I had on hand. I die cut the words out of white cardstock, inked them with brown ink and over-stamped with a woodgrain pattern. The words were also outlined with a black pen to make them stand out from the background.

The three large maple leaves were stamped with a sticky embossing powder and then a variegated metallic leafing applied over the sticky powder. After brushing off the excess metal leaf, I had beautiful, colorful fall leaves. Below is a closeup of one. This is a technique that was popular way back when I first started stamping and I'm happy to see the foiling making a comeback.

YAY! I am now caught up - just need to finish the spread for this current week as the new prompts come out today!

We are getting so close to the end of the year!  40 weeks done; 12 to go! Here's a peek at my Dylusions journal. It's bursting at the seams and I'm not sure it will make it! What do you think?

More Documented Life - Week 39

Week 39 - Sept. 26

Art Challenge: Storyboard

Journal Prompt: A Week in the Life...

This is the last week of September's theme of using photos. For my storyboard I decided to use polaroids for each day. I cut these from a Silhouette file, resizing them to fit 2" x 2" photos. The "this week in my life" journal card is a printable from one of the Art to the 5th coordinators. I inserted photos from the week (it was a VERY busy week) and journaled underneath.

The background was created using Distress Spray Stains and stencils. I also used some white texture paste through a ledger stencil to add some texture and interest.

Since I'm still behind a few weeks, I was happy that this page went together fairly quickly. It was also perfect for this specific week as usually I don't take photos of every day!

Documented Life Project - Week 38

Still in the September theme of journaling with photos...

Week 38 - Sept. 19

Art Challenge: Using a Silhouette

Journal Prompt: "There is no shadow without light"

For this spread I searched "silhouettes" online until I found this image of a little boy jumping. Since I am knee-deep in little grand boys, I decided to use this!

For the background I blended Distress paints until it looked somewhat like a sunset. For more texture I used the same paints through a few stencils over like colors so it would be subtle. I imported the image into my Silhouette machine and created a cut file. I used that as a stencil with black gesso. (Did you know that black gesso is more opaque and darker than black paint?) I also brushed the gesso across the bottom of the page to ground the image and used light vertical brushstrokes for grass. The flowers are from a Tim Holtz stencil - I just used a few and the tops only.

I finished the page with very old rub-ons (love using up old supplies) and some uppercase gold alpha stickers. I'm happy with the result and will always think of my boys when I see it.

Catching up on Documented Life Project - Week 37

September Theme: Journaling with Photos

Art Challenge: Digital Imagery and Design

Journal Prompt: "What Makes Your Heart Sing?"

After much thought, I decided to create this week's page spread about color and art supplies - they are truly what makes my heart sing!

The challenge was to use digital imagery and I'm not very capable in that department! First I imported a "Spark Inspiration" printable from Carolyn Dube into Photoshop and added a "paint daubs" filter. I printed it out and glued it on my page. Then I scraped paint colors around the edges with an old gift card, extending the color to the edges of the page. 

I had wanted to take the photo of paintbrushes I'd found online and layer it over the first image in Photoshop but never managed to figure that out. So I changed it to black and white in I-photo and printed it out separately. My original plan was to make a packing tape transfer with this, but inkjet prints don't work with this technique so I went with plan B and did a gel medium transfer directly on the page.

Finally, I added the title with stickers and a washi tape border to make the page pop.

I procrastinated a long time before starting this page but once I began, it all came together quickly.

Documented Life Project - Weeks 35 and 36

Catching up on weeks 35 and 36 since I was in Albuquerque babysitting Drew and Grant most of this past week.

Week 35 - Aug. 29

August Theme - Faces, The Human Form and Characters

Art Challenge: Self Portrait

Journal Prompt: Mirror, Mirror

Yikes, this month is really challenging! I must admit I never, ever would have done something like this unless challenged! I took my inspiration from Rae Missigman again who altered a photograph with a sketch app and then traced and painted the drawing.

I imported a cropped photo into the app, Pencil Sketch, on my phone and then printed it on my computer.  I then traced this the good old-fashioned way by rubbing the back of the copy with a regular pencil and then tracing over the lines on the front side with a stylus. This transferred the graphite to my journal page so I didn't have to draw "from scratch!"

I used Neocolor II watercolor crayons for coloring the drawing. The more I retouched it, the worse it got, so decided to leave it as is! At least I did the challenge, it looks like a person and somewhat resembles me!

After all that work, I was "done," so just drew random lines in the background and filled in with oversized journaling about the challenge.

I am so ready to move on from August and drawing faces!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


September Theme - Journaling with Photos

Week 36 - Sept. 5
Art Challenge: Photo Transfer
Journaling Prompt: From Here to There

For this week, I used a photo from the Internet which was a Life Magazine cover from 1957. I highlights a model in a Christian Dior dress in from of the Louvre Metro stop in Paris.  Since I spent a year studying in Paris in college (1968-69) I decided to use this photo as my focal point of the spread about how much life has changed from that point to now.

I started with a background of collaged book text, random papers and napkin pieces, then created layers of white, blue and ivory - adding and removing many times until I was happy with the result.

For the photo transfer I used a new transfer paper (TAP - Transfer Artist Paper) where you print your image onto the paper and then iron onto your surface.  For whatever reason, the image did not transfer well - I suspect my paper was old as it was a sample from 2011 and the directions say it lasts about 3 years :(  

So, I moved on to Plan B, using the gel medium transfer method. First I repainted over the area where the partial transfer was, then spread gel medium generously but smoothly in the same area. I used an inkjet print and laid it face down on the journal page, burnishing it well.  Some directions say to dry well, preferably overnight, but I couldn't wait, so used my heat tool to dry it thoroughly.

I sprayed water on the back of the paper and let it sit for a minute to soak in. Then I gently rubbed until all the paper was removed, leaving a reasonably clear transfer. (Transfers are never perfect and that is their beauty. I love the sanded, grungy effect.)

I added more paint around the transfer to integrate it with the background and also used many Paris-themed stamps. I also stamped a Tim Holtz quote, "Life is what happens to us when we are busy making other plans," and cut it apart.

Now to work on this week's challenge and, hopefully, get caught up!

Documented Life Project - Week 33

August Theme - Faces, The Human Form and Characters

Week 33 -  Aug. 15

Art Challenge: Painted

Journal Prompt: How do I Face my Biggest Challenge?

This month's focus on faces - drawn, painted etc. - is quite the challenge. For this week's page I followed the guest artist of the week Mystele Kirkeeng). In her tutorial she very generously included her three sketches for our use, so I decided to try my hand at the third one. This was so out of my comfort zone, but this week's prompt was facing your biggest challenge, so how better to do it than to really challenge myself!

Below is Mystele's finished painting from her sketch. She used a very loose, "scratchy" painting technique. When painting with acrylics, I usually blend and smooth out the paints, so I wanted to try this less controlled method. 

I think my end result is still too blended and not as sketchy as Mystele's but I am happy that it at least resembles hers and actually looks like a face! I obviously need much more practice.

I'm still catching up and have one more week's spread to finish before getting on track for this week. Traveling sure plays havoc with a schedule!

Documented Life Project - Week 32

August Theme - Faces, The Human Form and Characters

August 15 - Week 32

Art Challenge: Characters

Journal Prompt: "If You're Going to be Weird, Be Confident About It"

Is it just me or are the challenges getting harder? Or maybe this is just not my comfort zone! This is what I ended up with for Week 32 and, yes, it's kinda weird.

For the background I used some under paper that I liked (this is the paper I keep on my table to catch all the drips and wipe-offs when I'm working on a project - often they turn out really cool!) I didn't do anything to the background other than washing it with a light coat of gesso. The paper did not cover the full spread so I painted the left side and glued on a border strip and labels for the days of the week. The numbers are Tim Holtz Alpha Parts.

underpaper

I decided to collage a crazy character using the body

I decided to collage a crazy character using the body of an owl (image from the Internet), adding eyes from a woman's face in a magazine ad and red glasses and pink Doc Martens from the web.  For the legs I stamped Dyan Reaveley's funky tendrils stamp (lower left below), cut two of them out and colored with permanent pens.

I drew the hat and painted the stripes and polka dots. The title is also a Dyan Reaveley stamp which I cut apart and glued in place.  This is not my favorite page, but he is a character!

I will be back in a few days after we travel to Albuquerque to see two of the grands.

MIA and Documented Life Planner Week 31

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I stopped by here! Yes, I've been busy!

I have spent the last month or so trying to catch up on my oldest two grand boys' scrapbooks. I was going to do their first year, but the project took on a life of its own and has morphed into documenting their first two-plus years!

We went to Austin to visit Carl and Mitchell for our birthdays (mine, my husband's and my oldest daughter's are within 4 days of each other in August) and that was my deadline so I could give the scrapbook to Carl then. I think at last count I scrapped about 70 pages for him! Needless to say, the one album is now two! I've also almost finished Drew's to take to him when we go to Albuquerque next weekend - his is almost as big!

Back to Documented Life - with August came a new theme: Faces, The Human Form and Characters. Yikes! I've never drawn a face or body except stick figures! I was terrified and procrastinated big time.

Aug. 1
Art Challenge: Expressive Faces
Journal Prompt: "What I See Clearly Now"

So this was my face. I followed Dina Wakley's drawing instructions in her new book Art Courage.  I now wish I had stopped with the drawing instead of moving on to painting it! I'm not that happy with it but it is my first attempt so, hopefully, I'll get better! For the journal prompt, I wrote around her head saying that I can clearly see that I need lots of practice!

Since I wanted to focus on the drawing, I did a minimal background using a few spray inks and stencils. I used the entire left page for the calendar information because I didn't want to spread the face over two pages.

I am still two weeks behind, not including the current week, so I'd better get moving! The next challenge is Characters so hopefully that will be easier.(?)

Documented Life - Week 30

July Theme - Ephemera

July 25 - Week 30

Art Challenge - Real Life

Journal Prompt - At This Moment

This week was the last week of the July theme ephemera.  The challenges were "real life" and "at this moment."  On Monday at The Little Blue House we had the product release of all the new Illustrated Faith/Bella Blvd. products. Of course, I bought lots of these to use in my Bible journaling, so I thought it was appropriate to use some of the packaging as my ephemera this week. And, because I am currently enjoying creating in my Bible, I thought that theme would work for the journal prompt.

This is how my page spread started out. I cut off parts of the washi tape packages as well as the information that was printed on the back of the package for the "messy mat." I glued these to the left side and then filled in with some VERY old floral stickers. It was fun to use those up!

Then I applied a light coat of gesso and some pink and yellow Distress Paints. It was too pastel at that point, so I sprayed Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade Distress Spray Stains in places. I did not want to totally cover the page.

I stenciled the leaves with white paint and painted the scallops on the right side for the days of the week.

I printed out one of the freebie Illustrated Faith printable and added some of the new washi tapes in several places. I outlined areas with a china marker, added my "title" and am calling it done. Not my favorite page but I stuck to the challenge and I'm ready for the next week!