Documented Life Project - Week 13

March Theme: Making your Mark

This week's Art Challenge: Make Custom Element

Journal Prompt: "Ride the Energy of Your Own Unique Spirit"- Gabrielle Roth

I challenged myself this week by trying to incorporate more white space on my spread. I seem to always end up with heavy layers and every inch of the spread covered, so I wanted to try a lighter look. It was hard! I guess I just naturally want to keep adding...

For this background I used Dina Wakley's acrylic paints and her technique of spreading a thin layer of paint and using a baby wipe through a stencil to remove some of the color. I did this several times with different colors creating many layers. Then I overstamped with alpha stamps and a script stamp. The drips are a spray ink.

I used a handmade stencil of myself for the custom element. I made a copy of a headshot photo and cut it out carefully. Then I sponged black paint through to create a likeness of me.

The title was stamped with two different alpha stamp sets. The days of the week and dates were also stamped and the dividers between the days are old rubons.

I added some journaling along one of the drip lines on the right, added my info for the planner section and called it done!

Happy Easter - belated

I hope everyone had a blessed and happy Easter. We went to Albuquerque to spend the weekend with grand boys Drew and Grant. It was a fun and "egg-cellent" time. Drew was really into the coloring eggs/decorating cookies/egg hunts this year. And I got my cuddle time with little Grant who is filling out nicely and is almost 9 pounds!

Documented Life Project - Weeks 11 and 12

I've done it! With these two pages, I'm caught up to the current week! Prompts are posted on Saturday, so we're just a few days into this week and I'm ready to work on the current page!

Week 11

March Theme: Making your Mark (Doodles and Mark Making)

Art Challenge: Borders

Journal Prompt: "Borderline feels like I'm going to lose my mind"

For this week's spread, I cut painted papers into scallops, strips and circles to form the borders, doodling and making marks along the edges. I also used the bottom border for my calendar days. 

There are many painted, stamped and stenciled layers for the background.  I didn't quite get the quote, so just used "Losing my mind? No, it's just LIFE as usual" as my title. 

Week 12

same March theme

Art Challenge: As a Focal Point

Journal Prompt: Coming into Focus

For this spread I was inspired by a similar "mandala" I'd seen online a few years ago.  I first drew the focal point in pencil and then used a permanent black pen over it. Then I filled in each section with different doodles, using Portfolio watercolor crayons for all the color. I repeated the same colors on the right side for my days of the week and used the single word, Focus, as the title.

I am so happy to be caught up with all the challenges and can now focus on one spread a week!

More Documented Life Planner pages

Still catching up, but I'm getting there...!

Week 9

(Theme still Layers)

Art Challenge: Using at least 5 layers
Journal Prompt: "Give me a High Five"

For this week I used some new paints I wanted to try out. They are neon colors and are children's paints from Michael's. They are thin and fairly translucent, which is great for art journaling purposes, but I don't think they would give very good coverage for other purposes.

The art challenge was easy - there are way more than 5 layers on this spread! I started with book pages Mod Podged to the background and then I removed some of them while it was still wet, kind of like an image transfer. I covered that with pink and orange neon paints using a plastic gift card, then white paint through a burlap-design stencil and Dylusions orange spray ink through a number stencil. I also stamped, added washi tape, collaged the hand and added doodling, writing and more stenciling with molding paste.

I wasn't sure where to go with the journal prompt, but decided to trace my hand on some patterned paper and collaged it to the background. I added tiny photos of my five kids to the fingertips and added journaling to the effect that they are my biggest blessings and greatest accomplishment (thus a high five to me!). The number five is also a nod to the ""high five" in the prompt. Cheesy, but done!

Week 10

March Theme: Making Your Mark (Doodles and Mark-making)

Art Challenge: As a Layer Element

Journal Prompt: Surviving the Elements

This week we moved into March with the theme of Doodles and Mark-Making.  The art challenge was to use marks as a layer element and that was easy enough. I used Dina Wakley's acrylic paints for most of this spread and lots of stamps. I stenciled with paint through a plastic doily that was recently gifted to me by a friend (thank you Joan!) and added lots of dots and lines with paint pens.

Surviving the elements had me stumped until I decided to use the idea of "I'm in my element when creating and making art," which is what I scribbled on the right page as added marks.

I'm currently working on Week 11 and that will bring me up to this week!

"Happy, Happy Day" Layout Tutorial

"Happy, Happy Day"

I recently created this single-page layout documenting the day my newest grandson, Grant, came home from the hospital and his older brother, Drew, finally got to meet him and hold him for the first time.  I used the new "Craft Market" paper collection from Crate Paper and I have a full tutorial on my process on The Little Blue House Blog today!  Click on over to see how I created the fun watercolor background using the new Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink.

This beautiful paper line is now available at The Little Blue House and also online here. Check it out - you will love it!

Spring Card Tutorial

It's Day 2 of the LBH Bunny Hop! Have you been having fun hopping to everyone's blogs and seeing the fabulous creations?

Today I have another fun tutorial for you - a spring easel card using the bright papers of Echo Park's "Happy Easter" collection.

Let's get started!

1.  Cut solid (green/blue) paper 6" x 8" for the card base and 6" x 4" for the card front.

2.  Score larger piece on long side at 4" and 6."  Fold as shown below. (Green will be outside of card; blue will be the inside.)

3.  Add Scor Tape on the top section; set aside.

4.  Diecut the birdhouse journal card (Doodlebug Darling Daisies) with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Ornamental die. Ink edges with brown ink. (I used Mocha Mama Quick Quotes ink.)

6. Layer diecut on floral paper and cut out, leaving approximately 1/4" border. Ink with green ink (Limeade Quick Quotes ink).

7. Border punch the bottom edge of the 4" x 6" card front. Ink edges with green ink. Cut a strip of green vellum 1/2" x 6" and glue to card front. Below this glue 1/4" strip of brown floral paper (reverse of scrap leftover from cutting journal card above).

8.  Close card and remove Scor Tape from the top piece. Adhere the card front, matching the top edges.

This is what it looks like from the side.

8. Border punch a floral strip 1" x 6" and cut a strip of green patterned paper 1/4" x 6". Glue in place at bottom inside of card as shown. Leave scalloped edge unglued so the card will stand later. Stack two heart stickers and pop up in the center. Ink around "hello spring" sticker and place inside card. Ink bird tag sticker and pop dot at corner of spring sticker. Tie 2" of yellow twine in a knot through hole of tag.

9. Close card and center layered birdhouse card on card front with dimensional foam adhesive. The top overhangs the top fold of the card.

12. Add Stickles to decorate if desired.

SUPPLIES USED

(available at the LBH or clink link for LBH online)

Echo Park "Happy Easter" paper collection
Doodlebug "Darling Daisies" paper
Echo Park "Sunny Days" green/blue solid paper

Doodlebug "Sprinkles" Vellum - Limeade
2" yellow twine

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Mocha Mama and Limeade

Sizzix "Ornamental" Bigz Die

Dimensional foam adhesive

Helmar 450 Adhesive

1/4" Scor Tape
Diamond Stickles

scalloped border punch

I hope you have enjoyed our Bunny Hop and have been inspired by our projects to CREATE!

HAPPY EASTER!

Welcome to our first ever Little Blue House "Bunny Hop" Blog Hop! If you have arrived from Vicki's blog, yay! If you are just starting, you can follow the hop from here as well - just follow the links in each post. In case you get lost, here's a complete list of the media team and links to their blogs.

-Lindsey (LBH Blog) http://www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/ 

-Natalie & Cathy http://lbhbluecrew.blogspot.com/ 

-Nadine http://myscrapnstuff.blogspot.com/ 

-Miss Tracy http://www.misstracycreates.com/ 

-Angi http://cokiepopaper.blogspot.com/

-Susan Liles http://www.susiestampalot.com/ 

-Vicki http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com/ 

-Susan Tidwell http://susan-artfulmusings.blogspot.com/  (you are here!)

-Valerie Bishop http://myhere-rightnow.blogspot.com/

And here's some fun news- everyone who leaves a comment on each team member's posts (you have to visit all the blogs and leave a comment on each one) will be entered into a drawing for the BUNNY HOP Grand Prize Easter Basket! So let's get started!

I have a fun frame project for you created with a 5"x7" canvas and the darling papers from the Echo Park "Happy Easter" paper collection. The supply list is listed at the end of the step out tutorial.

"YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE" EASTER FRAME

1.  For this project I used what is usually considered the back of the canvas as the front. The wood strips form a perfect frame.

2.  Paint the entire canvas except for the center with color of your choice. (I used turquoise.)

3.  Cut three 1/2" x 12" strips of green patterned paper for the inside edge. Cut to fit and glue in place.

4.  Cut four 1 3/16" x 12" strips of multicolor plaid paper for the outside frame. First glue down the vertical strips and cut flush with top and bottom of canvas.

5.  To miter the corners, lay a strip over one horizontal frame piece overlapping the vertical strips. Cut ends flush with edges of canvas. Use a ruler to mark a line from inner corner to outer corner and  cut on the line. Repeat for the other corner, then glue in place. This ensures a perfect miter every time! Repeat for other corners.

6.  To cover the inside of the canvas, measure opening and cut floral paper to just slightly larger.(Mine was 5 3/4" x 7 3/4".) When glueing down, pick canvas up and press slightly on canvas backing to allow for slightly larger paper to slip under the wood pieces. Ink edges if desired (I used Tahiti Quick Quotes turquoise ink.)

7.  Cut a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" photo mat from the solid paper (I used the light blue side) and adhere photo and mat to inside of frame over floral paper.  

8.  Cut two strips of green "Sprinkles" vellum approximately 1 1/4" x 5 3/4" and 3/4" x 5 3/4".  Use fringing scissors (or regular scissors) to cut the long edges. Curl fringed sides around a skewer or end of a paintbrush.

9.  Add 1/4" Scor tape along front and back edges of tallest piece.  Then layer shorter piece over the tape on the front.  Remove the backing from the tape on the back and glue in place inside the frame at the bottom to represent grass. "Fluff" as desired.

10.  Using a small alphabet stamp set, stamp on the green pennant ribbon with Versamark ink. Sprinkle on white embossing powder and heat with heat tool. (Note: the ribbon is synthetic and will burn or shrivel with too much heat, so keep the tool farther away and moving constantly!)  Remove the backing from the first and last pennant and secure to the frame.

11.  I used the "Sunshine" sticker in the upper right corner, popping it up and overlapping my photo. I added "my" with a permanent black pen.  (Here's a tip for popping stickers. Add the pop dots to the back of the sticker and then sprinkle remaining area with powder or cornstarch, rubbing it into the stickiness and tapping off any excess. This removes the stickiness and allows you to pop it!)

12.  To further embellish, add a heart sticker to the "Best Day" sticker and adhere to lower right corner of frame. Add two flower stickers in the grass area and any other stickers that are relevant to your photo.  I also added a wood veneer arrow to bottom of frame.

13.  Cut two 6" pieces of yellow paper twine, tie into bows and glue to ends of banner.

Now display your favorite Easter or spring photo!

SUPPLIES USED

(available at The Little Blue House or click links for LBH online)

"Happy Easter" paper collection by Echo Park

Blue/green solid paper, "Sunny Days Ahead" by Echo Park

Doodlebug "This and That" sticker sheet

Doodlebug "Sprinkles" vellum, Limeade

Crate Paper "Craft Market" wood veneer arrow

yellow paper twine

green pennant ribbon

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Tahiti

Helmar 450 Adhesive

1/4" Scor Tape

Dimensional foam adhesive

alphabet stamp set: Reverse Confetti "Lighthearted Lettering"

Martha Stewart fringe scissors

Versamark ink

Ranger white embossing powder

heat tool

craft paint

permanent black pen

Now don't forget to comment here and then hop on over to Valerie's blog to see what she has in store for you!

And be sure to come back tomorrow - I will have another tutorial for you!