Parking Problems?

Just had to share this. Lol no worries on parking... It's a Jeep thing.

More later today. How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas from Florida

Yep, this was taken at our beach in December of this year!  I kid you not.  It’s been cold here, but not the whole time.  Anyway, just wanted to wish you a very happy holiday. 

 

I’m enjoying the day with 3/5th of my children!  Hope you are with people you love too!

Merry Christmas Eve

Here are a few scenes from around Jacksonville this holiday season.  This window display is downtown… it was one of my favorites.

Jacksonville has a light parade and it’s quite different from Phoenix… here it’s on the river~  This was Morgan’s favorite.  She’s switched her studies from Greek mythology to Norse.  Sweet.

This palm tree was on the winning entry for the parade.

 

Meanwhile….. closer to home…..

Temps mean nothing to the serious surfers.  It’s a family favorite… day or night.  The beach that is, not the surfing.  I’m still not standing on my board.  Still though, the sounds of the water on a deserted (or nearly so) strand of beach can be the best mini-vacation for us. 

 

Happy Holidays to you and yours! 

Solo Autistic Flight on American Airlines

Joey left for Texas this morning.  It's a bitter-sweet thing every time I have to watch him board a plane.  We are happy he's getting to spend time with his Dad... but I miss him so when he's gone.  He's been flying as an unaccompanied minor (UM) for many years now.   If you have not done this it's pretty straight forward, you check in at the ticket counter and they give you a pass to take your child to the gate.  There you sign him over to the care of the airline and wait until the plane is in the air before you leave the gate.

Simple enough, and after the first few times of doing it, I didn't fret so much when he was no longer in sight.  if you don't know, Joey has Asperger's.  For him that means impulsiveness, forgetfulness, losing track of his things, easily distracted.... oh and the biggie --- no brain-mouth filter.  Yeah.  For YEARS, if he thought it, it was coming out in words that anyone could hear.  We've been working on that one, plus going over who to talk to, who you can't talk to, what you can say, what you can't say.  For instance:

Joey - "if someone hijacks the plane, I can help."
Mom - "You can't say things like that at the airport."
Joey - "I'm just saying I have experience flying this plane from this airport."
Mom - "You still can't talk about hijacking.  What else can't you talk about?"
Joey - "Bombs and stuff."
Mom - "Right.  And security may touch you this time; you can't yell at them."
Joey - "Why would they touch me?"
Mom - "It was on the news, they may pat you down and touch you."
Joey - "ahh ok? I don't really like it when people touch me."
Mom - "I know, and I'll do what I can.  But even if they take something of yours, no arguing."
Joey - *dubious look* "I don't have anything dangerous."
Mom - mumbled to self  "Let's hope they feel the same way."

With all the hoopla about the recent removal of an autistic child, I have to admit that I was STRESSED about this trip.  The stress of flying is back for another reason.... he's 15.  Too old for UM anymore.  The airline considers him an adult.  What?  I had images of Joey saying too much in the line at security... or stopping halfway to the gate to play his gameboy... or just forgetting to check in at the gate, sitting down and hearing nothing else for hours... then wondering why they didn't come get him for his flight.  ACK! 

Seriously.  Ok, I said... don't panic Tee... yeah sure! 

So I spent last Sunday afternoon on hold waiting to talk to someone at American Airlines. Finally I got someone on the line and explained my concern that Joey would have trouble in security or get distracted before getting to the gate.  No problem, she said.  She flagged his ticket as special assistance and told me to go to the ticket counter and inform them of his condition when he checks in.

All good right?  We got there and I was still not convinced it was going to be ok.  Turns out I had nothing to fear.  American Airlines had him all set up.  They pulled us to the first class counter (same as UM) and issued me a pass to take him to the gate.  I never even had to pull out the note from the Dr. that I was armed with.

At the gate, we were met with Joy - an amazing AA staffer who is always there when Joey checks in.  She greeted him by first name and went over procedures with him, asked him if he was comfortable with the instructions and rules that would be in effect while flying.  Finally, she went over seating with him to ensure he was in a seat that would cause him the least stress.

Then he said, "If the plane is hi........." and he paused.  My eyes must have been huge and I'm sure I opened my mouth to interrupt him while he struggled to think of a different word to use.  Joy had it handled though. She was subtle in waving me off while she patiently waited for him to find his words and finish. "ah...... if there's a problem with the pilot, I can fly the plane."  *whew*  He went on to tell her about flight simulator and how he flies out of JAX in that all the time.

So when it was time to pre-board, Joy helped him find his boarding pass in his travel wallet and then took Joey to meet the Captain.  She told the pilot how Joey wants to fly his plane.  She left Joe in the capable hands of the Captain and a flight attendant experienced with autistic passengers.


I'm floored and really really thankful to American Airlines, the AA Special Assistance Program, and to Joy for soothing this Mother's worries.


Joey is safely in Texas with his Dad, exactly like Joy assured him he would be. 

Thank you American Airlines!

Tee’s Photography Tips: Staging

I use a light box, you’ve seen the shots.  Still, sometimes the white background of a light box (upcoming tip) isn’t what I was hoping for.  Sometimes the card or project is showcased better when you set the stage with props.  Here’s what’s going on in this photo---- and why I used it:

Reflective surface – Glitter – glitter is very hard to photograph but often you can get a reflection of it that can show more than a direct photo.  Look at the colors and sparkle that the table shows which are not visible on the card.

Large Background Props – Hiding the wall – moving the table wasn’t an option, so I used props that coordinated with the card to hide the wall behind it.  As a bonus, they add to the fun feeling of shot.

 

Here’s another done in the same setting.  The chair is almost visible because of the orientation of the card.  I added the glass decanter to distract the eye and fool us into thinking it’s just a shadow back there. It breaks up the lines of the chair

 

The props are slightly out of focus, so they again draw the eye back to the card.  (the cards – btw – are some I made years ago when I first started doing cards.  Yeah, I’ve come a long way!  I love the shots or I’d never show you these cards! heh

 

Anyway!  Next time you are taking photos of your cards, try a prop or two in the shot and see how it works for you.

Homemade Christmas – Vanilla Sugar Scrub

Winter hits and my skin get dry, especially on the backs of my hands.  That’s exactly when we make up a new batch of sugar scrub.  This one was made by Morgan for teachers this year.  She took the pic too!  Way to go Babe!  She made an extra for Joey to give to someone as well!

 

Gather

• Container – wide mouth containers
• Sugar – I like to mix equal parts brown sugar and white, but you can use just the white if you like
• Liquid – Glycerin, Olive Oil or Avocado Oil
• (Optional) Essential Oils – we use vanilla or sweet orange (one of my favorites)

 

Mix

Put the following combo into a mixing bowl:

• 1 cup
• 1/2 oil or glycerin, in any combination
• a few drops of essential oils 

Stir well, adding more oil if needed.  Spoon into your container.  We use recycled or repurposed containers and that’s a good thing.   The container in the pic was given to me by a friend.  I have a box full of used plastic ware that I dip into for these.

 

Share and Use

Give as gifts or put it in your own shower and guest bathroom.  I do both!  Morgan’s teachers got some that she made just for them.. and she created a tag to go with the scrub.

 

You can use it in the shower or right at the sink.  Just scoop some onto your hand and massage into your skin for a minute or so.  Leave it on for 3 – 4 minutes and then rinse. 

 

Your skin will be baby smooth and the winter dryness will be toasted!

 

Variations

Lemon Scrub:  I keep lemon scrub in the kitchen.  It removes any odors that might linger on your skin after cooking. 

 

• Add a tablespoon of lemon zest to the basic recipe
• and/or Add 3 tablespoons lemon juice

 

 

Coffee Scrub:  Another favorite.  It smells divine in a steamy shower!  

 

• Add 3 tablespoons of FRESH coffee grounds the basic recipe

Tee’s Photography Tips: Angle

It’s all about the Angle!  Seriously.

 

Here’s a little scene of my work area.  I was making tags for the Pin Pal Pet Rocks.

This is an ok shot.  You can see the stuff used and a little of the chaos that I like to work in… ie bring everything all in one spot and play.  However, that chaos doesn’t necessarily make a good picture.  Your eye moves all over and who can tell me what I was trying to show you here?

 

The supplies?  The process?  The mess?  LOL  No, not really.  I think I may be able to clear it up with a different angle.

 

Now, it could just be me – but this shot is more inviting.  It makes me want to lean forward and see what I can find just past the pen.  The less important things… like the supplies, are out of focus and what’s really important is right up close to the camera.. and in focus.  It sells the mood of what I was doing better than the other shot does.  Plus, you can more easily guess that I was showing you the finished tags and not the pile of stuff around it.

 

You don’t need special equipment to do this, just change your digital camera to macro mode and drop your angle.  An inexpensive tripod or even a stack of books on a chair will give you a clearer shot than most people can get by holding the camera.  If yours doesn’t have good focus on one area – try the books.

 

Now let’s look at one more.

This one was done in Macro mode on, super close to the work area and I focused on the finished tags.  I have the front and back of the shot out of focus and the middle ground in.  This is great for setting a mood as well.  It tells us to forget the process completely, although you can still get the idea of the supplies and process because I bunched them up in the background… but the message here is the only thing in focus… the middle ground.  AND since our eyes naturally move to the left first, you see Merry Christmas before you notice the pen is also in focus.

 

You can do a lot of this in photoshop, but why do in software what you can do on your camera?  As a general rule of thumb – you shouldn’t.

 

Questions:

• I don’t do tutorials or anything, I just make cards.  Does this work for those too?    - Yes!  A better photograph makes all the difference in the world on showing (and especially selling) your projects.   
• What’s with the book?  Is that staging?   - No, I do use staging but this wasn’t that.  We’ll talk about staging on another photo tip!      I really did build them on top of the book I was reading.  I set the book down when Joe came out for school and I made him breakfast – and forgot about my book.  Then (2 hours later) while Morgan was getting dressed, it hit me that I could make tags for the pet rocks that would add to the gift. (and maybe help overloaded teachers know who to call if they couldn’t figure out what to do with their new treasure).  So I pulled out my stuff and played…. right on top of the book I’d been reading before.  It was during that time that the Golden Moment happened and I grabbed my camera.  We’ll talk about the Golden Moment in the next photo tip!

 

Until then, get your camera and get to know it’s settings.  Practice taking shots from different angles using different settings.  Upload and review them on the larger monitor screen on your computer.  REALLY bad shots can be seen on your camera screen, but it’s hard to tell if you have the perfect shot until you have it loaded on the computer.  You can always delete the images that don’t work and take more if none of them do.  Email me your successes and I’ll post them on the blog!

Altered Canvas - “Grounded”

Sharon and I explored altered canvas during our play dates more than once.  I’ve shown you one I did before but this one is another that I played with.  I love the tree stamp and leaf punches she let me use. 

This is a very textural – mixed media – piece. I have it on my mantle and I just love it.  The black lines were plopped on with string…. the very one you see behind the tree and sweeping across the blue to indication of a hill.  I put on some paper towel and tissue paper to give some interesting texture to the background.  What fun!

Thanks for a fun day Sharon!

Rainbow Painter asked me how it was done so here's the steps I followed:

• I started with a pre-gessoed board and used more gesso to adhere a torn paper towel, a bit of tissue paper and a Kleenex... (facial tissue) diagonally across the center of the canvas... and again in the corner at the bottom.  These three things have different textures so I wanted to see how they'd pull in the ink
• Next I took reinker (refill bottles for dye ink pads) and dripped it over the canvas.  I used a mister bottle of alcohol to spread, blend and shift the pigments. 
• While this was still wet, I added more colors and then let it dry.
• I used a string dipped into VERY wet black dye ink to create the vine like shapes and then used a rigger brush to pull the wet ink out into thorny/rootlike shapes and patterns. 
• Then Sharong dyed some texture mediums with more dye ink and I applied those. 
• While that dried, I stamped the tree and cut it out and punched the leaves.  I adhered them to the tree
• Finally I put the tree on the canvas and used the black string to give the impression of the ground level.  Then it was time to go home.  (I was playing in my friend Sharon's studio)
• So when I got home the piece needed something.  So I grabbed some of the copper wire that we salvage and wound that around the tree and formed it in to swirls "underground".

I know that I said I'd do something today about photography... but... I have a confession.  I burned my hand several days ago.  Yeah, I'm an idiot and can't remember that I took a roasting pan out of the oven thirty seconds ago!  In my defense, this pan is the same shape and style as my pots that I use on the top of the stove and those handles never get hot. So I reached down to move that stupid thing from one place to a burner to make gravy with the drippings.  Yeah... that didn't happen.  The burns are healing but I've had a club hand for the last few days.  I've got the bandages off today, but typing is slow.  So... I'm sharing this with you. It's my project that I've had in stash for a while.



OH and a little happy --- the Pin Pal Pet Rock tutorial that I shared with you yesterday is available in on Amazon this morning.. so we'll even more people will get the chance to have a new pet for the new year!  *wink*


Another little happy -- my illustrator has been hard at work creating joyful and wonderful images for my children's book.  It should all be finished in time to be a great bedtime story for your kids this Christmas season.  We pushed back publication so that we could get Jessie on board for the illustration.  Do you want to see a sneak peek at the main character??

Meet Edgar!  Our story will be about Edgar's life,  in three parts.  Yep, it's planned to be a trilogy right now.  Of course, I have many many stories about Edgar.  He was my creation for my daughter's bedtime stories last Christmas.  So, if you guys like it and I get enough good reviews... Maybe they'll let me tell you more of the adventures that Edgar had during his extraordinary life.

Pin Pals – a fast and fun gift!

No, I didn’t misspell it.  We are not writing any letters here…. these Pin Pals are tiny little friends that you can wear on your lapel, hat or backpack.  Today, I give you the Pet Rock edition of Pin Pals.  What?  ……… *shocked expression*……… you don’t know what a pet rock is?  OH my friend.  You are just too young then.  Go ask someone older than you… hmmm maybe I’ll just explain it to you.  Read on!

I say to you that a pet rock is the perfect pet!  A rock does not need to be fed, walked, bathed, groomed and will not die, become sick, or be disobedient.  They are an exceptional gift for any child that has been begging for a pet and were a short lived craze in the 70’s. 

A question I get all the time is: “How will I care for my Pin Pal Pet Rock?”

• Swimming and Bathing: Never take your pet rock swimming. They are known to be poor swimmers and will sink to the bottom. Your new pet never needs to be bathed, although you can wipe them with a damp cloth if they get dirty. 
• Feeding: The specific diet for pet rocks has long been a mystery. Some say that they eat nothing.  However, I have found that they thrive when they absorb oils from your skin. So handle your pet often to ensure the healthiest sheen for their skin.
• Exercise: Pet Rocks by nature are lazy. They do get a thrill out of an occasional toss into the air, but you should avoid throwing them at anything. Pin Pal Pet Rocks are more sedentary than most.  So they have been fitted with a mobility enhancer in the form of a pin back. Simply pin them to your lapel or backpack and carry them with you wherever you go.
• Traveling: See Exercise
• Training: Unlike humans, rocks shrink with age.  Larger rocks are still very young and are more easily trained. The Pin Pal Pet Rock is much older and while they have been taught to “sit” and “stay”, they are more difficult to teach the coveted “roll over” command.  So, if you can be happy with an older pet that is set in their ways, you’ll become good friends with your Pin Pal Pet Rock. 

My Pin Pal Pet Rocks are a limited edition.  If you are local and very lucky, you might just get one this year.  If you are not so lucky, you can make your own for yourself or for gifts.

BTW, don’t you just love the angle of this shot.  I’ve been learning and practicing a lot with photography.  Maybe tomorrow I’ll share some tips with you on getting better shots of your work. Now back to our regularly scheduled program!

Pin Pal Pet Rock Supplies

• Rocks – you can find your own (like we did) or you can purchase small gravel at the floral department
  
• Pin Backs – the smallest you can get
  
• Eyes – I took my rocks with me to choose the right size eyes for them
  
• E-6000 – or some other Oh-My-Gosh-This-Is-Never-Coming-Off-Again adhesive for non-porous surfaces

Optional – gift giving supplies

• Tiny Rubber Bands – or string; string works, but I had the little bands you get at the dollar store with about a zillion of them in the pack
  
• 3/4” strips of white scrap CS
  
• Slivers of DSP – you know, the strips that were 1/4” or so and you should have thrown them away but you couldn’t stand to do it so you have them; wondering what you’ll EVER do with them.  Yep, there they sit, mocking you.  Well get them out 'cause today is the day for vindication!  YES!

Steps to making a Pin Pal Pet Rock

1. Which side is up?  Look at your rock and figure out where the face is.  Some rocks tell you and others make you guess.
   
2. Glue the back of your rock onto the pin back
   
3. Attach eyes so your rock can see
   
4. Optional – Make a tag with your gift giving supplies and hook it into the pin back
   
5. Wear with pride.  Pin Pal Pet Rocks love to socialize, so show him to all your friends.  They’ll be so envious of your new pet!

Kindle Tutorial – The first of many!

 
Just a quick announcement!  LOL I’m so excited about my first book being published on Kindle.  This is a short and sweet little tutorial and several more are scheduled for release too.  Recognize the painting behind my name?  heh

However, I’m working with my illustrator – Jessica Davis – to prepare the cover for my children’s story.  We should have it published and in the Kindle store by the end of the week!  Isn’t that cool???  Jessie is my niece, and you may think I’m biased, but she’s an incredible artist.  She’s not spending a lot of time doing arts and crafts at the moment since she has 5 beautiful children.  However, I was able to convince her to help me with this book and let me tell you… I couldn’t be happier with the sketches I’ve seen so far.  OH and she graciously agreed to let me share the images with you guys as digital stamps!  Woohoo!

Thank you Jessie – you ROCK! 

Travel Wallet

Joey is headed off to Texas to see the other half of his family for Christmas.  Joey’s Dad is a great guy and if you don’t know him and get the chance to --- take it.

 

Anyway, Joey has been traveling alone to visit his Dad every summer for the last five years.  With only one exception – it’s been smooth sailing.  He’s pretty much a pro when it comes to boarding a plane.  We only have a bit of concern and anxiety when we go through the airport security.  If you didn’t know, Joey has Autism, but he manages himself VERY well.  I’m quite proud of him.  This, however, if the first year that he is too old to go as an unaccompanied minor.  At 15, the airline considers him an adult.  I called the airline and they said I just needed to talk to the ticket agent and explain Joey’s condition and they will allow me to still accompany him to the gate.. and get him early seating.  Whew.. that’s good news. 

 

Being a grown up in the eyes of the airport also means that he will have to manage his own travel documents (Photo ID and boarding passes and stuff).  They will no longer put them in the little pouch around his neck and handle it all for him.  So, after gathering all the things he’ll need, I made him a travel wallet to put it all into.

 

Here’s the cutting and scoring instructions so you can make one of your own.

 

  

These are super easy to make.  You could certainly go further and embellish yours, but Joey screwed up his face when I suggested more on his.  LOL

 

You could also add elastic around the top corners to close it, but nothing is falling out of this – AND – it’s going to be inside his backpack most of the time, so he voted no on closures too.  I may still add a magnet or something.

 

What do you think??

More from the Inspiration Class

 

Another assignment was to use our handprint on a page and to tell about our hands.  Jessica has these great digital print outs for every page – then you can write on the page and stamp your hand on it.  Hybrid work is fun and I do it all the time.  Still though, I wanted to push my own boundaries and so I chose to create a page that was layered papers. 

 

I did a set – I tend to work in two page sets.  I just like them to match…. it’s a Libra thing. and separated the text onto one page and the image (my hand stamped in paint) on the other side.  <--------- That is not the one I made.  I’ll tell you about that and give you a closer look at the end.

 

 

 

 

The green paper under my “Hands” title is the same paper as the stripes on the next page.  Funky phone pics… but trust me, they are the same color.  Anyway… while I was making these, I liked ‘em.  I did… but .. well… it just didn’t feel like me.  Does that ever happen to you?  You make something and you finish it because you started it, but you just don’t feel right about it?  My friend Sharon and I were talking about how it’s so easy to lose your own style when you are following someone else’s designs.  That’s not what a journal is about… it should help you find yourself.  So, I put these in my book and turned the page and did it my way.

This is a two page spread.  Each page is done separately, but they are meant to coordinate together.  THIS feels right to me.  This feel like me.  Color and funkiness and movement and geometry and randomness.  Yes!  *satisfied sigh*

 

 

I did this one first.  I squirted some blue (retired color) SU reinker on the page and used my Target credit card to spread it around. Then I followed with a mustard yellow color.  I was already feeling happier.  Next I stamped on some text.  This is a clear stamp and I didn’t mount it.. just held it in my hand, smashed it on the ink pad and then onto the paper.  Then I used an india ink brush pen (water brush that I filled with india ink) and drew circles… then the red stamps.  Then a pigma pen to outline the white space. 

OH and the weird white circles are the inner ring from ATG refills.  Those and my hand are white pigment ink. 

I made a matching facing page, but have not decided if I want to write on it yet.  Sometimes the work can stand alone.

Art Journaling Project – Sneak Peek: Day 2

Daily Inspiration:  Peek a Boo

 

Instructions:

Create a two page spread that features a cut out.  Cut a window in your left hand page so that you can see the previous page through the opening.  You can cut a single rectangle or any shape in any number that you like.  Then embellish your page to enhance your cut out(s). Go back to the right hand page from yesterday and embellish the hole(s) to make it/them stand out.  You can use the holes to mark out spots on the 4th page of this layout (day 2 right side) or create the page and be serendipitous about what shows through the windows. Finally, write on any or all the pages.

Example Page:

 

I chose to cut only one opening and then embellished it to appear to be a painting on a gallery wall.  Oh to be so lucky!  My Sister now.. that’s a real likelyhood in her future.  I’m trying to convince her to be a guest artist for us… Please say yes J.

Ignoring the opening completely, I pulled the floor of my gallery into the next page and then let it float off into dreamy fantasy land.

Here’s yesterday’s pages – finished now. (revised to remove a repeated comment here --- see what happens when you stop editing your content to pick up kids from school?  Well it happens to me anyway.  My brain goes to sleep!  LOL)

How this example was done:

Here’s where you’ll use the piece of scrap plastic.  I have a piece from some horrible packaging.  You know the kind that you can never get open without performing surgery on it and nearly slicing you hand open in the process?  Seriously, who came up with this idea??  *little shake of the head*  (was I projecting there? heh) Annnnyway!  I just eyeballed where to cut my opening and did it with a ruler and a craft knife (and a cutting mat under the page).  If you are unsure, use the plastic. Place it over the left side of day one, mark it and trim it to size.  Then use it to mark the place to cut on the left side of day two. 

I decided to make a frame around the cut out and used watercolor pencils to do that.  All the color is watercolor so far. A little shading in the corners to make it look like our “painting” has a light shining on it and then a floor.  I literally just drew that in with watercolor pencils and used a waterbrush to set and blend the paint.  I changed the color and shape of the baseboard as I went across the second page.

Then, I flipped back to the landscape and looked at what I had through the window.  It’s not magnificent, but it’s interesting.  If you know me, you know I’m a planner.  I usually have every detail worked out… but with art and especially in my art journal, I LOVE to let things just happen as they will.  It’s my “free” time; my chance to let things go off and different and without a plan.  As we go through the coming year together, let your journey free you in some way too.

Ok, back to the book.  I created a door around the opening… like you could step through into whatever waits on the other side.  It just seemed right to have it be a door in the middle of the field.  A doorway to a dream world.  (HA – now you know where the name you guys are voting on came from… Doorway to Dreams – Don’t you just rock!!)  I could have done the tardis around it… *huge eyes*  OMG! Now that I think about it… I may have to do that on another page.  God knows I love the Doctor.

Lastly, I did a little journaling on my pages.. wishes and things. 

• The page with the landscape says: Find peace in the welcoming arms of nature – Tee  Being out in the wild – hiking – letterboxing or just being there is what we love.
  
• Dream world wall says: Art is the doorway to Dreams    May all your dreams find the doorway into your life     Live    Love    Laugh    Create

You don’t have to create a gallery scene.. you can do anything you want around the cut out(s) on your page… I can’t wait to see yours!  Sharing is optional but please please please~  LOL!  You can post your work anytime through out December.

A word from Tee:

Join us on January 1st for the start to our journey together.  We will find and breathe life into our creativity and blast through any road blocks that pop up along the way.  If you miss a day or two or ten… pish  No big deal.  Look over the prompts and see if they inspire you to do something.  If so, go for it and catch up as you can.  If not, pick up where you left off and let’s play together without worrying about the missed days.

“But Tee --- I’m just not interested in doing art.  I like to write!”  That’s ok too.  You can still use the prompts and write about the topic.  Whatever you do with the prompt is up to you.  My daughter writes short stories or incorporates the topics into whatever she is currently writing.  At the same time, my son usually creates something musical when it comes to the daily inspiration.  No matter what format you choose for your journey, my sentiments on my dream page are for you, my readers.  Let’s open some Doorways to Dreams while we play together!

If you have any questions or concerns …. or just want to be featured during the year.. just leave ‘em in a comment or send me a note with my contact form.

Art Journaling Project – Sneak Peek: Day 1

Daily Inspiration:  Landscape

 

Instructions:

Create a two page spread that features a landscape theme.  Fields, flowers, trees, buildings, whatever you like.  Use your stamps, scraps of paper, paint, collage or create a digi image and print it out to put in your book.  There’s no right or wrong way to do this, so using what you have on hand is the name of the game.

 

Requirements:

• This needs to cover two pages. 
  
• Make your focal point on the left side, about center of your page. You don’t have to spend a lot of time on the right side. 
  
• Don’t do any writing on the pages yet.  We’ll do that tomorrow.

 

Example Page:

This is the left page – the right side just continues the hills and sky and is otherwise blank.  Yeah, I forgot to take a pic before I did my second day’s work on it.  You’ll get to see the whole thing tomorrow.

 

How this example was done:

Landscapes are my kryptonite.  LOL  No seriously!  I started trying to paint them when I was a kid and watched that German painter on PBS.  I was horrible… I mean really bad.  Bless my family for telling me it was good though.  My Mom even hung one eyesore on the wall.  She’s a Saint in Heaven now for that… I just know it.  So, since I was so bad at them in the past.. I thought I’d get this out of the way and off the list of prompts!  LOL  You guys don’t mind right?

 

I started by layering on scraps of colored paper.  Then I covered the whole page in a single coat of gesso – I could still see the paper showing through – and left it to dry.  Did I mention I’m totally impatient?  Yeah.  So I snagged my son and had him use a high tech tool to dry the page.  Did you know that a hair dryer is great art tool?  You can do this yourself but I’m more into making use of my slave labor.  What?  Come on… he loved doing it.  Really! 

 

Anyway, once it was dry, I used watercolors to add washes of color over the gesso. Then the tree was added with watercolor pencils.. oh and the leaves are a stamp.  Sweet!  I was going to stamp a tree and cut it out, but the one I have is tooooo detailed to be what I wanted.. plus it was so delicate.  I’m happier with this one.

 

Tools for Tomorrow:

• craft knife
  
• ruler '
  
• cutting mat or a couple of layers of cardboard will do
  
• markers – I use both sharpies and SU Stampin Write (water based) – oh and pigment markers as well
  
• rectangular scrap of clear plastic – at least 2” smaller than your page

 

 

A word from Tee:

I told you I was excited right?  Well I am totally psyched about this project.  I’ve had such a great response that I just know we are going to have a blast together.  Each prompt will have info like what’s here in the preview.. .although most won’t have requirements.  This one does because of what we will be doing tomorrow. *wink*  We may tweak the format as we go… with more or less detail.  Depending on how it works for the readers.  OH and when we have guest artists, I’ll have a short interview and links back to their own websites.

 

If you have any questions or concerns …. or just want to be featured during the year.. just leave ‘em in a comment or send me a note with my contact form.

Music Share

Another things that the class did was share a song list or iTunes mix of music they find inspirational.  They were to make a CD of the music they listen to most to put in their journal.  Since I don't buy music (or download it) - I can't make a CD --- however, I can share with you guys the music that I do listen to.

These are links to Pandora radio stations that I go to for background music and a calming respite in a hectic day. The station that I choose depends on what I'm doing and how I'm feeling that day. Each offers something different and the joy of Pandora is that I have all my music with me at all times. (yes, I even play it through the speakers of my car using my phone).  Now, I have about 20 more than this… some instrumental only for when I’m doing coding and some that are for the kids.  These are my personal favorites.

In no particular order, my go-to music stations:

Lifehouse  

Your Guardian Angel – based on a song I heard on the radio  

Classic Christmas – gotta have Holiday tunes this time of year!  

Celtic  

The Fray  

Celtic Rain  

Three Days Grace

 

Tomorrow we'll begin our first journaling project together.  Are you guys ready??  The votes are tied on the name, so don't forget to put in your choice.

I need to ask you guys if you want instructions on how I did my example piece or if you prefer to not have that to influence your own work?  Let me know!

Inspiration Everywhere

I signed up for a free class called Inspiration Everywhere on Jessica Sprague’s site.  The class uses an art journal to explore creativity.  It’s using more of a papercrafting approach to art journaling than I’ve done in the past so that’s interesting.  The first assignment was to create a cover for your art journal.  Some people did digital and printed it, but I did actual paper layering this time… sort of pushing my own envelope.

 

This is made with scrap paper, stamps and a white gel pen zentangle.  The colorful paper is sponged ink on white CS.  I like it.  I even adhered it to the front of my 6 x 9 sketchbook that I do some art journaling in. 

 

Then the question came up about longevity… if it get’s wet it’s ucky and ruined…. so we talked about using fixative, clear acrylic spray paint and a product called Protect Your Memories II.  I watched the videos on this stuff and it looks amazing!  Of course, the shipping and all make it out of my budget, so I sealed mine with matte acrylic spray.  Easy.. water resistant. 

 

More to come from this class tomorrow.

 

Now for an exciting announcement!  -- I’m starting an art journaling project and YOU are invited to go with me.  Starting January 1st, I’ll be doing a year of art journaling – right here on Green Isles Crafts!!   We are still looking to name it.  So you can help with that too. Please vote on one of these (submitted by friends) or suggest a new one!

• Art Journey 2011
• A Year in Art
• Art Journaling
• Doorway to Dreams

We are going to have daily prompts.  You can do an art journal, writing journal, card, atc, blog post --- whatever works for you.  Each prompt will have an example piece with it.  Some will be done by me and some will be by guest artists.  If you’d like to be featured, please send me an email.  Spots are already filling up!  Yay!  You’ll be able to show us your projects as well.  That’s going to be so inspirational for me!  I am really looking forward to seeing everyone’s take on the day’s theme.  We’ll have technique days as well and those will have video tutorials.  How fun is that?

 

I’m so excited about all this that I can’t really wait for January 1st… not that I really can. Yes, I’m already working on projects.  However, I want to share one with you.. now!  Look for a preview prompt to come out this week.  It’s going to be a two day, four page project.  Nothing special is needed for this project – some ink or paint, and some paper scraps will get you started.  Some of you are going to want to use your stamps and others are going to want to paint… it ALL works!  You can’t do it wrong.  I promise you that!

I'm back!

The computer went down in a BFBVFS (big fiery ball visible from space)! I had to wait for parts this time since it's out of warranty.  Oh Bother! I'm thinking that I'll ask Santa for a new computer for the new year!

Anyway, I have so much goodness to share with you guys. Let's see, I did a couple of craft shows and that was fun. I love meeting people and getting to see and share products and techniques with others.

I met some very sweet ladies at the shows... you know who you are! OH and a nice gentleman who collects pens like I do. How cool is that? His wife said that nobody had ever responded with enthusiasm to him talking about his pens before! Next show I do, I'm going to try to talk my good friend Eva's husband, Dave, into letting me show his pens with my journals. What a great gift combo! I can't believe I didn't think of it before.

There's about a thousand emails waiting for me... thank you all for you concern. I'll try to get to everyone, but it's going to take some time to sift through it all.  If you sent me something that's urgent, please send it again.

I have a card or two to make for exchanges and challenges - where I needed info from my computer to finish it.  Those will go out this week.. so if you expecting one from me (Florida Crafters, for one).. it's coming!

I'll do another post in a bit with some eye candy... OH and I have an exciting announcement!!