Daily Journaling Week 23

I'm following the prompts of the original Documented Life 2014. Week 23 : Practice gratitude - write what you are grateful for every day this week
And from the blog for Life Documented 2017 HERE : Prompt: Use at least three marks on your page making them numerous times.

Technique: Adding the same marks over and over for impact and using a palette knife for added texture.

My word for 2017 is SHINE - if you haven't visited before you can read how that came to be here, and you can see all my posts about my word of the year by clicking here. I decided that I would start this spread with the SHINE of gold paint. Next I used a palette knife for added texture. The extra shine from the iridescent paint is a bonus! LOVE that scrapey texture

Then I went on to add at least 3 marks numerous times. I think it's awesome to add similar marks in different sizes, and one of my favourite ways is with a stencil. I ♥ this tapa shape which I use often in my art - I've collected a few different sized stencils as well as a cool stamp and made my own freezer paper stencil :  

Didn't use them all, but it was fun to layer them in at least 3 different places on the page to create an interesting background

I also enjoyed repetition of pattern/colour from the original cover peeking underneath

Once my background was 'marked' I wanted to add my journaling spaces - purple stars were the logical choice for me. And I had to play with repeating different sizes again :-)

I really enjoyed the gratitude prompt to focus on this week. 

Although my week started off with a head cold, I will be happier when I look back on these pages to remember that I attended a great jazz concert by Swamp City Big Band (my husband on trombone)

I really LOVE my new tattoo (more about that later)

It was partly inspired by my art and in turn obviously inspired my pages this week :-)

I was thrilled that I've been asked to guest artist for this project later in the year! I'm grateful that I am well again and back to the gym - also grateful that I have this habit and usually good health to do it regularly. Grateful that I'm about to turn 50 and my party preparations are going well...purchased silver sandals yesterday ♥
I've photographed the finished spread so you can see the sheen of lovely gold pen adding even more SHINE to the page. I finished with some additional marks of white paint through dry wall tape, made even cooler because while doing it I picked up a bit of leftover paint which made the effect a bit grungier than just white. Click on this photo to see it larger

I hope you're having a creative weekend. Share with you again soon. You can see all my posts about this project HERE and my Flickr album HERE.

Inspired by

Have been struck down with a cold so sharing some inspiration on our Queen's Birthday long weekend Monday. 
Motto cushions by the the talented Linda Kemshall :

- free video and PDF pattern HERE.
Hints of a new online class coming from Mary Ann Moss 

- you can think of the class as the new 2017 version of REMAINS OF THE DAY.  sewn books of scraps, but different.
My new purchase at a recent Red Cross Book Sale : 

Wonderful definitions in larger print for found word arting for only $3. My old dictionary positioned over the new for word size comparison!

Poetry by Victoria Erickson :

What would your poem say? Mine in progress : I just want to live in a world of crashing waves, coffee, fresh fruit and salads, candlelit nights and sunshiney days, to play daily with paints, paper and stitch, connecting with others in love and laughter.
I'm in progress with a couple of creative projects : 

More soon. Hope you are finding time to be creative at your place.

Daily Journaling Week 22

Hello June! I'm following the prompts of the original Documented Life 2014. Week 22 : Draw, sketch or paint a house. And from the blog for Life Documented 2017 HERE : 

Quote - "Boldly be a Pop of Color in a Black & White World"

Prompt - Layer stencils and use baby wipes to erase and soften

Technique- Make a shaped flap/page in your journal

I started by scraping some gesso and paint on my spread and an extra piece that will somehow become the shaped flap later. Then I added some small areas of colour and while they were still wet I used a baby wipe through stencil gaps. Haven't done this in a while - must do it more often.

Bit dark at this stage so thought I would use a lovely flower mask in a couple of different ways : 

On the right I used it with white paint as you traditionally would - sponged over the mask. On the left, I laid the white paint down, and then removed with a baby wipe while paint still wet. I can't decide which layered look I like best ♥ The one on the right is the loose page, so that became the one I trimmed and added with tape for the shaped flap. This open side will be where my journaling for the week goes since it's all lovely and muted. On the back of the flap I'd cleaned off some stencil and I added a torn piece of colour from the  bit I'd cut off the front. 

I decided I wanted some more blue for the background of my house so on the remaining page I sprayed Dylusions through a circle stencil, then printed with the inky stencil on the left, before going back and dragging some of the wet Dylusions ink on the right through a pretty decorative stencil. See this idea demonstrated by Dina Wakley on YouTube HERE.

Then it was time to draw, sketch or paint a house - I made mine from torn inky papers. The sketch/draw bit is that I outlined and added the heart with smudged Stabilo pencil.

Here's the open spread ready for this week's daily journaling

and here it is with the shaped flap closed

Although June is the official start of our winter, it's a big birthday month for me - Exciting!! You can see all my posts about this project HERE and my Flickr album HERE.