inspiration monday

some days, instead of feeling creative,

 i feel like i've run right into a brick wall.

but i've discovered if you look hard enough......

and follow all the signs and arrows,
(and especially follow your heart....)

inspiration will always take you right back 

to where you're supposed to be.

:))

{materials:  walls notebook,  derwent inktense watercolor pencils,

pitt pens, pan pastel, 8B graphite pencil}

thinking outside the box....of eggs

i was here a few days ago and this ceramic tray caught my eye.....

it's intended purpose is to hold a dozen of these.....

but i quite like seeing all of those little ceramic cubbies filled with

rainbow-chocolate-pretzel-happiness......

and my little dutch sweetie thought it would be a great

tray for my paints!

(have i ever mentioned before that he's an absolute genius?!)

{which works out well, because those m&m's weren't gonna last long

after their photo shoot anyway....heeheehee}

scRappy journal cover finale

the scrappiness continues.....are you getting tired of orange and yellow, yet?!! to finish the inside covers of my new journal, i used the same acrylic paints as for the outside covers (i used golden quinacridone gold and quinacridone burnt orange). on the front inside cover, i decided to paint a circle right in the middle of the page.....

and when the paint was dry, i went back and turned the circle into a doodle-flower using my favorite white pen......i like the idea of adding a "custom bookplate" to this journal!

and for the inside back cover, i used the same paints, but this time i painted a rectangle down at the bottom of the paper.....

and added a little message using my white pen.

now to start working on all of those yummy pages inside!

i've had such a good time creating this little journal......thanks SO much for joining me in the process! and i always, always, always thank you for your very sweet and encouraging comments!!! xoxo

throw paint

life is a great big canvas,

and you should throw all the paint on it

that you can.

danny kaye

artwork finished using an esterbrook 048 nib,

dr. martin's bleedproof white, and

craft cardstock

weekend happiness

wishing you a fun, creative, playful, happy weekend!!

play day

my sweet friend martha invited several of us over to her studio playhouse yesterday to show us how to create some of the fabulous backgrounds that she makes!  this first one is a collage of different papers, and then layers of paint and glazes on top (my scanner is not very "orange friendly"...in person, the colors are more muted than this).

this blue background is much more simple and looks like it's waiting for some hand-lettering.  i'm thinking about using a very opaque white paint for the letters.  now, i just need a great quote...and lots of calligraphic practice time(!)...in order to finish this one.   thanks, martha, for sharing your wonderful studio with us...i had a fantastic time!!