inspiration monday

one of my goals for the new year was to find a way to be more productive….in a balanced, creative, sort of way.  and to be more productive, i need organization!  but every time i looked for a planner to help me get my act together, i struck out.  there was always a major element missing…..there was no "fun factor".  and the reality for me is, if it's not fun, i'm not going to keep up with it!

but thankfully, my sweet bloggy friend sandi keene had the answer to my dilemma…..

Documented Life Project!

as usual, i'm late to the party, but if you haven't already heard of it,

you combine a simple weekly planner  {hello, productivity!}

with a space to write your goals and other life stuff  {hello, balance!}…..

and then add a piece of watercolor paper to each week's page spread 

using some favorite washi tape so you can be artsy {hello, creativity!!}

each week, the DLP dream team shares a page prompt 

to help get those creative juices flowing

{this week's challenge was to do a page about "me", 

so i used my new hand-carved selfie stamp, along with some other

favorite supplies!}

it's a ton of fun and there really are no rules.

it's your journal, done your way.

 and the best part is you get to be a part of a DLP community that's full of
encouraging, supportive, and very inspiring artists!  woo hoo!
thank you, sandi…..i feel more creatively organized already!   :))


{p.s.  are you on Facebook?  i have a new page here!}


{supplies:  moleskine planner, pitt and micron pens, derwent inktense pencils,
hand-carved selfie stamp, hand-carved thumbprint stamp, black archival ink, scrapbook paper, washi tape, fabriano artistico 140 lb HP paper, 6B and 3B graphite pencils}


for more information, the DLP dream team is:
roben-marie smith, lorraine bell, rae missingman, sandi keene, and barbara moore

time for a rhyme

{caution:  you're about to encounter a goofy little rhyme!}

a quick glance at my 2014 DLP journal-book,

made me wonder about the challenge for this week.

so i paid a visit to the Art to the 5th gals for a proper look,

i figured, "hey, it couldn't hurt to just take a peek".

and when i arrived, i discovered the challenge to be all about time,

so i thought and thought about what i could create.

and then i channeled one of my favorite authors of rhyme,

because this new journal page had a pending due date!

and while my journal page is now complete,

my rhyming skills need help, there's no debate.

so, i'm off to grab some chocolate, which you know i will eat….

but being creative in my journal again sure has been great!

{hahaha!  pure, goofy nonsense, but SO much fun to do!! :))}

{this week's DLP challenge is to create a focal point 

using the prompt "time keeps on ticking".

supplies:  strathmore visual journal for mixed media, micron pens,

derwent watercolor pencil, 6B pencil, scrapbook paper, star brad,

sakura white gelly roll pen, vintage tag, cupcake liner for the wings}

{you can read more about Documented Life Project (DLP) here!}

breathings of your heart

one of the best things about doing a weekly journal challenge is
many times it takes you out of your creative comfort zone and
puts you through a brand new learning process.

this can also be one of the most uncomfortable things.

this week, our DLP challenge is to add book text to our page,
and for whatever reason, this was difficult for me.
maybe it's because it feels a little like collage, and well,
the simple in my brain really doesn't like to go down the collage trail!
so all of my ideas kept getting edited, and by the time i was finished,
i ended up adding only this tiny piece of book text.

but oddly enough, it has turned out to be
one of my favorite pages!

challenging yourself, listening to your gut, and
filling your page with what feels right to you,
even if it's only one tiny piece of book text at a time,
is a really good lesson in trusting your creative heart.

and your creative heart will never let you down!



{supplies for this week's DLP page:
moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper, pitt pens,
PanPastel, derwent inktense pencils, 6B graphite pencil, washi tape.
…..and book text!}

splatter-happy

this week, DLP put out the call for drips and splatters on our journal pages,
so i got busy and pulled out some "drips and splatter" supplies like
watercolor paper, a spray bottle, water-soluble inks, and a ranger craft sheet.
but if you're like me and you don't really want to make a huge splatter mess,
here's a way to "reverse" the process…..

swipe some water-soluble ink across
 your craft sheet (or other slick, non-porous surface),
and spray it well with water using a mini-mister or spray bottle.

{for this step, i used peeled paint and scattered straw distress ink pads}

now lay your watercolor paper on top of the ink
and slightly smoosh it around.

then, lift your paper off your craft sheet and hold it up
so the ink will drip down the paper.

let your paper dry, or speed things up by using a heat gun,
and then pat your paper down into the same ink on your craft sheet.
this will give your "drips and splatters" a layered effect.

you can do this process as many times as you like...
just make sure the paper is completely dry in between steps.

you can also use water-soluble markers…..
just swipe them across the craft sheet and spray well with water.
then, lay your paper into your juicy ink slurry, lift it off the sheet,
let it dry, and repeat for a layered effect.

{for this step, i used tombow markers,
and i just dabbed my paper into the ink instead of smooshing it}

once your splatters have dried, it's time to play a game of "i spy"!
look at your paper for any particular shapes that jump out at you.
then take a waterproof marker and start
outlining, drawing, and embellishing your shapes!

you can also swipe some marker onto your craft sheet or acrylic block,
then pick it up with your waterbrush……
fill in and smooth out any areas to help your shape stand out better.

when you're happy with the way your splatter-shapes look,
then, it's all about adding your favorite finishing touches….

and before you know it,
you've gone splatter-happy without all the mess!
{or at least without most of the mess! :))}

♥♥♥♥♥

i'm very honored and excited to have been invited by the
Art to the 5th team over at Documented Life Project
as this month's Spotlight Artist!!  woo hoo!!
i'm absolutely thrilled to have my artwork featured,
and i thank the Art-gals SO much!!  xox

please join me here to see my interview!

{this journal page was created for the week 39 DLP challenge.
supplies:  moleskine planner, arches 140 CP watercolor paper, 
distress ink pads, tombow markers, spray bottle, ranger craft sheet,
white sharpie paint pen, pitt pens, black permapaque marker,
graphite pencils, washi tape}

kindness, hearts, and sunshine

it's week 28 already, and the DLP challenge is to 

add a tiny photo to your page. 

so i decided to pull out one of my favorite pictures…..

and add one of my favorite quotes.

and the result is a page filled with hearts and sunshine….

something this journal girl could never have enough of!

bring on the happy!

{you can read more about the DLP challenge here.

supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano 140 lb. HP paper, 

derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, PanPastel, 6B graphite pencil,

uniball signo broad white pen, washi tape} 

perfect stay-cation

our DLP challenge this week is to choose a fantasy vacation spot,

and create a list of things to take along.

and while a long list of faraway places immediately came to my mind….

those other important things on my heart intervened…..

and i realized that sometimes just taking a few minutes right where you are

can be the best getaway of all.

{and yes, with a 13-week old puppy to consider,

the thought of a ten-minute retreat in my favorite chair 

is definitely a fantasy vacation!  :)))) }

{supplies used for DLP week fifty challenge:

moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 HP paper, pitt pens, micron pens, 

derwent watercolor/inktense pencils, 6B pencil, white gelly roll pen, washi tape}

goin' green

this week, our DLP challenge is to use some of those juicy bits of paper 

that catch all of our creative messes while we're working.

so, i did a nose dive into my trash can and rescued some paper towels that 

had been used to wipe my watercolor palette clean.

then i tore a couple of pieces into circles,

and folded and pleated each one to give it a bit of character.

then i stacked the two circles on top of each other

and sewed some french knots to make sure they stayed together…..

and then i added it to a stem…..

which sits next to a little wooden sign.

and after a bit of reusing and recycling, 

i have a little garden that's goin' green and growin' happy!

:))

{supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. paper,

paper towels, yellow thread, derwent inktense pencils, 

5B graphite pencil, washi tape, pitt pens, glue dot,

stamp from my "grow happy" set at Technique Tuesday}

{click here for more information about the DLP challenge!}

heART pocket

this week's DLP challenge is to add a pocket to your page

and fill it with treasures.

so i decided to turn to what i know best…..

and to what i hold near and dear.

because hands-down, the best place to find inspiration

is usually right there next to your heart!

{supplies for this week's DLP challenge:

moleskine planner, kraft card stock, "doodle deux" paper by prima, 

pitt pens, ink pads, 6B graphite pencil, washi tape}

little white pen

this week, our DLP challenge  is to use a white pen 

prominently on our journal page…..

and i'm super happy about that, because i think the little white pen

is one of the sweetest little treasures in my art box.

it's great for adding a little sparkle in just the right places…...

and no matter how you use it,

it can make any journal page seem like a masterpiece!

{i used these supplies for the week 37 DLP challenge:

moleskine planner, kraft card stock, sakura white gelly roll pen, pitt pens,

derwent inktense pencils, 5B graphite pencil, washi tape}

sleight of heart-in-hand

one thing is for sure,

no matter how hard you try to keep a date with your favorite journal,

life will conjure up reasons not to…..

until you've completely lost your creative focus.

and just when you think you're gonna have to resort to seeking out a magic wand 

and shouting "abracadabra" at the top of your lungs to find it again, 

you notice this week's DLP challenge…..

and you tell life that everything is gonna have to wait...

because you're taking a nose dive into 

the middle of your favorite journal for some well-deserved, 

and long-awaited creative time!  

here's to putting life on hold, 

and pulling a rabbit out of your creative hat. 

not because of any hocus-pocus……

but thanks to good ol' inspiration and sleight of heart-in-hand!  

:))

{supplies for this week's DLP "focus" challenge:

wings journal, derwent inktense pencils, micron pens, 6B graphite pencil}

dreams and wishes

when i saw the new DLP challenge to create an illustrated wish list,

my mind immediately went to this artwork i created 

a few years ago about a dream i have…..

because to me, dreams and wishes kind of go hand-in-hand.

but the funny thing about dreaming and wishing 

is sometimes you have to fulfill a wish…..

before you can move on to the dream.

so until then, there's a sweet little yellow house
somewhere in france that's waiting to be filled with lots of love…
and lots of chocolate.  :))



{you can read more about this week's DLP challenge here!
supplies:  moleskine journal, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper,
derwent inktense pencils, PanPastel, pitt pens, 6B pencil, washi tape}

his name was chip

i'm truly honored and super excited to be this week's Featured Artist

over at Documented Life Project 2015 
and i'd like to send out a big hug
and many thanks to the Art to the 5th gals for inviting me!!  woo hoo!

this week's DLP art challenge is to use deli paper on your journal page,

and the prompt is "you had me at hello"….

so, i took the challenge and prompt,
and threw in a bit of chocolate
(because you can never really have enough chocolate, right?)….
and this is my finished journal page,
featuring my zero-calorie chocolate chip cookie made from deli paper!

                     

here's a video showing my entire process from start to finish!

i hope you have tons of fun using deli paper this week!!
xox

thanks again to the gals at DLP!

you can read more about Documented Life Project here.

you can watch this video in larger format here!

{supplies:  Strathmore Visual journal for mixed media, pan pastel,

Sofft tool, deli paper, micron pens, 6B pencil, watercolor, matte Mod Podge,

heart stamp, Staz On ink pad, washi tape, needle, embroidery floss,

tape runner}