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!}

banner perspectives

i'm celebrating today!

i've been invited by the Art to the 5th gals to be Featured Artist 

over at Documented Life Project unPlanner!  woo hoo!

 { ♥ sending big thanks and big love to you sweet DLP ladies! ♥ }

our monthly theme is

"a look through my eyes, gaining new perspective"

and this week's challenge for our Personal Art Card (PAC)

is to use a rubber stamp.

so i decided to use a combination of hand-carved banner stamps…..

along with a few little acrylic stamps….

and "gained a whole new perspective" on how to use them!

 here's a video showing my inspiration {thank you, sweet sandi keene!},

as well as my entire process from start-to-finish!

{you can watch this video in large format here!}

3 colors, 1 cupcake

if you're ever wondering what your favorite colors are,
just open your paintbox and take a peek at the ones you use the most…..
on the other hand, the colors you're not-so-crazy-about
are the colors that look brand new.

the trick to using the colors you're not-so-crazy-about
is to think of a subject you're absolutely crazy about…...

and before long, those not-so-crazy colors will start looking
a lot more appetizing!


{this was created for the DLP week 40 challenge
to paint with three colors you never use
my colors:  lemon yellow, jaune brilliant, viridian hue}

{supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper,
koi watercolors, pitt pens, sakura white gelly roll pen, 6B pencil, washi tape}

the gift of today

there's a good chance that something about his day will

speak to your heart…..

or maybe something will even tickle your fancy….

but, one thing's for sure…..
this day has the makings to be the best day of the entire year!
{p.s.  and the same goes for tomorrow and all the days after that, too!}

this page was created for the DLP week 38 challenge to

add a feather to your page.

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

winsor-newton watercolor,  sakura white gelly roll pen, 

3B & 6B pencil, washi tape}

be you-nique

today might seem like an ordinary, run-of-the-mill day…..

but it's actually a great day to be…..

the absolutely best thing YOU know how to be!

you  beautiful,  fabulous,  awesome,  artistic,  extraordinary,

incomparable,  one-of-a-kind,  amazing,  creative,  incredible,  super cool,

YOU-NIQUE  YOU!!

xox

this art journal page was created for the DLP week 36 "black & white" challenge.

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

bombay india ink,  white Sakura gelly roll pen, white chalk, 

pink derwent inktense pencil, micron pen, washi tape}

hat of paper

this week, the Documented Life Project challenged us to use numbers,

and it reminded me of a fun song my little dutch sweetie 

used to sing to our kids when they were younger.

it's a very popular counting song about a sweet little paper hat.

the song doesn't include a bear or a heart-balloon….

but, when you're dealing with kids and paper hats,

a bear and a heart-balloon really are must-haves, don't you think?  

 :))

here's the rough translation:

one, two, three, four, 

hat of, hat of,

one, two, three, four,

hat of paper.

it's a really cute little song and it sounds so much better in Dutch.

especially if it's being sung by someone with a sweet little Dutch accent. xox

you can listen to it here!

{supplies for the week thirty-four DLP challenge:

moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper, pitt pens,

watercolor, washi tape, 5B graphite pencil, scrapbook paper}

doodly-do

when life gets kinda crazy,
sometimes the best solution is to put everything aside,
pull out your journal,
and start to fill your page with a little doodly-do…..

especially your favorite doodly-do.

your creative side will thank you immensely,
and you'll be amazed at how a little watercolor and your favorite pen
always sets things right with the world again!


{this catch-up journal page was created for the DLP week 26 prompt:
"add a Bible verse that inspires you".
supplies:  moleskine journal, fabriano artistico 140lb HP paper,
derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, 6B & 4B graphite pencils, washi tape}

heart shower

the DLP prompt this week is to fill your page with hearts….

and that makes this journal girl pretty happy….

because what could be more cheerful than a 

red-orange-and-pink-heart shower!

:))

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

pitt pens, PanPastel, derwent inktense pencils, 

uniball signo broad white pen, 6B graphite pencil, washi tape}

so very grateful

this week, the documented life project challenge is to
practice gratitude…..

so i thought about the things that are always on my heart….

but i quickly discovered there wasn't
 nearly enough space to journal on the page,
because i have SO much to be grateful for…..

and that definitely includes YOU!

your sweet blog visits, comments, and e-mails continue to
touch my heart, and i truly appreciate each and
every one of you so, so much!

 thank you, precious bloggy friends!   xox


{supplies:  moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper,
derwent inktense pencils, pitt pens, PanPastel, 6B graphite pencil,
washi tape}

*******

i'm a firm believer that "practice makes perfect", 
so, i'm going to spend some time this summer practicing 
what i love to do most…..lettering.
and since i'll also be doing some travel, i've decided to give my 
"inspiration monday" series a bit of a break for a while,
but i'll be continuing on with the weekly DLP challenges.
 see you next week with a new journal page!
happy weekend to you!

art house

when the art-to-the-5th gals revealed this week's challenge to draw a house….

i went a little crazy with my art supplies…..

and came up with my own version of a fun little art house!
{and there's a bonus room inside with belgian chocolate tucked away,
because all well-designed art houses have a special spot
for the chocolate stash,  you know.  heeheehee}

i hope you have lots of time to
make really awesome stuff this weekend!!  xox

{supplies for this week's DLP challenge:
moleskine planner, fabriano artistico 140 lb HP paper, 
derwent inktense pencils, micron and pitt artist pens, pan pastel,
washi tape, 6B and 4B graphite pencils}

the little moments

here's to all the little moments in life
that make our hearts smile!


{this page was created in my moleskine planner for the
week twenty-one DLP challenge to use embroidery floss on our page.
other supplies:  fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper, pitt pens,
derwent watercolor pencils, 6B graphite pencil,
assorted embroidery floss, needle, washi tape}

inspiration monday

hello, bloggy sweeties!
i had a wonderful little break, and this gorgeous weather
has had me channeling spring flowers!

this is the perfect time of year to add some spring-bling to
 a journal page, and to me, there's nothing better than
a spray of blue and pink happiness to brighten things up!

(and if you're going to do blue and pink, you've got to add some
purple-happy in there too, right?)

i've never had much luck growing the perfect garden outside,
so i'm very thankful that my paintbrush and calligraphy nibs
can help me create one in my journal!

enjoy this day, and have a fabulous, creative week!  xox


{this page in my moleskine planner was created for the 
DLP week eighteen challenge to write an inspiring quote.  
supplies:  fabriano artistico 140 HP paper, derwent inktense pencils,
pitt and micron pens, 6B graphite pencil, koi watercolor, washi tape}