Happy Memorial Day!

{the following post is an "inspiration monday" project that i shared in 2013}

 repurposing your artwork can be as easy as 1-2-3!

first, choose a journal page or other artwork you've done that really inspires you.  scan it into your computer and print it out using a high quality setting -or- take it to a nearby office supply store and they will make a good quality copy for you.  then gather some of your favorite art supplies!

(since today is Memorial Day here in America,

i'm using this artwork that i did in 2010.)

now here's the 1-2-3!

1- use one of your favorite elements in your artwork..

(for example,  i really love this star in the artwork i'm using, so i cut it out.)

2- now take another element of your artwork and try to think of a new way to use it.

(for mine, i really like those red stripes, but instead of painting them,
i'm using red twine to give the suggestion of stripes)

(if you use a small hole punch on the edge of the paper,
it will create a notch that's perfect to hold that twine in place,
and it will help to keep the paper from tearing!)

3- look for ways you can use your supplies to update elements in your artwork.

(for example, i liked the border scallops in my artwork,
but instead of drawing them, i updated the look
 by using a scallop paper punch with this stamped sentiment)

now put everything together, and you have a brand new project inspired by artwork

 that you've already done....and it was easy as 1-2-3!

✰ ✰ ✰

this card is dedicated with gratitude to all those brave men and women who have served our country, those who have given their lives in the line of duty, and those who continue to guard and protect our freedoms.  you are our true heroes, and we honor you today....and every day!

✰ ✰ ✰

{supplies:  memorial day artwork, white and blue card stock,
 doodlebug twine, colorbox stamp pads, thank you rubber stamp, 
ranger archival stamp pad, scissors, adhesive, foam dots}

inspiration on monday…..dragonfly

one of my favorite things to do 

is just swipe some watercolor across the paper

and see what it turns into.

but i've discovered my challenge is in leaving the watercolor "as is",

and i usually end up reaching for my favorite micron pens and graphite pencils,

because, well, i seem to have a hard time letting 

the watercolor just be what it wants to be.

so, this time i decided to just add little lines and the tiniest bit of micron…..

but let's face it,

 there are times when more lines = more better,

and this is one of those times!

today i'm giving myself permission to stay in my micron-comfort-zone,

because sometimes you just need to do that for yourself on a monday.

:))

{fluid 140 lb. CP paper, winsor & newton watercolor, 

micron pens, 6B graphite pencil}

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!

inspiration monday

sometimes when you're stuck for inspiration….

all you need to do is seek out what you know to be true…..

…..and let your heart lead the way….

and the big picture will reveal itself.

guaranteed!

{this artwork was created in my walls notebook using micron pens,
pitt pens, PanPastels, derwent inktense w/c pencils, 8B graphite pencil}

inspiration monday

here's a great way to take a journal page and turn it into something new!
first,  look through your journals and find a simple design,
and then scan it into your computer.
(i changed my design to black and white for the transfer.)

then, following the directions on the package,
print your artwork onto a piece of sticky fabri-solvy by sulky.

now, just peel off the backing paper, and stick it onto a piece of fabric.
(here,  i've used a piece of cotton flour sack)

now choose your favorite stitches…..

and add all your favorite colors of thread and other fun stuff!

once you're done stitching, rinse the fabric in warm water
until the fabri-solvy dissolves.  let your fabric dry and iron it, if needed.
at this point, you can call it finished…..

or you can take it a step further and add some more color directly to the fabric!
here, i've used a watercolor crayon:  draw a small amount of color onto the
fabric and use a waterbrush, sparingly, to activate the color.  if you add too
much water, it will bleed out into the surrounding areas.
i added a bit of water to the color, and then i dried it immediately
with a heat gun to keep it from bleeding out.
continue adding as much color as you like…..

and reward yourself with a nice piece of chocolate
for taking a page from your journal, and turning it into
something that you can enjoy as a wall hanging or
maybe even sew it into a sweet little pillow!

to see a complete demonstration of the fabri-solvy, click here!

{supplies:  sulky sticky fabri-solvy,  cotton fabric,
assorted embroidery floss, orange seed beads, needle,
lyra aquacolor crayon, waterbrush}


✭✭✭

happy memorial day to all my friends here in America!
we remember all those who have sacrificed to protect our freedoms!
xox

inspiration monday

when i was a kid in school, i took home economics instead

of art classes, and i discovered waaaay back then

that i truly love to sew.

and even though i started out sewing clothes for my barbies and my troll dolls,

my favorite thing to do now is create fun things for our home. 

so when i found this free tutorial over at craftsy,  my fingers 

started itching to get stitching again!

this sweet little bucket bag was super easy to put together…..

and there's lots of special pockets on the outside  

to hold lots of special and important stuff.

 so now, my journals and all those other things that inspire me

 are never too far away! 

{click here for a free craftsy bucket bag tutorial….

signing up for an account using an e-mail address is required,

but this class is free!}

{bucket bag fabric:  mill creek/crosby blackout and mustard polka dot }

inspiration monday

i'm a firm believer that inspiration can be found anywhere.

all you have to do is think about what makes you really happy…..

and most of all,
follow your heart.

and before you know it,  the doors of inspiration will open to you
where you didn't even know they existed!


{supplies:  walls notebook, pan pastel, sakura gelly roll pens, pitt pens,
derwent inktense pencils,  8B graphite pencils, white pilot choose pen}

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}

inspiration monday {elvie-encore-post #6}

i stumbled upon this fabulous you tube by sija, and had to try it!

it's a really quick way to add some dimension to a shipping tag.....

and then you can use it in your journal or on a card!

as shown in the video, i used a thin coat of gesso and let it dry
 (i'm impatient, so i sped things up with my heat gun), 
and then i applied tim holtz distress inks using a foam applicator 
(make-up sponges work, too). 
here i've used the colors broken china and peeled paint, 
while leaving some of the natural color of the tag peeking through.

and this is what it looks like after i used a gentle touch with 
a baby wipe over the gessoed areas! 

for this tag, i used two of my favorite distress ink colors:

spiced marmalade and fired brick.
then, i finished using a micron for the lettering.

these tags each took about ten minutes to create, and 
they definitely fit into the "instant art gratification" category!!!

                    

you can watch this video in larger format here.

{i'm currently on a little bloggy break...this is an encore presentation 

of a post originally featured on august 6th and 7th, 2010}

inspiration monday {elvie-encore-post #4}

i seem to have a lot of "experimental background papers" that are, 

let's face it, just plain lemons.    

so, you know the saying, when you've got lemons,  make some lemonade!

one of the things i like about this paper is all that juicy color...…

but to my eye, it's just too splotchy.  

so one thing i love to do is take a scrap of card stock and 

cut an opening out of the middle to create a little window 

(i've cut mine into a 1.5" square, but you can use any size or shape).  

then place it on top of the paper, and move it around...…

there are lots and lots of fun little art pieces hiding in there!  

make a quick tracing with a pencil around the edge of 

the window shape and then cut out the piece.......

and you'll have a pile of little art lovelies before you know it!  

suddenly that big piece of lemon paper is looking much better!

here's a way to make some lemonade with those little snippets of art happiness: 

draw a frame shape onto a piece of watercolor paper 

(i'm using my moleskine journal)......

and then paint it in.  i drew my frame with a tombow watersoluble marker, 

so i just used my waterbrush to activate the ink.  

when it dries, you can go back with your micron 

to touch up any lines that have faded.

once the frame is dry, glue one of the little art snippets to the middle.....

then add all of your special touches, 

and maybe even a title for your new little masterpiece!

keep painting frames and adding art snippets and titles......

and before you know it......

you've got your very own lemonade gallery!

have fun!

{my art gallery lemonade recipe:

the original background paper was created using bottled inks and this saran wrap method.

other supplies:  card stock, black tombow marker, waterbrush, micron pens, 2B pencil, glue stick}

{i'm currently on a little bloggy break...this is an encore presentation 

of a post originally featured on july 25, 2011}