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}

garden of happiness {elvie-encore-post #7}

he who plants a garden plants happiness.

to all of you who take the time to stop by this little spot in cyberspace.....

to all of you who share your big beautiful bloggy smile.....

to all of you sweet-little-purple-flowers-with-yellow-centers in my bloggy garden...

thank you.....you make my heart happy!  xox

{happy may-day, mom!  love you!} 

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

of a post originally featured on may 5, 2010}

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}

little yellow dreams {elvie-encore-post #5}

i caught myself day-dreaming about a
sweet little yellow house again....

isn't it great how your paintbrush
always knows what's on your heart?
xox



{created on fabriano medioevalis paper using
 koi watercolors, micron pen, pitt pen, and a 2B graphite pencil}

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

of a post originally featured on november 15, 2012}

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}