Documented Life Project-Cottonwood Style

The Documented Life Project is a

Planner/Calendar/Art Journal project

created & moderated by 5 artists.

You can read more about it on

Art to the 5th blog.

We are now in Week 11, and

the challenge this week was to

draw, photograph or collage a bird

onto your page. I already had this 

bird stamped onto a scrap of paper

so I collaged it onto a watercolor

background and added drawings

of leaves around it. The top border is

a strip of scrapbook paper.

To see my page from week 1 go here,

Above, the week 2 challenge:

Add a self-portrait to your page.

Week 3 challenge:

Put an envelope from your mail 

on your page. This was an ad for 

parents to buy life insurance for their kids.

Fun illustration on the envelope, so in it went.

I added another pocket made from

an envelope liner, and created

 tags for the pockets.

Week 4 challenge: Write a note to 

yourself and paint over all but one word.

Week 5 challenge: Draw a doodle border.

My border was Kandinsky inspired!

Week 6 challenge: Use a Pinterest board

to inspire your art on the page. The blogger

of Idemakeriet gave me permission to create

art from her lovely photo on the blog.

Week 7 challenge: Draw a shape.

Repeat. Add color.

Week 8 challenge: Add a flap to your flap.

Most pages of the Planner/Journal I made have

a flap 'tipped in' on the non-calendar page, 

on the right of the spread--

by using decorative tape to adhere the additional page.

It folds in when the book is closed. (I am

not sure that description even makes sense!)

For this challenge I added a small flap that 

opened vertically, which gives more space to add

art on the back side of the flap, and underneath it!

Week 9 challenge: Collage something

recycled onto your page.  I used security envelope

liners, copy of a map, video arcade ticket, old 

postage stamp, banana label, hole reinforcements,

book text, 'watercolor' torn from cover of a 

small watercolor pad.

Week 10 challenge: Make a list of the

things that make you YOU.  

List made in Sharpie pen, with 

ledger paper and scrapbook paper.

Had to add ETC. at the end

'cause well, there just isn't enough

room. But maybe you get the idea...

This little collage is on the back side of the 

Week 10 challenge. Really like the way it

turned out. Having painted papers 

made up and ready to use makes the 

collage come together much more 

quickly, and I always seem to have plenty

of scrapbook paper scraps to use!

Visit Art to the 5th if you are interested in

joining the challenge. There is a Facebook group

which is very supportive, and also a Flickr group.

Of course you don't have to 'catch up' unless 

you want to, and it's your journal so you can

make it your own in all ways.

  I wonder

 if I will be able to stick with it for a year...I 

figure one page a week is easy enough to do,

we will see.  What art are you making these days?

♥  ♥  ♥

Here's hoping that Spring is almost here,

and that you have a green St. Patrick's Day!

♣  ♣  ♣