Journal Pages and Give Away Winner

There is a fine line between

'Art Envy' and

'Inspiration.'

Some days there are

negative thoughts to contradict

 any sense of accomplishment.

But just keep writing and drawing.

About anything.

Everything.

Significant or just silly... 

Thanks to all who entered the

300th Post Give Away!

The winner of the ephemera is

"mothertiger."

I wonder how long it takes for a

padded envelope to reach Australia?

We will find out...

Hope your day is filled with color

and inspiration!

Ephemera Give Away

This is post number 300!

To celebrate, I am doing a

Give Away.

One person will win a package

of over 40 pieces of ephemera,

shown above and below.

The largest pieces are 9 1/2" x 7 1/2".

The Give Away Package includes

vintage wall paper, scraps of fabric, papers,

numbers, scrapbook papers, and die cut labels.
 These are things that I use in my

art journals, of which I have enough to share. 
And I expect I will discover more things to add
to the package that are not shown here!
Some labels that I drew and painted
will also be included, below.

If you would like to be in the drawing,

please leave a comment on this post.

Make sure your contact information is accessible-

either shown on your blog, or leave your email address

in your comment.  I will draw the winner's name

on Sunday at midnight, Nov. 25, 2012.

I will post the winner's name on my blog the following week.

 Thanks to all my visitors, especially those

who leave comments. You are an encouragement!

It is a terrific way to 'meet' other artists...I love

finding new blogs and websites, and see

what creative things you are doing.

Leave a comment, and good luck!

Pop Ups and Links

Experiencing some problems with my blog,

and would appreciate any suggestions

on how to fix them!

A bunch of links have been created in

my blog text which I did not put there.

Sorry for the annoyance of this!

I have noticed it on some other blogs too...

will try to figure out how to remove these

as I did not authorize these ads.

Also getting a lot of pop-up ads 

on my computer, so will have to do some

investigation and 'house-cleaning.'

Any ideas on how to deal with this

would be very appreciated!

Please leave a comment if you

know how to fix this...I would love your help!

***

Post script:
I changed my password,
scanned the computer with two different
anti-virus programs and neither helped.
We finally just removed the FireFox browser
from the computer and are now using Chrome,
which seems to be working much better.
I did remember to make a list of all of my
Bookmarks on Firefox before we took it off,
so I'll still be able to find all the 
cool blogs and sites I've found.
What are your tips for preventing or fixing
a similar issue?

Collages: Fabric, Painted Paper Scraps

The little Bits and Pieces

journal is filling up.

Cover collage shown above.

Two collages in the Bits and Pieces journal,

(above and below) using painted papers

and scraps. I drew a 'wonky' bit of

pen border around the collages.

Below, Smash book pages.

The Smash book products seem to be

an outgrowth from the scrapbooking industry,

with a little more randomness. Basically 

I just use it as an art journal, enjoying the

spiral bound cardstock pages.

If I like the background provided, I 

incorporate it into the page. If not,

I just cover it up.

These two pages also are scraps of stuff

I've saved as "too good to throw away."

The fashion drawing came from notes

that I carried around in my purse until it was

full, then it became collage fodder.

Notes to myself, sketches from Christmas projects,

scrapbook papers and stickers, patterned tape,

a pocket made from an envelope.

The flap of the pocket open and the

loose leaf notes partially shown.

I still need to finish the bit of collage

on the inside of the pocket flap.

The sketch shown was for a fabric collage

that I made for gifts in 2010, and I've 

noticed that the image has turned up

on Pinterest. You can see the post here.

Tag, you're it!

Watercolor Journal Pages

Watercolor borders for visual journal pages.

These are actually the back of scrapbook

papers. Not an ideal surface to paint on, 

but flattened out ok after drying and pressing

under a stack of books.

I painted this from a view from my living 

room window. Covered the back of my couch

with a piece of paper and set my journal,

watercolors and bowl of water on the couch

back.  I stood up on my knees and

sketched with pen, then added watercolors.

The left side of the spread

with text added...

How do you overcome

a gray day, or a "gray mood?"

Visual Journal Pages~collage and painting

Collaged visual journal page.

Watercolor background with drawings

in Sharpie pen. Fabric and my own

drawings are glued onto the page.

Scrapbook paper background,

quotes, and drawings with

watercolor.

Acrylic and watercolor both

find a home in my journals.

***

Below, an atc for

Halloween: "a murder of crows."

I discovered that a flock of crows can

also be called a 'murder.'  It's a term

used in the book I'm reading right now-

"A Dance With Dragons" by

George R.R. Martin.

Awesome medieval novel!

Journal pages in a smaller

journal, drawn in pencil

inked in with Sharpie pen,

colored with watercolor pencils

then water applied.

The color gets brighter when

the water is applied, and

often the pencil strokes are

still visible in the finished piece.

What are you working on?

Collage

"An Eye For Flowers"

5" x 7" collage

Painted papers, vintage ephemera

on watercolor paper.

"Adjusted"
5" x 7" collage
Painted papers and vintage ephemera
on watercolor paper.
Brown paper has touches of gold
mist which does not show in the scan.
(Click on any image to enlarge)

Smash Journal: Pages in Progress

The guy on the pink background is

the image provided in the Smash Book.

The drawings pasted around the edge

I drew in Sharpie pen and watercolor.

I often draw or doodle while watching television.

I draw on scraps of watercolor or other drawing paper

and fill in with watercolors.  The finished

designs get thrown into the back

 of the book until I feel that they 'fit'

onto a page. Then they get glued in...

this page is still evolving.

Above, a sketch done in ball point pen,

of my grandson when he was about 2.

It's done on a scrap of cardboard, and

lived on my refrigerator under a magnet

for the longest time. Now it's found

a home in the Smash Book along

with scraps of lace and burlap

from his aunt's wedding.

Two page spread of Favorite Things...

too numerous to mention,

and still a work in progress.
Maybe I can squeeze in a few more things?

What are your 'favorite things?'

Wedding Decor: Pillows, part 2

Continuing the burlap

and lace 

theme...

burlap pillow with antique lace

(purchased at a flea market)

and large vintage buttons

from one of my grandmother's

button jars.

Counted cross stitch pillow with 'love birds'

design in dark plum thread.

I crocheted the lace for the pillow trim.

Now the fun will be to pack everything

up and get it to the reception venue.

Lots of flowers, glassware, doilies,

pillows, candy dishes and crates.

Hopefully, it will all come together...

The important thing is that the couple

lives happily ever after!

Wedding Decor: Pillows

The further adventures of 

wedding preparation.

Burlap and lace pillows...

roses and various flowers made from

muslin, burlap, and assorted pearls

and scrap fabric.

Names painted on with acrylic paint.

A 'chippy' white chair with

some soft pillows to brighten

a corner...