Scrappy Journal

Looking back, moving forward...

Well said, Vincent...

Painted Paper Collage from Scraps

Collage created using painted paper

on a 4" x 6" index card.

Lines were added using 

Sharpie extra fine tip marker.

Another collage on an index card.

Resist technique done by drawing 

circles and swirls in crayon, then painting

over them with watercolor

or acrylics.

Wrinkled paper is a scrap from

a glimmer mist project.

Scraps can make a striking

work of art.

Beauty is in Yourself

Art Journal page:Craft acrylic on cardboard,magazine images,black Pigma Micron pen,white Uni-Ball Signo pen.Excerpt from poem Beauty by E-Yeh-Sure

Spring Colors

Feed Your Soul--Spring Colors Art Journal Page,acrylic on cardboard, torn painted cardstock.Quote: "The human soul needs actual beautymore than bread."--D.H. LawrenceGo Make Something-Make It Mondayschallenged us to be inspired by Spring.Find your inspiration & feed your soul!

THE PROCESS-- Mixed Media Collage

MATERIALS:Recycled cardboardGessoArtist's chalk pastels"Suave" max hold hairspray (or any inexpensive brand)Scissors, glue, Sharpie markerPapers, paint, fabric, ephemeraHole punch, if desiredRecycle cereal box or other cardboard for substrate.Cut to size & shape desired. Apply gesso, 1-2 coats.Apply chalk pastels in desired colors."Fix" with inexpensive hairspray. (This isto help prevent smearing of the chalk)

Choose scraps of fabric, paper, painted papersto include in the composition.Color contrast was a main considerationfor this piece. Lay out without gluingand try several compositions.Cut, tear, and overlap shapes.

Begin gluing shapes after experimenting withcolor contrast, overlap, and how your eyeis guided through the page.In the western world, our eye is usuallytrained to "read" the composition from(upper) left to right, top to bottom.Try to guide the eye through the pageby the balance and movementof shapes, colors, space & contrast.

I usually repeat some colors and shapesthroughout the surface, often usingsomething an odd number of times,as in 3 times, or 5 times...but it's not an absolute...My process is intuitive.

"Connected" - Pink & Blue CollageOften, it is difficult to know when the composition is finished!Some artists suggest that the artworkis never "done" it just stops in an interesting place...I added layers of undulating linesto suggest "strata" with an extra-fine point Sharpie marker.I used a hole punch to punch holes in this pieceto put into a "ring binder art journal."Ingrid has been recycling cardboardto create stunning journal pages ina recycled ring binder. She has inspired meto create my own version.Please visit Ingrid's blog to see herbeautifully executed journals!

Mixed Media Tag

A chipboard tag from a clothing purchaserecycled into art through mixed media collage...it was laying on the table with theSale sticker still attached...

The silver background on the tag and my supplies still laying out from a previous project just begged to be made into a quick collage!Thanks to my friend Elizabeth,I have some lovely handmade papersthat she gifted to me,and I want to use eachtiny scrap, because I knowthey were so time-consuming to make!Used: painted fabric, acrylicspainted brown paper bag (gold)hand-made paper (peach)vintage sheet musicscrapbook papersfibers

Mini-Collage on spiral index card:watercolor & acrylic paints,hand-carved stampand paint splatters.

Recipe for the New Year

Someone forwarded the following "Recipe" to me in an email. I do not know who the author is, and do not forward every story or plea that I receive. However, I found this an effective list of suggestions to keep a balanced perspective for the coming year...

A GREAT RECIPE...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile. It
is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about
what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My
purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues
of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,
will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends
will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I
am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You'll be smiling before you know it.

Altered Book Spread

I've been working on an altered book that has a different technique featured each month. I also focused on the holiday or season for that month. Past blog posts have shown July, August and September. This is the process for December's spread. I started by painting the pages with acrylics-in dark maroons & reds. Over the dark under painting I applied white, light green and pink by drybrushing, scrubbing, and blending with my fingers. I used a paper napkin to remove some of the paint

when it obscured the dark color underneath.









Acrylic paint that had been thinned with water was used to write words & create "swirls..."









Here is the spread with final collage elements added. I still have a few pages to fill at the end of the book, and the front & back covers to complete.

Believe

Art journal collage spread in a small black sketchbook.The pages are roughly 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".Materials include cardstock painted with craft acrylics,watercolor paper, hand-carved stamps,fabric, colored pencil, and calligraphy pen.The dark red papers were created by my friend Diana.The lines of varying thickness are a recurring themein my drawings and paintings...perhaps symbols for layers of color, images, & meanings...the geological layers of sediment through time,or the layers of experience we each go through in our liveswhich ultimately can effect the art that we make.

Holiday ATC's

Here are holiday Artist's Trading Cards in non-traditional colors...light green and pink background in craft acrylics. The paint was applied by crumpling up a napkin and "stamping" the paint onto the card; the green was applied first, then after it was dry, accents of pink were added. Copyright-free images, a scrap of music, lace, fabric flowers, and stars stamped onto the background. I also glued on a single white sequin & seed beads for a bit of sparkle.

Green ATC's

Sometimes it is difficult to get into the spirit of the holidays so just making a little art helps...here are two Artist Trading Cards that are one-of-a-kind. On the left, watercolor was used over gesso to create the pastel background. On the right, white tissue paper was painted with green & yellow watercolor, then applied to the gessoed card when dry. For some reason I am using non-traditional holiday colors--pink and light green--instead of red and green! the rosebud on the right is a color copy of a watercolor that I did myself. I often like to add vintage lace when it fits the feel of the work. There is a tiny bit of tatted lace on the card on the left, bought at an antique store.The bottom card is business card sized , with my contact information on the back. I was not completely satisfied with the composition on this one, so I will need to do a few more of this size to improve a bit.These cards were sent to a good friend who has helped me in my art journey...

Apple Pie

Altered Book spread using scrapbook papers, calligraphy marker, watercolor, pen drawing and colored pencils...the challenge was to use fall colors in the composition. The book itself has been an exploration of the holidays and seasons, and this is the September spread...I am a little behind, obviously. So many projects...so little time! The recipe is for sugar-free apple pie, very tasty and great if you are diabetic or watching your calories. The image of the apple is a watercolor that I did ...and then I got to eat the model!For some reason, I tend to do the covers of my altered books last instead of first...how do you progress with your altered books? Comments welcomed!

Mini Collages

The cover of my Mini Collage Book: some of the first "inchies" I created.

These collages were created in an index card spiral notebook. They are small--3" x 5".The idea (which I read about and can't remember the source) was to use the spiral index cards to take along with you and make mini-collages wherever you are. It doesn't work that way for me usually, though...I like to use paint, and that's not always so portable. I end up doing these while I watch TV in the evening. Painting while you wait for your doctor's appointment might get a bit messy...but the small size does make the work go faster and you can finish one pretty quickly. I have taken this with me on weekend trips, along with painted paper scraps, scissors, glue stick & pens...well, you get the idea.

I used a glue resist technique on the page above. Apply white glue to the page in lines, any pattern, and let dry. Raised edges form when the glue is dry. Can be painted over with acrylic or watercolors as long as you don't use too much water and cause the glue to soften again. I also added a little pen drawing in fine point marker.

Colored pencil, fabric, pen drawing, images from tissue wrapping paper.

Photocopies of images of men and a boy. I think this needsa caption, but I just haven't come up with the right thing yet.I'm open to suggestions!

Stamped image, (above) tissue paper, acrylic, copper spiral, and beads

Tissue paper images added to the acrylic painting.

Orange Journal Page

Here is a recently completed art journal page, resulting from the Make It Monday challenge on Go Make Something. Orange was the challenge...anything orange...the color of autumn, sunshine, goldfish, calendulas... The background is craft acrylic paint with ink drawing and hand-carved stamping added. The drawing is actually black ball-point pen.Lisa Vollrath offered to feature an artist who participated in the GMS challenges in August, and I won! Thanks Lisa. I often need some help with inspiration to get some art started and GMS helps with that. My winning Gypsy ATC can be seen here ( in an older post).

Halloween ATC's

Artist Trading Cards created for a swap on the Altered Book Club Yahoo Group. The crow is drawn in ink over a watercolor wash. The pumpkins were done in watercolor and then color copies were made to create the multiple copies. The pumpkins were inspired by vintage Halloween images. Jolly Halloween!

Summer Thoughts

This collage was inspired by a visit to one of our state parks here in Ohio...the humidity had finally lessened and the temperature was less than scorching. I always enjoy time beside a lake, the breeze and shade trees...our son and grandson were with us, so we enjoyed watching our grandson throw stones into the water, hearing the satisfying "plop-kerplunk" of the splashes...being aware of the delight of small things is something I try to do...and grandchildren seem to help us remember that delight..."Sunshine sparkling on the water...stones splashing...thrown by a small boy...swings and slides and butterflies~"

This week, Lisa Vollrath's challenge for Make It Mondays on her Go Make Something site was "Summer" so this is my attempt to capture the joy of blue skies, cotton-candy clouds, and diamonds on the lake...

Pink Art Doll

This doll is created from muslin fabric painted with acrylic, hand-carved stamps and beading. There are seed beads, bugle beads and some glitter paint added for sparkle. The face is hand-drawn with permanent marker. She is about 6 inches long, not including tassel and hanger. She hangs on the wall and watches me create...

Art Journal Page

"Pink Lady"- Layers of craft acrylic paint were painted on with a paintbrush, stamped with hand-carved stamps, then more paint applied with a sponge.The face is hand-painted. Fabric, cardstock scraps, a bit of postcard, and a sticker complete the page.

Art Journal

A recent Art Journal entry..."can you
point me in the right direction...?"
Acrylic paint, hand-painted paper, fabric,
drawing and hand-carved stamps,
with a bit of copper artist's acrylic for
sparkle.
One of my favorite artists is Kandinsky,
and some of his visual imagery shows
up in my work.