Another Page for My Art Journal

I feel like I have several projects going on right now.  I found these really cute top bound note pads.  The pages are all blank and they come in a variety of sizes.  Best of all, you can find them on the bargain shelf at Barnes And Noble and Books-A-Million.  I know they are nothing fancy right now, but I am working my way up to better stuff!  Anyway, I really like them because they are hard bound and have a lot of pages.  Best of all the pages are blank and none of them are over $10 (and that is for the biggest one which is, I think, 8-1/2 x 11).  I told you that to get to my point.  These last couple of weeks have been very hard for me.  I am struggling with where I am at in life and where I need to be going.  My heart tells me I need to go in one direction and my mind tells me to go in another direction.  Being at that kind of crossroads in life is not very fun at all.  I have wanted to start putting my feelings down on paper, but just not sure what to say.  I am not a good writer.  Tonight, I was looking on the net for some inspiration from other art journal artists.  One page that caught my eye was one where the person had drawn this curly and naked tree with what appeared to be either a moon or a sun behind it.  I have drawn trees like that before so I knew that was something that I could do.  I started out by drawing the tree.  Then I penciled in my moon with watercolor pencil.  I then painted the tree black to look like a shadow.  Then I colored in the night sky with my watercolor pencils.  I then added some grass, in darker greens to look like night.  There it was, a nice looking page that I knew I wasn't finished with, but did not know what else to do with it.  So I made some cinnamon toast for my daughter and played with her before she went to bed.  Then it hit me.  The tree was sitting there all a line in the middle of the moonlight all naked without any leaves on it at all.  Then my journaling inspiration came.  I pulled out the light beige paint and proceeded ti write out my thoughts for this point in my life.  And I got the following picture.  I know the journaling is somewhat hard to read here, but that was part of the idea.  The journaling reads:  "Sometimes I feel like this tree.  Completely naked and vulnerable and in the big spotlight for all to see my hidden imperfections."  I messed up on the spelling of imperfections, so I covered over it with the beige paint and wrote imperfections in black.  Kind of the idea that in the spotlight everyone does see your imperfections.  Anyway, here it is for all to see.  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think about it. 

~hugs, mel

Cards, cards, cards!

I am still making cards.  I am almost out of adhesive, though!  Last night I put the paper parts of the cards together.  I had a little help from a certain little 6-year-old!  We had a good time!  I have decided to make several sets that really have no theme or certain pattern to them.  I wanted to step out of my box and do something new!  I started with a main piece.  I them went through my stash to see what I had in scraps.  Then I just let my imagination run wild.  I decided to put a strip on the inside where a person could write a greeting.  On the i side middle part there is an area to write your message and/or a little personal note.  On the other inside flap is a small pocket where you can tuck money or another note or something.  I am quite pleased with them.  The only problem is that I would like to give them a name but just don't know what to call them.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!  So, here are the latest ones I made along with the inside of the cards.

Making More Cards

I bought some beautiful paper at Michael's the other day that was in sale.  It was by one of my favorite paper companies.  I was going to try my hand at trifold cards.  So I cut the paper and folded the cards.  Well, that's as far as I got with it until now.  In sticking with the same type of design for my postcards, I went to town making these cards.  I used a mix of papers.  Some of them don't necessarily match, but that is what makes these cards fun!  On the inside, I placed different papers that would make a great background to write a little note inside.  On the outside, I used a mix of old paper from a book, used stamps, and various patterned papers.  I cut out catchy phrases and sayings from various magazines to finish off my completely random and spontaneous fun feel to these cards.  I am thinking about putting them up on Etsy.  I would love your feedback on them.  Each picture is the outside of the card and then the inside of the card.  This is to show the use of the different papers.

Found a Fun Site for Sending Postcards

I must be on a postcard kick now!!  I found a site, mentioned in another blog I have visited, where people can send random postcards.  You can sign up for free.  Once you sign up,you can "send" a postcard.  It will give you all the instructions on what to do from there.  I have 5 postcards to send out now to 5 different countries.  Once I send them and they are registered, then I will start getting postcards sent to me!!  I am so excited to be doing this.  I think it will not only be a fun way to meet now people from around the world, but also a fun way to learn about how people live in other countries.  I will keep you posted on what I receive from others from the site!!  If you are interested, you can visit the site and sign up.  The name of the site is Post Crossing.  Hope to see you there.

~hugs, mel

The Last Three Postcards

I finally completed my last three postcards.  They will be going out tomorrow and Saturday.  I have to admit that I am rather pleased with them.  I am very new to mixed media art (unless you count scrapbooking).  I had a lot of fun with this swap and would do it again if there is the chance to.  Anyway, still keeping the people getting these cute cards under wraps.  Giving away where they are going is like opening all your Christmas presents, getting ti the last one which is also the biggest one, and then someone at the last minute telling you exactly what it is!  So, for the last three postcards here they are:

More Of My Postcards

OK, I finally got most all of my postcards finished.  I am pleased with how these have turned out.  I decided to go with a completely "off the top of my head" style of making these cards.  I had a little help from some beautiful Travel and Leisure magazines.  I just flipped through until I saw a quote or a title or something that just caught my eye.  From there, I just ran with it!  I will be sending mine out on Friday.  Still not telling who or when they are going, except for they will be going to places all around the world!!!!!  I will post the other three tomorrow night.  The first two are posted here again, but one if them I decided to add something to it for a little more pop of color.  Let me know what you think about them.  Comments are always appreciated.

iHanna's DIY Postcard Swap

in wandering around the internet looking for blogs of inspiration, I came across iHanna's blog.  Her header caught my eye, so I decided to read more.  I have to say that her artwork is wonderful!  It has realy inspired me.  So, at that time, I decided to bookmark her blog until I had more time to read and browse through.  When I went back to read more, I found where she is hosting this wonderful postcard swap.  For a small fee, you get your name out in the mix.  She sends you ten names to send your postcard to.  In return, you have to make ten handmade postcards.  I am going to post a couple of the ones I have made, but I am not going to say anything about who I will be sending mine to this year.  All I am going to say is that I will be sending them all over the world, and some here in the US.  When I receive the postcards coming to me, I will post them.  AND, when I know my cards have been received, then I will post about where they went to.  I love the element of surprise and can't wait to get my ten postcards.  So, for now, I am off to make a couple more cards to send out to some very talented ladies.  Good luck to everyone and I can't wait to see what I get.  so, in the meantime, pop on over to her blog and check out her amazing work. (Click here to go to her blog)
~hugs, mel
iHanna's Blog