Christmas Cards 2

I'm still plugging away at making some Christmas Cards for this year's fundraising mission. I am making them to sell at my Church for Children's Ministries. I enjoy making cards this time of year because I 'Love' Christmas stamps. There is such a large variety and it is always festive. Every year people are making cards using different colors... I may experiment a bit more this year using some of them. Stay posted.
Happy Creating Everyone.

Re-posting First and Second Journal

I thought I would re-post the first journal cover picture with the 2nd cover so as to compare them to one another. You can see why I love the first one over the second. Enjoy.
Happy creating!

God Makes Himself Known

I was having a 'not-so-good' day the other day and I happened to open up my e-mail to a wonderful surprise. My girlfriend Kelly sent me an e-card just to let me know that she was thinking of me. She knows that I love to be creative and that is why this card was special. It involved four 'eyedropper' containers filled with ink and a piece of folded in half paper. The screen instructed me to click one of the containers and music began to play as the 'dropper' released small amounts of colored ink to the tune of the music. It then instructed me to do the same to the next container and the same thing happened... until all of them were chosen and a picture was created. At the end was a beautiful butterfly that fluttered off of the page and landed on top of a note that revealed the message from my friend. The butterfly inspired me to draw butterflies and re-create the beauty that was presented to me. As I was coloring my images I thought about the texture and considered my options between different mediums to use to create further beauty to these mysterious little creatures. I say "mysterious" because in them I can see the mystery of who God is. Intricate, exquisite, colorful beyond imagination, freely beautiful, delicate, confident, and powerful. God has made Himself known to all mankind through His creations. To capture even a glimpse on a piece of paper is an invigorating experience. That is why I love to draw and color and create all sorts of different butterflies. We live in a beautiful world full of amazing miraculous signs of God - if we choose to take a minute to see them.
You cannot see all the textures to this page as well as in person. The butterflies were coated with metallic colors (using my Twinkling H2O's that I finally was able to purchase)and then I placed a layer of self-leveling gel to give it even a further sheen and 3D effect. I love using the gel and often coat much of my art work with it. You can pick up self-leveling gel at any 'art' store (not necessary 'craft' stores). The 'Twinkling H20's I was able to purchase at a 'Rubber Stamping/Scrapbooking store.
This page was therapeutic as the colors ran deep within my soul as I thought of God and all of His creations coming to life as He breathed His breath of life into each and every living thing.
Happy Creating Everbody!

Gemming Journal Cover - Second

Finally... I decided I would make another "Art Journal" yesterday. I have not completed filling up my first art journal, however, I felt I needed some further inspiration to journal. This one I am not as excited about as my first. It did not have the same smooth flow that my first one had. The first one I had accented with gold and gave it an antique feel. This one I tried to use pink and accent it with silvers but I am not as happy with it. Also the first one was much more personal as I used trinkets from my jewellery box that had special meaning to me (no monetary value of coarse but priceless sentimental value). Maybe that is why I have not formed an attachment to this one... maybe they need to be personal to inspire. Good question to ponder. If I feel it does not inspire me to journal I may just go back to my jewellery box and collect trinkets from my kidlets to make another personal one.
For this project I bought a large hardcover journal, I used a 'spiral-bound' as I wanted a journal that I was able to open completely and was not limited by the binding of the traditional hardbound journals. I then sent my son into my husbands garage (he likes to think of it as his - lol) for his duct tape. I covered both the front and back (inside and outside of each) completely with duct tape (this makes the moulding paste stick really well and the trinkets are held tightly with the paste). In regards to 'rhyme-or-reason' of placing the trinkets onto the cover I basically had none. I started at one edge and went to the other. The paste has to dry for 24 hours before you can use your journal.
"Gemming" a journal is usually a rather inspiring way to ensure you are going to use your journal instead of letting dust collect upon it! Pretty things inspire me as do feminine, dainty things - so in making this journal I was inspired to draw right away as you will see in the next entry.
Happy Creating and please share your journals with me!

Back to the Basics - Journaling New Ideas to Keep You Motivated

The first journaling idea in this post is "Your Heart". On your page somewhere draw a picture of your heart. Close your eyes and draw what you think your heart looks like, what it feels like (you can use different textures, mediums and color for this if you like)... Remembering of coarse that it is your project and can do anything with it! Second... draw out your background... what your feelings look like or colors you feel appropriate to your feelings. In mine, I felt like my heart was weeping... I guess I was sad at the time I did this entry. And I drew little whisps of wind at the time, I felt like my heart needed to be aired out. Now write down the following: "My heart tells me..." and journal what you feel. Do this as many times as you want on your page. Let me know how this turns out for you as I would love to see the results!
Happy Creating!

The second journaling idea I was used somewhat as a guinnea pig for an idea my girlfriend had to do "Art Therapy". I had put my back out and was experiencing much pain that I could not seem to get control of. So... I went over to her house, she told me to draw out whatever ailment I was feeling. As my pain went from my neck to my lower back I drew it out in its entirety. Then she asked me what it feels like, what texture it is, what medium I would like to use to draw it out. I chose dark red for pain, chalky pink pastel for what the texture felt like, and I painted in acrylic and drew in chalk pastels etc., Once I finished drawing it out she asked me a series of questions. (With your right hand you write down the question, with your left hand you answer the question).
The questions are as follows... (you are asking this to your ailment.)
1. Who are you?
2. How do you feel?
3. What caused you to be this way?
4. What can I do to help you?
5. What do you want me to do for you?

I could do this exercise again because I have once again put my back out... however I don't think it would help. It was a really fun exercise, interesting anyway. I'm not sure that I would seek therapy from this, however I have found that art in general is excellent therapy and is very healing in general.

Well, once again let me know how this goes if you should try this exercise out!
Happy creating!!!