Healing Journal - Prompt 1: WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION

I have had a few ladies contact me expressing interest in learning more about healing art journaling. I would just like to say that I have never taught before... my purpose is only to share what God has done in me. There are a few things that need to be done before you can begin the road to healing so we will begin with Day 1: Journal Prompt 1 - Work out your salvation.

1. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION- know that only Jesus Christ can bring you salvation and eternal life.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ideas to work out your salvation: Journal page or pages...
What do I believe and why?
What does my heart tell me?
What does the world tell me?
Where does my salvation come from?

(The above pictures were done as I worked out certain aspects of my salvation and what God has or is or really does for me.) (There are no rules where to start etc.)
I pray that as you begin this journey you are blessed with the Holy Spirit working through you, working out your salvation and placing you at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ where you will lay all your burdens down. ~ Amen.

Healing Journaling

My entire purpose for my art journaling has been for my healing. God has taken me down this road for a long time now. I think I am ready to share my journey to healing with others who need to begin or are going through their own journey's to healing. If you are one of those individual's I would love to share my journey with you. God has comforted me in so many ways, more than I could ever repay. I want to comfort with that same love and give back to Him.

Would you be interested in taking an online "Healing Journaling Course"? If so, please contact me at ksun underscore 1999 at yahoo dot com (all together with symbols). I am trying to see if there is interest out there and if so I would be pleased to teach others.

My New Signature

Thanks to Nina I have a beautiful new signature for my blog. If you are interested in having your very own signature check out her blog and she will make one for you for a donation to her cause (which you will find on her blog). Thanks so much Nina I LOVE my new signature! Thanks Michelle for making me aware of this over on your blog.
Hugs everyone.

Outer Beauty Inner Turmoil Take 2

What can I say? I thought I was done and then... it sat for a few hours and I came back to it and knew it wasn't finished yet. So... I added the text above the butterfly and the text going down the right side of her and on the bottom of her gown. I do this sometimes. I will think something is finished and then God speaks to me and then I REALLY finish a picture.
Hope you like the finishing touches.
Happy Creating.
Kelly

Outer Beauty Inner Turmoil Journal Entry

I have been going through some of my writing in my journals and poetry books and I realized how far God has taken me on the path to my healing. I looked at some old pictures and saw how everything on the outside of me looked perfect (not a hair out of place etc.). Then I looked at my eyes and they looked dead. I thought about what I may have been thinking during that time in my life and I know that I was numb. All the pictures during my late teen years were the same,I recall that was a very emotional period of life for me. They were very awkward years of being lost and not knowing who I was. I have learned that as I get older the more I discover who I am and what my purpose is. Life is a learning process and we never stop learning.

I purchased a magazine in the airport last month. It was by Somerset Studios - Artful Blogger. I saw that someone had used a page in a magazine to make the skirt of a dress on their journal page. I thought 'What a great idea!' and knew I had to make one for myself (using my style of coarse as I do not like making things exactly the same as everyone else! lol). I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for the background colors. My Cuddlebug Curl Alphabet for the lettering. I wrote my thoughts down with Copic gel pens in the background as well.

If you decide to make a picture with this technique I would love to see it! Let me know and send me a link to your blog!
Happy Creating!
Kelly

Hugs To All of You Peeking At My Blog

I have noticed a number of "peekers" looking at my blog and I just want to give you big hugs for stopping by! I have been meaning to update my blog with new art that I am working on but what I am working on is "Top Secret" so-to-speak. I will try to share little snippets here and there.
Lately I have been wandering around other "Art" blogs and have thoroughly enjoyed all the blogs I have come across. Wow! The talent out there blows me away! Thanks to everyone out there who shares there work with the world. I am so inspired as I scroll through all the beauty. I have added some of my new discoveries to my "links" list I follow. Take a look and you will be amazed!
You are all so awesome. Thanks to those of you who have been so kind to leave me wonderful comments.
Happy Creating Everyone and God Bless.
Kelly

Love & Faithfulness

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name with God and with man." Proverbs 3:3-4
This verse has always been special to me, it has helped me to realize the importance of love and faithfulness in our lives. I am churning around the idea of getting "Love and Faithfulness" tatooed on my ankle in a heart shape. I know the idea of getting a tatoo is so final, though it would remind me to always hold them close to my heart hopefully allowing God to always be in my mind.
When I began this journal page I was fiddling around with my skin colored soft pastel for the head and I made it much too big. My son calls this page my 'bobble-head angel' lol. I have been scanning around different sites and have seen many pages with drawings of ladies with bigger heads... so I guess mine just fits in with them. My drawings are not usually so out of proportion ~ in the end however I like the way it turned out. I had fun with the background and the writing. The wings were pretty fun too as I have never really drawn wings before.
Hope you enjoy! Happy creating.
Hugs
Kelly

Circle Of Influence - Journal Entry

What is our 'Circle of Influence'? A number of years ago now, our pastor preached a sermon on this very thing. It certainly reached its mark with me when I heard it. He spoke of our 'Circle of Influence' and our responsibility as 'Children of God' to basically maintain it. The circle contains all the people God has placed in our lives from the moment we were born until the moment we leave this earth. The numbers could shock you if you were to write down every person that has ever crossed your path! I don't think I will even try to wrap my brain around that one!
Sometimes God will place people in our lives for only a moment; and others a lifetime. Maybe the reason is for our benefit and maybe it has nothing to do with us at all! I have had individuals come into my life for only a season and then we have never spoken again ~ it was during that season that God's purpose was set in place and/or possibly established in that either I or the other person received or had given what they were meant to receive or give.
I know that with every person God sends to me it is for His good and perfect purpose that they are in my life and I will do my best to be the light that God has made me to be in order to be used by God to bring Him all the Glory.
When I look around me I begin to see people a little differently... I try to see them through God's eyes and I try to understand the reason they are in my life.
In 1 Corinthians there is a passage that says something like this... 'that we should comfort those who are hurting with the same comfort we ourselves received when we were hurting'. I know that I have received comfort in abundance through the years and all my comfort has come from Him either directly from Him or through the people He has blessed me with. My job now is to comfort those He sends to me with that same comfort reaching out into my 'Circle of Influence' to bring His love to all.
Happy Creating
Kelly

Finding What You Love Journal Entry

In Arizona I found an 11"x14" hard cover spiral bound sketch book/art journal. I usually work with only 8x10's or 8x12's so it was a little difficult getting used to so much space. I am also learning to blend colors as I have seen some beautiful art work blending copic markers - I have a long way to go. I am having fun with it. The theme of this one: "Find What You Love"... more and more I want to concentrate on the good things in my life. Recording what I love for when I can't remember everything! LOL. Color is really important to me as it makes me happy and so with this page I wanted to concentrate on bright springy colors, flowers and lot's of texture.
I hope you like it!
Hugs
Kelly

Too Many Thoughts Equal Tornado In My Brain

We just landed in Calgary from a two week trip to Arizona... the sun is shining and we are doing good... why then is my head so full of stuff that it feels like there is a tornado working overtime on my brain? I guess the saying, "out of sight out of mind" really is true because I barely thought of anything when we were away. Now my mind is working hard at something... I feel really creative like I want to write a book. I am serious... I do want to write a book. I think I will get started this week! LOL. I don't want to write a novel but a book on Art Journaling. I would love to help others find their way through depression by art journaling. Yep, that's the plan.
Happy Creating everyone!

Kelly

Journaling Time In Arizona

Well we are back from our Arizona trip well rested and glad to be home. It was the perfect amount of days (11) as we were able to do what we wanted to do in those days and my family was a little tired out. We had a fabulous time and have determined that we will be going back next Spring Break when the kids are off school. The boys played well together (mostly), we had wonderful quality family time either in the pool or playing games in the condo, or discovering Phoenix and Scottsdale. I spent a lot of time at the pool soaking up some sun and journaling.
The three journal entries above are the one's I was working on during the trip. The first one was a page I started on my first trip to Arizona with my girlfriend Kelly, (as you can see we did a whole lot of shopping on that trip). The second was an entry I started before the trip inspired by another artist's entry from Blissfully Art Journaling (a Yahoo group I belong to)... it turned out to be completely different than the one on the groups pages though I think that is the point, you don't want to just copy another artist's work~ you want to create from within yourself and this is what came out of me. I was really struggling with my moods at the time of this entry and felt like I was all over the place, up and down etc. I really like how this entry turned out as it is full of color.
The last entry was from our trip this time around. I tried to capture some of the textures and art of Scottsdale with the lizards and such. I was salivating over all the beautiful art and architecture once again ~ everything is so gorgeous and peaceful and clean. My husband did not do too well in the heat as he broke out in thick hives on his upper body which made him very uncomfortable. He also broke out like this when we went to Hawaii but I forgot all about that when I booked this trip~ duh! He got on the proper med's to bring his rash down and was still able to enjoy the vacation as it was only extremely hot during the first week and then was mostly okay for him during the second. He did have to close himself into the condo for a few days but he was able to truly relax which we all really needed to do.
I worked on a few other pages while at the pool or on the patio at the condo though I did not finish them yet. I will be posting more soon.
Happy creating everyone!
Kelly

Second Trip to Arizona - Arizona Diamondbacks Game

This is my second trip to Arizona with only a month in between visits. The weather continues to be horrid winter snow back home so I am thankful for this blessing of being able to show my hubby and boys Arizona. The weather has been awesome for me ~ not so awesome for hubby as he is broken out in thick hives all over the front of his upper body from the heat/sun. I didn't think of his allergic reaction to the sun when I booked the flights (it completely slipped my mind), all I was thinking is that I really need to get out of all this winter as over six months of it was driving me insane. I feel like such a heel that hubby is all broken out but he is being really good about it and is quite the trooper.
So far this trip we have had a blast at the mall going to a huge arcade and playing games one afternoon where the boys both earned awesome prizes from their tickets; we have had a great time in the pool here at the condo; went to a fabulous restaurant called Camajones with incredible decor from horses (literally) hanging from the ceiling to beautiful art work that I couldn't even explain if I wanted to. A definite must if you ever go to Scottsdale. We have taken some scenic drives up near the mountains and went for a walk in the desert at Lost Dog Trails and saw the most amazing mexican style mansions.
Randy's sister Pat and her daughter Veronica came for dinner lastnight and we all went for a lovely 'old style mexican' meal. The boys chatted them up throughout the meal all the way to dessert! It was so wonderful to see them as it has been a few years now. Pat has been so wonderful with allowing us to stay in the condo and the amazing Diamondback seats that were directly behind the batting mound (?), with access to a private lounge, bathrooms and valet parking! We have never experienced these things before!
I am still taking in all the beautiful mexican architecture and design around me wherever we go ~ I think I appreciate it much more than my hubby or the boys. lol. I don't get to hear all the spanish music and such because they don't like listening to music that they can't understand - LOL. I think next time I come it will be with a girlfriend of mine like the first trip. It's still such an amazing place to visit and we have all really enjoyed ourselves.
Happy creating!
Kelly

Bling on my Fing's!

I got my nails done yesterday and Daniv, my nail lady, put some 'bling-on-my-fing's'! I first saw this from my girlfriend Nancy who had her's done like this but I didn't do it right away. I only get my nails done when I go on vacation ~ it's a nice treat!
Daniv has her nail tips done in glitter silver and it looks awesome! I love finding new ways to be feminine!
Happy creating!
Kelly

Laughter Journal Entry

I have been trying really hard to be less stressed lately... so... I have found myself turning to my art journaling more. I don't really know why I have been stressed out I mean I am off on vacation in a few days to Arizona ~ my most recent favorite place in the world!... so what's all the stress about? It's really silly because I should be relying on God to help take my stress away right? Oy vay! I hate it (but love it) when I learn from myself what I should be doing! lol.

So... the journal entries... a flyer came in the mail with all these movie titles in it and I decided to cut them all out (my favorite ones) and arrange them on a journal page. My original intent was to show how much I love movies and I was going to glue all my movie ticket stubs on the page, but now I can't find them so I was only able to put the last movie I saw on the page~ Fast and Furious - awesome movie!

The next page I posted was one that I had done a few months back but just now found it in my journaling supplies. I guess I was in a black/white mood as I tended to be a few months ago. I also think I was feeling in a feminine mood as well wanting to portray the beauty of being feminine. Sometimes I will just start drawing and not know what it is that I am feeling until I am finished the page. That is a great feeling ~ finishing a page, looking back on it and then realizing the mood I was in.

The third post is one I finished today. LAUGHTER ~ what a great blessing laughter is. In fact I wish I could laugh right now and relieve some pent up stress! Quick someone call me and make me laugh will you??? lol. There's a "cyber-laugh" ~ not quite as relieving as the real thing though! If you enlarge the picture by double-clicking on it you can read why I chose to write on laughter.

Enjoy and Happy Creating ~ don't forget to leave your comment. Cheers.

Kelly

Just Had To Journal Entry Today

Is today Monday? I hadn't noticed! Ya right! First I continued to forget things from upstairs to bring downstairs to get ready to leave for work, then I couldn't find my shoes, then when I got to work I realized I hadn't brought my glasses for the computer (glare protection for headaches)... IT IS DEFINITELY MONDAY!!!! LOL. I can laugh now that it's almost over. I was consistent today in that my frustration just grew and grew. I think I am stressed inside because my (12 year old) baby is off to "Outdoor School" for the first time tomorrow for three days. We have never let him go on his own before, we have always gone as counsellors during the summers. It was really hard to hold back on the "Mommying" - my hubby wouldn't even let me pack up his stuff because I was going overboard with things I thought he might need to take. I just want him to be prepared "in-case" any scenario may arise where he is trapped for a month inside of a cave without any way of warmth or food! What's wrong with that? I am supposed to be okay with just letting him go without even looking in his bag??? Yikes - I think I may need to take a sleeping pill tonight! I obviously didn't read the Mummy Manual chapter on "Letting Them Grow Up"!

Okay... so the above is the reason for my journal entry today. I needed to do something with my hands and I wanted it to look pretty so not to be just a negative venting page. I used a blank white sheet of drawing paper. Spritzed it with different colors of glitter mist by Adirondak. Used my new brayer to roll out some of the spray in different directions. Dropped drops of alcohol ink (Tim Holtz) and brayed again though it didn't spread but more soaked into the paper. I layered three different colored sheets of scrap paper. Then I cut out a flower from another sheet of paper and used mounting squares to raise the surfaces. I then used my new Chalk writer to outline the drops of alcohol ink in white. I used self leveling gel to create a glossy texture over top of the flowers at the bottom. The button on the lower right corner of the page I found on the road the other day. I have discovered that I am a 'packrat' like my Dad and tend to pick up things off the ground that I can use in my journals. This button worked perfectly as I colored it with my copic marker to the same color I used to journal with. Even though this page is actually a "venting" page ~ it doesn't feel like one because I have 'prettied' it up a bit with all the creative tid bits!
I hope you like it!
Happy Creating Everyone!
Kelly

Living Hands Journal Entry

Hands... ahhhhhh... I love drawing hands. They are capable of so much. We feel texture, love, warmth, emotion and so much more with our hands giving and receiving. When I first began art journaling my girlfriend Alice showed me the idea of drawing an outline of your hand and then filling it in with all sorts of things about yourself. My first entry (which you can view at the beginning of this blog site) showed the outline of my hand and I filled it in with pictures of myself as a young adult. Then I filled the page in around it explaining how God had taken me through the journey of discovering how "Vain" I was as a young adult. All my focus at that time was on my 'outer shell' and perfecting it! I used to take five hours to get ready at times! How ridiculous is that? Now I have to snicker because if I try hard I can get ready in 10 minutes now! That page was a healing process and I find that many pages I do are used for that purpose. My art journaling has been a HUGE journey to healing for me. Even looking at this current page and comparing it to my "Vanity" page in the beginning I have realized how much I have grown as a person, as a child of God, as a mother and wife.
I have journaled since I was nine years old and I found that looking back at those journals was very painful because there were many negative, traumatic events in my past that I had recorded in these journals. It was too difficult to read through them, so... in my healing process I made the choice to get rid of them. From that moment on I chose to only do "healing" journal's that showed my journey to healing with the Lord's help. Even if some pages I do are negative they are still useful to me as my journey continues, it helps me to let go of things that have binded me up.
Well, I hope you enjoy this entry. God bless and happy creating.
Kelly

Creative and Positive Energy Journal Page

My journal pages lately have really lacked color. So... I started and finished this journal page full of color and 'Creative and Positive Energy'. I got the saying from a Graffiti book of my son's and have been learning to draw letters 'graffiti' style. I think it's very important to include positive journal entries that are full of color. With 6 months and going... snowy cold weather here in Calgary... it has been really difficult to stay positive with uplifting messages. I have been so depressed because of this weather ~ I have purchased a number of 'journaling' books over the winter searching for any and all inspiration I can get. It hasn't really worked until this page. I am pleased by the outcome, it makes me smile and that means that I have succeeded.
My girlfriend Nancy sent me a wonderful full-of-color blog link the other day and I want to pass on this link to you. www.ilikemarkers.blogspot.com On this site you will find some amazing Copic Marker tips and demonstrations. If you love copics, this is the site you need to visit!
Well, Happy Friday everyone! Happy Creating!
Kelly

This is Not Goodbye... But I will see you in awhile...

It was just before Expo 1986 when I went over to my Uncle Carl and Auntie Ruby's home for the first time. They had a beautiful flower garden and a small bungalo home. To me it was lovely. I would have been 15 years old. My Uncle Carl set out some cookies and Tea for my Auntie Ruby and myself to have while we had a very grown up chat. This memory sticks out so strongly in my mind because I remember feeling appreciated and special and loved even though I didn't really know them too well. A few weeks later she asked me to go with her to Expo'86. This was a huge responsibility as my Auntie Ruby was in a wheel chair and I was going to take care of her for the whole day. I remember being so much in love with my Auntie Ruby. She was so sweet and gentle and loving ~ most of all she knew the gentle grace of God and filled me with so much wisdom that day. I would never have gotten to go to Expo without going with her and I thoroughly enjoyed it (I can honestly say I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much had I not gone with her). There was one exhibit on religions and I remember us both being really excited to go see it ~ we were not disappointed as it was exquisite. That day will be with me always and I will appreciate Carl and Ruby for their generousity, grace and love forever.
So my sweet Auntie Ruby, 'thank you so much for all the stamps in my Expo'86 passport', thank you for showing the 'Love of God to me' and for treating me so special. This is not goodbye, but I will see you in awhile. I love you.
Kelly

Everybody Fooled

Journaling over the past couple of days... the theme; "Everybody Fooled"! Why would I come up with something like that? Well I was listening to Evanescence last week and there is a song with the words 'Everybody Fooled' in it and it got me thinking that I am too trusting of people. I have allowed some to come into my life who I thought needed me and I have tried really hard to help them with whatever they needed... however, my heart seems to almost always get hurt in the process. I like to believe in people, to believe the good ... the trusting nature of people in general. I would love it if everyone who came into my life was going to be completely open and honest and trustworthy... the facts though tend to not always point in that direction. People are human, with human emotions, thoughts, hearts! We will never know another person's heart completely, only God know's the full content of our hearts. I guess it is another learning experience for me about how much I open up my heart. to people or not.
I guess I have questions... how do you know who to trust and who not to trust in this life? I know I need to definitely pray and allow God's healing to flow through me. I will also pray that God reveals to me who I can open my heart to or not.
I pray you have better luck with this than me.
Kelly

6th Folder in your photos!

Here are the rules:
•Open your photo folder on your computer
•Open the 6th folder of photos
•Select the 6th picture
•Post the picture on your blog with a description
•Invite six friends to join the challenge
•Link your six friends to your blog post
(or you can let anyone who reads your blog participate.)
Leave me a link in the comments is you decide to do this.

Well... here is my photo... I am obviously naturally a woman - lol. My picture is of the closet from the condo in Arizona! Thanks Michelle for sharing this on your blog over at Creative Treasures.

Evanescence down here!

I have been listening to Evanescence lately because a friend from the past brought it up and I hear it so differently now. I love their "Fallen" CD because it speaks to me on so many levels as when I first heard them I was in the deepest depression. It broke through barriers that were really hard to break through. They seemed to be calling out to God to help them, to remember them. One song in particular spoke to me, "Everybody's Fool" about someone pretending to be someone they aren't and everyone around them being in love with that person not realizing that the person behind the mask is not really who they think they are! For many years to hide my pain I would put on a mask as if everything was just awesome, inside I was a huge ball of stress and anger and depression. The person I used to be is dead ~ no more to surface again. Thinking back on the past lately has brought up old feelings and emotions that have put me in a very uncomfortable place. I do not ever want to be that person behind the mask again! God has renewed me and made me whole for the first time in my life!
Kelly

Beautiful Murals

One thing I love is seeing new murals. I have such a deep respect for people who put their art out there and paint murals for everyone to see. These murals were the his/her bathroom doors at the Rainforest Cafe. I loved them so much I had to take a picture. When I was in Arizona I took pictures of so many things... new textures, new colors... everything! I wish I was able to hit some of the art galleries when I went last time but I'm going again in April and will hit them then.
Enjoy them!
Hugs everyone
Kelly

Relaxation Destination Arizona

I so needed that vacation!!!!!!!!! My girlfriend Kelly and I went for tea about five or six months back and we heard on the radio that the weather in Calgary for the winter was not going to be too pleasant ~ in fact it was going to be downright nasty! So... we came up with a plan of attack to get through the winter ~ we would head down to Arizona for 6 days in March! What an incredible place Scottsdale Arizona is... I am sure all of Arizona is just as beautiful. Both of us are very much alike in our tastes, personalities and desperate need for warmth! LOL As soon as we got off the airplane we were in "Heaven"! It felt like home to us ~ we both agree that we could sooooooooooo easily live there! What a dream that would be to have the warm sunshine everyday, or even a warm cloudy day would do!!! As you can tell... I put one of the Arizona pictures of me as my profile picture because I look so happy! I don't remember being more happy than when I am in a warm climate like that! We both loved every detail of the place; the Mexican architecture, the music, the cactus' and palm trees, the orange trees and most of all the SUNSHINE!
My girlfriend loves to shop and we went to one mall for EIGHT hours! We were both so done by the time we got to our car ~ we barely made it back to the condo! LOL. Then we went to two other malls the over the next two days! We were so layed back there which was amazing ~ definitely in our element!
My husband's sister generously allowed us to stay in her condo and she was so kind she even had a huge fruit basket greeting us when we got there! We were so impressed with the condo itself, large enough to hold two families! We each had our own bedroom and bathroom and it was beautifully decorated. There were three doors to the balcony that overlooked the exquisite pool and water fountains.
While we were there we became 'animal rescuers'! One morning we went for a swim and there was a 'RAT' in the pool! We felt so bad for it because it was trying to find a way out and it couldn't... so we grabbed the pool net and rescued it and placed it on a warm dry surface. Eventually it puffed itself up and dried in the sunshine. On our way out of the pool area it started back towards the pool! As it wasn't in the pool the next day we are hoping it went safely to its' home!
I think two days later we helped a male duck get out between gates at the clubhouse to into the pool area where it's mate was. As soon as it was freed they flew off 'into the sunset' together. LOL.
I actually picked up a tiny bunny tail not knowing what it was! EW! There was blood on the end so you could tell it had gotten pulled off or stuck or something! We felt bad for the poor little bunny! As you can tell we are huge animal lovers. Hee-hee.
The six days flew by way too soon but we came back rejuvanated with slight tans and ready to plan our next trip there with our families! LOL. I highly recommend Arizona for a vacation.
Oh yes... I actually conquered my fear of something I have wanted to do for a long time now and got the top of my right ear pierced. It didn't hurt at all! I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Hugs and God bless
Kelly