Every Day in May...

I joined an on-line Flickr group called "Every Day in May." The challenge consists of 31 different drawings - one for each day of the month.  (Once you join, you'll get the list.)  I thought this sounded like fun.  To help me meet the challenge, I made a sketch book.  I love the way it turned out.

Here's what I did:

arranged some watercolors, brushes, pencil, erasure, pencil sharpener and took a picture 

scanned an old calendar page (in PSE, I added 31 since the scanned page only had 30 days!)

crumpled up some brown paper and scanned an image

filters, layers, brushes and text added in PSE

The cover image printed on heavy drawing paper.  Front and back covers made using left over drawing tablet board, covered with cover image as well as decorative paper.

The inside pages were also created in PSE and printed on watercolor paper.  Once all of the pages were printed, holes were punched and book bound using the Cinch machine.

The drawing challenge printed for each day of the month - examples below

an envelope on the inside back cover housing the Flickr group info

The method to my madness - after all the effort putting the book together, it would be a shame not to meet the challenge.  I plan to post my drawings during the month of May.  There's still time for you to join in on the fun!

Go to Pink Saturday for more inspiration.

This Diva Is Going Places!

Next month I'm going to Chicago for a visit.  This will be a great trip. A time to reconnect with my children and grandchildren.

I started thinking about travel in general and created this journal spread.

gesso on journal pages; addition of torn map 

 water soluble crayons

addition of torn decorative paper;  stamped circles (acrylic paints)

addition of postage stamps, torn calendar page, hand drawn image, stamped text, ephemera 

Go to Pink Saturday for more inspiration!

Work Surface

I do a lot of screen printing and other techniques which require a good work surface.  I recently constructed a new surface.  Here's what I did:

Two 42x72 sheets of insulation board, duct taped together

screen slats cut to size, taped around perimeter of insulation board

layer of carpet padding cut to size 

8 gauge vinyl cut approximate 6" larger than on each side than insulation board, placed on floor; carpet padding and insulation board placed on top, duct taped down; stapled to board

work surface placed on 5 foot table - notice pvc pipe legs used to raise the table - a real back saver!

This is a large work surface which I use in the garage.  I use another similar surface much small in size for inside studio work.

Now I'm ready to roll and work on a new project!

Go to Pink Saturday for more inspiration!

Hippity Hop...

Spring is my favorite time of year.  So many things to celebrate.  Using PSE, I created a couple of  Easter cards for my granddaughters, Emily and Abby.

These cards may look simple, but there are numerous layers, brushes and filters used to create each one.  I was going for a vintage feel.

Each card was printed on 5.5 x 8.5 card stock then folded in half.  A piece of plain paper was cut to
5.25 x 8.25.  An image from the card was printed on to this.  This sheet (for my message) is folded in half and inserted into the card.  Holes were punched about 1" from each side on the crease and a ribbon threaded through and tied on the outside.

I found these sweet little "baskets" at a sidewalk sale.  (Now you know where my inspiration came from!)

I keep empty cereal boxes on hand.  One never knows when a box like this will come in handy.  In this instance, I'll use one to mail the baskets.

Open box flat, scrub with sandpaper

Layer of Gesso

Layers of acrylic paint

Label created in PSE - voila a mailing box that matches the gift!

I'm off to the store to find some jelly beans/candy to place in the baskets so I can mail this box out.

Go to Pink Saturday for more inspiration.

Remember....

We attended a fabulous concert the other night.  Using the program insert, I created a journal spread.

Program insert and page music glued to journal page;  washed with several colors of acrylic paint

White acrylic paint wash; hand stamped (brown acrylic paint) - butterflies, birds, script

charcoal pencil sketch, enhanced with acrylic paints and water color crayons

Addition of wings (gold acrylic paint; stenciled using glitter paint); hair, shoulders

Dimensional flowers created using molding paste and palette knife; script added

Wings outlined in gold ink; flowers painted with white and gold acrylics and one last bit of white acrylic dabbed on the background with my paint stained fingers!

This spread backs up to that from last week.  I think the circles add interest - an unexpected surprise.

Visit Pink Saturday for more inspiration.

Time Flies....

My sister-in-law, Carol, came for a visit over the weekend.  We had a grand time together.  She flew down from cold, snowy Minnesota and couldn't get to the pool fast enough.  Later, we went to the beach for a picnic and watched the sunset.  Traipsed through the art fair most of  Sunday and hit the pool again.  Monday found us on Sanibel Island.  I wanted to show Carol the Phillips Gallery at Big Arts Center where my art quilts are on display.  We shopped, ate and walked through art galleries before we headed home.  Read for a bit then down to Third Street for dinner.  Read, talked, read, talked Tuesday morning before taking Carol to the airport.  The four days just flew by!

I finished off last's week journal page using our weekend together as the subject matter.

layer of white acrylic paint applied with brayer

simple stencil cut from card stock - black acrylic paint applied

number 4 stamped on then outlined in white paint; bird and clock face created in PSE, printed on card stock; cut out;  adhered to journal page with soft gel matte medium; circles punched from decorative paper; adhered to journal edges with glue stick

"Time Flies" drawn on silk tissue paper (using felt tip pens).  Soft gel matte medium applied to decorative paper, mixed with a drop of water - words adhered over top - white background seems to melt away - I love that!

words TIME FLIES glued to card stock; trimmed with shearing scissors, adhered to journal page with soft gel matte medium.   F-U-N and HEART buttons sewn on.  Crown cut out of card stock, painted with gold paint and glue down, enhanced with dimensional paint.  Black shadows drawn around circles and bird.

words SUN, SHOPPING and ART cut out of magazines, adhered with glue stick. Black paint pen used to write on circles around journal page.

We packed a lot of fun into a very short time!  I have this wonderful journal page to remember our time together.  Carol has a sunburn!

Go to Pink Saturday or more inspiration!