More from CREATE (a mixed media retreat)

The last class I attended at the CREATE mixed media retreat was on Friday from 9-4.

 I was COMPLETELY inspired by Ingrid Dijkers and her Handmade books…they really  should be on display in a museum:)  If you’ve never seen anything she has done you should definitely check out her website…be prepared to be amazed:)

Below is the beginning of a work I will complete that originated in her book binding class “Ambrosia.”

What a humbly talented artist.  I would love to take more classes with her!

 If you’d like to see more of her work go here.

I’m sure it will be a “work in progress” for the next month:)

Found Inspiration

I just returned from Chicago, after attending 3 inspiring days at CREATE…a mixed media retreat.  Oh, how I wished I could have participated in every class offered!  The jaw dropping talent and innovative artists gathered were like a smorgasbord of every mouth watering mixed media imaginable.  I can’t wait til next year!

Below is one class project from “Urban Art & Distressing” by KenT Youngstrom.  Check out some of his work here.

Repurposed Vintage Book Project

Art supplies are expensive…and with the help of the internet, I can easily see the unlimited resources of all things “mixed media”  crayons, watercolor pencils, markers, gelatos, paints, ink sprays, india inks….just to name a FEW!!  …and, I love them all.

I am also naturally drawn to a good book as well as any vintage piece with a history…put the two together and it’s a great match!

One that can be appreciated by my pens, markers and paints and I am happy to join in the ranks of those who are repurposing to create a fun art journal for free:)

I posted a page from it yesterday, but as you can see, I’ve finished the cover and have added a few more finished pages

Above I used torn gelli plate backgrounds to cover the book along with some of my favorite Washi tapes.  I layered gesso and more torn book pages to make the heart.

I have a feeling I will add more doodles to this page:)

Vintage Book Repurpose: Inspirational Art Journal

I’m getting very excited to attend the conference CREATE in Chicago next week.  As I start to pack all my art supplies…on top of the list happens to be old book pages, needed for some of the classes I will be taking.  I couldn’t resist playing a little before I go:)

I gessoed the page then drew the image with a Pitt multi-liner in black.  He is colored with Tombow water soluble markers with accents of white from one of my very favorite pens…Uni-ball Signo.  You can get one here:)

Worry not

Worry is something we all do…it’s the act of placing all our hopes in what we can control and the fear of what we cannot.  Placing our worry and fear at the foot of the cross frees us up to live in peace with confidence that our Father has much greater plans than we can imagine with our limited view.  I often pray to see with His eyes and to love with His heart…having a more eternal perspective on earthly things.  I must remind myself of these things daily.

Grateful Heart

Each Day I am in awe of the gift of life, love, grace, forgiveness,  rescue, hope…

How will I extend these precious gifts to others today?

Dylusions Spray Ink Page Tutorial

I first thought that I would use water color crayons and water to stamp the heart image multiple times on a separate piece of card stock.  I changed my mind, and used a black ink pad (StazON) which is water resistant…this is important if you are going to add multiple “wet” layers on top so that it will not smear.

Next, on another separate piece of card stock, I took this stencil and spayed several different Dylusions ink sprays over the top.  LEAVING  the stencil in place, I laid my “stamped heart” page, image side down, on top of the “inked” stencil.” (save the page under the stencil for another project:)

It gave each heart a different pattern.  Next, I cut out each heart square.

The next step was to “ink up”  the Journal Page I would later add the hearts too.  I used the same Dylusions Inks, spraying randomly, and then patted dry with paper towels.  (save your inked paper towels for another project!)

Next, I added a pop of  dark pink with a Neocolor II water color crayon…spritzing it with water and “smearing” it on the page with my fingers.

I added this stamped flower image and highlighted it with one of my FAVORITE PENS…Signo Uni-ball pen in white.

I glued on my heart squares and then “doodled” a border with a permanent black pen.

I printed out the words on card stock, cut each stip out, and then glued them to strips cut from the left over pieces of the paper I inked the heart blocks on. I adhered these to the page with matte medium.

I LOVE the sentiment!  “If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. ”  -Roald Dahl

Vintage Journal Page : Inspiration-Isaiah 40

Letter It / My Monthly Series at Frog Dog

Click on Picture Below to go to my Tutorial at Frog Dog Mixed Media Studio Blog

(Aug. 10th Post)