Elements

I don't know about you, but sometimes I create art that actually pleases me.

This is one of those times.

I smile when I see it and wonder if I was really the one who made it.  Look at how it shimmers.

Although it IS me, I don't often make art that turns out even better than I foresaw it in my head when I started.

I only wish I felt the same every time I created something.

I actually like how I mixed the colors to turn this into a mixed media joy.

I don't often give myself a pat on the back, but I'm actually gushing over this entry.

When making mixed media, I often go overboard or not far enough. 

Today the Goldilocks effect took over and everything was just right.

For this page, I started with a sheet of 110 lb card stock to which I added acrylic paint, handmade shimmering mists, and a bit of stamping on the left side of the page.  Then I dipped my paper into the shaving cream and dye ink still sitting on my desk.  For the most part, I kept the blue/green shaving cream and dye ink on the right side of the page.  Now that the background was finished, I sewed a perimeter on the page using blue variegated thread.

Next I created the three hearts.  The top two were made by dipping them in the last of the shaving cream/dye ink mix.  The one on the bottom was an experiment.  I first colored the heart with yellow acrylic paint, and while still wet, I added blue acrylic paint, which immediately turned the heart green.   I was so happy. 

I found a rectangle of paper I made several years ago (probably close to 10 years, if truth be told) using a sample of a product I think was called string gel, or something similar.  Then I added a used ticket that was truly destined for the recycle bin.  See the grease stain on the left side?

Finally, I assembled everything by sewing the bits and pieces, including a scrap of red fabric I found on my craft room floor.  Unfortunately my needle didn't like the metal bits in the fabric, so it rebelled and broke.  First needle to break in a long time, so I've been very lucky.  By this time, I had changed thread, too, and used a different variegated thread to sew the hearts, the string gel paper piece, the ticket, and the fabric to the page.  Although there is a bit more "weight" on the right side of the page, I was hoping the three hearts would make up for the difference.

For this page, there are several Hearts, which is my theme at Art Journal Journey this month.  And because Try it on Tuesday's theme is Recycle Something (the ticket, the string gel paper, and the fabric scrap) and Go Green (the color of one of the hearts), I'll be joining them, too.
 
I'm so grateful you stopped by today.  I hope you like this entry as much as I do.  Bleubeard and I hope to see you at Art Journal Journey and Try it on Tuesday, too.   You still have nearly two days to join us at Art Journal Journey and about five days to join in the fun at Try it on Tuesday.