One of a Kind

 

It's Friday and time to spend my time visiting friends from several blog hops.

I want to begin by sharing this journal page I created for Art Journal Journey where Matilde from Craftowanie is our host, and for Nicole's Friday Face Off.   

I took 37 photos of this lady and not a single one came out clear.  That's why I really, really, really, REALLY need a working scanner! 

The question she is asking is "Has anyone seen my hormones?"

About all you can see is, she has a face!!!

Even my embossing turned out bad, although I turned the page over and tapped the excess powder off before I heated the embossing powder..

Not sure this is any better, really.

I created the page using 110 lb. cardstock to which I added three colors of Staz-on reinkers mixed with 91% isopropyl alcohol.  Next I stamped the sentiment using Versamark.  I then added copper embossing powder and heat set the words.  Finally, I deconstructed a napkin and fussy cut the lady I then added to the page.  I really wish I had a different journal page I could share, but this is the best I could do.  I feel so bad because I have simply not been able to participate at Art Journal Journey like I wanted to this month.  

 

I also want to apologize to those I didn't get to visit last week at Friday Face Off.  I was simply physically unable to visit everyone.  I plan to make up for that this week, though.      

 

Now it's time to join Friday Smiles, hosted by Annie (at A Stitch in Time). Let's visit Annie and the other wonderful ladies who also share their smiles each Friday. 

The one good thing that had me smiling this week was two of the three Rose of Sharon bushes I transplanted last year to hide the ugly fence my neighbor put  up, are blooming.  They are doing great and are quite healthy.

Early morning and I remembered to photograph the herbs before I watered.

I now have a fourth flower on my bee balm plant.

I've propped up the milkweed plant, too.

This is the French tarragon I got at Hillside Feed and Seed.

This is the French tarragon I purchased on Herb Day.  Big difference and Hillside was cheaper, too.

Milkweed after I propped it up.

I got my chainsaw out and cut the lower branches of the tree and I got rid of 

several saplings next to the fence.  Note my wild sunflowers that bloom in September.

That's it for me today.  I hope to see you at Art Journal Journey, Friday Face Off, and Friday Smiles.

 

Snow Day

 

Today we welcome a new host at Art Journal Journey as we do on the first of every month.  This month we are lucky enough to have the very talented and beautiful Jo from Let's Art Journal.  Her theme is Snowy Winter.

In my world, it's a snow day!  

Bleubeard and I have created a few detail shots so you get a closer look.

 

Children love snow days.  Parents, especially working parents, hate them because they often have to make arrangements when the children are too young to be left alone.  Teachers have mixed feelings.  If the school has provided enough snow days, everything is fine.  If not, the school must make up that time at the end of the year.

I started this spread using a Staz-on reinker and 91% isopropyl alcohol on 110 lb cardstock.  I then cut the focal image from a greeting card.  Next, I dry embossed a tree using a Behr paint chip sample.  I then created the sentiment on my laser printer and sewed everything to the substrate using variegated green thread.  Finally, I added the date.

Jo, Chris, Erika, Valerie, Bleubeard, and I are delighted you joined us and hope to see you this month at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Snowy Winter.

 

We welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  We do not allow Facebook or Instagram entries.  We also do not allow cards, tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, you must either provide a translation tool or translate it for us.  Hope to see you soon at Art Journal Journey.  

 

  It suddenly hit me that there are two children, a dog, and two birds showing their faces on the above spread.  Because of that, I will be joining Nicole's Friday Face Off tomorrow.

 

 

Carp Diem

 

I realize I've been behind creating art for Art Journal Journey.  I'm making up for that today because I am joining Mia from Craftartista, our host whose theme this month is Fish.

It's obvious I named this latest journal entry

Carp Diem.

 

After all, the red rubber wood mounted stamp is named "Carp."

To give the background a bit of design distinction, I used one of my handmade shimmering mists through a doily that I used as a stencil.

For this journal page, I started by adding the misted background.  I then used alpha stencils to create the words, which I then fussy cut.  Finally, I heat embossed the carp using bronze embossing powder.

Bleubeard and I are delighted you dropped by today and joined us.  We hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Fish.  

Under the sea

 

Today we welcome my friend Mia from Craftartista as our host for June. She has chosen Fish as the theme this month.

I entitled this Under the Sea.  I have a few detail shots I will share.

I found this beautiful background in my stash and knew I had to use it.  I stamped, embossed, and fussy cut three carp, then added them to the background.  Luckily, I also have another of these backgrounds that were gifted me, so you just might see it again with different fish. 

Mia, Chris, Erika, Valerie, Yvonne, Bleubeard, and I are delighted you joined us and hope to see you this month at Art Journal Journey with your own take on Fish.

 

We welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  We do not allow cards, tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Be aware, if your blog is not in English, you must either provide a translation tool or translate it for us.  Hope to see you there soon. 

Today we also start ICADs or Index Card A Day.  It is the brainchild of Daisy Yellow.  This is her 11th year of hosting this event.  This will be my 9th year creating these tiny works of art.

This is Day 1.  I will be sewing collage fodder to the 3 inch X 5 inch (7.62 centimeters X 12.7 centimeters) index cards.  For Day 1, I used stencils, an old calendar, and a feather I found in my yard.  I will share these weekly on Saturday until July 31, where I will share the final ones on that Sunday.

Please let me know if you are creating ICADs this year and I will be by to visit your blog.  I am not on the social media sites Daisy Yellow uses.

 

Black and White World

 

I'm once again joining Art Journal Journey and our host Mia, who many of you know as Craftartista who has chosen Butterflies as her theme this month.  

It's official.

 

Butterflies bring color to a black and white world.

I doubt you can tell, but this page started with me laying down

Versamark, that sticky glue-like ink used when you want to heat emboss, in three separate areas.

After the embossing had cooled sufficiently, I started stamping using one of my all time favorite stamps gifted me by Valerie.  The first stamped image was made completely with black ink.

I gradually added more 

and more colors until the butterflies were completely in color.  On a different note, you might be able to see where some of the embossing powder didn't cover the Versamark.

For this page, I started by laying down three areas of stamped and embossed words on 110 lb cardstock. Several years ago, I borrowed some red rubber stamps I believe were created by Claudine Hellmuth.  I stamped them on card stock.  I recently found them and decided to fussy cut them for this spread.  Once they had been glued in place, I added the stamped butterflies, beginning with black dye ink, then gradually adding more and more color using a multi-color stamp pad.  

 

As I was heat embossing, I allowed the heat tool (not a hair dryer) to stay in one area too long.  You can see how the paper scorched the upper left corner.

Thanks beyond belief for dropping by today.  Bleubeard and I are really grateful for your visit and also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey. 

 

One final journal page and my calendar pages

Since I have a few hours between Monday Murals and T Time, I thought I would share my final Art Journal Journey entry using Alison's (aka Craftytrog) Pockets and Tags theme.  I'm also joining Try it on Tuesday's latest challenge which is Splash and Splatter.  I'm getting in just under the wire on both these challenges.

I was actually inspired by Erika and this journal page she created.

This little TH paper doll

practically begged to be used in this spread.

He felt the tag was the perfect place

for him to rest his body.

He was glad I used some washi tape for him and the tag to stand on, a trick I learned from Alison Bomber.

For this page, I began by spritzing two of my handmade shimmering mists on the pink copier paper substrate.  Once dry, which I helped along with my heat gun, I laid down the washi tape, then added the tag and the TH paper doll.

For the tag, I started with a die cut tag cut from a used file folder.  I colored it using a water soluble crayon.  I slid one side of the tag across my Versamark ink pad and used clear embossing powder on the piece.  It didn't give me the look I was going for, so I heated it again and, this time, I used UTEE (ultra thick embossing enamel).  It gave me more the look I was going for.  Then I stamped the three words on the tag using black dye ink. 

It's also obvious I found my altered book and have added all the pages I created this month that didn't have a home.

I'm also sharing my monthly calendar today, too.  

Here is the left side and

here is the right side.   I hope you enjoy the minutia of my boring life.
 
August is nearly complete and September is ready to be written in. 

Here is the full page.

This is the left side

and the right side.

Thanks so very much for visiting me today.  I hope to also see you at Try it on Tuesday and Art Journal Journey with your own mixed media art.