America's Music House

 

I want to begin by thanking our dear friend and co-moderator Mia from Craftartista for the superb job she did as host in May.  It was clear, we loved her bird theme.

Today we invite a new host as we do every month  This month it's the very talented Matilde at Craftowanie.  Her theme is Houses and Buildings.

I named this America's Music House.  Detail images are below.

 

I am not one who likes wobbly journal pages, but after I added watercolors to the 8.5 X 11 inch (21.59 X 27.94 cm) 110 lb cardstock, it warped badly.  I used two different vintage sheet music pages to create the house and garage.  The windows, door, and roofs were outlined using a black Posca pen. The garden, walkway, and driveway were created using dry erase pens.  The house number and flowers were created using felt tip pens.  

 

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) cannot leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow 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, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mine.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your Houses and Buildings inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.

 

This is also Day 1 of my annual ICADs.  This will be my 14th year.  If you are playing along, let me know and I will share your link on my blog. 

 

 

I started with a dictionary page I adhered to an index card.  I added two colors using dry erase markers.  The postage stamp is a Christmas jester and the word I chose is Dance.  Our names were added using a purple Micron pen. 

 

Thank you beyond belief for visiting today. Bleubeard and I would love to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Houses and Buildings.

 

  

 

 

Assemblage fun

 

This post was originally published in April, 2014.

I've wanted to create an assemblage for awhile now,

and the idea of using found objects to create one fit perfectly with the concept of recycling.  So I grabbed a few metal pieces, and set out to create something fun.

I began by covering one of my 12 inch X 12 inch X 1 inch (30.48 cm X 30.48 cm X 2.54 cm) wooden blocks with paper scraps.  I laid down bits of watercolor to create a bit of color.  In addition to the metal pieces, I got out some of the Sculpey I had been given in exchange for a tutorial, and made a few faces and hands from a mold I own. 

As I was creating this piece, those words kept running through my head, so I knew this was what I had to name it.

Some of the details are shown here.

Today is Day 8 of 22, and I recycled a block of wood, several pages from books and dictionaries, a rusty can lid, a metal ring, and a metal piece I have no idea what it's called or what it was used for in a previous life.  I also managed to use some of the Sculpey, too.  Please enjoy my Mother and Child Reunion and thank you for visiting.  

 

What's Up?

 

 Happy 2026!!!

I want to begin by thanking Sharon from "That Girl Fritchey!" for such a great job hosting in December.  We've already invited her to join us again this year to host a month.  Second, in case you haven't read, blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  I cannot seem to get rid of the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I hope you realize I DO keep trying at least twice a day.  

We begin the new year with a new host as we do each month.  This is one of our moderators and my dear friend Erika who many of you know as BioArtGal.  Erika's theme for the entire month of January is What's Up? 

Erika suggested "if you want you can make pages about things that are up,
like things in the sky..."  Therefore, I went that route. 

It's obvious I named this "At the hot air balloon festival."  Details are below.

I began by coloring 110 lb cardstock using blue watercolor.  Once dry, I stamped five hot air balloons, the best of which I detailed.  I then computer generated the sentiment and outlined it using black dye ink.

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) cannot leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow 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, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mine.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your What's Up? inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.

 

Thank you so much for visiting today.  I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of What's Up?

 

Lacy

 

Failed to Publish has reared its ugly head again.  One comment got through and the rest are just waiting to "try again later." 

Today I'm joining Halle of Halle's Hobbies at Art Journal Journey.  Halle is challenging us to think about Botanicals, which is her theme for July. 

I called this Lacy beauty.  Detail images are below.

I started with the black and white image I found on The Graphics Fairy.  In PhotoShop, I lightened the leaves and printed it using my black-only toner printer.  

 

I started with watercolors, but realized they are hard to control.  Also, the number of green watercolors are limited in the set I have.  That's when I switched to watercolor pencils.  I had numerous greens to choose from.  Once I completed the coloring, I cut the image and adhered it to a sheet of ledger paper.  Next, I added the two sentiments I outlined in black dye ink.

Thank you for your visit. I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey and maybe even share your own interpretation of Botanicals. 

ICADs 54 through 61

 

 It's Index Card A Day or ICAD Monday. Below are the last of my 2023 ICADs.

Day 54: Abstract 33.  Painted papers cut into various shapes and affixed to the index card using glue stick.

Day 55: Innocence.  Background of two Staz-on reinkers and 91% isopropyl alcohol.  Focal image from my stash that I cut using Fiskars scissors.  Gifted faux postage stamp covered with tiny seed beads.

Day 56: Quilt squares.  Background is misted using one of my handmade shimmering mists.  Squares and dotted paper are from my stash and are sewn on the page using variegated thread.  Heart is from a book of add-ons to eye and sun glasses.  Two embellishments on the squares were buttons in a previous life.  I cut the backs from them.

Day 57: Save Wichita.  On July 21, Wichita, KS celebrated its 153rd birthday.  Save Wichita was cut from a junk mail political postcard.  Banana stickers from some I purchased.  Square from my stash, and the tiny sprayed book page from a previous project.  

Day 58: Wannabe Sunflowers.  Background reinkers and alcohol (see above).  Flowers and stems cut from papers I colored.  White dots from Posca pen.

Day 59: Abstract 521.  Colored papers affixed with glue.  I could make these abstracts all day long. 

Day 60: Spring Flowers.  I am never sure if this is a jonquil or a daffodil.  They are both beautiful when they bloom in spring.  I had this image that I had to assemble.  There are several layers to the flower that I stuck on gold foil and black cardstock.  The base was cut from vellum and affixed to the back (without lines) side of an index card. 

Day 61: Abstract 631.  Colored paper affixed to the final index card. Dots created with a black Posca pen.

Year 11 is in the bag and I look forward to making more ICADs in 2024 for Year 12.

  Even though I didn't use any of the prompts, I appreciate Tammy Garcia at Daisy Yellow for hosting this annual event.  BTW, this was Tammy's 13th year.

Second on the 2nd: By the numbers

 

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I had to look for something with Numbers, which was chosen by our host this month, Matilde from Craftowanie. Most of the regular visitors are familiar with my choice today because I showed it on February 16, 2022 when Bleubeard and I hosted with our What's Your Style? theme.  I share it now in its entirety.  It is called By the Numbers.

  In case you didn't know, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey this month.  Our theme is What's Your Style?  I had trouble photographing this,

  so I decided to scan it.

I have created a few detail shots to share.

  This is what happens when math flash cards meet watercolors and stitch.  It had been far too long since I put my sewing machine to use and I wanted to rectify that by sewing these altered flash cards together.  Each flash card was painted using various watercolors.  Some were stamped with various images and/or numbers.

The words were computer generated and sewn using blue variegated thread.  The cards were sewn using lavender variegated thread.  Bits of numbers tape were added at the end.  I used addition, multiplication, division, and subtraction flash cards in this journal entry.

Bleubeard and I are delighted you joined us and hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of What's your style? which for us today is all about watercolors and sewing.

#_________________________________________________#

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit. 

 

Please be aware this link is only open for five days (until June 5 at 4 p.m.), so posting today is encouraged.

Romance and blood

 

 It's time once again to join Erika, our host this month at Art Journal Journey, who wants us to use RED in our art journals. 

I was going for an abstract for my next journal page.  Not sure you can call it an abstract, but I was pleased with how it turned out.

Details of the entry for those who need to translate.  Red: the color of

romance and blood, 

but hopefully not at

the same time.

I used several reds to create this entry that is primarily red and white with a touch of black writing.  I first drew lines using a red watercolor on white 110 lb cardstock.  I even went over parts of these lines with a water soluble crayon when I realized they looked more like pink than red. Then I used a red art pen to color a sheet of sticker paper, which I then cut into various circular shapes.  Finally, I computer generated the words onto some red computer/printer paper.  

I am thrilled you dropped by today and I hope to see how you interpret Erika's RED theme at Art Journal Journey.  Bleubeard slept the entire time!

 

Snow on the mountains

 

Bleubeard and I are joining Jo from Let's Art Journal today at Art Journal Journey with her theme Snowy Winter.

You've heard me say before, I can't draw, nor do I care to.  However, I came up with this simple mixed media entry I hope looks like three distinct mountains with snow falling on them.

Granted, the snowflakes look more like snowballs, but you have to use your imagination in my world.  I should mention that I used two different colors of blue on this security envelope.  The white snowflakes were made with a watercolor pencil.

 

The mountains were created using various papers, including foreign text and sheet music.  I used a black watercolor pencil to create the mountains, then used my finger to smudge the lines a bit.

I used a combination of green and brown on the base of the mountains which were created using another security envelope.

It is definitely trying to snow on these mixed media mountains.  Note the line on the right that goes the entire length of the scan.  This is why I am finally biting the bullet and getting a new scanner.  It's my Christmas present to myself that I am telling everyone it will come from the "boys."   I have been doing research and think I know the one I want.  Until then, I will just have to live with this scanner.

 

Bleubeard and I want to thank everyone for taking time to visit today. Your visit means a lot to us.  We also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Snowy Winter.

 

And because I want to join Nicole's Friday Face Off, 

 

 

here is a photo some of you may have seen that I took of the young fat one last week when I was testing the settings on my new camera.  Yes, he needs a new collar.  He goes through them faster than almost as fast as he goes through a bowl of kibble.