The Green Fairy

I spent some time this past weekend playing in my art journal. I used this image on a few Easter cards and I knew I wanted to turn her into a fairy.

I started by layering vintage wallpaper, doily, and patterned papers. Then I painted them all using green and turquoise paint dabbers.

 I gave my fairy sparkly wings and a golden rabbit.

My fairy needed a humble little cottage. Since she has a golden rabbit, of course she has a rhinestone tree.

These pages turned out to be my favorites so far!
 

Soar

For this month's art journal challenge, we each selected one word and created based on it. The word I selected was "soar."

I started with the bird image and let that guide the color scheme. I added pops of yellow throughout.

I included a poem that I wrote a few years ago, but was left untitled. This project prompted me to title it "Soar."

I typed the poem on old paper so it would blend with the pages in the old book and the tattered old wallpaper I added to the background.

Love Letter

I took some time off from the Christmas crafts to do a layout in my art journal. This month's theme was to use stuff we bought at Junk Bonanza.

I turned the page in my book and saw the text about the woman in a canoe, and knew I had a postcard that would be perfect. After looking in four places, I finally found it! Now to build a layout around it.

I used old wallpaper (purchased at Junk Bonanza) as the background, and then layered on more papers and trims until I was happy. Now for a theme. I wanted an engagement story, but how to tell it? I searched online for images of old love letters, but wasn't happy with what I found. So, I took some old paper and wrote my own. Oh how I wish I had an old fountain pen and ink!

I distressed my letter and added it to the page. I also added a scrap of tulle and small flower (from a hat I purchased at Junk Bonanza) - hints of the pending wedding day.

I further embellished with a scrap from an old calendar and a clock image.

   

Art Journal Grid

I was inspired by a post on Julie Balzer's blog where she did a grid of mini paintings in her art journal. I can't draw or paint, so I used the idea and applied it the way I could - with mini paper collages!

I started by gathering all my little bits of ephemera, tiny images, lace and fabric scraps, and any embellishments that would work. I went with a muted color scheme, so that helped limit my selections.

I measured my pages and decided that 2x2 inch squares (twinchies) would work best. I stamped a grid on the pages using my new Pink Paislee Soiree stamp set. Then I got to work assembling the collages.

I stamped, I layered, I stitched, I glued. I had a lot of fun creating these pages. They're actually in my friend Julie's art journal. Now I want to make some to go in mine!

 

Tattered Memories

I did another couple of pages in my art journal. This month, we worked with fabric. I had a great cabinet card image that I printed on a laser printer so I could do a gel medium transfer. I wanted everything to have a faded, worn look.

First, I applied plain tissue paper to the page for some texture. Then I did the gel medium transfer on top of the issue paper. Then I painted both pages uses a murky, grey/brown/blue mix. I added some rub-ons, bits of lace, stamps, and other images. I turned the vintage fabric over so it was even more faded. I took a piece of tapestry fabric and stitched on some beads and knots, then wrote out a sentiment and glued that to the fabric.

The painting image at the bottom is what inspired the "Sunday picnic" memory. I cut the image from a used art book and then distressed it with sandpaper so it too looked old and faded, like the maiden's memories.

More Garden Fairies

I completed my pages in Julie's art journal, and I still have garden fairies on the brain. We were doing magazine collages this time, but I didn't have any ideas. Then I came across this little lady's image and knew she'd make a perfect fairy. I paired her with a modern chair from a catalog and a spring garden backdrop.

Because I wanted my fairy to stand out from the bacground, I first sealed the background paper with gel medium and then dry brushed on some paint. I wiped most of the paint off with a baby wipe, which made the garden image muted and ethereal.

I gave my fairy butterfly wings and a flower hat.

I wrote the title on vintage ledger paper and then cut out the words.

I typed a "specimen" label using my old typewriter and aged it with distress ink. My garden fairies are resting up for next spring!
 

Come Inside

I created a couple more pages for my art journal. I went with a fairy garden theme just in time for spring. Here is the double page.

On the left side, I layered a beautiful cabinet card image printed onto muslin with some bits of old lace and crochet trim. I painted a Dusty Attic chandelier embellishment and glued it down. On the right side, I typed Shakespeare's Fairy Land poem to accompany my little flower fairy.
 

Here she is, awakening from her fairy sleep.

But wait, there's more! The fairy page opens to reveal what awaits you inside the mysterious Fairy Land.

Perhaps you'd care to tiptoe through the tulips, or stay fresh as a daisy.

 

I'd like to stop and smell the roses.

The Sirens

I'm working on an art journal with my friend Julie, and this month I created in her book. Here are the pages that I made. I recently bought a new mixed media book, Image Transfer Workshop. I haven't had a chance to go through too much of it, but I tried out one technique that I've used in the past - the packing tape transfer technique. (This is a fairly common technique. If you google "packing tape transfer" you'll find instructions.)

The inspiration for my pages was this image that I pulled from a magazine and made into a transparency using the packing tape transfer technique. Then I flipped through Julie's book and found this poem "The Sirens." Bingo! My three ladies are now the three sirens.

I added paint to the background and positioned the image on some sewing pattern tissue so the title would show through when adhered.
 

On the facing page, I wanted to create a little shadowbox to embellish. I glued several pages together and then cut out a window. I framed the window with masking tape and patterned paper and then added three vintage millinery flowers - one for each siren. (I just noticed the III and "flower" below my flowers. What a wonderful coincidence!!) I found the perfect phrase from one of the pages that I cut and adhered it below with the window. It needed sparkle, so I outlined the text with Platinum Stickles.

I wanted to add lace to the page with the ladies, but I was afraid the book wouldn't close. It's already a tight fit with what I've done so far. I'll have to save the lace for another time.

Starting an Art Journal

I have not been able to get into crafting yet this year. I finally got all of the Christmas decorations put away, so maybe that will help, even if I'm STILL not finished with my December Daily album. I am up to Dec 28th, so I'm making progress.

I've been wanting to create an art journal, but never got around to it. Then a wonderful friend asked if I'd do one with her. I jumped at the chance and got started right away. We decided to use old books for the journals and swap once a month or so.

Here is my book "before":

I had this thirft store book laying around the house. I used some of my new paints that Husband bought me for Christmas. I started with Unbleached Titanium to cover up that ugly green cover.

I wish I had taken photos of each step. I'm getting better - I took a Before photo. Next time... Anway, I layered on paint - turquoise polka dots toned down with pale pink paint to fade and distress. Then I adhered a piece of lace fabric and started on the centerpiece.

I wanted to use some of my favorite vintage supplies for the cover, and also keep it flat so the book is easy to work in. I used vintage sheet music, dress pattern tissue, buttons, and lace trim. I opened an old hymnal to this page - A Beautiful Life. It was perfect for this project.

I completed one page inside. The book's title is "Sand and Stars," and this cover page brought the image of a mermaid to my mind. I used acrylic paints to cover the text and then added watercolors to fill in the white space. I found the perfect mermaid image on the Graphics Fairy blog.

I further embellished the page with some lace scraps, a tiny seashell, and bits of bling. I want to complete the facing page before I send on to Julie to work her magic in my book.