Art Journal Share - Legs For Days

I've been gaining a bit of weight lately.  It all starts in the hips (well, it starts at the table!).  I'm always examining my legs for changes.  Did I lose weight?  Did I gain weight?  Was that there yesterday?!?  I got a new pair of running shoes for Christmas (thank you Lord) and I ran for the first time in months on Saturday.  I was sore by the end of the night but I felt great.  Even though its freezing today I plan to bundle up and get out there.  I'm working on balancing food and exercise.

I've been drawing a lot of basic anatomy lately.  Drawing legs are tricky but I found lots of tips and tricks on Pinterest.  I am blessed to be able to walk, run, and exercise.

My legs are strong and will take me far.  

Is there a part of your body you pick at?  Think of what positive things that part of your body can do!  Does it help you create?  At times it's easier to find the negatives but with effort maybe we can cancel them out.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

 they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, 

and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Have a happy new year!!!

Sharing with Paint Party Friday

Creative Every Day

Creative Mondays

The Beauty in His Grip

Mandarin Orange Monday

Sacro Speco

Moleskine Monday - OOTD

Happy Monday,
I hope you all had a great weekend.  So, this is my second to last Moleskine post for this year.  I do plan to carry this series into the new year as I am in the middle of my journal right now.

While I was making this page I thought about positive emotions and thoughts I could "wear" like an outfit.  Today, I choose peace.  Life is so busy right now due to the holidays and my move.  Staying calm and peaceful is the best thing I can do.

Which one would you wear today?

I shared a short process video on Instagram via Flipagram.

Linking to Paint Party Friday

Art Journal Every Day

Paper Saturdays 

Moleskine Monday & Christmas Wish List 2013

I could sail a boat before I could drive and I think that's why boats appear in my work again and again.  When I was little we  spent most weekends at the beach in the ocean.

My dad taught me how to sail and drive a motor boat.  Those were some of the best memories I had as a child.  

One of my goals for 2014 is to get back on the water.  I haven't been to the beach in at least five years (way too long).

I hope you are inspired by this post.  I'm always in need of inspiration for my journal and Pinterest helps me do just that.  

I found this drawing prompt on Pikaland.com and thought I would share it with you all!  Amy has a list of 100 things to draw and observe.

I plan on using this list in my upcoming pages.  If you have time please head over and check out her site.





   “For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It's always our self we find in the sea.” 

― E.E. Cummings

I wanted to share a few items I have on my wish list for Christmas!  

Not all the items are exactly new but I still want them. 
(click photos)

Prima - Finnabair Elementals - 12 x 12 Stencils Mask Set - Doily
Scrapbook.com

The Crafter's Workshop - 12 x 12 Doodling Template - Church Windows
Scrapbook.com

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz - Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp Set - Mixed Media
Scrapbook.com

Ranger Ink - Dylusions - 5 x 8 Doodling Template - Staggered Brickwork
Scrapbook.com

What do you want for Christmas???

Linking to Creative Every Day
Artists in Blogland
Art Journal Every Day

Art Journal - Up in the Stars

At first she was a bit too odd for me.  I kept looking at this page trying to figure out how to fix her face until finally I just let go.  This journal is a celebration of color.  I go back and forth from this one and my moleskine.  I wanted to share the full page from my post last Friday...

Up in the Stars

Stars are delicate

Flickers of light

Up there they shine

Mysterious and bright

Stars work quietly

Through the night

Guiding us back

Home safely all right

If I was a star

I would shine so bright

And watch you until

We reached first light 

by Danielle Mack

Have you created something "on accident" and liked the outcome? Tell me about it!

Sharing with Art Journal Journey

Moleskine Monday - Brown Eyes

Good Morning,
I feel like I'm starting to get a bit more comfortable working in my journal.  I still find the small size a bit challenging at times but I'm going with the flow.  I got a hold of my Christy Tomlinson stencil and when to town with my molding paste.  You have to move pretty fast so that paste doesn't dry on the stencil.  I will normally have a wet brush and paper towels waiting as soon as I'm done stenciling to remove the molding paste quickly.

I picked up this chevon washi tape from Hobby Lobby months ago and was afraid to use it because the pattern is so strong.  Once the layers are built up it adds a nice texture to the page so you know that means I will be back for more.

I wanna say HELLO to my new followers!  Thank you everyone for your support!  I will be posting more now.  I'm trying to see if I can get some art journal videos made.

I'm having trouble photographing my Moleskine...sometimes I forget to lay it flat at night so when I'm ready to photograph it's a fight to keep it open.  I am working on getting a scanner but in the meantime does anyone have any suggestions???

Linking to: Create Every Day

Paper Saturday 

Studio Snapshot Friday - A Textured Face

Happy Friday!  We have all made it to the end of another week and I wanted to celebrate with a new post.  I was trying to think of ways to post what I'm working on in my studio every week.  It seems like by the time Friday rolls around my work space is a complete mess.  So, I wanted start Studio Snapshot Friday!  I will share with you what I'm working on or what my desk looks like AND you can share as well!

Do you have an Instagram?  If so, please take a snapshot of your studio space and/or what project you are working on and hashtag #studiosnapshot.  We can find each other and like, comment, and share!

If you don't have an Instagram, no worries just link up your blog post below!  I'm not sure how the turn out will be but you never know until you try right?!?

Linking with Art Journal Every Day

Paint Party Friday

Art Journal Cover & A Walk in the Park

I'm in the middle of a few pages in my moleskine so I thought I would share another project with you.  I'm working on a kraft chipboard book I picked up from Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and I wanted to share my progress. The brand of the album is Farm House Paper Company. Some of the pages are chipboard and others are tiny envelopes.  I'm no where near finished but I'm happy with the cover so far.

My mom and I were on a morning walk when we came across an empty birds nest. There are still quite a few birds hanging around. I'm already looking forward to the spring when flowers bloom and the warm weather comes back. 

Well, thanks for stopping by and I hope everyone had a great holiday!

Sharing post with: Paint Party Friday

Create Every Day

Art Journal Every Day

Moleskine Monday

I made some new rubber stamps the other day.  It's the horizontal bars you see on the far right.  I really enjoy using my own stamps.  I still dream of having my own line one day.  Well, anyway I have been trying to upload this photo all day today.  I got a new camera which came with new editing software....  I finally broke down and read the MANUAL!  Imagine that!  

I've been into abstract expressionism lately and I am trying to recreate it in my own way.  I wanted to share photos I've pinned on Pinterest for inspiration.

Line Juhl Hansen

Sandrine Merrien

Both the artists are women and they have great websites so please look them up if you have time.

Sharing with: Paint Party Friday

Create Every Day

Moleskine Monday

Although I have not posted in quite a while my blog has gone through a much needed make over.  I'm trying to find ways to blog more and create more.  I plan to start with Moleskine Monday.  This will allow me to share what I have been working on in my journal from the past week.  Here is my first post.  This is a watercolor Moleskine I ordered off of Amazon last year.

Linked to: Art Every Day

Balzer Designs

  Artists in Blogland
Paint Party Friday

In the Studio...

Today I wanted to share a snapshot of my desk.  I'm working in a brand new journal.  I don't know if these pages are finished yet, but I like where it's headed.

Sharing pages with:

Creative Every Day

Paint Party Friday

DIY Reupholstered Dining Room Chairs

My sister and I had talked about recovering the chairs in her dining room for months now because they were covered with stains from the boys and this past weekend I finally got the chance to actually cover them.  I wanted to share how they turned out.

My supplies: 

Heavy duty staple gun

Fabric

Screw driver

Scissors

Clear shower curtain (optional)

My sister unscrewed all of the seat cushions while I cut the fabric to the size of the chairs with about 2 inches extra on each side.  Then folded the fabric over the cushion to line up the pattern (I didn't remove the old fabric).  

When I felt it was straight I would hold the sides of the seat and flip it around.  I stapled the top and bottom first and then the sides occasionally flipping the seat to make sure the fabric was ok.  I didn't pull the fabric super tight because if you do it will be noticeable from the sides and I also didn't want to fabric to rip.  

The corners are tricky so I honestly tried to wing it and make it as neat as possible.  The chairs are not perfect but we all love them.  I then trimmed any extra fabric from the back.  We got the fabric from Wal-Mart (its duck-cloth so it's pretty thick).  Since my 2 yr old nephew is a messy eater I used the clear shower curtain to cover his chair so now my sister can just wipe it down and not worry about the stains.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you can make something today!

Canvas Mini Book

I picked up this canvas mini book from Micheal's a while back.  It sat around for a while before I decided what I wanted to use it for.  The theme over on the Sketchbook Challenge for June is garden doodles.  I don't have a garden of my own so I just searched for photos of my favorite flowers online. 

I plan to bust out my oils and paint these up.

I am looking forward to seeing color on my flowers and 

I'm interested to see how the canvas pages hold up to oil paints.

I am sharing this post on the following sites:

Artists in Blogland

Balzer Designs

The Sketchbook Challenge

Paint Party Friday

With Love - Sketch #76

I'm sad to say that this is my last DT card for Cardabilities.  I had a great time designing for the team and wish Karan and my fellow DT members the best of luck!  The card I created is for my Stepdad for Father's Day (it kinda snuck up on me).

My tips for masculine cards:

• Keep the embellishments clean and simple.
• Mix fabrics to add visual texture.
• Neutral colors can make for a fuss free card.
• Lastly, create it with love because I'm sure he will love it!

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!

Please stop by Cardabilities as we would 

love to see what you create with this weeks sketch!

Springtime Letter - Sketch 75

Good Morning!  Here is sketch #75 for the Cardabilities DT.  I used Prima and Maya Road for this shabby spring card.  Please hop over to the Cardabilities blog and join in this weeks card sketch challenge!  Have a great day!

Butterfly Banner - Sketch #74

I tried something new with this weeks Cardabilities DT card sketch.  I don't normally use a lot of paints and mediums on my cards but I got the script stencil from Crafters Workshop and I just love how it looks with modeling paste.  This card is very simple but I wanted to use lots of texture to make it interesting.

Hope you enjoy this card and take some time to visit Cardabilities and 

create a card using this awesome sketch!

Sketch #73 - Find Peace

Today, I have sketch #73 for the Cardabilites DT challenge.  I just love using banners on my projects don't you?  I was going for a different color combo than I normally do because I have lighter embellishments.  I hope you hop over to Cardabilities and join this sketch challenge!

I pray peace finds you today!

No Fear

I have decided 

not to FEAR!

Some of my ideas never come to light because of fear and doubt.  

I want to be brave enough to try anything and fail.  

This is an everyday challenge for me.

Flower Girl

Here is the latest from my watercolor journal.  I don't normally work like this but I like where it's going. My next step is to start painting so I will 

definitely be posting my progress. 

I just want to thank everyone for the awesome comments on my last painting!  Here is the house painting completed.  You can't really see the house anymore but that's okay because the color and the textures are still doing a great job.  I can't wait to do more paintings like this one.

The original....

I am sharing my work with Creative Every Day, Balzer Designs, Paint Party Friday and 

In The Studio.  If you would like to share your work or be inspired please visit.

Have a great Sunday!