still busy

I know I haven't posted any 365/2 photos lately but that doesn't mean I'm not working on it.  I'm busily making journals for Christmas gifts and just haven't taken the time to scan each page.  Rather than flood my blog with pics of all those pages, I'll just share a representative smattering here. Maybe when they're done, I'll show more......  I also finished up some gelli print pages for a swap.....here's a sampling.....

Using a new stencil from Crafter's Workshop (got it on sale on Blitsy site).

The journal pages are 6x9" and a mixture of bristol paper, watercolor paper, scrapbook paper, cardstock, etc.  Most of the color is added with my Inktense pencils and softened with a water brush. Inking done with Micron pens - a few computer generated pages.

When I use scrapbook paper, I add a solid journaling square to make it easy to write their thoughts.

This is a combo computer page (font & hearts) and hand doodling at the bottom.

I'll share a few more journal page samples in a few days.  Stay tuned.......

Hope you're having a creative week and enjoying the change of seasons wherever you are.

week 21 for 365/2 (part 2)

Blogger has been really screwy the last couple weeks and today it's not letting me put a title to this post.....but onward I go, title-less!  Well, maybe.....I've been trying to publish for over an hour day and it won't let me - I can write and edit but it won't save and won't publish - ARGHHHH!

May 19-25 - the next installment of my 365 efforts......

#141 -still trying to figure out this painting...... added a few scribbles with oil pastels then covered the whole mess with a neutral layer then started adding again.  There's actually no blue cast to the background....it's a beige color.  (those are my fingerprints across the bottom)

#142 - playing with my spray inks - they've been sitting on a shelf for months and now I'm finding out how much fun they are....great effects!  Some tags to play.....

#143 -  art journal page.....hmmmm, don't like the spray ink through a stencil....a bit blurry.

#144 - Documented Life this week had the theme of "use embroidery floss", so I did - on one of my gelli prints w/ an image from an old Reader's Digest book.

Happy Memorial Day to all of you - Hope it's sunny where you are.  (it's not here in Seattle, overcast with chance of rain, but what's new?  - We're headed to a Mariners baseball game this afternoon so will have to dress warmly.)

week 12 for 365-2 (part 2)

Mar 17-23

#80 - another piece of zentangle (poke leaf pattern) for MMSA swap.

#81 -  some gelli/deli postcards to send out.  Gelli print and deli paper for translucent layers (tissue paper birds).  the text is from a copy of Griffin and Sabine (remember those books?) that I bought at a yard sale to cut up. It's a little tough because they're such beautiful books, but they have such fun art and text to use!

#82 - took some time today for a little more gelli play.....used sheet music for my paper.

We're starting to see a few signs of spring around here (Seattle).  Still rainy, but we're getting a few more sunny days sprinkled in but more noticeably, the cherry trees are in full bloom and the garden bed is starting to sprout and show new signs of life.  AND, Dan had to mow the grass for the first time last weekend.  Sigh. I know some of you are still buried in winter and probably would be glad to have to mow your yard!

Make time to be creative this week - try something new and see where it takes you!  Thank you all for your nice, encouraging comments as I plug along on my 365 days of exploration. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know you're out there cheering me on! :)

week 10 for 365-2 (part 2)

Wrapping up this week's (Mar 3-9) artsy endeavors:

#66 - I had a lovely first art day with a friend (Kathy) and finally got my gelli plate out again.  It's been so long I've forgotten most of what I had figured out so it was a very 'beginner' session.  I did end up with some pretty cool prints though.

#67 - some play in my art journal - this is a gray/black smoosh 'print' on deli paper ala Jane Davies, glued to the journal and stamped over with a found lid from my walk a couple weeks ago.  Love the possibilities here.

#68 - purple and green mail art for the next MMSA theme

Hope you had a marvelous, relaxing weekend and are ready to creatively tackle whatever comes your way this coming week.  Make time to enjoy art!

gelli

More gelli play last weekend:

Inspired by Karen's fern experiments with paint, I went out to cut from my yard.  My first effort, below is kinda (very!) blobby.  I was using a couple sprigs of dusty miller and they didn't press very flat.

Then I took the ghost print - and loved it; you can see the shape of the leaves!

So I had to try it again - this time made some marks in the paint before pressing in the leaves.

Then, here's the ghost.  - cool, huh?

I do have one sad little fern in the yard so I sacrificed one of its few fronds to try using it as a mask....again, not flat to begin with, but still a clearly defined shape.

I did the ghost print on a calendar page where I'd already cleaned the gelli plate edges a time or two...liking this.

Above - just mark making with the edge of a ruler - like the movement I got there and below is the first and second print using a handmade stamp.

I made many more leaf print attempts with varying success.  I did discover that I got better results once the leaf had been printed a couple times - it flattened out and became easier to use. And now I have some fabulous painty leaves to use in another project (mail art maybe?).

Took a few minutes during break at work to add this - will try to get round and catch up on everyone's creative stuff during lunch and tonight - I'm falling behind and need my blogging fix!

some gelli play

I pulled out my gelli plate and made some new prints - here are my most successful, though there's still much practice needed to get my prints to look like what's in my head.  Still experimenting with the whole masking idea......

I think generally I'm more successful if I use less paint even though I don't get much of a ghost print then.  I do like the grunged edge (above) I get after making many prints and not cleaning the plate in between - eventually the dried paint pulls up at surprising times.

I'm sharing this with Carolyn's monthly gelli party - if you're new to gelli printing, Carolyn has videos and tips and this monthly party where lots of others share their ideas and successes.  You should check it out.

gelli play

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I haven't used my gelli plate in a while so after browsing pinterest ideas for awhile, I got it out to try again. These are my best efforts from that play time - I'm really struggling with the whole layering process and how to purposefully achieve a specific layered look.

This one is the closest I've come to figuring out how to use masks - still SO much to figure out.

My layers in this one were less clear but when I spritzed the white on, I suddenly liked it lots better.

Sharing my efforts with others at Carolyn's August Gelli party.

icad 40-45

Time to catch you up on my ICAD work AND my gelli play.  I printed lots of bits on a stack of cards and picked some of the best as starts to ICAD but then embellished them a bit more with stamps and washi.

#40 - cardboard for stripes, my body shape stamp

#41  - some shapes masked then overprinted (unsuccessfully) w/ washi

#42  - love this new stencil of a moroccan tile pattern, stamping, washi

#43  - used the 'O' from a kids foam alphabet to make the smooshy basketweave circles, washi

#44  -  stencil then overstamped in teal with a flourish stencil that didn't show up very well

#45  -  shadow print from above, washi, stamping

Only a couple weeks of ICAD left - it's been rewarding and motivating again this year. I have to give Tammy huge props for hosting and inspiring us all to keep going.  I'm also linking this to Carolyn's gelli party!