QDS challenge # 3

I finished my journal page for Marit's Quirky Dutch Summer challenge, word play.
You can find out more about it here:
http://www.maritspaperworld.com/blog/

So, I decided to do "cutting out words". I cut words from a children's science book from the 1950's. It was from the table of contents. I've said it before, it's really amazing how the subconscious works. I'm discovering that I work through a lot of emotion in my journal pages.

When you are "just" a stay at home mom, things may seem very elementary to people. Especially if they are of school age. My, you must have so much time on your hands! What do you do all day? Sit around eating bon-bons? It's such a stereotype.

All I know is I'm always thinking of a thousand things at once and trying to accomplish about a million.
In creating this journal page, I thought it apropro to surround the head of the woman with the many things I think of on a daily basis.

 And it's kinda funny........after I glued the bird, I was kinda mad at him. Like, "you can just fly wherever you want......you're free........what do you have to complain about?!" Can you say, therapy? ok.......feeling a little trapped in the mundane lately. I'll leave the bird alone.

And let me just say, I have really been LOVING to use tape in my journal. I just found this amazing paper tape (the yellow around the image) at Target in the kid's craft section. It comes in a roll of a bunch of colors and it's fantastic! Much different than washi tape, it's stiffer.......like a thick paper with adhesive.I also used the insides of some junk mail envelopes (black & white, blue & white). I've been wanting to do that for a long time.
Well, that's about it for now..........hope you enjoy my journal page. Ta ta for now:)

Quirky Dutch Summer challenge # 2

The second challenge from Marit, http://www.maritspaperworld.com/blog/, is to create mail art. I thought of my sister in law, Karen. We don't get to see eachother much because we live in different states, about a 12 hour drive. I knew she would appreciate some bright and colorful cheery mail art. We joke that all we ever get in the mail is bills.

I grew up with 3 older brothers and was quite content with my sibling situation in my childhood.
Then, my oldest brother got married and through the years his wife and I developed a close friendship.
But what's even more special, is that I realized she is the big sister I never had.

Karen,
through the years
you've been more than a friend
you've been my big sister.

thank you for not judging me and always staying by my side.

thank you for always looking out for me and not being a selfish friend. I like the balance we have and
I know I can count on you.

and I thank God we share the same sense of humor! Thank you for making me laugh, especially on days when nothing seems funny. I love you!

Quirky Dutch Summer challenge #1

The lovely Marit Barentsen is holding art challenges on her blog every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks.
It's called the quirky dutch summer..........love it! You can find it here:
http://www.maritspaperworld.com/blog/

I discovered this wonderful artist when I found Featuring magazine. She is the founder and chief editor.
It's a fantastic magazine! It has wonderful articles and great mixed media artwork.
You can find it @ http://featuringmagazine.com/

So, the first challenge on Marit's blog is, "fear of the blank page", and what we can do about it. Out of the choices she offered, I chose the paper scrap route. I basically followed her tutorial with a few additions. 

First, she suggest to take paper scraps and glue them together like a puzzle piece:

Next, cover them with white gesso. I did that, and also added some washi tape.

The next step is to add some color with either ink or water color crayons. I used a green spray ink, but ended up not liking it, so I wiped some of it off. I still wasn't satisfied, so I peeled a lot of the washi tape off and it gave the page a nice distressed look.

I stenciled the word, "silence" and stamped the words, "is beauty". I added a flower image from an antique book and some blue polka dot washi tape.

The reason I say, "silence is beauty" is because I feel like I can enjoy nature more when I'm quiet. Two instances come to mind...relaxing in front of an open window while a soft, cool breeze rustles the curtains and sitting on a beach at dusk, mesmerized by the motion of the waves.

The last thing I did was dip my paintbrush into some dark brown watered down paint and create paint splatters by just flicking the brush onto the page. It was so much fun, I decided to do some on the opposite page. Now, I can use that as a jump off point for my next journal page. I'll post that when it's completed.

Hope you enjoyed the process. Thank you Marit for this fun challenge!

Simple things

Hello again my friends! Welcome to haiku my heart Friday hosted by the beautiful Rebecca:)
You can discover links to more haiku treasures on her blog @ http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/.

Here is my offering for today, entitled, "Simple things"

Nature's beauty lives

The breeze refreshes my soul

gratitude abounds

I hope you get to be outside this weekend to enjoy God's magnificent creation!
love & peace,
Peg

Wish: a desire or hope for something to happen

How my wishes have changed throughout the years. Of course, when I was younger it was mostly for things. Now, at 41, it's for intangible things: good health, peace in my family, wisdom for raising my daughter, more gratitude, and the list goes on.

I'm new to blogging and the one thing I'm starting to get involved in, is art challenges. The most recent one is on  http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/  and the current challenge is to create a piece of art using the theme, "wish". I decided to make a journal page, and here it is:

feeling overwhelmed, this is my wish today

a clear mind to help me think and accomplish all I need to do.

and a strong heart to endure and press on!

Free falling

Hi friends:)

Here's the journal page I mentioned in my last post.

I always wanted to just pull a headline or part of a headline from a newspaper and make a journal page around it.Well, here it is:

This spoke to me today. Sometimes it's easy to know why you're in a good or bad mood. But lately, I've found that if I'm upset..........the reason for it goes deeper than I think. I thought I was done dealing with my childhood.........really? I'm being reminded of things lately and it feels like I'm in an emotional free fall. Don't like the emotions.......don't like the feeling of falling (emotionally, that is). But I know that I need to deal with some things once and for all.........and then let them go.

Don't be afraid of your emotions, and no, I'm not going to say embrace them. Just take a look at them. It's a small step in the right direction.

Bump in the road

Every Thursday there is a journaling challenge on http://putitonpaper.org/ . Check it out! The topics can be very thought provoking. Here is my page from the current challenge, bump in the road.

and a closeup for easier reading:

I just love floating heads..........don't you?

I just finished another journal page. I'll be posting it in a day or two. Please stop by and check it out:)

Reveal

Hi friends! Welcome to haiku my heart Friday hosted by the amazingly talented, Rebecca:) You can find out more on her blog @ http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/.

Here is my offering for today, entitled, "Reveal"

Something hidden deep

Why can't I find the answer?

Lord, I need your sight.


Be well everyone and enjoy your weekend.
love and peace,
Peg