I promised myself that for the sake of my kids, this year I would NOT forget to water my plants. In fact, I have ordered my Non-GMO organic seeds, to start growing some things, if anything for the sake of my daughter-in the name of teaching her a bit about science.
These are seed starters! Cool, right? Thanks to the blog, 365 of DIY, you can make your own seed starters using paper pulp! So start saving all your junk mail.
If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I am a sucker for a good journal. I really am. I love literary journals (where I write my thoughts and poems) and art journals, where I can sketch and draw and such.
Since I just had the baby, and it’s been quite frigid lately, it has left me home, with no way to get to the art supply store, to buy a new moleskin notebook. And I like to start the new year with a new journal. It’s just a thing about me, I guess.
Anyhow, while browsing Pinterest, I found a very cool art journal that a woman made from grocery paper bags. Now, the problem I encountered is that my supermarket does not give out paper bags, and I usually bring my own bags (or I take the plastic ones, because I recycle them for other things).
So in my DIRE need for a new journal, I decided to make one. Here’s what I came up with, since I don’t have blank paper to bind it with.
Inside, the pages are from a vintage children’s music book. It’s an educational book that was used in schools and such. I figured, I can just gesso the pages (or rather, use the poor man’s gesso, which is just white paint. Or, if you’re REALLY broke, use that left over white house paint).
The over has a little collage of magazine clippings, which my daughter made me. I love it so much, I put it on the cover! Oh, and for the cover, I used a Ritz Cracker box in place of chipboard, which I cannot find. I could in theory, since I do know where it is, but eh. With two children, I do not feel like spending the little time that they nap, on locating my chipboard. So I recycled, instead.
Then, I used some pretty paper by Crate Paper, and tissue tape by Tim Holtz.
What do you think, you like it? You can totally make this. It’s EASY! Just learn to do a good and simple book binding. You can learn on Booklyn’s website. Then, save your cereal box, or cracker box, or any sort of packaging that is made of chipboard.
It’s easy! Find some cool paper to bind. Maybe some newspaper? Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have paper grocery bags? Whatever, man. Bind it with whatever.
Today being inspiration thursday, I started to think about my own personal frustrations with craft books and such. When it comes to art journaling, there really is SO much out there, you almost do not know where to begin looking.
For me, I am more of a step by step kinda person. I love a book that starts at the begining. I don’t want to make the journal page layout you made, I want to learn how to create my own; just like I create my OWN knit/crochet designs, and my OWN jewelry designs. It’s more fun that way. Show me the technique, I say.
Also, a lot of times I find that there are art journaling websites and such things, but to me, they can be intimidating for a “regular joe”. At least for me, anyway. I really prefer to have a sort of step by step type of thing, where you “start with a pencil and paper”. You know?
Anyway, I figured I would help you all out, who are curious about art journaling, but in reality have no friggin idea where to start. And buying a book sounds dandy, but maybe you want to figure out the process, before you figure out layouts, and finishings, and things like that. Right? Start at the begining?
Okay. Your wish is my command.
This of course, is week 1. I have no idea how long this will last, it is perhaps, a journey for you and me both. So we’ll see how far it takes us, okay?
This week, I’d like to start at the very begining with handwriting. One important thing about art journaling is the aspect of handwriting.
I highly recommend that you start practicing your handwriting. I do. Handwriting is, I think, the first step in art journaling. You may feel free to practice on your own, or you may choose to purchase a book. I have a friend who actually took a class, but a book is cheaper and you can teach yourself.
The best book to buy on this particular subject, is “The Scrapbooker’s Handwriting Workshop” by Crystal Jefferey Reiger. It’s great! It has the fonts, then shows you how to make the letter, and then has a lined and ruled page for each font, to help you practice. You could also buy yourself a writing tablet, such as the one purchased for your little ones, when they begin to learn to write. But I actually just used white printer paper.
So, the assignment for today, is: practice your handwriting.
It’ll come in handy when incorporating text with images in your art journal.
Here’s what I created:
I chose the prompt, “Where I live”, which is to describe my dwelling. This says, “I live in a city where mad men roam and wander free”. It’s true. I do.
And Frida is there, because at one point in her life she was dwelling in NYC, and did not like it. So her thought bubble is saying, “I’m sick of it!” in spanish. But I mispelled the first word. Doesn’t matter.
The city there, is a rubber stamp by Hero Arts. You see? Those rubber stamps come in handy, don’t they?
Anyway, here’s what you should do: practice your handwriting. Also, your prompt this week is to describe where you live.
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Meanwhile, on another note, I have to say that the manners these days and the consideration for others is really plummeting to an inexistence. I say this, because the other day, I was on the bus. I think I was on my way to take my daughter to the dentist. Anyway, I am you know….almost 8 months pregnant. And I get tired easily. You know? Anyway, not one person got up to give me a seat.
Before I go on, I should mention that New York City buses have an unwritten rule: the front seats are for the elderly, or disabled, pregnant, etc. type of persons. Sometimes people who are not so much eldery or disabled or anything will sit there, but they are supposed to get up. Some seats are actually marked, as being for these type of people. Anyway, there was a lady sitting there, talking NON STOP on her cell phone. NON STOP! She didn’t get up. But what struck me is the talking. Wow. I mean, I talk a lot, sure. But I do not understand, I mean, one has to come up for air, right? Finally a woman got up, because it was her stop next. I let Dakota sit there, because well…kiddos get tired you know? But then, mommy got tired. So I sat down there, in what was her seat, and let her sit on my almost non existent lap. Then, the talking lady left. But her seat was NOT right next to me. There was an old man who would have had to move over. I did NOT want to bother because generally speaking, the eldery are a cranky bunch in my neck of the woods.
The man sitting next to us, decided he would wake the old man up, and ask him to move over for me, so I can have space to sit next to my kid. WOW, man. This is where the story gets….funny, I suppose. This old man went on a rampage about how those seats are only for the elderly, and I shouldn’t be sitting there, and exersize is good for pregnant women. Oh man, he was such a miserable old man, the russian guy who asked him to move started to get pissed off! And then, to make it more interesting, the OLD MAN, yes the old man, told him, “what, you want to make something of it?”. He, an obviously week, and skinny old man, with his meds in hand, is saying this to a 6,5″ tall big russian dude, who looks like he works out a little too often. I mean, that alone was classic. The russian guy took his sunglasses off, and the cranky old man knew he meant business. Finally, I had a seat on the bus. What madness! Crazy old man.
So I made some cards today. I thought it’d be nice if I show you what I made and how. So here’s a quick photo how-to.
You’ll need some watercolor paints. I love the brand, “Winston & Newton” but as I always say, use what you’ve got.
Also, some cold pressed watercolor paper, cut into a card size, black ink pad, paint brushes, lip gloss tubs, and the “NEW YORK” stamp by VIVA LAS VEGAS Stamps.
I store my watercolor paint in lip gloss tubs so that I can save it and re-use it. I use it right there in the tub, then seal it when I’m done.
So, you’re going to need to fold your card sized watercolor paper, and paint yourself a nice little background, like so:
Then stamp it.
Sorry for the blur. I tried, you know.
You’re gonna need some markers. I used my copic markers. But use what you’ve got.
I colored in some areas, with a marker: blue, for the blue background, yellow for the yellow…you get the idea.
Anyway, you get the idea.
Also, I made envelopes, out of magazine paper:
I used the last few pages of last month’s issue of SPIN magazine, in case you’re wondering.
I know I posted late in the day, but I’ve been dealing with health insurance stuff, applying for school, faxing out transcripts, cleaning up, and catching up on emails from being away for a few days. Stuff piles up!
That’s all for now.
So yesterday I mentioned how I got a whole bunch of nice black paper. Today, I figured, what’s better than making some stab bound scrabooks. I made a set of two, using some pretty flowers from the Sampler Kit.
The words there on the right read, VIDA and mean life in spanish. I inked the edges on the second one, and on the first one there, you can see there are buttons on the right. I used a sizzix die, to cut the shame of the pages. Inside, there are 22 black, blank pages. I of course, have no idea what the heck to do with them! I might give each of them to friends of mine, who just had baby girls.
Oh, and I used Baker’s twine, also in the Sampler kit from (I think) last month. Again, the binding is a simple stab binding. Very easy.
Now, can you see them? I love that flower. That was from the Sampler Kit’s monthly scrapbooking kit. I love them! I got enough to make these, and also save a few for jewelry making, which, thanks to James Brown and Youtube, am quite inspired to make a few designs today.
What else? Meh, not much. I need some more yarn. I have been feeling inspired to make some really nice crocheted stuff, but alas. I need yarn. I do have some pretty silk sari yarn, but that stuff is difficult to design/work with. I’m making some small things. I had found a crocheted flower pattern online, but decided to instead go with a flower design I had created a long time ago by mistake. I was trying to make a round granny square, and it ended up being a flower. So, since I remembered what I had done, I had made a bunch. But that was a long time ago. I just want to make them now, so I can make fun little things with it.
That’s all for today.
Recently, I made some cool thank you cards, to send to my customers who order my lovely jewelry creations.
They are simple enough to make.
They are so easy to make.
You’ll need your Sizzix Big Shot, and the die, “Card w/Flower” , a thank you rubber stamp (I got mine from the dollar spot at Michael’s), and a 1 inch circle punch. Oh, and some pretty paper tape. Mine is from Tim Holtz.
I used a paper stack from Colorboc, but you can use whatever you’ve got. With the spares, I cut out 1″ circles, and filled in the little flower there.
That’s it really! Oh, and I inked the edges.
You like it? It’s easy enough, and a nice little way to say thank you to someone, or hello. Or I love you.
I don’t have much to say, because frankly, I’m feeling saddened. Someone related to me, wrote me off, and manipulated the situation to make me seem as if I am one to blame, when I did nothing.
I am a good woman, a great mother, and a good friend. I may have my flaws like everyone does. But I got to where I am because of my faith in a higher power, and because of my capacity to love. If you cannot love, you have nothing. Love heals. Love. Not anger about the past, or bitterness, or hatred towards a person. These negative feelings only make things worst. They only break you, and break the relationships you have.
LOVE heals. And love comes in so many delicious forms.
Accusing another person of something that you yourself may have, is something that just about every religion speaks against. And even if you are not a religious person, we can all benefit by looking at ourselves before we look at someone else and accuse them of outlandish things.
I don’t want to go into details, but suffice to say that someone in my extended family truly broke my heart immensly. Then, while having broken my PREGNANT heart, then went off to tell my partner about me, as if that is her right, to speak ill against me to my own husband.
I love my family. I love my daughter, my husband and the little girl in my belly. I love my art group. I love. That’s the point. I LOVE. I love, unconditionally.
I don’t feel guilty about my decision to not speak to my abusive parents. It is wrong to abuse your child and then expect her to deny what happened, as if she deserved it, no. I did not deserve a damned thing. No one will ever make me feel guilty for my decision. This choice, I made out of love for myself. Because I deserve relationships that are NOT destructive. I deserve goodness. I deserve good things, no matter what this person in my extended family may think or believe.
That’s all I had to say. Now, I’m off to crochet like mad.
Yet another ATC swap. I have about 5 packages to mail out today, I swear.
Today, I made a set of ATCs, for a swap that was inspired by the artwork of my friend, Lisa Kettel. This is how I interpret her art, in MY style:
So that’s that, as far as all the ATCs go. Hubby and I have been working on something special for our new etsy shop. I’m SO excited!
I no longer blog on sundays. It’s not a pentecostal thing, it’s a lazy thing. You know, growing up in New Jersey, everything, I mean EVERYTHING shuts down on sundays. Even supermarkets would close around 1pm.
Here in brooklyn, I live in a very predominantly jewish area, and everything shuts down on fridays and saturdays. Sundays in New York City, is when all the new yorkers go out to play. I’m serious. Saturdays in manhattan or brooklyn, you’ll see the tourists, and the folks from Connecticut, Long Island, or New Jersey, come to spend the day in the city. Sundays, is the day when you see the real new yorkers out to play with the kiddos and such.
Sundays my husband is off of work, so I like to spend time with him and the kid. Tomorow, a friend of mine is having a craft supply yard sale, and then there’s a food truck bizaare at the Hell’s Kitchen flea market. That should be splendid! If not, maybe we’ll get some empanadas instead. OH MAN hell’s kitchen has THE BEST colombian empanadas. Vegetarian ones too! SO good. Trust me. And the hot sauce is real authentic colombian hot sauce. So good.
You know, back in the days, I used to sell at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. I would sell my handmade vegan soaps. I did well, actually. If it’s one thing that people buy at fairs and festivals, it’s silk screened tee shirts, and soap. I had decided not to sell anymore because it just wasn’t my thing. It’s A LOT of work, selling on the street or in a fair. You have to wake up super duper early (around 5 or 6 I’d wake up, normally), make sure everything is packed up (because you’d have packed up the night before), make sure you’ve got change (dollars, I mean) and leave to take the train, get there and set up, be there until closing, and normally I wouldn’t get home until 9pm, after packing up, chatting with the person next to you, etc. Anyway, I did a lot of them, and in true Sagittarius form, I lost interest. And I got pregnant, so there is that.
I dont’ think that I will ever do them again, not here in New York City. A couple years back I did vend at a place in Jersey City, NJ and did well there. Very well, actually. But eh, New York. I have my opinions on that, which I think I’ll keep to myself.
At any rate, all of this was to say, that on monday, you’ll see a sneak peak, and if I get the chance, you’ll see the full fledged finished product. I’m so excited. This is going to move our etsy shop in a different direction-in a place where my husband and I are working together, creating together; this is something I wanted from the moment I married him. I hope you like it; and by like it, I mean that I hope you purchase our future products, which you’ll find out more about on monday.
PS. –> Help FUND my CAUSE!
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Remember all that photo transfer jewelry that I love to make?
Well, being a new writer for The Examiner, I’m proud to list my first article, on the subject.
Click HERE to check out my article.
PS. –> Help FUND my DREAM!
The Craftaholic
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Here’s a fun item. The one thing I love is those beautiful paper flowers that are a bit expensive for my modest art supply budget. But they are pretty for making cards, or altered art.
I made a few of my own, here’s a few pics.
I’ll be making this for Andrea Currie’s Craftastic Live, and I do hope you’ll watch, so you too can save money by making your own supplies! You’ll learn how to make your own glimmer mist also.
Fun, right?
The Craftaholic
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One of the new companies I design for is Blockhead Stamps. Recently they sent me some new goods and treats to play with. Here’s a new item I just recently finished making, their stamps, and acrylic paint daubbers that they sell. I love those paint daubers! How cool!
I used Mod Podge with dictionary paper, and then went over it with mod podge, waited for it to dry, and then went over it with the paint daubers. Then, I used this “Joker” stamp set, for the little hats there, and a stamp sentiment that I had. Cute, right? And of course, lacey ribbon finishes the items nicely.
These are wish jars. Write down your wishes on a full moon, and set it on your windowsill until your wish comes true. Or, if you’re not a superstitious person, just make one for vanity’s sake. It’s cute.
Oh, and no, I can’t remember where I got the bottles, at all. Sorry. I litterally had that in my stash for a year or more.
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