Discovering Roben-Marie Smith

Hi, Everyone,

I've been sick lately and have had to rest in bed.  This has given me time to surf the internet on my iPad.  I came upon a talented artist named Roben-Marie Smith.   She has online classes as well as free YouTube Videos, so you may want to check her out.

I usually create in a vintage style, but decided to give Roben-Marie's brighter style a try.  I started with a couple sheets of smooth cardstock and painted the sheets like her bright doodles.  I cut out circles, rectangles and tags from the painted sheets and sewed them randomly on different pages.  The pages sure are cheerful.  Have a look below.

I started off with an old French Dictionary and cut out all the glued pages inside.

On the outside of the book cover I glued down an altered Anthropology gift bag. 

On the inside I glued down some old ledger paper and part of the gift bag handles on the top of the inner spine.  I planned to have 3 signatures so poked 3 sets of holes in the spine with my awl.

In one of her videos, Roben-Marie Smith designed a page with a front flap and hinges, sewing the two pages together.  I love how my version turned out.  I will be using this design quite a bit.

Here is a back view of the page.

I've created many books with hinges before, but I never covered the hinges with book text.

Love that idea.

I also love stitching on the pages.

In this book, three pages grouped together make one signature.

The book is so pretty as is, I don't want to create in it.

This is the outside of the book for now.  It will be decorated more if I actually create in it.

I use the Long Stitch binding method a lot because it is fast and easy.

I hope this inspires you to create your own book, and don't forget to check out Roben-Marie Smith's blog.

Have fun creating creating!

My Version of Inspiration Wednesday (iw3.4.15)

Hi, Everyone,

Another happy day Art Journalling . . . or should I say trying to rectify a "too thick" nest.

In this post, I was working on one of Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday 2015 Videos.  For the nest,  I originally glued down some old yarn I had lying around.  It didn't look too thick at the time, but I could barely close the book after it dried. . . so off it came.  I only used a few printed cotton strips the second time.  What a difference.  I made sure I didn't overlap the layers and the book actually closed this time.  That's a good thing, because I have a lot of pages to go.

Below is my version of iw3.4.15.

Again, look at the vibrant Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints.  I love the combination of Teal and Phthalo Turquoise together.  The pigments are vibrant yet translucent, intense yet fading into lighter hues of itself once spread out.  Beautiful!

The script writing using a "Fineline Applicator" (filled with 1/2 Golden Black Fluid Acrylic Paint + 1/2 Golden Fluid Matte Medium) finishes off the page.

The texture on the background is Drywall Compound purchased at Home Depot (it's approximately 1/4 of the price of modelling paste).

Have fun creating!

My Version of Inspiration Wednesday (iw2.4.15)

Hi, Everyone,

Art Journalling is sooooooo much fun.

I purchased Donna Downey's Inspiration Wednesday 2015 Videos more than a year ago.  I am now making the time to create these works of art just for me.

Below is my version of iw2.4.15.

I absolutely LOVE Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints.  Their pigments are vibrant yet translucent.  When you first place it on the page the colour is intense, then as you spread the paint outward it seems to fade into lighter intense hues of itself.  It's just amazing!  I will own every single colour (one day).

As well, I love creating with a "Fineline Applicator" filled with:
1/2 Golden Black Fluid Acrylic Paint + 1/2 Golden Fluid Matte Medium.
The script writing, lines and doodles are drawn with it.  The nozzle is actually non-clogging because of the thin wire shaft that goes into the nozzle as it is being closed.  If you do not already own one, you Need to try it.  It is a "Must Have" item.

Have fun creating!

Project Life Layouts

Hi, Everyone,

For me, Project Life is scrapbooking in tiny sections.  Creating little pieces of art in small spaces, then adding my photos later.   This way I can create several pages at a time and they all flow together.

First I choose a theme, then colours for the album.  I'm making artful memories of my grandson for me.  I like white & gold, and since I'm using photos of my grandson I chose blue/teal/turquoise for my accent colours.

I mix & match my pocket pages combining different sizes and brands like Project Life and Snap pages, or anything on sale.  I mix the papers too, cutting down 12x12" and 6x6" papers, as well as using any gold foil papers I can get my hands on.

I'd like to show you some of the Project Life Layouts I created so far.

For embellishments, I cut up 12x12" velum and acetate papers, used washi tape, inked and embossed chipboard and wood pieces.  To close the shaker pockets, I sealed them with washi tape.

I love how they turned out.

Have fun creating!

"48 Weeks" - My Art Journal Pages of Week 1

Hi, Everyone,

A new year . . . 2016.  A new day, a new beginning, a new chance to create.

What do you plan to do this year?  What have you wanted to do but never got around to actually doing it?  What makes you happy?

For me, I love to create.  I have purchased many on-line projects with the intention of doing them for myself one day.  Well, that one day has finally come.  This year I intend to create a little bit every day just for me, even if it's for only 15 minutes.

In 2014 Donna Downey created an on-line class entitled "48 Weeks".  She creates 48 journal pages and the cost of the on-line videos is $796 US Dollars.  You must purchase the journal, stencils, and products yourself to create your own journal.  In early 2015 I attended some classes of hers and she had her finished journal with her.  It was absolutely amazing.  Breathtaking actually.  I had to create a journal just like it for myself, so I went on-line, paid the money, bought all the products to make the entire journal, and that's all I did with the class.

On my birthday in May last year, I started the journal.  I bought an oversized 12"x17" Moleskine Journal.  It has 111 lb. sketch paper and is 1/2" thick.  When you open up the Journal it is a whopping 24"x17", and once completed is approximately 3" to 4" thick.  Now that's quite a formidable surface area to work on.  It will make a stunning coffee table book once completed and I will treasure it forever.

Below are my Art Journal Pages of "Week 1".  I altered the right side of the page using a brick wall stencil and accented the brick wall with embossed chipboard bricks using Stampendous "aged silver" embossing powder on both sides of the page.  I personally do not use Alcohol Inks that often, but love how this page turned out.

I love Donna Downey's work and am very privileged to have been able to take a live class with her.

The Graphics Fairy has many free images and images to buy.  

It is a great source for Art Journalling. 

Remember. . . do what you love. . .  love what you do. . . and make time to actually do what you love.

Have fun creating!

Doodle - Vintage Lace

Hi, Everyone,

Pinterest is a great source of inspiration.  Recently I came upon a doodle of delicate lace, so I decided to give it a try.  I love to use a Sharpie "Pen" for doodling.  It's as thin as a .5 mechanical pencil yet dark and thick enough to see.  I added colour to the page with a "Stormy Sky" Distress Marker.  See how elongating your writing around the edge of the page finishes it off perfectly.

Here is my doodle of "beautiful delicate vintage lace".

Have fun creating!

Merry Christmas! A Tim Holtz Christmas Sampler

Hi, Everyone,

This time of year I find myself reflecting on the past year and the new one to come.

I would like to thank all of you who read my blog and/or attend my classes at Treasured Memories.  Each and every one of you are a great inspiration to me and I thank you for that.  I love to teach and excite people to create and to spend time with me creating individual pages/pieces of art.

Below is a Christmas Sampler I created using a Tim Holtz book cover and binder rings.

The pages were cut out with a Karen Burniston 3-D Flip Die by Sizzix.

The pages were folded back and hole punched, then decorated and inserted on the binder rings.

Here's a closer look at each of the pages.

I have 3 children who are now all grown up and have families of their own.  I am very proud of each one of them.  They have grown up to be happy and successful young people whom I admire and feel privileged to know and be a part of their lives.

My daughter-in-law has given me my 1st grandchild, Austin, who is now 3 years old.  I am so lucky to be able to look after him and develop that special bond that a grandmother and grandchild should have.  I love him unconditionally and the pure all consuming joy he gives me is the best thing I could ever hope for.  I thank God for that privilege every single day.

My middle daughter, Mandi, is expecting a baby and will be giving me my 2nd grandchild near the beginning of July this coming year.  She will be a doting loving mom and I hope to spend time with that beautiful baby to develop a special bond as well.

This year will be a year of change for me.  I will be looking after my grandson and helping my eldest daughter, Jeneen Marchant, with her growing real estate practice by booking appointments and following up with her clients via phone and computer.  I plan to teach classes at Treasured Memories when I can, but they will not be as frequent as they have been.  So, if you like my style and my classes you may want to sign up once they are posted because they will be held less often than they have been in the past.

I will be posting my works of art on this blog concentrating on creating individual pieces for myself. I have been so busy creating classes in the past, that I have not created art for myself for pure pleasure. Hopefully this will change and you followers will be privy to my personal art work.

Merry Christmas to Everyone.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.

As always, have fun creating!