2012 Art Journal

So, I posted the other day that nifty 7-Gypsies album I altered and that I had decided it would be a year in review type of album. I was totally motivated for this album by this blog I happened upon. It's called A year in the life of an art journal. Now I play in an art journal regularly but rarely ever share it. However, this "take" on an art journal I love. Rachel gives you prompts. Prompts to use all 3 or only one, it's up to you twice a month! I've decided to commit and participate. This post is showcasing my first page using the prompts. You can find this blog on the sidebar of my blog or HERE .

Okay moving on. Here is the inside cover of that album and the front that weren't completed when I last posted. You can find the first post about this album HERE. Following the album pictures are the pictures of the first journaling page I created. The prompt was to use a word, a single word for your year. Then to use imagery and some paint! With a word, some paint and watercoloring with gelatos and some image transfering of book text and then some book text used directly. 

 I choose the word RELAX, followed my an explanation of working on NOT working on being perfect. I struggle with this greatly, everyday! I want perfection and often run myself into the ground trying to attain, MY IMAGE of perfection. That's the tough part, it's no one expecting it from me, but me. Which is hard, if it was someone else demanding it, I could just not care, haha.  I decided to let this journal be a naked journal, meaning, I plan to let it all out. I choose to do this page to really show the letting go feeling I want to embrace. With all of it's inperfection, which I can't wait to embrace more in my day to day life. I just need to "relax" this year and not worry so much about perfection. Anywho, here is my first page of the year.

Do you want to participate in this great motivational challenge? Check out the details here: http://oneyearartjournal.blogspot.com/2012/01/whatever-and-whatnot-jan-15th.html

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THIS MONTHS GIVEAWAYS: http://craftdonkey.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-giveaways-good-bad-ugly.html

Free Printables

So, there's no secret that I love free print ables. They save you money, make things quicker and easier and are normally pretty darn unique if you know where to find them. Recently I happened upon a blog that I've fallen in love with. She does sell items on Etsy, however she's one of the few seller's I've encountered who also offer an endless number of fun and current print ables. I thought I'd share a few of the most recent today. If you haven't already you should totally head over to her blog and check some things out. It's called "Sweetly Scrapped."

HERE You will find some great tickets, overlays, banners, and so much more. I love how she does some with transparent backgrounds so they can be used with digi scrapping. I don't use any digi scrappin stuff but the plus side to this is you can print them as transparencies! How frickin cook is that.

HERE you will find some great tape strips and tags.

HERE are some adorable adn I mean really adorable dresses! LOOOVE them!

Here is the webiste for her and the links above take you to her blog. http://www.sweetlyscrapped.com/

HERE You can follow Emily on Pinterest to see all the latest and greatest printables and Digi stuff.

Now once you're over there be sure to check out all the tabs at the top for other great fun! And for even more printable fun be sure to check out my Pinterest Printable. These current and always updated can be found on the side bar of the blog. But here is the link as well. http://pinterest.com/craftdonkey/printable/

I already have a ton of her print ables on my pinterest! But there's tons of others as well.  Anywho stop over there. She loves comments let her know I sent you!



Giveaways!!

I ran across this, this morning and couldn't wait to share it with you all. It's a great box of flowers to be given away. All details given here.

 http://manorhousecreationsblog.com/2012/01/07/a-flower-giveaway/#comment-1196


Here's another giveaway for some very fun things!

http://ellesstudio.blogspot.com/2012/01/project-life-and-giveaway_10.html

Hmm what shall we give away

I had a few items pulled for a grand giveaway this month but then I stopped and thought. Lets as you all what you would like to seen given away this month.

So lets here it!!! I don't know if you don't tell me. Then you get something I pick which would be just as grand but not what you wanted.. hee hee What would you like to see as the giveaway this month. Papers, glue, clip it up items,  embellishments, alter ables, Prima, Tim Holtz, Maya Road, a hodge podge of fun items, canvas words, mini albums, vintage items, ribbons and lace, resins and metals?? Let it out let me hear what you'd love to see either product types or brands. Either work!

A Year in Review Album

So, I began playing with this album, using a wide variety of mediums. There's masking tape, tissue tape, book pages, water color crayons, pan pastels, inks, stains, stamps, etc.

I began this with no idea what so ever of what I was going to use it for. I just knew I fell in love with it. I ran across a blog the other day where this gal (kicking myself for not saving the link), had created a year to remember album. I thought it was a nifty enough idea. I decided that's what the album will be, there's enough pages in it to do 12 monthly pages and then a few extras for maybe some 2 page spreads. I don't know yet if it will have pictures or just stories and information. But, I know it'll be perfect for a year in review. I have a few things to add to the cover to finish up the cover now that I know its purpose, but couldn't wait to share the progress thus far. I've also added a few other pieces that I'll showcase once I get the cover done. I haven't decided if each month I should finish a page to it or do them all at once and then just add to it as I go. What do you think? Don't you love the texture!! Love masking tape.