Create with a song...

It's been awhile since I have worked on my "Songs in My Heart" art journal.  There are lots of songs in my heart, but not a lot of 

time in my life.  But, I made some time for this song creation so that I could share this one with you as my last post on the Linnie Blooms Design Team.  I want to thank Linda Barutha for giving me the chance to play with her canvas shapes and for giving me inspiration to jump into mixed media art.

The song is "Ribbon in the Sky" (by Stevie Wonder) and it is one that right away popped into my head when I first got the idea for this song art journal.  Ribbons in a sky...

My first step was to use some water-downed inks to water color with a checkerboard stencil for the sky.  I added in some free-hand clouds using white gesso.

Next I added my rainbow ribbons that don't end in a pot of gold, but rather a shiny heart with rays shooting out.  Are you wondering what those rays are?  They are upside down birdies---Linnie Blooms shapes are so versatile!  I colored these shapes with more inks as watercolors and added some Stickles to the heart.

"This is  not a coincidence 

and far more than a lucky chance

but what it is

that was always meant

is a ribbon in the sky for our love

from now on it will be you and I

and our ribbon in the sky"

I sure had a blast playing with my Linnie Blooms shapes and I am certainly going to keep playing.  Here is just a little peak at all the FUN!

 ~Kelly

Be secretive...

Let's play
"what's in my Linnie Blooms canvas flourish pocket"...
You can't probably guess from this first picture, but maybe this next one will give you a hint.

Did you guess secret journaling? Ding-Ding-Ding...you are right!

Earlier this month, on my blog, I discussed my new adventure into an art journal...you can check it out here. I have never done anything like this before, and I must admit, it is quite addicting (like I need another crafty addiction!).

The Linnie Blooms "mixed stitch canvas book" is what drew me in. I saw one in the "real" Linnie Blooms store when I was there this summer and I knew it was something I wanted to try. You can see it on the online store here.

So, I am creating an art journal inspired by songs I love. This page happens to be a "church song", but believe, me I will be covering all sorts of music by the time this book is done. This song, "You are Mine" has a very special place in my heart because it came to me during a very difficult time. The story is one that I don't want to share with everyone, so this Linnie Blooms canvas flourish pocket is a perfect "secret keeper".

To create the pages, I covered them sloppily, or should I say "creatively" in white and then metallic gold acrylic paint. I added some gold glitter gel, a pearl embellishment, some doilies die cuts (Sizzix decorative doily), lace, patterned paper, and fabric scraps. I attached and covered all of these additions with Mod Podge.

 

 

For the pocket, I used a stencil from Crafter's Workshop, and then spritzed my own mixture of gold metallic acrylic paint, Create a Shade Pearl Paint from Close to My Heart, and water to get the design. The color is subtle, but still has enough contrast to really stand out. I used Fireline, (which is really thin beading wire), to string on a few seed beads (clear, silver, and irridescent white) to embellish and create a border around the pocket. The pocket is attached to the journaling page with a delicate pearl pin from Maya Road.

So, what are you going to put in your secret pocket?

~Kelly

www.kellystarsallthingscrafty.blogspot.com

**Remember...just for my beloved followers, I have a SUPER discount code for you. If you want to place an order at Linnie Blooms online store, you can shop here... http://lindabarutha.com/shop/. Use the code LB2013KS and you will get 10% off your order. Enjoy!

Be daring...

This whole "mixed media" art is still very new to me. Sometimes it is difficult for me to move out of my comfort zone. What am I? A scrapbooker? A paper artist? An artist? I feel like I'm neglecting my scrapbooking if I start dabbling in other media. I feel like I'm "cheating" on my scrapbooks if I play with something else.

I really, really need to get over it...

it's not like my supplies have feelings!

When I have been at the Linnie Blooms store, I have drooled over Linda's "mixed stitch journals". So I finally bought one. And, I dove in. When I should have been paying attention in church the other day, God had another plan for me. He led me to find a theme for my journal. This is just the cover, but slowly it will develop into a big fat work of art highlighting some of my favorite songs and lyrics. Now, I wasn't really zoning out in church, because it was one of my favorite church songs that led me to this project. I think it will be the next page, so I'm not going to go into a full reveal just yet.

For now, you get the cover... "songs in my heart". I inked the cover with Distress Inks and Stains and water, using some stencils in spots. I used paint markers to make a frame around the edge of alternating black and white rectangles--sometimes I think every piece of art should have a black and white checked frame. I will try to resist from including it on every page of this journal, but I won't make any promises. I stamped a sheet music background stamp with Stazon ink and random stamped in every direction. The canvas hearts are also from Linnie Blooms...the pink one is colored with Copic markers and the smaller one is covered in washi tape. I placed and replaced 100 different ribbon and lace scraps before settling on the ones pictured...I was so PICKY! Lastly, I added the title. I cut the words with my Silhouette Cameo (LOVE it) and hand wrote "in my" with Stickles.

Oh, and I mentioned "stencils"...that's because the Scrap It Girl November challenge is STENCILS...check it out HERE and join in the fun this month.

This journal is just the beginning of a new journey. I need to focus on what makes me happy and not worry about my supplies "feelings". I do this for me. It's what I need right now. There are no mistakes. Just possibilities.

~Kelly

**Just for my beloved followers, I have a SUPER discount code for you. If you want to place an order at Linnie Blooms online store, you can shop here... http://lindabarutha.com/shop/. Use the code LB2013KS and you will get 10% off your order. Enjoy!

Whatever is colorful...

 

Doodling has been upgraded to "Zentangling". So, I decided to take a plain journal (actually, I used a composition notebook---found for 25 cents in the Back to School clearance) and give it a makeover. On simple, white cardstock, I drew a letter/monogram in the center and squiggles out from it.

 

 

 

Let the zentangle patterns begin! I filled in each of the spaces with a different pattern. I recommend using a combination of bolder and simpler patterns so sections can still be distinguished from each other. Also, if you are going to have a central shape (like the "K" on my cover), it helps to give it a unique pattern so it will stand out from the others. As you can see, I didn't use circles/dots anywhere else except on the "K". Now, you could stop right here and glue this onto the cover of the plain journal. Along with a set of markers, this would be a great gift. The recipient can start coloring rght away!

 

 

But, I couldn't stop my self from coloring it all in! Using 2 different shades of the same color is all you need to add some dimension with shading. I glued my design onto the cover of the journal and then added tiny ripped strips of washi tape all around the edge. It finishes off the project and provides another level of adhesion. This would be a great gift for anyone. How about leaving it in the car as a place to zentangle while waiting in the carpool lane?

 

 

Now, head on over to Chicagoland Scrapbooker. 

This is just one of many journal ideas from the Design Team that you can see as Betsy starts her "Make It Mondays".  Great ideas that you can get done before the holidays are here!

 

 

~Kelly