Now What's in my journal?

The first artful visual journal of 2011 is complete. I bid it a fond farewell in this video and also post my update for the Art Journal Every Day group on Julie Balzer's blog.

I had to make three version of this video because the first two were really too long to be considered a quick peek inside. I'm going to use some things from the longer one on my web site so it is also posted to You Tube. You can scan the bar at the bottom of the blog post to check out the long version. My advice--skip the long one and go journal--grin.

Art Journal Every Day with Julie Balzer

The spoils of being quarantined



My first Easter card of the season.



Hand print cherish card--the flower is copper mesh.

My favorite neighbor girls say I had the grown-up chicken pox--the doctor said it was shingles. Whatever it was, it was quite itchy and painful and contagious. Being locked away for a couple weeks is strange enough but with the symptoms and my decision not to take any pain killers beyond naprosin I had more the usual inability to concentrate for any length of time.

Once again, I found solace in the studio. Creating was the best medicine. I did small projects that matched my ability to focus but now I have some fun cards finished and I'm ready to go back to the delightful routine of my life.

I'm preparing some new pages and articles for the web site and online magazines but in the meantime I am posting two of my latest cards here. My first Easter card on the left was created with a new bunny die from Sizzex that I found on sale for less than $4.00. As always, I use the Spellbinder's Wizard machine to cut the die. You can click the photos to enlarge.

The card on the right features on of my favorite hand stamps (yes, I own 5 different hand stamps-smile). I colored the stamp with watercolor markers and  spritzed with water before stamping on the paper. The flower was cut with the Tim Holtz tattered flower die. I used dictionary paper for the small blossom and cool copper wire mesh for the bottom layer.

I'm planning on posting regularly scheduled visual journaling tips on the Artful Tourist Facebook page over the month of April and beyond if the responses work out. Be sure and join us there and participate in the fun.

Enjoy the moments.

Taking a bite out of this blooming pain





Leave it to an abscess tooth to sideline me for a few days...The art really helps keep my mind off the pain and the feeling that I'm "wasting" time. Since I'm fighting an infection with antibiotics and some medicine for the pain--my clarity levels tend to fade in and out.

I've been trying to work and take care of family things, but the term completion is not one that comes to mind when reviewing my progress.  Every step seems to take hours. My journal pages are distorted and without charm--but the bottom line is that they keep flowing and I keep healing.

Instead of posting my current productivity (using the term loosely) I'm putting up links to my last fascination--Paper Flowers.

Here's the recent article published on Helium: http://www.helium.com/items/2106295-paper-roses-scrapbook-flowers-paper-flowers-tutorial-how-to-paper-flowers-paper-mums

See the web page tutorial here: http://www.nachattin.com/articleflowerbinge.html




 



First attempts just from scallops.

 


Original supplies--scalloped circles cut from dictionary pages.
The lolipop is for motivaiton. -grin



Norma Anne's Studio Tour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn1lb2kE088
The fabulous Lynn Barwald of Lucky Charm Crafts editied my studio video --here's the latest version.


If you have a strong stomach you can visit the fine mess before this transformation.


The web site has the scrapbook pages of the orginal studio  before it overwhelmed me.


I trust that I will have evertything I need when I need it.

Style Options



Trying out a different style in my art journal. NAChattin.com


There's always another way to do things. I was fascinated by Julie Balzer's post on January 28th. She outlined a week's worth of art journal activities which was fun--but first she discussed the different types of journal styles:


"1.painty - love to splash paint and mist around and can't get enough gesso



 2.wordy - less of an art-er and more of a journaler and storyteller3.collage-ish - love patterned paper,     imagazine pages, and decoupage medium


 4.scrapbook-ish - used to using photos when you tell your stories


 5.doodler - can't stay away from the pens and markers "

She pegged me, I'm the wordy one. As shown in previous videos, I like to journal in books that I am "renewing" into journals. I layer on colors and magazine images, papers, stickers, and then layer on the words, words, and more words. Here are a couple typical examples:

My pages are prepped in advance. As I start to journal each day I will add embellishments and then begin to write and write and write. I've been writing in a journal since 1973. There has only been one real constant since I started--words. It works.

After reading Balazer's post I decided to challenge myself to each style of journal. This two page spread (at top) works the painty and possibly the scrapbook-ish styles. On the left I did a torn paper piecing technique that I employ on scrapbooks and cards. On the  right is a magazine advertisement for lingerie. I used gesso over the model and the painted in a new figure.

I really had fun trying new styles although it took me longer than my usual 30 minutes per day. Now I'm off to try the doodler technique.

Facebook Greetings-New on the web site-Take a peek at my journal

It hasn't been THAT long since my last blog post, but I've got lots of new ideas and links to share.



Facebook birthday greeting


***The Artful Tourist Facebook page now offers photo greetings you can use for your friends on Facebook.
Check out the photo album called Birthday Greetings to share on Facebook--there's lots of designs. Just tag a friend in the photo for it to show up on their profile. You can also right click to download the photo to your computer and then insert it into a page post.

****New on the Artful Tourist Web Site

Renew This Book Part One Tutorial and Video--http://www.nachattin.com/articlerenewthisbookcanvas.html

Renew This Book Part Two Tutorial and Video http://www.nachattin.com/articlerenewthisbookcutcolorspace.html

Flash Cards! New video and tutorial featuring double sided paper

Gallery--A collection of Florida inspired greetings http://www.nachattin.com/galleryflcards.html

Gallery--Recycled mail art http://www.nachattin.com/galleryrecycle.html

Article--Inspiration from Miss Betty--See how getting a beautiful card from my friend inspired me to create several more http://www.nachattin.com/article2scorefront.html

At left the cool thank you card Miss Betty sent me in December. She's always so on top of every card occassion...

Below is one of the cards she inspired from my studio. This birdie one is also featured in my latest Flash Cards! Video featuring double-sided papers from Rouge de Garance.

*** Are you curious about what's in my journal? I created a video to keep up with the wonderful group on Julie Balzar's blog. We're committed to "Art Journal Every Day."

The journal as a lily pad

I've been rocking steady on my latest "Renew this book" visual journal for two weeks now. This is such a refreshing and motivating experience for me. I've been so caught up in the writing, the collaging, the journaling, and the creative byproducts that in the short time since my last post I could write about six updates.

One of my favorite comments from a friend was, "The journal stuff is grand, but I still want to see your cards, photo art, and gift ideas."

This week I made a goofy journal post about reindeer. I purchased the cool Fiskars reindeer punch at an after Christmas sale and wanted to stay true to my commitment to use new items within ten days of purchase. I played with the punch and made a couple thank you notes for holiday gifts. Using the punched out reindeer as a stencil I played with it again on a journal page.

From that journal post I did a leap frog from my journal lily pad to creating a Valentine card. I've always loved the the corny phrases used on many Valentines and the deer pun was too good to resist.

Moving right along....

I've signed up at Julie Balazar's blog for her Art Journal Every Day challenge. I've been taking pictures of posts and will show some on my web site and here.

A new article about  journaling was posted at Helium last week:
How Writers and Artists can use a Journal to Develop Creativity

Planning a wedding any time soon? There's also a recently published article called How to incorporate tree branches into your wedding decor

The newest video series "Renew This Book" is in process now. The first video is up on You Tube--the subject is selecting your base book. There will be written instructions for each video posted on my web site.