embracing dreams

Dear friends,

I started my 4th journal a few days ago. On those long days waiting on my laptop getting fixed, I completed 2 or 3 journal spreads a day. Can't thank my muse enough. Now though, I'm trying really hard to keep up blogging all about them :). I also re-read Pride & Prejudice and a few of the sequels/recent interpretations by Austen's fans. Life's a breeze. I also slept better :). Ok, enough rambling. 

I have always used my handmade art journals. It is a lot funner that way. I gave myself a treat (for being such a good girl filling those journals up). I started to use Donna Downey's journal!. She's one of my greatest idol, so filling up this new journal would be such a thrill.

Here is the first page I made;

Background colors were combination of metallic red acrylic paint, green pan pastel and some red glimmer mist over punchinella. Did you see paper doily & newsprint tissue paper in the background?.

I stamped an elaborate flourish pattern with black gesso and glued a gold sticker around the Mona Lisa image. I should have used brown & black colors to make a rather Renaissance-ish page but I like the red better :).

Lastly, I added pieces of torn linen, a canvas butterfly and artsy words to finish the page off.

Stay awhile if you like, I've got another spread to share!. Hugs. 

got talent?

Finally, I had the chance to play with Donna Downey's pan pastel at Scrappingville's mixed-media art jam last week!. The colors are brilliant and what a nice surprise to find that they are not as dusty as I thought they would be. 

I adhered some crumpled tissue papers and clear reinforcement rings in the background. Then, generously applied pan pastel (red & blue) with a wet sponge all over the page.

Dabbed black acrylic paint over stencil and drew circles in black india ink. Wrinkles from the crumpled tissue papers. LOL. Smudged a bit of gesso on reinforcement rings to allow them taking some paint. I did a very simple beading. Just attached some beads to safety pins!. A little stitching on paper scraps. [I'm inspired by Dawn's work in this post].

I like my journal to be chunky. If the pages rattle, or ring or overflowed with fibers, ribbons and charms, that's even better!. So that is all. The last entry for my 3rd journal :).

See you next. 

staple goodness & paper doily

Hello friends,

By now I think you already knew that I LOVE LOVE LOVE texture. Always have some kind of texture, even on the simplest art journal page. Constantly thinking on how to 'roughen up' my background, so to speak :). 

On a good day, I would play with molding paste (which need extra drying time) but on lazy days, a simple trick would suffice. Here, I used paper doily and staples for my background.

Cut a paper doily into half and glued it on the blank page. AND randomly stapled the edges on opposite page. Just went crazy with it. Then, gave a white wash with watered-down gesso (all over) so that they'd become a textured white background.

Do you see the texture from the paper doily?. Just add thicker paint to enhance certain patterns.

I stapled the opposite page's corner. Called this staple goodness. Can't stop running my fingers over them :). Once dry, sprayed some Dyan Revley's dylusion inks over stencils, finger painting with acrylic and more doodling, of course. Added some manila tags & red burlap for more texture.

That staple texture made my day!. Let me know if you too have quick tricks to share, maybe I could play along?. 
Hugs. 

baby wipes circles

Hi there. 

More baby wipes creations!. Endless ways to use them, it seems. Here, I cut them into circles for my art journal collage. 

I used soft pastel for the background with limited colors as the baby wipes were already too colorful. Spritzed with some water to blend the pastel colors. After that dried, glued on some used-baby wipes in clusters. 

I also added pieces of torn linens and fussy-cut butterflies for additional layers and texture.Lastly, simply scribbled random notes around the circles with black & maroon sharpies, a black pen and a correction pen.

If you are good at sewing (which I'm not), you could make yourselves a nice patchwork out of used-baby wipes. Turn the cloth into journal covers, a tote or table runners for your craft room :). Or a simple corsage for scrapbook layouts and mini albums. Not to mention, button badges!. 

Have fun creating.

art from used baby wipes

Sweet friends,

I feel bad for being quiet of late. I had a wee bit of laptop issues in the past week, hence less blog posts. But, I'm back!! ... I hope I would be able to share some recent art journal pages created when I was away. 

Here's one of it;

I have a few used-baby wipes (beautiful enough to keep) in my keeping and I think they are perfect for collage, journal pages and cards. 

In these pages, I used pink ZIG markers for sketching the plants and some water-soluble crayons for the background colors. I glued on used-baby wipes, fabric stickers, lace and washi tape. Randomly stamped the pages with some white gesso to tone down the bright colors a bit. Stamping with white gesso gives additional texture that I really love. I'm making a habit of keeping used-baby wipes these days. Waste not, they make great collage!.

I'm linking this post to Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's Art Journal Everyday.

Oh it's so GOOD to be back and sharing. See you soon!. 

Hugs,

Shahrul

LESSology Challenge #17 : Fun With Envelope

Hi there, Happy Thursday. 
I like to share an upcycle project that I made for LESSology Challenge #17: Fun With Envelope. I have earlier playing with a few 'potential' envelope projects but this one has got to be my favorite!. It's trendy enough NOT to be called an organizer. LOL. Well, it is a bit of a sorter, where I could keep receipts, postcards, some loose photos or even business cards in the build-in accordion folders, made out of envelopes.

Front view. Love the 'boho' look of the black-on-black pattern here.

It's a hoot creating this purse. I've got to play with a scallop punch, stamping the foam covers with black gesso, hand-stitched all four corners with black thread, a bit of making beads tassels and using a crochet doily!. Bliss.

Humble materials used in the project. [I changed my mind. Didn't use the evil eye in the end, it's for another project :)]

I created an accordion sorter inside the purse. You could hide the envelopes from showing on the sides with scrap fabrics or strips of pattern paper. I like mine bare, just like so. I scallop-punched pattern papers for easy labeling. You could also use decorative paper clips, wooden pegs or small tags as labels. Love the texture from stamping with black gesso on the foam covers. (Donna Downey said it best, "when in doubt, gesso!". LOL. So cute). I guessed, you could also use Stazon for stamping . And lastly, added beads tassels for additional interest. I used jewelry making tools to assemble the beads & the findings. 

I hope you'll be full to the brim with ideas and ready to play with us @ LESSology!. Have fun upcycling!

Hugs,

Shahrul

LESSology Challenge #17: Fun With Envelope (Sneak Peek)

Hi all,

LESSology  Challenge #17 starts today, yippee!!. It's a hoot to play with envelopes this month.





We are overjoyed to have Gauche Alchemy sponsoring us this month. Woohoo!. [I literally drooling over their washi tapes collection!. LOL.]


Gauche Alchemy is for those that create outside of the box,those that create inside of the box and those that tear the box a new one ...


Are you EXCITED yet?!?. 
Read the details about our sponsor at LESSology Challenge #17 and join in the fun plus having a chance at winning $15 gift certificate to their store!.


And even more exciting!!!!. Gauche Alchemy has given LESSology followers and AWESOME coupon code to use during the month of August. LESSology readers are entitled for 10% off, valid from Aug 8th through Aug 31st. (Good on everything but ACME kit subscription).


Code : lessology2012


And here is a sneak of my envelope project;

So many fun possibilities to recycle/upcycle envelopes. Come back here Thursday, to find out what I made for this month's challenge :). Until then, keep the ideas rolling :).


Hugs,
Shahrul