Tropical Journal

One of the crafting groups I participate in has a weekly challenge.  This week, it was to create a journal in a tropical theme using three envelopes.  I made a poor start as I first selected envelopes that were too flimsy; a second try had better results.  Here is mine, finished this morning:

From the outside, tied with a ribbon.

1st inside pocket.

2ns inside pocket

3rd inside pocket

1st outside page

2nd outside page

3rd outside page

Inserted journal cards. The one at center bottom looks like a mountain, but it photographed much darker than the sandy color of watercolors on deli paper that I had created; the slope  is intended to be under the sea.  The journal card itself was a gift from a fellow junk journal maker.   The pelican is hand painted.

1 Dozen Cards using Monoprint Backgrounds

I've been playing with making monoprints for the last week or so and have produced quite a few pages.  My plate is not as large as a full sheet of paper, but about 1 inch smaller on all sides.  I've like the prints and decided to make a stack of greeting cards (which I go through *remarkably* fast).  Here are the first dozen of them.  Two of the cards are from printed paper, no monoprints, and are so marked.  The scanner has slightly cut off some of the edges.

Printed paper for background.

Printed paper for background.

Two little journal pockets

I was inspired by Tina at Shabbydabbydoodah, to make some of these pockets.  They are really easy, despite the fact that you need to turn them this way and that a bit before you get the design right.   I have not been neglecting my index card challenge, either, but have only done one side of a bunch of them; now to do the other side before I can show them in pairs here.  For the moment; the pockets.  The plain bits of white paper sticking out show where the actual pockets are found.

This one has bits of hand-painted lace.

This one includes an old postage stamp from a stamp collection.

4 more pages for the Bird envelope journal

I've done four more pages for the bird envelope journal.  The first of these is a cluster of blue jays on a blue background with lace.  The second, a cluster featuring flowers and cheesecloth with two tiny envelopes (each has a bit of journaling paper tucked inside).  The third is a pocket envelope (with a photo insert) made from an old book published in 1890 and in really crumbly condition.  The back features a photo plate from a different book (published in 1883) that is just gorgeous.  So gorgeous, in fact, that I wasn't about to paste it down, but instead attached it with a bit of washi tape and put some additional item behind it (see the fourth photo).  All in all, I'm satisfied with today's work. 

Rosy Clusters

Yesterday, I found that I needed a few more journal clusters, so I got to work and made 11 of them.  ( are essentially the same, using the same components, but two are decidedly different.  I will be giving away a few of these to journaling friends.  Here is the lot:

Paper Flowers

I seldom make just one of any sort of ephemera for my junk journal. It is easier to make a few than to drag out all the "ingredients" and then put everything away again. So, today I needed a paper flower for something. I ended up making 12, and only using three. Here are the other 9. Yes, they are mostly in the same colorway, but that is what I had out.

Another batch of "clusters"

I've made eight new clusters for junk journaling.  Each of these has numerous layers of paper and ink:  shopping bag kraft paper, cheesecloth, decorative paper, dictionary page, old map, auto painting masking paper, vintage book page with adhered napkin image, word. 

Word:  Fearless

Words:  Until Forever

Word: Courageous

Words:  Things we do

S

Words:  Simply Me

Words:  Hello Today

Word:  Noteworthy

Word:  Obsessed

When Did I start Art-Every-Day?

Lately, I've been trying to remember when I started doing art every day as a usual practice.  I realized that I  probably stuck here in the blog all those years ago, so I went looking and found a challenge I issued to my readers to join me in art-ever-day for a month.  Some did, but didn't continue long past that first month.  Others hung in there longer.  I am still going strong many, many years later.  I've pretty much kept to every day, except for a few days when I was moving or too ill/broken to work on it.  I've kept it up through a heart attack and heart surgery, broken bones, and most recently, cancer/surgery/treatments.  I am thinking I may be slightly obsessive about it, but it is relaxing and in some ways therapeutic. 

Would any of you be interested in trying again?  It can be any art or craft that you enjoy.  Do a bit every day -- and document it.  Document it on your own blog, on Facebook, Twitter, whatever social media you prefer.   Fiber, paper, cooking, photos -- all count. 

More Cards

I've found a little time to create a dozen more greeting cards, two sets of 6 each. 

Swap goodies!

In the last two days, I've received swap packages from members of my journaling group.  I set to work and immediately incorporated them into my bird envelope journal.  Here are some photos.

Index 365 Cards 22-27

Here are the latest card for my Index 365 challenge.  I'm posting cards 22 through 27.  Obviously, more to follow as I complete them.  I'm nearly ready to create the first bound booklet of them. 

22-23

24-25

26-27

Welcome, Little Bat!

A week or so ago, we discovered that we had a little brown bat sheltering in our deck umbrella when we opened it to have a meal outside. He scrambled away and clung to the side of our venerable box elder tree for the rest of the day. That night, he went about his usual mosquito and insect feasting. The next day, we discovered him in our side door porch light, not a good place for him if we turned on the light and burned him. So we bought a bat house and hung it on the side wall of the house a few feet from the light. We don't use that side of the house often, and only a couple of times over the last 4 years after dark. Last night, at least 2 bats sheltered there (the cam recorded them). We are delighted! Neither of us is afraid of bats, and we both hate mosquitos, so it is a win-win for all of us. Here's a photo of our little bat house on the wall.

A Random Act of Kindness led to TWO more journal pages

Yesterday, I received a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) gift from a fellow member of my journaling group.  I was so inspired by the beauty of her work when I opened her package this morning that I immediately knew it had to be incorporated into my bird envelope journal.  Here, first, is a photo of the RAK package contents, followed by two pages I created using those embellishments. 

The RAK package