The Free Little Art Gallery is now open!

 Now that the weather has improved, I've opened the Free Little Art Gallery.  Here are two pictures of the just-opened gallery.  

Day 1, #MixedMediaMarch25, Ode to Pepperell

 This is the first of 31 pages for a challenge to create something each day during March, 2025.  The rules are pretty simple: use some element of gel press printing and identify each day with a number corresponding to the day of the month when it was created.  I have decided to create a concertina-style journal of photographs focusing on Pepperell, MA, where I lived for more than 35 years.  Here is a still of my first page.  There are several flip-up pages, each with a photograph, for a total of five photos on the page.     A video of this first page is available on You Tube.  

Busy, Busy Week!

This last week has been a really busy one.  I've uploaded a number of videos (links below) and completed several new journals.  

The first is Pillbox 4 - Summer Fades to Autumn

another, PicketPocket 4 - A Bird in Hand:  

and another, PicketPocket 1 - Migration:

and threw in an old one, too, Junk Journal 1:

:  

Another Challenge

Today, another challenge.  This one sprung from the 7-layer challenge ongoing on one of my groups.  We were to make a 3 envelope folder using at least 7 of the following items:  Glitter glue, stamping, decorative scissors, oxide inks, eye shadow, texture paste, label maker, paint, washi tape, and white gesso.   Here is my finished piece.   I used everything except the eye shadow (which I don't own), and added a couple of things which weren't called for.  All pages began with an application of oxide ink to distress and age the edges, followed by random stamping on the outer edges and other materials as noted.. There will be a new challenge each week. 

The front cover.  Uses oxide inks, stamping, white gesso, texture paste, label maker.  Tied closed with a hemp cord threaded through an eyelet.

Inside page 1.  oxide ink, stamping, washi tape, decorative scissors, glitter glue.  There is a journaling card inside the pocket.

Inside center page.  Oxide ink, stamping, white gesso, more stamping, glitter glue in myriad colors., washi tape.

Page 3.  Oxide ink, stamping, white gesso, paint, more stamping, glitter glue, book page, and there is a journaling page inside the pocket.

Fist page of back.  Oxide ink, stamping, previously created cluster with many layers.

Center outside page.   Oxide ink, stamping, white gesso, acrylic ink, watercolor ink, owl and leaf motifs.

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:

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.

A third Pocket folder for Journaling

I'm still creating more of the little pocket folders for journaling.  I'm showing three photos of this one.  First, of the closed folder; second, opened to show the internal envelope-style pocket closed; and third, the fully opened folder, with white paper sticking out to show the inside pockets.  The metal plate on the cover says "Remember."

Little Junk Journal of "stuff"

For just about a week, I've been working on a small (4x6) junk journal.  I made this one in the form of an accordian, so there are pages on both the "front" side of the journal and on the reverse.  I've posted the pictures starting with the front cover and flipping the pages open until I reach the back cover, then turn to the back side and flip those pages until I am once again at the front cover.  

Front Cover

And that brings us back to the front.  It was a fun little journal to create.

Zig Zag and the Journal Pocket

Art-every-day.  I accidentally stumbled onto some instructions for a shabby chic journal pocket and had to try it right away.  The pook pages I used were seemingly much more fragile than those used by the designer, as she had sewn the pages together and tied a bow through a couple of punched holes.  Trying to sew the pages resulted in dust.  The book I used dates from 1883 and crumbles when you look at it.  The title of the book is "Zig Zag Journeys in the Occident" by Hezekiah Butterworth.  It is full of gorgeous illustrations.  I'm showing the front of the pocket I made and also the reverse side (with one of those marvelous illustrations!) here. 

Now, a Steampunk themed pocket folder for Journaling

Art-ever-Day. Inspired by the mosaic tile-look pocket folder, I made one that is very similar (one extra pocket) in a steampunk theme. I decorated a large paperclip that will show decoration on each side.  The first photo is the opened folder, with tabs of white paper showing where the pockets allow fun additions.  The second phot is the closed pocket and one side of the decorated paper clip that holds it closed.  The third photo shows the other side of the paper clip, holding just the one pocket closed.  

Two more Bird Envelope Journal pages and a little booklet

I've completed two more pages in my Bird Envelope journal.  The first of these uses two of the clusters I created last week, using some old photos and miscellaneous paper and lace scraps.  The second page serves as a place to put the little foldable journaling booklet shown in the third photo. 

A folding pocket booklet from very busy paper

I've made a small pocket folder to use in a new journal. I'm showing this one opened, with tabs of white paper showing where the pockets are to be found. The envelope flap tucks into the fan decoration. The pattern of the paper is so busy, I decided against more decoration. Size is about 3 3/4 x 6 1/4.

A Tiny Junk Journal

I made this little journal (3 2/4" x 2 3/4 in) yesterday and finished it today. The scans are taken in order: 1st one is front (Bingo) and back cover; then the inside of the front and page 1; followed by the inside pages; the final one is of the last page and the inside of the back cover. Text is Lorem Ipsum, printed on tea-dyed vellum.

Art Every Day, June 25 2017

Yesterday, I started playing catch-up with my art every day restart.  Today, more images, this time, items 9/365 through 17/365.

Item 9/365: A photograph postcard for one of my Postcrossings mailings.  Postcrossings is a worldwide exchange center of for postcards that is fun for all the participants.   This particular card is of a road going up a canyon just a couple of miles from my home.   This card went to Germany.

Indian Creek Road

Item 10/365:  This is another postcard for Postcrossings, one that went to a young girl in Russia.  She was very interested in fairy tales and I found this unicorn image and made a postcard from it.  Hope she likes it.

Unicorn Card sent to Germany

Item 11/365:  This postcard went to the Netherlands.  Brusho was my choice for the background, this time both painted and sprinkled, then I added gold embossing paste through a stencil.

Art Card sent to the Netherlands

Item 12/365:Watercolor crayon for the 1st layer, then Brusho and finally, acrylic gloss medium.  This postcard went to Australia and I wanted to make sure it was waterproofed for the trip.

Art Card sent to Australia

Item 13/365:  Ths postcard is a collage of many types of hand painted and distressed papers.  It went to Germany.

Art Card sent to Germany

Item 14/365:  I created this postcard using inks for the background, First I added the inks, then while they were still wet, I covered the inks with crumpled up saran wrap and let the card dry.  Then, I added a fern leaf created from translucent embossing paste which I had tinted green.  This card went to someone in the US.

Art Card sent to USA

Item 15/365:Another photograph of a mountain road near our home.  This postcard went to New Zealand.

Road in the Big Belt Mountains

Item 16/365: This card uses a rubber stamp from Wplus9 designs.  The first layer of color in the flowers and leaves is from alcohol markers.  After that I did all the shading with colored pencil (one of my favorite mediums).  This card went to Taiwan.

Postcard sent to Taiwan

Item 17/365:  The last entry for today is a journal page.  I finally discovered my bird feeder and hung it this week, so this page celebrates that milestone.

Bird journal page

Mardi Gras!

Time to celebrate Mardi Gras. 

Although I made this piece back in January, it was meant for today, so I will re-publish it now. 

Let the good times roll!