Circles, hearts, and flowers, OH MY!

It was quite a week, and I still can't believe I made it through.  You ever have one of those weeks where you don't ever think you'll get it all done and make it through?  That was my week.  STRESSED OUT.  But I did and it's Monday!  I've never been so happy for Monday.  

Okay, so lots more to share from my Book of Days (the whole week!), and a couple from my art journal.  So let's get to it!

Monday Feb. 20, 2012 | Collage love with fodder from Tangie Baxter, Anne Taintor, and a paper pad from 7-Gypsies (I think).

Tuesday-Friday Feb. 21-24th | Was a little distracted toward the beginning of the week so there are extra dates on there.  LOL!  Flower foam stamp from Donna Downey and rub-ons by Basic Grey.

Saturday & Sunday Feb. 25-26 | Experimenting is always a good idea, but it doesn't always turn out too good.  I bought some dry wall tape at the dollar store and layered it on this page.  Cool texture, but not so good for adding doodles and journaling.  Live and learn.

My art journal!!!  I have to say I am loving my new bigger book.  I might even go bigger on the next one.  Oooohh....   So first off, I decorated my cover!  Woot!  I really loved the pink, as you might recall, so I decided to try and keep that tone coming through.  I used some of my new quinocrydine violet (gorgeous!) fluid acrylic to get the grid mask on there, used gesso for the doily mask, had to use my Cherry Red ink for the drippage and circles, and then I finished it off with some yellow oxide to warm it up a little.  Simple, but pretty!

Okay, so I went into this page wanting to use some of my digital art supplies.  I printed off a bunch of different papers and elements to play around with, on 4x6 sheets of matte photo paper.  I built up my background with some green and purple, touches of red, and some yellow highlights using my canvas mask, a letter stencil and my fingers.  I then added my photo, rhino, and quote. 

The quote is from Tangie's Parcel #07 and the rhino is from her Up, Up & Away Freebie.  The photo is from Deviant Art.  I went back in with some punchenella dots to frame up the photo (with gesso) and accent the page.  More red to emphasize important elements and then some orange ink, because I lurve me some circles!  Final touches were with my black ink (splatter), black pen, gelly rollers, and some Sharpies.  I used the Mark It! Sharpies to color the black and white photo with (they're more transparent than the regular sharpies).  I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.  Not my usual color combo, but I just go with the flow usually.

This last page was so much fun!  It was all about just sitting down and playing.  This was a more than two hour piece and I honestly can't remember what all the layers were, but I can tell you most of it.  I think I started with a round canvas as a mask with yellow spray paint.  I then used some of my new colors, a green blue and the orangish brown.  Had to add drippage, so I did it side ways because the book is already becoming bulky.  Punchenella accents with green paint, and a heart doily with spray paint (I think it might have been with some glimmer mist), and then I used my finger to paint on accents with the orange brown paint.  

I used a rubber stamp to add more texture and depth to the back ground, then my orange ink for the circles.  I pulled out some old acrylic stamps (no clue who they're by) and stamped on the swirlies.  I added some old K & Co. rub-ons, and then added a bird stamp.  I went in with my black pen and doodled around.  

Then I went to bed.  I loved it so much, I didn't want to add anything else.  LOL!  But, I decided to use my label maker to get the sentiment of how much I love this across. But I did scan a before image so I have the background in my computer.  :) 

All in all, I think I had a pretty successful week of creating.  Here's to more success!  I'm gong to force myself to work with canvases this week.  Wish me luck!