Guts

I enjoy using this quote and love using the paper dolls from the Tim Holtz's collection.  It's hard to see in this photo but the color wash on the prepared canvas page looks very much like a soft leather.  I really enjoyed making the background for this page.

Set Sail

If you have this stamp set from Character Constructions, you'll want to purchase the die cut for the umbrella - makes creating so easy!  The background is a canvas page in Dina Wakeley's mixed media journal using stains and stencils.

Trust Yourself

The kraft paper in Dina Wakeley's journal at first was hard for me to work with as I am accustomed to working on lighter surfaces.  However, I have found that I am enjoying using the same techniques for other surfaces on this one.... don't know why it was such a struggle.  I now love the kraft tags in my stash and started using those too.

Dreams

Lynne Perrella's rubber stamp image is becoming one of my favorites.  There are so many ways to change her appearance.... gotta love that!

Second Chances

I love this quote....

Perfect Marriage

A great way to start a great New Year is to acknowledge how awesome my husband is.....

Laugh Out Loud

Goodness - this could be me..... or a couple of my friends.  I love the stamp image of "Laugh Out Loud" and what better reason to laugh at oneself then to have shoes not matching, etc., etc.

Double Entendre

I wonder if this is part of a country song....

In any case, I thought it made a great page with the burlap background in Dina Wakeley's mixed media journal.

Finding Perfect Friends

Oprah has said so many truthful statements and below is one of them.  I know we all have had fair weather friends but I have to say that now I truly have friends I can count on.  All the fair weather peeps have moved on and out of my life..... they are probably in someone else's limo!

Finding Yourself

Gosh, I just love this quote.  And what better place is the middle of nowhere but an ocean?!  The surface is a canvas page from Dina Wakeley's mix media journal.  Gesso was part of the preparation before applying a paint wash.  I applied Distress Inks to enhance areas of the page.  I used most of Catherine Moore's stamp images with a few others thrown in the mix.

Blinded by the Light

What began as a very ugly page turned out to be one of my favs.  I tried a new painting technique that will need more practice.  After much frustration, I decided to paint the entire page black and start over.  Then just before the paint dried, I used a stencil and removed the paint with a baby wipe.  It was an aha moment. The circles were made using a white gel pen after the paint was dried. It was the final touch for the background.  Super happy about this page.

Driving Yourself Happy

The background surface is canvas prepped with gesso. I painted a wash,  heat dried, and then stenciled an accent color.  I love how this turned out.  The car is from B-Line Designs along with the people in the car.  The embellishments are from Tim Holtz.  Love how this page turned out!

Alibi Established

The Cheshire cat goes well with the 1920's outfit and sentiment.  I added glasses in solid red.  The background is a paint wash on a canvas page prepared with gesso first.  I also rubber stamped images for the background using Chalk inks.  I am enjoying Dina Wakeley's mixed media journal.

Destination Unknown

I have used ephemera from all sorts of places: the Canadian map from the 60's, the German Scrap was salvaged from an old art project before being tossed, the "Fun" ticket recently purchased at Junk Bonanza in Minneapolis, and a rubber stamp image that was one of my first purchases - 20 years ago!  I am not sure if the 7 Gypsies fabric tape is even available today.

She Conquered Her Demons

Lynne Perrella has some very interesting ladies.  I combined the head with other stamps in my collection to make the paper doll.  The lace for her skirt was given to me from an art friend living in the UK. I will think of her each time I view my page.

Be Amusing

The rubber stamp image is Character Constructions and one that I have had for a very long time.  The head is separate from the body and does not have arms.  It gives a lot of freedom to choose the expressions with the face, arms and legs.  For the longest time, I was wondering what to do with it and now I have used it quite often. 

The background is using Dina Wakeley's paint and stencils in her mixed media journal.  Such fun!

Be a Kid Again Reminder

I love the sassy cat lady and all the possibilities of quotes for her. The image is Dyan Reaveley's line if you are interested.

Be a Mermaid

Catherine Moore has some very cool images to use for a mermaid theme. This page is a canvas page that was prepared with gesso. I used a collection of blue and green dye stains on top of a stencil. I also misted the canvas with water mopping up the extra moisture with a paper towel. I stamped the images on separate paper, cut out and then adhered to the journal page. I loved how this paged turned out!

Keep Room in your Heart

Random texture was made on the page before inking by pressing gesso through burlap and then I allowed to dry before proceeding. There are very tiny raised bumps on the page which resisted the inks. Using brown tone Distress Inks on canvas created a look of leather which I love making. I think Lynne Perrella's image goes so well with the quote I chose. This was made in my new Dina Wakley journal.

Crow's Feet

This is a page that I completed in Dina Wakley's new mixed media journal. Some of the difference surfaces are a challenge for me but I enjoying the process immensely. I'll be posting more as I finish pages. This page is burlap and I made a tag for the backside to give the page support.