Brush*Abilities Class Lesson 1

I've started taking a new class at JessicaSprague.com called Brush*Abilities. Love love love her classes. I have learned so much in the classes I have already taken and can't wait to learn new things about the brush tool in this class. Here's my completed project for lesson #1. It's a 6x6 card where I learned to add a stroke to a brush and learned about jitter and scattering. I think it turned out pretty cute!

 

 

Messy Little Details {Lady Figurines}

I have recently been led to this awesome blog called

Mess Muddle and Fun

Carolyn has started a wonderful blog project called Messy Little Details. This is what she shares on her blog:

 

"Each week I will share one of these photos, something that caught my eye and I had to photograph. A simple thing. A detail. A colour. A texture. The post will be short, a photo and a few sentences at most, it is the photo and the reason I had to take it that I want to share. I will try and make them recent photos, but the odd older one may slip in from time to time.

I also want to invite you to join me in sharing photos of those odd little things you just have to photograph, things that inspire you, thrill you, make you laugh or make you wonder.  I will include a linky list each week as I'd love to visit your blog. Choose a photo like I've described, blog it, add your link and visit others who have done the same, simple. Don't worry about when the photo was taken, recent is great but sometimes it is also good to review photos we took long ago and discover hidden gems."

My messy little details photo today is a photo of two of my most prized possessions. These lady figurines are so special to me. The one of the lady holding the baby was given to me by my Mom the Christmas right after Amber was born. The lady with the toddler was given to me by her the Christmas right after Emily was born. These hold so much meaning for me representing the birth of my two daughters, and they are extra special because they were gifts from my Mom. 

Just Be Yourself Art Journal Challnege {what were you created to do?}

This week's prompt for the art journal challenge at Just Be Yourself was to create a page based upon the one thing you feel you were created to do. Here's my completed page.

 

 

Feel free to join in the challenge at the Just Be Yourself Ning group. All you have to do is join Ning then join the art journals and art journaling group and then create a page based upon this week's prompt. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!

 

 

 

Design Team Layout - Messy Fiesta Gesso

Here's another layout created with the wonderful printable art journal papers from Praierie Papier Cottage from the Just Be Yourself Etsy Store. You can check out Anita's collections HERE.

 

For this layout I chose to use a background paper from the Messy Fiesta Gesso Distressed Printable Art Journal Papers (Paper #05). I added a background splash element and a tag. Then added other elements including some circles, some wordart, stitches, and an overlay. Love how easy these background pages are to work with. Such a wonderful start to any page.

 

 

Here is the preview for the paper pack I chose to use for this layout - Messy Fiesta Gesso Distressed Printable Art Journal Papers

 

Be sure to check out Anita's Shop Just Be Yourself on Etsy.

 



 

And also check out Anita's Blog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missing my Dad so desperately...

JessicaSprague.com May 2013 Art Journal Challenge {Heart}

 Are you ready for this month's challenge? It is all about HEART!!!

What does the word HEART mean to you?

How do you show your HEART to people?

What fills your HEART with joy?

Do you wear your HEART on your sleeve?

What makes your HEART smile?

 

Here's my completed page:

 

 

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects {Course Complete}

I have to say I really loved taking the Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects class at JessicaSprague.com. I really truly have loved every single one of her classes. Here are all my finished photos for this class:

 

Lesson 1 : PNG Frames and Word Art

 

Lesson 2 : Brushes

 

Lesson 3 : Create a Vintage, Hand-Tinted Look

 

Lesson 4 :  Clipping Masks

 

Lesson 5 : Textures

Lesson 6 : TTV & Mega-Challenge

Lesson 8 : Type

Lesson 9 : Edge Burn

Lesson 10 : Project Start-to-Finish

 

Lesson 11 : Selective/Spot Recoloring

Lesson 12 : Storyboard

Lesson 13 : Collage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects {Lesson 13 - Collage}

Lesson 13 had us creating a collage using 9 photos. It also had us adding some brush work to the collage. Here's my project:

 

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects {Lesson 12 Storyboards}

Lesson 12 in this class was to create a storyboard with three photos and add some text. Here's my finished photo:

 

 

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects {Lesson 11 - Selective/Spot Recoloring}

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects {Lesson 10 - Project : Start to Finish}

Lesson 10 is designed to take all the things we have learned so far in this class and put them all together. We were to create a clipping mask, use 2 textures, use a type overlay, fonts & edge burning. Here's my completed photo:

 

Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects Class {Lesson 9 - Edge Burning}

Lesson 9 for the Photo Editing : Frame Ups & Special Effects Class at JessicaSprague.com is all about the technique of edge burning. Here's the photo I did for this lesson:

 

A couple of quickpages ...

A couple of quickpages by Angie Young Designs - am really loving using her products right now!

 

A couple of layouts ....

Messy Little Details {Tin Star}

I have recently been led to this awesome blog called

Mess Muddle and Fun

Carolyn has started a wonderful blog project called Messy Little Details. This is what she shares on her blog:

 

"Each week I will share one of these photos, something that caught my eye and I had to photograph. A simple thing. A detail. A colour. A texture. The post will be short, a photo and a few sentences at most, it is the photo and the reason I had to take it that I want to share. I will try and make them recent photos, but the odd older one may slip in from time to time.

I also want to invite you to join me in sharing photos of those odd little things you just have to photograph, things that inspire you, thrill you, make you laugh or make you wonder.  I will include a linky list each week as I'd love to visit your blog. Choose a photo like I've described, blog it, add your link and visit others who have done the same, simple. Don't worry about when the photo was taken, recent is great but sometimes it is also good to review photos we took long ago and discover hidden gems."

 

I absolutely love photographing little details. I think that is why I am enjoying this weekly blog project so very much. I was at a wonderful crafty antique store and came across this sign. The sign did not do much for me at all, but I found that I fell in love with the detail of this tin star and of coarse had to photograph it.

 

CASE File Freebie Template - Scrap Arts Studio

Posted on the Scrap Arts Studio is this wonderful CASE File Freebie Template by Celenia Curtis. You can find the blog post and link to the template HERE on the Scrap Arts Studio Blog.

 

 

I took the fantastic artse Play T4 template by Celenia and made a few changes. I duplicated the splashed background and flipped it. Then I added the paper element, banner, overlay, and word tag from the Dare To Come Out Of Hiding Kit by Angie Young (also from Scrap Arts Studio).

 

 

What is it?

I decided to participate in the Art-Life Journaling Challenge over at Scrap Arts Studio. Here is what the challenge entailed:

"What is holding you back? What is stopping you? What are you afraid of? What is keeping you from your potential? WHAT?!?"

Start with a plain background… neutral color would be good because that will allow you to be free to create as you grow this page.  Put your journaling on the page.  Now we are going to cover it all up… or partially at least.  Grab some brushes and cover up the text on your page.  Use gesso or colors that move you.  As you do this, know in your mind that you are putting away all these things that are stopping you from moving forward.  You are taking away their power to stop you.

 

Here is the page I created for this challenge:

 

 

I really enjoyed working on this page. I must say that the process of writing my journaling about what is holding me back was a good process for me. It was very therapeutic and freeing to then cover up that negative journaling with statements that are positive. A good process.

 

Art Journal Challenge {personal maifesto...}

For this week's art journal challenge on the Just Be Yourself Ning Group the prompt is to create an art journal page based on your own personal manifesto. Here's the page I created.

 

 

Inspired By ... Flora Challenge

This art journal page was created for the Inspired BY ... Flora Challenge in the forums at Scrap Arts Studio.

 

 

Scrap Arts Studio Challenges

Completed these two layouts for the May 2013 challenges at Scrap Arts Studio.

 

This first art journaling page was for the Memories of Mom challenge:

 

This scrapbook page was created for the scraplift challenge:

 

 

Messy Little Details {Pencil Holder}

I have recently been led to this awesome blog called

Mess Muddle and Fun

Carolyn has started a wonderful blog project called Messy Little Details. This is what she shares on her blog:

 

"Each week I will share one of these photos, something that caught my eye and I had to photograph. A simple thing. A detail. A colour. A texture. The post will be short, a photo and a few sentences at most, it is the photo and the reason I had to take it that I want to share. I will try and make them recent photos, but the odd older one may slip in from time to time.

I also want to invite you to join me in sharing photos of those odd little things you just have to photograph, things that inspire you, thrill you, make you laugh or make you wonder.  I will include a linky list each week as I'd love to visit your blog. Choose a photo like I've described, blog it, add your link and visit others who have done the same, simple. Don't worry about when the photo was taken, recent is great but sometimes it is also good to review photos we took long ago and discover hidden gems."

The photo I chose to use this week is one of the pencil holder on my desk. It is my all time favorite thing on my desk. Emily made it for me about two years ago for a school project and she was so proud when she gave it to me. I love being able to look at it and remember the excited and proud look on her face that day she brought it home. It brings me pure happiness. 

 

 

Just Be Yourself Art Journal Challenge (motherhood...)

If you'd like to participate in this challenge head on over to the Just Be Yourself Ning Site and join up there. Register for the site, then join the Art Journals and Art Journaling Group. It's an awesome site to be a part of!

 

For this current art journaling prompt I figured I would use something about motherhood as Mother's Day is this weekend. The prompt is to journal about what motherhood (being a grandmother) means to you. If you don't have any kids then journal about what it means to be  daughter, a sister, an aunt etc... 

 

Here's my page I created:

 

 

Creativity...

Photo Editing : Frame Ups and Special Effects - Lesson 8 Text & Texture

Photo Editing : Frame Ups and Special Effects - Lesson 6 TTV & Brush Work

Photo Editing : Frame Ups and Special Effects - Lesson 5 - Textures

I've often been afraid of using textures as I wasn't really sure how to blend them together - but I really like how this photo turned out! Project #3 was to add the textures and then add a PNG frame.

Snowstorm - iNSD Digital Template

Design Team Layout - Spring Has Sprung Distressed Printable Art Pages

Here's another layout created with the wonderful printable art journal papers from Praierie Papier Cottage from the Just Be Yourself Etsy Store. You can check out Anita's collections HERE.

 

For this layout I chose to use the Spring Has Sprung Distressed Printable Art Journal Papers (paper #5). I started with the background paper, added my photo and then added in the brush work that says magic happens... I then decided to add some background splash behind the photo, some stitching to the top of the photo and a grunge overlay around the edges of the page. I finished it off with a brush butterfly. In total the page took about 10 minutes. Just goes to show you that your art does not need to be complicated or take hours to make. Sometimes the simple pages end up being my favourites.

Here is the preview for the paper pack I chose to use for this layout - Spring Has Sprung Distressed Printable Art Pages: