Ink Blot to Art Page Honoring My Feelings

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Allow Art To Help You Honor Your Feelings
I've been feeling a lot lately and on Wednesday, when my ink painting called out to me with what appeared to be a face, I decided to go with it to see where it might take me.  Not surprisingly, this is where I ended up.  The process was quite cathartic for me - helping me honor the feelings that have been with me this week.  I still marvel at how the same ink painting could have led in so many different directions depending on who looked at it and played with it.  And, of course, it took me to exactly where I needed to be.
Wishing you a wonderful and creative weekend.  How can you allow art to help you honor your feelings?

Long Envelope Mini Album & Card by Christy Fulk

Isn't this Long Envelope Mini Album & Card gorgeous?!?!  It was created for Craft Project Central by Christy Fulk.  This mini album, which was made with the Envelope Punch Board, has three, 2-page layouts.  It also has three pull-out pages that can be used for journaling or more pictures.  With a wonderful matching card, this would make a great gift for any occasion.  It would also make a great scrapbooking class!
Want the full step-by-step instructions for how to make this wonderful project?  If so, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of May!

Ink Painting on Watercolor Paper

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Do You See What I See?
I began by spraying a piece of watercolor paper with some water and then swiping the paper with a few different ink pads.  Next I let it dry and sprayed it with some fixative so that I could layer more ink on top of the first layer without having everything run together and create mud.  I did that a number of times and this is the resulting piece.  I wonder what you would do with this piece of inked watercolor paper?  Maybe you would cut it up and create some backgrounds.  Maybe you would journal on top of it.  Maybe you would set it aside without a clue of what to do with it!  That's the beauty of art.  Each of us would likely do something different because we each see something different.  I ended up taking pictures of the piece as I was working on it and that's when I saw her!  I decided to take one of the photos I took and printed it out on the computer in black and white.  Can you see her now?

She's there - on the left-hand side of the page.  Maybe you can see her face and some of her features.  I adhered her to a piece of watercolor paper and now she is waiting to be brought to life some more.  I will continue to let her inspire me and will share her with you when I'm done.  In the meantime I wanted to share with you what I saw.  Do you see what I see?

A Card

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  There Are Some Cards You Wish You Never Had To Make
This is one of them.  A card that I so wish I never had to make.  A card created because someone was in desperation.  Someone was deep in sadness.  Someone felt they had no other option.  Someone so precious, special, warm.  Someone I am holding close in my heart - hoping their pain, their sorrow, their suffering is no more.  A family left behind in grief, mourning, emptiness.  There are some cards you wish you never had to make.

Playing With Comics On Stripcreator

I learned about Stripcreator today and decided to play a little bit since tonight is the Stampin' Up! live catalog premiere!  I won't be going, but I'm hoping lots of demonstrators who are going will share some of what they learn (and I will definitely pass along what I hear!!!!).  Thought I'd make a fun comic about the upcoming release of the new catalog :)  Check out Stripcreator (it is addictive!).  Some of the artwork you are allowed to share outside of Stripcreator!  That might mean that more comics will be coming soon ;) (ps sorry about the typo in my comic...I'm a new user and couldn't figure out how to fix it!)

Painting Papers

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Get Back Into The Art-Making Groove!
I traveled last week and when I travel I seem to have a little bit of a struggle getting back into the art room and beginning.  I'm not sure why I struggle - maybe just being out of my element when I'm on the road and having to readjust when I get back.  Maybe my energy is a little low when I return from trips.  What I'm learning is good for me is to just walk into the craft room and begin.  Trouble is, I often didn't know what or where to begin!  So now my "go to" beginning is to just start painting, scribble, stamping on random paper.  Book pages, deli paper, scrap paper, recycled paper - it doesn't matter.  And I try not to focus on what the papers will one day be used for.  Instead I just begin and it gets me back into the groove!  These are three pictures of a large piece of paper I scribbled, painted and printed on.  And added a few scrap pieces of tape too.  Who knows what it will be turned into.  But at least I'm in the groove! :)