Some Art Journal Pages

Hi everyone!!

Well, awhile ago I mentioned that I use my Brag Books as Art Journals.  I was going to share some new pages with you in a new book and I was looking through my blog and saw that I never posted any of my other art journal.  Not sure why.  I will probably come back and post some of my older pages, but for now I'd love to share some of the new stuff I have done.

I just started a new book.  Here's the cover:

The cover is pretty simple.

It uses a Brag Book from Fancy Pants Designs, as well as their Trendsetter and Artist Edition collections (both the cover and the pages I share today all use these).  I think the Trendsetter is my favorite collection right now...I just can't stop using it even though I have other cute collections waiting to be used. :)

I pretty much do my art journal pages in the same way.

1.  I start with gesso and brush it over the page (doesn't have to cover it entirely).
2.  Add ink and paint...this is the part where you just PLAY.  :)
3.  Embellish with drawings, paper, and journaling.

Here are three pages (spreads) I have done:

This first page actually uses my current sketch, sketch 235!  :)  Which, of course, there is still time to play along with.  ;)

The thing about Art Journals is that they don't have to be perfect.  You generally don't show them off or try to sell them.  They are for YOU.  At least mine are for me.  I love that.

So just remember...I'm just playing here.  :)

Thanks for stopping in!!!
Have a FANTASTIC day!

Digital Freebies

Just wanted to share some digital freebies with you for you to use as you like.  I would love to see what you create with them if you do use them!  Just click on the image to enlarge it and right click to save.  If you would like one in another format just shoot me an email (pamelacy@msn.com).

Grab what you want:

Please remember to give credit when posting projects.  :)

Thanks for stopping in and have a fantastic day!!

Sketch Challenge 235

My apologies for being absent...just living a busy life.  Here's the next sketch for you guys, if you choose to accept the mission at hand.  :)

If you are new to my sketches, here's how it works:

I essentially create three versions of one sketch each time. There will be one 12x12 scrapbook sketch, one double page sketch (12x24), and one card sketch (A4). This makes it easier for all types of crafters to participate. :)

Of course, there will be prizes.

So for today's sketches:

Sketch 235a - 12x12 layout

Sketch 235b - Two page layout

Sketch 235c - Card (A4)

And now for the prize up for grabs...

This contains TWO full collections from Webster's Pages: the Western Romance collection and the In Love collection, with embellishments.  

Awesome, right?  :)

THE RULES:

*  Your project must be newly made for this challenge, and then linked below.

*  You can use the sketches for any type of project, not just scrapbook pages or cards.

*  Please post which sketch you used with your project.

*  Feel free to combine with other challenges.  :)

*  You can enter as many times as you like.  

AND FOR BONUS ENTRIES:

*  Check out my sketchbook here.  Pick a favorite sketch and use it for an additional project.  You can do this as many times as you'd like.  These must be newly made for this challenge too.  

THE DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MAY 31ST.  

I hope you play along!!  :)  

And who wants to know the winner from the last challenge?  

Congratulations Kelly!!!  Send me your address to pamelacy@msn.com and I will get your goodies mailed out to you!  :)

And thanks again to everyone who played along!  

Have a fabulous day!!!  

LINK UP HERE for the challenge!!!

Fancy Some Fancy Pants?

Well...we had a few days of sun, which was nice, now it is supposed to snow again tomorrow.  And I am so over it.  I am desperately seeking Spring!  I want to plant my garden!  I'm afraid we are going to skip Spring and head right into Summer.  Oh well.

So I have a few projects to share with you that use the fun Down By The Shore collection from Fancy Pants Designs.  First up, a layout:

Things to note about this layout:

*  I used pieces from the wave pattern stencil and laid them on my paper at the bottom to essentially create a mask.  I then sprayed some blue ink around them.
*  I love adding rub-on's directly to my photos, here that large flower on the bottom right of my photo is a rub-on.  The swirls at the top left of the layout as well as the words above the waves are also rub-ons.
*  Go big!  Thinking of adding stitching to your project?  Well why not do some large stitches for a fun, funky look.
*  The journaling and the itinerary for our cruise are tucked inside the anchor envelope behind the photo.  You can see the top of one of the pieces poking out.
*  Journaling cards or 4x6 cards are great for blocking out your page.  I started my layout by placing three cards in a row to create my background.  But instead of layering three separate blocks and keeping a blocked look, I layered on top of all of them together.

Here are the close up's of my layout:

And then I also made three cards using the same collection.  Here are those;

And finally, I have a new sketch for you all.  It's up on the Fancy Pants blog:

And here's a sneak of my layout for this sketch:

You can find the whole post here.

Well I know I shared a bunch today, can you tell it's the end of the month?  ;)  Thanks for stopping in!!!
Have a marvelous day!

Sketch 233 Challenge

Hi all!  Well I feel like I have been working a full time construction job around here with everything going on, but today is a snow day and the kids are home from school so I am taking the day off.  Due to being so busy this month, I have decided to only do one sketch.

If you are new to my sketches, here's how it works:

I essentially create three versions of one sketch each time. There will be one 12x12 scrapbook sketch, one double page sketch (12x24), and one card sketch (A4). This makes it easier for all types of crafters to participate. :)

Of course, there will be prizes.

So for today's sketches:

Sketch 233a - 12x12 layout

Sketch 233b - Two page layout

Sketch 233c - Card
**I see I must have been tired when creating this sketch because the size is slightly off, but you can get the idea.  :)

And now for the prize up for grabs...

This contains TWO full collections from Webster's Pages: the Game On collection and the All About Me collection, with embellishments.  

Awesome, right?  :)

THE RULES:

*  Your project must be newly made for this challenge, and then linked below.

*  You can use the sketches for any type of project, not just scrapbook pages or cards.

*  Please post which sketch you used with your project.

*  Feel free to combine with other challenges.  :)

*  You can enter as many times as you like.  

AND FOR BONUS ENTRIES:

*  Check out my sketchbook here.  Pick a favorite sketch and use it for an additional project.  You can do this as many times as you'd like.  These must be newly made for this challenge too.  

The DEADLINE IS TUESDAY, APRIL 30TH.  

I hope you play along!!  :)  

And who wants to know the winner from the last challenge?  

Congratulations Heather!!!  Send me your address to pamelacy@msn.com and I will get your goodies mailed out to you!  :)

And thanks again to everyone who played along!  

And in case anybody is interested, here is a digital freebie for you.  It's in png format, if you would like another format, just shoot me and email.  Just click on it to see it full size and save the image.

Have a fabulous day!!!  

LINK UP HERE for the challenge!!!

Last Minute Gal

So I've always been a bit of a procrastinator.  For example, my assignments for Fancy Pants Designs were due today.  I slept in (as late as I could), dilly-dallied around a bit, and then decided to work on my last project (due today).  Every now and then I am able to plan ahead, and I love it, but for the most part...I'm a last minute gal.  That's my confession for today.  ;)

Truth is, if I had waited even longer...til I was stressed and worried I wouldn't make it in time, then I would probably like my layout even more.  Then's when I do my best work.   It's weird.

Anyways....

So I have my last layout to share with you.  It uses the fun Trendsetter collection from Fancy Pants.

Things to note about my layout:

*  This layout has a lot of layering on it.  When I do this, I like to lay it all out before adhering things down.  Makes it easier. 

*  I am still in love with the stencil cards from Fancy Pants Designs.  I have used them in many different ways.  For this layout I took out some of the pieces of the design, but not all of them.  I think it creates a fun, unique touch to your layout.

*  Design experts will tell you that elements in three are best (or at least in odd numbers).  I am a rule-thrower-outer, but in most cases I do like my elements in three.  For example, I used both the negative and positive parts to a heart stencil card on my layout, so to create a third heart I stitched around the "ME" in my title.  Now there are three hearts in a row in my design.  

*  Like the "messy" look of ink splatters on your projects?  Well, why not try a twist and add some glitter spots.  I just added a touch of liquid glue to my layout then sprinkled on glitter for a fun splattered look.  :)  Don't be afraid of it getting messy...if you look at my dots, they are far from perfect!

Here are some close up's of my layout:

Well thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!

Give me a shout out if you too are a last minute gal!  :)

Have a fantastic day!

Outdoor Table Runner

I so can't wait until the weather is warm enough that we spend our entire days outside.  This week has been nice here...it actually feels like Spring, so my mind has kinda been in outdoor-living mode.  I thought it'd be cool to make a table runner for our table that sits on the patio.

I started with several pieces of paper from the Park Bench collection from Fancy Pants Designs.  This project works wonderful for scraps.  I choose to use 1.5" x 6" and 1.5" x 3" pieces and I laid out a subway, or brick pattern on top of a large piece of burlap.  I adhered the pieces down and then cut the burlap around it.

Then I sealed it to protect it.  The only sealer I actually had on hand was an antique sealer and I didn't really want to run to the store and buy a different one, so that was the one I used.  :)  So it yellowed it a bit, but I do love how it turned out.

Here's my final project:

I've very happy with the way it turned out.   We'll see how it holds up.  I do have a covered patio, so that will help.  :)

Well thanks for popping in today!!

I hope you have a fantastic day!

You rock.  ;)