Friday, May 31, 2013

Random Acts of Art

     What a crazy week it's been weather-wise! It began with a blustery, cold (very cold at night) Memorial Day weekend here in NE PA. Unusually cold for  this time of year. Now we're in the midst of HOT, humid summer-like weather for some days-lo 90's! No choice but to go with the flow and just keep a mix of clothing out for all seasons :)

     I joined a Yahoo group this week called Paper Traders. And it's thanks to Jo Murray ! I offered to send her the set of 3 napkin background ATCs I shared here because she mentioned how much she liked them. Jo suggested we trade ATCs- and well, knowing Jo's art I wasn't about to refuse :):) Jo then referred me to this group as a place to trade ATCs, etc. Paper Traders has monthly lottery drawings, challenges and swaps also. I mainly joined because I love making ATCs but don't want a pile of my own sitting around. And this is such a great way to trade for another artist's work! Click on the badge on the sidebar if you're interested. I added several for trade and already have one traded to another member.Fun!

   Here's another blotted napkin background ATC I added for trade in the group:

  The image is from Paper Whimsy. I added a bit of recycled dryer sheet behind the image. Added some mica flakes for some shimmer.

  Once again it's time for another calendar spread for Kate Crane's 2013 Calendar Challenge! We're half way thru the year now so I plan on finishing the year out (fingers crossed).

 


 The background began with the 12" x 12" Prima stencil I love using and Dylusions Ink Sprays in Bubblegum Pink, Postbox Red and Lemon Zest.

 And now it's all ready to get filled:


  Goddess is an UM stamp (source unknown.) Hearts are from Dylusions- Inbetweenies UM set. Alphabet, number stamps are Hampton Art. Days of week were taken from an old calendar page. Quote was printed using the AR HERMANN font. The hearts were filled in with a white uni-ball Signo pen to make them more noticeable on the pages.

   Here's a mosaic type collage I did in another journal:


   Collage squares were punched from magazines. I used the photos of the vintage girls as my focal points and glued them in place before adding the other squares, cutting some of them down to fit. A coat of soft gel matte medium was brushed over top. Once dry I dry brushed Bright Gold, Metallic Rose, Metallic Peridot, Metallic Plum and Pearl Blue paints (Lumiere) over top and around the edges of the squares.  I then used Jet Black Staz-On ink to stamp a quote randomly over the pg. It was then sprayed with an acrylic sealer.

  Linking up to Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, Mandarin Orange Monday and Creative Every Day. I'm also hoping to participate in some new challenges coming soon for fun and inspiration- including The Summer of Color 3 (see badge on sidebar)! What challenges are you participating in? I'd love to know! Perhaps I'll join you :)

  " Face new challenges, seize new opportunities, test your resources against the unknown and in the process, discover your own unique potential."  John Amatt

 

51 comments:

  1. Beautiful work, love the mosaic you made in your journal! Valerie

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  2. Beautiful work as always Linda!! Love the tie dye look to the papers...Beautiful as backgrounds...nice calendar page too!! Very nice work.

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. Great ATC, calendar and journal page!
    So prolific!
    Love the message in your ATC. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  4. I love your collage and how you created it. Just beautiful! Kudos to you for keeping up with the calendar. I'm going to do it in 2014!

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  5. Beautiful journal page, Thank you for sharing your process. I am also hoping to join in with the summer of colour 3

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  6. lovely assortment of work this week!

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  7. We're in north NJ and having the same week as you -- two days ago we were having North Pole weather and now we're plopped right on the Equator. Gorgeous pages -- I have a thing for squares! I love how you work with them!

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  8. Beautiful pieces, love your sweet, romantic style and wonderful use of color! <3

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  9. terrific assortment of work Linda and especially love the mosaic style collage. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  10. Great stencil work with the Dylusions sprays! Also, I just love your mosaic journal pages. Really beautiful.

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  11. Delighted to see you at Paper Traders. Thanks for the plug in your post... it's always good to feel that you've given someone encouragement to follow another path.

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  12. Fab calendar, so bright and cheery. YOu were wishing the cold away. Happy PPF

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  13. I just love your mosaik work Linda, love the colors and how the pictures look like they are fading. Hope that you understand me. The calender is beautiful as well. Love you work this week :)

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  14. Oh I really love that mosaic collage, very special!

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  15. I agree that your mosaic collage is especially nice, but all of your work is great! Thanks for sharing the info on Paper Traders.

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  16. I am in love with the last page...I loove the colors and the softness of the vintage girls and that there are some fotos fading away....very nice one ♥ Conny
    http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

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  17. Beautiful dreamers, I like these compositions! Best regards!

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  18. beautiful pieces this week linda, love the pink colors in your last 2 pieces and the greens in the first!

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  19. Linda, love your ATC with the dreamy background, b&w photo and sentiment. Also your calender is really bright and cheery. The vintage girls is absolutely fabulous! Lovely work! HPPF!

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  20. Wow, Linda. I love that you explained how you got that awesome collage. And of course, I always love your very, very colorful calendar pages. BTW, it's hot and muggy here, too.

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  21. We're halfway thru the year??? How did that happen? Love your pages. Those colors together make me smile!

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  22. These are wonderful, Linda. Thank you for always listing the "ingredients. I really love your calendar pages. You mentioned that you got the face of the girl on you dryer sheet ATC from a source. So I take it that they are copy-rite free photos. I had just been taking some pictures from catalogs I get in the mail or old childrens' books. But I don't want to get in trouble about copy-rite. When I return from my trip I may join the ATC trade group, as I have some to trade. Thank you for you comment on my blog.

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  23. you have had a busy and creative week...wonderfully productive and full of colour...xx

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  24. Oooh love the dollage page in your journal, it rocks gal. Happy PPF

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  25. beautiful pieces - I especially love the calendar although the colours in the last piece are dreamy!

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  26. What lovely Journal pages :) loving your backgrounds Dxx

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  27. Loved the washed out like colors on the background and papers...Beautiful work Linda :)
    HPPF!

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  28. Love your journal pages especially the last one, it is so soft.

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  29. I like all three pieces in your post, but my absolute favorite one is the mosaic page you did in your journal. The colors and imagery are amazing. Blessings!

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  30. Gorgeous, bright and beautiful colors! Loving your journal pages! Perfection! Happy PPF

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  31. Hello Linda,
    What a lovely post to read, all about your latest creativity. Live Your Dreams is fab! I love the textured background, you did a wonderful job on that. I love that you added the mica and then topped it off with a few stitches. Just perfect!
    Now, your June calendar page is also fab! I love how vibrant it is, like pink tulips. And, your collage page is awesome! Wow! You make such great choices : )
    Hugs,
    Terri

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  32. Looks like you'll have a bright and beautiful June. These are lovely pieces and I just read your last post and feel inspired. Thanks for sharing you wonderful art and imagination.

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  33. Love your ATC, your calendar pages and, especially, your mosaic journal pages!! So pretty and I like the muted tones. So glad you joined Paper Traders - I just joined a month or so ago and am having so much fun "arting" again!

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  34. Lot of great work Linda. I especially love the mosaic collage. Thanks for the ATC site information. Im also planning to join Summer of colors.

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  35. Oh wow! This is stunning. The colors are beautiful and I love the pattern. This past weekend I had a chance to play with the Dylusions...I think I'm in love. Gorgeous.

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  36. I am so glad you visiting my blog because it sent me to your blog. I love, love, love that patchwork mosaic page. Which element gave it the cloudy other world look? It is gorgeous.

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  37. Gorgeous! LOVE that background stencil and the mosaic piece is so feminine and pretty! SO happy to have you joining in The Summer of Color - lucky us :))) xoxo

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  38. Such beautiful pages. I have always thought making a calendar would SOOO help my art journal efforts. I've always had great intentions, but never followed through. The mosaic is my special favorite. I look forward to reading you more thanks to Creative Every Day!

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  39. Beautiful work Linda.... I love everything especially that cute atc and the pretty mosaic.

    Karen x

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  40. Beautiful work, wonderful mosaics and colors

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  41. Hi Dear Linda
    I loved reading about Paper Traders - now will have to visit them.
    That last collage is spectacular with the sweet girls images.
    Beautiful work,
    Hugs,
    Suzy

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  42. Hi Linda, I love your calendar style journal page, the colors are so vintage and dreamy. HPPF!

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  43. LOVE your art! That mosaic is gorgeous and your June calendar journal looks awesome and it would be so fun to fill in those blocks!

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  44. Hi Linda, love you gorgeous calendar for June! And that mosaic art page it just lovely! Hugs Frea

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!