Art Journal Everyday and the Kathryn Wheel Calendar Project

   As some of you already know I have been participating in Julie Balzer's Art Journal Everyday project on her blog (which we actually link to once a week). For those of you who aren't familiar with it here's the link to Julie's blog. Anyone can jump in at any time and it isn't necessary to play each week, however, it's a nice incentive to create and journal, along with a way to share with others and get inspired by others as well.

   The 366 Calendar Project at Kate Crane's blog, the Kathryn Wheel is similar. Kate began this project a few years ago but I only discovered it just in time to begin this year with January. I am such a fan of this project as it is a great way to get some art and creativity in, along with a way to record little bits of each day. You can see my Jan., Feb pages at my Flickr photostream (see sidebar at right for link) and from March on, here on my blog. I've already purchased a larger journal for next year as this one is almost full and also a bit small. Again, anyone is welcome to join at anytime for as long as one wishes. Kate sets up a linky tool on the first of each month so you can post your links of your completed prev. month's pages and the start of the current month. My favorite part is visiting as many links as I can-the creative calendar spreads are just amazing!!

For Art Journal Everyday:

  This is only a background for some journaling I'm planning to do at a later date. Right now I'm preparing spreads  ahead of time as I will be spending alot of days at the beach over the course of the summer and won't be able to take along as many materials and products as I'd like to use. I simply used some Tim Holtz masks and sprayed the pages with a few spray inks. I found these two magazine clippings right next to each other in my envelope so onto the page they went. It acually makes me happy just the way it is.

 This is my finished June calendar spread:

   As you can see I don't have much room for adding any images but I usually can manage a few small ones like these images which I got from ARTchix Studio (with the exception of the bird). You can read more about my background on this post.



  This is the base for my July calendar pages:

   I used acrylic paint to create the French flag background. For this month I chose a patriotic theme to represent both my American and French citizenship/heritage. This works out perfectly as both flags are the same colors and their independence days are both this month. Some star stamp images were used repeatedly even tho most of it will be covered up.

   And here's the spread ready to go:

  

   The month and days of the week foam stamp set is Magenta. I've had these a long time so I'm not even sure they sell this set any longer. I don't usually add any other stamping or clip art etc. until the month is almost over.

   On a final note- remember the prayer flags I've made and posted about here and here? Well, if you've had any inkling to give it a try please do sign up for my friend Lenna Andrews new Prayer Flag Swap on her Creative Swaps blog!! Lenna is very generous with her informative PDFs, suggestions, techniques and photos. Three more reasons to join the swap-you don't have to be able to sew, it's a 3 for 3 swap which is absolutely doable, and it's not due until Sept.15th!! So wadda you waiting for??? Hope to see you there!

  Thanks so much for stopping by.

         "Where the spirit does not work with the hand there is no art." Leonardo da Vinci