Journal Pages and Digital Play

   For those of you experiencing the extreme heat and humidity of summer the last few weeks I hope you are able to cool off a bit whether it be in AC or a pool! Right now (as I'm typing the draft for this posting) it is 1:20PM 95 degrees F with a heat index of 105 degrees F. It wouldn't be so bad if the air was dry and not so humid! And we haven't had any rain for a respite either. So what's a girl to do? Stay inside and make art of course :).

  The word/tag for the month of July in my 52 Weeks of Creative Abundance course is "trust". This is my journal spread and tag:

  For the background I used Stone Gray Staz-On ink and an old script stamp (Love to Stamp) repeatedly over the pages. Gesso and Pineapple acrylic paint (Americana) was dry brushed over that. Quinacridone Magenta (Liquitex) was then lightly brushed on two opposite corners and Stone gray ink was sponged through stars sequin waste on the other two edges. The tag was already colored-leftover from mopping up color from other projects. Sewed edges, added letter and butterfly stickers and ribbon. The collage card and bird are from ARTchix Studio. I typed up a sentence Christi had written in our weekly lesson and once glued in place I outlined it with a black pen. I circled the word "trust' with Buttercup Liquid Pearls (Ranger).

  This is the inside back cover of a different journal I finished (well, almost. There are still a few pages unfinished and when the mood strikes me I'll get to them). I love having a bunch of different journals in different sizes to play in!

 

  Painted a frame around the pg with a teal acrylic paint and filled in with orange. Glued part of an envelope with postage (sent to me by family in France-I save them all). Added some gesso around portions to blend it in the page. Added two found ticket stubs and magazine image. Words stamped with two alphabet sets and Jet Black Staz-On ink. 

 I mentioned in my previous post  about how Lori (Mandarin Orange Monday challenge host) had me so inspired with all her fun digital manipulations for the challenge each week. I began to tread lightly last week and this week I took a bit more time to explore more possibilities with PSE and a simple photo. This sis SO much fun!!!

 Took this photo of my gorgeous blooming hydrangea bush which is full of blooms this year! I think I finally figured out the pruning thing :).

Digital manipulation 1. I used an orange fill layer first then under the layer tab at right (I have PSE 10) I chose "lighten" and changed the opacity to 85%. Under the "Effects" tab( top right) I chose "brushstrokes". Changed the opacity to 39%. Back to effects tab and added "glowing edges".

Digital manipulation 2:

 For this one I began with the orange fill layer. Added  "lighten" from layers tab and changed opacity to 85%. Under effects tab I chose "stained glass". I am loving this and there is SO much more to play around with!

 Photo close up of one of our yew trees:

 Added digital manipulation:

  I used a vibrant orange/red fill layer. Under effects tab I chose "find edges". Under layer tab I chose "difference" and kept the opacity at 100%. Awesome!!!

  One more. This is a photo of a cemetery building I took in France:

 I changed this photo to black and white.

 And this is more orange play:

  

   Began with orange fill layer. In the effects tab I went to "brushstrokes" and chose "ink outlines". From there I went into "layers" and chose "multiply".  Now for all you digital art savvy folks I know I'm still in kindergarten, but color me happy!  

  Linking up  to Art Journal Every Day ( I hear Julie Fei Fan Balzer, the host, is going to have  lots of new stencils to premier at the next CHA :), Creative Every Day, Glue It Tuesday, Mandarin Orange Monday,  Paint Party Friday, Show and Tell Saturday. I'll be looking for you at one or more of these places.

  "Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement." Golda Meir