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**Please scroll down to the next post for this week's Color Throwdown card.
We're starting a new series of blog hops with the E-Team! Daisy has challenged us to begin an art journal, and this blog hop is to unveil our journal covers. Each of the future entries will be "Inspired By Words". Pretty cool, huh?
I have been trying to "look within" and will myself to grow as an artist with this project that we're undertaking. It was scary to begin, but I enjoyed creating the cover and I'm feeling a little more comfortable with just "going for it".
Let me give you some background about myself. I grew up in a small Southern town, with both a structured and secure family and school life. I'm an accountant, so that also leads me to remain structured. But there's always been an artist in me, and I've grown to know that creating art is what truly brings me joy. So needless to say, I've tried to find a true and comfortable balance between my work life and my artist life. I believe creating this journal will help me release even more of the artist. Let's hope so!
Ok, on with the blog hop details!
- Visit each E-Team blog participant and leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 eP gift certificate.
- Join the E-Team in our journal adventure and post your journal cover on the eP blog. We are going to pick 2 people to join us next month!
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The journal I chose was one I found on clearance at Michael's when I was in the art department. It's made specifically for mixed media and I really liked the 90 lb weight of the pages. The bright colors of the cover caught my eye; and just how could I NOT choose a journal that specifically asks "What's your story?"
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While I was there I also picked up a few items in the $1 bin that called to me and that I thought I might be able to use.
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My journal cover begins with the colors. I'm a Cancer, a crab, a Waterchild. My favorite color is water. So I chose colors of the ocean for my cover.
I pulled out some watercolor paper and Adirondack color washes and began to play. Of the 3 pieces below, I really liked the one on the left, the one with the watered-down look. To create it I spritzed both Sailboat Blue and Wild Plum color washes on my craft sheet, then spritzed on a lot of water. I laid my watercolor paper down into the color and twirled it, creating a circular pattern.
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My next step was to work on the "theme" - trying to help myself release the inner artist. So I used a clock image from the Vintage Traveler stamp set from Our Craft Lounge and wrote "There's still time…" around the curve of one. You're never too old, right?
I also wanted to use images that impart the feeling of flying freely, which is what my artistic goal is. I stamped the hot air balloon on a #5 kraft tag and dabbed on some Tumbled Glass Distress stain. I took a couple of the chipboard images, applied some Sea Breeze Versa Magic chalk ink and some Dusty Concord Distress stain. Then I coated them both with Ranger Glossy Accents.
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You can click on any of the images to see them larger.
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I swiped some Distress stain across some of the water color paper and used stencils and Distress ink to apply some stars and random shapes. I inked the edges then attached it to my journal cover using Scor-Tape.
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Then I just started layering on other inked and distressed pieces. Finally I added the "Feel Free to be me" to remind myself every time I pick it up of what I want to accomplish with this journey.
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And the finished journal cover:
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I'm really excited that Daisy has given us this opportunity to grow and express ourselves. I can't wait to see what the next "Inspired By Words" theme is!
We all hope that you'll join us in this new adventure! Create a journal cover and link it on the eP blog. It will certainly be a treat to see what everyone comes up with!
Now you've just GOT to visit the other E-Team members to see their journal covers! Be prepared to be WOWed!
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Thanks so much for dropping in and taking the time to make it through this long post! I hope you'll join me again on Friday for the latest A Day For Daisies release entitled "Call Your Mother!"
