I have a lot of catching up to do on this here blog! Although I’ve been able to keep up with the J.J.J. challenge and posting to Instagram, my blog has been a quite a bit behind. I just don’t have the “go-get-’em” mentality anymore. If I can fit it into my life, it happens. Every time I watch some of my favorite YouTubers I am amazed they have the time and energy for it all!

That being said, let’s get to it…

Day 10: “Intricate”

I received some lovely Happy Mail last year when I was still a part of “Fussy Cuttin’ Cuties”. I have never worked with these types of beautiful die cuts before, so I was at a loss as to how I would use them. But, because this project has made me really think outside the box I was able to come up with a few ideas for them.

Pretty sure that bear doesn’t appreciate his lunch jumping over him, but that’s life sometimes!

Day 11: “Folded”

This was one of my favorite page spreads! Inspired by Joie De Fi on YouTube. I am officially obsessed with her channel! She does so many wonderful projects with paper. Consider yourself warned about her channel, you will more than likely become obsessed!

I hope you can see all the pockets included on this fold out. I’m actually making some pretty good progress on using up stash.

Day 12: Throwback

All of these prompts are an opportunity to stretch your creativity. It seems like everyone had a different interpretation of “Throwback”. Mine was at first a throwback to my younger self and different things I’ve owned and used in my art journaling almost from the beginning…including that old photo of my Grandmother’s friend “throwing back” a beer. Lol!

I made a process video of this page spread if you would like to see how it came together, just go here or hit the link in my sidebar.

As of this posting, I am up to Day 27, some of my page spreads take a bit of time. This has been like a creative boot camp for me, something I definitely needed though.

Until our next catch-up,

Thank you for visiting,

~Patty

I decided (once again) to change my names on Social Media.

Yes AGAIN, for goodness sake!

My new shoppe banner.

This a name I used several years ago and I’m going to be blunt here, someone opened up a shop on Instagram selling vintage ephemera and used a very close version of this name, and it pissed me off!

Now, I know that I should have been above such shenanigans, but clearly I was not, so I changed my name. But you know what, I liked that name! So, I’m claiming it back again!

My sidebar button that will take you to my IG account, which is getting pretty full right now. Many of the things I post on there goes here too, but not the other way round.

New shoppe button in case you need some new ephemera. No journals right now, I’m still pondering how I want to do that going forward.

Lastly, the link to my Pinterest boards. I went back and forth about this one, but in the end I decided it needed a change too. I know it may sound strange, but I feel a little more engaged with these accounts now, I really missed my old name.

I’m not changing the name of my blog though, this is the hub to all my other accounts. Kinda the home planet so to speak.

I’m still leaving Facebook in the dust, I don’t miss that one at all.

What are your thoughts about all this? I’d love to get your input or questions!

Let me know what you think,

Thank you for the visit,

Much Love,

~Patty

The reason I’m posting only one page spread today is because I wanted to go into a little more detail with it.

I wish I could say that these prompts are easy, but I’m struggling a bit. And that’s a big reason why I’m still so far behind, as of today the 20th!

Of course my first thought was a tag, those are easy to hide…ok, now what? I looked through my bits and pieces and found this little hibernating chipmunk. The tag is a leftover piece from a shoppe journal painted page. I added a plant frond, a piece of dyed cheese cloth, and he’s done.

I made this little envelope from some coffee dyed bakers parchment paper, (that’s a mouthful!). Please comment below if you would like a process post for the envelope, that might be fun. It was a bit fiddly to put together, but I love how it turned out. I decorated it with the words from the chipmunk’s book page, added a botanic image and some lace I inherited from my mom’s stash.

(Does anybody else feel like that chipmunk right now? We’re finally getting some sunshine today!)

This page was a little more difficult to figure out, but it finally came together. A piece of dictionary page with the definition of “hidden” tucked into some torn scrapbook paper with a floral image spanning into the little inclusion piece. As you may know, I usually have a collection of fussy cut florals on hand, so that saved a bit of time.

Full disclosure: I usually lift, tear, and shift pieces after glueing them down to get them positioned the way I want, that poor bug almost lost a limb or two in the process.

Hidden behind the envelope is a journaling spot and an owl…looks like a good reason for the chipmunk to hide!

That owl piece is a leftover from a previous art journaling project I abandoned. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I do that quite often. Many people paint over journal pages they don’t like or want to hide their journaling, so it’s not unheard of (she keeps telling herself (3rd person self talk, eh)). I do mostly collage, so I tear things out and reuse them as embellishments, it’s actually quite convenient, I should make some more up on purpose.

Well, that’s it for today. I’m probably going to be back tomorrow, I’m actually up to Day 15 in real time…not page 20! Yikes I better get a move on!

As Always,

Thanks for stopping in,

Talk to you soon,

~Patty

…some winners, and some…Well, I’d prefer to give them “Participation Awards”.

Day 4 Prompt: “Decorated Tag”

This is definitely a favorite. I ticks all the boxes: tags, color, botanicals, a bee, a bird, and a pocket. I just looked through my stash and found some tags and started decorating.

Pretty sure I could have done this for hours…wait, I did!

Day 5 Prompt: “Routine”

This one was a struggle. I thought I was working on a different prompt and realized I was working on the wrong page, I had a whole thing in my mind. But, I regrouped and made it work for the correct prompt.

Very vintage…and very beige!

Day 6 Prompt: “Stitched”

I had zero plans when I started this, so it took quite a bit of time to plan and create. First I looked for paper that looked like fabric, I was pretty lucky there. I noticed a couple of papers that had lace printed on them and came up with the idea for layers of lace, both paper and fabric. You can’t really tell, but all those pieces are stitched down by hand, guess I should have let the stitching show…ooops!

On the righthand side, I poked around in my sewing ephemera box and found those little fabric tags that I received in some happy mail so long ago I can’t remember who sent them to me, I’m so glad they finally have a home. The floral image is a vintage embroidery transfer. I just did a running stitch onto a tag and glued it on.

Using up stash for the win!

Day 7 Prompt: “Shimmer”

This is way out of my usual style, and when I saw this prompt I almost skipped it. But, I watched a few videos for this day’s prompt and started getting some ideas and to think of some of my supplies in different ways. I got out some shimmery gelatos, looked through my sewing ephemera box again (I had remembered seeing those little mirrors, I’ve had them for yeeeeears…!), then pulled out these awesome little die cuts I received in some happy mail last year.

The shimmery paper pieces were made by coloring onto packing material with the gelatos, then spreading each color around with a wet paintbrush. When the paper dried, I tore the colored bits out and they came out shaped like leaves, so I layered them to look like a plant. Perfect for the shimmery little insects!

I’m learning so much right now, my head feels a little fuzzy…information overload. But it’s all so much fun!

I will continue to post my J.J.J. page spreads throughout January (and beyond if I don’t catch up!) and I hope this has been as much fun or you as it has been for me!

See you in a couple of days with the next batch of pages.

As always,

Thank you for visiting,

Take Care,

~Patty

I’ve decided to jump into Junk Journal January, hosted by megsjournals and Get Messy Art on YouTube. I have really needed a jumpstart on art/junk journaling for quite a while, and I hesitated about joining a daily challenge, but I’m having so much fun watching all the videos and playing in my art journals again!

From right to left:

My mini art journal keeper, there are three more journals in there right now that need lots of work in. A little J.J.J. organizer, I saw Katheryn from Art Paper Joy mention her’s in one of her videos, I thought it was brilliant! I keep the prompts, ideas for page spreads, and I even paper clipped little envelopes with corresponding ephemera in it. Then the little journal I’m working in for this challenge. There is only enough room to up until day 20 in there, but it’s already getting puffy!

Day 1 Prompt: Resolutions

Decluttering, Downsizing, Organizing, and Decorating

Pretty much the same resolutions I’ve had for the last 5 years at least! I chose images of homes that I thought looked clean and organized, added some fussy cut vintage wallpaper, a couple of ephemera pieces (the blue and white sticker pealed off of our ancient kitchen cupboards), and those little scrapbook ephemera pieces are a few of my personal resolutions.

I have to say that it was fun to put resolutions to paper, I’ve not done that yet.

Day 2 Prompt: Starry

Scrapbook paper ephemera pieces, doilies, “starry” looking paper pieces, and dots of white glitter Stickles.

Because I jumped into this challenge about a week in, I didn’t have enough time to put a lot of thought into supplies. So, I’m pretty surprised at how I’ve been able to make things work. Maybe next time I’ll be a little more prepared.

Day 3 Prompt: Stained

What exactly is the difference between “Dyed” and “Stained”? One is on accident and the other is on purpose? That’s a lot of stained dyeing! I try to keep a good supply of coffee, tea, and food coloring dyed paper stuff on hand. I have a whole process I go through when supplies run low. I’ll try to share that some time soon. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty impressed that I actually did some page marks. I never do that because it never seems to come out the way I see other people do it, they make it look so easy…and cute! Maybe I just need more practice, and less self criticism.

So, these are the first three days. Not only have I been playing catchup on the days I missed, but I have been keeping up with the days we’re on also. I made a video of “Day 12” that didn’t upload to YouTube until “Day 14” because of our creaky, rusty internet, so that was kind of a fail. Oh well, if you are interested in seeing that, here’s the link: “Junk Journaling January: Day 12”

I’m going to try to post all my pages with corresponding drama until I’m caught up. You may ask if this sounds like it’s worth all the work and angst. If I’m dusting off olde art supplies, getting in some self care, and making a go of connecting with kindred spirits, I say YES! The best part of all this is watching videos, leaving comments and “likes”, and feeling like I’m a part of the online journaling community again.

So yes, I’m a bit frazzled right now, but I feel like I’m on a new/olde adventure again (with less energy) but I’m having fun, and that’s what counts, right!

As always,

Thank you for stopping by,

Talk to you soon (like 2 days),

~Patty