Mixed Media

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

~ Patty Radish ~ Leave a comment

Hello! I just thought I would pop in and let you all know that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth

I am happy to say that these last two months have been filled with lots of visits with family. But, I made a promise to myself that I would put creating aside to spend quality time with them…and I did! The aftermath is that the projects continued to pile up, and now I am scrambling around trying to catch up with them along with my household responsibilities.

I need a vacation from my vacation!

Anyway, I have managed to get a couple of things done, so I thought I would share. If you have seen these photos on IG or FB, I apologize, this is all I’ve got!

IMG_3759I joined Art to the 5th‘s “Documented Life” project, “The Unplanner”. I had been tracking my creative doings in a planner, but it was getting really time consuming to decorate up the planner pages every month. So, when this creative version of documenting my creativity came up, it was a perfect fit. The problem is catching up on five months of projects! I’m getting a pretty good handle on it now, but not much else is getting done.

IMG_3750

These are January’s PAC’s (pocket art cards). They have monthly and weekly challenges. The art tag at the right was a challenge to include writing or doodles from somebody else. I chose to use a page from my mom’s address book, what a wonderful way to create a keepsake, I love it!

The rest are my versions of January’s PAC challenges.

IMG_3790This is what I came up with for the first part of May.

Even though I have managed, once again, to bite of more than I can chew, I am really enjoying learning new techniques. My art making desperately needed a shot in the arm. Not only that, but I am using up a lot of random stuff I have been holding on to for years! Win!

I’ll have a few more things to share soon, it’s just a matter of getting organized.

Thanks again for stopping by,

Talk to you soon

~Patty

A New Art Journal For Moi!

~ Patty Radish ~ 3 Comments

While preparing journals for my shoppe last week, one book just didn’t make the cut, only because I couldn’t bear to part with it. It has all the colorful 70’s kitschiness that makes my heart sing.

And sing it did…

IMG_3423

I just put it together this morning, and I have already finished 4 pages in it!

That has to be some kind of record, especially since I have the whole tribe coming over this weekend, including my son from S. Korea!

The house is supposed to be ready for company…ooops!

IMG_3419

I almost skipped the pocket page, but I kept finding cuteness to stuff in it!

That library pocket on the right is from a journal I had repurposed. Thank goodness it finally found a home, it kept sticking to things!

What do you think of that flair pin on the rag clip?! Cute or what! I will definitely be annoying with those!IMG_3426

Part of the reason I wanted to get going on this journal is because I have changed up how I make them. I wanted a prototype to work on before popping them into my shoppe.

Two Budgies heckling the neighbor boys while the bear and duck crack up! If you read “Delightful” and “Charming” with a hint of sarcasm, and a parrot voice, you’ll get what I mean.

I try to work with the illustrations as much as I can without covering them up. Also, I want to start working with my back log of storybook images, sometimes they can be a bit daunting, but this one worked out pretty well.

IMG_3428

I finally got the old sewing machine out! A doubtful photo, but what I did was sew the sides of a mini file folder up, and adhered it to the page.

Hmmm…it seemed cuter in person. I’ll have to work on that! Maybe I should go around the edges with a black sharpie for contrast.

Oh well, a large journaling card or memorabilia can go in there.

IMG_3422

Ah, my favorite! Love in bloom! Mice make my heart sing, so cute!

I didn’t realize, until the page was put together, that it looked like the mouse was falling in love with that cute blonde, so sweet!

So, there you have it. I absolutely love working in this journal, and I hope other people feel the same way when I put them in my shoppe!

Once again, thanks for popping in,

Have a Happy Mother’s Day if it applies,

See you next week,

~Patty

Spring 2016 iHanna DIY Post Card Swap

~ Patty Radish ~ 5 Comments

Well, it’s that time of year again! Time to “art up” some post cards for the iHanna Post Card Swap!

This year I was at a complete loss as to how I was going to create them. Time was growing short, and I was getting a little nervous. Then it occurred to me that had been wanting to do some experimenting with ink spray, instant backgrounds!

IMG_3363

I realize a lot of people have been using these for quite a while, but I’m a chicken when it comes to trying newness, I love my comfort zone! There is a minimum of clean up with these, so I’m sold!

IMG_3368

I was kind feeling the neon calling, so a few swipes with a card and layers started happening.

IMG_3354

In an attempt to give the riot of color some stability, I added black pigment circles…hmmm…yeah, thats not working for me!

IMG_3357

Stenciled daisies, that’s the ticket! In my world, daisies solve a multitude of sins!

Onward…

IMG_1022One of my latest obsessions, ephemera stacking. I made about 20 of these in front of the T.V. one evening. Super handy to have around, especially for Happy Mail emergencies like this one.

I had more than a month to sew this project up, these saved my bacon!

IMG_1050

Vintage images, washi tape, large circle punch, ephemera stacking, and ‘Bob’s your uncle!’

IMG_3385

Lots of brightness too!

I put these together in one night! I hope my fellow post card swappers like them as much as I do!

IMG_3383

I even used my handy dandy envelope maker to make these lovely envelopes. I got mine at Michaels with a 40% off coupon.

So, there you have it. Another Post Card Swap under my belt. Now, I can sit back and watch the post cards arrive! Yay!

I’ll share those as soon as I receive all of them.

Thanks again for the visit,

Have a great day,

~Patty

A Personal #collageaday Project

~ Patty Radish ~ 3 Comments

 Last week, on a whim, I decided to start my own collage-a-day challenge. Sometimes I will journal, but mostly I will just be out trying new techniques or using up paper goodies.

 I apologize if you are seeing these same photos on instagram, but in case you don’t…

IMG_09604/21

I started with scraping matching paint onto the grid side. I try to make both sides of my page spreads coordinate together, and paint seems to be the best way to start.

IMG_3169

4/22

As I have confessed in the past, I am a ephemera hoarder, and these journals are a perfect way to use them up.

We don’t keep all those little bits and bobs unless we love them!

IMG_0967

4/23

I have become addicted to attaching random die cuts together as one unit to have on hand. I attach them with brads, staples or adhesive. Super fun to make, and a great way to use up those small bits.

IMG_0981

4/24

I’m starting to feel much more comfortable with stamping now. Which is super awesome considering the amount of stamps I own!

IMG_0988

This morning I was in the mood to do  little journaling, so I added one of my handmade library card holders.

That quote on the right was on the other side of the piece with the girls on the left, I was sad to loose it, so I printed it up on the computer. I love Miltie!

IMG_0982

Another journaling space I wanted to share before I started writing on it.

So, now you are officially my accountability partners on this project. Now that I have put it out there, I’m committed!

So far, I am really enjoying this project. Sometimes I’ll get the backgrounds done the night before so that all I have to do is decorate the next day. Other days, it’s all about looking around the room, or the internet, for inspiration.

I’m doing this on my own, so if you decide to join in, please tag me on instagram @radishblossoms so I can give you some hearts!

Until next time,

Thanks again for dropping by,

Have a wonderful day,

~Patty

My New (to me) Art Journal, and a bit of a process share

~ Patty Radish ~ 4 Comments

Surprisingly enough, I have actually been finishing up journals faster than I had noticed. So, I’m happy to say it’s time to start a new one!

IMG_3091

This is a journal that was a little too rough around the edges for my shoppe, so I pulled it out. The colors and themes in it are what I would call “Retro Eclectic”, in other words: challengingly (is that a word?) fun!

Lately, I’ve been trying to step outside of my comfort zone and start using paint in my scrap journals, so I thought I’d share the results in steps.

IMG_3079

I have had these pigments for a very long time, and thought they would be great for scraping onto the text pages in this journal. They worked beautifully for adding color without covering up the text too much!

Super easy-peasy to just add a dab of paint to the card and scrape. The pigment dries quickly without warping or wrinkling the page.

IMG_3082

And a new way to apply tissue for me. I usually use matte medium, which takes a while to dry. A glue stick works well too, but you don’t get the same depth of color through the tissue paper as you would by saturating it with liquid adhesive, but it’s still a nice addition to the page. I’m going to try adding the tissue first, then the pigment next time.IMG_3097

The finished page.

Die cuts, fussy cut image, postage stamps, washi tape, and stickers.

(it seems I’ve managed to cover up all the text I was trying to save, ooops!)

IMG_3098

I’m trying to remember trace around some of the images to give them depth. Again, I tend to be a little too critical about my drawing, and this is no exception, but practice, practice, practice as they say.

IMG_3096

Also,  I’ve been trying my hand at using Gelatos. They’re super fun to use and dry quickly.

So, there it is, a new journal to share. I’m hoping that I will continue to try new things with out over complicating my pages too much. That’s a lot of color!

Once again,

Thank you stopping in,

Have a great day,

~Patty