Monday, November 1, 2010

November challenge - what an appropriate date


Today starts a 30 day challenge to create some sort of art each day for the month of November. It was one year ago on November 1st that I had my first art therapy session during a time of extreme sadness. I was scared sh**less and apologized to the instructor about a thousand times about how bad it was going to be, and she said the words that I tell myself still - art is not graded or judged - just a way to express yourself and to heal. Our first task was to draw ourselves beside a gate, and my stick figure person was next to a big black gate - appropriate for the way I was feeling then. But I got my feelings out, and over the next months of going through the art therapy, at different locations, I realized that I actually liked it and I could be proud of my creativity. And here I am a year later after that time - with a picture appropriately titled "Happiness is the key" - and you all have helped me feel that way (most days!). I learned how to do this page from a wonderful FREE class I am taking online from Willowing. I did one of these projects already, but I liked it so much I wanted to try again! I used watercolor crayons and pencils, acrylic paints, and stamping. Oh, and a regular old pencil!




Sunday, October 31, 2010

Woo hoo - I did it!! Cards 94-100



YAY!!!!! I just HAD to start with card 100 because I am so happy about it!! I made this card and then on the back of it I listed things that I have learned by doing this challenge, and I would like to share them with you:

1) I am allowed to be proud of myself
2) I am capable of meeting a challenge head on and accomplishing it, no matter how insurmountable it may seem
3) Faced with a blank slate, I can create something wonderful
4) There are fabulous people that care about me and support me - thank you so so much





Here is card 94 - just some watercolor crayons and flowers



Collage with some lace and a button - on November 7th I am starting another collage class, so stay tuned!






A quick card using materials I had left over from an altered book spread I did.






Chris and I went to the Cape May Zoo a week ago and I took this picture of the bird (the little bugger was FAST and I took many shots trying to get his face!). Cut him out and dressed him up with some tulle wings :-)





I like the way this one turned out, with the arch and the fringe and the stamp!




For the background of this card, I used a lovely piece of paper that my friend Su sent me from Hawaii - - isn't it nice?

Tomorrow I start a month long challenge to create a piece of art every day - no limitations on size, materials, etc, so watch this spot for some interesting work.... and thanks so much for sticking with me through these 100 days!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

100 day challenge 84-93

Today in "real" time I will be doing card #99!! I can't believe this journey will be over tomorrow. I have learned SO much doing this challenge - about art and about myself. It has given me confidence in myself and made me feel like I CAN do a seemingly impossible task if I tackle it in baby steps - taking it one day at a time. My friends have been so supportive and make me feel good about myself too!


I did this card using techniques from my collage class.

Collage collage - my old standby!

Somedays I wish I knew...




I closed my eyes and picked a paint color, and then dug through my piles to find things that matched - some lace, a flower, and a camel lol!



Glug, glug, glug


Sadness! I made this card while we still had hope...





Some gold paint blobbed on the card, so I went with it :-)





Working too much on my darkside round robin I guess








Another "pick the background color and do the matchy match" card!



Oh, to be at the beach



Thanks, friends!













































Tuesday, October 19, 2010

100 day challenge cards 74-83

Homestretch!! I just want to thank all of you for giving me encouragement and kind words along the way - I know I would never have gotten to this point without my friends believing I could do it. I do try to make each of these cards special, with a few notable rushed exceptions :-) - I want to be able to look back at this project and remember the feelings and emotions that I had each day and what prompted me to create each card.



I did a little art journaling on this card - and I need to remember these words!





Some more of what I have discovered to be my favorite - collage!





I had to commemorate my 10-10-10 birthday somehow, right? LOL!








Had to put my baby on one of these cards - after all, he usually is sitting by my feet when I make them!





More collage!






On my first night of sewing class, we were practicing a straight stitch, and I veered off course once - looked like a road to me, and thus a card was born :-)






This looks MUCH better in person - could not get a good picture.





I drew the simple branch background and then had fun with the hole punch.







Ho hum - more collage.








Using up some scrapbook stuff.



Thanks for looking!!












Friday, October 15, 2010

100 day challenge cards 64-73

Home stretch - yay! In real time, I have 2 weeks left. I rarely feel pride in myself, but this project is totally changing that. When I started this goal, I looked at that pile of index cards and sort of panicked - what was I getting myself into? But as that pile dwindled, I realized that I AM capable of sticking to a goal and seeing it through - something that has eluded me for a long time. Thanks to all the friends who take the time to look at my cards and encourage me along the way. And here are cards 64 through 73.

Some hole punches and some string - easy!


I think I have pictures of my 2 kids with the same expressions on their faces - "you can take my picture, but I don't have to be happy about it lol!"

I used the bottom of some wooden spools to stamp the background - I think they turned out pretty cool! I like the theme too - something I don't do as often as I should.


A funny doodle!

I stamped the flowers and colored them in, then circled them and put some light glitter on top to look like a snowglobe - looks much better in person.






I took the gold wrapper in the center off a package of embroidery thread and thought I would search for other gold items I had in my stash. A few buttons and some ribbon later, a card emerged!





Some collage techniques and a few more of my wonderful stamps!!







A reminder for me (and everyone!) each day.






Scrap material, a flower cut from a dollar store bunch, and a few white sequins -
Just Imagine!!






Took my sharpie and scribbled a design and colored it in - an "I took it easy" day.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

100 day challenge 55-63

I am so bad at posting these! In real time, I am up to day 80 - I can't believe I have been working on these for almost 3 months! Some days I am so un motivated, but I get that card out and something comes to me - as you can see some days better than others!





Hmmm - do you think I was motivated THIS day lol?



Scrapbook paper, stamps, ink,crayons, ribbon, paper clip, kitchen sink :-)





I used chalk that matched the stamp, and then I thought the sponge looked cool so I put that on as well!




Just doodled, and then it looked like a spider to me.





Purple!






I saw my yarn stash and was inspired!






I liked this block of postage stamps, and I wanted to kind of imitate the guy's body position with the card cutout.









A little collage practice.







I used some antiquing techniques and put the girl over top some stringy material I have.












Monday, September 27, 2010

INSPIRATION CARDS 45-54

I just kind of raced through to get these posted, so apologies if they look out of place! I can't believe I have been working on these cards daily for over 2 months!! Tonight I start my sewing class - I am nervous, but excited too. My machine is all packed and ready to go :-)


It was a dark and stormy night when I made this card. The one below it - don't look too closely at the right side, as I was trying to cover up a mistake! I do like the butterfly/clock though.



Collage class practice in the next two cards. I scored with a HUGE lot of postage stamps at a yard sale, so be prepared to see more stamps in the upcoming days!






Using up some scrapbooking things in my collection.


Fabric scraps and glitter glue = quick and easy!!


A good use of Victoria's Secret tissue paper :-)




Just fiddling with markers and a ruler. Maybe I was hungry, because the one shape ended up looking like a chocolate chip cookie lol!



My friend Arlene sent me the most adorable inspiration card with the flying angel. It has been sitting on my desk, making me smile, so I tried to draw her. Sad sad sad!! But it was fun to try! Thanks, Arlene!!





More scrap booking stuff - felt cheery today!

As always, thanks for taking the time to check out my art. Very much appreciated!