KIF Journaling and Mix it monthly.

Here are some of pages I have been working on since joining the Krazy Island Family early this year.

I have been so encouraged by groups such as these, who are so supportive and positive.

 I look forward to the weekly and monthly challenges they so kindly set.

This first page is appropriate for Connie's crazy dress challenge found at Mix it Monthly.

ATC Challenge.

These are my first attempt at ATC's for the KIF swap. The title Summer Lovin'.

Both were done with napkin backgrounds, which make it very vibrant.

I like the birds the best as I was able to get a lot more texture into it.

Can't wait for the next challenge.

Prelude to Holiday.

Two more sleeps now until we take off for our 3 weeks in Europe.

It's been a long time coming, now I just have to make it in one piece!

Currently I've come down with a sty in my left eye, which will apparently subside on its own!!

Not a good look for Paris, vanity, vanity!

Also hurt my back at work, and have a nice bruise across it. So I'm wrapping myself in cotton wool til we take off!

Here is a little something I just had to do last Friday. She's an angle, not a fairy! I need to put some words on it perhaps. Until we meet again, love and blessings.

Art Journal Journey

Wow, talk about premonition! I had done this picture yesterday, before checking into to Suzi's theme for this month, kindly set by Jeanette. Low and behold it was circles! So I have one in the bag already. Yeah!

I am beginning to get ready for my big European holiday, on the 17thMay. So if any of you see me there please say hello! I will be wearing a pink cap with Australia on it!! Lol.

Pretty girl.

Here is my best attempt yet of A pretty girl, post Claudia Rossi's workshop.

I was quite happy with the result. Apparently, if I put the curve of the eyes on the top of the eye, my girl will look happier.

It's a beautiful day here. The sky is so blue and it's starting to cool down a little which makes me happy.

MIM

Another page designated to Mix- it-Monthly for maps.

This map torn from the front of the local phone book, and lightly sprayed with dylusions. Flowers punched from same map and again sprayed with dylusions orange in a vain attempt to stick with Connie's colours.

I am happy with this page, and it's a lot cheerier than my last one. 

Art Journal Journey Challenge.

I have at last settled on what makes me happy!

So many things bring me happiness, least of all my new obsession....making art, buying supplies or op-shopping for art supplies. 

Of course my husband makes me happy, because he is always happy, and my two boys can make me happy when they so choose to.

A good cup of tea is one of life's simple pleasures, and a good coffee makes me beyond happy.

But what makes me really happy is meeting new people, and making new friends! Friends are a true gift from God.

I am a people person, so to all the lovely people who I am meeting via these challenges, I say thank you. You make me happy to know I am making friends through art.

MIM.

Connie's Mix it Monthly challenge this month is using maps.

Here I have photocopied a page from a wonderful book by Judyth McLeod called The Atlas of Legendary Lands. A book about fabled kingdoms, Phantom Islands, Lost Continents and other mythical worlds. I need to find some time to read this beautiful book, full of maps and stories of the daring feats of brave and adventurous sailors.

My entry for MIM however is a round a statement by Jesus, when questioned by Pilate re His claim to be a king.

It reminds me of the song we sing at church, This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through, if heavens not my home, then Lord what will I do.

Anyways, enjoy and thanks for dropping by.

Girls Face

I have just completed Claudia Rossi's online course; learning to draw pretty girls.

It involved face mapping, which will be useful in getting the right proportions to my faces.

A very worthwhile venture. Here is my journal attempt. Not perfect yet.,

The deluge they have forecast has arrived. We need the rain badly, as it's been very dry this summer, but not sure about the flash flooding they have predicted!

Card making.

More girls.

These two ladies are the result of a quiet Friday afternoon. I had two painting on the go at once. Double the fun! I like the lady of simple pleasures. It is a sentiment that rings true with my life more and more. A quiet afternoon at home painting. What more could I wish for.

Mixed media afternoon.

What a blessing to have good friends. I spent the morning having a good heart to heart with my dear, and very honest friend. She really lays it bare, letting the light of God shine on her life. "And where there is light there can be no darkness". Such a lovely witness for The Lord.

Anyways, I did this canvas when I got home. I'm absolutely in love with turquoise at the moment. Can't get enough of it!

Abstract for MIM.

This month for the Mix it Monthly Challenge, Connie has chosen abstract, using various blues and orange. This was fun to do. I can't say I have mastered it, but was my first attempt at an abstract painting.

Card making.

A sweet card for a sweet little girl.

Weekend Get-Away.

Had a beautiful 4 day get-away with my hubby, at the gorgeous Rainbow Beach. We did lots of swimming at the beach, ate some great food, and just enjoyed the amazing views from our beach front apartment. Sunday was spent with the  brethren at Maryborough. Can't wait to go back and maybe next time we will skip over to Faser Island for the day. Back to reality now.

Junk journaling.

Here's a spread I did with craft catalog cut outs. It's nice and bright. I am still learning how to be brave with colour though. I'm off to a lovely ladies 21 st birthday this afternoon. It's a balmy 34 degrees Celcius today, not the ideal weather for cake decorating! 

Thankfully I decorated the cake early and managed to keep it from melting before the party!!

I hope she likes it.

More mixed media fun.

Had a lovely morning with my friend Lara, putting our new techniques into practice.

It was good fun to work along side someone to give me an extra kick along, and to encourage each other. Also her new set of big brush markers were to die for. This canvas is for a nursery. Below is the new version. I've brightened it up and added a little bow. Looks better??

My world.

Here is a picture of some beautiful birds that grace the skies where I live. They are as noisy as they are colourful, and like to wake you up at dawn with their squawking. I have had both birds as pets at various times in my life, both can be taught to talk and whistle tunes. My Nana had a galah when I was little that had the run of the house, what a larrikin it was. In fact in Australia we call a guy who's out of line a galah! I have submitted it to Conny's Mix-it-Monthly.

Our beloved Chester

This is my entry to Conny's art challenge, Mix it Monthly. We had to paint our pet. I have done mine in pencils, as I wanted to see if I could get the effect of fur.

Doing this picture, has made us all remember how much we miss our little man who left us in November.

The most excellent way.

There are lots of ways one can go in this life, but to choose the most excellent way is indeed a great privilege. 

Compliments to the master.....Kelly Rae.

I so love Kelly Rae's style. Her ladies are so serene and elegant. Well I just had to paint one! I'm not sure of the legalities involved in copying, but I sure had fun doing this lady. I hope I can find my own style one day. Until then, I thank all the lovely artist's out there, that put their work out there for others to learn from. The internet is amazing!!  I need to do some finishing touches and probably add some text.

BTW. Got the results back from my neck biopsies, and they were all OK. Phew. I'm very thankful to God, and realise how different today would be if the results were different. Today is a good day.

Sweltering heat.

It's been stinking hot here in Brissie this past week. The sort of hot, humid weather where you sweat at the least exertion. Needless to say I am keeping exertion to a minimum. Housework can wait! Salads are the order of the day, and it's best practice to stay indoors and definately out of the sun. Yesterday I  had to go for a fine needle biopsy on two lumps I found in my neck. I will not get the results until next week, so I am staying positive and taking comfort in my faith, trusting that, come what may, I have a God that will never leave me. In light of this I was thinking my one little word for 2014 is trust. It's a little word that encompasses so much, and for me it means to not get ahead of myself with the what if's and what should be's, but to know I am exactly in the place I should be. Trusting that God is always at his work, and He won't leave me where I am.

I'm also trusting my creative instinct. As I have never painted in all my 50 something years, picking up a paintbrush 3 months ago was indeed scarey. But I'm loving where it's taking me also, and I know it's

a journey as well.

Junking it up.

Here' my first go at junk journaling.... Using bibs n' bobs that you would otherwise throw out, to make something arty. I had a nice sturdy bag some cosmetics came in, so I used it to create my first piece. It had writing on the other side so I sprayed it with my new dylusion sprays, and cut some flowers out to make a card. The card stock was a happy find at the back of the cupboard. It's probably 18 years old, and made with the kids when they were little! Memories.....

A steep learning curve.

Having just started with this new obsession with mixed media, makes me both excited and daunted at the same time. There is so much to learn and so little time. However, I will take on board my word for this painting and just breathe. One day and one painting at a time.....

Here I have taken a lesson again from Flora Bowely's book Brave Intuitive Painting.

I am learning to go with more layering and to be "brave enough to paint over something you like to replace it with something you love." What a great lesson for life!

So picture No 1 is 2 layers, and below is the 3rd and final product. I think it works. Thanks Flora.

Loving this painting thing.

I was inspired by Kelly Rae Roberts and Flora Bowley to to this painting today.

I had lots of fun with the colours and I can't believe how it's all coming together so well. I guess it's a matter of trusting your instincts as they say, and letting go of the fear of failure. Mind you it's far from perfect... But that's part of embracing imperfection. Note the 5 o'clock shadow!

It's called, Be Still.

My first attempt at mix it up monthly.

Silly hat challenge, using orange violet and hibiscus. Love the colours.