Category : Creativity

622 posts

Pastel journey

I created this piece as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the toilet paper crisis of this spring in the midst of the COVID-19 panic buying.  You may be questioning how this is a nod to that so let me explain.

The colorful papers that make up the background of this piece are the colorful wrappers from our “who gives a crap” toilet paper.

Back in January I’d had an ad for Who gives a crap show up on my Instagram feed. I was interested but didn’t jump on the bandwagon however did get on their email list. Little did we know this was going to be a really good plan.  I love that its a little more eco-friendly than standard TP and the company is part of the greater good.

So now back to the piece…

I tore pieces of the wrapping paper and glued it to some printer paper.  I used a bit of paint to blur the details in a few spots to make it feel a little more cohesive. The page looked very 1980s.  I ripped a piece of mop-up paper and stitched it vertically along the page. Over the top I created a loose ruffle of some equally 80s feel fabric.

Since my mind was in that era I decided that some day-glow green mesh on a tag was fitting. Very 80s pastel and geometric shapes…anyone with me so far?

If I’m completely honest, I’m not sure the quote fits the page but the color of the stamped image worked and I’ve had it in my stash FOREVER!

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

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This will only take a minute

Today I wanted to share another journal page based upon my theme of A Stitch in Time for this month’s challenge on Art Journal Journey.

The focal image was the driving force for this piece.  Believe it or not… the clocks are chocolates. Crazy right?

I wish I could remember what magazine this image came from but I really stink at remembering details like that sometimes. Other times, I can remember stupidly intricate details about the most mundane of interactions. Honestly, I think it’s more of a people vs object thing. I am able to retain info about people…its a relationship thing.

I tend to use layers upon layers until I feel the page is complete.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time?

Art Journal Journey

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Skirt upcycle remake

While cleaning out my closet the other day, I found a skirt I had picked up at Goodwill many years ago. I bought it as a potential interview skirt. I loved the fabric. I never used it for interviewing and I already have a job so over time it just got shoved further and further back in the closet.

Mini-me had shown me a tutorial on a skirt she wanted to make. She wants to learn to sew…makes my heart sing!

When she saw the skirt headed for the donate pile she asked if we could try to remake it. As it happened, it was pretty much the perfect design to easily remake into the skirt of her dreams.

It is so cute…she is so cute in it. I’m guessing this will end up as one of her senior portrait outfits.

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For a minute

I wanted to share my latest art journal page for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey.

I decided to go with an asymmetrical page again…I like how the edges add interest to the page. The patterned paper with the clock face is from a 12×12 piece of scrapbook paper from my stash. I have no recollection of when or where I got it. I have picked up box lots of craft supplies/scrapbook supplies etc. Unless I purchased something myself, I really stink at remembering a source…and even then its a little iffy.

The tag is an offcut of a masterboard I created. I love how much interest is created in a simple tag creating them in this fashion.  The stitching is both decorative and utilitarian. it holds down any bits that were not properly glued.

I added a beautiful dyed skeleton leaf as a dramatic backdrop for my found text.

Won’t you join in the fun for A Stitch in Time?

Art Journal Journey

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T Tuesday: updates on this and that edition

Welcome to another edition of T stands for Tuesday.  Since it has been two weeks since my last T Tuesday post, I thought I’d give a few updates on what I’ve been up to.

Let’s dive right in…

I figured I’d start with a garden update since this photo was just so pretty. Whoever thought a potato plant would be pretty. The galvanized planter holds nasturtiums and a volunteer of some sort.

Everything is growing…looking good. It is starting to make me nervous. Every time I have a beautiful garden, some sort of damage happens in the blink of an eye. Hail and pesky deer are the most likely cluprits.

At least this garden should be safe from the deer.

With the addition of the full height gate.

I can’t get over how big the tomatoes have gotten. They all have blossomed with the promise of fruit.

I got outside to water early since the heat and humidity are sky-high for today and tomorrow.

I made a bamboo trellis with little a bunting for each of the large flower pots out front. I decided to plant morning glories and cardinal climbers in the pots this year for something different. I like the height it gives the pots.

I am finally done with school. Distance learning is not fun for anyone…  Since the decision to move to distance learning was made unexpectedly over a weekend, lockers were left untouched. A group of us, over two days, emptied 1600 lockers.

It was a big task but it was awesome to be back in the building. With familiar faces. Talking to people in person.

This locker was empty save the stacks of unused condiment cups. Middle schoolers are weird.

Back at home, I decided to try my hand at pickling eggs. I’m not even sure we’ll like them but time will tell. They need to sit for at 2-4 weeks in the fridge to absorb the flavors.

On Friday, Mini-me had her wisdom teeth removed. She was supposed to get them out 2.5 months ago but…COVID-19 happened, lockdown happened…

She was having a hard time on Saturday so I picked up this beautiful bouquet at the local farmers market to brighten her day. It brightened her spirits but didn’t lessen the swelling. Poor baby…her face was a square. It is still fairly swollen but the pain is lessening.

I’ve been working on some more art journal pages for Art Journal Journey. Did you know I am guest hosting this month? The theme I have chosen is A Stitch in Time.

I’m going to be spending as much time as possible indoors over the next 48 hrs to avoid the heat and humidity. There certainly is plenty to keep me busy.

T stands for Tuesday
What are you doing today?

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A Stitch in Time

If this is your first visit to my blog, WELCOME! I’m Halle and I’m so glad you stopped by! Fun facts about my name: it’s pronounced Holly, it’s Norwegian, actually is spelled Hålle, with an accent mark…just because my parents wanted me to correct every person I ever came into contact with. 

I am honored to be hosting for the second time on Art Journal Journey …thankfully in June again. I work with middle school children with special needs by day and am wife, mom, artist, and blogger by night. I am addicted to paper, fabric, and collage.  

I have chosen A Stitch in Time for the theme this month. For this theme, you can choose whether you want to include an element of stitching, of time, or get crazy and include both! I hope you enjoy this theme as much as I will.

This type of art journal page is one of my favorite kinds to create. A loose-leaf page that will end up adhered to a page in a binder. Working with loose sheets gives so much flexibility. The edges don’t need to be even, you can punch holes, set brads or eyelets, or stitch anywhere you want.

Originally this stack of fabric, book text, tissue paper, and gold sheer ribbon was only glued under the found text. It just needed a little something more. Had this not been a loose-leaf page it would have been impossible for me to machine stitch at this point.  The stitching added the little touch that was needed.

Since this page was quickly becoming very vintage-y (yes, I’m making up words now… it’s my blog, so I can do that). Ok, where was I…ah yes, the vintage feel needed an old clock face. I’ve had a small stack vellum industrial gauges and clock faces in my stash for a long time. I’ve always struggled to use them. This piece was small enough to run through my small Xyron to make it into a sticker. Problem solved.

There are so many elements and textures going on with this page. I love how it turned out. This almost feels like a kitchen sink page…you know…I threw everything at it but the kitchen sink. I think that works sometimes as long as the elements make sense together.

So be free…make pages with uneven edges, add swirls of baling wire, cut up old slides. Stamp, paint, glue, fabric, thread, lace, stickers…use whatever inspires you at the moment.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

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Building a card stash

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been sending more cards. This, in turn, depletes my stash. Over the past week, I’ve been having fun creating some new designs using some scraps as well as previously created card bases.

I have an index card box full of precut layering pieces for cards. This comes in handy for quick card making. I also have a wooden cigar box filled with mini collages for cards or journal pages. Doing some of the mindless prep work ahead of time leaves more time for the creative process and doesn’t interrupt the flow of ideas.

I am also starting to pre-make some sentiment pieces. I grabbed my tag and mason jar punches to start. The mason jar is so darn cute. The punch itself is a bit finicky. It jams almost every single time. UGH!!!!

I am willing to put up with it though because…look how cute this is!!!! After I stamped the pale seafoam green I realized that it was beginning to look like an old-fashioned blue mason. I used a cosmetic sponge to shade in two colors of blue dye-based ink. Then rubbed the top of the jar on a gray pigment ink pad to act as the zinc lid.

I used foam tape to lift it off the page so I could add some sticker flowers to the jar. So fun!

I can 100% guarantee that you’ll be seeing more cards and postcards. They are really quite addictive to create.

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