heart the art: week 24 (doubt) & a SWAP!

this week's heart the art prompt is DOUBT, a subject very close to my heart...but not in a good way!

yeah, i'm definitely a worrier, from a family of worriers. i try to compensate for this by being as positive a person as a natural worrier from a family of worriers can be. so sometimes i am *VERY* strong and impervious to doubt. and sometimes i am a push-over. and i never know which it's going to be until i am in the midst of whatever worrying situation occurs. i was wondering how i'd sum all of this up in one 4x6" art journal page, when i found this illustration in my "cool things ripped outta magazines" file, and then the rest of the page just sort of fell together.

text reads, "Me & Doubt"

(Who is whom depends on the day.)

(materials: crafty secrets woodgrain patterned paper; magazine illustration glued to staples' photo paper to create a faux polaroid; copic pen; manual typewriter; colorbox ink; masking tape)

and now the swap, or rather *HALF* a swap...and sadly, it's not MY half...but i have to show you now 'cause i can't wait! recently, gina saw this cool story about art-o-mat machines (they're actually old cigarette machines converted to sell small pieces of affordable art; they are in galleries and museums around the country; the closest one to new jersey is at the whitney in nyc, just in case you were wondering!) and suggested we create a swap around the idea. since she is MUCH FASTER than me, she finished first...and the results are completely AWESOME!!!

ok, so obviously this is the card and the "art-o-mat" package gina created. the box is ATC-sized and handmade and completely gorgeous! but wait'll you see the contents...i swear it is like the TARDIS in there, otherwise she could never have fit so much in:


seriously, is that a "WOW" or what??! there are a couple of ATC's (including a fabulous PIRATE one!!!) ...some fabulous inchies...a hand-carved stamp that is probably going to be ALL OVER the next 47 things i make (just warnin' ya now!) ...an embossed clay button...some cool beaded pins...and le piece de resistance: a teeeeeeeeny (1.5 x 3") hand-made art journal!!!!!!!

thank you thank you thank you, miss gina!

you have really reallllllly outdone yourself this time, i am blown away! (& i am very nearly almost halfway done yours!) (no, seriously) (ok, maybe more like 30% done...but i'm workin' on it!) ♥♥♥♥♥