A New Use for Coloring Books

What's Black and White and super-swirly all over? Today's Mandala Monday Journal Page. Recently, I've been given several absolutely gorgeous adult coloring books with all-over or repeating patterns, and my new favorite thing to do with them is cut out the identical black and white shapes, then build them into mandala designs; like this:

   

I strongly wish I had photographed the constituent  pieces before I started so you could instantly see what is what... but, alas... I didn't do that, so I'll just list the parts of which this mandala consists: 

The large circle with spokes which I cut about 70/30 and paced at opposite ends

Medium flower in the center of the circle

Black enamel hearts inside the spokes

Crocus-like flowers studding the edges of the large circles

Tiny half circles and rub-on flowers between the crocus flowers

Butterflies placed outside the crocus flowers

Dots between butterfly antennae

and finally

Charcoal grey marker shadows around the outer edges

I had a lot of fun composing and building this mandala, so I'm pretty confident this will be the first of a continuing series! Meanwhile I wish you a very happy first full week of autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere; or spring if you're in the Southern Hemisphere.

CASE-ing Xmas (Week 2)

At Jingle Belles this is our second week to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) any of the cards that Stephanie or I have made for any of the previous Jingle Belles prompts. You don't need to make a card exactly like the one you choose as your target (the acronym CASE does contain the words "Selectively Edit" after all) just be sure we can see "the bones" so to speak; and remember to tell us which card inspired yours!

This week I chose a card of Stephanie's from our Jingle Belles' prompt last February called Red Christmas; which looked a bit like this... ok technically, it looked exactly like this lol:

Now here's my version:

Once again, I was attracted by the perfect balance and bold simplicity of Stephanie's card; but also... honestly... knowing I had ingredients which were fairly close to the same vibe definitely makes the job easier. I had a journal card with a similar Doodlebug Santa; I had two coordinating red patterned papers: one texty, one not; I added skinny black mats between my layers; and I had a red sentiment with "believe" in it... though rather than stamping, I used a Tim Holtz Sticker. I think this captures the vibe of Stephanie's card pretty well and obviously I have consider it a big bonus that its flat, lightweight design is strong in the mail-ability genre!

JB2619: CASE-ing Christmas runs until next Wednesday evening, September 25th. Come join the fun at Jingle Belles!

Smooth Sailing

Cardmaking is smooth sailing with Eyelet Outlet Boat and Lighthouse Brads. In this design, our Sun and Clouds Brads highlight the sentiment, with Sea Shore and Shell Brads in the foreground; giving this sweet beach scene (made with Simon Hurley create Treescapes backdrop, Watercolor sky, and Smooth Sailing sentiment) lots of texture and interest.

Smooth Sailing Seascape Shopping List:

Boat and Lighthouse Brads

Sun and Clouds Brads

Sea Shore Brads 

Shell Brads

Visit the Eyelet Outlet Store and stock up on your favorite brads, bling, enamels and flowers... while supplies last!  

So Cute It's Almost Scarry

Even before I learned to read, Richard Scarry's "What Do People Do All Day" was one of my favorite books, because there were SO MANY illustrations that you could basically figure out the action, even without being able to decipher the words. Also, it was open-ended, with every double-page spread featuring a new world or concept, so you could randomly flick through and seemingly always discover something new. Also, the "people" in the book were actually adorable animals, all of whom had names, clothing, jobs, pastimes, family and friends; rendered in a very detailed style that I still enjoy to this day. Because YES, I still own my childhood copy; and NO, I don't cut out the illustrations from that copy to make art. But...

...I've seldom been to a book sale or a garage sale that doesn't have a few Richard Scarry books (and/or pretty much any other beloved childhood fave) which are literally falling apart, have been torn and scribbled in, have missing pages, etc etc. And if you'd like to start using original illustrations in your art, I highly recommend treating yourself to a few seriously distressed books, like the one below, which is where I got all the sweet little bits to adorn my mandala. Including, but not limited to, Lowly Worm in his apple car, my very very favorite Scarr-achter!

Wishing you a wonderful, whimsical week!

We Rise by Lifting Others

My Dina Wakley MEdia Ledger Journal is getting pretty full, and I've enjoyed working in it so much that I'm considering doing something I never have before: buying a second copy of the same journal. In the meantime, I had a blast adding layer after layer to this page, including the large Stenciled Queenie (the only thing here that is, alas, out of print); which I covered in ancient, miscellaneous alphabet and numeral rub-ons (the only non-Dina products used); a Passport Photo Chipboard Shape adorned with a perfectly fitting face from the On Their Mind Rub-On Transfer Set; some butterflies from the Flutters set; a few scraps of Grunge Specimens Chroma Transparencies; and finally a few beautiful, colorful birds from the Fly High Stamp Set.

I hope your weekend will be filled with bright colors, beautiful weather, and a little free time to do something creative, just for yourself!

JB2619: CASE-ing Christmas

Since September 7th was Labor Day here in the US, we've decided to celebrate that at Jingle Belles by giving you a bit of a head start with this fortnight's card designs. We're asking you to CASE (Copy and Selectively Edit) any of the cards that Stephanie or I have made for any of the previous Jingle Belles prompts. Which means you've got 16.5 years worth (times two!) of ideas from which to choose! You don't need to make an EXACT duplicate of the card (the acronym does contain "Selectively Edit" afterall); Just be sure to tell us which card inspired yours!

I chose quite a recent card of Stephanie's because I love it, of course; but also because I realized I had almost all the exact same "ingredients" so it seemed like too good an opportunity to waste, lol! Here's her take from the Unicorn Colors prompt in July:

And here's my version:

In retrospect, I wish I had made my card a bit smaller but... (shrugs) ...hindsight is 20/20. right? I used the same adorable Lawn fawn Yeti as Stephanie, I diecut circles from four sinimlar shades of cardstock and debossed them, albeit with a slightly different snowflake folder. I swapped in an Eyelet Outlet Santa Hat and Candy Cane Brad in place of the stamped versions; then I added red and black mats and a similar Lawn Fawn sentiment. Et voila! 

JB2619: CASE-ing Christmas runs until the evening of Wednesday, September 25th. Come join the fun at Jingle Belles!

Ranger Tutorial: Americana

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue... all of which are well-represented in the new Make-It Americana Collectionm from Ranger. I'm up on the Ranger Project Tutorials Page today, with this fun and sparkly card; I'd love for you to hop over and take a look!