The Color Palette Journal: Autumn Feast

 It's been awhile. 

I have no excuses or apologies. No one should.

But I do have a layout to share from the Color Palette Journal. I randomly selected a palette from my Pinterest board and will select another when this is posted. I work in a small Dylusions journal and my main mediums are ink and paper. This journal focuses mostly on rubber stamping and collage.

Here's the Autumn Feast color palette:

I didn't want to go the Autumn route but that's where I ended up because I just love Autumn!

Here's what I made:

I decided to make the leaves in the two shades of brown and use the colors in the background. I used a stencil set I hadn't used...ever. It's simple, faintly familiar, and just what I wanted: something to get the mojo flowing. As with many of the art journal pages I've shared on this blog, their main purpose is to spur my creativity and just settle my anxious mind. 

On to the next...

-Wy

oh, and yes...I have been contemplating this year's Halloween projects. I await a little inspiration from Tim Holtz in August but I have begun to think on some things that I'd like to get done that I have left over from previous years. Stay tuned. Halloween is coming.

The Color Palette Journal: Cold Stone

 Hey, I finally got back to my Color Palette Journal! I often forget how much I enjoy working in this journal until I sit down to do a page spread.

Here is the randomly selected Color Palette:

I named it Cold Stone but my journal page doesn't quite reflect that.

My pages began with me pulling out my Distress inks to match some colors in the palette. Dusty Concord and Speckled Egg. I found some solid cardstocks to match the light blue and gray as well as some scraps on my table that matched the purples.

But my plan didn't come together until I found a scrap of paper in my "scrap file" that was exactly what I needed. The paper was of two deer on a snowy day looking off to the distance. It had the purple tones I wanted as well as the steel blues. I had saved this paper (it was the top of a small notepad) because I did love the image so much. So I knew I had a scene on my hands (again) but what to put in the background? I was onto Spring things, not Winter snow. That's when I decided to look through the stamps sets that I hadn't used yet. I found one from Altenew with a layered cloud, rain and lightning. Yup, lightning struck!

Here's the page spread without much more exposition.

Overall, I really like it. It ain't perfect, it ain't great art. But it has some of my favorite colors, a favorite sheet of paper is now preserved, and I learned a few things. All my ideas didn't come to fruition but then again a lot of this page spread came about through serendipity. 

Thanks for stopping in for a look! I will be randomly selecting another Color Palette for my next spread from my Pinterest board. Take a look over there if you need some color inspiration!

-Wy

Halloween Tags 2020

 Just a few little tag creations to use up some scraps and old tags!

Enjoy!

I'll be doing more Snarky Cats for Christmas because I just can't get enough of them!

Wear a mask and stop the spread!

-Wy

Color Palette Journal: Desert Sky

I have decided to normalize the blog titles even though, here in the US, things are hardly normal. I'm not going to elaborate on the big picture with Covid-19 because it is nothing I can control. I can only control my own actions. I need to let the rest go. It frustrates me too much. It gets me all worked up. Soooo...

Let's talk about art journaling.

I find myself really liking my Color Palette Journal. I haven't had this much fun and satisfaction since I finished up my Sing Song Journal. (Go back through some old posts here on the blog to see pages from that. A journal inspired by the songs that I was listening to while I sat down to create.) Since my Pinterest board has over 200 color palettes still on it, I think I may be doing these journals for a while. I have come to the conclusion that I am mainly inspired by color. (duh) 

So here's the Palette that was randomly selected for this spread. I named it Desert Sky.

It's hard to tell if that really dark color is a very dark blue or black. I chose dark blue.

I had a spread in this journal that already had stamps on it. I used some Lawn Fawn stamps and set up a scene but I had never colored it in. So this palette seemed to work well for it.

Unbelievable: This came together quickly since I only needed to add color. My Nessie is a bit darker than I'd like but overall I like the page. It isn't great art but I think it's cute. The word is my word for the week because it's what I mutter to myself every time I turn on the news.

Wherever you are, please stay safe.

Stay home if you can. Wear a mask because it works! 

Wash your hands and social distance no matter what.

Please don't make this last longer than it has to. Be smart.

-Wy

The New Normal: Phase 2: Day 9

Whew! What a week.

I have been staying away from the news once again but I still don't consider the week a good one for me personally. If I had to classify it, I'd say it was frustrating and annoying.

But I tried to get it out of my system with an art journal page.

You know the drill: Color Palette Journal, Pinterest Board inspiration.

Here's the Palette I tentatively called "Purple Mountain Majesty".

When I see a palette with black in it, I immediately think that black will be my background. I do like to work on black paper and substrates. However, I decided to keep the black to a bit of splatter and focus on the delightful combination of teal and purple.

I thought I'd do purple flowers on a teal background but as my need to scream grew in intensity, I changed my plan to go with bugs. Bugs, those little devilish ingrates that get under your skin and burrow into your thoughts to cause that frustrating itch that you cannot scratch. It was the heart of my mood.

The page seemed a bit empty after I had all my bugs in place but a bit of washi tape solved that problem. I framed the opposite corners with some phrases found in a Tim Holtz stamp set (along with the bugs). 

Despite the negative mood in which this was conceived, I am rather enamored with the page. I love the touches of washi.

Time to choose another palette. This journal is beyond it's halfway point, certainly not enough to finish the 250 odd pins on the board, so expect to see another Color Palette Journal after this one.

Black Lives Matter

Wear Your Mask

Save lives.

Be Kind.

-Wy

Global Pandemic: Day 10

It was a good news/bad news kinda day.

Good news: The Governor released figures that suggest social distancing in our state is working. The Apex of our wave of maximum cases looks like it may hit in 21 days.
Bad news: If we're still on the upswing of this, the numbers of people hospitalized may be the upper numbers of the projected range. Which means, we still lack vital equipment.

Good news: I didn't have to cook. My sister had some food delivered to our home. It was well received by all of us.
Bad news: My patience has been wearing a bit thin with both parents in the last couple of days. I've been isolating myself in my room to avoid hurting feelings.

Good news: I received my new credit card today.
Bad news: I can't buy anything with it.

Bad news: COVID-19 has been confirmed in my county.
Good news: We knew it was coming and we are prepared for the most part.

Good news: I feel safe when I hear the Governor talk and plan.
Bad news: I feel like I need a fallout shelter and 20 cases of canned goods when the President speaks.

Good news: I got an art journal page done today.
Bad news: I realized that the project I was working on didn't have a color in it that it requires. Starting over.

I was working in my Color Palette Journal today. Here's the palette I was working with called "Sea Hues".

And here's the page spread I did. You may have seen it on my Instagram.

Unity Stamps for quote, ship, and whale. Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps for clouds and birds in sky. Quick and fun.

Stay safe and well.
Wash your dang hands.
Stop touching your face. (This is Sooooo hard for me!)
Stay Home.
-Wy
If we all just buckle down and suck it up for two weeks, it'll be over quicker. Do you want to just yank the band-aid off or do you want me to pull it sloooowwwlly off your skin ripping the little hairs out as I go? Right.

Global Pandemic: Day 4

An overall uneventful day.

I didn't watch any news and stayed away from Facebook for the most of the day. Last night, I got a call from the Credit Card Company to tell me it had been used fraudulently. Ugh. Now I've got to change all the shopping sites that have that card attached to them. Should probably change passwords, too. Pain.

But other than that, it was a pretty non-stressed day. Even saw a robin and some chipmunks on the lawn to announce that Spring has indeed arrived.

So I made some more snarky cat cards. I hope to mail a lot of these.

Toilet paper, anyone?

Let's hang in there, people!
Wash your hands.
Social distancing.
Just stay home.
-Wy
"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate....
Hate leads to suffering."  --Master Yoda

Global Pandemic: Day 3

So my Dad decided to go to the bank. He took my Mom for a little drive and they used the drive up ATM. Thank goodness.

I checked in at Apothecary Chocolates to be sure everything was put away, pick up my paycheck, and reassure the owner that I would be back when the all-clear sounded. I felt very fortunate today to have such supportive "bosses" at both my work spaces.

Though I am in no way financially prepared for something like this. (My small emergency fund is maybe good for a couple months worth of bills.) I simply cannot bring myself to step out into public unless necessity arises. If I were to get my Mom or Dad sick, that would be far more devastating to me than going broke.

My Mom doesn't quite remember why we need to stay at home or why I shouldn't go to work but she seems neither worried nor excited about me hanging around the house for a couple weeks. My Dad while understanding the need to stay home, almost seems surprised that I am staying home. My job is not essential in times of crisis. (Though some would agree with me when I say, in an emergency, chocolate is always essential.) They together sort of understand but also forget that this is a new normal for now. I reminded them when they came home from the ATM to wash their hands. My Mom, no big deal as she sat in the passenger seat of the car the whole time. My Dad, however, was the one to touch all those buttons. As I told my Mom, "if you go out and touch things, when you come home, you gotta wash your hands." Dad kinda chuckled and went to the kitchen to wash up.

Our lesson for tomorrow may be singing Happy Birthday twice as I know my Dad didn't wash his hands for 20 seconds.

Today, the coronavirus made me talk to my Mom and Dad like they were in kindergarten. Trying to tell your parents what to do is difficult to say the least!

Anyway, here's what I made today because I just had to have a laugh.

I shared this one on Instagram earlier.
And here's another that I shared a few days ago.

I will be making more of the first one just because it's so laughable. That stamp and snarkiness is from Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous. I love this set of cats.

Go with the flow.
Wash your hands!
-Wy
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#wereinthistogether

Global Pandemic: Day 2

So it's St. Patrick's Day.

I started my day with making Irish Soda bread and watching Gov. Cuomo's address to NY about COVID-19. I don't care what anyone says about NY State or it's Governor: he was great to listen to this morning. He was confident, informed, reasonable, and calm. Yes, he was calm. Not abnormally calm, just take-it-in-stride calm. It was so less stressful than watching the headline news where they make every little decision seem like the beginning of the apocalypse. It was nice to hear that he was working with the Federal Govt and President Trump to coordinate the "Plan".

I did not go to work to make chocolate but I will be checking in there tomorrow, I have decided. My other part-time job was kind enough to let me stay home for the next 2 weeks then re-evaluate.

So in between making scalloped potatoes and Irish Stew, I managed to make a couple cards with some green.

These cards were made with peg stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. Love that you get a great look without having to mask every little stamp.

Today was less scary but anxiety level is still at defcon 2.
It's a small improvement. I'll take it.
-Wy
In with the good, Out with the bad.

Quiet

It's been pretty quiet here on the blog.

I got back from a long vacation and hope I can now post more regularly.

So here's a few photos for ya. These cards will be coming soon to the Etsy Store.

Each of these cards will be in a gift set box with a pen and postage paid envelopes. They will be available in mid-March.

Thanks for popping in!
-Wy

Sixers

I have fallen deeply in love with the 6 X 6 format of  "art journal". I am currently working with  just loose paper so it's not a bound book but I take the same approach as I would my art journal pages. Most are inspired by the #artfulevidence challenge by Rachel Black. (Find her on YouTube for videos for some of the challenge themes.)

I find myself doing other pages that aren't based on the challenge. So decided to just share pages as I do them without regard to any "theme".

Here's a few of late:

Bright Colors: Dyan Reaveley style. I used my much loved but little used Gelatos for the background. I need to use them more.

 I was inspired by the photos shared on social media about the "super blood wolf moon" eclipse or whatever they were calling the Lunar Eclipse this time. Particularly this one   by Dick Beery.

I had this idea back when I did my Silhouette ATCs. The silhouette is Poe and he's taking in The Starry Night. The starry night is a stamp (Technique Junkies) as well as Poe's head (Carmen's Veranda). I added the frame and quote from Poe. Not much work on my part but I love it.

See ya.
-Wy
"Silence isn't empty; it's full of answers."