PostCard Book 2 ~ Ooodles of Doodling FUN!

Happy Monday everyone!

I had so much FUN this weekend making a book out of the regular old postcards I got in the mail from companies advertising their services and upcoming events.

I love to save ones that are different sizes to use for a rainy day.

I learned how to make these books from the super talented Carla Sonheim in the art retreat Melanie and I took last last Fall by Art Camp for Women.

Here is Melanie's book, and here is mine from our class.

She also has the complete drawing and book project instructions in her new gorgeous book, Drawing & Painting Imaginary Animals.

Melanie and I loved making these books so much that I have been just waiting for a quiet weekend to sit down and make another one!

These animals and books are so magical because you never know what you are going to see, make & create on every page!

I was even surprised that this book evolved to be vertical in orientation instead of horizontal although the pages do whimsically spin from vertical to horizontal within the book too!

You do not have to buy any expensive art materials to make these.

As I described above, the postcards were free in the mail, and I just used some of my gesso, kid's dry watercolors, a white paint marker, colored pencils and a black sharpie marker to make all of these amazing creatures.

The black tape I used was actually just regular old electrical tape I found in Fred's tool box!

How fun is that?

The whole book has a wonderful flow and unfolded in the photos series documented for you below.

What a FUN way to spend the weekend!

I felt like a little kid again.

R-Chee slept on my feet while I colored. :)

Please let me know if you make one of these books too!

I would LOVE to see!

xoxoxo

Melissa & R-Chee

My Journals... Works in Progress

Here is one of my favorite journals that I work in evertime I get a new magazine or catalog.

I cut out everything that I like. It can be pictures, words, colors, rooms, textures - it does not matter. If it catches my eye I know I like it.

Then I glue them into the pages with an intuitive flow of grabbing different clippings and putting them together on the pages with the help of my trusty gluestick. I never think too hard about it, just let it be fun and free. I am always inspired by the pages that unfold. It is also fun to go back and look through all the pages from the beginning.

I find I do that with all of my journals. I will look at each page and enjoy it, get to the end of the entries, close the book and open it all over again. :)

My friend Fannie made me this beautiful journal last year as a surprise.

And here is my moleskin journal. It is the new Japanese Notebook style where the pages fold out into one long accordian display. I am journaling all of my blind doodles here. It is so fun to see them all together. It is a party of funny creatures.

All of my journals are mostly about images, not words, although they do appear in there too at times.

I like having different places to create. Some of my journals are filled with original art, some with photos, some with prints of my paintings, some with my handcarved stamps and some with ideas and goals.

I love creating each one throughout a span of time. I feel it tells more of a story that way instead of rushing through them to get them done. It is a wonderful opportunity for me to be more present and to appreciate this amazing journey we call life. :)

What kind of journals or scrapbooks do you like to create? I would love to see!

New Altered Journal Pages

**** Happy 4th of July! ****

Here are some fun pages from my new altered journal.

A few weeks ago I showed you the beginnings of my 3rd altered journal.

I have had so much fun adding the art I have been creating in the last couple of weeks.

My pages are still in progress. I keep adding to them as I go, never feeling like they have to be completed immediately. It is wonderful for me to have a place waiting for new possibilities and art. Who knows what I will find or create to add to my book. It is exciting.

Pop Ups are always fun to do!

The Holiday Pugs are hiding behind the Pop Up Pug.

I will keep adding to my journal this summer and show you what I do.

Do you create a space for yourself to be creative? Please leave me a comment and share what you like to do. I would love to hear all about it!

Have a wonderful, fun, happy and safe 4th of July!

2 New Pug Charms - Round

I had so much fun creating these round pug charms from some new blanks I just got on Etsy.

The round embellishments are 7/8" wide and are made of brass. They will be perfect for any collage or altered journal project.

They are now available in my Etsy store. Shipping is free is the USA.

Enjoy!

Creating a Space to be Creative

I started working on my new altered journal this weekend.

I am having fun creating decorative pages that I will eventually fill with art.

I like making a space to be creative without needing to fill it right away. It will be ready to show off art that is not quite here yet.

The first thing I did was to create a fabric book cover that slips right over the old hard cover.

I chose a Japanese fabric I bought on Etsy. The creatures are supposed to be dogs, but I think they look like kitties too.

For extra texture and pugginess, I created a beaded pug patch from another piece of fabric I bought on Etsy to add to the front cover

Here is the inside of the book so far.

Most of the book has not been sectioned off yet.

Here it is closed.

You can see the seed beads I sewed in that actually makes a pocket inside the book.

I will keep you posted on my progress. :)

Altered Journal #2 and a Fun Dog Book!

I just finished my second altered journal.

Just like the first, it is filled with pug art and photos of fun things I did this year.

I had so much fun creating it over the last 6 months.

I already have a third one picked out and ready to start.

I am displaying my altered journals with some of my favorite pug and art books on my coffee table.

Speaking of favorite dog art books, my friend Connie Conley, a very talented artist and writer, just finished her second book of her dog paintings and poems.

Check out her website and Etsy Store.

She is always creating something new!

Journal Pages

I had fun adding to my altered journal. I completed several pages with my photos from San Diego into a collage of memories.

I also added pictures of the pendants we just made which I think fit really well on this page spread. This book is almost complete and then I get to start another one.

New Pop Up Journal Pages

I added two new pop ups to my altered journal. Baby wild Emmitt and my Parrotlet, Gilbert. I also added my birthday card I made last week to wish Gilbert a happy Hatch Day. He turned 7 on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday Gilbert!

We love you!