Mixed Up Media Chix Blog Hop and Of COURSE! Friends With Flair

It's here! It's here! The art journal hop is here! Here's the line-up for today's mixed up media hop in case you get, well, miXed uP!

Maria Levine - http://riacreations.blogspot.com

 

Rebecca Daniels - www.bloomingpink.blogspot.com

Tracy Easson -http://queeniesscrapmad.blogspot.co.uk/

Karen Nofziger - http://karey2005.blogspot.com

Lisa Hetrick - www.lisahetrickdesign.com/in_the_studio

Angeline C - http://scrappyscrappy.blogspot.com

Gwen - http://windchimesandlilacs.blogspot.com

Julie Odil -- http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com You are HERE!

Chris McAdams- thriftysisters-chris.blogspot.com go here next!

Tameko Mays - www.creatingmypeace.com

Lynn Goldman - http://sunnyroomart.blogspot.com

 

 

Before we get to this mixed up media event, I want to show you the mixed up weather I've been dealing with.

 

I'm writing this post Thursday evening.  It's been snowing here since last evening. We have about 17 inches of snow.  These pictures were taken this morning.  There's probably another foot more snow now.  I barely made it TO work, then barely made it home.  It's May! We're supposed to have flowers, sunshine, SPRING!  Not a major winter snowstorm!  Yah! Mixed up it is.

 

And, very fitting for this Mixed Up Media Girlz Hop that I've gotten involved in.  Do you ever agree to something, then think, "oh my, what have I done?".  Well, that's exactly what happened to me here.  Maria does these fantastic art journals all the time and I've been thinking I need to try it.  So, when she mentioned this hop, I thought, "that's just what I need to get me going, plenty of time to figure out how to do an art journal."  Then, all these REAL art journalists started signing up for the hop and displaying their work, and well, here I am.  Over my head.  But that's art.  And that's how you learn.  And, here's what I have to show you. 

 

AND!!!! If you leave me nice comments, I'll give away some blog candy, LOL!!

 

OK, this first journal piece I did was on some paper that I had from a Fancy Pants Memo Notebook.  The paper was too thin. It curled and bled through. But, it was what I had at the time.

 

Since it's art, I named the piece.  It's called, "leftovers"

 

I had lots of scraps on my work space -- too nice to throw away, so I ended up using them on this page.  I used a stencil in the lower left corner, but didn't like how it turned out, so spent some time "fixing " it.  The floral silhouette stamps are Unity/Donna Downey Insightful Meadows.  I used Studio Calico mists on this page.  Here's a couple close ups:

 



This quote about art seemed very appropriate for the new mixed media maven that I am.

After I did this first page, I got an actual art journal, with thicker paper to work with.  I did a 2-page spread in my new art journal.  Here's what it looks like:

I used some wonderful Dylusions ink sprays on this page, along with Hero Arts neon inks.  There's Unity stamps all over the place, too, including that big beautiful butterfly, called, appropriately enough, "Bold Butterfly".  Here's a close up of it.

And, you can see the quote I used on these pages.  So true! Art DOES make me happy. And, here's another close up of these pages.

You can see a Christy Tomlinson (Unity) background stamp, and one more quote from the Donna Downey (Unity) 'Art and Possibility ' set.  The "I am an artist" quote is a little tongue in cheek on this page.  I intentionally got ink on the rim of the stamp so it would stamp "dirty" (leave a mark).  Yeah, I'm an artist alright.  The smaller butterflies are a Close To My Heart set called "Butterfly Kisses".

Oh, I forgot to tell you the title of these 2 pages.  Ready?  "Splatter. splatter. art."

That's it for the art journaling.  I truly hope that Maria organizes this again.  I want to do more of this and try something more technical.  I have some ideas in my head.  I just have to find time to put them on paper.  Deal, Maria?  Another hop?

OK.  I mentioned blog candy.  I've got a giveaway going on this week.  I've had a very busy bloggy week of inspiration, posting everyday since Sunday, and participating in 2 hops.  To celebrate all this inspiration, I'm giving away a 6x6 paper pad, some stick pins from Pinque peacock, some twine, ribbon, bling, a stamp set, and miscellaneous scrappy goodies.  To be eligible for this blog candy, please follow my blog and leave a comment on this post.  To increase your chances of winning, comment on my posts yesterday (May 2), Wed May 1, Tuesday April 30, Monday April 29, and Saturday May 4.

And, because I somehow made it to 200+ followers this week, I'm going to choose 2 winners when this is all said and done.  Winners will be announced early next week.

That's it for me.  If you're participating in any National Scrapbooking Day events over the weekend, I hope for much scrappy mojo for you.  Now, hop on off to Chris' blog to see her artsy goodness.  I just love her style and so will you!