My Word for 2012

19 Jan 2012 5 Comments

by kimmer in Art Journaling, Copics, hand lettering, Misc Paper Projects, Mixed Media, Stamping

Hello my friends! I have decided to pick a word for 2012. I’ve done this before, but I usually forget about it after a month or two. We’ll see how this year goes. I’ve chosen INTENTION as my word for 2012. I want to live with intention. I want to make art with intention. I want to accomplish my goals with intention. I want to exercise with intention. Blog with intention. Even speak with intention. To me, that means that I will have clearly defined goals, and strive towards accomplishing them. All of them. If I don’t reach a goal, I will evaluate why that happened, and figure out a way to prevent it from happening again. Yes. That’s what I’m going to do.

So, I am sharing a journal page I started on January 1st, and INTENDED to complete on January 1st. But, I didn’t. Why? Because I got stuck. I had it partially completed, and didn’t know what it needed to feel finished. That inspiration came to me yesterday, so I completed it with INTENTION.

I started this journal page on a 9×12 piece of 90 lb watercolour paper, with my hand lettering. Then, I went to town with my markers and stamps. I used my Faber Castell Pitt pens for the black areas. Then, I added some shine with my Sakura gel pens. Then, I went in with my Copic markers and doodled around the “for 2012″ section at the top. The rainbow coloured stripes were made with my Inktense pencils and a water brush. Then, I stamped the leaves and flowers with a couple of my Stampin’ Bella stamps, with Stazon ink. I didn’t get a great imprint (my Stazon pad is getting dry), so I went back in with my black brush Pitt pen to darken them. then, I outlined the black with white, using my favourite white pen – by Uniball Signo.

Same idea with this next spread in my XL Moleskine. I started this page quite some time ago, but it didn’t feel finished. So, I went back to it yesterday, and finished it!

I used the same flower stamp by Stampin’ Bella on this spread. I also used a Crafter’s Workshop stencil, and some spray ink to create the grid effect. I sprayed through the stencil on the page on the right, and then stamped with the same stencil on the left page. I doodled all around the flowers with Sakura gel pens, and my Faber Castell Pitt pen. Then, I added the purple washi tape, and hand lettered the sentiment on top, with my Pitt pens. I added the shadow (which isn’t very visible on the photo), with my Copic markers in C-2 cool gray and C-0 cool gray. The finishing touch was the Stampin’ Bella leaf stamp around the top edge, stamped using Stazon black ink.

So, that’s all for today. What about you? Do you have a word for 2012?

Handmade Art Journal Giveaway!

10 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling, Blog Candy

I’m giving away a handmade Smash-style art journal! The details are on yesterday’s post.

Giveaway Time!

08 Jan 2012 8 Comments

by kimmer in Art Journaling, Blog Candy, Mixed Media, Smash Folio

I have not offered up any blog candy in a long time! Back when I was on several design teams, I used to give away stuff on a pretty regular basis. Should I give away a handmade Smash-style journal? I love love love my Smash books. I have filled one, and have 2 more on the go right now. One is for travel (I smashed about my September, 2011 trip to NYC, but only used about half the book). The red one (used for random stuff) is almost full. I was planning to purchase another one, and may still do that. Michael’s is carrying them now, so I thought I’d check my local Michael’s and see if I can use a coupon to get a good deal on one. But, Michael’s usually seems to inflate their prices, in general, so we’ll see. Alternatively, I may make myself one. I just finished making a couple for two special little girls, and they love them! I forgot to photograph them, though.

Back to my blog candy. I thought I’d share some of my creative goals for 2012 here, and give you a chance to do the same on your blog, as a way of inspiring others. So, for those of you who have blogs, if you blog about your goals (or may have already blogged about them), add a comment to this post, with a link to your post (not your blog, but the actual post, please, so I can take a peek), then you will be entered into my draw for your very own hand made Smash-style book! I’ll leave this open for a week. I’ll draw one random name on Saturday, January 14.

So, here are some of my artsy/creative goals for 2012:

Create daily.
Blog at least 3 times per week.
Pick a word for the year.
Take at least 5 online art courses.
Take one in-person art course.
Learn to create digitally.
Do more painting on canvas.
Learn to paint BIG!

I think that’s all for my goals. What about you? Do you have some creative goals for 2012? Do you want to win a hand made Smash-style journal? If so,(for those of you who have blogs), if you blog about your goals (or may have already blogged about them), add a comment to this post, with a link to your post (not your blog, but the actual post, please, so I can take a peek), then you will be entered into my draw for your very own hand made Smash-style book! If you don’t have a blog, please add your 2012 creative goals to your comment. I’ll leave this open for a week. I’ll draw one random name on Saturday, January 14. Check back regularly this week, because I will be posting a picture of the journal that you could win!

Red Smash Book

06 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling, hand lettering, Smash Folio

This is the first Smash book I purchased – some time around the beginning of 2011. There are a few pages that actually ended up worthy of blogging about. Most of them, not so much. But, that’s okay. I don’t journal to make pretty pages. 2011 was a tough year, for many reasons, and my journal pages reveal that. I was just so NOT inspired, or feeling creative for about the first half of the year. I kept trying to get inspired, but it just didn’t happen. Such is life. I continued to push myself, and eventually, my mojo came back. That makes me happy. So, here are a few pages that make me happy. I hope you enjoy taking a peek into my Smash world, 2011.

Smash International

05 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling, hand lettering, Mixed Media, Smash Folio

I’m continuing today with some more photos from my Bali/Hong Kong International Smash book.

Products used: Post cards, PoGo Photos, freebee flyers and maps, misc ephemera, washi tape, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape, various markers.

Smashing Again!

04 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling, hand lettering, Smash Folio

I’m continuing today with some more photos from my Bali/Hong Kong travel Smash book.

Products used: Post cards, PoGo Photos, freebee flyers and maps, misc ephemera, washi tape, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape, various markers.

Smash Book Pages

03 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by kimmer in Art Journaling, hand lettering, Smash Folio

I’m continuing today with some more photos from my Bali/Hong Kong travel Smash book. Today’s pages are (probably) unfinished.

Products used: Post cards, PoGo Photos, freebee flyers and maps, misc ephemera, washi tape, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape, various markers.

More Smash Book Love

02 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling, hand lettering, Smash Folio

I’m continuing today with some more photos from my Bali/Hong Kong travel Smash book.

Products used: Post cards, PoGo Photos, freebee flyers and maps, misc ephemera, washi tape, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape, various markers.

Happy New Year! Some More Thoughts on Art Journaling

01 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by kimmer in Art Journaling

Happy New Year!!!!!

It’s hard for me to believe that a whole year has passed. It’s 2012 already. Time flies. I know that’s a total cliche, but it’s so true. I feel so reflective at this time of year. I find myself asking questions about where I’ve been, where I am, and where I’m going. I don’t have the answers this year, either. lol

I feel like I’ve taken enough art journaling courses to be an expert by now! Seriously, I have learned so much in the last 2-3 years about this art form, that I feel an obligation to give back somehow. I have found inspiration from so many fabulous artists! While I still feel like I can continue growing and learning as an art journalist, I also think that I have grown so much! When I look back at some of my first pages, sometimes I chuckle to myself. On the other hand, it’s therapeutic to look at those early pages. The thoughts and feelings associated with each page come back to me in an instant! The fact that this very therapeutic artform also helps me to improve my artistic skills, is just a bonus, in my opinion.

Why do I love art journaling so much? That’s a good question. Let’s see what kind of a list I can come up with.

No pressure to create anything pretty. It’s all about the process.
An opportunity to try different techniques.
An opportunity to try different mediums.
An opportunity to mix mediums and techniques.
An expression of feelings/thoughts through images.
Helps me grow as an artist.
I get to use up my art supply stash!
A method of recording memories (esp travel journal).
I never seem to get bored, because I have different journals for different mediums and techniques.
All of the above.

I think I’ll stop at 10. There are more, but there’s some overlap, so I will expand on each of the above 10 points in future blog posts.

Why do you art journal? Why don’t you art journal? I’d love to hear from you. Leave me a comment….please? lol. I love comments.