When I go to Paris...

Here are two pieces I made this week that  coincide with Helga's new challenge , Celebrate Paris,on her blog,

My ARTistic Life.   What will I do when I get to Paris?  I will see lots of the art that I have studied and admired!  I will visit the Eiffel Tower and soak up the city lights at night! I will have a blast shopping, eating, and  being a total nerdy tourist!

Appreciate Everyday Beauty...

Here are my pages for last week's theme, appreciate everyday beauty in your life.   I would love to see  your ideas if you decided to participate this week.  Leave a comment and a link!  I am reading a very cool book  by Corey Moortgat called The Art of Personal Imagery.  There is a section that discusses how we choose and use symbols and icons in our art.  I am sure this is not a new idea to most of us altered artists. We are natural born collectors and we do collect examples of the symbols we feel best represent us.  This week I challenge you to make a journal page or spread that celebrates YOUR OWN personal images, symbols, designs, icons, totems, etc.  
This art journal page will be yet another type of self-portrait.  How do the things you surround
yourself with and create art with reflect your spirit and personality?

Now is the time to...

Here are my pages for the theme, Now is the time to...  I am late posting my journal and new theme- but here it is!   I'd love to see  journal pages, if anyone wants to share leave a comment.
My new weekly theme is Appreciating the Beauty Around Me.  Lately, we have all been bombarded with bad news and more bad news. it's hard to stop and really appreciate the everyday things in our environment that make us smile. What sights, sounds, smells, tastes do you love?  On your daily drive do you come across a view that makes your heart soar?

Is there something near your home that makes you feel thankful? What simple things in your daily routine do you treasure? Share it on a journal page. Photograph or draw those things that

make you happy to be on the path you are on right now.  

It's TIME for a new weekly art journal challenge!!!!

Here is my page for the Who Inspires You, theme.  I found the dancing lady in an ad in a magazine and thought that she would be a cool symbol for my muse!  If you did a journal page for this challenge be sure to post a comment with your link . I would LOVE to see what inspires YOU!  This week we sprang forward with the clock and it got me thinking about the concept of time.  I think we all spend  a lot of time thinking about the past and wondering about missed opportunities.  This week I want to focus on the blank canvas of the TIME stretched out before  us.  We have the power to create new realities for ourselves.  I propose the theme  NOW IS THE TIME TO...  use your journal to articulate meaningful ways to use the time directly ahead of you.  Please don't make this another TO DO list. If it's time to stop doing something that is standing in your way- write down what you WILL DO, make it positive,  voice your replacement for that thought or behavior that needs to be changed.  I have to constantly remind myself  not to dwell on the neagative but instead focus on the positive change that I want to bring into my life.   NOW IS THE TIME TO... get started on your journal!

Check out my recycled A"TEA"Cs for Helga's challenge!

I have been on vacation this week and have finally had time to participate in some swaps and challenges.  Helga is the owner of ARTchix Studios and she runs a weekly challenge on her blog, My Artistic Life.  This week she made an ATC from the packaging of her favorite tea.  I had been saving the box from  my Peach Detox Tea because I loved the design on the INSIDE of the box!  The first ATC is made from the outside of the box and I added the image, words and  copper scrap.  The next two were made from the printed cardboard on the inside of the box. I colored them with colored pencil and gel pens, added images, words, and more german scrap.
This was a fun challenge and I liked how they turned out. I will share more of my art adventures soon!

Weekly Journal Challenge Theme

My last art journal challenge theme was The Soundtrack of My Life. It took me 2 weeks to finish because it was so crazy at work. But now I have  some time off and  I can devote more time to my journal.  I listed many of the bands and kinds of music that have influenced my life.  I have enjoyed seeing most of these artists in concert.  Music has been such a great escape and stress reliever for me!

This week's theme is ... My Inspiration !  I read a wonderful book today called, "I'm Proud of You, My Friendship With Fred Rogers," b y Tim Madigan.  It chronicles the unlikely frienship a young reporter falls into with Mister Rogers.  Rogers becomes a  close friend and mentor to Madigan  and  both men influence each other's lives.  I thought this would be a great journal theme this week.  Who has inspired your life?  Who has supported you, believed in you, spurred you on in your journey?  Celebrate that inspiration in your journal this week! 

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it !!!!!!

WOO-HOO!!!!!

I have 2 pages in Somerset Studio this month!  My paper doll exemplar was published and the new issue is out! I just got it last night and they spelled my name right! It's a great issue with lots of cool projects and artwork! I'd love to hear what you think about my exemplar and you earn extra brownie points if you know the next line to the song in the title of this post!