30 DAYS OF THANKFUL: 2013

Each day I am thankful for many things, but in November, I decided to document it using a digital template by Cathy Zielske which I will also use in my Project Life folder (adding embellishments of course).  Enjoy!

 

 

2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Watercolor Leaves

Last year, I created a Nature Journal for Junelle Jacobsen's online class.  It was so much fun, I decided to add a page with big leaves.  This page started out with gesso over a leaf texture plate.  It gave the basical outline to start.

I added small photo images and then started to color away with the Neocolor II.  Such fun....and you don't have to stay in the lines.  I usually just randomly apply colors in various spots...some highlights some lowlights.  And just blend the color.

When using the watercolor brush, I start with the light colors and gradually blend in the darker ones. This way, the dark doesn't over power the light. 

Added a few splotches.

Coated it with a gel medium.  I used Fluid Matte Medium, but last year, I did use Modge Podge and seemed to like it better as it gave it a bit of shine.  You need to wait a day before genly apply any medium to avoid major color runs.

Then I doodled away and of course, added my favorite little hearts near the pictures.

DIY: Painting-By-Number Train

As my addiction continues, I started making one of the pages to be put in my Winter Album.  I have several pieces of fabric to sew together, but also like implementing different materials such as upholstery samples, seed bags, paper, etc. So hence, I grabbed an old Carolina Queen paper bag I acquired at The Depot and created another paint by number train scene on it.

As you can see in the bottom of the painting, there is the word CAROLINA showing through.  I love it since NC has become my home. 

2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Ezra The Green

I was sketching various images in my sketchbook...when this one popped up.  I thought it would be the perfect idea to incorporate into my fabric autumn journal for Halloween.  I have the perfect quote just waiting for it.....

I took the size of the page and started sketching the images in a larger format...and playing with the layout.  These two are my final boy & ghost images.

So now I was ready to start the background....orange, purple, and black were my go-to colors with a few others added in plus tissue/napkins, etc. 

And the webbing spray is so fun and such a great texture to add.  Finally found some at Michaels...YAY.

I cut out my images and adhered them into place with fluid matte medium.  The paper images are so much easier to paint versus the rough texture of fabric.

And thus I began to paint away ...and doodle...and just have fun. 

"The naughty green Ezra has eaten all the poppy seed cakes. See!"

TRUE FREE SPIRIT: October Patchwork

The day I watched Mindy Lacefield's October prompt was the same day my cousin Sarah Gitt posted this amazing image on Pinterest.  (a rice field in India)  A coincidence? I think not.

So I took the image and created a background with similar color patterns (another option would have been to paint over the photo, but I wanted to add in some marks in the paint (scratchies, lines, patterns of fall).

This creation is also going into my Fabric Autumn Journal

Since the Fall theme for me is woodland creatures, I opted to go with a raccon and a tree as my main characters.  Now what to do next.....add glitter fingernail polish to them, of course!!

I felt like the image needed something more...so I added an image transfer I found via Pinterest. It states "Stay True."

I still felt it needed more, but I walked away from the creations for several days. 

And when I came back to it...I like it just the way it is.

Simple and sweet....with a touch of bling.

2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Watercolor Tree

It's about time a bust out my favorite watercolor medium again..NEOCOLORS II. 

I was inspired greatly by a photo I saw on Pinterest by Mallory Mckinnis titled "Squirrels". 

Reasons being:  1) squirrels were in the pic. 2) I can use my watercolors to get this effect easily. 

I grabbed my fabric album..and sketched a design with a Stabilo ALL. I applied a layer of clear gesso in the areas I plan to watercolor. I wanted the soft texture elsewhere to remain the same. 

Then two easy steps...color..and paint with water. 

wet canvas above....dried image below.  You can see the vibrancy of the colors stays true.

And I added some highlights with a Stabilo ALL pencil. And for now I think it's complete. I like having the elements of the feed bag show through especially the star. 

2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Painting-By-Number Wolf

And my paint-by-number addiction continues....I found a small kit at Wal-Mart for a few dollars, so figured...why not.  I added it into my Fabric Album.  Another page to love...and I think it fits well with the overall page.  I opted to not follow the colors provided and did my own color palette.  Now, I want to try a complete neon palette...Can't Wait!!

Page before was a gelli printed fabric with fox embellishments.  I embroidered Harvest into the flap page and secured it with some leaf brads.

Since the tracing paper wouldn't work onto fabric, I had to glue the image with liquid matte medium.  And it worked just fine. (and saved me the time of tracing the pattern.)