ARTFUL JOURNEYS - WEEK #11

This week, St. Patrick's Day arrives, so everyone (nearly) is thinking about green.  Green everything. Clothes, food, beverages.  Some of these celebrations are legendary in some parts of the country and we hope that you will be celebrating the wearing of the green, whether you are Irish or not. It is all about the fun!

Our prompt this week:  Paint it Green with alternates:  Use a brown paper bag or Saran Wrap (c)

Your admin team likes to use that very wide "interpretation" thing quite frequently. And I think we have done just that this week.  Have a look at what we have created in response to this week's prompt.  I think you'll have a laugh or two and hopefully be inspired.


MELODY ELZY - Gosh Melody is digging way down into her stash of goodies this week and made a wonderful spread, full of surprises, lots of interest and texture.  Check it out on her blog here

BETTY RICHARDSON - Going way out of her comfort zone, Betty has created a three-dimensional spread this week. Check it all out on her blog here

TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - Tamie is telling us just how it really is in her world this week, and made a beautiful spread, as always. Check it out on her blog here

LYNN JACKSON - I used two color of greens for this. Neon green and Island Green. Added some stars with a stencil in white paint. Not sure why I used the dress on the page I just liked it and hope you do too.

Well there you have it.  Four different interpretations this week, and everyone taking a totally different approach.  We hope you can take something positive away with you this week from what we have created, and we look forward to seeing what you come up with!

We're keeping it artful!

~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn
ARTFUL CHICKS

ARTFUL JOURNEYS - WEEK #9

Time is flying.  February is over!  This heralds a change in the seasons very soon (and we know not soon enough for those of you still buried in snow).  Someone up there in the north must have left the freezer door open, because you sent cold, snow and ice to north Texas. Who did that?  Ours was short-lived, though and was gone the next day.  (Aren't WE lucky?)  We know you want to SHARE all that white beauty, but  remember turn about is fair play. We'll be sure and thank you and share with you when it is 107 in the shade here in July and August!  hehehe.

Today (I am writing this on Saturday 2/28) would have been my mother's 90th birthday. She was very important in MY life, and not a day goes by that I don't miss her.  She was a lover of life, of people, and of beautiful and creative things. I think I got my creative bent from her, or at least I like to think so.  Mother was an amazing influence on my life, teaching me many things and helping to mold me into a strong, independent woman.  Our lives have many positive influences, and my mother was just one of those beacons of light. ~~ hugs, Betty.

This week at Artful Journeys, we want you to think about something (or someone) that is important in your life and reflect that on your journal page, BY INCORPORATING YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE.

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BETTY RICHARDSON - As stated above, Saturday, February 28th would have been my mother's birthday, so my spread is really about remembering her. Come check it out on my blog here to see the full spread, my processes and materials.

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LYNN JACKSON -  "Go your own way"

This one was pretty simple. Took a art journal page and added under paper to it layered with different stencils and stamps along with my quote in the middle. I do believe in the quote. I go my own way and pretty much have my whole life. Thanks for looking.

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MELODY ELZY - Come check out this luscious page that Melody created. You can see the full spread, and read all about it on her blog here

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TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON -  Come check out how the "madness" in Tamie's head gets translated to the page to make this beauty!  On her blog, here

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We always appreciate you visiting us and seeing what we're up to, and we certainly appreciate it any time you leave us some blog love in comments.  We do read your comments and appreciate your support.

Be sure and show us what you're creating in response to this week's prompt over at Artful Journeys.  A new photo album for March will appear shortly for you to post your images!

Stay artful!
ARTFUL CHICKS
~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

ARTFUL JOURNEYS - WEEK # 7

MARDI GRAS, FAT TUESDAY, CARNIVALE -- the final last big hurrah before Lent for many people.  Another reason to party and celebrate for others.  A time when many cities come alive with people, events, parties, parades and debauchery.

Mardi Gras begins on or after the Epiphany or King's Day and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

Related popular practices are associated with celebrations before the fasting and religious obligations associated with the penitential season of Lent. The date of Fat Tuesday coincides with that of celebrations of Shrove Tuesday, from the word shrive, meaning "confess".  (courtesy of Wikipedia)

You guessed it.  This is our prompt for this week.  Mardi Gras.  We want you to express Mardi Gras in your journal.  Make it bright. Make it bold. Make it colorful.  Use all the greens, golds & purples you want since these ARE the colors of Mardi Gras.  The gaudier it is, the more it becomes about this event.  Collage some costumes.  Make a mask. Represent this huge international event however you please.  Many people, in many cultures celebrate the last day before the Lenten season.  Maybe your celebrations are quiet and reserved, feasting, sharing time with friends and family and not filled with quite so much of the rituals that have become these wild Mardi Gras celebrations.  However you choose to intepret it is strictly up to you.  After all, it is your journal.

Please take a moment to visit the blogs of Betty & Melody to see their creations and processes, and leave some blog love while you're there.  Tamie's blog is still down and of course, Lynn says she is not blogging. Ever.

Enjoy our creations.  We had fun making them for this week's prompt.

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LYNN JACKSON - I can't lie. When I first heard of this prompt from the other members of this jolly band of chicks, my first thought was that nothing was going to come to my mind with this one but, as it turned out,  I really enjoyed doing it. 

I used Blue Bird acrylic paint for the background, and created some fluffy white clouds.  The south is always clear and sunny, right??   The letters were brown that I used my glaze pens on and found some New Orleans stickers at the local hobby store that represented New Orleans.  I just kinda tried to make a cute page out of it.  Remember, I'm still learning, like some of you, and I am sure having fun experimenting and playing!

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TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - Well, my blog is still down, and I am really missing it (um, did I say that? hehe).  Bless Betty for doing these posts for all of us. She does her darndest to keep us all in line (most of the time).  Anywho...  for this week's prompt I first started with a gessoed page and used some round homemade stencils for the effects.  I used all Gelatos for background. I also used a new circle stencil with greenish ink and placed red dots with a marker. Then, I glued down some gold confetti I just happened to have. Used apple green acrylic and an end of a pencil to make some more circles.

The dolls are from Xquizart Designs (http://www.mischiefcircus.com/shop/manufacturers.php) I printed out my word art,  drew around them with a black marker and added white dots. Glued some on some neon color butterflies and here you have it!

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MELODY ELZY - Melody's spread this week leaves lots of room for her to write and journal, as is her style and preference.    Visit her blog here,  to read about her processes and materials. Remember to leave her some blog love while you're there!

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BETTY RICHARDSON - This week was a lot of fun and I think I went a little bit crazy with this thing.  I'm only giving you a little sneak peek here, so hop on over to my blog here to see BOTH things I created for you this week.  And a little blog love would be especially  nice, too.

If you want, you can follow my blog either by email, on Bloglovin or recommend it to your friends on G+1.  If you follow, you will likely see these posts before they are posted to the group, giving you a bit of a head start.  Jus' sayin' .... 

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We hope you all enjoy our interpretations of this week's prompts.  We're getting back on track (with the conclusion of 14 Days of Love yesterday) with all our weekly prompts, pop-up art challenges and our Artful Tactics.  So stay tuned, and keep it artful!

ARTFUL CHICKS
~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY #14

We did it!  This is the 14th day of love, and if you  have been keeping up and doing all 13 days thus far, you are finally at the end.  Celebrate yourself today!  Remind yourself that you are loved, that you are, indeed, good enough, worthy and talented!  We are proud you have stuck out this little project and have so enjoyed seeing all your work and your creations.

Our final prompt for 14 DAYS OF LOVE is to reward yourself. Write yourself a love poem, or use a poem that speaks to who you are as a person.

You could write a sonnet if you like, an ode to the powerful you.  Or maybe you decide to write a Haiku, or even a little limerick.  However you do it, and however you express it, we know it will be wonderful!

You.  Yes,  you  ARE worthy, talented, creative and all the other very positive things about you that you (and others) love.  Too often we let our inner critic take the lead, and throughout the past two weeks, we have wanted you to focus on your positive, the loving side of your nature and what it feels like to BE loved.

We love that you put your art "out there" for us all to see and enjoy.  We love that you are part of our artful journey and sharing this experience with us.  We love that you embrace our challenges, and take the sometimes difficult steps to get out of your comfort zone with your art.  We love that you inspire us!  We will continue to push you throughout the year to keep stepping out of that comfort zone, but now, those of you who are finishing this challenge can be assured that you have what it takes to see a project through to completion.  You did it!  And we are proud of you!  We're pretty proud of ourselves, with this being our first "series" of  themed art prompts.  It was fun, challenging and at the same time very rewarding in oh, so many ways.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! 

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Here's our interpretation of today's prompt.  We hope you are able to take many positives away from this experience, either through the process, the experience of discovery and experimentation, or through the comfort in knowing that you don't face those inner demons alone.

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BETTY RICHARDSON - Today's prompt was really fun for me.  I was a little bit silly, and a little bit serious.

My silliness is reflected in this little ditty, that I learned as a child.  Why I learned it I will never know, but it has stuck with me all these many decades.  Created as a 4x6" postcard. Background created with scraped gesso;  Liquitex Basics acrylics in 3 different shades of red; lettered with black Signo Uniball pen.  Stamp is one I received from a friend, colored with Copic Markers, and outlined with black China marker.  Embellished with decorative tape and Special Black Copic marker.  It is silly, isn't it, but I love this old lady with her hat and noisemaker.  That's me. Old lady.  But I like to say I'm old enough to know better and young enough not to care! <hehehe>

My "serious" side takes a more conventional approach to today's prompt.  I could certainly have written a poem, a Haiku or even a Limerick.  I have written many in the past because I do love words (can't you tell) and I love writing.  But THIS poem speaks to my soul, my inner me, the strong and independent me.  To me, it focuses on the positive, forging ahead in life no matter what is hurled toward you.  And this has how my life has been. I was always taught to pull myself up by my bootstraps and move on.  Whether I get knocked down or fall down on this journey we call life.  So here, I recite INVICTUS, by William Ernest Henley. I first read this poem when I was about 14 years old and have kind of clung to it ever since.  If you're keeping track, that's about 5 decades. I hope you like it too.

Hand lettered on black cardstock with a silver metallic Sakura pen and embellished with silver, green & pink metallic and Red Sakura Stardust pens.  Nothing too fancy.  And it is super shiny in the light.It may be simple, but it speaks volumes to me.  I think it is a fitting way to end my 14 Days of Love, by loving myself.

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LYNN JACKSON - Using card-stock painted pink and lime green for the background and added heart stamps and once again colored them in with the glaze pens. I must say these prompts were more fun thAn work like I thought they would be.  I hope you all have enjoyed them as well. Thanks for looking!

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Melody is traveling out of state tonight, and poor Tamie has had her grandchildren all day, so Lynn and I will have to do!

Create something wonderful and reward yourself!  Show us your creations on the group feed at Artful Journeys and we'll keep cheering you on!

We're keeping it artful!
"Your" ARTFUL CHICKS

~~Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY #9

Day 9.  Only 5 more to go on the countdown.  Are you keeping up?  If not, no worries.  Everything we do art Artful Journeys is at your own pace. No pressure, no deadlines.  This is supposed to be fun, so relax and go with flow.

Today we have a prompt, and an alternate for you.

PROMPT #9 - Journal in a negative heart space.

ALTERNATE:  Depict your "best" or "favorite" Valentine's Day Memory

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MELODY ELZY - I did this prompt in my small Dylusions journal. I started with a base coat of gesso scraped on with an old gift card, then penciled in my heart. Using a round brush and black gesso, I outlined the heart. Then I grabbed my small Dina Wakley brush, and my Liquitex Basics acrylics in Titanium White and Alzarian Crimson, and began applying the two in horizontal and vertical strokes all around the heart. My quote is, "Your weirdness will make you stronger. Your dark side will keep you whole. Your vulnerability will connect you to the rest of our suffering world. Your creativity will set you free. There is NOTHING wrong with you. -Andréa Balt

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TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - I glued some tissue paper hearts onto my index card. Used a micron black pen to write "You Are My Sunsine" in the hearts.

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LYNN JACKSON - it says..  Roses are red. It's simple, never lie to someone who trust you, and never trust someone who lies to you. 

This is just on a piece of Canson mixed media paper with a little lime green in the background and pink painted hearts on the bottom. Thanks for looking.

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BETTY RICHARDSON - Recall that I did a bunch of journaling in a negative heart space already for Day #4, that I covered with a large heart and brad making a "cover" over my journaling.  ------------------>>

So for today's prompt, I tried to incorporate solid and negative space hearts, and remember a very special Valentine's Day.

Working in my Graphique pocket journal, I scraped on a very thin coat of white gesso, followed by 2-3 coats of Bright Magenta craft acrylic. While wet, I used the edge of the plastic card to score some lines in the paint revealing the white gesso underneath. Lettering with bold, black Signo Uniball pen. Acrylic stamps by Inkadinkadoo.  The date inscribed in the negative space hearts was indeed a very special Valentine's Day for me. My husband actually thought outside the box and made it a really special day. Some personal journaling will follow.

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We hope that you enjoyed viewing our responses to today's prompts.  Be sure and show us your creations over at Artful Journeys by adding them to the February Photo Album.

We're keeping it artful and loving!

ARTFUL CHICKS
Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn

14 DAYS OF LOVE - DAY #7

A week down, one week to go!  Aren't you feeling especially loved and loving doing all these prompts?


TODAY'S PROMPT:  USE SWIRLY WRITING

I know, I know..... more writing.  But it is good to practice your creative writing so that you can improve and perfect your style, create new styles and perhaps new writing techniques.

Letter a simple little quote, or perhaps just write out the entire alphabet in a swirly style.  Write a real letter in a swirly or flourish style then add it to a journal page.  Make up your own style of swirly writing.  Use this writing in a creative way on a postcard that you have a wonderful background for, just waiting for some words, or add some swirly writing to a journal page you have already prepared that is just begging for some words.  Letter a lot. Letter a little. Use a paintbrush to create your swirly writing, or use a paint pen.  Try something different!  You have to be the guide and your muse will show you the way.

Melody and Lynn had to skip this prompt due to other commitments, but here's Betty's and Tamie's contributions to today's prompt!

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TAMIE RODRIGUEZ WILSON - Tamie created this gem on a 4x6" lined index card using spray inks, crayons as a resist, stencils and Gelatos.  Fun, fast and wicked lovely.

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BETTY RICHARDSON - For today's prompt, I did a kind of quickie postcard. I painted some reclaimed cardboard with a thin coat of gesso, then scraped on Flag Red, Real Red and Cranberry craft acrylic.  I used a border flourish that had some cute little swirls and the scribble heart stamp that I received in happy mail from Holly Jungman Woolsey.  Lettering done with a bold Signo Uniball pen in white.  Edges finished with Special Black Copic marker.

Remember to share your creations with us at Artful Journeys.  If you would, please add them to the February photo album with a brief description.  This will make them auto-post to the group feed.

Break those pens out, and get creative with your swirly writing!

We're keeping it artful!
Betty, Melody, Tamie & Lynn
ARTFUL CHICKS