Happy Friday!

I'm having so much fun with my journal, so here are a few more pages from yesterday.  I love the frog, above.  However, as my DH said, the "lily pad" on the right page looks like an oak leaf, lol.  This is what happens when I let go and leave my hands to create without my brain stressing over it; and I like it!  The circular message on the left says "Besides enjoying the journey, I have only 1 thing to share...make sure there is a lily pad ahead before jumping!"  So, perhaps the "oak leaf" is saying, "sometimes things aren't what you think they are; check to make sure it's a lily pad before jumping!"

The background is my new water soluble oil pastels smoothed out with a baby wipe, as recommended by Rita ~~ love this technique!

On this page, I tried to use a leaf and do a "rub" effect, with the leaf placed under the right page, and then rubbing the right page with the pastels...but it didn't work.  I suppose the Moleskine sketchbook paper is too thick to allow the leaf texture to come through with the rubbing...SO I improvised and drew my own leaf and veins!  Again this background is the pastels baby wiped...and then Glimmer Misted on top ~~ love me some Glimmer Mist!

I love this page, but I smeared her lipstick.  The life of an impatient artist, ahh.  I used Gelly Roll pens on her lips and proceeded to lay my hand on them before they were dry, argh. Oh well, otherwise, she's a peaceful soul.  Again here I used the pastels and baby wiped them for the background, as well as the skin and hair.  Still have to complete the white high lites on the words.

This is SO fun!  But I have A Question for Others Whom Use Water Soluble Oil Pastels ~~ What type of pens do you use over them???  I'm going thru black Sharpies (Fine and Ultra Fine) like crazy, lol!  The regular Sharpie is working...for now, but surely there are pens made for this purpose, right?  Any suggestions you may have to share will be very appreciated!

So, it's back to work today and tomorrow, for me.  We will have the 4th of July Parade in Jamestown tomorrow, and lots of families with children in town, and wondering through the shops.  Typically, many of them come in simply to use our restroom, so I'll make sure we're stocked up on tissue, lol.  Okay, I'll get on my soap box for a second and ask you to please support your local retailers ~~ so many are suffering terribly, and will have no choice but to close without your support.  Show them some love, if at all possible, ;).

I hope many of you here in the States have a long weekend off from work, with festive events planned with family and friends.  For those of you overseas, do you have similar holidays (to the US Independence Day)?  An American 4th of July (Independence Day) typically includes a few small town parades, grilling out hamburgers, hot dogs and such with family and friends, watermelon for dessert, and then viewing the local town's fireworks display...with plenty of red, white and blue worn and displayed throughout town.  Wonder how the watermelon tradition originated?  Hmm.  Or is that only a "southern" thing?

Wishing each of you a safe, happy, creative weekend!

New Toys!

Okay, so on my latest "internet travels" I've found lots of informative blogs and sites with tips and ideas for artful journaling and mixed media.  I've collected a list of "New Toys Needed," while my niece tells me my DH would have heart failure if he knew the monetary value of my current supply of "toys."  But a girl can never have too many toys, right???

While the latest edition of "Art Journaling" is at the top of my current Needed List, I've not been successful in finding it locally.  (I know it's not due in stores until July 1st, but I've seen national sites online that already have it, and I want it NOW, lol!  Yes, I'm a bit impatient when it comes to my art supplies and inspiration, ;-].)  So, I decided to hold out a few more days to see if the magazine arrives locally ~~ if not, I'm ordering it online!

On a tight budget while saving for a trip to CHA in July ~~ yaaa (can't wait!) ~~ I'm trying my best to limit my purchases to one ... or two ... "toys" per week.  So I moved passed the magazine, and purchased the second item on my List ~~ Water Soluble Oil Pastels!  I found these at Staples for $11, and really want the Caran d'Ache Neopastels, but convinced myself that I could start with the Portfolio set .... so I can get that magazine should it become available locally within the week, lol!

I already had a "background" journal page prepped, and decided to experiment with the pastels here.

The butterflies and flowers were created with the pastels...over the Adirondack Ink'ed background.  I LOVE their smooth, creamy quality, and can't wait to experiment with these on a blank, un-inked page!  Love this newest pack of toys...and they will keep me entertained for a few more days, while I wait for "Art Journaling" to arrive!

I mentioned several posts ago that I had created three canvases that weren't photographed at that point.  Here is one of them; I've since given another one of them away, and want to embellish the last one a bit more before photographing it.

I love the colors within this piece.  Currently, this is my favorite color palette.

Lastly, I'll share a few more journaling pages, some done weeks ago, and others more recently.

These pages are nothing spectacular, but were created to inspire me to continuing "Growing with Wild Wings of Abandonment," in hopes that we will all be "Free...[and receive] a Pair of Wings to Carry Us to Happiness," and to remind me that "Happiness is Simply a Direction to Success!"

Here's wishing each of you a pair of wings to carry you to much happiness, success and growth!  May we all find peace that surpasses understanding today and always, through creativity, love, and sharing!