Sketchbook Project, ATCs & other challenges

I have been wanting to get back to my Sketchbook Project journal - I am determined it won't be last minute like it usually is (I think I mention that each time I post about it).  At any rate, I managed to get two more spreads done.  I have three spreads left and something for the cover.  Should be a snap before January...right?  And if you have been thinking about signing up you still have time - sign ups close in October and books are due in January.  Go here for all the details!

This first one was inspired by one of the Daisy Yellow Daily Paper Prompts.  I'm so far behind now I'm doing them all out of order, which is perfectly fine.  Anyway, this was all about stamping circles - using objects to stamp circles that aren't necessarily meant to be stamps. 

I used the top of a pill bottle, the ends of several pens and the bottom of some paints and inks to make these circles except for the ones with the black lines (flowers?).  They were painted on a dictionary page with acrylics, doodled "petals" and then cut out and glued to the page.  Then there was more doodling and smudging - fun times! 

The next page was NOT inspired by Dr. Seuss as you might be guessing, but by an ad for a local (not restaurant, no.. not fish place) hair salon that I saw as I was riding the bus the other day after my car broke down (all is fixed now and under warranty too - a happy ending if ever there was one).

In case you cannot read my faint (and also messy) handwriting at the bottom, it says "I need the sea close by so I can breathe".  As a person born and raised in a coastal town I miss the sea almost as much as a person when I'm away.

These pages are together in my book and they share that "window" between them.  I made it using a window envelope and a swirly transparency.

I made a couple of ATCs this week as well as part of Daisy Yellow's Fun Colour Challenge.  I have mentioned the concept before - pick a colour from one list and a theme from the other.  I botched the first one - I picked "bubblegum" as my colour and "the sun" as the theme - well the sun wasn't on the list!  It was on the Daily Paper Prompt list though, so I have a pink sun that still fulfilled a challenge.  I had a good laugh at that but at the end of the day I do like the card.

I threw everything pink at it - sharpies, ink and Neocolour IIs - and wondered when DID I get all these pink supplies?  It is not something I usually reach for, but I will say I like this.  finished with red pen & blue Neocolour II.

So then I turned my attention to the real list of prompts - I chose bubblegum again and "happiness".  I think as a kid I'd have been pretty please with myself had I blown a bubble this size!

Bascially the same supplies as the sun card + a piece of dictionary. 

The other paring I chose was "black" and "magic".  Lest I get a bunch of voodoo practitioners or enthusiasts railing against this as a stereotype, remember the colour (background) is black - I'm not saying this cute little doll would be used in "black magic" - in fact I imagine hime to be quite benevolent.  He looks about as threatening as a gingerbread man.

 

I did complete one more Daily Paper prompt earlier in the week - it was simply "paint lines".  I kind of dismissed it when I read it but thought I would still give it a go.  It was relaxing and fun, and it also helped me learn a lot about loading up my brush with watercolours, how far they will go, how they blend or not, etc. as this is a relatively new medium for me - I think it looks like a tartan.

One more ATC I made for my mother since I liked my Leo one I made last week so well - my mother's BD was in July so instead of making her wait almost a year I just gave it to her yesterday.

 

Those are the bits and bobs of my week.

Comments

[Bleubeard and Elizabeth]

Lots to see and admire here. Glad your car is fixed, since that could have been traumatic if circumstances had been different. Nice sketchbook project pages, as a result. And I like how you used the see through portion of the security envelope.

Your little voodoo doll really DOES look more like a gingerbread man, and it adds to the humor of the piece. I really enjoyed this little doll and the stick pin in the heart you added, too.

Ah, Cancer. What a nice way to commemorate those who were born under that sign. Goes nicely with the Leo you ended up giving your mother.

[Lenna Young Andrews]

Love seeing this large variety of art from you Cindy. I too have joined the SB Project once again but have not started yet. Your page with the circles is really eye catching, so great! Well, I've been to visit Frieda in Scotland - it was a wonderful time together. Now I am writing some posts about it on my blogspot blog, she has had some influence on me! It's been fun : ) xo