One Little Word {Sing}

the word for january's one little word is sing.

for my project i choose a vintage postcard and re-purposed it into a mixed media creation. i layered washi tape, book paper and layers of acrylic paint, ink and stamping. i also used something called Anglina's fibers and film that is stitched across the upper portion. the fibers and film are available at Blue Twig Studio.

i loved re-purposing the postcard. the postcard was embossed and had built in texture which lent itself to the piece well.

one little word {lost}

i have been working recently on my used and saved papertowels and decided to stay with this theme for my one little word project as well.

there was already a base of color on it and i easily added more color, some stitching, a little stamping, and my word. when it comes to color, to me, it is easy to get lost....this was a perfect fit.

i love the drip and dribbles that sprinkled across the towel. i also used some washi tape that you can see in the top pink circles.

i used a homemade stencil that i had made when working in Traci Bautista's new book- PrintMakingUnleashed for the turquoise blue towards the bottom.

really like the blending and transition of the color....easy to become lost. if you are going to stitch onto papetowels, you need to provide some paper support underneath for your stitching- you can see a peek of paper across the top edge. if you do not provide that support- your papertowel will stretch and pull and will not lay flat. 

happy friday! hope you are able to get lost.

one little word....evoke

the one little word for the month of july was evoke. i had initially started my painting working with some of my favorite colors....but, this little snippet was about all that i liked on this page.

my wheels kept working and i have been playing along with Traci Bautista's #printmakingunleashed and one of the days i made hot glue stencils. i loved how i could make a word and used this to write evoke.

i used a stiff bristled brush to paint around my letters to create this.....there were many (many....) colors on the bottom, but, i didn't feel like i was able to pull it together. i used the white to really tame the colors back and the white provided some unity to the overall painting. i wanted to sharpen the edges of my word, so i did use a stabilo pencil to give a bit of definition.

as i worked through my painting, the other thing that was floating through my mind were the feelings that were being evoked as i worked.

some of that day, i felt lost....i seemed to have lost some of my creative mojo. so when seeking words to put with this.....you can almost hear my story of this piece....

at the end however, i had felt like i had found myself. i loved how there were some ghost images of the underneath painting peeking through the white.

One Little Word- Light

our word for the month of June is "light." i gave a sneak peek earlier with this photo....i loved the texture left behind from the white ink i used to diffuse the bright colors.

this is a full view of my painting below. i used gesso, acrylic paints and inks to create my background and then used some ephemera and book words to pull in our theme.

with all of the colors and the textured, white wash "into the light, she would be happy...." yes she would be happy.

one little word sneak peek

i worked in my studio on sunday, but, definitely felt like my mojo had left and was worried because i had a project due today. have you ever lost your mojo? how do you find it again....any tricks or tips?

i cautiously walked down to my studio last night worried that i had not left enough time for myself for this project if indeed my mojo was still gone.....but, i reminded myself that if i didn't like what was on the paper- i simply needed to add more paint- more layers- more paper.....

i immerse myself and worked how i would normally work and did not worry about exactly what was going on on my paper; and painted some with my fingers...which always brings a smile to my face.

and slowly, my page came to life and happiness returned. my one little word sneak peek is here....

on sunday i will post my whole project so be sure to stop back and take a look. happy wednesday!

one little word- will

i create for one little word and may's word is will. i had been working on inspirational ATC cards and this fit in perfectly. i painted and sewed and cut words and glued.....what is not to love right?!

so what "will" you do? here is what i "will" intend to do.....spend more time with day dream journeys, find the bright spots in the world, keep dreams alive for perfect happiness and let all of this creep in my soul.

One Little Word- Adventure

our word at one little word for april is "adventure" and i truly had a wonderful adventure painting this piece for april. my story reads "but unbeknown to the artist of confessing in the studio the painting was the adventure."

stop by OLW to see what the other artist's made for this month- and play along!!

one little word- sneak peek

today i am showing a sneak peek of my one little word project for this month- stop back tomorrow to see the whole page.

many layers and details in this page...love how i was able to pull it all together- hope you enjoy it as well.

one little word {February & March }: calm and dream

my one little word inspiration for february came from playing with the documented life in my moleskin journal. remember a while back when i spilled the ink onto my moleskin? i used that and incorporated the spill into my OLW project for february which featured the word calm.

March is my word- dream...to me, pushes me to make more art, and keep dreaming bigger, and believe in my creative self. the first year after i had gotten into an art gallery and sold my art work, my husband bought me a ring that said, "Be true to your Dreams...." to remind me to keep dreaming and making art.

have you seen the American Family Insurance commercial featuring dreams? watch the commercial here and listen to the words. this embodies my whole thought on dreams....always dream....

i painted this project onto a cigar box. i love the runs on the side of the box. i wrote the whole commercial onto the box to keep in my studio and if i am having a bad day and inspiration is lacking- i will look at this box and read the words again to remind myself to dream.

if you play along with all of us at OLW, we have a fabulous list of give-away's! there will be 4 wonderful grab bags for four lucky people who play along with us. you have until april 14 to play along and qualify for the grab bags.

one little word {sneak peek}

a little sneak peek of my one little word for March....stop back tomorrow to see both of my February and March projects and find out about our fabulous give-away's!

a bribe and a sneak peak

i have had some technical difficulties lately, but, managed to bribe our youngest son to allow me to use his computer this morning! i was given very strict instructions "not to go to anywhere weird...." because he thinks i have the black kiss of death for electronics....

so, without any further delay and before he decides i have been on the computer too long here is my sneak peek for one little word....i used some of the scraps from Roben-Marie's Artpops that i had left over. very good to the absolute last scrap!

one little word- grace

for the month of november the word for one little word is grace.....

in the past months, the idea for my projects have come early and quickly; but, this month, i was quickly approaching the deadline and had no idea. sometimes i feel like i work better under pressure and so, i went to the studio to work up something.

and something is what it is....i made an ornament using the word- grace.

i used canvas circles as my starting point. then, pulled out the used cotton rags and ripped those into strips- sewing onto the circle. the colorful circle paper under the zig-zag stitching is cut from Roben-Marie's Art Pops cards (want some of your own? get your own cards here!) and then, found my word in a book and then, stitched around the word. i used a little acrylic paint on the canvas circle to add some color to the background.

interrupt the moments for one little word

i am taking a small break from the moments to bring you.....one little word. our word this month was color. stop by and check out what everyone else made.

could they have picked a better word?.....i think not! if you have been a long follower or have recently just joined- you will not see much soft pastel colors here. nope- i paint and work in big, bright, happy, colors....and usually as many as i can.

here is a sneak peak of my painting for "color." i painted mine on yupo paper- beginning with paper that already had paint down, but, was clearly not finished.

do you have a favorite color? let me know which one! want to play along?....there is a "add your link" at the bottom of the post on the one little word link above- so come and join us! if you do- be sure to let me know!

one little word- "do"

i was selected for the design team for one little word last month. a team member picks a word and then we create something that fits with that word. words are so powerful.....we each got to pick a word; in fact my turn isn't until march, 2014....but, our word for september was "do."

i like the fact that we have creative freedom. we can make anything that our creative hearts desire....scrapbook page, art journal page, tag, whatever.

i always have to think a bit and let the creative process work its' course. i normally, start and work on other things and an idea will emerge. and that was exactly what happened with this month's word. while i was looking for other words/ phrases, i found some key thoughts and pulled those out to put together. check out below.....

 i loved the permissions......take a moment today and day dream; do some merry-making, and let your vivid imaginations run wild!

 this is a view of my whole project for "do."

and here is a bit of a close up....i played on yupo paper with acrylic paints, ink, paper, and sewing. i loved the colors.

do you want to play along? there is a link at the bottom of the post there to play along. if you do- please make sure to let me know so i can take a peak!

one little word- design team

back in july there was a open call for the one little word design team and i decided to throw my hat in the ring....i had made my "crazy?! girl for submission.

this last week i found out i had made the team!! i was so excited i did a little mom dance in the living room, and each time i thought about it for the rest of that evening...i did a quick little "happy" clapping burst; smiling from ear to ear.

their word for august is want- which had lead me to doing my last post. i was supposed to hold this information though until after monday.....but, now, i can yell it from the front porch if i wanted to.... 

want to play along? leave me a comment so i can come and see what you made!

one little word....

over at ronda palazzari's she had posted a call to expand their team for olw- one little word....

this mixed media artist/ art journaler is up for the challenge! so i got to work today and whipped a little something up....

she is on a 4x6 sheet of watercolor paper. i added some gauze for texture and acrylic paint, then added some more paint and a few drops of ink, some stamping and a crown of scrap-paper,... oh and then some rummaging through old catalogs to find this perfect specimen gal! add a few gems and some tint....viola! crazy?!

i'm not saying she is crazy, but......some may just think so. here's to an opportunity to play at olw.