15 minutes of mixed media

This week's 15 minutes of mixed media challenge turned out even better than I had hoped. I love the colors.

This week I started with a ghost print of a gelli print. This was a print that was already in my art journal. It gave me a slight edge, as starting with a back ground will do. I like it. Sometimes it is a great springboard for color and definition on a page.

Having backgrounds at the ready in your journal is a simple way to add layers to your 15 minute challenge as well as perserve supplies. I never wipe my gelli plate to clean it. I always keep printing until all the paint is depleted. This makes beautiful ghost (or light) prints. I also like to take extra paint off of the palette and swipe it on the page, smearing it out from the center as I go. To do this I like to use an old credit card or a scraper.

Here is the short list of supplies that I had on hand before I started the timer. Remember, having just a few supplies at the ready saves valuable time when the clock is ticking! *5 paint colors (just run of the mill cheap craft paints. I would list the colors, but most of them are so old the labels are worn off) *sticky note tabs *permanent marker *black and white paint pens *glue stick *scraps of painted deli paper *stamp *stamp pad *embosser (to speed up the drying process in between layers) *dylusions blue spray ink

Setting the timer is certainly a challenge on most days, but it gets my creative mind racing. I usually begin a bit harried, but by the time the buzzer rings I am in a flow. Remember- if you are joining in on this challenge and setting the timer- THIS IS YOUR ART JOURNAL. Depending on your schedule and what goals you have set for yourself, YOU DON'T HAVE TO STOP THERE. Keep creating. If nothing else, you will have spent 15 minutes setting up a base for your layout. I choose to stick to the 15 minutes so that I can post honest to goodness 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA ART JOURNAL PAGES.

If you have started playing along I would love to hear about it. Love how your art is turning out when you set the timer? Send me a few photos via the contact page- I would love to see them! Enjoy!

15 minutes of mixed media

Usually I post a finished art journal layout for my weekly 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA, but this week I wanted to share something a little different. If you are setting the timer at home, this will help give you an edge when creating while the clock is ticking. The end result could be something like this --->

Many times when I sit down and set the clock, I start with a blank page. Other days I give myself a creative springboard in the form of a premade background. This can be as simple as a single color border or as complex as a gelli print covering the entire span of the page.

Starting with a background allows you to start building layers as soon as the clock starts ticking. Your 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA  will be more detailed when beginning this way. Here are a few backgrounds that are simple to create and will make a great starting point.

I like to have a handful of backgrounds completed in my art journal at all times. This way I can choose one that speaks to me when I sit down to create. Having premade backgrounds is also great for creating on the go! Here are some more 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA art journal pages--->

 

15 minutes of mixed media

So this week my 15 MINUTES OF MIXED MEDIA challenge resembles a carnival ride. Not what I intended, but bright and colorful all the same.

I struggled this week. My base had no background, which always proves harder when the clock is ticking. I hurried and ended up with a bit muddier collection of colors than I wanted, so I overcompensated with bold stamps and bright colors in my second layer. Definitely a week I needed the embosser.

I did, however, remind myself to add some journaling this week. This is my weak spot. I like to keep the words inside, so writing them on a page of art is tough for me, and something I am working on.

I took a leap of faith on this page. I wanted to TURN the page on this one and I didn't. I let the clock tick and I kept working. I like the happy colors and bold shapes.

Here is my supply list for the week- things that were on the table when I started the timer. *yellow and pink dylusions spray inks *4 paint colors (the little acrylic craft paints) *black and white paint pens *permanent marker *scraps of deli paper *glue stick *scraper *embosser (to dry the layers) *paintbrush *stamp *stamp pad.

Sometimes we find in a challenge that even though it is not what we wanted or expected, we like it. Kind of like going to a carnival and getting on that scary ride. Sometimes it was worth the leap of faith.

Here are some more 15 minutes of mixed media art journal pages--->

 

15 minutes of mixed media

New to the blog? This has turned my time in the studio around.

For this layout I started with a gelliprint background and had the following supplies at the ready before I started the timer---> *3 paint colors *black & white paint pens *permanent marker *a few scraps of painted deli paper *scissors *glue stick *number stamp set

Want to see some of my other creative exercises like this? Here you go! --->

 

Enjoy!

december daily: re-purposing & catching up

December Daily, with Ali Edwards. I decided to play along this year thanks to the friendly nudging of my pal Sandi. She has been playing for years and has the most awesome collection of memory books to prove it. There are a million different way artists, scrapbookers and journalers are interpreting this project. I chose to keep it real. No buying new pretty stuff. No staging photos. Just good ole' daily life in December and a whole lotta leftover papers and trims from projects past.

I didn't want anything too big either. In my mind I was thinking coffee table book. SMALL coffee table book. MINI coffee table book. Short, squat and chunky. I love the way this book feels so much I decided to create a quick mini workshop on how to make one. It will be available sometime after the New Year.

I stitched vintage style papers the base of each page of my book and added nature cut outs, stamped tags, fabric tabs and punched words. A little bit of doodling and paint plus some sparkle made it more "me" and less "scrapbooky."

I have to admit. I jumped on board for this project with more than a little skepticism. I just wasn't sure I would stick with it. What I should have been more worried about was actually STARTING the project. In all honesty I didn't start it on the 1st, but I DID start it and am now playing catch up.

I have enjoyed working in a small format, with everyday photos of "us" AND re-purposing the art supplies I had in the studio. As far as catching up- well I will be there soon! But the very best part of this project of all is the VIEW!

I will post more page peeks soon. Hopefully in December, wink wink! Have a very Happy Christmas and a Merry Merry New Year! Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

So my journal is filling up and I am still loving it. This is keeping me honest- getting me into the studio, onto my stool, paintbrush in hand.

This is what I had on the table ready to go: a few colors of paint, a scraper, two paintbrushes, a fine tip sharpie, two fat tip acrylic paint pens- black and white, one roll of washi tape, scissors, a glue stick, and a sheet of painted deli paper.

I allow myself to have a few supplies on hand so that I do not cut into my 15 minutes looking for stuff. I never spend more than 5 minutes gathering these things, to keep the challenge honest- which is to say, QUICK!

Pre-selecting some supplies also adds to the challenge. I must work with what is in front of me- no sneaking into the paint drawer without cutting into my time. The clock is always ticking.

I love how this one turned out. The colors, the design, all of it. I am loving those glossy blue dots. If you haven't given this a whirl yet, I hope you will hop on board! Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

Here we go again. 15 minutes of mixed media is the best thing to ever happen to my journal.

Same routine. Set the timer to 15 minutes. I had a few supplies out and ready, but tried to keep it simple today. A few paints, a permanent marker, some spray inks,  a few paint pens and a little washi tape.

I continue to work in my small Dyan Reavely Journal. I like the smaller page layouts when I am setting the timer.

This is a fantastic creative exercise. I encourage you to set the timer and try it yourself. I think you will be pleased with the results. Enjoy!

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

- wait, make that 10. Ten minutes of mixed media. Today I chose to make the challenge a bit harder. I set the timer for ten minutes instead of 15. I am still working in my small Dylusion Creative Journal.

I began today on an un-prepped page. I did have a few supplies laid out.

My supplies for this shorter challenge included some paint, inks, pastels,  and a permanent pen. I dried layers with a heat embosser and finished the layout off with a sealer. Start to finish - ten minutes. This just keeps getting better and better!

This all started here! You can see a few other examples of 15 minutes of mixed media here.

art stuff: 15 minutes of mixed media

I started this a few weeks ago and it has really made a difference at how I look at a few minutes of art time.

Just choose a medium, set the timer and go to work!

I am more inspired than ever to take that time and make it mine! Today I am working in the small (5" x 8") Dylusions Creative Journal.

I created this page from start to finish with the timer set to 15 minutes. I had a few supplies laid out and ready to use, but nothing precut. I also used a heat embosser to help speed up the drying time in between layers.

Not only am I working on a journal layout, I am finishing it. This is the best idea I ever came up with! Enjoy!

15 minutes of mixed media: an exercise in art and time management

You might remember reading here that I have to sometimes give myself small amounts of time in the studio, as opposed to none. I'll take it.

Some days are great and I get in there for hours on end. Others, not so much. I have been debating on how I could make those few moments more productive. This is what I came up with. - set a timer. That's it. Nothing monumental, nothing life altering. Just simple time management.

It works for violin practice. It works for silent reading. It works for time out. Why couldn't it work for art journaling? painting? project planning?

And so I bought a cute timer and I set it. This is what I got on day one. A beautiful art journal page. I worked quickly and diligently, but with no pressure to finish. After all, I get to set the timer again tomorrow.

For those inquiring minds- I set the timer for 15 minutes for this layout and I completed it in that time frame. I worked on foundation page that already had a base print that I created using the gelli plate. (my favorite tool of all time) Sorta like beat the clock only better, and prettier.