Fortifying Faith, My First Art Journal :)

Hello, dear friends,

I've been absent for a while. I've some personal issues, pain and health that require much more prayer. They are areas I don't have much control over, so need to rely ever more on our heavenly Father and Creator.

Here is my first journal. It is all about deepening Faith. It's a journal in which I hope to let the colors flow and to write out positive, up-building scriptures and thoughts that will help lift me up on the days I need extra strength.

You probably know how much I love the ocean and water (I love mountains, plains and valleys, too). The front cover has about 8 coats of glossy Mod Podge over the distress inks, clear micro round beads, rhinestones, and glitter dots. The finish looks as though you are standing over the sea shore looking straight down through the sparkling water to the sand just beneath. It sparkles so much IRL and I hope to figure out how to upload a brief video to show it glisten. The papers are from Heartfelt Creations, and the flowers are from their Fleur de Lis stamps and dies. I also used some 3D Stamp Paint in Gold by Viva Decor. Finally I scattered some of Gina K. Designs Diamond glitter all over before the last two coats of Mod Podge. The result is a translucent ocean of goodness! I should have put some shells or a starfish on the sand before I built up all the layers of clear water.

Inside front cover, tag with Isaiah 41:10

(I've since distressed the little corners of the tag frame)

Tag stamps from Graphic45, The Secret Garden

Thank you for stopping by. Your friendship and comments help more than you realize :)

I'll try to upload a brief video to show you how sparkly the front cover is. Aloha ♥

Watercoloring a Secret Garden

Ok, it isn't really an entire garden, but it's a few flowers and it's my first time trying to give this a serious try. It is the HARDEST technique on the planet (for me, so far).

I used the SU Secret Garden stamp set and stamped off a flower image (Memento Gray) one time, then stamped gently onto the watercolor paper. I didn't want to use a pencil and make my own stencil. I figure paled out gray ink will blend away with the paint, and it did.

Using dabs of distress inks tamped off onto a glass block, I added water and went at this.

Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive.

For the background, I laid down a water wash, then dabbed Worn Lipstick and Shabby Shutters here and there and let it run. The centers of the flowers have pale yellow flower soft covered with gold glitter (by Martha Stewart). I free handed the leaves with a bit of pencil sketching. The sentiment is SU Thoughts & Prayers. Watercolor Paper is 140# Strathford; Base Cardstock GKD Pure Luxury White, 120#. Green layer is by Colorbök. Gingham ribbon by BoBunny. Also used: Scor Tape and Adhesive Foam Dots.

Tips: Have a good drink first, take several deep breaths, play soft music and dab excess water or color up with the corner of a tissue. You can always let it dry, and try again on the back.

For Laurie, whose dear father recently died.

Thank you so much!