Something's always going on...

Good morning sunshine... The earth says hello.. 

Hello friends.. Time flies.. when it never stops and you're so busy you want to jump up and down and yell, "Has anyone noticed I haven't sat down in 2 days?" 

So is life.. 

So I finally got my Dyan Reavely's Creative Art Journal project going..# OmgILoveit.

I want to share some of my first art journal pages.. 

Here is my Alice page.. Tons of home made spray inks, Tim Holtz stamps, Distress inks and elbow grease..

Wings.. Who doesn't wish they had those sometimes.. This background is all Distress inks.. the rest of odds and ends I printed out and distressed, gel pens, glimmer mist and a teeny bit of hope. 

CUPCAKES!!!! Spray Inks, glitter acrylic paint (39 cents @ Michaels) A stencil I found at Ben Franklin for 79 cents.. I've been on the lookout for things to use in my journal that won't break the bank (since mine is always broken) and I've discovered you don't HAVE to use those spendy supplies to make beautiful pages.

A small list of my supplies:

Distress inks.. these can be spendy. Joann Fabric online has them for less than 3$ when on sale.

Spray inks..  Here is the link to make your own from acrylic paint. Spray bottle (Walmart beauty section..79 cents) DIY SPRAY INKS!!!
Acrylic paints.. cheaper the better.. I got a set of little tubes for 5$ at Ben Franklin. Of course Michaels has the little bottles for 50 cents. They even come in chalkboard paint, glitter, metallic, and a bunch more. 

Must have: Printer and card stock.. I have terrible handwriting so I print my quotes and words... MUCH cheaper than buying the ephemera.. Just make your own. 

Of course my journal.. I went for gold on this.. LOVE IT. I also have a smaller one I purchased at Walmart for 5.47..

Gesso: I got the Liquitex brand.. This is my first time using Gesso. So far so good. 4$ for a huge bottle that will outlive me I'm sure. 

Gel pens.. I pick these up here and there at craft stores with 50% off coupons.. 

The other thing I spent more than I would normally is my art junk storage on the run bring it all with you bag.. 
Martin Stow It All Ultimate Art Bag
This thing has pockets inside the pockets.. Tons of room to store whatever you can't live without when traveling with your art.. They range from 125$ to the 45$ with free shipping that I paid.. SHOP AROUND!!!

Stamps: Stamps can be cheap and not so cheap.. Keep your mind open when you run across them.. they can be used for so many things.. spendy is not always better.. and dammit use your coupons.. You DON'T need 378384765 stamps.. Many stores have 99 cent stamps.. check them out.. 

Scissors.. I know.. duh.. Get some good scissors.. Again.. COUPONS..

Exacto Knife.. they go from cheap to spendy.. I use one with a large grip (my hands don't work the way I'd like them to) 

Permanent Glue sticks.. Coupons

Watercolor pencils.. So cool.. My daughter showed these to me.. she used them in art class.. MUCH easier to use than traditional water colors.. I got a set online for 6$.. they can run to 60$ a set. Yikes. No need to starve the children for art.. 

Waterbrush.. Again.. They can be spendy.. Tim Holtz brushes are upwards of 10$. 
Here is the link to the set I bought for half that. WaterBrushes

I just want to add that this is the list of things I use.. Your list will differ greatly once you figure out what style suites you. 

Stencils.. Once again.. Stencils can be spendy as well.. Crafters Workshop has some cool ones I found for 5$.. all craft stores carry them for all kinds of things (Home decor, fabric ect.) So look around in different depts to find them. I got some in the stamp section of Ben Franklin for 39 cents.. Some cool squares and hearts and such.. 

Chalk pastels.. 5$ for a huge set at Ben's. They're neat.. I found great tutorials on youtube on how to use them.

Ok.. So now we have some basic supplies.. What the H do you do next? LEARN!! I have a board full of inspiration and how to and what not on Pinterest.. Check it out and follow me.. we can learn together.. 

Don't get overwhelmed when you start watching these videos.. YOU DON'T NEED ALL THOSE CRAZY SUPPLIES TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL PAGES! My art supply set it 2 years plus in the making.. I pick things up here and there.. Just keep an open mind when you watch the how to and use your own supplies.. 

Start small.. I started out with Smash Books. So much fun! I have learned a ton since I started.. I like the plain white piece of paper now.. But I'll never stop making my own versions of Smash Journals.. 

Something to keep in mind.. You're art is YOURS.. It's NEVER wrong. It's ALWAYS good enough. 

I love bright colors.. quotes.. random clip art... Anything you can think of can go into your pages.. Art Journals are therapy in a book for me. I've gotten more peace and healing from making art than I can say.. Give it a shot.. 

Ok friends.. It's 9:30am..  #Iworknights..gah!
I must do the laundry and run errands.. try to sleep and make something lovely before I venture off into the night to heal the sick..

Have a Grateful Day <3

Wait! One more thing! We'll explore this website more next time.. But this is the Brave Girls Club.. Run over there and give them a shout.. you will be glad you did :) Lovely art.. strong shoulders.. Kind hearts and words we all need to hear. 
Brave Girls Club

Toodles xo