This week’s theme is “letters of the alphabet“. I chose the letter “W” for, the Word.

Rest on the Word, for the Word was God, and the Word is God.

I’ve got it! I have discovered another unique technique.

I found a use for the mesh bags that lemons or oranges usually come in at the market. Here’s what you can do: use the mesh as a stencil. On the card I made, I used a metallic copper paint on polka-dot paper and Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp. I also used black tulle as a ribbon on the bottom and top to give the painted texture a more 3D appearance. Then, I used black sewing thread to add even more visual texture.

I’m excited about how it turned out and I now keep my eyes open for anything that can be recycled as a stencil, like the mesh fruit bag. Think about it: you can eat healthy, recycle, and try a new craft technique with one bag of oranges! If that’s not being “Green,” I don’t know what is.

A Skinny is a 3″ X 5″ piece of art. Skinny Saturday is a blog that prompts artists to create a Skinny using the theme for that Saturday. This week’s theme is “Sitting Pretty“. I used the Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp and the techniques described in Kelly Burton’s tutorial.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22

The theme for this Thursday is “warm colors”. Visit Theme Thursday blog to see more entries.

Tag books are quick and fun projects that make great gifts for those who appreciate the special touch of handmade items. This dog themed tag book is made from copies of antique postcards. I used a punch and blue card-stock for the tags, then stamped the background with Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp, cut out the dog images and glued them on the tags. I edged them with brown marker and ink, then added a little glam with glitter sticker letters and orange pencil. They are tied together with silk ribbon. The little “collar” is made of brown velvet ribbon held together with glue and an embossed metal band pierced by a metal ring holding a replica of a French coin.

I spelled out “Layers of Color” for this book. As an art swap or gift for someone special, spell out their name.

On the back of each tag, add a verse, scripture or encouraging word that starts with the letter on the front of the tag.

Use a theme that reflects their favorite animal, subject and colors. I encourage you to create some tags today, then pass them on to bless others…”Tag, you’re it!”

Although I don’t consider myself a writer, I have two journals, and I just started a third last night. As a visual artist, I prefer art journals rather than writing journals as I tend to express myself more with images than words. I allow myself to be free with my style and honest with my emotions, since I don’t usually plan to share their contents. The majority of art I create is a celebration of color and beauty, however two of my art journals deal with the muddy aspect of life.

I use my art journal to express myself artistically and emotionally, and it helps me through difficult life experiences. I like to balance the pages that deal with the subject of pain with those pages that describe victory and healing. I use a small artist’s sketchbook, and I add embellishments, paint, decoupage, paper manipulation and whatever else works best.

My second journal is for medical purposes to keep a daily record and track my chronic migraines, medications and symptoms. It’s a school composition book decorated with Layers of Color Fleur Heart stamp enlarged on a copier then cut out. I also used decorative tape tape, vellum, Dover bird, red ink. Only the cover and a few pages are decorated, but I feel that because of the subject, it’s important for me to have a pleasant sight for my eyes when I use it.

My newest journal is an altered book. It was born last night from a large, old art book called, “The Story of Painting.” The purpose of this journal is to document in a creative, artistic style, the story of my art stamp business. I removed the pages that had pictures I’ll use another time in other projects, then painted pages with acrylic paints. I’ll decorate it with Layers of Color stamps and journal about the creative process, inspiration and the journey I travel through this art business. I created this knowing that I’d be sharing this art journal with others. In fact, it was the idea of sharing the process that prompted me to create it. I look forward to sharing it with you.

I encourage you to create an art journal for yourself. The only rule: be honest. Make it a personal space where you can express yourself without the first thought of what someone else will think. You may choose to use it as an outlet where you can work through painful and difficult life experiences like me. Or, you can fill it with things you love and delicious eye candy to enjoy any time you need inspiration. Grab a sketchbook or an old book off your shelf and journal from your heart today!

Ever heard of a RAK? It means Random Act of Kindness. It’s a kind act done for another without expectation of reward: a true good deed. Among communities of artists, RAKs are enjoyed as small pieces of art given to each other just to bring joy or lift a low spirit. Although we have fun exchanging RAKs, the totally unexpected gifts in the mail are those that touch hearts in the soft spot.

It really motivates me to create a personal, special gift when I know that someone needs their spirit lifted. This was the case when I made this gift for someone I’d never met in my art group. I believe that when love is put into art, it shows through the artwork. I saw this piece as God being close to her heart, with the wings of His Holy Spirit lifting her and carrying her burdens upwards toward heaven with prayer. The beads glisten like tears dropping from cheeks. The Bible says, God knows each tear that falls, and He is close to the broken-hearted. Written on the back is Romans 5:3: “…know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.”

I encourage you to send your love…touch a heart with a RAK…do a good deed. Not just today, Valentine’s Day, but on a normal day. A RANDOM day, with a thoughtful ACT, filled with KINDNESS.

Materials:

• Black recycled sketchbook back cover
• Layers of Color Fleur Heart and Winged Heart stamps
• White ink pad
• White Souffle Opaque Pen
• Wire, beads, ribbons