I suppose there is something ironic about disappearing for five months (to the day) after posting my excitement in reaching 100 blogosphere posts. Although contrary to good posting, you have to admit I have the sense of mystery down pat.
My first post back into the blogosphere world is really out of order in its creation. I have been working on some new-to-me techniques and I wanted to share this particular journal page with you, and The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge team as my entry in challenge #32: Put a Stencil On It.
This was round two for this new-to-me technique of adding glaze to a page. I did a trial run first, with a different stencil, in my practice/experimental journal. And now I'm addicted. I might glaze everything in sight. I might also use the Stencil Girl 17002 building stencil for every project. It is crazy amazing gorgeous. It is almost a shame I covered it up; maybe next time I will create a page that highlights the stencil itself. Oh mad stencil love.
As I mentioned this journal page isn't the first to be created in this journal. It is the fourth page of my travel journal commemorating our trip to the Caribbean in 2014. The photos are taken in Oranjestad, Aruba where the ocean was turquoise and the streets were lined with iguanas. Apparently, you may also choose to dine on iguana (not on an iguana as a table; the iguana is the dining bit), however, we decided to stick with swimming and eating on the cruise.
I have no great story to match this photo of a horse with a lampshade on its head (for some reason I think his story may be far more interesting than anything I can create). I just loved the contrasted colours in this room. There was so much dark ornate wood surrounded by white supporting structures which made this room really regal and beautiful.
Thank you to those who stayed on with me even though I took a lengthy blogging absence. And thank you to my new friends on Instagram. I appreciate the support.
Keep getting messy.
I feel like I should have better prepared to for this once in a lifetime moment .. it's my 100th post! .. how does one celebrate a 100th blog post milestone? I think I'll get a green tea frappuccino. Mmm. Now you know my weakness. Use it wisely grasshopper.
And I will also celebrate my 100th blog post by entering my not so perfect photo layout in the mid-August picture this! challenge.
This was a really fun layout to put together and I had tremendous inspiration watching donna downey's design team create gorgeous art pieces with her new stencils.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. I first chose the photo for this layout. Yes, it is a photo of me around the age of 2 or 3 taking time to enjoy life and smell the flowers even though those flowers were not, um, authentic. A few years ago I "borrowed" a bunch of my mom's photo albums as I readied myself for a milestone birthday (40) and came across this great shot. Yes, it is blown out. Yes, the flower makes me look like I have a horn on my nose (thank you monkey muse for pointing that out). And yes, the quality of the photo is terrible. But it is, and has been, one of my favourite photos of all time. I cannot explain. It just is.
And, as I mentioned, based on this photo I pulled out donna downey's flowers in vase #1, applied some modeling paste and added some delicious creamy colour with gelatos. The flowers turned out great. The vase, not as much. Here's a tip. If you want crackle paste to crackle do not add acrylic paint to it until it dries and crackles. And then do not add acrylic paint to it after it has dried and crackled. Use something else.
The photo may not be perfect. The memory may be blurry. The sentiment is the same. Enjoy every moment and take time in life to get messy.
