New little handmade sketch journals

I really enjoyed making these little handmade journals to add to my sketch journal travel pack. I had so much fun making them. I love to sew books and this is a type of a 4 needle coptic stitch that I did. I would show you the simple stitch but I think where I learned it from is copyright protected. But there are many ways to sew a book in a coptic stitch where you journal will lay flat.

I used paper that I had in my stash that I sprayed with my many stencils and Adirondack spray inks. I even did some lettering on them. It was fun!

Happy New Year!!
# Liz Steel,  #Kilimamjaro

Documented Life Project--Artist of the Month!

So very honored that the Art to the 5th gals have chosen me to be the December Artist of the month! It has been such a wonderful journaling year with the Documented Life Project

and I am looking forward to next year---which will be here soon.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

This week for the DLP challenge was "Arrows".
So here is my arrow. Stay tuned, the DLP Facebook Art to the 5th gals have chosen me to be the spotlight artist for next week.  I am very excited about that!

This week's challenge for Documented Life Project was to journal about a place we would like to vacation--no matter the cost. Of course on my bucket list is to fly first class to Tuscany with one of my favorite painters and paint. Maybe someday I will do it!

This little painting was part of a larger painting that I did that didn't work on a larger scale and I cropped this part out. I think it worked better after the crop.  I put a Photoshop filter on it to make it look----cooler.

DLP Challenge--Trace a Hand

This week's challenge was to trace a hand. So this is my hand with lots of calligraphic "hands" on it. FYI--different styles of calligraphy are called "hands" not fonts.  Only computers have fonts.

This journal is really getting chunky and I want it to make it till the end--which is drawing close!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Sale!

To see all the classes click here:

Creative Workshops

Thank you all and have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Grateful

This week for the Documented Life Project journal the challenge was to show gratefulness in a creative way.  I think this is week 47 or maybe 48? Just a few more and the year will be completed. You should see my chunky journal. I will take a picture of it when the weeks are finished.

Week 47--Add a Map!

Yes, these are very special places indeed. I absolutely love Jacksonville but you can never take the "Georgia" out of the girl!  

This week was a fun one and I got it in just in time!

Just look at the beautiful arrangement Zach and Brooke give me for my birthday! So beautiful I had to paint them---because when they're gone---there gone.

Week 46 of Documented Life Project--Add Fabric

Oh man, did I ever have fabric just itching to be used. This is Ranger ink sprays on this canvas fabric which is so fun to do. Then I used my Sailor Fountain Pen with just regular ink to write the quote.
This was a fun one!!  I love painting fabric!

Add a "Tab"

This is very literal!  I added a tab to my DPL book. Actually I added three tabs.  I enjoy using these Chunky Versal Letters.  Always fun!

Add some leaves! Week 44 of Documented Life Project

I really love Autumn although we don't have much of a change of leaves down here in Jacksonville. But the stifling weather eases off and it is a wonderful time of the year.  I guess it takes me back to football games every Friday night and fun school things. I loved that time of my life---but I would never go back. Life is good now too!

Quickie Watercolor from my Imagination

I have been watching Charles Reid's watercolors and I am fascinated at how wonderful his watercolors are. His techniques are quite different. I'm going to practice his style. I need to be doing some leaves for DLP before the week is up and I get behind!

DLP Week Sketch what's right in front of you

 The journal is getting so chunky and yummy. I am determined to make it through to completion at the end of the year. I wonder if the book will even hold that much more. I thought I should do a close-up because the whole book is getting harder to photograph with the pages not laying flat.

Week 42 DLP

Stars week!

Sketches

I have been enjoying all the classes in Sketchbook Skool in fact the third semester starts today! I don't sketch as much as I should but when I do I enjoy it.  Right now I am just trying to sketch what it right in front of me. I drew Bucky as he was lounging on the porch and

here is the one I did the other day while I was waiting at the Audi service department.

DLP Week 40---Three colors I don't use together--Journal Page

Well usually in it strongest tints I don't use these colors together but when I paint I am sure that I do use variations of these colors. As I wrote on the bottom, I was going to use mauve, tan and mint green but I just couldn't stand to look at them!!

I edited out the dots because it was getting too busy. If you say the Facebook page you can see the dots.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205083564787617&set=gm.1497266347191203&type=1&theater
I need to just be ok with a little white space!

DLP-Week 39--And some splatter and drips

This week was a fun one because I decided that I would really go for it and put some Italic lettering as well as some pointed pen lettering.  Since I taught my Italic class the past Thursday and Friday I was feeling confident to just write it on the page.

Fun challenge!

Documented Life Project--week 38

This week's challenge was to use a feather on your page. I couldn't find a feather but one of my hand carved leaf stamps did the trick for this challenge. I just kept hearing that song in my head, "Shake your Tail Feather."  So hence the two boogie birds shaking their tail feathers.

As as you can see the book is getting very chunky !

 

Week 37--Use a White Pen

You would think that it was opposite week from last week. But this week we were to use a white pen on our page. I used a Signo Pen for this one and wrote in some chunky versals.  Doodling is always fun but my eyes are burning right now from doing it!

Black and White Week--36 of DLP

Better late than missing this week! This week the challenge was to create a journal page with just black and white. So I decided to pull out a hand carved stamp and write something about this art journey we are on.  Art brings such joy to me and yes, if it bring joy to others then that's even all the better!

Smaller Lino Rugs

Here are two more Linoleum hand painted rugs. They are 371/2 x231/2. Just right for under a kitchen sink or bathroom sink.  One is for the sweet lady, Sandy, at the Floor Club here in Jacksonville for going out into the hot wearhouse in the back of the store to get me a very large piece of vinyl flooring---for free.  But we had just bought flooring for a bedroom so I guess we kinda paid for it. But one is for her for doing that, the other one with the butterflies was a paint over of the yellow Indian one that got damaged. Too bad cause it was a pretty one.

Materials used: scrap vinyl flooring, Benjamin Moore Dry Sage paint, 

Annie Sloan Old White, Annie Sloan Lacquer.

Week 35--Add a Face!

I love to draw and paint faces so I was excited for this challenge.  I actually combined a previous week's challenge to use our under papers which I didn't get completed.  So there you have it. Week 35 and week 33.  My planner is certainly getting chunky!

Since I have completed Sketch Skool I am determined to draw challenging things and this table was beautiful but definitely a challenge. And the greater challenge for me is to just go for it with a pen. No pencil and erasing.  It was fun to go over to my friend, Rynda's house to sit, talk and sketch. It took about 2 hours. The light was shining straight on ---and I am glad that wonky is allowed!

Week 34-DLP--Put numbers on it!

I love this verse in Psalms so I decided to get out my Speedball C nib, which has become my favorite,
and write out this verse. This is an Italic variation that's fun to do. My Documented Life Project art journal is getting very chunky. And you know how I love chunky!

That first cup really is a good one isn't it?  I am really trying to draw little quick sketches of things around me everyday. It's amazing how much resistance I get just trying to sit down and do this. Sketchbook Skool was very inspiring and just like painting it takes just one simple thing...

practice---and lots of it!

Comfort Zone page

Ok well actually my plan was to sketch in my journal today. I have just completed two semesters of Sketchbook Skool with some of the most talented journal sketchers in the world. I have enjoyed watching them so much and have said to myself everyday---OK, today's the day I will go out and sketch in my journal.  Everyday, I have a very good excuse---mostly that it's just too darn hot. But I did draw the Mod Podge on my desk but then got carried away with lettering.  I also was going to do my Documented Life Page with the underpapers and haven't gotten to that yet either. I was doing pretty good and was on a roll then we went on vacation and all went ca-poof! 

(Is that a word?-- ca-poof)

So this is my comfort zone---lettering.

And if any of you are wondering--- and I am just so sure you all are waiting with bated breath to know this...---I am still oil painting but not posting them. Some are pretty good and I feel like I'm making progress then one comes along that stinks so bad I have to send it down the 

refuse chute as I say, "Good riddance, stinker! Burn baby burn!"

Lino Rug #2--Indian Design

One of the most fun things for me to do is to stencil things. I think that the "pounding" motion of stenciling must be therapeutic. Plus something pretty always comes of it---well most of the time anyway. This is a 22x34 inch linoleum (vinyl) scrap for about $5 painted with some Annie Sloan Old White Chalk paint, some leftover yellow and my new Indian design stencils. It came is 5 stencils to a pack and was pretty tricky to get everything lined up. The sample on the outside of the stencil package showed it painted in black and white and it was really stunning. Maybe I will try that next time. This one will go in the guest bath since it matches the paint and wall paper. 

  I use Gripcoat Ultra on the back and they never slide and don't harm any floors. I had to so some digging to find that out.  And also I use Annie Sloan Lacquer on the painted side.

Had fun making this one.

Week 31 Documented Life Project---Add a Pocket

I am one week late this week. My sweet hubby had to go in for a heart oblation and this held me up for a few days. Thankfully so far so good and no Afib!  So these are my blessings for this week--in a pocket of course. I did some spraying with my Adirondack Color sprays which I LOVE and used my Neuland alphabet stamps that I carved--which I also love to use.  And sewed on the pocket.

Week 30 for Documented Life project

This week was "Make a Smash Book" page.  Well, I had heard of a smash book but I have never made one. But actually I had kinda made one years ago but called it something else. So I had to go and Google Smash book to fine out what it was. Actually mine is not really right. I didn't have any labels or receipts that were interesting looking. So this is what emerged. Whether it right or not it was fun 

to make. I am waiting for them to say it's Collage Week!  Then I will be sitting pretty!

Have they already said that one???

Week 29--Make a Wish List

This was a fun week so I put my top wished for this week and next wee too. Actually Chauncey and his A-fib procedure actually goes first but Zach and their booth at NAMM in Nashville this week is hight up there too!

Got the Rug Bug

After painting Zach's large red and blue rug (see previous post) and wanted to try another one. This remnant was from Lowes for about $20 for two pieces that were 4x6.  I used Benjamin Moore Dry Sage left over paint for the base color. I got the large all over stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.  I used Annie Sloan Paint for the stenciling and used her big brush to stencil. The next step will be to lacquer it and it is suppose to be completely scuff proof!  

Week 28 of Documented Life Project

Yep, my little sweeties for sure!

Week 27 of DLP and a rug!

Last night at 11:00 after painting this rug all day I got the bug to do my DLP page. I was going to let this week slip but I got some extra energy last night.

I do love to do puzzles but couldn't find any pictures of them and I must admit I have never done a Sudoku puzzle. I think it might involve math---or numbers?  Maybe that's why this severely left-brain challenged girl has never done one. Or maybe I am missing out on something fun!

But I did enjoy painting this linoleum rug. It was hard work! It's for my son, Zach's, booth at Summer Namm in Nashville coming up in about a week or so. They are putting up a small booth and will sell their beautiful Peruvian  guitar straps and other guitar accessories. The rug has the colors in the Original Fuzz Logo.

It's 5'x6' which is the size of their small booth.

Wish them luck!!!

I had so much fun painting this rug I think I will paint some more smaller ones. I have plenty of stencils.  I painted on the back of the linoleum remnant. Cost about $20 dollars.  I did have to do some extensive research as to how to do this. I hope it will be durable. It has lots of coats of polyurethane. Should hold up.  

I love to write Scripture so this was a fun week for me.

 I do have many scriptures that I love but this is one of my favorites. 

I did this with CalligraFUN letters with different colors of

Pitt brush markers by Faber-Castell.

"Delightful" Hearts--Week 25 of DLP

I love this Scripture so when this week of "Documented Life Project's" challenge was to put hearts on our page I was excited to write out this Scripture. I used cold press watercolor paper so sometimes my lines are rather squiggly but actually that's the point of this lettering style.  Watercolor hearts are always fun!

Week 24 of Documented Life Project

Enjoyed painting these poppies on this book page. The page was very brittle and soft so I added a coat of clear gesso.  I love to paint poppies when ever I can.  I have been known to paint them on wedding invitations to give to the brides. They turn out really nice except you only have one shot at it so it better be right the first time! I wrote the word "Poppies" with 3 shades of red gouache and used a Speedball nib for the lettering.

Also, don't forget my SUMMER SALE on all my online classes !!!!

Week 23 of Documented Life Project

This is GRATITUDE week.
Don't forget the SUMMER SALE!!

June Summer Sale!

All classes are on sale starting today for the whole

month of June! My prices on my classes are already really low 
so now is the time to stock up.

You can check out the classes on the right side of my blog--just scroll down to see them all--and you can go here to purchase.

Thank you all!!

Week 22 of Documented Life Project

This week was put a house in your journal. I just love to create this little funky wonky houses.  And I do love that Scripture too.

Week 21 of the Documented Life Project

This week's challenge was to stitch something on our journal page and I LOVE to stitch on paper with my sewing machine so this one was really fun. Just all sorts of fun stuff going on---stenciling, stamps calligraphy, CalligraFun and of course---stitches!

Better not be color blind to see this page!