craft project-painted cottages

This is a little project I did using leftover cardboard from the back of watercolor paper pads.  I cut out the basic shape of a house with an exacto knife and then I add a paper door and scalloped paper trim to the roof. I paint them with climbing roses and other little details and then add a ribbon hanger by gluing the ribbon to the back and gluing a little piece of paper over the ribbon to hide the glue and add extra support. Then I poke little holes in the bottom for decorative beads to hang.

The one on the left is a garden shed, the one on the right is a flower shop.

Here are some of the supplies I used and a before shot of the various parts of the cottage.

They are a lot of fun and can be hung in any little nook and crannie for added fun and color...

Nature Sketching

These are a couple of recent sketchbook pages, a few flowers I picked to put in a small vase for Fathers Day, and some wildflowers from my Sunday morning walk.

I love drawing wildflowers, I think there is more to them than most people think, and I love all the little details of them when you really take the time to look...

Art Journals

These are the three art journals I'm currently working in, the one on the top is my collage journal of images and paper that I love.

 The second one is a journal of my favorite things and different lists because I love making lists in my journals.  And the one on the bottom is my large painted art journal where I use acrylics, watercolors, markers and colored pencils.

I lit a candle, put on music and played around with paint in my large art journal and had a very enjoyable time last night. Peaceful and Relaxing which is just what I'm wanting in my life right now.

This page has a drawing of the neckace I bought on Etsy from Violet Bella and I included her business card as well.  I'm also making a list of things I need to do, getting in down on paper helps me have a calm mind.    : )

This is a page in my collage journal from a few days ago and it's all about Fresh Starts which is something I'm needing right now as well.

I hope everyone had a chance to do something they really enjoy this weekend. It's all about making the time for the things we love to do....

My self-care notebook

This is my self-care journal that I have started while I try to get healthy, it keeps me inspired and on track. 

JOURNEY INTO HEALING

inspiration for walking and nature,

journal promts to fill in,

a list of JOYS...

another journal prompt to fill in, and I'm also adding in little drawings here and there,

and blogs and websites that I find inspiring.

Journaling and yoga food

      

This is a really large journal I made, inspired by the journaling of Pam Garrison and Mary Ann Moss so I do more with paint and markers in this journal and some added collage...

             

This is a current page in my collage journal, its a prompt about where you can find refuge and peace, and for me it's in Nature and especially the woods, a garden or the ocean.

The focal point is an image from Yoga Journal magazine of a young woman walking in the woods.

I took my first yoga class the other day. I've practiced at home for years but was nervous about joining a class and of course it was so enjoyable and I learned the proper way to breathe which is so important.

    I also have a book from the library called Yoga Food which has lots of wonderful recipes including this cabbage salad with a simple dressing. I added cranberries and apple slivers to it . It makes me feel good when I eat this kind of food.

sketchbook

I usually don't talk about anything very personal on my blog here, but the reason I haven't posted in awhile is that I've been diagnosed with depression and I'm on medication for it now. I'm also doing natural remedies and a gluten free diet, which helps a lot. So that's why I haven't posted anything for awhile, but I'm going to start again and do more drawing and journaling and I will be posting again and see if my blog can also be a way to heal.  For right now I wanted to share some of the sketchbook pages that I did in April and May and then I will be doing new sketches soon. I will be going at a gentle pace with it all. Thanks for listening...