Mixed Media Art, Journals, Illustrations, & More
As I prep to launch some new items in the Nessie Craft shop, including stickers and planner accessories, I’m forming a street team! If you would like to participate, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/cpxEVMfP5LH8MwZf9
I’ll be accepting applications until April 15, and those chosen will be notified no later than May 1!
Last year, I started really looking at Nessie Craft as a little more than a hobby. Before, it was something fun I liked to do (and still is). But now, I’m trying to really view it as a business, and something I’d like to be able to devote more time to.
Of course, being that there is a baby due any day now, and that I still do have a real day job, I’m tempering that outlook to be more reasonable. That being said, it is a goal I’m not giving up on.
I don’t really “do” new year resolutions – usually you set them and then watch as they slide right on past you. Then you feel guilty about it. Now I try to set a few goals for the new year. Goals are good. They give you a milestone to work toward, and as long as you’re trying and making progress, its okay if you can’t quite make it. You’ve still gotten farther than you were before.
So this year, I’ve made some goals for Nessie Craft.
1. Make at least 1 Junk Journal a month
2. Increase followers and engagement on my Nessie Craft social media accounts
3. Do at least 1 YouTube tutorial a month
4. Finish the fairy tale journal series I have planned
5. Launch the stickers and digital items I’ve been working on in my Etsy shop
6. Make enough sales in my Etsy shop to supplement our income and save up for a few things.
7. Learn some new skills in my arting, and be more active with it.
I’ve already started by making a bullet journal specifically for all the art/Nessie Craft items and trying to plan out some reasonable tasks for the month. I will ask that you give me a little wiggle room, since we’re down to 3 weeks until baby’s due date, and once that happens, I know there will be a period of time where all the plans go out the window until our little family figures out its new normal.
What goals do you have for the new year?
25 ways?!? Ambitious, I know! But junk journals are really more versatile than you might think. Their format lends itself to more methods of collection, writing, art, and etc than you realize! Without taking up too much more of your time, here’s my list of 25 ways you might use a junk journal!
Junk journals have endless possibilities. There is no law that says you have to use them for these purposes. You can use it as a keepsake space, or a daily diary. There’s no reason that you can’t jump all over the book and write on whatever page or bit of ephemera moves you that day. Its a great place to put your ticket stubs from concerts, or a napkin from that really awesome cafe you ate at over the weekend. I usually clip in photos with whatever entry is about what we were doing then.
They’re beautiful, and the best part about them, in my opinion, is that a junk journal is an artwork in progress. What I create is not finished until it is used – whether by myself or someone else. You become a part of the making and history of that item, and it isn’t finished until you say it is!
What other uses can you think of? What have you done with your junk journals?
I was super excited this past week to learn how to create my own stickers using Photoshop and my Cricut machine. Now that I’ve figured it out… well… I’ve been a little preoccupied. Soon I have to go back to getting things in order, but for hte moment, I’ve had a great time making some page size stickers to go in my bullet journal. I’ve kept a bujo for the last two or three years, and this week I’ve decided that I want to create a bujo for my art/nessiecraft things that is separate from my day job and personal bullet journal. I think it will allow me to stay a little more focused and organized.
And, of course, it gave me a reason to create an opener and a calendar for October and make them into stickers, even though I’m partly through the month already.
While I am not yet offering these in my Etsy store, I may soon if there is enough interest. In the meantime, enjoy these files as free downloads that you can print off and use in your own planners/bullet journals!
I know its a little early, but for my Graphics Candy Design Team project, I made this Halloween Journal from her Spellbook kit. The kit is FULL of so much material I couldn’t even include it all!
I did include some of my own journal cards, background papers, and other items I had around. This particular journal won’t be headed for my shop, as it is already earmarked as a gift for someone. HOWEVER, I will be making more Halloween journals, and if you want one, I’d be happy to tailor it to what you’d like to see. Just send me an email and I can do a custom journal for you!
Here’s the junk journal flip through video –
Hello everyone!
I just wanted to write a brief post to apologize. There may be some glitches – but I’ve totally revamped the website, and it is SO much better now!(even if I do say so!) I’m still working on the small things, so please bear with me as I continue to smooth things out. In the meantime, I also wanted to let you know that I’m nearly finished with the SUPER AWESOME Halloween themed journal, which is a Graphics Candy Design Team project. I’m also working on a Boho themed journal, and another creepy Halloween themed journal called the Peculiarium. And there are pieces already stacked up for a vintage recipe/kitchen themed journal, some things for a Smoky Mountain themed journal… so many projects! And I intend to get them all done over the next few months!
A sneak peek at the new Halloween journal coming!
If there’s something you wish to see I’d love to hear it! Whether its a journal theme, or a card, or something you think needs fixed/added to the website, I’m all ears! I’d also love to know what types of things you’d like to see on this blog. Helpful info only, my ramblings about life, etc.
Have a great evening!
Today I’m interviewing Larisa Deac, who has some amazing artwork to help inspire your weekend! Thank you for joining us!
The #100daysofpapertint is an art challenge I started back in Brazil, with the idea to offer a small original painting to someone anywhere in the world, for 100 days. I got very inspired by the ocean there, and my project reflects this theme until today. In order to win, participants just have to follow the rule I post for each painting, and at the end of each week I choose winners and send them their prizes. It gives me a great satisfaction to hear that my small artwork made someone happy and that they can relate to it because it reminds them of a place or a moment in time.
When painting, I try to reflect the feelings I get from the places I live in. I’ve noticed that the shapes and color palettes change based on where I am. In New York, it was a lot about more rigid geometric shapes, whereas in Brazil and Portugal my technique has become more fluid.
This is a very difficult question because I feel connected to each of them, but I think my favorite was the one entitled “Oceans”.
The same as above, this painting was my favorite and the most challenging one because I made it in a very narrow space, without too many tools available.
I am inspired by motion and light, which is why in many of my paintings you can find shapes that resemble waves. I’ve always been fascinated by the changing light and texture of the ocean waves.
Papertint was created by Larisa Deac, as a means to share her modern abstract art with the world. Papertint is about tints of color on paper and canvas.
The paintings explore abstraction through vibrant colors and textures, using solely acrylics as a medium. Inspired by emotion and how the sun captures the surroundings, the artist focuses on a couple of major themes: motion and light.
Larisa Deac is from Romania and has lived in several countries including Finland, United States, Brazil, and Portugal.
Her process starts with layering paint to give the artwork a certain depth, and preparing a color palette. Interested in how different shapes blend on canvas, she allows the final result to change based on intuition. The intention is that the art would transform people’s environment and allow them to feel more focused and inspired.
Papertint was launched in New York in June 2017 through an art exhibition.
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Today I’m interviewing Linda Israel, a mixed media artist. Thank you so much, Linda, for being here!
There are so many medias I like to use, I also consider myself a multimedia artist. Some of my favorite mediums, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, acrylic paint, fabric, old book pages, Calico Collage digital images, stamping and many more. Currently I’m using a lot of fabric with paper in junk journals. Love that I can use any medium or technique I want inside Junk Journals as there are no rules.
This was a wonderful experience! I was so blessed to be a part of the 30 Oklahoma Artists that were selected. Learned so much about production for TV and that inspired me to start making tutorial videos for YouTube. Learned how to explain things and show good examples so others can follow along. The process took about 8 hours for two segments for the 30 minute show! I wasn’t even involved with editing which I know took a long time!
There are so many things I love to make! One of my favorite items to make is custom junk journals. When the customer gets the journal and they send me multiple messages stating how much they love it, that they are showing it to everyone and then they show how they are using it makes me so happy. I love the process of getting to know the customer asking questions about what they like, colors, images etc. Sometimes it can be a challenge but with good communication I’m able to get it made to make them very happy. This Bird Dragonfly Planner Junk Journal made me so happy to make for my friend Carrie: http://lindaisrael.com/2018/01
The most challenging piece was the Aspire Dream Custom Junk Journal: http://lindaisrael.com/2017/12
I have two that I feel are my strongest. First is sewing anything – paper and fabric. I love layering paper on top of fabric and vise versa. The two mediums attached together with sewing just speaks to my soul. Second is Rubber Stamping. I love using rubber stamps. Making greeting cards, journal cards, backgrounds and more. I have done more sewing and rubber stamping in my life than anything else since I started sewing very young, around 8 or so and I’ve been stamping for almost 30 years!
I love observing life. When I’m outside my home I look at everything. The colors of a flower will inspire me to use those with acrylic paint and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists. Fabric will call to me to turn it into a journal cover, a cosmetic bag or even a mug rug. I’ll look at things and think, how can I use that idea to make something in art? Many times my inspiration comes from a request. Someone will make a request and then I set to putting that request into a work that they will enjoy. It’s a problem and I work to solve it with art.
It’s the creative process. The texture of different mediums, paints, fabric, paper and so much more that just feel good in my hands. Many times when I finish a piece I’m done and can move on to another project. Sometimes a technique is just so fun to do so I’ll sit and play then figure out how I can use what I made. lol I have a little bit of ADD when it comes to arts and crafts. I like to hop around different projects so I don’t get bored. It keeps my mind and hands active.
It was a way to challenge myself. The first design team was BrutusMonroe.com. This is a stamp company and there are many types of stamps that they produce. Getting a box of stamps and being asked, create with these can be a challenge especially if it isn’t a style or theme that I don’t use very much or I may not even like. So it’s a problem to solve. For example I was sent a super cute Taco stamp and phrase – I love you more than Tacos. http://lindaisrael.com/2017/08
One of my most viewed design team projects for Calico Collage: https://youtu.be/0G3evf9C92M
One of my most viewed design team projects for Brutus Monroe: https://youtu.be/Kqdsqx6ebGk
One of my most viewed design team projects for Canvas Corp Brands: https://youtu.be/iTrQLmF8xSM
Being on a Design Team is also a great way to get products for free. The box comes and it is like Christmas. Once everything is out of the box then it is down to business of seeing what I can make with the items. I love the challenge.
Two fold goal – 1. That I inspire others to be creative. 2. That I have a purchasable product and can make a living inspiring others.
Never give up creating. There will always be people who don’t like what you are doing. If you are loving what you are doing keep creating. When you keep creating, you become even more creative and your art improves. But never think that you have to create what others will love, create what you love. This is different than creating a product to sell. When you create what you love then you will get a feel for what sells. I create cord covers (These are pieces of fabric that cover an electrical cord – like for lamps). These are not my favorite thing to create, but these help pay the bills. So you may have to create a few items that are not your favorite, but never give up what you love!
Multimedia mixed media artist living in Yukon Oklahoma with her Husband Henry and their two dogs. She is a public speaker having been a member of Toastmasters for over 25 years. Featured on HGTV “That’s Clever”. National instructor teaching junk journal workshops. Over 40 years sewing experience and 30 years of rubber stamping experience. She loves to inspire others to be creative as she tells everyone “I think everyone is creative, look at how you fix your favorite beverage or cook a meal, how you dress, how you organize your work or home. There are so many ways to show your creativity. Keep being creative!”
Website: http://lindaisrael.com/
Email: emailme@lindaisrael.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lind
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/l
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LindaIs
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Linda
I’ve decided that I want to challenge myself to make a piece of art each day in May. While I am working on my junk journals and other projects, sometimes you just need to feel a sense of accomplishment. ATCs, or Artist Trading Cards, are a great way to acheive that!
They are the same size as a playing card, so 2.5″ x 3.5″ and you can do one side, or both. Whatever way makes you happy! They are easy to complete in a reasonable amount of time, and then they can be swapped with other artists, or kept and used in other art, or just admired on their own!
To that end, I came up with my own list of prompts. That being said, the art doesn’t have to be related to the prompt – its just a good way to get started. If you want to join in, please do! Feel free to share it around as well – use #ATCmay18 as your hashtag so we can all see what amazing things you are doing.
Being creative is important – and its also a hobby that takes time. I don’t know about you guys, but time is something that is often in short supply at my house. Between my full time job as a high school librarian, maintaining the house and garden, and basic things like sleeping and eating, there aren’t many hours left. And sometimes you come home and you are just TIRED.
I realized somewhere last year that if I didn’t MAKE time to create, it would never happen. The thought wasn’t a pleasant one. Right then I decided that I wasn’t going to accept that. Crafting is a stress relief for me, and an outlet. If I couldn’t do art, I would be a grumpy woman.
That’s where I began to really look at my time. And I realized that there are times where I could decide to make art. It didn’t have to be three hours on a Saturday afternoon. Even a little time can get something accomplished. And this isn’t a solution that will work for everyone. But these are just some ideas of ways to get a little more creativity in your life. Take the ones that work for you, and ignore the rest. Perhaps you will even come up with better ways!
I know for some people this is a terrible idea! By all means, watch your favorite show! But if you have an evening where you find yourself flipping channels and not interested in anything, turn off the TV and get out the art supplies. When we moved, we decided not to get cable at our new house. We still have a digital reciever, Prime, and Hulu, but you know what – we found that we didn’t really miss the TV. We aren’t super fans of any shows we couldn’t live without, and with fewer options, we usually end up doing other things. One of those has been more art, and it has been WONDERFUL.
A bonus I’ve found as well – if I stop and just sketch a little before bed, with no devices, I have a tendency to sleep better. Don’t know if it will work for everyone, but taking that time to unwind really does seem to make a difference for me!
As a librarian (who doesn’t have an assistant) I don’t really get much of a break. Usually I eat sitting at the circulation desk, hoping I can finish before anyone comes in. But on the occaisions when I do have ten minutes to myself to sit and eat, I love to get out my sketchbook and doodle a little. Nothing fancy. Sometimes its just little thumbnails for a bigger piece. Sometimes its working on a mandala drawing or doodle page. Doesn’t matter. The act of creating really helps to calm me down, especially on a stressful day. (Which, if you’ve ever worked in a school, is most days.)
Okay. This one is a suggestion I know others use, but one that I myself don’t subscribe to. I am NOT a morning person. For real. So me setting my alarm for 4:30 to get an extra 30 minutes of arting in just isn’t going to happen. (And even if I did, any art would be crap.) BUT – for those of you who enjoy rising early, this may be a legitimate option. I know others who get up an extra 30 min to an hour earlier and it helps set them up for the day and get lots of art made. To those of you who try this, many, MANY kudos.
Maybe you have lots of plans for the weekend. Maybe you don’t. (Yet) Either way, put it on your schedule! Write in a block of time on your planner, or make a note in your calendar app. I’d recommend an hour. Then stick to it. Treat it like an actual appointment. You could even set a timer on your phone and when the time is up, then you decide to continue or go do other things.
Invite another artistic friend over and make a monthly (weekly, whatever) craft day! We are actually talking about doing this with a group of us at work as a stress relief thing. Its a great way to have fun and make things with other like minded people – and maybe learn something new from them too!
This is easier said than done, I know. But honestly, if you don’t put some importance into taking time to be creative each day, you’ll never actually do it. Decide that it is something important to you. Commit to sitting down and really looking at ways to work it into your schedule. That is half the battle!
I don’t know about you, but I love finding new artists to follow on social media, whether it be YouTube, IG, or FB. So I thought I’d take a few minutes and put together a list of 10 of my favorite channels to watch for tutorials, tips, and general inspiration and entertainment. I find that looking at others art will help to get my creative juices flowing. Somehow, seeing other people making art gets my fingers itching to get back to the craft table.
This is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, nor is it in any particular order. I struggled with which ones to put on here, and I could have easily made the list three times longer. But I thought these were the ones that might help someone who wants to get started and isn’t sure what to do.
I hope you find some new artists to follow and that your creativity is sparked as you watch! I picked a recent video from each person to give you an idea of what their channel might offer, but I do encourage you to click through and check out their videos and see what else they have.
I’d love to get feedback on the list, and if you have suggestions you think I should check out, please let me know in the comments!
This is one of the first on my list because the journals this lady makes are gorgeous, but I also find her easy to listen to, and highly entertaining. Most videos are of junk journals, but there are a few other crafty things in there as well. I highly recommend this one if you want to see beautiful things, get good information, and get inspired!
Another artist who makes beautiful things! Her videos cover a wide variety of papercrafting and mixed media topics, from junk journals to mail art to snippet rolls. Another channel that has great information and tutorials, so if you are looking for fun projects and information with beautiful things to look at, check this one out.
This channel is mostly papercrafting projects like cards and similar items. There are some really cute projects, and she walks you through the steps to make it yourself. The instructions are easy to understand, which I always appreciate in a tutorial video!
Another papercrafter who covers a wide variety of items. She also runs an online store, so often the projects are tied to her products. She’s highly entertaining, easy to follow, and has some really great ideas!
This artist does all greeting cards with some pretty awesome puns and coloring. Her videos run the range from informational, haul videos, and tutorials. Definitely check out the channel, even if its just to giggle at the puns.
This channel is focused on junk journals and related videos. Some are flip through videos to beautiful journals, and some are tutorial videos teaching you tips and techniques. Worth looking through to see the journals and get some inspiration!
This is another card maker and papercrafter who has some really cute, easy projects that you can use for gifts and general crafting. I love her videos, as they are easy to follow and have some great ideas.
This channel has a wide variety of topics presented, but my favorite parts are the videos of demos from different stamping and papercrafting conferences and conventions. Its nice to see the industry reps (like Tim Holtz) demonstrating their line of products to show you some techniques for using them.
These videos are also dedicated to mainly junk journals and related techniques and tips, but there are also haul videos and mail art. Another place that’s great to go for inspiration and beautiful art, as well as tutorials.
Another beautiful channel that has many tutorials and tips related to junk journaling, with flip through videos of her beautiful journals. Another channel that is great for inspiration and getting the creativity flowing, as well as some really great tutorials.
And if you’re interested, I have a channel that’s still in its baby stages. I’m hoping to post more tutorials and tip videos, in addition to my flip throughs. You can visit my channel HERE.
Inspiration strikes in all kinds of places and all kinds of ways. For me, a Spring Break trip (I’m a high school librarian by day) to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains really helped spark my creativity.
We drove a little more than halfway the first day and stayed at the Tailor’s Inn in Abingdon, Virginia. The innkeeper, Rick, was lovely. The house was fantastic. We booked two rooms, which meant we had the whole house to ourselves! The house was built in the 1800’s, and decorated with all kinds of antiques, most related to a tailor’s job. Rick and his wife have an excellent sense of humor – there were touches of it everywhere. Like a tiny fake mouse next to a mousetrap (I think) and a skeleton dressed as a pirate in the closet under the stairs. (Skeleton in the closet – get it? I found that far more entertaining than I should have.) We got the upstairs room because our travel companions decided that the portrait in there was too creepy. Being that I’m the YA horror writer (one of my other hats) I didn’t think it was creepy at all. She just looked… mildly disapproving.
We spent four days in a cabin (I use that term loosely – more like a cabin-themed vacation home) that was a great price because it isn’t quite season yet, and we were splitting it with my best friend and her fiance. It had a beautiful view, and really narrow, steep, twisty road that was fine because the weather was good, but would have given me palpitations if we’d gone and there was ice.
The view of sunrise from the rental porch.
We spent time in the touristy stuff – because why not – and my husband and I did a couple hikes, dragging the friends along on one of them. We did Dollywood for a day, we hiked to a waterfall (which was beautiful) and then did some scrambling down the rocks in front of it off the path to see more of it. We ate delicious food, and we had an excellent time.
And now that I’m home, I’m itching to get back to creating again. This is a great thing, because with the stress of work before break, and the million other things going on, my urge to get down and make some art had been pushed aside. Now I’m able to work on it, and the drive is there, so that even if its only a few minutes a night, I can get something done. I mean, with scenery like this, how could I not get inspired?!
Right now, I’m working on a bohemian themed journal, but I will also be making one with a Smoky Mountains theme. There is so much potential for things I could do! I’ll make both, and I’m collecting bits and pieces for the mountain journal as I work on the other. What things would you include? Have you ever been to the Smoky Mountains? What did you enjoy there?