Art Journal Page #5

I was thinking about my daughter when I created this page and it really turn out much better that I imagine.  It is always a surprise what happens when you are creating in the joy zone (as I like to call it).  I like and adore my daughter and she inspires me and encourages me everyday to just let my imagination go and stop controlling the outcome. 

I found this stencil by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer from the Crafter’s Workshop (click on Julie’s name for purchasing options) and I just had to do something with it because if reminded me so much of my daughter.  I started with pasting dictionary paper on the journal page then I had this small square pattern stencil and by spreading modeling paste on I created the block pattern you see on top and bottom of the page.

I also used washi tape with numbers and paste it randomly, then created the stencil impression and colored in the lines a little thicker and with some nice aqua paint which I thinned out, I started adding the different shades of blue. With some blue and orange stains from Tim Holtz® I painted the squares and added some metallic butterflies that have been on my junk pile for ages from a Dollar Store haul a few years back.  In the picture they look darker bu they are silver.

This page took me about and hour and 15 minutes because it really was a very relaxing time for me and I felt good about it.  I find that when I'm thinking about my daughter she has that calming effect on me which them brings out better results.  I used a stamp by Studio G (#1082990) “Love Yourself” because right before I started this page my daughter and I were having a discussion about women not loving themselves enough and how we tend to sabotage instead of elevating ourselves.

My daughter is 20 years old and in this day and age is always amazing to me how many more obstacles cross her life that when I was her age.  Many conflicting messages regarding what is considered an the ideal woman instead of what a real woman is.  We both decided that a real woman is who we want to be and not what the social media, magazines, tv shows, or what the red carpe tells us it is.  Yes there are more size 8 that there are 3, there are more curves than straight lines, so if the the houses of style still want to continue doing business this way then it is their loss not ours.  I think a beautiful woman is someone who is happy with herself and it shows, whether she is a size 0 or a size 18.  She knows that trying to obtain perfection is to let others dictate her path in her life and in this world.  Achieving your own perfection and not living in the illusion of others idea or perfection is what make us real and not a product.

Be safe and always remember to find your creative joy, whatever that may be…
WonderingMindFiled