In My Journal Today - DISCOVERY!!!

=====
===========
==================
=======================
============================

Hello Sweet Creative Friends!  

DAY TWO...
7 posts from 2015 in 7 days

So honored to be nominated by Candy Colwell to do this. 
-----------------------

What DESTINATIONS in your life have led you to some type of DISCOVERY?  Probably almost all - would be my guess! 

On a personal note... the words DESTINATIONS and DISCOVERY would, most likely, not be associated to me. At least not in an "around the world in eighty days" scenario!

Hubby is all about 'goin and discoverin'.  He is one of these folks that will happily watch an inch worm cross the road and observe ten different - really neat - things about it in the process.  

Me... I would be tapping my feet waiting impatiently for him to finish his perusal of the little creature because as soon as I saw it was unique and cute... I was through with the discovery process!!! Oh, and destinations.... HOME - that's always my destination. 

But even at home - there are DISCOVERIES to be made.  As the quote says..."it is the one thing life constantly asks of you"... right?

I began this art journal creation with a page in my journal that I had added paint to over time.  When I have paint left over on my work sheet - I usually just turn my journal upside down on it!  Most of them are a jumble of colors going every direction... but somehow I had this one that had a bit of a landscape look to it.  

I then began stenciling and stamping to get the background the right color and texture. I also added some modeling paste for the little fence line as well as some Picket Fence Distress Crackle. Ranger Distress Paints/Stains were used throughout the project.

I used my fingers to paint more than anything else but... I do love my set of tiny brushes too!

While I was waiting for my background to dry, I began working on my "altered surfaces" background on page 45 in Vol. 3 of Tim Holtz book A Compendium of Curiosities.

Here is my altered surface using Alterations Frameworks Die - Honeycomb on Ranger Metal-pressions surface. 

My goal was to make letters from the altered surface as well as to use part of it for my roadway.  I used my MISTI  by My Sweet Petunia for stamping the letters from the Stampers Anonymous Letter Stamps right onto the altered surface I created. 

Afterwards, the letters were fussy cut (which was harder than expected) on the Ranger Metal-pressions surface that I chose to apply this technique. 

While I had my Vagabond out cutting my honeycomb pieces... I decided to cut a few flowers from Alterations Tattered Flower Garden. I also used a few Prima flat flowers here and there.  

And yes, the little birds have REAL feather on them... from the ranch!

Getting ahead of myself a bit on the birds!  The birds,  the swirls and foam on the waves, the texture on the who/where cards, the Fly Away Home on the airplane... as well as part of the background were done with Rubber Dance Art Stamps as pictured here:

At the last minute, I decided I needed some type of hotel to match the vintage look of the scene so with the help of a picture I found online - I sketched one. I used my little ruler so it wasn't too hard but to me - it's amazing to see.  I am beginning to believe that it might be possible that I "can" draw a little bit!!  It's crooked but I added the color with Pitt Pens so that helped a bunch. 

Here are a few more pictures of the completed project.  I am slow - that's for sure.  This project too me awhile but it was a great learning experience along the way too. I read a blog recently where someone did an art journal page in 30 minutes... wow - that's definitely not me!!! I think I'm too persnickety!

Oh - and I added some metal gears to the antique roadster too!!

The wonderful ephemera hotel and traveler pieces comes from the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Expedition Set. 

The images of the vintage car, boat, plane and people are from two different types of wrapping paper I have had for years (over ten years) tucked away in a drawer.  I was so happy to discover them a few weeks ago along with some other cute papers!! 

As always - thanks bunches for stopping by.  I hope for you... many happy and fulfilling DESTINATIONS to DISCOVERY.  Hugs. j. 

====================

=================

=============

==========

=======