Have you ever found yourself questioning why you do what you do? I adore the whole concept of the movie "Sliding Doors". Totally love it, and often find myself pondering what alternate choices would have meant in my life. Recently I have wondered what my life would be like if I had never discovered scrapbooking. Would I be more efficient at my home duties, probably, since I wouldn't have to make the choice between household chores or scrapping, and seriously, what would you prefer doing? Nah, no contest on that score! Mind you, the same conclusion could be reached if I removed internet from the equation as well! LOL! So now I have scrapbooking and the internet in my life! No wonder there seems so little time for anything else! On that last note, I have been trying to reduce the time I spent on the internet (ie, facebook, blogs, pinterest, msn etc) and it really frees up a lot of time. But then I have to go to pinterest to find a recipe I pinned, which always results in "browsing time"! Oops! I am by no means perfect when trying to reduce time spent on these activities! :) Having said all that, if it wasn't scrapbooking I am sure I would have found some other artistic outlet, I was always the little girl who wanted to play with her "busy box", and later on dabbled in any craft like activity that crossed my path!
On the scrapbooking front, I have found myself filled with self-doubt about my work. I feel so stuck in a rut, boring and my style needs a face lift! It is hard to be creative when you are so riddled with negative emotions towards what you create. I just feel like I am re-inventing the same darn wheel over and over again and I am boring myself, let alone anyone else!! LOL! With this in mind I have been playing with art mediums and experimenting. Not necessarily (but sometimes it is) for any projects that are due, but just for the sheer joy that learning new techniques bring. Guess what, it is fun!!
I know this flies in the face of my previous paragraph when I mentioned that I am reducing internet time, but on one of those times I allowed myself a bit more "viewing" time, I became enthralled with this girls blog and all the artistic goodness she posesses! Czekoczyna I adore her artistic style and her use of colour. When I look at her pages I feel inspired to go into my room and play with paint, texture paste, gel medium and any other artistic supplies I can get my hands on. Just for fun, to experiment and enjoy the process. I need to feel refreshed, revitalised in my scrapbooking once more and maybe this is a step in the right direction.
What has been even better is that recently, my Aussie Scrap Source DT assignments have allowed me to have a bit more of a play with different techniques, as I have done in this Smash Album.
For the cover, I painted the album with white gesso and then used gel medium to apply this pretty napkin to it.
I wanted to play with merging glimmer mist colours and some embossing enamels. After applying gesso to the page and sticking down a few random elements, I then applied a thick layer of embossing enamel to the heart area and heated it up until it went molten and the different colours merged together. Then while it was still hot she stamped into it with the bird stamp. She then used 3 shades of chalkboard glimmer mist on the rest of the page, allowing the pools of colour to blend together.
This page had a bold dice paper image on it. I applied gesso liberally to the page and it softened the effect of these papers. I played with glitter effects, from mixing it with white gesso for a grainy effect to applying it onto a thick smear of gel medium. Lots of fun and a great way to experiment.
By applying a thick smear of gel medium and then applying glitter on top of it and gently pressing it into the gel medium you can achieve a thick glittered effect on your page as shown here.
On this page I was playing with the effects of gesso as a partial resist while using water soluble oil pastels and also the effects of layering tissue tape and napkins with gel medium.
You can see how the Tim Holtz tape and the napkin have both "melded" to create a triple layered effect on this page as you can see each of their individual images as well as seeing the layers below. I LOVED this effect.
Most of the time I merely uses glimmer mist to add some splatters to her pages of colour flowers and lace. On these pages I was experimenting with spraying at close range and holding the book upright so that the mist would run downward on the page, creating this fabulous drip effect. I then went back and highlighted with gentle patches of yellow on an otherwise pink and purple misted page to warm the overall effect.
Then I had a glimmermist brief for Aussie as well. Oh gee, that was fortuitious timing indeed! So I played around with different ways of using glimmermist, just to have some fun.
and a bit of fun mixing and matching a couple of different paper company ranges. So much of my time is spent using solely from a range it is nice to mix and match. There was a time when I always mixed and matched and I loved the ecclect feel it provides.
I still love my layers though! Cant leave that behind!! Just wish I had a bit more time to just play around but alas, when I am home there are still a couple of small children that need my attention!
Those time constraints will soon change a bit though. Last week I found out that our department at the University had not been able to secure more funding for ongoing research and I find myself, (along with a lot of others in the department) not having my contract renewed. I will become unemployed! Eeekkk! I hate the uncertainty that this brings and hope like crazy that I can find a new job very quickly as our budget does not allow for me to not work. I really enjoyed my role at the Uni so it is really sad that due to circumstances out of my control that I find myself in this position. Oh well, onward I go. Better to concetrate on the right now than to stress about the unknown!
Finally, don't forget there is a DT call over at The Color Room. This is the first time there has been an open DT call for the CR so if you have ever thought about being on the DT, now is your time to put in an application.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love your Smash album, it's just gorgeous and I know what you mean about feeling stale with your style - I think that's what's been behind my move to mixed media too. It's hard to be creative when you're creating to order as well so it's good to just play and find your groove again. Sometimes you just have to find the time (near impossibility these days though) to just try something new to remind you why you love doing what you do :)
Posted by: Louise Williams | May 28, 2012 at 01:08 PM
HI.. so nice to see your smash album.. how amazing it all looks.. and so creative.. there seems to be a lot of mixed media stuff around and it looks great fun and the end result looks fabulous! and the layout with all your layers looks superb! Your darling girl always provides the most beautiful photos for you to work with.. and I hope you find another job soon.. when one door closes, another will open.. and what would I be doing if I wasnt scrapping or blog hopping...?? I would be sitting in front of the tv right now and just vegging out.. at least now I am communicating and learning and having fun, my life is good with scrapping in it... bets housework any day!! Have a great week... and i am sure there is another job just around the corner!!
Posted by: lizzyc | May 28, 2012 at 07:50 PM
Oh Janine... so many beautiful words. I'm so glad that you like my works and I it feels amazing if I can inspire someone. Thank you so much. :* I'm also a huge fan of your artworks.
Posted by: Czekoczyna | May 28, 2012 at 11:54 PM
you know i am a fan.....of old and new!!! Your new is fabulous. I have been trying to tell you for years how much fun it is to get your hands covered in paint!!!! Let alone the therapeutic value.....i love your meld between your old and new, and how it still looks like you!
Posted by: Lydell Quin | May 29, 2012 at 09:57 AM
I certainly spied these creations over at Aussie Janine and was intrigued by them. But I am in no way bored by what you do - I love your style but you have to love what you do too so enjoy playing and hopefully finding the passion for it all again. Cheers
Posted by: Linda L | May 31, 2012 at 07:09 PM
Wow Janine, soooo love your new mixed media spin on your already gorgeous style. My favorite page is the one with the dice, breathtaking! Can't wait to see more of this style, adore it!
Posted by: Georgia Heald | June 05, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Totally outstanding.and beautiful details!
Posted by: carla | June 06, 2012 at 11:41 PM
I'm always amazed by your work. I really don't think you keep repeating yourself. But I can understand your feeling though. I sometimes feel like I keep doing the same design. Then challenges are a fun way to try something outside your comfortzone! You just do this mixed media style so well too! I adore your layout and Smashbookalbum!
Posted by: Romy | June 07, 2012 at 06:13 PM
wow, your projects are so amazingly detailled. So much fun to look at!
Posted by: Janna Werner | June 16, 2012 at 05:24 PM
Oh, I do like your experiments, and definitely a little bit different from your 'usual'. Mind you, your 'usual' is pretty damn amazing! I was showing Kelly your layouts and she couldn't believe the detail you put in. Makes mine all so amateury! Mind you, I've been having a play also with my lovely new papers! xxx
Posted by: Kymmie @ a day in the life of us | June 23, 2012 at 10:48 PM
Janine...this is soo awesome...absolutely love it! It seems your mojo is a bit down.... BUT believe me from the look of this project..I really don't think so! I love this artsy/messy style and think it's awesome! Keep experimenting....it's soo inspirational! ;-)
Posted by: Denise van Deventer | June 26, 2012 at 05:05 PM