Art Journaling as a form of Relief

I've been so busy this year with my bellydance competitions that I havent had any time to get to my paper crafts. Even though I have been on a winning streak, I still miss the creative outlet of making things. In fact now that Im days away from my final competition this season, I couldnt resist any further and started my art journaling again.

It actually helps to clear my mind and body of all the hard physical work that goes into creating a choreography. Something about the colors and the texture...the relief that I get from making something with my hands that is visually pleasing helps me to get back on my legs and create a visually pleasing and meaningful choreography.

Particularly when I start to feel like my focus is puttering out, I go to my art table and create something :) Then I feel ready to go to my dance studio and create something!!

Sigh, I will be posting some pictures soon of some of my recent creations. Nothin too fancy but I like it :)
The hold up is that my old camera is dead so a new one is on my bday list! or maybe I will make a video...I have a Flip! Anyway, nothing will be done till after September 5th as thats when my final competition takes place.

Untill then...Cheers!

Steampunk Purse

Here is my first attempt at a steampunk purse! I used a drill for the grunge board holding up the instruments. I used the Adirondack inks for the purse itself. The gears and sprockets are from Jim Holtz. I used this purse as a prop in the bellydance show The Haunted. Since I was "Evil" I needed a way to carry my tools...

Inside the purse I stored my knife, a bottle of poison and a glow ball to attract my little victim! For stage effect (coutesy of a fellow dancer) I added a glow stick to the inside to make the box glow green when I opened it to retrieve my knife!

Created By Hand challenge: Nature

I decided it was time for me to try another art challenge...I've been writing in my art journal as my life appears to be on the verge of a change. I decided to add a challenge into my journal. The theme this week at Created By Hand was Nature. So here is my journal page before I start writing in it... the tree was painted in water color and I used a Tim Holtz stamp for the background. I also used the Distress ink pads in Marmalade. The sticker quote is something I've had for ages.

Glass Bird

This weeks art challenge over at http://mixedmediamonday.wordpress.com/ was entitled Feathered Friends. Immediately I was inspired! Earlier in the week, I found this little bird cage at Michaels. In my own stuff at home, I had this crystal glass bird that had served time as an alter item representing birds and freedom and enlightenment. Now she has a new home and a new job!

The note "stay with me" is from the caged bird to the free bird.

I used the Tim Holtz grunge board and his texture hammer for the background inside the box. I stamped the handwriting onto that. In the pictures you cant see it very well, but the texture hammer added those little bumps. I also used the ink pads to create a more aged look.

The tree branch is also something I have had for a long time...used to sit on my bookshelf. I think it likes its new position better :)