Summer Beauty

As I am deep into the winter weather I decided to post pictures I took at the end of last summer.  Remembering the warmth and the beauty of summer reminds me that winter will not last forever. 

 Summers beauty will return and I will be able to be outside once again and capture the beauty God has created.  I never get tired of taking pictures.  Even if I  go to the same place it will not be exactly the same. 

 So excited about a challenge I gave myself!  I got new Tombo markers earlier this year and LOVE them...so I decided to see what I could do with them in a journal.  This is my latest work I did using them.  I love that the markers blend together so smoothly without ruining the true color of the marker.  It is like using watercolor.  I can blend with the colored markers, use the blending marker or just a wet brush to get the blending. 
    I have also found that the type of paper is key to the effect that I want.  I finally found that I like the
Canson Mix Media journals the best.

Learning to love life no matter what stage of life I am in.

Learning how to spread my wings creatively.

 With the beginning of each year I always wonder what God has in store for me and my family.  Last year was an amazing year!  Through all of the hard times God was faithful and worked miracles for my family.

January winter blues

                   Starting the year off journaling.
      The extreme winter weather has been my inspiration for this page. 

Fall colors

Pumpkins at the MN Arboretum.   

I was able to finish this page in my journal today.  The fall colors are so beautiful this time of year.  

This time of the year is bitter sweet.  The colors are amazing but I know what is just around the corner!  MN snow will be here before we want it!

Working with my TOMBO markers

I am having so much fun trying out my new markers!  I love the rich colors and that I can blend them so easily!

Mixed Media pages of my journal

 I love working with surrealistic images that I created with magazine pictures!

 I will make these images and then hunt to find just the right journal page to put them on. 

Inspirational journal pages

 At the end of this summer I was able to watch baby blue birds grow in the nest via a camera that was inside the bird house.  I was so captivated by the experience that I began to take pictures of their daily growth and then began to start my journal pages.

 Nature that God has made is so amazing!  It was incredible to watch!

Fish Doodle

 I started drawing a fish and then doodled shapes inside and out of it.  Using colored pencil I shaded it in.

 As an art teacher I am always looking for the cheapest way to bring art journaling into my classroom.  I have my students use these card stock paper journals and they work great for creating our art work!  Of course I have to make one too!

 Summer will come...even though this year it is sure taking it's time!

During trying times God gives me strength!

Newest pages of my Dream journal

 Started working on multiple journal pages at a time. 

 I love working with surrealism!

Once I get started I just don't want to quit until I have finished the page!