A3C Journal 2014....before and after

So, this year my April's April Artistic Challenge Journal (2014) was different than the previous.   

I started with this:  a mash up of a few different chipboard mini albums randomly spaced...

Add some acrylic paint, massive amounts of mist, date stamps and washi tapes (for continuity, if you can believe it)...

Front Cover!  

 "Overview"  oh - come on, that was funny...

 The last page, aka "mini exit interview"

 Back cover -- yes, more (a lot) mist and using the "a" chipboard as a stencil

I was so excited about this year's A3C.  The materials I started with were nearly literally like a blank canvas.   I got to use a lot of different supplies that I haven't had out to play with in a long time, that in itself is extremely exciting.

But the outcome of this is amazing from my perspective.   Thanks so much for being a part of this year's A3C journey with me!    Can't wait for next year!!!

<3 p="">

Days 19-30 this is a looooooooong one, picture heavy ;)

Keep it rolling!!!

DAY 19::::::::::::::::::: a VB Lazy Day :)

 DAY 20::::::::::::::::::: Happy Easter!

 DAY 21:::::::::::::::::Friggin stalker bird knocking on the bathroom window.  every. single. day.

DAY 22::::::::::::::  I just don't know.  

 Day 23::::::::::::::::::  Car stick figures - are they prostitutes? zombies? you be the judge.    and another truck, with a skeleton attached to the front.  Why?  I have no idea.  But to see  both of these things in the same day?  Very entertaining.

 Day 24:::::::::::: Googly eyes only.  Just because I could ;)

Day 25:::::::::::::::::  No, that is not an incorrect number.  300+.  Yes, it was just as ridiculous as you can imagine that it was.   Incidentally, I LOVE the chalk marker -- friggin awesome.

 Day 26::::::::::::::::  By the way, the total for this day (cell phone only) was 176.  No, I'm not exaggerating.

 DAY 27:::::::::::::::::::::::  I was actually LOVING the white pen on the black painted chipboard pages.  LOVE THEM...

 DAY 28::::::::::::::::::::::  um....201 total this day.  But I was busy on this aspect.  Sure was.  So there.

 Day 29::::::::::::::::  WOOHOO the spring band concert for the younger two chickens!

 and a pocket for the program

 DAY 30:::::::::::::::  Boomer...so sleepy and old...and snore-y  LOL

This has been an AWESOME ride this year ----- UP NEXT...I'll post the covers (back/front) because those are always my favorites and usually done after everything else is complete.

A3C 16-18

Day 16::::::: Lots of colors here.  I have no idea what was going on --- other than a lot ;)

DAY 17:::::::::::::::::::::::  I used the leftovers of some alpha cut-outs that Lynn sent me waaaay back, used them as STENCILS to be exact - with a simple permanent marker and then outlined with sharpie.  I felt brilliant...except when the whole word had to get jammed in because I didn't judge well.   Ah well - goes with the rest of "me"  *snort*

 and I TOTALLY did not do this on purpose, the photos printed in B&W totally by accident because I didn't pay attention to the grayscale that I had switched on.  So this had a "different" look with all of the splashes of colors I have flying around.

DAY 18:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   Boom.  Traffic again.  Not like the last time, but bad enough to eek out a tear or two if necessary!

A3C 12-15!!!

Hey Hey Hey, whaddayaknow???  A3C Journal 12-15 ;)

DAY 12:::::::::::::::::::::  the most horrific, hideous, heinous drive.  Ugh. 

 DAY 13::::::::::::::::::::::: annnnnnnnnd return trippin' ... the boy with the license *gasp/faint/thud*

DAY 14::::::::::::::::: Loving these cute little "mini" day pages, AND these marvelous pens!!! Sakura jelly roll 0.8 mm --who'd a thunk it? I thought my days with an ultra-awesome writing white pen were done, but then I found these babies and BAM....back in business!

DAY 15:::::::::::::::::::::: ANNNNNNNNND layering tags leftover from my LO that I did last night (which I shall post tomorrow).  Loving the tags and the washi washi everwhere!

CAN I EVEN BELIEVE THIS???  Almost not!   This is a crazy ride, 1/2 done now - keeping it going!!!

Layouts posted tomorrow because *gasp* I've also been scrapping regular pages and enjoying the heck out of some sketches.   It appears sketches are my old/new "thing" to do.   I'm not messing with the mojo however it wants to appear!  I'll entertain it any way it comes :)

A3C Days 8-11

Can I believe it??? Almost not.   BUT here I am, updating again with completed A3C Journal pages!

I still have to gush about loving the paint....LOVE LOVE LOVE the chipboard and paint.  Next year I'll probably get off on another tangent, but this? This I am really excited about.

 DAY 8::::::::::::::: With a fabulous find mentioned!

 DAYS 9 and 10:::::::::::::::::::: a little list and a big TEN (lol)

 DAY 11::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Three different subjects alllll mashed together (of course)

Take note that under the TEN is a sneak peek of the "12" ---- I did 12 and 13 in advance (except for the journaling part) because those are traveling-to-get-the-boy-at-the-beach days ;)

AND ONWARD!

Scraptastical!!!

Brilliant scraptastic ideas where to find them (a la PageMaps blog via Pintrest detour) and inspiration found with Scrapbook Soup! TV show that I found quite accidentally today (OMG OMG OMG)

So ... I had today off and had to play around with things, especially after watching that show and then subsequently the website (where I got to watch an episode with *gasp* Ali E *faint*thud*).   I got to produce the following two layouts:

 The first was inspired by the Scrapook Soup! TV show (episode SS-301).  I tried to do a resist like the video...however, I realized that I have no idea where my oil pastels are.   Therefore, I decided that I didn't have any.  SOOOOO...I thought that I might try some regular crayons?   Nah.  Not so good.   I used watercolors, then I used watercolor crayons for the circle after the watercolors were mostly dried on the page.   The title, written and then hand-cut because .... April has no awesome Brother/Silhouette/Cricut scan/cut machines.   *ahem* I digress...

The second was inspired by Page Maps sketch which I randomly found on Pintrest.  (Link above).  Can't EVER go wrong with a PageMaps sketch. siiiiigh.

Now, with me returning to a regular work-day tomorrow *sigh*  I'll be lucky to update the A3C journal.   Soldiering on!!

A3C Days 4 - 7

Love it when a project feels good.   This one certainly feels that way! The only thing I'm hoping for is some more "fun" to speak of.  Work days are tending to suck the verbosity away *gasp* say it isn't so??

DAY 4:::::::::::::::::;;  

 DAY 5:::::::::::::::::::::

 DAY 6::::::::::::::::::

DAY 7::::::::::::::::

And the beat goes on...

A3C the intro and Days 1-3

Ooooookay!!!   I'm having SO SO SO much fun with this for 2014!!   I must say, the acrylic paint on chipboard?? AWESOME IDEA!!  *bowing humbly and graciously*

Ahem*

Let's get to it!

I have decided that I was brilliant, yet again, with the "let's not do the covers yet" plan.   I've cooked up a zillion (or maybe less) ideas already and, therefore, am glad that I didn't make anything permanent yet.

INTRO PAGE::::

 DAY 1:::::: (kinda "boring", but I literally did ... not much that day)

DAY 2:::::: (a list because work was involved ha)

 DAY 3:::::  with an added "pocket" page made with transparency (Hambly Prints of old):: 

I really and sincerely hope it looks like I'm having a blast with this - - because I reallllly am :)   I need to kick life up a notch though because I  am realizing that I tend to lead a mundane existence if I allow it. ;)

Until next update ~ Muah

WHAT TIME IS IT?? Challenge time??? A3C you say???

It's THAT TIME AGAIN!!!!

I try to keep up with things.  My Mojo has gone AWOL since....about May? of last year maybe??

I've been trying to scrap things.  I've done some pages (YES I HAVE).  and of course Lynn likes to keep me updated on scrappy things, sometimes daily in fact, so that I don't feel out of the loop.  I have appreciated that more and more as time without scrapping or crafting has drudged on.    But then, suddenly, about a week and a half ago ---- BAM.  We had a ManicMonday of scrapping at Scrap N Chat and it felt GOOD.

SO, with that goodness, I've been able to complete about six layouts!   ANNNNNNNNNNNNNND...that brings me to the purpose of this post!   A3C aka April's Artistic April Challenge circa 2014!   My FOURTH YEAR of an artistic journal approach to the whole month of April.   2012 was kind of frightening (in that I bombed it, pretty much completely).   Last year was awesome with a SmashBook *contented sigh*

THIS YEAR:     Chipboard and Paint!!!

I had MULTIPLE versions of chipboard mini album kits.  I think there were about five of them that I ripped out of their packaging to smash together for this book.   and it felt GOOD.   The "A" mini chipboard is Studio-G.    The others are Colorbok albums (square, scalloped square and large circle).  

The painting part made me SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy.  (enough "O"s?? I think not).   Some of it was MakingMemories...like a blast from the past going into that box, for sure. 

::::::::::Some SNEAKY PREVIEWS:::::::::

THIS IS CRAZY!!!!    Truthfully, the front cover and back cover aren't decorated yet.   I've done enough "pages" for the inside, including cover page.  However, I'm saving the front/back cover for later (taking after 2011 and 2013 respectively.  Though come to think of it, there is no photo for 2013's completed covers. Brilliant blogging as usual April, brilliant)

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...until my next update with the A3C 2014 edtition *muah*

The finished product...A3C

This was SUCH an awesome project! All month long playing with all my artistic stuff .... awesome! :)
The cover I made with a white fabric, used green acrylics (with that dry brush again) - and glimmer mist (loads of colors, because I have a serious addiction) and also used that awesome wooden stencil scroll heart as an accent -- after using it as a mask for the mist! charm made of 3 seashells from beach excursion. machine sewing of ribbons, some Making Memories tiny type alphas and a bit of ModPodge and BAM!! Love it !!! Adhered to chipboard (sent to me by Lynn ..thanks again!) after inking the edges of the chipboard with black stazon ink to add defintion/dimension. LOVE the whole grungiocity (it IS a word...now) of the whole thing...love love love it!!