Art Journal Challenge #14 - Take a pause.

I was astonished to see how you all were inspired by the last challenge. So many fun layouts in our very own AJ gallery!!
Before I continue with this week’s message - I want to point out two of the many wonderful pages inspired by Adryane. I had a hard time choosing.
I think h_ryfa took this challenge into her two hands and created a spectacular page. I am in awe.

And Jana Morton‘s page blew me away too. How fun is THIS??  She did a fantastic job on this. I love the humor in it.

This week I have an important message for you all:  The Art Journal Challenge will take a few months break. I am studying for an upcoming important exam and rather unwillingly, I have to admit - that my professional life needs to take precedence over my hobbies. Trust me, it is NOT easy to let go of my private computer and art-time. I do hope to be back with new challenges later this fall, once my stress levels concerning the exam have subsided.

So for this week, I am leaving you with an open challenge. An open challenge to continue finding your inner artful voice in using digital products. Some days you might want to layer stuff on your page, tape, “glue”, stamp, journal and paint. Other days, perhaps the right thing is a small photo and a simple embellishment. Whatever it takes to let your creative juices flow and release those emotions ready to burst inside. The fun thing about this - it is limitless. There are no rules. Do you have lots of products you never seem to find the right scrapping page for?  Well, use it on an art journal page! Seek out those products you *love*, but have never used - and art journal with them. And here is my page for this week:

I have these wonderful Mixed Bag brushes by Katie Pertiet that I love but seldom find the right page for, but this week I had a perfect use for one of them. I love how the color and worn look of the Crumpled Cardstock Overlay make me think of a an old, squeaky, used wicker chair. I used Jesse Edwards’ Deco Borders no.4 to make a space for the chair and used two lovely papers from her Eclair paper pack (coming soon!). I chose these because they have a bright and busy pattern, to symbolize… well, a bright and busy life. Then a break, with a chair to relax in, and then the continuation afterwards of more bright and patterned “life”.  The title is perhaps superfluous, but I think it declares what the intention of the page is.
There you have it.  So now, go forward and create artful pages!!  Don’t forget to post them in our gallery. Until next time - don’t forget to have fun while art journaling. Take care.      ~ Aino.