Galaxy Art Journal Pages and Be Curious

Hello there! I was so excited to have an excuse to play in my art journal this week! Art journaling is so much fun - knowing that it's just for ME makes it somehow easier to not be... perfect. You know? It's just fun! I would like to enter my art journal pages below into the following challenges:

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Galaxy

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Let's Art Journal

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

The Outlawz March Challenge - Anything But a Card

As You Like It - Favorite Embellishment and why (my favorite embellishments are die cuts - because there are SO MANY to choose from and you can keep them plain and simple or dress them up with paints, inks, glitter, etc.!)

My art journal is about 4x4 inches and it's made of a heavy duty watercolor paper, stitched at the binding so I can lay it flat.  A friend of mine (Megan from Dilly Beans, now closed) made it for me many years ago and I only filled in a few pages back then, so it's literally a blank canvas beckoning me to fill it up! I also love that it makes me think of her every time I pull it out! I applied a very light coat of white gesso to the pages and let it dry. I then blended some Distress Oxide Inks, starting with the Fossilized Amber in the center, then Seedless Preserves, then Villainous Potion, then Black Soot as I moved out to the edges. I flicked water all over it and let dry. Flicked white ink all over it and let dry. I stamped some random constellations and stars all over both pages and let dry. I applied texture paste through a swirly star stencil (Tim Holtz) on the left-hand side and let dry before painting the stars with gold ink and added a sticker sentiment from Tim Holtz. I stamped the moth and sentiment (both from Unity Stamp Co.) then the moon phases on the right-hand side. I added a tiny die cut gem to the lower right corner with Mod Podge. 

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The next card is for the following challenges:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday #691 - Sketch

Wednesday's Creative Inspiration - Cute Critters

I made my background by ink smooshing Pink Flamingo Distress Oxide ink on a piece of watercolor paper. I die cut the paw print and covered it in Villainous Potion Distress Oxide ink, then embossed with clear embossing powder. I attached a piece of pink rick rack down the center of the card. I had this starburst chipboard piece in my stash - covered it with purple Stickles and attached to the center. I had these cute stamped images of a cheshire cat in my stash (a friend sent them to me - they are from Impronte D'Autore, a stamp company in Italy) - I colored them with Copics and fussy cut them, attached them hanging off the edge of each side of the card and trimmed them. Finished off with the Be Curious sticker (from a Tim Holtz sticker pack). Peace.