A Year in the Life of an Art Journal

Monday Mugshots Collaboration May 15th

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, Lovlies!! If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 05.20

PROMPT: What if?
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with one of your what if's.
BOOKERS: Create a page about something you always think "what if" about.... use thought bubbles.

RACHEL
Most days, I am happy to be married to a police officer. Other days... when I hear so much thanklessness, (is that even a word?) and see the lack of appreciation for the fact that EVERY TIME my husband goes to work, he might not come home... I wonder... what if he wasn't a police officer any more...? What if?

GLENDA
I don't know about you but I have always wondered what I would have been and where I would be today if I would have gone on to University and taken something that I would have enjoyed doing every day. I had alot of fun with this page and think it will be fun to look back on.

AMY
What if? This is a question I try not to ask as I have spent a lot of years learning to live in the present, not the past. When given this prompt I started to think of some what ifs in my life...What if I were skinny? What if I were rich? Etc, etc, none of those things REALLY matter though. But with Sunday being Mother's Day there was one "What if?" that really got me thinking...What if my Mom were still alive? She has been gone several years now and with each year it gets closer to me spending more years without her than I did with her. I got to thinking of the things she has missed, the biggest being my marriage to Jason. What would she have thought of him? What would she think of me? Would she be proud of me? Would she understand some of the decisions I have made. What if?

My Mom's favorite flowers were dianthus/carnations so for this prompt I shot my "mug" (my mason jar of homemade sangria) in front of some that I bought and planted the day before Mother's Day.

BETH

What if... about a year into my tenure at Boyd Coffee Company...

What if... I had taken that job offer in Colorado...

Would he have hunted me down as he says?

Would my last name start with a "T"?

Would my interest in antiques, papercutting, stitching have been encouraged?

Would those two Littles (see their silhouettes on the mantle) be mine?

Would I be ever grateful to a coffee company for playing matchmaker?

What if...

The rules

Use all or just part of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Apr 30th

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 05.01
PROMPT: Must HAVE IT? Take it, or LEAVE IT? Are you a MUST HAVE MY COFFEE (or tea or whatever your poison is...) kind of person, or an "I am able to start my day with it or not" kind of person?
SHOOTERS: Take a picture of your coffee near a visual indication of your time line. (calendar, clock, newspaper, lunch)
BOOKERS: Create a page using "all or nothing" in your embellishments and/or texture. Use THIS PAGE as inspiration.

RACHEL
I love my coffee... I'm not really a MUST have it... but it sure does make my mornings nicer...

GLENDA
I was inspired by the strips of paper in the pinterest example so I made my page using strips of washi tape. I first painted my journal page with white paint and then layered all the strips of washi tape on it and used a gazillion stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps! to make this page. This was a fun page to make!

LINDA
I've used gesso, Dylusions and markers to get the look of the page. Not sure why I put a man on the page, but the left side was so empty and I thought I could use it to practice my drawing skills. I was inspired by some drawings I found on the net and I love the way he turned out.

SUMAIYAH
I had a blast with this challenge! Texture/Embellishments -- all or nothing... Of course I went all out:

Recipe

Gesso

Alcohol Ink

Silks Acrylic Glaze

Paper Towel (used)

Button

Metal Findings

Colored Hot Glue

Fabric Tape

Washi Tape

Feathers

Newsprint Paper

Zing Embossing Powder

VersaMark Ink Pad

Heat Gun

I gesso'd the pages first for strength, then I just went at it. Threw whatever I could get my hands on! I was after creating a bit of texture on top of embellishing the heck out of the page spread. I left the brush strokes from the gesso apparent to help with texture. The colored hot glue (white) was fun!

The rules

Use all or just part of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Apr 15th

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 04.15
PROMPT: What's your Story? (everyone has a story about a person, event, emotion, feeling, whatever, tell me yours)
SHOOTERS Shoot your mug with a stack of books.
BOOKERS: Focus on lots of journaling! Use stencils or masks. If you don't want your journaling to SHOW, journal THEN PAINT! Cover your journaling with your paints and embellishments!!

BETH

What's my story?

I'm a cross-stitcher by trade.

I'm a hobby genealogist.

I collect vintage teacups.

I play bass guitar.

I love taking pictures.

I drink coffee as much as possible.

GLENDA

I made an art journal page using a ton of paint and lots of journaling and also had fun taking an image from a magazine. I had a lot of fun with this prompt!!

AMY

This week's prompt was "Your Story". These 3 mugs, and the setting they were shot in, represent me quite well. L-R...The GP mug, Great Pacific, is from one of my favorite places back "home" in Oregon. The pink coffee mug was this past year's breast cancer awareness cup from Dutch Brothers. Being a breast cancer survivor this one most definitely represents me and my story. *A side note about this mug...my husband, who is a proud spouse of a survivor, uses this mug for his morning coffee and has NO problem taking it to work with him.* The "Bloom Where You Are Planted" mug is one I made for a previous prompt here on A Year In The Life. Not only do I feel that this quote fits me having moved to Idaho this year after 38 years in eastern Oregon, it reinforces the "make the best of what you are given" point to me. The necklace is one a dear friend who sells Jewel Kade jewelry made for me. The large tag says "Start Fresh" with a smaller tag that has the year and a clear crystal. This is a reminder that this is a blank slate for me, as is every day. And being a March baby, the grass & Daffodil are a PERFECT setting for me!

REBECCA
I had a ton of fun with this prompt! I also kind of went crazy with lots of color, but I love COLOR so I couldn't help myself!

My Story
I am an Artist
I am a Wife
I am a craftoholic
I adore anything neon
I love my curves and my freckles
I have five dogs (who are like my kids)

RACHEL

Are YOU ready!?
The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel

All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Mar 30th

2013-03-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there!! How is your journal year coming along? If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE. Whether you're new or not, don't worry about being behind! Jump in! Start where you are.
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 04.01
PROMPT: If my mug could talk
SHOOTERS: Take a photo of your mug with a list of the things it would say...
BOOKERS: Create a page with a photo of your mug. Use word bubbles to give your mug some words.

RACHEL
I actually took this photo long before Monday Mugshots. When I was a little girl, my mom would pack marshmallows and hot chocolate when we would travel to the snow to look for our Christmas tree. I love this picture because it reminds me of those times... I used to look forward to those hot mugs of melty gooeyness after a cold day.... Ever since I was a kiddo, I have loved warm drinks in mugs. Honey and lemon in warm water when I had a sore throat... tea with my mom... coffee in the mornings... my hubby making me hot tea while we sit in bed and watch TV at night... No matter what is in the mug, when the drink is warm, it just speaks of one thing for me. Comfort.

GLENDA
The only picture I had of my mug was one that was taken of me at work and luckily my little coffee/tea mug was on my desk so I added a little thought bubble.

SUMAIYAH

Background created with acrylic paint and ink sprays. Coffee cup made out of decorative scrapbook paper, outlined with black Molotow marker, and adhered to the page. Word bubbles cut from watercolor paper outlined with black Molotow marker and sentiments written with Sakura Gelly Roll pens. Written journaling done with white Molotow marker. Border painted with Light Portrait Pink acrylic paint, which was also used to highlight coffee mug and word bubbles.

LINDA

This is my Chai-Latte cup of tea. I found this little Budda at Indiska and just knew I needed him for my chai-latte tea. Not sure if either he or my cup is saying anything, but it looks like he is sleeping so when I saw the talk bubble in my stash I knew I had to use it for this prompt.

AMY
I was a slacker and totally spaced the prompt this week so I threw this photo together quite quickly. My husband & I came back to Pendleton to visit his parents for the weekend. This shot was taken at the end of a awesome day filled with friends, family & yummy food. Soo...if my mug could talk, it would say "This is a PERFECT ending to a AWESOME day!"

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Mar 15th

2013-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's MARCH already!? Time is moving so fast!!
PROMPT: Good old days
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 03.18
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with some old photographs, or save it in sepia or black and white.
BOOKERS: Take a trip back in time and journal about something that makes you feel nostalgic. Distress your page with sandpaper, inks, etc.
If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.

RACHEL
I collect vintage photos, and in one of my purchases, there is a set of pictures with the same people in the pictures. I think they are from the 1920's... and I wonder what the story behind them might be...

GLENDA
I love this prompt because it made me journal the story about my first tattoo. I think it's important to write down stories that we don't want to forget so that we can look back on them later!

AMY
My page for this prompt is a combo of a Booker/Shooter entry. I used one of my favorite photos I have taken of our backyard and created this "poster" with it.

My page for this prompt is a combo of a Booker/Shooter entry. I used one of my favorite photos I have taken of our backyard and created this "poster" with it.
For me, "The Good Old Days" are NOW! The move from OR to ID has brought me opportunities to grow, to discover new places in a area that is completely new to me. Just as, if not more, important...my husband & I are actually able to REALLY spend time together for the 1st time in almost 2 years! Yeah, we saw each other on weekends before, but that just isn't the same as spending evenings together, having dinner together, going to bed together, etc, etc. It has been fun being able to get to know our new surroundings with him and I am happier & more content than I have been in a long time! I am REALLY enjoying life NOW!

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Feb. 28th

2013-02-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

OH GOOD GRAVY.
I sent a reminder out to the guest hosts that Feb. didn't have 31 days, and we'd be sharing on the 28th, and then I FORGOT!! lol
Geeze.
If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.

PROMPT: Drink of choice
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 03.04
SHOOTERS: Take a photo of your drink of choice. Tea, Beer, Coffee, Lemonaide... what's in your mug most days?
BOOKERS: Create a page using some of the packaging of your favorite brand. Use lots of packaging in strips on a page. Go HERE for inspiration! Use your product's branding to influence your colors and layout.
RACHEL

It's coffee, OK. Cofee, coffee, coffee. COFF. EE. That's the drink I "go to". Maybe not all day, (because I generally only have one cup of it a day) but most certainly it's my favorite to wake up and prepare to face the day with. It's hard to see, but I took a picture with the not so hard to see coffee grounds, on top of a harder to see dictionary page with the word COFFEE. :::smiles::: Ahhh, details. How I love you.
GLENDA
I love working with packaging and I am always snipping and keeping various tags that I find from new clothing, etc.. In this journal page I had some clothing tags from Billabong and used 3 of them to make this page.

JEN

This is my drink of choice these days...a Moscow Mule. It's vodka, lime juice and ginger beer. Plus you drink it out of a cool little copper mug. What's not to love?

LINDA

I drink lots of water and I've used packaging from my bottle of water. I found the stamp with snow and glacier on and thought it fitted well with the theme. The little hat on the elephant inspired to use the twine and fabric flower.

AMY
I had a lot of fun with this prompt. When I'm not drinking coffee, I'm usually drinking Mt Dew. Since discovering it, White Out is my fav version of Mt Dew. Almost instantly I knew I wanted to use the actual can for my page. I just wasn't sure of EXACTLY how, other than I KNEW I would be turning a specific area of it into wings. I also knew I wanted a heart on the page. Again, I had no specifics in mind though. So, here is what resulted...

Page DETAIL

The while page started with the "wings" that I cut from my empty White Out can. After I finished cutting off that portion of the can I had the bottom left. I was looking at it and thought to myself "this would be cool in the center". "Maybe with a heart in it?" again I thought to myself. So, I tried stapling the wings to the can bottom, it didn't work. I had to go downstairs to find my E6000 to glue them on and while rummaging through stuff I found this silver heart. I decided it might work so brought it up as well. Got the wings glued onto the can bottom and while they were drying played around with ideas. Decided I did indeed like the heart BUT it needed to be red. So....out came the red Sharpie. After coloring it I glued it to the can bottom with E6000. It needed something else but I wasn't sure what. Tried black paint around the outer edge, didn't like it and washed it off. Then, out came the black Sharpie and wa-la drew the burst bubble and colored it in. It was just the touch I needed. So after putting it together it's like "HOW is this going to work for a ART JOURNAL post?!". Thought to myself, Ï could journal on the can bottom...nah, don't like that idea. I DID know I wanted to use the words Live Free. Anyway, I laid the assemblage down on my table and the vision clicked on in my head. So after a LOT of Sharpie & E6000 fumes and a lot of just "winging it" (appropriately) the page came together! And, I have to say, I LIKE IT (for those that don't know me, I RARELY say this about my own work)!

Supplies Used:

Pop can

Box Knife

Needlenose Scissors

E6000 glue

Black, Red & Turquoise Sharpie markers

Yellow Acrylic Paint

Sketch Book Paper

After finishing my page for the "Booker" portion of this prompt, I knew I wanted my photo for the "Shooter"portion to have a similar bold, graphic look, thus I though the black iron of our patio set would make a good back drop for the shot. After some cropping, color boosting and adding a few borders I got the look I was going for! BETH

I love my black coffee dearly and truly. And I do enjoy a good Bourbon or Scotch now and then. But without a doubt, if I'm being completely honest, WATER is the drink that I turn to the most. Farm-fresh mountain spring water pumped from our well, it is straight-up, the best water you will ever taste. Thirst-quencher, life-giver, essential to my daily routine = Water.

Are YOU ready!?
The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Feb 15th

2013-02-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 02.18
15th
PROMPT: Favorite Quote
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug with your favorite quote.
BOOKERS: Find a quote you love and journal it. Print your mugshot onto a book page or dictionary page. You can use THIS PIN from pinterest as your inspiration!

RACHEL
When my son Macs was smaller, he LOVED to create art. Once, I interviewed him when he was just ten days shy of turning five, ABOUT HIS ART . I still get choked up when I read that interview about him being an artist. In his interview, he said "The world is all the art that I can do." In the context of our conversation, he meant that there were no limits to what he could do as an artist, and he could make all the art in the world. I love that so much. It's one of my favorite quotes.

GLENDA
I looovveee quotes and had a hard time only picking one. I chose the quote "How others see you is not important. How you see yourself means everything". I think that is a lovely quote and more people should live by it. I glued a couple pages of dictionary pages onto my page and then layered everything around it. All of the stamps I used are from Viva Las VegaStamps! as well as I used alot of paint and rub ons.

SUSAN

This quote sums it all up for me. Ever since I read it a few years ago it's stuck with me. I've seen some shorter versions of it but I like it as it appears above. I have no idea who said it first, but for me & my recovery it just fits.
AMY
Shooter:

For my "Shooter" part of the prompt I did something a little different. I had this white mug, with a gorgeous turquoise inside, I had bought a few weeks ago while grocery shopping. I took a cue from Pinterest and drew my quote on the mug with Sharpie markers and then baked in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes (upon which I promptly dropped the mug in the oven while trying to get it out leaving a chip on the lip). I shot the photo at the base of a rose bush we have in the backyard and used a focal b&w edit. I thought the contrast of the b&w + the nasty thorns to the happiness of the colors on the mug were a PERFECT representation of finding the best in even the darkest of situations...in other words...Blooming Where You Are Planted!
Booker:

I love quotes, but one of my favorites is "Bloom where you are planted". For me, it translates to make the best of your situation and look for the good. This year brought a MAJOR move for me. After spending 38 years of my life in NE Oregon, due to my husband's job, I moved with him to Idaho. While not too far from where I grew up it's still a big change for me. Thus, this quote is especially meaningful to me now. I can focus on what I left behind and what I miss and be miserable, or I can focus on all the NEW that is ahead of me and ENJOY the journey.
Page Info:
I used a map of Canyon County take from the phone book as the base to emphasize the relationship between the quote and the move.
Supplies:
Antique White Acrylic Paint
Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Sharpie Marker
SUMAIYAH

"If in thirst you drink water from a cup, you see GOD in it. Those who are not in love with GOD will see only their own faces." ~Rumi

PAGE COMPOSITION

Dylusions Ink Sprays -- Vibrant Turquoise

Silks Acrylic Glaze -- Sunflower

Perfect Pearl Mists -- Interference Red and Perfect Copper

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens

Kitty Mug Photo (courtesy of Pinterest) -- Printed on a Book Page

Stamps

CTMH Exclusive Inks -- Chocolate

Brilliant Blue Ink Pad

Liquitex Matte Gel Medium

BETH

Asking me to choose a favorite quote is like asking me to choose my favorite child. I like words. I've collected quotes since I knew how to write and spell. But I want to be a good sport, so I chose a quote that suits my life very well right now.

"I slept and dreamt life was joy, I awoke and saw life was service, I acted and, behold, service was joy." - Rabindranath Tagore

If I don't hold onto this reminder with all my strength these days, I get pulled down by laundry and errands and picking up toys and cooking dinner and, and, and... All the little things that I do for the ones I love, they are acts of service, demonstrations of how much I care about them, and how thankful I am that I get to spend my life intermingled with theirs.
(Page photographed is in the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp... a highly recommended read).

Are YOU ready!?
The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshots Collaboration Jan 30th

2013-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
PROMPT: Rainy Day
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mug near a rainy window
Shooters can share their pictures from this prompt on Facebook 02.04
BOOKERS: drip some paints on your page, and share a little bit about what the perfect rainy day looks like to you.

RACHEL
Although it's Oregon, and the rain has been plentiful here, I realized today, that all of my windows are protected by eves! Which means, no rainy window shots. There was, however, a small break in the downfall that made it possible for me to get a shot of my mug near one of the MANY puddles scattered around my yard.

GLENDA
I loved this prompt because I love using glimmermists to make lovely drips. I made my journal page with 2 clouds and then sprayed different shades of glimmermists to look like rain. How perfect is the Marilyn stamp with her little umbrella too (Marilyn stamp and Chevron stamp by Viva Las VegaStamps!) for this scene? I said how I think it's cozy to be inside on a rainy day.

LINDA

My journaling is saying: When it rains it's nice to stay inside and listen to the raindrops on the window.

To be outside when it rains can be cleansing for the mind.

I've used various paints to make the paint dripping.

AMY

Here in Idaho it's a bit too cold to rain (16 degrees as I type this) and there is none predicted anytime soon. So...the condensation in my living room window this morning is my substitute. I love the look of it because it does have that cozy, rainy day feel,

I LOVE the rain so I really enjoyed this prompt. My page is very simple as I wanted the focus to be on the feel, the drops & the words. Where most people love sunny days, I LOVE rainy days. I love everything about the rain! The feel, the sound, the smell...EVERYTHING!

*Techniques & Supplies Used: Watercolors, Crayon Resist, Crystal Lacquer, Black Marker*

JEN

It happened to be raining this morning, so I really lucked out with this prompt! I took this in front of the window of my office room. You can't really see the rain in this shot, but the lighting suggests it. I like how soft the back ground looks. It really makes the red of the mug stand out.

Are you READY!?
The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug. (or lack there of)
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.
If you would like to "officially" sign up to be listed in our participants list, visit the sign up page, by clicking on GOT BADGE at the top of the page. (this is one area where direct links are not needed!)

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Effy Loves Mondays!!

2013-01-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

Last year, I "met" a fellow artist on line, who goes by the name of Effy Wild. She creates and teaches all sorts of goodness on line, and contacted me about using some of the prompts here at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal to use in her regular vlogs (video blogging for those of you who aren't familiar)
I was thrilled, and flattered, but most of all, I'm excited for all of YOU, because Effy will be sharing HER creative process using the prompts from the posts here at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal! On the LAST Monday of every month, she will post her video response to the prompt shared here on the 15th. Today marked the FIRST of this part of her vlogs. I encourage you to HOP OVER TO EFFY and check it out!! I'll be adding a link to Effy's blog in the sidebar here, so that you can navigate to her site easily at any time!!
~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

2013 Sign Ups!

2013-01-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's always nice to see who is playing along and visit everyone from one simple place. If you plan to play along with us, or are starting at any point in the year, let us know if you're planning to participate this year! Add your link to the list below!

If you do not have a blog or website to link to, you're still welcome to join!
Also, if you've signed up for an email subscription, those won't change. This is just a nice way for all of us with sites to share links with each other, and have a list of us all in one place! ~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshot Collaboration Jan 15th

2013-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

IT'S TIME!! Welcome to the official FIRST PROMPT of 2013 and our Monday Mugshot Collaboration! If you're new here, you can take a moment to see how the prompts work this year by clicking HERE.
Ready!?
PROMPT: New Year's resolutions or ONE WORD. Do you make New Year's resolutions, or take part in the ONE WORD project?
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mugh with your word or something that symbolizes your word. Some ideas would be to take a picture of your mug on top of a page with your word on it, or a trinket that reminds you of that word, or your mug in a setting that reminds you of your word. If your word was say, TRANQUILITY, you might take a picture of a mug in a window looking out into a garden)

Shooters, you can share your shots from this prompt on Monday Mugshots facebook page on the 21st of this month!
BOOKERS: Use watercolors on your page to emulate your word... (if you don't have water colors, watered down acrylic paint will do just fine.) use color to convey that word and what it means to you. While your paint is WET, sprinkle salt on it, and let it sit. When your paint is dry, brush off the salt. (people taking part in the creative prompt can put their mugshot for this prompt on this page.)

Here's what the team came up with!
RACHEL

My word for the year is SLOWLY. So I opened up one of dictionaries from my vast collection, and shot my mug next to SLOW.

SUMAIYAH

2013 The Year of Release...

Journal Page Composition
My word for 2013 is "Release." This page in my journal depicts the releasing spread I did at the beginning of the new year to release 2012 and welcome in 2013 as the Year of Release for me. I had fun with my Derwent Inktense pencils and blocks, using them to write down all of the things from 2012 that I wanted to release. I scribbled and scribbled all of the thoughts and memories that no longer served me and I wanted to let go of using various color pencils/blocks -- I used the entire rainbow of colors! After being satisfied that I had gotten it all out and down on the page, I activated the pencils with water -- they are watercolor pencils -- and smeared the writing so that it was obscured. I will always know what it says, but I don't want it legible because I have released these things and moved on. I put on a coat of clear gesso on top so that any further wet media I added would not re-activate the watercolor pencils, and then I used a large background flourish stamp and stamped a few images using Unbleached Titanium acrylic paint. Finally, I took my signature acrylic paint color -- Dioxazine Purple -- and wrote my word for 2013 across the page, releasing all of it into the universe and moving forward. Today's Mug of Joe: My version of a chocolate (not white) mocha - Nestle's Hot Cocoa Mix and Sumatra Nights coffee (I get my grounds from Wegmans). YUM!

GLENDA
I knew what my word was going to be immediately as it's something I sorely lack and am always trying to improve upon. Patience. I envy people who have the patience of a saint, or even just have patience to begin with!! haha I am very high strung and find this patience thing very elusive but I refuse to give up. I keep trying to be a better person and become more patient. As for technique, not sure what I did. I used paint and glimmer mists so I'll go with that! haha I used this gorgeous soft yellow paper that had felt flocked leaves to give the feeling of serenity, which is turn makes me think of patience.

REBECCA

I knew right away what my word was and well that word is action, I am quite the dreamer and I spend way to much time in my head so to speak. So this year I am going to send my art journal to a magazine and start teaching classes and start making connections! Its time for me to take action with my life!

I used craft paper and some fun scrapbook paper! I used (a lot) of gesso to make the hearts in the background and to layer some color on the chipboard! It was lots of fun to make! Happy creating!

AMY

My word for 2013 is "New!" so I shot my cup in front of a print out of the definition of new (& fresh) and with the new curtains I just got for our new house along with the new thread & iron needed to hem said curtains.

This new year has brought some BIG changes for my husband & I. The biggest, a move from Oregon (where I had spent my entire life, 38 years +, up to now) to Idaho! So, my choice of word is directly related to this change and all that has/will come with it.
This year I REALLY want to focus on...

The NEW start this move has given Jas & I.
Trying NEW things.
Making this NEW place a HOME.
Making the old things people see as junk NEW again and giving them NEW life.
ReNEWing myself! Getting to know myself & forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone & GROW.
REALLY getting to KNOW my new town. Finding NEW places...restaurants, coffee shops, quilt shops, salvage & thrift stores, etc, etc.
I want to DO the things I have wanted to DO! TRY the things have I have wanted to TRY! GO to those places I have wanted to GO! LIVE the life I want to LIVE!

*Techniques* I used a white crayon resist for the arrows and words. After that I painted it with watercolors. I tried the salt technique but it didn't really too much (I think it may have been because I used table salt, not rock salt). After letting it dry, I used markers to add finishing details & my journaling.*

LINDA

My word for 2013 is Health.

I made a background with watercolors and then painted over with acrylic paint.

Inspired by the Creative Jump Start video by

Catherine Matthews-Scanlon

HEIDI
The word, okay...two words (I'm not much for rules, as you'll find out if you don't already know me), I chose as my focus for 2013 are "let go." I've decided to make a conscious choice to let go of the yucky stuff: negativity, hurtful things others say to me, criticism that isn't constructive (you know the kind...and don't we just love to hang on to it and let it eat away at our self-esteem?) anger, things beyond my control, and anything else that tends to ball itself up into a big black chunk of anxiety for me.

MUGSHOT: This is the mug that inspired my choice this year. It is shown with all of my piles of work in the background...and while the work itself doesn't tend to weigh me down, I do have a tendency to hang on to some of the negative aspects of my job, and so, it fits.

JOURNAL PAGE: As you can see, I did not paste my mugshot into my book, yet. I may, or I may not. Like I said...rules to me are...more like guidelines anyway. ;) I did use watercolor, among other things, and I DID apply salt while wet & scraped off when dry, and I love the effect.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's mugs and pages!

JEN

Most of the time, when I pick my word of the year, it just comes very easily to me and I don't usually have to think too much about it. But as 2012 came to an end, I really struggled with my one word for 2013. I came up with several ideas, but quickly dismissed them all. Then, as I was online looking for inspiration it hit me like a ton of bricks: free. Free yourself from pressure. Free yourself from expectations. Free yourself from all the junk running through your head. And when you do, you'll be free to enjoy your life.

Naturally, I was happy with my word but when I saw the prompt I thought "Ugh...this is going to take some thinking." I was so wrong about that. I've had this mug for a while now and it's one of my favorites. I bought it at a craft fair and was drawn to it for two reasons: the color and the bird on the front. When I saw it in my cabinet this morning I knew it was perfect for the prompt and the mugshot. Birds are free, and that's what I'd like to be.

SUSAN

My word for 2013 is Brave. I wasn't going to pick a word but it just came to me after reading Divergent & Insurgent. I've done some brave things in life & had to be brave to get thru other events. But I felt like life had gotten a little safe & predictable so this year it's time to mix it up. Also I felt that for my recovery & spirituality to grow I needed to do some things out of my comfort zone. So BRAVE it is!

The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I do encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug.
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Beth

2013-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

Beth Twist is a friend from my past. Her photography makes me happy, and when she started to take part on Monday Mugshots, I knew I needed to ask her to be part of the collaboration.

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Kelly

2013-01-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Kelly is another of my favorite people! I can't wait to see what she comes up with this year for our collaboration! She's a funny gal. Hang onto your socks, because she likes to knock them off of people, and run off with them.
~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Jen

2013-01-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Jen is a returning guest host, but she's returning as a guest host from 2010!! I "met" Jen here on line through the world of blogging and art. She took part in the same Deck of ME project with Emily Falconbridge that I did all those years ago... and I fell in love with her right off the bat. Her photography is amazing, and I can't wait to see her mugshots.

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Susan

2013-01-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Susan Alton aka LadyMissSusan
WHERE YOU ARE FROM
I'm from Kansas but I live in Sacramento, CA for the last 2.5yrs
TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM:
Dina Wakely and various other art journalers I follow on Twitter & Facebook
WHAT YOU FIND TOUGHEST TO JOURNAL ABOUT
Not subjects but finding the TIME!!! That's why I'll mostly be a Shooter this year!
WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT (journal/techniques, etc.)
Time management? How to strike it rich so I can ONLY make art (or read). I want to learn to do those Gelli plates that I keep hearing about. Anyone do those???
ARE YOU PUBLISHED? HAVE OTHER BRAGS?
No bragging here
YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG
So this is my VERY neglected blog Just A Girl in the World but really you can find me here tweeting
A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
Next weekend is the 17th anniversary of my 29th birthday & I have NO IDEA how I got this old. lol
I have 2 cats & yes I'm crazy, but I'm not a crazy cat lady.
I'm a glamour technician by day and a tv addict & book reader by night. I travel to mystical worlds daily and also spend my time searching my spirituality & recovery.
THREE UNKNOWN THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF

I was Cowtown Princess when I was in 8th grade in Baxter Springs, Kansas (first cowtown in Kansas)
I LOVE grapefruit ( I just ate one)
When I was little David Cassidy was my imaginary boyfriend. My mom had a few stories abt THAT!

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE
Creative time even if just a little to take a pic just to keep me in the loop
WHAT YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE
A couple of pics a month. It's all I can commit to at the moment.
ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD LISTENED TO THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU STARTED IN JOURNALING SOONER.
There is no RIGHT way to art journal. Just DO IT!

Guest Host Rebecca

2013-01-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

WHERE YOU ARE FROM
Mesa Arizona (Mesa is one of the major suburbs of Phoenix)

TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM:
All kinds of places, fashion, color, magazines, friends etc.

WHAT YOU FIND TOUGHEST TO JOURNAL ABOUT
Personal things and my insecurities

WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT (journal/techniques, etc.)
I have been journaling for over four years now so I am fairly happy with what I have going on, the only exception is drawing faces and such

ARE YOU PUBLISHED? HAVE OTHER BRAGS?
No not yet but it is one of my big goals for 2013!

YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG
http://myadventuresinartjournaling.blogspot.com/

A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I am 32 married and have five furbabies!
We currently live in AZ but will be moving to California in September
I am starting to teach art journaling classes online and in a classroom settingQ
I I just open my first online store on Etsy!
I love baking! My specialty is cupcakes!
Photography is my second love next to art, whether its on my iphone, lomo camera or old school camera!
Creativity is my escape and how I tell my story

THREE UNKNOWN THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
- I am super shy, it usually takes me awhile to warm up to people
- I am obsessed with Hello Kitty like OBSESSED!
- I love working with kids, especially three year olds its the toughest and most amazing job!

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE
I have a hard time committing to things so this is such a great challenge for me plus it is so much fun!

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE
I hope I can help inspire and teach, and let people know its ok to share no matter what your skill level is, after all we all start somewhere!

Guest Host Heidi

2013-01-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello! I’m Heidi…and I live, work, play, create, game, do yoga and drink buckets of coffee here in the sunny Southern California Inland Empire. I have a degree in fine art, but I’ve dabbled in many creative pursuits since I was a toddler, including drawing, painting, graphic design, art journaling, collage, scrapbooking, photography, artist trading cards, altered books and items, writing, as well as playing guitar very ill indeed. I love all things colorful and messy, but also have a keen appreciation for clean design and the use of white space in artwork. By day I work as a social work supervisor at a foster family/adoption agency and feel privileged to help create a better tomorrow for some of the most brave and resilient young people on the planet. I am blissfully married to my sexy rock star of a husband and best friend, Kirk. He’s also a creative type and owns a graphic design/film/photography business here in the I.E. When we’re not creating, reading, guzzling coffee or otherwise causing mischief, we can be found “owning noobs” in video games from our cozy little batcave of an apartment.

TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM:
1. Other art journalers via pinterest, blogs, youtube, etc.

2. The world around me

WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT (journal/techniques, etc.)
I’m interested in incorporating more of my photos into my journal and other artwork.

YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG
www.heididilley.blogspot.com

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE
To reconnect with art journaling after a recent hiatus. To meet, chat with, and be inspired by other journalers. To play. To enjoy. To create. To process. To learn.

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE
To encourage those who might feel timid or unsure about diving into this amazing world of art journaling, and inspire confidence to others to express, share, and value their beautiful, amazing selves!

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Sumaiyah

2013-01-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

Namaste! I am Sumaiyah but you will find me on the web also as Dymonz. Oh! And you may stumble upon my alter ego -- Kymberleigh Anne -- which is my pen name. You see...I'm a creative being. I write (novels, short story, poetry -- mostly creative non-fiction). I create mixed media art -- journals, individual pages, canvas paintings, scrapbooks (yes! they are mixed media too!!). And I get to combine those two passions into one -- ART JOURNALING!!! What more is there to want in life?

TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM: 1) The many art journaling workshops/classes that I am constantly signing up for. 2) Trolling YouTube for techniques and other art journaling ideas.

WHAT YOU FIND TOUGHEST TO JOURNAL ABOUT I find journaling about my personal demons/a great heartache that I have suffered is really hard for me. However, it is those very things that need to be gotten out and turned into beauty. That's why I art journal...

WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT (journal/techniques, etc.) Layering for depth. I want to learn the fine art of all of my layers "showing through" the finished page. To create depth and texture with layers...

ARE YOU PUBLISHED? HAVE OTHER BRAGS? I hope to be published soon. But just like the lottery -- I gotta submit for a chance to "win!" Just as soon as I get some things submitted hopefully I'll be able to tick this off the checklist. However, I am the owner of a successful scrappin' venue called the Stampin' Dymonz Scrap Shack located in Baltimore, MD. It is a place where I host regular crops and classes and tutorials for up to 12 women at a time. The Scrap Shack has an online community -- the Village -- of over 200 women who come together for scrappin', card making, mixed media, and other paper crafts.

YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG Art Journal Love Studio

THREE UNKNOWN THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF
1. I do absolutely no housework -- hubby is "the man!" and does it all himself. I simply art...
2. Divorced twice, married thrice. Don't play with me!
3. I was supposed to stop growing my locs once they reached my waist. They're below the bottom of my butt and still going...

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE To hone my goal of art journaling daily and to be able to share the amazing healing power of art journaling with many others. To circle with likeminded women on a journey to their true inner self and making their way using creativity.

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE Encouragement and uplift. Support and inspiration. Smiles and hugs and all sorts of love! I hope to become well known as "The Enabler" -- helping to enable folks to embrace their creative selves and to stop denying the creative passions that lie within.

ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD LISTENED TO THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU STARTED IN JOURNALING SOONER. Don't let the bitterness of others block the blessings of art for myself. A bad experience with 3 scrappers made me walk away from all things creative at the end of 2011. I should have listened to my Muse lllllooooonnnnnggggg ago when she kept telling me to stop letting those 3 bickering biddies steal my joy.

MY ART JOURNAL Which one? I have about seven that I'm working on at the same time ;-) I have altered two books -- encyclopedia size -- for different journals. One for "scrappin'" the history of President Barack Obama as he leads our country, and one for my MOM Journal (MAP Of Memories Journal), my personal daily journal. I have a hand bound journal made from watercolor paper and canvas that I use almost daily. And the rest are Canson XL Mixed Media spiral bound journals in various sizes for various classes I am taking throughout the year. Oh -- I can't forget my single sheet journal! Single sheets of 9 x 12 watercolor paper that will be bound at the end of the year into one volume.
~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

My Partner in Crime, Glenda

2013-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Glenda Tkalac is joining me AGAIN!! This year, as my partner. She'll be creating in her wonderful style, for the Creative (BOOKERS) part of our prompts! Glenda is from Saskatchewan, Canada.

TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM: Where don't I get inspiration from? I get it from everywhere!

WHAT YOU FIND TOUGHEST TO JOURNAL ABOUT - Well, I used to find it tougher to journal about the sad things or not so great things in my life but I found that by doing so it's very therapeutic! Getting your anger, tears, frustrations or sadness down on paper is very healing, very freeing! Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns and puppies and I think that if we are to be honest with ourselves our journals should include ALL aspects of our lives, not just the happy times.

WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT (journal/techniques, etc.) What don't I want to learn?? I love learning new techniques, new designs, colors, anything that takes my journaling to the next level and keeps me learning.

ARE YOU PUBLISHED? HAVE OTHER BRAGS?
Yes, I was honored to have been published as a featured artist in the Fall 2009 Somerset Memories Art Journaling. I love their magazine and to be featured in it was a dream come true!!! I have also been published for my scrapbooking in Memory Makers, Scrapbooks Etc., Scrapbook Trends, Canadian Scrapbooker, Somerset Memories , Creating Keepsakes 50 Moments book and the 2011 The Big Book of Scrapbook Pages.

YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG http://somewhereovertherainbowunicornsdream.blogspot.com/

A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF I am married to John, my high school crush for 24 years now (been together for 31!), and we have 2 kids, Michael and Paige, as well as 2 fur babies (dogs) Sam & Skyler. I love purses, baubles, iced caps, Coors Light, my Sony Reader, Sons of Anarchy, Game of Thrones, True Blood, Spartacus, sleeping in, hoodies & runners, rainbows & unicorns, a good laugh, crisp clean sheets, flannel sheets, vampires & mermaids, jammies, taking pictures and putzing around in my art room. I work full time in a cubicle but wish I could make art full time. I love to scrap, journal, make ATC's and canvases.

THREE UNKNOWN THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF - I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you! Kidding! I wear a mouthguard at night to stop my clenching, I have 2 tattoos and I have a bad habit of picking my cuticles.

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE - some great journal pages and to be inspired by other artists.

WHAT YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE - I hope that I can inspire people to think outside of the box, to try things that they maybe wouldn't have thought of trying before. I know I have been inspired by so many artists and art journals that sometimes it just takes one little idea and you can turn it into your own.

ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD LISTENED TO THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU STARTED IN JOURNALING SOONER - I wish I would have listened to my heart. I used to be so arty when I was young and then that part of me "went to sleep" for many years. I am just forever grateful that it woke up as it is such a huge part of who I am, a huge part of my life. I do wish I would have been doing it alot longer than I have, like when I was in my teen years or even as a young adult, but I'm doing it now and that's what counts. It's never too late!!!

Hello, I'm Rachel.

2013-01-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello! Welcome to a Year in the Life of an Art Journal. I'm Rachel. I am the founder and creator of this blog. Art Journaling is one of my favorite creative outlets. It has been my goal since starting this site, to encourage creativity in even the simplest form of art journals. In 2012, I found myself so busy with life, that I wasn't able to create in the messy, painty way I was used to. Many times, I resorted to using photos to convey something in my journal. I like that versatility, and it occurred to me that there are probably many people out there that find themselves needing to be CREATIVE, and feeling limited by "what's allowed" to be CALLED creativity. That's where my idea for this coming year came from. I hope that those of you that find yourselves in a time crunch will appreciate and participate in the "quickie" portion of the prompts, and that those of you who enjoy and are able to make time for more in depth art journaling find a place for yourselves in the painty part of our prompts. I hope that you will help to create a community here, because that is one of the things I love most about following prompt based art journaling. The idea that other people are using the same ideas, and coming up with something totally their own. The idea that I will be able to get to KNOW those people through the art we have SHARED in this space. Please be sure to come and follow links, leave comments for your fellow members and commentors here at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal.

Some things I want you all to remember as you begin or continue your journey...

It's important that you remember that art journaling IS personal. There are some people out there who are of the opinion that by sharing art that is created for a personal art journal, you have made it impersonal, and it's up for shots. This isn't the case. Sharing art that is personal means that you are taking the chance that there are others out there who may feel the same way. That there may be someone who will be encouraged by that. It in NO WAY means that you have relinquished that very personal and private space a particular piece may have in your heart.
Not everything you make needs to be a masterpiece. Art journaling is a time and place for exploration. It's a place to try new things. It's a place to try things out. Art journaling is not about the end result. It's about the process. I think it's especially rewarding at the end of a year to have all your experiments bundled up into something that collectively is always more beautiful to me than I imagined it could be.
In an art journal, actually WRITING anything is totally optional. Most people have no idea of the meaning behind a page, because there is no journaling on many of my pieces. However, when I look at those pages, I know exactly where I was and what I meant in that moment. Here are a few of the definitions of a journal. Some of my favorite pages are ones that have hidden meaning.
- record of experiences and observations
- a periodical dedicated to a particular subject; "he reads the medical journals"
- a record book as a physical object
HAVE FUN. That's what this is about. Explore things you've never explored!! Do things you have never done. Creativity is like any other thing. Riding a bike, learning to read, learning to write. You have to PRACTICE to be good. Everything you need to BE creative is already inside you. You just have to allow yourself the time to practice.

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Monday Mugshot Collaboration

2013-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

View the 2013 prompts HERE!

It's TIME!! Time to let all of you in on what we're up to this year!!
Here's the deal. As your fearless leader, I have found that I have been behind so many times here at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal, and that I personally have been using a lot of photos for my creativity. That's OK! It's what I love about the prompts here. I encourage you all to do WHATEVER you want in response to our prompts! I'm always SAYING that it's more important to DO SOMETHING. This year, one of my goals is to live slowly.
Recently, I created a page on Facebook, called Monday Mugshots. "We want your mugshots! Post photos of your coffee, tea or even beer mugs here every Monday! At your computer, in the sink, with your cat, or simply all on its own." This year, for A Year in the Life of an Art Journal, we will be collaborating with Monday Mugshots!! My vision is, that at the end of it all, you will have a coffee table art journal! I plan to use Blurb to print my mugshots, and those of you following the BOOKER part of our prompts will be able to incorporate your mug shots into your art journal!

Here's what the year will look like:
WEEKLY: (or just after the 15th and 30th) The SHOOTERS
We will share photos on Facebook. We hope you will too!
15th and 30th/MONTHLY: The BOOKERS
Glenda will be hosting a CREATIVE prompt for an art journal/coffee table book! Fans of A Year in the Life of an Art Journal will be able to share photos of their mugshots, and create an art journal for their coffee table with "mug" themed prompts mixed in. :) I think it would be cool to print out a mugshot, and use it on an art journal page.

PROMPT EXAMPLE

PROMPT: The THEME of the prompt will go here. You can shoot your mug and/or create your page based on this theme.
SHOOTERS: There will be instructions for how to shoot your mug here. Using the THEME take a picture of your mug for FB.
BOOKERS: There will be instructions for creating an art journal page here. Glenda is helping me come up with creative technique to use or try on an art journal page.

I thought, since this project is so different from what we've done before, that I would post a "practice" prompt for you to see! Ready?

THE PROMPT: Power up? Relaxation.
SHOOTERS: Shoot your mugshot in a setting the tells the story of whether or not your mug (morning, tea time, or 5:00 somewhere) helps you power up for the day, or creates a space of calm in the midst of chaos.
BOOKERS: Use texture on a page to show your power or your calm. Journal a bit about what taking time for your mug of choice does for you.

Check out the things my awesome guest hosts came up with!!

LINDA

I've made lots of texture on the page with gesso, masking and mist.

LIZZIE

There is nothing like a little calm before the storm. Morning coffee to get my head right while making my To-Do list for the day.
GLENDA
I did both parts of this prompt,took a pic of my beer in it's Ed Hardy beer cozy that my mom got me as well as journaled about my beverage of choice!
Here is my beer in it's cozy:

and here is my journal page about how there is nothing better than a nice cold Coors Light to kick back and enjoy!

I used lots of patterned papers, paint, glimmer mists, molding paste, stamps, stickers and rhinestones!

SUMAIYAH

"Stay calm amongst the chaos and drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes..."

Journal page composition:

Medium bodied acrylic paints randomly drizzled on the page. Stiff bristle brush to smear the paint around and create texture. "Smushed" the pages together to create further texture -- peaks and valleys. Journalled on a piece of scrapbook paper, which I distressed the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink and adhered to pages with matte gel medium. Used TH Tissue Tape for two corners, also distressed with DI, and adhered. Cup of Pumpkin Spice joe! 20 oz -- the more the merrier LOL!!

I enjoy having a cup of coffee each morning. It wakes me up and gets my "motor" running for the day. I also enjoy having a cup while relaxing in the Art Journal Love Studio and creating. Soothing, warm and flavorful, relaxing and satisfying -- the perfect icing to an art journaling session cake!
JEN

Okay, it just freaked me out to type 2013...
Here is my shooter contribution to power up/relaxation. I pretty much start out most mornings this way. After my husband and daughter leave for work and school, I park myself in front of my computer with my coffee and check emails, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. and plan my day out.
Looking at this shot I realize the biggest to do today is to clean my desk off. Ugh. What a mess. Not that the rest of the room (alright, house) isn't a mess as well, but I figure if I can get this one area straightened up, I'll feel a little bit better about myself.

AMY

Amy created her SHOOTER portion separately!

Nothing like cutting it close. With a COZY 1 hour and 39 minutes to spare I finished the "Booker" portion of my Power/Relaxation? submission! WOOHOO! This is a quick piece I did with a ink pen & colored pencils on sketch paper. The texture, or lack thereof, in my piece was to represent the fresh, calm and peace the time I spend having my first cup of coffee in the morning provides me. It is my "Me" time. I guess you could say that time provides me BOTH power and relaxation!

REBECCA
I chose to do both parts of the prompts, seeing that I am an iPhone photography nut and I have been journaling for almost four years now!

One of the first things I do in the morning is go down stairs and make my favorite drink which is a combination of mocha coffee and hot chocolate! Its just enough to get me up and going! Plus that mug would make anyone happy! Its the perfect way to prepare for another crazy day!

I started scrapbooking at least twelve years ago but I find so much joy in art journaling so anytime I can combine the two I am one happy lady! My journal right now is made out of a file folder and lots of fun papers! I started out using a combo of gesso and pink paint added my two photos. I used my favorite stencil and used molding paste and wet paint and kinda sloshed them all together! Added some washi tape and stickers and voila done!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN!! (the "actual" prompt for this month will be up on the 15th)

The rules

Use all or just one of the prompts.
MAKE THEM YOURS. These prompts are IDEAS. They are not set in stone. I do encourage you to stretch yourself. If you find a prompt doesn't speak to you, think on it. Find a way to MAKE it speak to you, and go with that.
You do NOT have to be a coffee drinker to play along! Tea, Water, Beer or the Hard Stuff. WE DON'T CARE!! Make the prompts work for you and your mug.
There is NO right or wrong.
Share your feedback positively. ABSOLUTELY no judging of what others share. (If I find that people aren't following this rule, I will remove links left by that person.)
This is a place for you to explore! It doesn't matter if you've just gotten here in the middle of the year, or if you've gotten "behind" and don't create every day. It doesn't matter if you don't create at ALL... (although we'd love it if you do)
Add your link to what you book or shoot in the comments here for easy visiting and sharing!! Be sure to add a DIRECT LINK. (you can get this most times by clicking on the title of your post, and then copying the URL.) General links to websites will be deleted (because they make it hard for people to follow behind and find the post pertaining to this prompt) ALSO, links leading to posts that do not make it clear how they are related to the prompts will be removed.

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Amy

2013-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

What do I say about myself?....

Let's see....

I'm 38 years old, almost 39 (UGH, I'm almost 40?!).
I spent 38 years + 9 months of my life in small towns in Northeastern Oregon.
This Oregon Girl recently moved to Nampa, ID with my hubby & our brood...2 dogs, 2 cats & a rabbit.
Art has been the one constant in my life. I think I came out of my mother's womb creating!
I can't label myself as a "scrapper", "journaler", "photographer" because I am interested in it all. I think I have tried just about everything, drawing, painting, ceramics, beading/jewelry making, scrapbooking, photography, quilting, journaling, altered things, etc, etc. You name it, I've probably tried it.
Right now my biggest passions are probably photography (casual, not frou frou expensive equipment type, nothing against that though), quilting & decorating (with a house 3 times bigger than our old one, I have a lot of space to figure out what to do with LOL).
I find inspiration in pretty much everything & that is probably the thing I love most about creativity. It changes how you see things & see the world. I can see a branch from a tree and think it would make a awesome coat rack hook. The gorgeous colors of a sunset, a beautiful quilt. That piece of metal mesh laying on the ground, a AWESOME texture on my next canvas or journal page. That old beat up door you are going to throw away, a PERFECT table! Etc, etc.

Anything else?....

I'm a breast cancer survivor (diagnosed @ 31).

I REALLY want to go to Italy (REALLY spend some time there getting to know the people & the country) before I die.

I could probably eat pizza every day of my life and be happy about it.

I love tattoos and appreciate them as a art form.

OK, that's enough about me! Let's play!

~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!

Guest Host Lizzie

2013-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hellos! I'm Lizzie! I'm a twenty something momma of three that lives in hot as crap Texas. Okay so it's only hot as crap six months out of the year... it's hot as Hades the other six. I'm a fun and funky gal that is still trying to find herself in the crazy life. My kids keep me going, from running them around to school and the G-Rents to cleaning up their messes. It's a wonder I have time to create anything at all! But I do! I also have an amazing hubby who doesn't quite get why I spend more time in the craft room then watching t.v or gaming with him. Yes, I'm a big gamer... mostly MMORPG's. Tho I will dabble in a fighter or two. Between gaming and crafty it's a wonder I have time to bathe!

I love to get inspiration from the world around me, is something that I should say if I wasn't so scattered brained! I mostly check in over Pinterest and from a few awesome designers like Christy Tomlinson.
I'm not a big journaler. Shocker right? I love to type and talk, but as for explaining my thoughts or how our family did something... boo! It's hard to get into a confident state of mind when I type about personal things. But you just gotta but that negativity behind you and let your feelings flow!
I would love to learn more about texture. Yea, I'm still working on that! I need to be patient and let time take it's course to make my art more funky and dimensional!
I work on an amazing magazine called Designed To Color. We are a coloring based magazine that is always looking for amazing projects featuring colored images in the crafting world.
I blog @ Oh Snap Lizzie!
I have a craft space, but I hardly ever use it.
I love to English up my tea.
I am committed to work hard this year and make 2013 EPIC

Guest Host Linda

2013-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm really thrilled to have Linda Back with me this year!! She is an amazing, down to earth artist, and I know you will be inspired by her.

Hello everyone! I’m Linda Brun, living in Sandnes, Norway
TWO PLACES YOU GET JOURNALING INSPIRATION FROM: Nature and Art
WHAT YOU FIND TOUGHEST TO JOURNAL ABOUT? It has to be personal in some way or another, even if I don’t use any words.
WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT? To journal with less paint, if that is possible for me I don’t know.
ARE YOU PUBLISHED? HAVE OTHER BRAGS? -I had my AJ page published in a Norwegian magazine Et Trykk when they had an article about AJ for their readers. -At the moment I’m proud member of these design teams http://www.thepaperhaus.com, http://skissedilla.blogspot.no, http://www.gauchealchemy.com, http://www.kortoggodt.com, http://cameliabutikk.blogspot.no
YOUR WEB SITE OR BLOG www.lindabrun.com
A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF Married and havegrown up son. This summer I’m finishing my last semester studying graphic design. I love to create ArtJournals, Scrapbookpages, Cards, Tags, ATC and mix media Art. I have my own studio at home and I’m creative 24-7. I also love taking pictures, cooking and travelling.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET FROM A YEAR IN THE LIFE Inspiration and AJ pages for a rainy day.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GIVE TO A YEAR IN THE LIFE Inspiration and get people started with AJ.
ONE THING YOU WISH YOU HAD LISTENED TO THAT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOU STARTED IN JOURNALING SOONER. I know that I couldn’t have started this creative journey earlier than I did. Something happened in my life that changed my perspective on life and my creative brain somehow started to work. I haven’t looked back since.

WELCOME, 2013 JOURNALERS!!

2013-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, GANG!! Welcome to 2013!! In the next couple weeks, we will be posting regularly about the NEW and RETURNING guest hosts here at A Year in the Life of an Art Journal!! In the mean time, let me share a little bit about what YOU can do to get READY. (there *might* be a few hints in here)

Get your JOURNAL ready!! Keep in mind, that this year, your final product will be destined for the coffee table. We're calling it a "Coffee Table Journal". Similar to coffee table books, that are meant to be left out for people to browse.
Don't always have time to journal or get messy? This year, we'll have something for you too!
Get ready to be creative, be inspired, and to be part of a COMMUNITY.
As usual, our prompts will be shared in an open ended format, so that you can take them and make them YOURS. We also aim to make it easy for you to take tons of time on them, or be short and sweet with them as suits you.
Grab your coffee and pull up a chair! We're going to have a blast this year, using your camera AND/OR your paints.

This year, I'm also being joined by Glenda Tkalac, who has been a guest host with me here on A Year in the Life for many years. She is an amazing artist, and she has been a faithful guest host and friend. I'm so lucky to have her as MY PARTNER this year!! Part of this year's prompts are that they will be broken down into photography, and art journaling. Glenda will be the go to gal for the journaling and "art" part of our prompts, and I'll be heading up the photography. I look forward to what this year holds with Glenda here as more than a guest host.

ARE YOU READY!? In the coming days, you'll be meeting our guest hosts, and somewhere in there, we'll be sharing a "sample" prompt so you can see what we have planned for you!! Prompts will continue to be posted on the 15th and 30th of every month.
~rachel
All images and content on this blog is copyright to Rachel Whetzel and Guest Hosts. Please give credit when sharing your art that is inspired here! Thank you so much!!