Chillin Calendar Journal for January 2010

Splashes of winter blue dispite the lack of snow here in North Pittsburgh started my two page spread for my January journal calender. The celebratory feeling of new years spured the the spray you see in the  top left corner made with daubber bottle .

 Flicks of one of my favorite colors purple is added. Softening areas with snow cap daubber paint.

Some details of silver and then the layout of blocks for the days of the weeks.

This month I added some folded blocks. Where I can add more writing and spots of drawings. For the most part ramdomly placed but also I thought about what we might be doing like on the weekends where more journaling room would be nice to have. I can always cut the flaps off if I don't need them.

Softening the text of my day blocks is easy with the dauber paint. I used white bur any color that would allow your journaling to show could be used.

Daily Journal Calendar

December 2011 Journal details by Susan Walker

You can see in this detail photo of a few of my December days you can record with writing,sketches and little notes to highlight a few of the days events. I am winding down the month pretty good and already thinking about my 2012 January!

If you didn't catch how I began you can pop over to this post for a bit more details.

Sketchbook Calender Easy to Make and Use

Calender journal by Susan Walker
all rights reserved.

I seem to work in small bites best. I have such high desires to create so often but raising a family comes first, second and third. But being creative is just part of who I am , what I need to do. i was inpired by the latestes Somerset Studio Magazine. This little monthly journal page has been quite fun and fulfilling in several ways. I am drawing and or writing a few of the key happenings of the day. Many not so exciting but our day just the same. I have a place to express in lines and colors, paste ephemeral down...Or not any of those and just make a few notes. so far I have been pleased. My blocks are not so big that they are hard to fill (high expectation to live up to) and yet just enough room for some fun.

I created the back ground page first. I wanted to be able to see the entire month out in front of me. I threw down some color, spritzed with water and added more color. as you see I went with a Christmas red, green and gold highlights as my scheme. A heat gun comes in handy to speed up drying. If you don't have one handy a hairdryer works just the same.

I lay on the  acrylics and spray with water a bit and put more on as each layer dries to my liking..



I used several kinds of papers to add variety. A used crossword puzzle book, novel pages and a few pages from my an old field journal of my husbands. And for a little sparkle:Smooches Spritz.

To soften the type and allow the writing I will do later to show better I swiped over areas with gesso.

i stamped "December" and was ready to go. At least with this project. So many to go this month!
How about started one for the count down to Christmas like the last week or so.
And of course one for the new year.  I'll post some pages as I go so stop back again sometime.or check out my sketchbook pages.

A Beak at ONE of the things I have been Up To

I have always loved type. I love the feel of a book in my hand. The smell of ink in a magazine.
My local library always has books they are donating out. I have picked up a few along the way.

Be Strong Birdie

 5x5 original mixed media on canvas by Susan Walker

all rights reserved

This painting is SOLD

but you may like Carninals Enjoying the Journey

it also is $35.00

Here you can see how  used a page as the base paper of my bird. I love the fun of painting the background and adding the images cut from type pages and some inspirational quotes. With these projects I have tried to push myself each time more. Combine things I have always loved and hope to come up with something all my own. In the mean time I try to keep the self talk out of the shop and play, play, play. 

Sketchbook for Mix-Media to Try

Just picked this Cannon Mix Media sketchbook for out and about. I am looking for something to take some wet media but not a rough surface for ink. I hope this will work. It has a nice smooth page but not slick. Weight seems nice too. I'll let you know how it holds up.
Anybody out there use this one before?

Few Sketches Done During Football Practice

Using my micron 03 in a composition book. One of those you were to write in in school. I never did write as much as I did draw. :/