art junk girl

artjunk on the road..have gluestick, will travel.

Ok, so, we recently went on a trip to the beach. Well, you can take artjunkgirl to the beach, but you can't take the artjunk out of the girl. As I picked up one of my magazines I'd been saving for beach reading, out popped a slew of subscription cards. You know the one's..they usually fall out at the bookstore when I pick up a magazine as I bend down and I wonder why I'm always having to clean up, even when I'm not at home...

But anyhow, I decided to collect them from the blanket and tuck them into my book (which was about crafting by the way), for later artjunking. I layed out the cards when I got back to the hotel while everyone was resting from resting on the beach, and I started collaging some postcards. I took an area map we were given at check-in and covered the "front". Then I used the hotel memo pad for the "back". Instant postcards or journal cards! I am chosing to use them as a journal cards. I also covered a few of the free bookmarks we got at the bookstore with the map. I immediately gave one to my hubby for his beach read. WEll, Mr. Analytical looked at the bookmark and instead of seeing it as a crafty bookmark said, (I kid you not), "That's nice, but we are staying at R. Beach, not B. beach like the map says." I said "fine!" and proceeded to cut and paste the name of the "right" beach onto his bookmark. Later on he thanked me for his handy bookmark. What can I say.

Anyhow, since you all liked the cereal box tip, I thought I'd share this one too. I thought everyone cut up there cereal boxes. Some people do, but not everyone. Goes to show it's a good thing to share tips with each other.

Oh, and another thing. I brought my inchie organizer with me and made some squares. I decided that while you are travelling, you really only need gluestick and a good pair of scissors. Paper is plentiful everywhere.
Maps, menus, and magazines make for great collage fodder while on the road this summer!
Happy Trails! xoxo lia

ok, so, where were we?

Dear Friends.
This is what happens when I don't blog for a few days...I get out of my groove. I have been a busy bee as of late. I've been cleaning out my studio/aka dungeon room. Being that it's in the basement, lacking natural light, I have lost all track of time. Yes. It's true. The hub. came down the other night and told me it was 9:30 and I thought it was 6:00. The good news is that my studio is DONE. There are cleared surfaces (unlike the pic above, ahem). Yes, it's finally done. Now I want to move back upstairs where I get more natural light. Just kidding, well, sort of. I am one of those people who needs alot of light. I need to see trees, ok? Anyhow. there are 2 tiny windows up at the top of the laundry room dungeon. One is for the dryer vent. Not pretty.
So, I'm not complaining. No. I love my new studio. I am going to come up with a way to get more natural light in there. Anyhow, that is where I am right now. I will be updating more soon. I have new journal pages and collage cards I made with the cereal boxes. Talk soon my friends. Happy Summer! xo lia

p.s. I did clean the mirror after I shot this pic. It's an old vintage one from a fleamarket I went to years ago. I could only do so much...

old pic, new inspiration board

old pic, new inspiration board, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

...and the crafting/recycling kick continues.

I'm almost done putting up things in the basement studio...I needed one more inspiration board, so I revamped a small plain corkboard one I had onhand. I painted the border blue and glued on maps from an old atlas. I like it because it's from my hubby's home state. The photo booth picture is a few years old. I hope to get to a photobooth while on vacation this summer. We don't have any nearby. Anyhow, I have more postcards to share, etc. and will do so very soon. I'm behind in getting pictures loaded. So many fun things to do! Have a great weekend my friends! xo lia

got cereal boxes?

got cereal boxes?, originally uploaded by artjunkgirl.

One of my latest obsessions: making postcards. I just can't throw a good cereal box away.

I know. It's a problem...

So, I've been walking over to the paper cutter. Ahem, still in my jammies here..lol..I cut them into either 4 x6 inches for postcards or 3.5 x 2.5 for ATC's. I place them in a holding box after cutting. Then I grab a few when I am cleaning up my "scrap table". I start randomly gluing down scraps. So much fun! JJ painted a bunch yesterday and she will be sending them out to relatives this summer.

I love doing mailart in the summer! I'm excited about participating in the summer postcard swap over at HulaSeventy (one of my very FAVE people and blogs!!) For some postcard eyecandy, check out her postcards from last year!

Have a great week my friends. I'll be back soon with more art junk! xo lia

p.s. Yes, I wait until the cereal boxes are empty. lol. Doesn't take very long with my son.

School's Out, project's in!

Dear Friends~
I'm feeling very crafty lately. This always happens to me with the change of seasons. At least that is what I've observed. One of the nice things about having a blog is that you can notice such things. What I thought to be random before is actually my creative rhythym. Now, it's been raining like all get out, but I don't mind it as much as the children do.

Anyow, as I was saying, I'm feeling crafty as ever. I really, really would like to be at the beach right now, but can't be so I decided to bring the beach to my house by getting out our collected seashells and putting a few beach pictures on the manle.

One of the things I want to do this summer is make/craft my own book or journal. JJ loves making her own books too, so I'm sure she will join in the learning. (I just picked up a few books at the library about it with JJ). "JJ", (aka my youngest daughter, is my 'partner in craft'.) She is often working along side me. She has her own gig going. Doesn't need help from me... Her specialty is designing and reworking outgrown jeans as well as making shadow boxes from recycled cardboard. I love to have my kids around me when I create. Very few things are off limits. although I do have a few boxed labeled that are off limits. Only because I'm saving them for a specific project. I also have a "chance box" near my work area so that they can pick things from to work on. All of my girls have altered books started and they will be getting those out soon.
One of the special projects I have to finish this summer is Maria's altered book, (my oldest daughters). I've been working on it on and off all year, but it's time to pull it together. I was excited to do another page last night. I'm using an old record album case to make the book. I've painted the pages and I've made some tags, but the cover,etc. are not done. The biggest challenge has been how to organize it.

I'm also working on these itty-bitty books for a swap. They are almost done and will be shipped out soon. So, lots of little projects are keeping me busy, and I'm so happy that I will have time to work on them now! I'm also excited about summer reading. JJ and I are going to sign up for summer reading at the library tomorrow. Now, if only I lived close to a beach! I could take a nice tote of la-la land books and set up a nice comfy quilt and relax. So, that is what's going on for now. Hope you all have some fun little projects planned this summer. talk to you all very soon! xo lia

p.s. I've also had fun working with ink in my journal, so I decided to make this one into a new banner for my blog. It was time for a change! Hello summer! Hope you are having a great weekend friends! xo lia