First Wednesday

~Thank you so much for looking, for your prayers, and for your kindness & comments.

I appreciate you, my friends, so very much. ♥Kathy

It's How One Looks at It...

This is difficult for me to share, but you have been so wonderful and supportive, that I thought I would open up more.
If you do want to read the words, you'll know that I have to undergo some treatments and therapies for an illness. Please know that it is NOT cancer.
I am sending prayers to those who suffer more than I do, to those who do have far more to overcome.

Love, me♥

Sunrise

Wishing You a Saturday of Love

The beautiful, colorful stencil painted borders are by Martha! "Scraps of Journal Happiness" sent to me from lori. {I will show you their collaborative journal next!! Stay tuned!}

Believe

I was reflecting upon this school year (that just ended today), on work, and on relationships with coworkers and friends. Though it was a difficult year for me, I believe in the power of faith, and that differences between people are good things, if painted with respect.

I had fun drawing with my black sharpie, especially on this flower in the corner.

Sweetness

I am grateful for:
1. the basket of plump, sweet cherries that I am savoring this evening
2. the breeze that is blowing through my window right now, relieving some of this mugginess
3. the help I received today, packing up my classroom
4. my paperpumpkin room that is filled with papers and paints and pens and messes
5. Michael cuddling up with puppy Ellie after work...I hear kisses
6. you ♥

Thank you for visiting! I really do appreciate you.

Be Yourself...

I haven't been feeling like myself lately. Sometimes the road gets bumpy. But then I feel like I have to have journal therapy...and that made me want to play with paint...then texture.That bubble wrap's been around for a while....

Then I added pieces in bold black & white.

You know I like collage papers...

I stamped and doodled.

After I began writing, it flowed. I feel better for having gotten it out.

I have had a hard time feeling like myself, especially in my classroom,
where I've always felt so right.

I will get past this.

xo ~K

Happy Hydrangea Saturday!

I absolutely love hydrangeas. The soft pastel colors, each step of the way, make me think of a gorgeous wedding bouquet, too.

Next year, I'd like to get some new hydrangea bushes and work the soil to maintain blue ones!

Have a great weekend! xo

PS. I'm playing with my fingers in paint...on journal pages today!

Stitched Paper

Although I have not yet given an old sewing machine new life, I did accidentally find paper that is stitched!! I'm still excited. Here it is in my latest journal page:







I still promised myself that I will reincarnate that old machine, but it was super fun to find some stitched flowers and leaves to write and play with today. {New tape on the right}.

Yummy Colors

I took my students on a field trip to the Gumball Factory!

I couldn't resist showing you the delicious colors!

Are you craving a gumball yet?!

Some Summer Fun

I went to the city for the annual Allentown Art Festival! It's like a mini vacation for me. My dream is to someday travel to a Renegade Craft Show, too, but Buffalo's Allentown Art Fest is pretty amazing. And if the artists' work doesn't blow you away, the music and food will. Aaah, can you smell the grilled onions and peppers for the sausages and hotdogs?

Oh, and I learned something new: A Bunny is a grilled carrot, instead of a hotdog...on a bun. Didn't try one yet, though.

Sweltering hot. Stay cool.

Page Process...

I admit I've never stopped, while making a page, to take photos. I've always been shy, but lately I've tried to put my journaling out there. You are all so kind and perhaps even as curious as I've always been...so...

I was collageing a page after finding a long-lost glue stick I liked (yes, I cleaned up a bit!), and thought since there was some interest in "the process", I would be brave.

Thanks for looking, and for all of your comments. And thank you, lori, for encouraging these photo shoots!

Here's the first layering, with 5 different papers, some cut, some torn.
Then I played with a dramatic focal picture, and felt like putting some paper lace behind her.

I just got this new days-of-the-week tape {love} and was thinking by now that I'd write about my Long Week when not feeling well. I put a vintage style tag in...

And then I wrote....

Art journaling means experimenting and not being critical, but I think I need to put a circle of something right below her for balance (in my Capricorn-logical head).

I have more than one journal going on at a time. I also have more than one magazine being read, and more than one book started. Hmmm. What does that say about me? :D

I also know that I will be painting pages and backgrounds of pages very soon...

Have a happy weekend! What are you doing?

Finishing Those Journal Pages

I didn't add all that much.

I wrote about beliefs and values and added some washi tape on the left page. And on the right, I wrote simply about sentimental gifts from my mother.

I'll have to show you the ceramic cookie jar. I loved it so much as a kid. I still admire it lovingly and can't believe that I am looking at it as an adult already...

Beginning Some Journal Pages

...collage beginnings, before doodling, scribbling, and writing any words.

I'll probably add more details to this one.I used some new tapes {love} and a new stamp that has lots of good stuff all together (bottom).

Lupine Love

My Mom-in-Law has an incredible way with flowers. If you've ever read the beloved childrens' book, Miss Rumphius, "The Lupine Lady", which isn't really just for children, you'll know that she made the world a more beautiful place. That's my Mom-in-law. Here are her lupines:


Me, well it's hit-n-miss. But I do know that when I was a little kid, I really thought that these teeny tiny clover flowers were vanilla, or at least they were where vanilla came from.

I hope that your gardens are springing to life and that you find time to enjoy them...today! ~K

Poppies Three

And one for Martha.

I wish these natural crepe paper beauties lasted longer... Happy Friday, friends!

Paper Play

Usually I play with patterned papers to my heart's content, but every now and then...

...I like a bold solid

or a handful of stamps and some vintage style inks.

♥ PaperPumpkin is ready for some new June goodness!