A phoenix is a mythical bird that is a fire spirit with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends). It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.
source: Wikipedia
I was working on a post for this blog, some step-by-step photos of creating a scrapbook page. And let's just say I had to destroy that layout to come up with this one:
Take the journey with me, will you?
I started the layout the same way I do with most — photos, and a general big idea.
(Notice how my small photos are all printed on a single 4×6 sheet of photo paper. That's how I do most of my small photos.) Lovely paper and I knew I wanted to cover the left side with circles using that awesome *new* soon-to-be-released-at-CHA stencil from The Crafter's Workshop! I haven't seen a lot of CHA sneaks yet, so consider this one of the first! :)
I decided to use gesso to create a little bit of dimension.
This is what it looks like when it's dry.
Next I cut my photos apart…
…and tried some different placement choices.
I decided that I liked the photos aligned on the left side.
I liked this yellow number paper, so I decided to use it to "mat" my photos.
The yellow number paper looked just way too busy. I couldn't see the photos. So I flipped it over and discovered that the other side made the photos pop a lot more!
I cut out a wonky circle just larger than the photo grouping.
But I wasn't ready to glue stuff down. Something about the whiteness of the circles was making me crazy.
I used watercolors to color the background. Very cool look, but too busy.
I cut down the patterned paper and mounted it to a piece of dark cardstock. Better.
Now that my base is done, I'm at the embellishing phase!
I used washi tape to "hold" the photos in place. It's really just decoration.
I added some contrasting embellishments in yellow.
At the bottom I knew that I wanted to add a third flower, but the ones I had were all too big.
I made three new little flowers with punches and a button. I ended up choosing the one on the far right.
I used another brand *new* soon-to-be-released-at-CHA Crafter's Workshop stencil to create my journaling spot. (Don't you love the shapes they've chosen?) I traced it and cut it out…
…and inked the outside edges. And notice that I only used half of the journaling spot. One of my favorite things to do.
Here's what it looks like on the page:
I added my journaling and frankly, I should have just stopped. But the title letters were falling off, so I headed to the sewing machine.
And for some reason along with stitching the letters down I stitched this viney thing. It doesn't have anything to do with the story of the layout, so I'm not 100% sure why I did it. But once it was done I hated it.
I thought that maybe I could "fix" it by painting the design. Wrong. It's totally worse now. But I had one more great fix idea….
I cut the patterned paper away from the right edge of the stitched design. But I had to use Un-Du to get rid of the adhesive from under the paper and it left a huge greasy residue on the cardstock. Ugh. Worse and worse.
So I ended up cutting the circle area (where the photos and embellishments are) out. And I cut the long sewn element out. I sprayed a piece of kraft cardstock with the same circle stencil and tried this:
That sewn element is so weird and something is just not working here.
I rotated the cardstock base 90º to the right and cut apart the long green thing…
…to use as leaves, added a large flower, and a new layout was born from the ashes of the old layout.
I actually really love how the leaves turned out in the end. I may have to make some of those on purpose next time!
I ended up adding that tiny third flower I made to the top of the smallest of the pre-made Sassafras flowers.
I'm in love with this circle stencil! I think it's going to be on so many of my layouts from here on out!
And the famous stitched down letters that started the downfall of the previous layout.
It seems like this is a lesson that I learn over and over, but sometimes you need to stop trying to fix it and just start again.
Thanks for stopping by!
—-
P.S. Hope your art journaling is rolling along. I'll have an Art Journal Every Day post on Friday! It's not too late to join! Remember, this is a low pressure, easy and fun project. If you do it every day – great! If not – great! The point is to make an effort to take some creative time – even just ten minutes – for yourself every day!
P.P.S. Now that we have more than 270 people signed up to participate in Art Journal Every Day, I thought it might make it easier to have a place to view all that wonderful creativity. This is not to discourage you from visiting people's blogs and facebook pages, rather the intent is to increase the sense of community and, again, make this an easy project!
Here is the link. It's a free flickr group. I've put a quick tutorial on how to upload an image here.
You absolutely do not have to participate in the flickr group to be a part of Art Journal Every Day. But it's there if you want to.
Happy journaling!
Thanks for sharing this!! I just love following your thoughts, and this page is so beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing this!! I just love following your thoughts, and this page is so beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing this!! I just love following your thoughts, and this page is so beautiful!!
Thanks for sharing this!! I just love following your thoughts, and this page is so beautiful!!
I love your layout! I started in my art journal yesterday…nothing fancy just something small to get started.
I love your layout! I started in my art journal yesterday…nothing fancy just something small to get started.
I love your layout! I started in my art journal yesterday…nothing fancy just something small to get started.
I love your layout! I started in my art journal yesterday…nothing fancy just something small to get started.
Thank you for sharing this little journey. It happens to me sometimes, too. And then I´m not sure if I should take it apart and restart. I´ll give it a try next time 😉
Thank you for sharing this little journey. It happens to me sometimes, too. And then I´m not sure if I should take it apart and restart. I´ll give it a try next time 😉
Thank you for sharing this little journey. It happens to me sometimes, too. And then I´m not sure if I should take it apart and restart. I´ll give it a try next time 😉
Thank you for sharing this little journey. It happens to me sometimes, too. And then I´m not sure if I should take it apart and restart. I´ll give it a try next time 😉
Thank you for sharing these step by step pics. I love happy accidents, and most of my best ideas come from failed experimenting LOL. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who sometimes just takes things apart and starts over again. But most of all it’s just nice to see how your pages come together.
xxx Peggy
Thank you for sharing these step by step pics. I love happy accidents, and most of my best ideas come from failed experimenting LOL. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who sometimes just takes things apart and starts over again. But most of all it’s just nice to see how your pages come together.
xxx Peggy
Thank you for sharing these step by step pics. I love happy accidents, and most of my best ideas come from failed experimenting LOL. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who sometimes just takes things apart and starts over again. But most of all it’s just nice to see how your pages come together.
xxx Peggy
Thank you for sharing these step by step pics. I love happy accidents, and most of my best ideas come from failed experimenting LOL. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who sometimes just takes things apart and starts over again. But most of all it’s just nice to see how your pages come together.
xxx Peggy
I am glad it is not just me that has projects that are miles away from where I started. I love the final page.
I am glad it is not just me that has projects that are miles away from where I started. I love the final page.
I am glad it is not just me that has projects that are miles away from where I started. I love the final page.
I am glad it is not just me that has projects that are miles away from where I started. I love the final page.
I am stunned! Absolutely fascinating to see a LO grow like this!
Thank you! – Irma
I am stunned! Absolutely fascinating to see a LO grow like this!
Thank you! – Irma
I am stunned! Absolutely fascinating to see a LO grow like this!
Thank you! – Irma
I am stunned! Absolutely fascinating to see a LO grow like this!
Thank you! – Irma
Gorgeous LO and it was SOOO helpful to see your process! Thank you, Julie!
Gorgeous LO and it was SOOO helpful to see your process! Thank you, Julie!
Gorgeous LO and it was SOOO helpful to see your process! Thank you, Julie!
Gorgeous LO and it was SOOO helpful to see your process! Thank you, Julie!
I sometimes go through the same painful process …. we are just perfectionist …… which causes stress …… !!!!!!! The journey is just a little longer — and we arrive a little later than others ……
I sometimes go through the same painful process …. we are just perfectionist …… which causes stress …… !!!!!!! The journey is just a little longer — and we arrive a little later than others ……
I sometimes go through the same painful process …. we are just perfectionist …… which causes stress …… !!!!!!! The journey is just a little longer — and we arrive a little later than others ……
I sometimes go through the same painful process …. we are just perfectionist …… which causes stress …… !!!!!!! The journey is just a little longer — and we arrive a little later than others ……
WOW! You are a braver woman than I!!!! I love seeing you work through the problem and the solutions! I also love the finished layout!!
WOW! You are a braver woman than I!!!! I love seeing you work through the problem and the solutions! I also love the finished layout!!
WOW! You are a braver woman than I!!!! I love seeing you work through the problem and the solutions! I also love the finished layout!!
WOW! You are a braver woman than I!!!! I love seeing you work through the problem and the solutions! I also love the finished layout!!
you are amazing and oh so inspiring. LOVE seeing your creative process.
you are amazing and oh so inspiring. LOVE seeing your creative process.
you are amazing and oh so inspiring. LOVE seeing your creative process.
you are amazing and oh so inspiring. LOVE seeing your creative process.
It’s so interesting to see your process! I love how when it was not working, you just cut things apart, and tried something different. Awesome!
It’s so interesting to see your process! I love how when it was not working, you just cut things apart, and tried something different. Awesome!
It’s so interesting to see your process! I love how when it was not working, you just cut things apart, and tried something different. Awesome!
It’s so interesting to see your process! I love how when it was not working, you just cut things apart, and tried something different. Awesome!
Again, I appreciate the time you take to show us the process that you went through to create the final LO. I especially like how the vine-thing became leaves.
Again, I appreciate the time you take to show us the process that you went through to create the final LO. I especially like how the vine-thing became leaves.
Again, I appreciate the time you take to show us the process that you went through to create the final LO. I especially like how the vine-thing became leaves.
Again, I appreciate the time you take to show us the process that you went through to create the final LO. I especially like how the vine-thing became leaves.
love that template, and i’m so glad i’m not the only one who rips and rearranges. 😉
love that template, and i’m so glad i’m not the only one who rips and rearranges. 😉
love that template, and i’m so glad i’m not the only one who rips and rearranges. 😉
love that template, and i’m so glad i’m not the only one who rips and rearranges. 😉
Super cool! That stencil makes me want to get messy! Awesome layout.
Super cool! That stencil makes me want to get messy! Awesome layout.
Super cool! That stencil makes me want to get messy! Awesome layout.
Super cool! That stencil makes me want to get messy! Awesome layout.
Very nice!
Very nice!
Very nice!
Very nice!
You have the most awesome brain! I love how it works. Thanks for giving us some insight. Also thank you, thank you, thank you, for the flicker group. I really wanted to follow everyones blog, but I was following a few hundred already. Still plan to check them out!
You have the most awesome brain! I love how it works. Thanks for giving us some insight. Also thank you, thank you, thank you, for the flicker group. I really wanted to follow everyones blog, but I was following a few hundred already. Still plan to check them out!
You have the most awesome brain! I love how it works. Thanks for giving us some insight. Also thank you, thank you, thank you, for the flicker group. I really wanted to follow everyones blog, but I was following a few hundred already. Still plan to check them out!
You have the most awesome brain! I love how it works. Thanks for giving us some insight. Also thank you, thank you, thank you, for the flicker group. I really wanted to follow everyones blog, but I was following a few hundred already. Still plan to check them out!
LOVE! So awesome!
LOVE! So awesome!
LOVE! So awesome!
LOVE! So awesome!
You know I love all the things you make, but this… WOW! Love those stencils!
You know I love all the things you make, but this… WOW! Love those stencils!
You know I love all the things you make, but this… WOW! Love those stencils!
You know I love all the things you make, but this… WOW! Love those stencils!
LOVE LOVE LOVE ..
LOVE LOVE LOVE ..
LOVE LOVE LOVE ..
LOVE LOVE LOVE ..
Love how this layout turned out and that you show us the failures as well as the ones that work out! I love seeing the process of other artists.
Susan
Love how this layout turned out and that you show us the failures as well as the ones that work out! I love seeing the process of other artists.
Susan
Love how this layout turned out and that you show us the failures as well as the ones that work out! I love seeing the process of other artists.
Susan
Love how this layout turned out and that you show us the failures as well as the ones that work out! I love seeing the process of other artists.
Susan
This is really neat to see how a piece is created from beginning to end.
This is really neat to see how a piece is created from beginning to end.
This is really neat to see how a piece is created from beginning to end.
This is really neat to see how a piece is created from beginning to end.
Always love seeing your creative process Julie! I have a small confession… I haven’t been doing my art journaling. I better get on that ; )
Always love seeing your creative process Julie! I have a small confession… I haven’t been doing my art journaling. I better get on that ; )
Always love seeing your creative process Julie! I have a small confession… I haven’t been doing my art journaling. I better get on that ; )
Always love seeing your creative process Julie! I have a small confession… I haven’t been doing my art journaling. I better get on that ; )
Love the Crafter’s Workshop/hate the adhesive on the Thickers. Great to see your process Julie!
Love the Crafter’s Workshop/hate the adhesive on the Thickers. Great to see your process Julie!
Love the Crafter’s Workshop/hate the adhesive on the Thickers. Great to see your process Julie!
Love the Crafter’s Workshop/hate the adhesive on the Thickers. Great to see your process Julie!
Wow, your step-by-step is so cool. I would never think of redoing my LO if I didn’t like it. I usually just keep as is and later it serves as an example for what NOT to do. But starting over really seems to stretch you more creatively. Love the leaves, BTW.
Wow, your step-by-step is so cool. I would never think of redoing my LO if I didn’t like it. I usually just keep as is and later it serves as an example for what NOT to do. But starting over really seems to stretch you more creatively. Love the leaves, BTW.
Wow, your step-by-step is so cool. I would never think of redoing my LO if I didn’t like it. I usually just keep as is and later it serves as an example for what NOT to do. But starting over really seems to stretch you more creatively. Love the leaves, BTW.
Wow, your step-by-step is so cool. I would never think of redoing my LO if I didn’t like it. I usually just keep as is and later it serves as an example for what NOT to do. But starting over really seems to stretch you more creatively. Love the leaves, BTW.
what an amazing technique with the stencil! loving those fading circles!
what an amazing technique with the stencil! loving those fading circles!
what an amazing technique with the stencil! loving those fading circles!
what an amazing technique with the stencil! loving those fading circles!
Julie
we love seeing your work, especially with all your photos along the way that make it inspiring and remind us that it is OK sometimes to deviate from our initial thought or idea. Your creativity is inspiring!! One of our new years resolutions is to leave comments on blogs we love and yours is one of our favourites!!
We guess this means you’ll be hearing (or reading rather) comments from us in the future. Yours in art
Elaine & Lisa @ Destination Art
Western Australia
http://destinationart.net/blog
Julie
we love seeing your work, especially with all your photos along the way that make it inspiring and remind us that it is OK sometimes to deviate from our initial thought or idea. Your creativity is inspiring!! One of our new years resolutions is to leave comments on blogs we love and yours is one of our favourites!!
We guess this means you’ll be hearing (or reading rather) comments from us in the future. Yours in art
Elaine & Lisa @ Destination Art
Western Australia
http://destinationart.net/blog
Julie
we love seeing your work, especially with all your photos along the way that make it inspiring and remind us that it is OK sometimes to deviate from our initial thought or idea. Your creativity is inspiring!! One of our new years resolutions is to leave comments on blogs we love and yours is one of our favourites!!
We guess this means you’ll be hearing (or reading rather) comments from us in the future. Yours in art
Elaine & Lisa @ Destination Art
Western Australia
http://destinationart.net/blog
Julie
we love seeing your work, especially with all your photos along the way that make it inspiring and remind us that it is OK sometimes to deviate from our initial thought or idea. Your creativity is inspiring!! One of our new years resolutions is to leave comments on blogs we love and yours is one of our favourites!!
We guess this means you’ll be hearing (or reading rather) comments from us in the future. Yours in art
Elaine & Lisa @ Destination Art
Western Australia
http://destinationart.net/blog
Oh my gosh, it’s so refreshing to hear you talk about artistic mess ups. I was right there with you reading about adding just a little something, and then yuck I hate it. And I LOVE your end result–how perfect to cut up the vine mistake into leaves–so perfect!
Oh my gosh, it’s so refreshing to hear you talk about artistic mess ups. I was right there with you reading about adding just a little something, and then yuck I hate it. And I LOVE your end result–how perfect to cut up the vine mistake into leaves–so perfect!
Oh my gosh, it’s so refreshing to hear you talk about artistic mess ups. I was right there with you reading about adding just a little something, and then yuck I hate it. And I LOVE your end result–how perfect to cut up the vine mistake into leaves–so perfect!
Oh my gosh, it’s so refreshing to hear you talk about artistic mess ups. I was right there with you reading about adding just a little something, and then yuck I hate it. And I LOVE your end result–how perfect to cut up the vine mistake into leaves–so perfect!
I love when you share the evolution of your art, be it a scrapbook page or an apron! So cool!!
I love when you share the evolution of your art, be it a scrapbook page or an apron! So cool!!
I love when you share the evolution of your art, be it a scrapbook page or an apron! So cool!!
I love when you share the evolution of your art, be it a scrapbook page or an apron! So cool!!
LOL Julie…I had to show this to hubby and he just went “pft…she scraps just like you, no wonder you like her so much.” rotfl…I lurve that viney thing muchly. THanks for sharing xoxo
LOL Julie…I had to show this to hubby and he just went “pft…she scraps just like you, no wonder you like her so much.” rotfl…I lurve that viney thing muchly. THanks for sharing xoxo
LOL Julie…I had to show this to hubby and he just went “pft…she scraps just like you, no wonder you like her so much.” rotfl…I lurve that viney thing muchly. THanks for sharing xoxo
LOL Julie…I had to show this to hubby and he just went “pft…she scraps just like you, no wonder you like her so much.” rotfl…I lurve that viney thing muchly. THanks for sharing xoxo