Rachel Kleinman, a member of The Crafter's Workshop design team, asked me to participate in a monthly challenge blog she is also on the design team for.  The blog is called "The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge."  Each month there is a prompt — visual or thematic — and readers are challenged to create something inspired by it.

The challenge this month is to create something inspired by this photo:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal

I started by creating collaged deli paper circles on a dark green background and then it just kind of evolved into something entirely different.  Isn't that exciting?  My finished project is not what I expected, but I never would have created it if not for the inspiration photo!

Here it is:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal

I love it when projects go sideways.  For me, art making is all about embracing whatever comes rather than trying to control the outcome.

What will you create inspired by this photo?

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #artjournal

Visit the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog to see other pieces inspired by this image.  Then create your own piece and be entered to win this month's prize!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed-media artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops, her online classroom www.balzerdesigns.com, and through monthly membership at www.MyArtPractice.com.

60 thoughts on “Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • What a great interpretation of the inspiration pic…I think I am gonna make a journal page with circles or a scrapbook page with the colours…

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • Cool I just might do that. Hell if I had the tires I’d replicate the image.
    We just bought our 1st home which is a fixer upper and I’m needing some gardening/landscaping going on and I rather like this as I’m a big time recycler.
    Maybe I can make a mini one using wreathes.
    Don’t nobody take my idea now. Haha. Watch someone prob already did. Haha.
    Thanks again julie for sharing ur friends and awesome ideas

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • What a great way to reuse old tires. Love it and your idea using it for inspiration.

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • That is so cool!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • quite incredible!

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply
  • I love that her smiling face is the “O” in JOY. It looks like you had fun making this. 🙂

    Reply

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