The Cotilion

I decided to try something a little different for the second piece of my art journal.  This was my inspiration piece:

A birthday card created by My Creative Place.

Adrianne's Trees

Do you remember the art journal that I started last week? I shared the cover with you here.  Well it has been the perfect answer to my fear of ruining things and my chronic frugality, ha ha.

I have finished 3 pieces already.  This is the first one.  It is modelled after Karrie on Canvas' trees tutorial.  She is amazing, so loose and free.  Her mantra is Brave and Bold.  Love her and her tutorials are really fun and helpful.

Learning How To Let Go

I am way too tense.  I worry about everything.  I am anxious about everything.  If there is a possible worst-case scenario, I will have thought of it already and started to plan my actions in case it happens.  No matter how ridiculous it could be (tsunami in Ontario for example).

So,...I'm working really hard at relaxing.  :)

I'm learning to let a little messy exist around me (a little) and working to focus on something other than perfectionism.  The best way, so far, that I've found to do this is to get loose with art.

I picked up a children's book at the thrift shop; a whopping quarter investment. (It was about giants.)  I gessoed the cover and a few of the inside pages and am going to use it as an art journal where I just get a little crazy and let go.

Here is the cover I created this week:

I used a couple of book pages, paint, stencils and stamps, ribbon and lace, beads, and a whole lot of glitter glue that plopped out when I gave it a good squeeze.

My goal is to complete one page each week, just playing and trying out new techniques and tools.  How important do you feel your craft/creative time is to your relaxation?