Collage Play with Crowabout Week #139

Today I happened to peek at the collage sheet for Collage Play with Crowabout and realized it had been FAR too long since I'd enjoyed taking part in this fun challenge. So I grabbed my journal, scissors, glue stick and markers and simply had fun. It felt good to play in my journal with the wonderful collage elements provided.


The wonderful collage elements for this week's challenge were provided by:

Background Paper-littlebrownwren
Ruby Blossom-dodo bird
msbailey-Girl in Checkered Dress
Moon Fairy- Pringle Hill (Personal Use Only)
Flying Bird-Digital Collage Images
The Two Sisters-Autumnsensation (Personal Use Only)
Solar Tip Shoes Ad-gr8plunder
Labels-iHanna
Old Bottle-takeabreak
Wings-frannie60
Checkered Strips-gr8plunder
"good" "see"-katinthecupboard
#3-plaisanter
Red/white Circle-lolaleel002
"Life"-clotho98


If you haven't yet visited the Collage Play with Crowabout Flickr group, you really must do so. There is an abundance of inspiration and fun waiting for you there.

© Nancy Lefko

Still Journaling...and Happy

When I find my head swirling with many thoughts, I reach for my art journal. I don't always find the answers to my questions, but I am definitely relaxed.



© Nancy Lefko

Football & Journaling

Saturday night, the football playoffs, a crackling fire in the fireplace, my boys all gathered around and the wonderful relaxation of playing in my art journal. Yep, I'm happy.

© Nancy Lefko

Journal In the New Year

Around our house the new year is welcomed in quietly, with all of us at home, watching movies by the fire. Before and in between features, I cuddled up with my art journal and played around on pages that had previously been collaged.


Using a technique learned from my friend Pam Carriker, I printed out pages from previous journals to use as collage elements. The twist, however, is the journal pages are printed in black & white only, not even any grays. Then I cut up the pages, reassemble into completely new page arrangements and add watercolors, markers and more. Pam's method for recycling journal pages is great fun.


Tomorrow the boys head back to school and the Christmas vacation is officially over. My lazy days of journaling by the fire will be fewer and farther between now, but I hope in the new year I can make a concerted effort to give myself the gift of time to journal.

© Nancy Lefko

Sketchbook Challenge ~ Get Your Doodle On

What a nice way to start the new year...relaxing with my art journal.

This is my first entry for the Sketchbook Challenge and the theme for January, "Get Your Doodle On," was a perfect way to begin. I find doodling so relaxing, and adding color to the doodles even more so.

Perhaps you need a little push to get yourself creating...then the Sketchbook Challenge is just for you!

Date with My Journals

This holiday week has really given me the excuse to slow down and spend some time with my art journals. I've been feeling the bliss of having all three sons under the same roof, and hubby home from work for this vacation week, and that feeling of contentment comes through onto my journal pages.


I'm also looking ahead to all that 2012 will hold and I see wonderful artful experiences on the horizon. I'm feeling very blessed...I hope you are as well.



© Nancy Lefko

New for 2012

With a multitude of art journals/sketchbooks going at once, I've decided that joining in on the Sketchbook Challenge for 2012 would be a great idea. I have so enjoyed taking some time during this holiday week to work in my art journals and to play with the variety of media at my fingertips. The only ingredient I'd been missing was TIME, and I've discovered that sometimes I just need to grab it....because I deserve it.

If you feel the same way, then maybe joining in the Sketchbook Challenge would be the motivation you need to grab that time with both hands.

Here's to a new year with new possibilities, new challenges and lots of artful fun!

Sketch & Watercolor

Taking a bit of a departure from my usual art journaling "method of operation," I've been sketching and playing around with my new watercolor set. One of my Christmas gifts from hubby is the Sakura Koi Watercolor Sketch Box; a great little travel set, and makes for good fireside fun also.


Along with markers, watercolor pencils, Peerless watercolors, charcoal pencil and blending stump, I've been a happy camper these past few days. It really is nice to relax with a sketchbook or art journal, whatever you may call yours, and give yourself the time to peacefully create.

© Nancy Lefko

Christmas Journaling

Christmas vacation has official begun. I've been inspired by fellow artists to take a few moments out of a very hectic time of year, to sit for awhile with my journal and sketch. Add in some Peerless watercolors and I'm indeed content by the fire.


Thanks to Jodi Ohl and Alisa Burke for their sketchbook inspiration and also to the incomparable Joanne Sharpe for introducing me to the magic of Peerless watercolors and for the inspiration her beautiful work always provides.


These are the first two pages completed in my new Mixed Media Art Journal by Strathmore. I love the smooth, albeit sturdy pages. Great for sketching, without the texture of watercolor paper, and yet strong enough to hold up to wet media. Yes, I'm a happy journaler.

And did I mention...it's VACATION!

© Nancy Lefko

Sweet Inspiration

What's your inspiration? Mine, very often, is my three wonderful sons.

© Nancy Lefko

...And More Samples...

Grabbing a few moments between gift wrapping to finish up two samples that I'd started a while ago. Always a good feeling to finish a project...or two.



© Nancy Lefko

Workshop Sample

Although it will be months before the workshop, it never hurts to get those samples created when the mood strikes!

© Nancy Lefko

Major Etsy Shop Update!

A big update in my Etsy shop today...this new canvas created on 8" x 8" deep profile gallery wrapped canvas and many, many art prints.

More originals to come later this weekend. (For now I need to give my "mousing arm" a rest :)

© Nancy Lefko

Christmas Comes Early!

Yes indeed, Santa arrived today in the form of a UPS driver with a big box from Faber-Castell. HUGE thanks to Christa for supplying Mixed Media Samplers for my art journaling students.


I tried the products recently and was really excited about the combination of media in a single color family. They're a great art journaling supply, especially when you're traveling. Toss them into a tote bag with your journal and you're all set.

If you haven't sent your list to Santa yet, you may want to add this product. You'll be so happy that you did!

A Gift to Me!

This arrived in the mail today....this sweet little bag hinted of something glorious inside. And glorious she is!


I know that this is the time of year to be shopping for others, but really, I just could not resist. I saw this amazing assemblage necklace in Kecia Deveney's Etsy shop and I was smitten...big time. I visited her every day and tried to think logically...."It's Christmas...the season of giving...you can't be shopping for yourself!"


And as I stopped by the shop every day to see if she was still there, a payment to my Paypal account for the exact amount (more or less) arrived and I knew it was a sign. I didn't let too much time pass before I scurried over to Kecia's shop and clicked on my mouse. Funny though, I still felt just a smidgen of guilt. Kecia's words took those feelings and set them aside.

"Do not feel guilty. We as mothers, wives and instructors are in a constant "give" mode. Sometimes we have to give to ourselves to make the circle complete. You've been good to yourself today and that's just fine!"

Thanks Kecia, I needed to hear that.


Run, do not walk, to Kecia's shop. She is an amazing talent and a wonderful soul. The card attached to the necklace says, "MADE WITH LOVE." I know that is true!