Decorating my Datebook - Mixed Media - Flora's Art Adventures

Flora's been helping me with my 2014 Daily Planner - Mixed Media Techniques - ©CindyRippe2014

For the last few years I've been using a planner that has a full page for each day. (more room to write the lists that I love to make)  The DayMinder that I bought this year doesn't have monthly calendar pages or dividers.  I decided to get creative and make it fun. Flora inspired me to paint flowers, but then again, that's the first thing I think of when designing a new project anyway.

Before and after - Mixed Media Daily Planner for 2014 - ©CindyRippe

I cut page dividers and tip-outs (pages that fold out) from watercolor paper. If I do this project again I would use bristol board, the watercolor is a little thicker than I like but it worked.

After drawing a blank calendar template on the monthly pages I taped the edges with washi tape (butterflies by Tim Holtz) and then taped the divider directly onto the first page of each month with matte transparent tape.  While sketching a flower for each month I laid a piece of tracing paper on the top of the template.  My original intention was to only paint/sketch over the blank squares but as you can see I got carried away. I just reinforced the inked dates and lines after I finished painting.  Freehand sketching gave me the freedom to make the plant grow in any direction that I like.

Each page has a different color scheme that I carried out to the border with a wash of acrylic paint.  I painted right over the transparent and washi tapes.  I chose one butterfly on the washi tape to paint and detail (SEE ARROW above)  To add more color to overall look of the planner the tip-out pages and loose "TODAY" divider are decoupaged with scrapbook papers. (not shown here)  I used matte medium for that.

Finding Flowers - part 2 - Playing with Paint

Finding Flowers ©CindyRippe2013 - quote by  Henry David Thoreau

As I promised in yesterday's post, Life's Canvas, this is what I ended up doing on the painted background layer.  Once the paint was dry I found areas that could be flower centers.  All I did after that was to sketch a few daisies with a fine point permanent pen. I thought it might be finished but then I decided to soften the background with a layer of translucent white. (the bright colors were a bit much for me)

I added the frame and quote with PicMonkey.  Don't you think the black frame pulls everything together? Yep, I think this one is finished.

Have you ever created a project like this?  It's a challenge sometimes to let yourself make a mess and just let the paints flow.  It's really fun to discover shapes that you can turn into a completed design though.

Delight in the beauty that surrounds you.  Author unknown

Life's Canvas - Playing with Paint

LIFE'S CANVAS - ©CindyRippe2013 - quote by Danny Kaye

I'm looking forward to a fresh start as August begins. July has been an interesting month, with plenty of ups and downs, but I'm so glad I can focus on the positive moments, thoughts, support, and fun that I had.  This quote by Danny Kaye sums it up for me.  The bright colors really lift my spirit.

I used the fabric swatch on the bottom as inspiration to create the loose, playful background on the top. After wetting a sheet of watercolor paper I used a large flat brush to add layers of DecoArt Americana acrylic paints thinned to a wash consistency. There was no plan, just allowed myself to play.  I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the process and bright colors. It's all very different for me. I'm usually drawn to feminine, soft pastel colors.

The piece was painted during Mary Jo Leisure's Design Seminar this year. She had us select a piece of fabric for our design inspiration.    I was drawn to this darker, abstract looking, pattern but the bright colors in the finished design really lift my spirit!

Tomorrow I'll share what I did next with the completed background.

And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.... Ephesians 4:23