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Getting Unstuck Isn’t Rocket Science

I have been stuck lately.  Stuck.  Stuck.  Stuck.  I got tired of being stuck so I just tried something.  I dug around in my junk basket – a basket full of scraps, leftovers, and abandoned project parts.  Once I started doing I felt a little less stuck. It felt like rocket science when I was in the middle of it but now it just seems so obvious.

 

A background page I made long ago with gesso and who knows what to make the yellow and blue.  I tend to make backgrounds, especially when I get new supplies that way they are ready when I start a journal page.

 

 

 

 

One of Julie Balzer’s Crafter’s Workshop new stencils added a bit text to my page with orange Glimmer Mist.

 

 

 

 

 

Added the main elements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She looked a bit strange without a head and arms.  Cut up a copy of a vintage photo.   The word, which so summed up how I got moving on this page, took the place of the arms.

 

 

 

 

 

She looked just placed on the page so I colored her hair with Peerless watercolors- so soft on the glossy photo. When I started working on the legs with the Peerless watercolors it was a different story.  The text paper was very absorbent so the color turned out so dark.  At first I didn’t like it, but I had started so I saw it through.  Turns out, I like it better darker.  Happy accident.

 

 

 

The “try” was just too plain. In came the Gelatos to the rescue!   The red swirl, a new punch I bought, needed more than just the red so I used my Inktense pencil to add a darker red to it.

 

 

 

 

 

Still felt unfinished.  A bit of fine line marker edging and scribbling to add a touch of definition.  Now I was happy.

 

 

 

 

Linking up with Just Journals and Julie Balzer’s Art Journal Everyday.

 

{ 17 comments… add one }

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  • Kristen February 16, 2012, 12:58 pm

    great journal page! most times for me just getting started is the hard part. once I start I get unstuck pretty quickly. creating journal backgrounds is a great idea. Maybe that would help me to start journaling more! The fear of the blank page would be gone.

  • Maria February 16, 2012, 5:14 pm

    You tried and you DID! WOW! I just got that stencil yesterday…now I can’t wait to use it! Peerless on photo’s….OMG! I need to run upstairs and try that NOW! I didn’t know you could do that. Did you inspire me….YES!

  • Cynthia February 16, 2012, 5:25 pm

    I really love the stencil/Glimmer Mist combo. It gives the page color and movement, but doesn’t detract from the main image. And I agree with you about the legs–the darker color looks awesome!

  • Lenna Young Andrews February 16, 2012, 9:06 pm

    awesome, Carolyn. I love how you just made yourself TRY something, anything -and before you knew it you were off and running! Perfect. That is how it often works for me. Just start. something, anything! The rest will follow. thanks for your honesty.

  • Valerie-Jael February 17, 2012, 8:54 am

    Beautiful journal page, love your angel/child, too! Hugs, Valerie

  • Susan February 17, 2012, 3:31 pm

    great page Carolyn. beautiful color combination and collage work.

  • Cuchy February 17, 2012, 4:56 pm

    Hi Carolyn, and thanks so much for your comment on my blog.
    Beautiful work. I love to see the creative process on this art journal page. Thanks for sharing.

  • Rita McGregor February 18, 2012, 12:55 am

    Love it–try–wings–and her very happy face! Also looks like she walks/stands on water, too! 🙂

  • peggy aplSEEDS February 18, 2012, 3:50 am

    i really like this! thanks for showing the progress! nice to see how it developed. thank you for sharing,
    hugs, peggy aplSEEDS

  • angenita February 18, 2012, 8:28 am

    I usually make backgrounds to get unstuck.
    Thanks for sharing your progress. I think it’s helpfull to see others fighting the same problems with other resolutions.

  • Marjie Kemper February 18, 2012, 3:10 pm

    Great page! Feels so light and bright after all that being stuck stuff. Here’s to just giving it a TRY. Thanks for sharing.

  • Strigine February 19, 2012, 6:11 am

    I love the colors in this, especially the pop of the orange against the blues!

  • molly February 19, 2012, 6:02 pm

    I love this. Isn’t it amazing how just jumping in can sometimes help to get us unstuck. The colors in this piece are so beautiful together. and I love your butterfly/angel… you picked the perfect face for it!

  • Marcia Beckett February 21, 2012, 5:43 pm

    Thanks for sharing with Just Journals! Great page!

  • cathy February 23, 2012, 4:51 pm

    Love this sweet little girl – wonderful

  • one canvas one soul February 24, 2012, 1:40 am

    You used gelatin, did I read that right? That sounds like a fun experiment. Wow, anything can be used to make art. Also this page caught my eye. You did TRY and you also succeeded. 😀

  • Tracy February 26, 2012, 5:45 am

    Hi Carolyn just popped on over from just journals and wow i love your journal age..the colours and she is gorgeous.
    I am a newbie and eally appreciate your ste by step,thank you for sharing!
    Hugs
    Tracy