Where Will These Doorways Lead Me?

Art journaling inspired by leftover scraps by Carolyn Dube

The idea of doorways was stuck in my head the moment I saw these scraps. I became fixated on them the same way a song gets stuck in my head. Little did I know what these treasured leftovers would get me thinking about.

Once the bits, gel printed using my Arched Aqueducts stencil, were glued down on the page, all that open area became just the space needed for some journaling. Lots of journaling it turned out.

My latest, and so far greatest it feels, O.O.P.S. is a broken ankle. Every mistake is an opportunity, after all O.O.P.S. stands for Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly. I must confess, I needed the muse to remind me of the opportunities in it today.

As I scribble journaled, I realized how much this whole event has changed me. I am getting a new perspective on patience. I am seeing the world from a very different view. I am learning to be more mindful and being grateful for the little things that mean so much.

My life is a compilation of all the doorways I have walked through quote by Carolyn Dube

The stenciled word Life, using my Dance of This Life stencil, is there to remind me that my life is a compilation of all the doorways I have walked through…or fallen through.

With a shifting mood, it seemed only fitting to use a paint called Color Shift by Plaid to add some much needed color the page.

Now that I have gotten the ideas of doorways out of my head, it’s time to look at the pile of scraps again to see where the muse is taking me next.

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I Need to Be Careful What I Wish For…

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I need to be careful what I wish for…I kept meaning to make more time to draw but always grabbed the paints instead. But thanks to this pesky broken ankle, I have more time for drawing as I am far less mobile than I want to be.

The art journal page started with what I had available, a black pen, Gelatos, and watercolor pens. After all, the best art supplies are the ones within arms reach!

Sitting around thinking has led to lots of scribble journaling, as there are ample emotions to process right now.

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Since pens are always within reach, a pen easily stenciled the title of this page using Mary C. Nasser’s Let’s Go 2 stencil.

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The background colors have a wonderful shimmer and shine to them, but of course, the camera didn’t do the Colorshift paints by Plaid justice.

All the white space that remained surprised me. The thought to add color there crossed my mind but clearly, I didn’t do it. Hmm…wonder what other surprises the muse has in store for me on this journey!

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Finding Stress Relief in my Art Journal

I have a therapist on call 24 hours a day and the sudden change in my world due to broken ankle, has me needing that therapist more than usual. Who is this amazing helper? My art journal. She’s always available and always accepting of whatever mood I am in. Here’s a look at a recent session which began with the therapeutic scribbling splotches of color with Gelatos.

Finding stress relief in my art journal with Gelatosby Carolyn Dube

Mary Beth Shaw’s Barbed Wire stencil (both the small and large size) perfectly perfectly summed up how I was feeling- a bit prickly and cranky. That art journal therapist has handled every emotion that has been thrown at her.

A little scribble journaling vented out some feelings using the new PN pen by Sakura. When I scribble journal it is like talking to a dear friend who knows everything I know so nothing has to be explained.

Thanks to the back and forth of color and play, those stressful feelings were returned to where they came from, refused reentry back into my heart, and the door was closed on them so that I could have a better day.

To stencil the words, I used my Mixed Media Mail stencil and black paint. The word closed isn’t technically on the stencil, but since enclosed is, I simply stenciled the closed. There are all sorts of words inside other words.

That art journal therapist lets me honor any feeling, any emotion, no matter how intense or silly or irrational without any judgement. My art journal accepts me for who I am.

Here are the supplies I used. Some of these links are affiliate links which means I get a small percentage. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and it helps keep the free tutorials coming!