By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SEVEN"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

image from mypoppet.com.au

"SEVEN" - our seventh By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The seventh challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to hand-carve a stamp and use it on your pages.  This can be as simple or complex as you like.  It doesn't take special items to make a basic stamp but there are stamp-carving tools and materials you may find useful - especially for more complex designs. There are several helpful links on my Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/artbeckons/art-journaling/

Don't forget to do some journaling on your page by writing down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "seven". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/seven
Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it. I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages. You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "SEVEN" to get you going...

• at sixes and sevens
• a seven-day wonder
• in seventh heaven
• Keep a thing seven years and you'll (always) find a use for it.
• seven-year itch

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SIX"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "SIX"

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The sixth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use a resist technique on your pages.  There are LOTS of different and amazing ways to use resist elements - You can find instructions for several different techniques on my Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/artbeckons/art-journaling/

Don't forget to do some journaling on your page by writing down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "six". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/six
Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it. I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages. You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "SIX" to get you going...

• at sixes and sevens
• six feet under
• six of one and half a dozen of the other
• check your six
• deep six
• double six
• eighty-six and 86
• Joe Six-pack
• on your six
• six-bits
• six-pack
• six of the best
• knock for six

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "FIVE"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

"FIVE" - our fifth By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

The fifth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use multiple techniques for creating texture with watercolors.

You can find instructions for several different technique on my Pinterest board here:
https://www.pinterest.com/artbeckons/art-journaling/

Don't forget to do some journaling on your page by writing down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "five". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/five
Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it. I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages. You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge.

Here are some idioms for "FIVE" to get you going...

• a good five-cent cigar
• bunch of fives
• five-finger discount
• Give me five! 
• hang five and hang ten
• He wears a ten-dollar hat on a five-cent head.
• nine-to-five job
• slip someone five
• take five
• five-oh and 5-O
• high five
• low five
• nine-to-five
• five it 
• a five-alarm fire
• take the Fifth

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "FOUR"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

“By the Numbers” Art Journaling Challenge

Hostess: Beckie Holso

Skill Level: 2 - Budding

"FOUR" - our fourth By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

The fourth challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to create hot glue stamps & or stencils to use for your fourth page/spread. You can find instructions for this technique on our blog here and here. I've also pinned some links related to this technique on Pinterest here.

Don't forget to do some journaling on your page by writing down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "four". You can find a list of idioms here. Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it. I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages.

You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "FOUR" to get you going...
scatter to the four winds
four corners of the earth
four sheets to the wind
four wheels
four-bagger
four-bits
four-eyes
four-letter word
411
four-topper
on all fours

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5

4-6 entries = prize value of $10

7-9 entries = prize value of $15

10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "THREE"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

art by Betsy B.

"THREE" - our third By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

The third challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use Paivi Eerola's "Masking Tape Magic" technique for your third page/spread. You can find instructions for this technique on her blog here: http://www.peonyandparakeet.com/masking-tape-magic/. She used a random placement for her pieces of tape but you can place yours any way you like - get creative!

After you've created your masked areas, you will use them as journaling space to write down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "three". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/three. Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it.

I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages.

You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "THREE" to get you going...

• a three-alarm fire
• didn't exchange more than three words with
• phony as a three-dollar bill
• the three R's
• three bricks shy of a load
• three cheers for
• three dog night
• three sheets to the wind
• Three strikes and you are out
• three's a crowd
• three-ring circus

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "TWO"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

The second challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to practice your hand-lettering in several fun and interesting ways.

Use hand-lettering methods to write down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "two" as inspiration for your page. You can find a list of idioms here: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/two. Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it.

Here are 7 Tips for Art Journaling Handwriting by Joanne Sharpe (courtesy of Cloth-Paper-Scissors):

1. Play around with your own handwriting, creating words and entire alphabets with all the pens or markers on your desk. 
2. Write several pages of words and alphabets in many styles of letters; all capital, upper- and lowercase, large, small, tall, wide, skinny, and fat. Don't judge, just write pages and pages, sampling your letter flow and creativity. 
3. Doodle letters with colored markers. Add colorful patterns, swirls, stripes, lines, and dots to embellish the letters.
4. Look through old magazines and other printed materials to find words and phrases in assorted typefaces and sizes that you find interesting. 
5. Using assorted markers, color in layers and add words on top of each layer.
6. Collect brochures or magazine clippings with interesting letter placement and unusual compositions and layouts of text to inspire new ideas and direction for your lettering projects.
7. Do an Internet search for topics relative to lettering, such as lettering, fonts, typeface, handwriting, letters, alphabets, calligraphy, etc. Use your colorful pens and markers to jot down notes and inspirations in your journal as you come across ideas that "speak" to you.

Here are some places for inspiration and instruction on hand-lettering methods...
https://www.pinterest.com/artbeckons/art-journaling/
http://tmatthewsfineart.blogspot.com/2015/02/first-friday-art-class-for-february.html
http://tmatthewsfineart.blogspot.com/2012/02/first-friday-art-class-february.html

I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages.

You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Skill Level 2 - BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

Here are some idioms for "TWO" to get you going...
a two-way street
be in two minds
be like a dog with two tails
be like two peas in a pod
be two of a kind
be two sides of the same coin
cut both ways
for two cents
game that two can play
goody two-shoes
have two left feet
have two pennies to rub together
in two shakes of a lamb's tail
It cuts both ways
It takes two to make a bargain
It takes two to make a quarrel
it takes two to tango
know a trick or two
learn a thing or two
lesser of two evils
No man can serve two masters
no two ways about it
of two minds
rip in half
stand on own two feet
That makes two of us
There are two sides to every question
two can play at that game
Two heads are better than one
two of a kind
Two wrongs do not make a right
two-bit
two-bits
double-edged sword
two-faced
two-time loser
two-timer
two-way street

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge: "ONE"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

And we're off!  The first challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's "Two Drips Meet" technique for your first page.  You can find instructions for this technique on her blog here (scroll down to Method Two):

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2011/04/art-journal-every-day-no-more-blank-pages.html

Also, Cathy did her own trial run and shared her experience on our Paper Traders blog here:

http://papertraders-art.blogspot.com/2015/01/tutorial-two-drips-meet.html

After you've created your drip lines, you will use them as journaling space to write down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "one".  You can find a list of idioms here:

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it.  I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages.  Don't stop with the drip lines - that's just a prompt to get you started.  Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages.

You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge.  We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "ONE" to get you going...
once again
once and for all
once in a blue moon
once in a lifetime
once in a while
once more
once over lightly
once upon a time
once-in-a-lifetime chance
once-over
once-over-lightly
one after the other
one and all
one and one
one and only
one and the same
one brick shy of a load
one by one
One cannot love and be wise
one day
one eye on
one fell swoop
one final word
one foot in the grave
one for the books
one for the road
One good turn deserves another
One has to draw the line somewhere
one in a million
one in a thousand
one jump ahead

By The Numbers - 2015 Art Journaling Challenge

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

“By the Numbers” Art Journaling Challenge

Hostess: Beckie Holso

Kickoff Date: February 1^st, 2015

All skill levels: Even if you are a novice at art journaling, please consider joining this challenge and trying some new things.

Since our previous journal challenges were so popular, we decided it was time to host a new one.  This year, we will be doing a Number Prompt over a 10-month period using, the numbers 1-10 (obviously).  Each month, I will post a new art journaling technique to use on your page.  The prompt will be to use an idiom for that month’s number to inspire your journal entry.  You can find lots of ideas here: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

Swap Description:

First, before our kickoff date, each participant will need to make or obtain a journal with room to create your 10 journaling spreads.  You may decorate your covers and extra pages as desired.  Please use sturdy paper for your pages so they can support the work you will do on them.

You may make your journal however you like.  One popular version is Teesha Moore's journal that is done with one large sheet of watercolor paper.  Her easy-to-follow instructions are found on YouTube.  It is in two parts, so be sure to watch both:

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z6qmXGRrsE

                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vvSsJ39bc0&feature=related

Every month, I will post a new number prompt and an art journaling technique challenge on the Yahoo Group message board.  You will have the entire month to complete your page for that challenge.  We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own. 

Our Last Life Mantras Word Prompt

We are on to our 12th and last Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

Many thanks to those who joined us

for the whole year.

This month's prompt is "Laugh Everyday"

and the requirement is to

use an image of a child/children in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as

well as our DT contributions:

I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose

. ~Woody Allen

Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit. 

 ~Author Unknown

Mirth is God's medicine. Everybody ought to bathe in it. 

 ~Henry Ward Beecher

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

Life Mantras Word Prompt - Be A Blessing

We are on to our 11th Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

Only one more to go!!

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Be a Blessing"

and the requirement is to

use a magazine image in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as

well as our DT contributions:

Love and kindness are never wasted.

 They always make a difference.

 They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.

~Barbara De Angelis

Most of us would be upset if we were accused of being 'silly.' 

But the word 'silly' comes from the old English word 'selig,'

and its literal definition is 'to be blessed, happy,

healthy and prosperous.'

~Zig Ziglar

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

Life Mantras Word Prompt #10 - Be Kind

We are on to our 10th Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Be Kind"

and the requirement is to

use paint somewhere in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as

well as our DT contributions:

"Be kind whenever possible.

It is always possible."

~Tenzin Gyatso

How beautiful a day can be

When kindness touches it!

~George Elliston

The smallest act of kindness is worth more than 

the grandest intention.

 ~Oscar Wilde

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

If you would like to join us in this month's challenge

just link up your blog post in the linky tool below.

Life Mantras Word Prompt #9 - Forgive

We are on to our 9th Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Forgive"

and the requirement is to

include a flower(s) in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as
well as our DT contributions:

"Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”

~William Arthur Ward

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.”

~Paul Boese

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the flower leaves on the heel of the one that crushed it”

~Unknown

By Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

Life Mantra Art Journal Prompt #8

We are on to our 8th Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.
I can hardly believe we are this far along
in our journal challenge year.
We are seeing some fabulous art journaling.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Be Truthful"

and the requirement is to

include a pocket in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as
well as our DT contributions:

The highest compact we can make with our fellow is, 

-- ‘Let there be truth between us two forever more.’

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.

Henry David Thoreau

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.

Mark Twain

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

"Be Thankful" Life Mantra Art Journal Prompt

We are on to our seventh Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.
We hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.
We are seeing some fabulous art journaling.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Be Thankful"

and the requirement is to

use only 3 colors in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as

well as our DT contributions:

Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
Charles Dickens

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.
G. K. Chesterton

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
Thornton Wilder

DT Inspiration:

by Cathy C.

by Beckie H.

If you are not a Paper Traders member and would
like to join us this month in this challenge,
just link up your blog post or image below in our Linky tool.
We would love to see what you do with this theme.

Our Next Life Mantras Word Prompt

We are on to our sixth Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

I cannot believe we are half-way done.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Do the Right Thing"

and the requirement is to

use a tag or tags in your design.

Here are some inspirational quotes as

well as our DT contributions:

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can,

 in all the places you can, at all the times you can,

 to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. 

~John Wesley

You cannot make yourself feel something you do not feel, but you can make

 yourself do right in spite of your feelings. 

~Pearl S. Buck 

In this world everything changes except good deeds and bad deeds;

 these follow you as the shadow follows the body. 

~Unknown

by Cathy C

Our Next "Life Mantras" Art Journal Challenge

We are on to our fifth Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

We hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Give More"

and the requirement is to

use graphitti style lettering in your design.

Inspiration:

Pure love is a willingness to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.

~Peace Pilgrim

It is every man's obligation to put back into the world

 at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.

~Albert Einstein

by Cathy C.

by Beckie H.

If you would like to play along, come back and link your blog post,

featuring your journal page, in the linky tool below.

Please link to your specific blog post.

Life Mantra #4 Word Prompt Art Journal

We are on to our fourth Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

We hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Choose Love"
and the requirement is to
use a napkin or tissue paper in your design.

Some inspiration:

Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.

~David Augsburger

The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.

~Bell Hooks

We are People who need to love, because Love is the soul's life, Love is simply creation's greatest joy.

~Hafiz of Persia

by Beckie H.

by Cathy C.

"Live in the Moment" Word Prompt #3

We are on to our third Life Mantra

Word Prompt for our Art Journal Challenge.

We hope you are enjoying this as much as we are.

If you just stumbled upon us,

stay and play with us.

You can join at any time.

For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.

This month's prompt is "Live in the Moment"
and the requirement is to use an element of time.

Some inspiration:

If we are ever to enjoy life, now is the time, not tomorrow or next year ...

Today should always be our most wonderful day.

 ~Thomas Dreier

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not look back on happiness or dream of it in the future.

You are only sure of today; do not let yourself be cheated out of it.

 ~Henry Ward Beecher

For several more wonderful quotes, go to the Wisdom Quotes website here.

Beckie H.

Cathy C.

"Follow Your Heart" Our Next Word Prompt

If you are here to continue on with us in our first ever

art journal challenge at the Paper Traders Blog,

YAY!!

If you just stumbled upon us,

Yay, too!

We hope you stay and join us.
You can join at any time.

(For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.)

Our second  prompt is

"Follow your Heart"

and the technique required is to

include a heart in your design.

What does that mean to you?

Does it mean:

Turning your passion into a business?
Changing daydreams into life goals?
Bucking the trend and doing your own thing?

Some inspirational quotes to get you kick-started:

Many of us are afraid to follow our passions, to pursue what we want most because it means taking risks and even facing failure. But to pursue your passion with all your heart and soul is success in itself. The greatest failure is to have never really tried. ~Robyn Allen

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~ Mark Twain

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. ~Vincent van Gogh

by Cathy C

by Beckie H.

Challenge #1 for Life Mantras Word Prompt

If you are here to join us in our first ever

art journal challenge at the Paper Traders Blog,

YAY!!

If you just stumbled upon us,

Yay, too!

We hope you stay and join us.

(For info. on the complete challenge guide lines go here.)

Our first prompt is

"Live Simply"

and the technique required is 

include a stamped image(s)or sentiment.

What does that mean to you?

Does it mean:

Paring down your schedule?

Uncluttering your house and mind?

Eating organic?

Less hustle-bustle and more R and R.

Unplugging from the digital world occasionally?

Some inspirational quotes to get you kick-started.

As we live and as we are, Simplicity -- with a capital 'S' -- is difficult to comprehend nowadays. We are no longer truly simple. We no longer live in simple terms or places. Life is a complex struggle now. It is now valiant to be simple: a courageous thing to even want to be simple. It is a spiritual thing to comprehend what simplicity means.
~Frank Lloyd Wright

We can travel a long way and do many things, but our deepest happiness is not born from accumulating new experiences. it is born from letting go of what is unnecessary, and knowing ourselves to be always at home.
~Sharon Salzberg

A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
Albert Einstein

Our pages from the PT Mods

Beckie H.

Cathy C.

If you are having trouble getting started and

are freaking out looking at that blank white page,

just work on some backgrounds.

It's okay to get several backgrounds layed out in

your journal and then come back to them

to fill in with your inspiration.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Please leave your link ( to your specific blog post)

 in the linky tool below.