Route 66 Cards and Envelopes

 I made envelopes for the cards tonight. Lots of Gelli Arts printing. Followed by stamping.

 I decided to use my smaller Route 66 stamp to label the backs of the cards, and to stamp the flap of the envelope.

I've got a nice bundle of these all ready to go...packaged individually in clear cellophane bags to keep them clean.

Gelli Printed Route 66 Cards

 I printed up a bunch of cards on the Gelli Arts Plate. Then I used the new stamp I carved last night to put the Route 66 sign on them.

 Next a little bit of doodling and lettering....loose and fun.

Get your kicks on Route 66!

Route 66 Stamp

 Tonight I've been carving a stamp. I've only carved one once before, and it was a smaller version of the Route 66 highway sign. I probably should watch a few youtube videos on stamp carving, because this is pretty rough.

But I tried it out, and even with the rough edges, it might serve for some of the ideas I have for it. I may be using this on journal pages, canvases, and even on furniture or fabric. Once I watch those videos I'll probably try to make a cleaned up version. I left the top part blank so I could write in a state name or "ROUTE."

Create!

 I decided to do some pages with Bible verses that I like. I like verses that speak of the strength and joy that comes from God. This will also use repeating shapes in response to the Documented Life prompt.  I also haven't done the 5 layers prompt and this could be for that too. This first layer is blue and yellow paint applied with a credit card.

 The second layer is some ledger paper and some gelli printed paper I made a while back.

 Now we are getting into some repeating elements (circles) finger painted on. Also some yellow repeated in stripes also finger painted.

 Here I've added some highlights and shadows on some of the circles

Next are some doodling and lettering and sketching.  Lots more circles.The photo is one I purchased years ago at an auction when I bought a bunch of glass negatives. Someone had made a print of this one...two little girls painting at easels in what looks like a parlor.

Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above. ~James 1:7

This could refer to gifts of many kinds, but in this case I was thinking of artistic gifts or talents. I used to wish I had more practical gifts like people who are doctors or nurses or carpenters. Over the years I've learned to appreciate that we are all given such different gifts!

Cover up the good stuff.

 This is a page in answer to the Documented Life Project prompt to "cover up the good stuff." I started with a layer of neon colors applied with a credit card.

 Next I added "the good stuff" which was a layer of journaling all over the page, in black pen. I've had a lot of grief and sadness and angst in the last few years, and today I had lots of good things to journal about how so much healing has happened over that time. It's a lot of good stuff that I wondered if I'd ever be able to write. After I journaled sloppily all over, I spread some gesso over it with a credit card to knock it back a bit and "cover up the good stuff."

 Next I covered it up some more with some music paper, underpaper, and a scrap of dictionary page. Then I added in some acrylic paints.

 More acrylics,  including a lot of happy yellow.

 Here's my messy work table.

 Then I doodled with black, white, green, and red paint pens. I like it right here, but I've also toyed with painting over the whole thing with black gesso except for a few large flower shapes masked off. I'll have to think about that.