Hi everyone! Today I’m super excited to share with you the results of a truly amazing art journal collaboration in which I’ve been privileged to participate in the last 9 months!
Tina Walker, a fabulous mixed-media artist and designer at StencilGirl Products (and one of my role models!), invited me and a wonderful group of ladies to be a part of the challenge. Our assignment was to select a blank Resketch sketchbook, pick a color to work with, and create an art journal featuring our choice of stencils from the expansive Stencil Girl product line.
My journal, entitled “New Learning Curves,” is all about how I turned 40 in the last year, and the struggle to love and accept my physical self through the inevitable changes that tend to accompany a woman’s journey into middle age. For me, the transition has been a bit of a rocky one. In addition to the typical weight gain and nagging injuries that most of us deal with as we reach this age, I’ve been learning how to live with chronic illness. In 2018 I was diagnosed with a vestibular disturbance caused by damage to my inner ear, which affects my balance and causes occasional flare-ups of dizziness and vertigo. In January of this year, I also began treatment for IBS, a condition impacting the digestive tract. Sometimes it’s a challenge for me to love my body in what has become my “new normal,” and this journal documents my transition in a way that is affirming and inspiring.
Cover, featuring Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash stencil
As you can see, the color I selected for my journal was orange, and it was a lot of fun working with it along with all of the awesome StencilGirl stencils in my stash! I also used vintage and patterned papers, Washi tape, stamps, ink, stickers, rub-ons, paper flowers, Dresden, a Dymo label maker, altered magazine images, pens, die-cut borders, and my antique typewriter.
“So Now What?” featuring Gridded, Triangles Mini Printmaking Stencil Set 1, and 1 by 4 Rails Set 1
“Embrace Aging,” featuring Assorted Circles Set 1 and Polka Party
“Tell Me No Lies,” featuring Hexagon Set 1 and Polka Party
“Size Doesn’t Matter,” featuring Assorted Circles Set 1, Journal Texture #11, and Rounded Tiles.
“The Power of Exercise,” featuring 1 by 4 Rails Set 1, Rectangle Mini Printmaking Stencil, and Gridded.
“Accept Your Flaws & Limits,” featuring Crazy Quilts Crosses & Rounds, 1 by 4 Rails Set 1, and Hexagon Set 1.
“And I Am Enough,” featuring 1 by 4 Rails Set 1 and Crazy Quilts Crosses & Rounds
Rear Cover, featuring Soulful Scribbles Dots Dash
Those of us in the Resketch Collaboration can’t let you leave without saying THANK YOU for stopping by and sharing in our color journal story. And as a special thank-you, we also have a GIVEAWAY! We are giving away a random selection of Resketch journals AND a $25 StencilGirl gift certificate to ONE LUCKY PERSON! Make sure to comment below to let us know you’ve visited and let us know what color your journal would be. Visit each artist’s blog for more chances to win (comments are due no later than midnight EST on April 28, 2019!) We will pick ONE winner on April 29, so watch this space to see if you are a winner!
Be sure to visit the StencilGirl Talk blog to learn more about our collaboration, and click on the blog links below to see each member’s completed Resketch journal in full and learn about their inspiration!
Thanks again for stopping by, and best of luck!
Starting Over Studio 
Your journal is amazing!! I rarely use orange so that’s the color I will challenge myself with if I win!
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Robin, thanks so much! Your compliment means a great deal to me!! I would love to see your orange journal when it’s complete! 🙂
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Nice to work through some of your emotions in your journal. This was a cool collaboration. I would use turquoise.
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Thanks so much, Renee! It was a lot of fun! I agree with you on turquoise–that is actually one of my most favorite colors, too! 🙂
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A very thoughtful and delightful journal! Your color choice and your empowering messages along with the stencilled and other images really gave the journal oomph.
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Thanks so much, Terry! I appreciate your kind words so very much!! 🙂
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PS, my color choice would probably be blue.
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Blue is one of my personal favorites, too! 😉
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This body of work is by far my favourite of yours. Of course, my favourite colour is orange so there you go. I love the layers and the stenciling as doodling. Onward and upward, girlfriend.
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It is so great to hear from you, Cheryl! I’m glad you loved the color! And YES–it is onward and upward for BOTH of us! We will get there! 🙂
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This is a great uplifting, positive journal. Continued luck on your journey. I would try and use turquoise.
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Thanks so much, Rita! I appreciate it! And I LOVE turquoise–it is one of my most favorite colors! 🙂
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This is fabulous! I love the journaling on magazine images, quotes and notes to self…..the orange and stencils showcase it all. Thank you for sharing and hope you are restored to better health.
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Julie! I appreciate them a great deal! 🙂 And yes, I am glad to report that as time passes, I am feeling better all the time!!
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Your journal is so so beautiful! ♥♥♥
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Thanks, Tina!!! I have learned–and enjoyed myself–so much through this experience! Thanks for putting it together and inviting me to participate! 🙂
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Love your use of collage with the stencils!!!
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Thanks so much, Michele! It’s been so much fun working on this collaboration with you! I’m glad to have gotten to know you–and your art–better! 🙂
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Thank you!!! Thank you for being so open with your struggles… as much as I hate how people suffer with different issues… love how you have faced them head on… and done such an amazing job on this challenge…. wouldn’t be my color choice but you have done great with it!
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Thanks so much, Angela! I appreciate your kind words a great deal! I wasn’t sure I’d like orange, either, since it isn’t my favorite color, but I’m glad I gave something new a try! 🙂
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Oh you chose some great colors same as I would have oranges and reds and I love the figures and body parts incorporated into your pages
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Thanks very much! 🙂
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Simply gorgeous! Love the color and all the fun wonderful details!
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Thanks so much! I appreciate it! 🙂
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Beautiful journal. I can so relate to the sense of our bodies not being the same as our spirits feel we are. Im still 30… even if my body isnt.😉
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Thanks so much, Lisa! Yes, I know that feeling 100%! 🙂
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Oh wow! It looks wonderful!!! I love how you used the challenge to help you on your journey. I think most (if not all) of us need to read these words!
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Thanks Marsha! I appreciate it! And thanks also for following my blog! I think I definitely need to do a better job of keeping it updated! 😉
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Orange is probably one of my least favorite colors, but I may need to reevaluate after seeing your journal. My color of choice would be aqua.
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Thanks for commenting, JB! I loved working with orange, which is something I’ve never done before–but aqua is one of my real favorites! 🙂
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Oh my goodness, girl! What a fabulous tribute to your aging journey. Much love to you. LOVE LOVE your documentation in such a funky and artful way! AHHHHHH!!! I wanna be like you! May I? ♥♥
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Thanks so much, Anna! I appreciate your kind words a great deal! 🙂
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What a wonderful tribute for yourself! Loving all the different elements and text you have used. On your pages called “Embrace Aging”, “Tell Me No Lies” and “Accept Your Flaws & Limits”, did you use black felt pieces in different shapes? Brings back memories of my scrapbooking days when I collected every imaginable felt product out there. LOL
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Thanks so much, Anna! On those pages I actually used some manufactured cardstock die-cuts with glitter on them–holdouts from MY scrapbooking days! 😉 I stumbled upon them in the closet in my studio and thought they were good accents for some areas that were in need of embellishment.
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Jenny your journal is wonderful! I love your use of color, your textures and words. What an amazing work you made. It was fun participating with you!
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Thanks so much, Cynthia!! I’ve enjoyed meeting and getting to know you so much! 🙂
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