So, So many squirrels.....

Vintage music sheets, Tim Holtz tissue, Tombow brush pens

Black circles are painted on deli paper, collaged. Snow flakes are wrapping tissue paper

No idea what I was thinking with the eyes. I was going to fix them, but nah...

Starting some designs with stencils

Close up of creepy girl's saying

I flipping love this

Same technique, different stencil

The back row in the aerobics room at the Carlucci Center in Plainfield IN.

I was one of two instructors who chose to teach classes this past week. Subbed for another instructor yesterday, and we had only 10 show up, but that is enough for a class. A couple that I have become friends with said they would try to make it, but were missing in action all week. THIS is the type of fitness instructor I am. This couple always, always sit in the back row, trying to hide from me. It never works. I stood in the back before class, and took a pic of the empty back row, then sent it in a text message to the couple, asking "What seems to be missing here?" It is a long running standard joke in class, never tell Linda your real name, and never, ever give her your phone number. No one listens.

I saw on Instagram that Balzer Designs had a guest blog post to explain the above stenciling technique. Super easy, and you get stunning results. Paint your paper, journal page, in black matte paint. I used Apple Barrel. Let it dry completely. First layer of stenciling was in Martha Stewart's Granny Smith green. Let it dry. Second layer was Martha's Party Streamer, a pretty pink. Let it dry and note that you move the stencil around, overlapping, filling in. Third and final layer was Apple Barrel Key West blue. I absolutely love those leaves. That is a very old Donna Downey stencil no longer available, but there are tons of leaf stencils on the market. The abstract circles is also from Donna Downey. The Martha Stewart paint was more transparent on the black background than I thought it would be. Next attempt I will use all Apple Barrel paints, see how that goes.

And finally, Christy Sobolewski, Gulfsprite, is releasing all of her old classes for free. Go to gulfsprite.com, click on the black box that says "workshops available", and you will see icons for each class. As of last night, there are 5 now free. She has to re-upload them to take out the paid aspect or membership login.If you want to be kickstarted into art journaling, or drawing faces, these are the classes for you. Tons of ideas and mixed media information. Some of it is old, but really still valid. On January 1st, there will be new tiers available for membership on Patreon. The tiers range from $5 per month, to $30.

Okay, I'm done. Be safe.
Linda