DLP: 2016 the UN-Planner: January – Week 1

Here are the photos of my interpretation of the UN-Planner.  As some of you know I didn’t purchase the kit, but instead made my own binders from vinyl place mats. This is working out pretty well for me, and I am still tweaking it to get it just right.

As for the insides, even though I downloaded the files, I don’t have the budget to print them out. So, again, I am making my own. I used embossed card stock, in black, brown, kraft, white, turquoise, and purple for my monthly dividers. Using the luscious card stock from Prima: Timeless Memories, A4 Paper Pad, I made my monthly calendar pages (which are fold-outs) and my weekly views. To save space, I put the Dare2B’s on the back of my calendar fold-outs and my List Ten’s on the back of the first week view of each month. I haven’t decided, yet, what will go on the back of the other weekly views.

I have been decorating my own hole reinforcers to blend with the papers I’m using. To do this, I am using Gelatos, blending the colors with a make-up sponge (loving my Gelatos!) and then heat setting them. I may do something a little more adventurous later on.

For the PAC’s, I am using gesso coated playing cards. I also cut up parchment paper roll boxes and aluminum foil roll boxes into 2″x2″ pieces and coated them with gesso to use as my tidbits.

The tags are a mix of store bought, die-cut and hand cut from colored card stock.

On the back of the monthly calendar pages (not the fold outs), I glued a legal sized envelope (cut in half & colored with Gelatos) on which I adhered a square of decorative paper, with my favorite tidbit for the month attached.

In between the weekly views I have one-sided decorative pages, the backs of which I have coated with, you guessed it, gesso, ready for me to do some art. The pocket page protectors, I am still using as holders for my ‘items-in-waiting’, like the tags I made, bought and die-cut, tidbits, PAC’s, etc.

So, without further ado, here are the photos for January (so far, I will add more as the month progresses).

JANUARY 2016: Going out an a limb. Try something new.

Week 1: Incorporate 16 into our art.

January: A Snail with Wings

A snail with wings? Let me explain…January is passing both fast and slow. Each day seems to pass in a lazy fashion, la-de-dah, just strolling along. Yet it seems that the month should be further along, say the the 20th or 22nd. Instead, it’s only the 17th. Then, when I’m not paying attention, time just takes wing and flies off! Example: just a few moments ago, it was 9:00am, suddenly, it’s almost 12:30pm! A snail with wings. Sneaky little thing! Hey! There’s my image for my next PAC! Cool!

Well, I just uploaded pictures of my UN-Planner, week 1. I think it’s in Projects. I have to check on that.

Update: I couldn’t find away to make my post in my ‘portfolio’ visible to visitors, so I re-posted it above.

The Day after Christmas and the Rush is On!

In a few minutes, I will be out in my studio, rushing to finish up my DLP2015 (I am woefully behind) so I can clear space to work on my 2016 projects. I have lots of plans, but lots to do before I can start. One thing I need to do tonight, is to create a page here for my DLP2015, and another for my DLP2016.

I am hoping to start, early in 2016, a challenge exchange with artist Aaron Blazevich (Imperfect Impulses on YouTube). I think this will be a fun way we can motivate and inspire each other.

Also, I hope to start putting up some videos starting in the spring of 2016. Aaron, as well as some others have been encouraging me in this direction. The most difficult part, for me, will be getting past my awful stage fright. Wish me luck.

Well, I have delayed long enough. I need to get to it, if I want to get any of this done.

I hope that everyone has had a joyous and meaning-filled holiday, and that your hearts are filled with love for the coming year!

Blogging ?

I must admit that I am not much of a blogger. I’d rather be in my studio creating stuff. However; I need to thank Sandi Keene for reminding me that this was here for my use.

So, that being said, I will probably use this place to show what I’ve been up to (in my regular art as well as my DLP art) and possibly talk a little about how and why I did what I did. I will probably also throw in some kitty updates from time to time.

Take last night, for example, Moopie decided that I wasn’t getting enough exercise and thought a good game of ’52 pick-up’ was in order.

This was the third time I had to pick up my Gelatos and parchment papers  from the floor. Such a good and caring supervisor. Notice the look of utter satisfaction on her face?

DIY Binders for DLP 2016

DIY Binders for DLP 2016

Who and What is IMPArts?

Well, IMPArts is me, Islay Mulcahy. I am a mixed media artist, a former caregiver, a former para-educator, a mother of two great adults, the wife of a wonderful man who recently built a small art studio in our yard for me! (He calls it his ‘get out of jail free card!’) I am also the minion of two cats, my immediate overseer, Moopie, a small calico, and the Lord of the Manor, Lelo, a Maine Coon.

I love having interactions with other artists and so I have joined several groups: The Art 5 Academy (love the DLP!), Jennibellies’ Journal Workshop, and ATC’s For All, too name a few. I am also pleased and honored to call some amazing artists friends, France Papillon, Aaron Blazevich (Imperfect Impulses), Shannon Green, Aaron Hopkins, Garreth Barrett, Eric Brown, are among the the stars.

Why mixed media? I love surprises! I love to experiment. And sometimes, I just can’t make up my mind what I want to play with. Show me new (or old) techniques, a new spin on an old method, a way to make my own supplies and I’m delighted! Mixed media offers me a freedom I don’t feel when using only one type of media. With mixed media, there are no rules!

I often get lost in my work/play for hours on end, completely losing touch with reality, as I soar off into worlds unknown.

In the spring, I am hoping to get my YouTube channel up and start uploading videos of my art. With any luck, you will be seeing me then.