This week was all about simplicity and getting lost in the process.

I wanted to experiment with stenciling with my soft pastels and I love the results. Super soft and sketchy, which is what I was looking for.

I only use one color of acrylic paint! So different for me because I love all the colors, but I had an idea of how I wanted this to look… and it worked!

Today was inspired by a poem from Walt Whitman (one of my favorites)

“Who makes much of miracles?

As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,

Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water, Or stand under trees in the woods,

Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night with anyone I love,

Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,

Or look at strangers opposite riding in the car, Or watch honey bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,

Or animals feeding in the fields, Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,

Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright, Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;

These with the rest, one an all are to me miracles, The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, Every cubic inch of space is a miracle, Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same.”  Walt Whitman

After I read this I took a deep breath of gratitude and perspective. I paused for a moment to take in all the miracles around me.

I share more about it in the video.

I hope you enjoy today’s project and It gives you a chance to pause.

This original is available HERE and the prints available HERE

Supplies used:

12×12 mdf board, Utrecht gesso, Liquitex matte gel, Liquitex fluid matt medium, Liquitex spray paint (raw umber #6, titanium white, antique gold), Golden burnt sienna, Liquitex acrylic ink (transparent raw umber, burnt sienna), Soft pastels, Generals charcoal pencil, collage elements, Krylon fixative, Liquitex matte varnish

Stencils use:

Inky leaves 2, scribble leaves, coneflower, graphic flowers, scribbly vines

Collage pak used in this project and on sale this week – She Blossomed get the download version HERE or the printed version HERE

The Butterfly wings are free in the subscriber library. If your not a subscriber you can sign up HERE

This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and Blick at no cost to you.

I will be teaching in the Gratitude junk journal workshop starting in November. Along with some of my favorite artist!

It 30 days of focusing on gratitude while creating in our journals! My favorite thing!

Happening now! – Early Bird discount, 20% off good through October 31, 2021.  Enter code JOY2021 at checkout.  We’ll also offer an Early, Early Bird special, anyone who signs up before October 17, 2021 will also get Gratitude Junk Journal 2017 FREE! 

You can get all the details and sign up HERE

The doors to the membership will be opening up Oct. 11th!! They’ll be open for one week and then they will not open again for 6 months. So make sure to set your alarm!!

You can check out the details HERE

I hope you find something that will inspire you, whether it’s the membership, Junk journal, or Wanderlust.