Simplest Things Challenge (meh)

 I signed up for a 5 day art challenge, via Amy M (Mindful Art Studio), and each day we were given a prompt. We could do whatever we wanted but the goal was to keep it simple.

First off, I made my own handmade watercolor journal (but ruined a few pages as i didn't like how they turned out). However, I was thrilled with my creation of the journal itself!

I love that I thought of this closure as the journal is too thick to lay flat.

At first, I tried gluing on (and to cover up a weird spot, but it fell off (waaaa.), so I ended up sewing on. Need to find a better way to do this though.

Below are pics from each day. Not my best work, but it was still interesting.

Day 1, Closer

Final piece. See process /steps/explanation below.

The brush strokes themselves looked too plain to me, so I tried coming up with my own poem. However, this song started going through my head (which I've always loved -- the song that is, not having it go through my head! -- har, har) SO, I added the title within the strokes and the lyrics to the side.

I wasn't thrilled with my first attempt, so I added more layers. I'm tempted to add more pink within the lyrics, but for now, am leaving as is.

Day 2, Squiggle

Final piece. Got this idea after my 1st 2 attempts.

"There is magic in the falling leaves of autumn."

Book leaf

*I actually sent this to jessica for the Sept. PTEx:

 https://snailmailingmadness.blogspot.com/2025/09/book-leaves-to-jessica-sept-ptex.html

2nd idea. Was going to letter something along the lines of "trust your journey", but then got my other idea. (failed w/c piece)

My first attempt was actually playing with masking (white grease pencil, crayon and color pencil). Did not like, and when I tried fixing, I just feel like I made it worse. Ugh. Glad I came up with the leaf idea.

Day 3, Dot

Decided to do some good 'ole Pointilism for this prompt! (Still need to add lettering.)

Close ups of butterfly

*SO, I didn't really like the last 2 prompts (Branch and Smash) as I wasn't inspired by either. Plus, I struggled with the previous challenges, and I feel that those weren't the most awesome pieces I've ever done. SO I decided to skip.

However, if I by chance happened to come up with something, I will update!

Autumn!

I lettered this in my handmade w/c journal (upcoming post) and although I don't like the whole page itself, I loved how my italic turned out!

I tried penning another original poem about fall (green hues morphing) with watercolor over but I don't like my script.

I need to revise as I'm not thrilled with this yet:

Green hues morphing into the brilliant colors of autumn

Like watercolors merging, soft yet vivid

Reds, orange, plum

Maybe teal is present too

So dazzling each year

Splendid are the views.

Finished page (i think) with 3d leaves.

close up of small leaf

 

Another fall themed mini book

In going through my watercolor papers, I came upon this trial piece which I decided to convert into a lovely little mini book (that of course, is flawed!) BUT I still had fun with it and still plan to share with someone.

I had painted brown over a failed w/c piece and then added some swirls/ marks with my old Pentel metallic brush pens (however, now i could also use my ZIG Fudebyori metallic brush markers).

I then added a paper strip (with script writing), as not only did I want to give it character, but i tried to cover up another mistake.

Full piece (forgot to take before folding pic)

"Ode to Autumn". I decided to add the piece of paper from a book in order to match with the back page

"welcome" page with 3d leaf

"welcome" in posca and pastels, gel pen and ink wash and strip of paper from book page.

original poem (but I messed up quite a bit)

Center spread using various fonts and colors. (another original poem...from 2020 -- my first! "Autumnal") I tried to duplicate this spread: https://foldedpenfan.blogspot.com/2025/08/sneak-peek.html but looks different b/c of the colors, etc.

Page before other poem page:  "fall" with posca and again pastels, connected caps in black pen with metallic watercolors (autumn musings), and grease pencil with watercolor overlay. (just a fun design, trying to resemble falling leaves)

Back page with book art leaves

"There is magic in the falling leaves of autumn."

Before adding lettering.

Video showing the complete book:

Fall Booklet

I'm having such fun making mini books! So, i did one for fall, as I created another prose poem. (not on the front)

Cover. I love this quote: "The trees are about to show us how beautiful it is to let go."

Used my Wink of Stella glitter brush pen for the main background and tried masking.

I then added the brown strip, using another quote (but I wish i had done the writing more long & tall as I tried using a gel for script, but I don't like how it turned out).

Collage of all the pages

First page. I added my original prose poem under, but my ink came out too thick, so it's illegible. And it looks too much, so I wish I had just left as is.

waaa. :(

Next page:  Ode to apple season (although my apple looks more like a pumpkin)

"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible."

Love this idea I found!

My October page.

Added the "Connected Caps" lettering at the bottom.

"We wait all year for your to appear."

diff. lighting

gel glaze

Love this spread! (although, of course, there are flaws!)

It's this quote repeated on both pages, lettered differently. The blue leaves are 3d cut out and used as stencils on next page.

I was trying to achieve the same affect as my piece from my Laurie Doctor class:  https://foldedpenfan.blogspot.com/2025/07/day-4-speak-to-me-patterns.html  but my ink bled under one leaf. However, I was able to lift off some of the ink.  :)

For this page, I tried to emulate a design (again Pinterest!), but I used words from a quote, making them abstract (brush lettering), then some writing in-between. ("Autumn is the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.")

I cannot remember, but I think the abstract brush lettering is the same quote.

Close up. You can see "autumn" in green

Next page:  the book leaves idea I found on Pinterest. The bottom part (green) was already part of the sheet, so I tried fixing it, to incorporate into the whole composition. (Not sure, but maybe looking like a landscape?)

close up of the leaf. I love the words I captured!

Last page:  i used another strip and another quote:

"There is magic in the falling leaves of autumn."