I am kermit flailing and squeeing all over the place today because I get to tell you that I’ve got an awesome new blog series for you! YAY!!!!!
Lots of you have probably already heard that Donna Downey is discontinuing “Inspiration Wednesdays” (cue sobbing!), and maybe you were kinda bummed about it. I know *I* was bummed because I loved that series and really looked forward to watching the new video every Wednesday. Donna has been a huge inspiration of mine and taking classes with her in person and on line has really taken me to the next level. When I heard that she was retiring the series, my initial reaction was to have a totally bummed out moment. What was I going to have to look forward to on Wednesdays??
It took about a minute to make the decision to do my own series!
I’m wild like that. :)
Welcome to Wildly Inspired!
As often as human possible on Wednesdays, you’ll find a new video here complete with a supplies list. Sometimes the videos will be quick and dirty, and sometimes they will be a little more in depth. I will be tending to my need for ease throughout the series, so if I need a week off, I’ll take it, but I’ll make sure to let you know via my newsletter (which you can sign up for here).
This series begins with a cover design! I love starting a new journal, and I picked the Dylusions (smaller size – 5 x 8?) because I knew that it would be no problem to sit down and work in that size throughout the series. I work well with the paper now that I know what it will take and how to prepare it for my style (gesso!), and I love that I can pop it into a bag if I want to take it with me to a cafe somewhere!
I really wanted to honour the name of the series and explore what ‘wild’ means to me right now. Where there have been times in my life that ‘wild’ referred to a kind of feral nature (think wolfish), these days I’m feeling wild in the Bohemian sense of the word – sensual, pleasure driven, feminine. Here’s where I took that feeling tone.
This is a free series, but your tips are appreciated!
Supplies Used
Dylusions journal (Small)
White gesso
Fluid acrylics
Ephemera
Matte medium + gel medium (matte)
Printed photograph
Portfolio water soluble oil pastels
Blending stump
Sticker border
Washi tape
Masking tape
Stamps + waterproof ink pad
Self leveling gel
Snapshots
The scrumptious front cover. Since I removed the elastic, I’m using an old Smash band to close the book
The back cover
And that’s it for this week! If you are playing along, feel free to pop a link to your images in the comments below or BETTER YET! Share in my on line community on Facebook!
So excited to see you taking the torch and moving this forward Effy!!! Congrats and looking forward to your inspirations! <3
Thank you, hon! Enjoy!! xo
So excited…so excited…happy dance…yay!
I’m excited tooooooooo!!!!!
I’m so happy to see you! It feels like forever since I’ve had some Effy time. Too many classes, too little time. Thank you for any extra Effy you can give. Muah!
I was manhandling the painting and postcards you sent me when I was going through my stuff yesterday, Sarah! Such a scrumptious little collection of things. Thank you again! xo
You are right, Effy, I was bummed. Thank you for taking this on, and I look forward to this series.
Thanks so much Effy. Boy I would of missed inspirations wed’s. Looking forward to your WILDLY INSPIRED videos.
It may be weird to say, but I’m going to say it anyway… Effy, I love you! :-)
Wow! My vocabulary is very limited to say the way i feel! It is fantastic!!!
Awesome!!! I think just about covers it.
That cover is so pretty. I loved the video. Thank you so much!
I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself after IW disappeared….My love ….how much you are appreciated for stepping into this journey and loved every second of it! Much success to you and the journey!
Thank you Effy! I’m learning so much from you :) I look forward to Wildly Inspired Wednesdays, however often they get posted.
Thank you, happy, happy, happy!
Wonderful news! Hump day couldn’t be better.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Loved the video. Look forward to more!
Loved the video Effy! Thanks!
Awesome!!!! Love your cover!
awesome!!!
Thank you for the free class- really great
Thank you Effy… It will be totally effylicious to see you in action. Love following you blog, work and classes. Hopefully can free up some time to register again! Love & Hugs
OMG – you have no idea how thrilled I am to hear this!!!! YIPPEEEEEE!!!! I was so bummed out when I read that Donna had decided to stop doing Wed. Now that you are going to be doing this is absolutely perfect. You are awesome and I love your work and look forward to everything!!!!! Thanks sooooo much! Jane
I was so bummed when Donna mentioned reassessing her priorities (but totally respect her for that!). Now I will look forward to getting to know you and your art. That is sweet of you to share inspiration with us. Thank you!
Just watched your first episode of Wildly Inspired and loved it!!! Lots of inspiration and good hints. Thanks so much
Thank you Effy, that’s really wonderfull just love it!
Effy, just posted under your profile saying I thought you had a wild Pre Raphaelites namesake. GOOGLED and she was Effy Gray, a very interesting lady… Will definitely be using her in my piece. Xxx
Thank you SO MUCH for this. Wonderful that you share your fantastic art and ideas with us – for free too. Many thanks Margaret.
Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent. Loved the video and your use of masking tape for your title. I’m a stay-at-home mom and can’t afford much in the way of these things. So you have a grateful heart here! Thanks!!
Hi Effy, thanks so much for starting Inspiration Wednesday. Love your cover so far. Look forward to being inspired by your creativity! ! !
Thank you so much for taking this on, Effy. This video was awesome, and so inspiring! I have a little Dylusions journal, that I have hardly used, so now I can follow along with you and make mine pretty like yours! :)
i am so excited someone is picking up the wednesday videos (as you can fit them in your schedule). I always looked forward to wednesdays and mondays with Donna’s work. it just inspires me to keep moving on the art journey. loved your cover! thank you for sharing your talents. :)
I have started at least even if I am far behind … lol … I am not fond of glue or doing covers … lol … perhaps it will grow on me … once the glue dries … then I can move on to something fun :D … PAINT!!!
I stumbled on this video, but I don’t think it was an accident. I’ve never done an art journal, and you have definitely inpsired me to have my own! I don’t have many supplies, but I will be using the inks and crayons and pencils I have for cardmaking/scrapbooking. Your excitement is infectious and I look forward to staring my own journal……. :)