Mixed Media Artist Book

I have been making plans for a while now for a mixed media artist book (or journal).
If I complete it like I have planed, or even close to it,
there should be a ton of techniques in it!
I made the first (of several) folders that will be inside of it.
This one is a manila folder that has been cut down to size,
painted, inked, sanded, stenciled, spritzed, grommet-ed, taped,
and waiting for a collage element on the front of it.
I'll use screen fabric, a copy of a bird painting that I did,
along with painted/sanded and torn tuna cardboard and maybe a few circular washers...
or a feather...
Either way -
It's going to be great!

Cardinals in the Snow

I had sketched a cardinal to paint.
This is the painting on my Lexmark scanner - no changes made.
It's hard to see the snow on the tree limbs in this version. This is one from another scanner that we have- it's a Lexmark 5600.
I also made a small change - I think I clicked on the sharpen button. I have it all written down - somewhere on this desk...

Another version.

I can't decide which one I like the best...what about you?

Oh...

Here is the painting that I was working on when I stopped to paint the Thank You card.
Hope you enjoy it! My dear mother in law saved an old calendar for me from last year.
Without me even asking!
How sweet is that?!
She knew I would love the 12 photos of beautiful birds it held inside.
I'm trying to paint each and every one of them
and then use the paintings in collage work or some kind of fiber work...
I should be ready to teach a "Bird Paintin' Class" after that many birds!

Keep your eyes open as I've got some really exciting news on my teaching plans for the fall!
I hope when you see where I'm teaching you'll want to join me!
Info coming soon...