Journal 52: Playing Catch Up

At the start of January I started following along with the weekly journal prompts with the wonderful group of creatives at Journal52.  I didn't get far before it all came to a screeching stop so as usual I am playing catch up.

I have a few of my latest pages to share so thought I would start with my latest which was for
Week 3: Conversations.

I actually was sopping up some excess paint from another project so used them with some stencils to create my background on a A4 Piece of Watercolor Paper.  I decided to scan this into my computer and then found this feather and quote which all were pertaining to a recent conversation I had had in regards to Angels and how they say "Angels are near when feathers appear".   It all goes back to having hope and something to believe in, and this quote I think was perfect to all of this and I love it because of it's bird analogy too.

Week 6:  Windows

Over the weekend while watching the 'Box Trolls' movie with the boys I decided to sit with them and play in my Watercolor Pad with my Inktense Pencils.  Thinking about Windows I started to think of Rapunzel and her throwing her hair out the window.

Week 2:  Just Be

I actually did complete a page for this prompt early in January which was me just being in the moment with my thoughts about a family situation and a particular person causing problems around that time. So that page isn't for sharing publicly.  I have found this type of journaling is the best option for me even though I would have loved to have said particular things to this person.  I have found that not allowing myself to be drawn into other peoples dramas and bulls__t and simply journaling my thoughts and feelings allows me to totally release them and move on from the situation in a much more effective way.....  Everything always happens for a reason and the truth always will set us free which is exactly what happened in relation to this particular situation.

So last week being more at peace with all that is going on in the world around me, I simply started to doodle and draw and let my art just flow.  I then found the perfect quote to go with it to.

Just Be Yourself and don't worry about what other people think.  I am learning this is always the best option and is very empowering too!

I am now nearly all caught up so I will be hopefully be back soon with some more.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I've been busy Playing

Hi everyone!  These past few days I've been having fun playing and with more than just my art supplies. Last year I brought a webcam with the whole idea of sharing with you from time to time some of my play with paper but then I encountered some computer problems so I have only just now had a chance to try it out.

My post for Altered Pages this week shares a quick Spring Inspired Page and includes my very first video of how I did some of the elements I used on the page.

My video shares how I create these six petal blossoms.

I'd love for you to check both my post today and video out and let me know what you think.  Remembering it's my very first time doing a video.  You will have to visit here to see them.

My fun included playing with my Dylusions Spray Inks, Watercolor Pencils and Paints and Stencils all of which you can buy at Altered Pages and if you do so between now and 10th of February you will save on all those supplies and more.

Altered Pages is having a sale and you will receive a 25% discount! Simply add the CODE word SWEETHEART to your order as you are checking out.
Expires February 10, 2014. Shipping is not included in the discount.

Where the Art Masters Meet our Muse

Where the Art Masters Meet our Muse is the wonderful new focus for February over at the Art Journal Caravan Expedition on Scrapbookgraphics.com..  Isn't it funny I hadn't really given the Masters any thought till seeing then I realised I just love most art and artists from the Impressionist/Post Impressionist Era such as Monet, Seurat and Gauguin.  Probably as they are who I remember from Art History at School.   The other Master who's work I really love is Gustav Klimt and it is his work that was my muse for my journal play last night.  He had a love for Gold Frescos and the use of geometrical shapes in his work so I decided to do my take on his 1907 painting which was a portrait of Adel Bloch-Bauer I seen here.

So I reached for my A3 Watercolor Paper and started with a layer of Gesso before taking to it with Gold and Yellow Oxide Paint.  I then continued to add color with paint and detail with my Big Brush Stamper Pens and Black Art Liner and White Posca Paint Pen.  Finally adding detail to the face with Charcoal and Watercolor Pencils.

I then took my A3 work to my A4 Scanner and scanned it into my computer.  The above picture is the A4 scanned result.

I then took my file into Photoshop Elements and added and enhanced the color as well as adding some grunge style elements which include a piece extracted from one of Klimt's original works.  I have used three of these hexagon portions as the sleeve of the ladies dress on the right as you look at the image.  All of these elements were from the AJC2014 Kits by Tangie Baxter to achieve the below look.

I am really loving my experiementing playing along with the Art Journal Caravan this year.  Doodling, painting and enhancing on the PC are all things I enjoy.  This art is truly just for me and my enjoyment but I hope you like it too!

Wk 2 Journaling

Hi Everyone!  Today I am sharing some of my art journaling.  And not to worry I am not sharing any of my heavy emotional stuff.   As well as Journal 52 I am now playing along with the Art Journal Caravan for 2014 which is also a year long workshop.  The years theme is Not all those who Wander are Lost and January is all about having Nature as your Muse.  Nature truly is a wonderful inspiration for my art so I couldn't resist joining the fun.  Plus it combines my two loves, art and using the computer.

For both this weeks Journal 52 and AJC prompts I have chosen the same quote.

Here's a look at my page -  Journal 52's prompt is Somewhere a Simple Place, and I have used a scribbled Gelato Background with stamping, Paper and drawing to represent that place, which for me is sitting outside with a coffee in hand watching and feeding the birds that frequent our garden and enjoying all that nature has to offer.

AJC has numerous prompts from colors, to words, to photos to use as inpsiration.  This week I used two colors from their Color Sparks and the Word Soothe.  The exact place I have depicted above is somewhere that for me soothes the soul.  For my Page I have used an A3 piece of watercolor paper with Black and White Gesso, Stencils and Spray Inks.

I have then scanned this background into my pc and added digital elements to achieve my finished page.  I really love how this has turned out just looking at it for me has a soothing effect!

Thanks for stopping by!

WOYWW #217

Hi Everyone!  Well it's hump day, Wednesday, the middle of yet another week.  Can you believe tomorrow we will be in August.  With that said It's time for everyone to again share "What is on your Work Desk" with the lovely group of global crafters that link up every Wednesday over at Julia's Blog.  If you would like to join the fun, be sure to pop over and see what it's all about.

My desk at 8.00am this somewhat fine Wednesday morning.

This past week, I have been working on a few different projects, as well as doing some reorganizing.

This included a Scrapbook Page featuring my Cat Felix playing with Paper when we were unpacking, and my Flat Fabio Mists, Inktense Pencils and Gelatos got a good workout this past week creating some backgrounds for my Journal, ATC's and Cards.  Yesterday I used some of the backgrounds I created from sopping up the excess/mess from my misting play to create some cards for the Unity Stamp Co Itty Bitty A Day Challenge.  You can see those cards here on my post from yesterday.

The box on the right of the above picture is my Altered Pages Order which I picked up from the Post Office yesterday afternoon. Lots of fabulous new goodies to play with here and I can't wait to unpack it.

In reorganizing I moved my Big Shot over onto my main work desk.  The plan is to put up a piece of peg board on the side wall here to hang up some of my dies and embossing folders.

On Sunday I also brought a new trolley which fits perfectly between my desk and shelving. It enabled me to get some more stuff out of drawers etc so that it more easily in reach and I can see it.

And Hubby bringing home a whole heap of empty 5kg Margarine Tubs from his work meant that I was able to sort and store some of my smaller papers and scraps better.

  

So that's my desk and crafting space this week, and as some of you haven't yet met my kitties, and I know there is heaps of cat lovers out there I thought I would leave you today with one of the photos I am scrapping which is of Felix playing in the paper and one of his sister BB who is a kleptomaniac.  The proof is right here as she is playing with a role of washi tape she has stolen from one of my craft room shelves.

I hope you all have a great week.   Happy WOYWW!

A Little Bit of this and a Little Bit of That!

Hi Everyone!  I haven't had much time for crafting this past week, with extra children in the house for respite for most of it.  I lost one child who we had for a week on Thursday only to gain another on Friday and she will be with us until Monday.  It's been another interesting learning curve for us, as this is our first time doing respite with other kids, and seeing the dynamics change when A isn't the only child in the house.

The time I did find to escape into my craft room, mostly late at night went mostly to design team projects which you will see in the coming week.

But here's a quick glimpse of what I have been up too on a personal and just for fun level.

Firstly I tried out some more new stamps (Dylusions) and some stencils (Prima & TCW) which I purchased  from Time to Create in my journal, playing with a mix of my Faber Castell Gelatos and Big Brush Pens.

I played some more with my Gelli Plate, using some florist mesh and my fingers,

 along with my favorite colors using Splash Inks.  I used the second print as the background for a Birthday Card for A's sister who turned 16 this week.

I created a Card with an Autumn Feel, to welcome in the new season from one of my 

Gelli Prints from a few weeks back

And last night and this morning I found a few moments to create a couple of ATC's for yet another ATART over at ATC's for All which are all using various backgrounds and vintage Easter Collage Images from Altered Pages.

This last ATC says it all.  Tonight I have been making some small Easter Gift Cards for A and E to go with their eggs for tomorrow morning.  They are both expecting lots of chocolate to come their way....... I have had it on good authority however, (A himself informed both Rod and I) that he is too old for an Easter Egg Hunt and too lazy.......this comment was totally out of the blue and we couldn't help but laugh at his honesty.  

Wishing all my crafty friends and fabulous followers and readers a Wonderful Easter.

Focusing on the Love.

Good Morning Everyone!  Happy last day of January!  It was a happy day here this morning as I saw our Foster Son off to school on the bus this morning, what a long few weeks we have all had together.  It's definitely been a bit of a roller-coaster as Rod and I get used to the whole parenting thing and 'A' gets used to the house rules, and new environment.  Let's just say he has definitely been testing the boundaries.  So it isn't just because Valentine's Day is around the corner that  I've been trying hard to focus on the love.....lol

Participating in Life Book 2013 has been a blessing, and finding a few minutes in-between keeping 'A' amused over the school holidays and running the rest of my family back and forth to various appointments etc has been a godsend.  Anyway today I thought I would share a couple of my journal page/experiments that I have been playing with.

This page is for my personal journal I created this week.   I was wanting to do something a little Shabby Chic which is so not my style.  I am yet to add a photo under the banner and words down the left of both pages.  It's kind of fitting as February is the month of Love and also the month Rod and I met some twenty plus years ago.

It was created uses a selection of products from Altered Pages - Vintage Text Pages, Glitz Pretty In Pink Papers, Chipboard Scroll Corners and the Glitz Love Games Clear Stamp Set along with a few other items from my stash.

This page is using a technique by Christy Tomlinson (and part of Life Book) to make flowers from Foil and Tissue Paper.  I created this a few weeks ago.  The background is a combination of Torn Paper, Washi Tape, and Water Color, Stamping, Doodling, Stickers and Rub Ons.  My messy hand written quote reads:-

"You have to take the good with the bad, Smile with the sad, love what you've got and remember what you had.  Always forgive, but never forget.  Learn from mistakes but never regret."

A bit of a reminder to focus on the good and be kind on myself which we all need from time to time.  In focusing on the good, I am looking forward to the month ahead with a short holiday on the horizon for Rod's Birthday.  I also start voluntary teaching next week and know I will have a bit more time to create and play with new things.  Look out too for the New Design Team which I was asked to join for the New Challenge Site Cards In Envy which kicks off Febraury 4th.

Anything But a Card Challenge #5

Hi Everyone!

Today sees a new challenge over at Anything But a Card.  We simply want to see any project you create other than a card and the Design Team have created some wonderful projects this fortnight to inspire you.

For my post today I am sharing a page from my art journal created using my new Faber Castell Gelatos and some white acrylic paint and stamping.  This is the first time I have drawn with the Gelato's and then blended with a waterbrush.  It's also the first time I have attempted to draw a face/portrait.  I was rather happy with how my face turned out and credit has to be given to Tam over at Willowing and Friends and her free class I have commenced titled Art, Heart and Healing.

I have to say I am in love with the Gelatos, they work so beautifully in a number of different ways and blend so effortlessly.

We can't wait to see what you have created, simply add your project to the linky on the Anything But a Card Blog.

Home is Where You Park your Heart

Home is Where you Park your heart! 

How True!

 Its wherever you love, wherever you are happy, wherever you are together with those you love, 

wherever you laugh, make memories and are at peace.

This was the thought and the sentiment behind my art journal page I am sharing with you all today!

Brayered Background, and lots of Unity KOTM Stamps and of course my Tria Markers!

Just playing, I added some water to my grass! 

Lots of Bright Color makes me Happy!

And as the rain has been keeping the days quite gloomy what better than some bright colored tags using up some paper scraps and featuring beautiful butterflies.

I have simply colored the tags using two tones of the same color ink pads.  Echo Park Papers, Darkroom Door Butterflies, Viva Decor Sunny Yellow Pearl Pen, Matching Ribbons and some paper and crocheted flowers from my stash.