Embrace

I keep forgetting to post pages from my new hardback book journal mainly because I cant stop playing which is the point really I suppose.

So how did this come about? Well i got hooked on a trip to see my friend Mags Woodcock about a month ago. One evening she showed me the book she had been creating in and I loved it so much I decided to start my own.

The book was £1 from a charity shop and was a bit brown and well thumbed. I only use my stash  and no specially bought products so its just a bit more "mine"

This double page started because we were all talking in class about the poppies for Remembrance Sunday and I had a few small circle punches in my craft bag.

 Initially I started with just a few circle flowers

but then I sort of got carried away.

 

This has become my go to book when I want to clear my mind and just play. Hope you like it xx

Another page in my journal

Sometimes its really nice to be able to step away from preparing classes. On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend a Tracy Scott class at The Artistic Stamper in Faversham and I had a great time.
This is my take on Tracy's page and I'm really please with it. 

Different colours for me but that was the point, taking myself out of my comfort zone and learning a few tips along the way. Here is a bit more detail.

The stamps we used are 

PaperArtsy - Rubber stamps - E3 Tracy Scott 28

Had an amazing time and was so pleased with the result. x

Aladine

So excited. A few weeks ago I was asked to join the project designers at Aladine. They have great projects suitable for mixed media and right up my street. Aladine have a stand at Creativation in Phoenix this week so I was excited to see one of my projects on the stand.

Here is my journal page on canvas.

I originally did the double page with the book laid out in front of me but imagine my surprise when I turned the page and saw a dancing flower girl. Can you see her.
Here are some more photos of the stand and the other wonderful projects made for the show

I really enjoyed using these products.

Live Beautifully.....

I have had a chance to finish one of my many journal pages today. Loving the colours

The background is made using Distress Oxides, blended together using baby wipes.

The flowers are made using paper scraps and a hydrangea confetti punch, some gem flowers and some baby pearls and gems.

Some are raised from the paper and some flat to make it more interesting.

The final touch is wording added by using a stencil and Prima Modelling Paste. The magic happens as the Distress Oxides from the background seep through the paste colouring it to match the background. Loved watching it happen. xx

Ballerina

Like me most people have loads of stamps. I often have stamps that I would never normally use but they may have been bought specifically for a card class or similar so I wanted to show that you can mix cute with mixed media and make it work.

 

I did the background first and had no idea how to finish it off and then I found this adorable stamp set and I was able to finish my page. (The little bunny is my favourite). x

Masking Tape

Simple this time. To add masking tape to a page.

This was a face that I had in my stash, not drawn by me I hasten to add (I'm not that good at faces) but painted first then masking tape and then sprays. Worked really well x.

Beginning to Journal

For about 6 months now I  have been teaching a group of ladies at my home. Well I suppose teaching is the wrong word more like sharing ideas and overcoming fears to help them to let themselves go and enjoy a bit of Art Journaling. And we have had so much fun, loads of laughs and of course, plenty of messy fingers. What I thought might just be a few sessions has turned into a regular monthly meet up to craft, share ideas and learn from each other.

Over the next few days I will share some of the pages I have done for these sessions. They are meant as inspiration and all of them without exception taught a new technique or used a product new to some people or were just a learning curve adding say stamping or paper piecing and realising that there is no wrong way just the fun way.

The faces in the bottom right hand corner were drawn by me and reduced by scanning and printing. Homework that night was to draw a face lol x

Work in Progress

I've started playing with some new stamps designed by "Nicole". They are great to use and so easy to colour in or paint.

More work to do but coming along nicely. x

Fabric Journal published

So excited today to see my Fabric Journal in the new issue of Mixed Up Mag. There are step by step instructions, a video and intro from me this time

and some amazing artists all sharing their inspiration, step by step projects and videos to draw you into the wonderful world of Mixed media.
Here is a sneak peek of my journal

Here are the links you need to follow or subscribe to this wonderful bi monthly magazine.
MAGAZINE WEBSITE https://www.mixedupmag.com/
TO BUY THE ISSUE go to: https://pocketmags.com/mixed-up-mag#587ca8599f3ab
I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I do. xx

Art Journals

For a few months now I have been holding an Art Journal club in my home. I must admit it's something I have wanted to do for a long time but I thought I'd better wait until I had the carpet removed and hard flooring put down. Just in case you know lol.

The group is a mixture of first timers and dabblers but they are learning really fast and are enjoying learning about all of the different mediums and trying them out.

We are working on a variety of backgrounds which we are saving to use at a later date, but last week we started the process of decorating the front of our pocket journals.

Here is mine at stage one fully open so you can see the back and the front.

And this is it at stage two

I'm still working on it. Not quite happy yet but I will update the blog when I'm happy with it. Glad its Easter weekend. Plenty of time to play. Have a good one xxx

My Art Journal is coming along

For the second year I have signed up for Inspiration Wednesday. I learnt so much last year that I thought I'd give it another go, after all theres always something new to learn.

Here is my latest double page

 It took a while to make but the worst was waiting for each layer to dry lol.

My book is much bigger than the one used for the course so I needed to add a bit more detail.

The texture paste butterfly was just the ticket and allowed me to dribble the paint from the paint brushes through the design.

Love the dripping paint brushes. This is fast becoming one of my favourite stencils.

I've got a Scrapbook Class tonight so I'll share the layouts over the next couple of days on the Ladies That Craft blog. x

Feeling a bit better

at last. Anyone who says IBS is manageable needs their head examined. It’s nasty and wipes me out everytime but at least I’m back on my feet today so I’ve managed to sort through some of the photos from the Crop and thought I’d share another of my works in progress.
I get very little time to play with my Art Journal but I do try to do a little at every Crop. My cat page is coming on nicely but I also started a second page mainly because I was dying to use Tim Holtz’ new Distress marker Spritzer which actually does work with most pens including copic and Pro Markers which is a bonus,
So I decided to make the background for this page using a Clarity Stamps stencil and the Spritzer. This was the result.

It works really well, the closer you get the more solid the colour, the further away, the finer the spray.

Intend to add more colours but thought I’d share anyway. Have a good day. I’m off to see if I can actually eat something. Wish me luck xx.

Some works in progress

which I am finally going to finish this week. I love playing in my Art Journal but I never have the time. This week I am making time for this and to start some new pages.


and my favourite



I am working on a short how to, to help you start your own Art Journal the easy way, so watch this space. x

Art Journal

As promised ladies here are the pages we made in class last night using images from the internet, paint, tea and laughter.


And this is the double I was working on in class now ready for you to have a go.

This time I used the new PMA stamps, bubble wrap, napkins, Portobello Road paper and an image from the internet.



Have fun and thanks for looking. xx