Journal52 #3: Strange

I am amazed how quickly this page came together once I had decided on my quote for the prompt, 'strange' for week 3 of the Journal52 2017 art journal challenges.  I am still a week behind, but I refuse to be stressed out by this.  The full quote "I have a strange relationship with time.  I'm not aware of it passing." is by Daniel Day-Lewis and sums up perfectly how creating this page felt.  It took about an hour and a half from start to finish and I couldn't believe how the time seemed to fly by.

Bright Gelato Background

The inspiration for this card came from a demonstration of Gelatos by Kay Halliwell-Sutton today.  I loved the layers that she created on an 8"x8" piece and decided to reproduce the effect but using different stamps and stencils on a smaller piece.

75th Birthday Parchment Card

I shared some sneak peeks of this card last week, but couldn't reveal the full card as the lovely lady for whom it was made didn't have her birthday until yesterday.  If you would like more details on the white work and my first attempt at picot edges then feel free to check them out HERE; today I'll be focussing more on the process of building up the line art from the many different Groovi plates that I used.

Journal52 #2: Hope, Catching Up

Once again, I stepped out of my comfort zone to attempt an art journal page with Journal52 using only a one word prompt; Hope.  I am still a week behind, but catching up rapidly.  I really had no idea where I was going with this page at the start, just that I was going to use a mop up page from my journal.  By the end though, I was extremely pleased with the result; the quotes say it all!

WOYWW 399: Big Milestone

Well, only one week to a massive milestone for Julia as host of WOYWW over on The Stamping Ground.  A big milestone came to me this week, when I created my first art journal page without the aid of step by step prompts, merely one word: Portal.  You can see the step by step for this HERE, but I wanted to share my desk at the start of the process.  I was considering using the glasses stamp from Claritystamp or the Gilded Gate Two die from Spellbinders.  As you will see, I completely changed my mind on both counts.

Journal52 #1: Portal

Another first for me this year; an attempt at an art journal page without a list of prompts, just a key word and image.  The prompt is courtesy of Journal52 which I became aware of through Mike Deakin Art, so thanks for sharing Mike. I am not worried that it is already week 3 as I am sure that I will catch up eventually; even if I only dip in and out it will encourage me to experiment.  It is fitting therefore that the first word prompt of 2017 was 'Portal', as I see this as the way in to the next leg in my art journaling journey.  I am really pleased with the final result, although there were plenty of OOPS moments along the way.

Parchment Picot Edge: First Attempt

I won't be able to share any pictures of the whole finished card today, as I am making it to give to a friend of mine; her birthday is not until Friday, so I don't want to spoil the surprise.  However, as this card demonstrates my best attempt at white work up to now, as well as my first attempt at Picot Edge cutting; not a disaster to my surprise, I wanted to show you some sneak peeks of my success.  I will share a detailed step by step next week-end; for today, I'll just share the techniques that worked for me.

Unfinished Canvas Board Experiment

This is one of those projects that has been languishing unfinished for a while.  I managed to pick up a selection of the Pebeo Vitrail paints on sale a while back and decided to have a play with them.  I'm not sure at the moment however, how I am going to take the project further.  Time will tell...

WOYWW 398: Marking, marking and more marking

It's a good job I remembered to take photos of my workbench yesterday during my regular Tuesday craft session with a friend as there would otherwise be very little crafty to look at. As the name of the game is WOYWW (hosted over on the Stamping Ground if you want to know more),  I thought it only fair to show you what my workbench actually looks like this morning.   The only evidence of craft is the stuff left out in the background ready for my next class and my new mug, which I treated myself to just after Christmas; the words say it all!  Otherwise Wednesdays tend to be a lesson preparation and marking day.

Gelli Plate Stamp Background.

I have had the Napa Valley stamp and Framer Stencil by Claritystamp for a while and decided that today was the day to do something with them.  I also wanted to use a Gelli plate to create the background.  The circle Gelli Petite was just a little too small to fit the circumference of the stamp, so in the end I chose to use my 6" x 6" plate.  The background to the stamping is actually on a piece of copy paper that I used for clean up, but I loved it so much that I decided to use this piece rather than attempt to recreate it on a piece of card.

Groovin' 60s: Part Two

Here's the finished card that I made with the background that I shared yesterday (for step by step see HERE).  This time I used a stamp from the same collection by Sheena Douglass called Just Truckin' for my focal image. 

Groovin' 60s: Part One

I wanted to try something bright and cheerful and thought that the Groovin' 60s collection by Sheena Douglass would fit the bill.  Today I'll share the background and tomorrow I'll reveal the finished card.

WOYWW 397: New Resolution

My side of the desk.

My friend's side.

It seems like such a long time since I participated in WOYWW hosted by the lovely Julia.  This time last week I was madly getting ready for my first day back at work after the new year.  Things have calmed down a little now, so I am practising my new resolution; blog and craft every day when you are not working.  As I only work part time (3 days a week), it will be a challenge to blog even if it is a pleasure to craft.  Today's photos were actually taken yesterday on my regular crafty day shared with a friend.  They show my side of the desk and hers.  I was working on an art journal page for Mission Inspiration and my friend was working on a set of wedding invitations.  
I shared the step by step for the finished journal page yesterday (you can find it HERE).

The finished topper

I have discovered an alternative way of gaining crafty company when my friend can't make it.  Another crafty friend, who lives far too far away to craft with me in person, Skypes with me and we work on our own projects in our own homes.  We can show each other what we are working on and keep each other company while we craft.  I find I always get more done when I craft in company (even if virtual rather than actual company), so this is great.  Now I just need to get all my work done for school tomorrow so I can keep my Skype appointment for later this afternoon. 

Mission Inspiration: January 2017

I just finished my Mission Inspiration page for January 2017 and wanted to share it as soon as possible.  There has been a slight change to the prompts this year; eight instead of ten, with the addition of colour prompts and some words to inspire.  You can join in with the challenge here.  I had a ball creating this page, the word prompts: Genesis, regenerate, determination, hope and resolve are perfect for this time of year.  They also fit in with one of my resolutions: to craft and blog every day when I am not at work.

Twist and Pop Bunnies: Part Two

Yesterday, I shared how I used instructions found in Nicky Gilbert's blog post (on behalf of Tonic Studios) to make my Twist and Pop card base.  Today, I'll share how I put together the decoration on the inside.  I really loved creating the bunny landscape!

Twist and Pop Bunnies: Part One

I wanted to make a card which was a little different, so when I came across this blog post on behalf of Tonic Studios by Nicky Gilbert with step by step instructions for a Twist and Pop card base, I jumped at the chance to have a go at making one myself.  The photo of the first step to make the mechanism is from the original blog post, so thank you so much Nicky for sharing these fabulously easy instructions.

The outside of the card.

The wow is on the inside!

Parchment Thank You - White Work Practice

I made this as a thank you card for a pupil who kindly bought me some lovely pot pourri as a Christmas gift.  I decided to also use it as an opportunity to practice my parchment white work, so I took photos after every stage.  I think I'm getting better, but practice makes perfect!

Gelli Petite Lacy Coasters

Dried Marigold Distress Ink

I'm keeping up my new year's resolution with my third post this year!  These coasters were made and personalised for a group of ladies who frequently keep me company in my shed.  They are great crafters and we learn a lot from each other.  Belated Merry Christmas!They were all made the same way but personalised as appropriate.  A piece of Sheen's stamping card was cut to 8.9cm x 8.9cm; the square gelli petite plate was inked up and a brayer used to smooth out the ink.  This was then 'stamped' onto the centre of the card through a section of the Clarity Lace Swatch to create the lacy pattern.  

Fine Wine Artistry ink.

Archival ink and the alphabet word chain letters were then used to stamp the appropriate name.

Stormy Sky Distress Ink.

Victorian Velvet Distress Ink

Shabby Shutters Distress Ink

Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

Wilted Violet Distress Ink

Martini Olive Artistry Ink

Groovi Birthday Card

This is my 200th post so I thought I would share a birthday card that I made for a friend who shares the same birthday as my Mum.  It was made using the Groovi system by Claritystamp, without which I wouldn't have ever tried parchment craft.

Hobby Coasters: Part Three

This is the final part in the series sharing the coasters which I made for my Mum's birthday.  They say that great minds think alike; my twin sister also bought our Mum some beautiful coasters, but hers were glass.