Saturday 30 June 2018

Keep Calm and Enjoy the Sun: Art Journal Page

This is my latest Mission Inspiration journal page following the prompts for June set by guest controller Gina Ahrens.  The current weather helped me decide on a direction!  The suggested colours this month were Ocean, Lemon and Lime.

Friday 29 June 2018

A Retiform Journal Page: The Seven Ages of Man

This page was made for one of the June prompts over on Nina Ribena's Art Journal Prompts and More: Repeat After Me / Retiform.  I had only come across this technique once before on Shaz Silverwolf's blog but had never tried it for myself.  As I needed to divide the page up into sections and wanted to turn it into an art journal page,  I went with the theme of the seven ages of man speech from the Shakespeare play As You Like It; I studied it at A Level and it has stuck with me.

Wednesday 27 June 2018

WOYWW 473: Deja Vu

Morning everyone and welcome to my weekly contribution to What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday; a blog link up hosted by Julia on The Stamping Ground for over 9 years now.  Please feel free to peruse, lurk, comment, share as you see fit.
My side of the desk shows an art journal piece that I had not long started.  The prompt was 'Abstract' so I chose some of my Amsterdam acrylics and smeared them onto the page using my old season ticket card.  I have finished the page since the photo was taken and will be sharing it on my blog tomorrow if you wish to pop back.
On the other side of the desk there is a feeling of deja vu as Eva was once again working on the birth announcement cards.
This time next week I will be in Berlin with a group of Y8 pupils.  I am hoping to still be able to link up, although I won't be visiting due to lack of time lol. Have a happy WOYWW everyone.

Sunday 24 June 2018

What a Great Afternoon: Create It Hanger 42.

I got home from work on Friday to find that I had won a pair of tickets to the Create It event the following day at Hanger 42 in Lutterworth.  As yesterday was also my wedding anniversary, I took my husband of 28 years with me.  I don't think it would have been his first choice of ways to spend the afternoon, but he made the 150 mile round trip with me and we had a great time, thanks to the generosity of Kay and Alfie of IndigoBlu.  I got up early and made a small token of my appreciation to take with us.

Friday 22 June 2018

Twins: A Journal Tag

The current prompt on Tag Tuesday is Gemini.  I chose to use a literal interpretation as I am a twin myself.  This tag is dedicated to my twin sister; we may live miles apart, but it never takes long to catch up!

Wednesday 20 June 2018

WOYWW 472: Both Sides of the Desk!

Hello and welcome to the weekly link up of desks around the world hosted by our illustrious leader Julia over on the Stamping Ground.  This week I actually had some crafty company after quite a break, and therefore have something to share on both sides of the desk.  My side of the desk shows the early stage of creating some embellishments from cardboard packaging.  I have shared the process on a previous post if you are interested.  In the background you can see strips of silver mirri card ready for die cutting, as the school prom is getting ever closer.  Obviously I can't say or show any more, so if you are in Y8 and reading this there will be no spoilers!
On the other side of the desk, Eva was busy stencilling the backgrounds for 60 birth announcements that she is making for her niece.  You can see the prototype which has already been seen and approved.
Here are the finished ATCs that were face down on my desk last week. They have now been received.  The step by step is HERE if you haven't already seen it.  Have a great week everyone.  I will be along to visit later.  Next year I will be in school on Wednesdays, so my visits will be on a Thursday, however I will still be joining in with WOYWW before I go to work.

Tuesday 19 June 2018

Saturday 16 June 2018

Quick Canvas Board: Mixed Media

This is a project I did for the last Royal Talens show with Lou Withers.  It was made in honour of her Facebook group Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art; hence the initials JJAMMMA.  We are a very friendly bunch and are just about to celebrate 5000 members with a well sponsored mega challenge, so feel free to join us.

Friday 15 June 2018

Paper Towel Backgrounds on ATCs

These ATCs were made for the June swap over on Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art.  The prompt was the letter R.  As always, I only used Claritystamp stamps and stencils for my ATC projects. 
For a change, I decided to use paper towel mop up sheets for the background of each ATC.  Usually, I stamp and colour directly onto the precut ATC cards (2.5" x 3.5") which I have in my stash, but I am glad that I added a background first as I love the way that these turned out.

Thursday 14 June 2018

Blending Experiment

I wanted to try out my new Pergamano blending pen and nibs to see how they would work with my Faber-Castell Big Brush Markers.  They are fabulous for fine detail and I discovered an unexpected bonus.

Wednesday 13 June 2018

WOYWW 471: Guest Desk?

Well, I had been intending to share some desks from the monthly journal meet up in Stockport with the JJAMMMA crowd, but I totally forgot to take my camera and I have no idea how to download photos from my phone!  Instead, you'll have to make do with my desk in the shed when I got back. 
The ATCs that I made earlier for a swap are face down ready to have the backs filled in and glued into place.  They are being posted today first class, so I will be blogging them on Friday.  Some of the paper towel mop up sheets that I used in  the background of each ATC are at the back, together with some blank cards with interesting images, which were a gift from a friend at the meet up.
The other side of the desk is empty, as Eva was busy marking some speaking exams which she had been offered last minute.  We will be catching up and crafting on Saturday, so I will take a picture then.  If you want to know why I seem obsessed with desks then visit our chief desker Julia over on the Stamping Ground.  There you will find out all about WOYWW and find many more desks to look at, should you be so inclined.
Don't forget that you can also comment via the Sarah's Craft Shed Facebook page if you are unable to comment directly on this post. 
I may be late visiting this week as I have some late meetings and the last of my reports to finalise today.

Monday 11 June 2018

A Bird does not sing: Journal Page

This page was made in response to the June Challenge on Mixed Media Art Journey.  There are 6 prompts each month.  These month's prompts in no particular order are: Make a page, add red, add texture, use scrap paper, add doodles and favourite quote.

Sunday 10 June 2018

Keeping it Neutral: A Tag

This tag was made using three of the four prompts from the June Challenge on Tag It Tuesday.  1 Newspaper; 2 Use a die cut; 3 Add texture with a palette knife; 4 Neutrals.  I used prompts 1, 2 and 4.

Friday 8 June 2018

Snarky Fish? An Art Journal Page

I had a play in my Strathmore Visual Journal trying out some different background techniques.  As I added text, I am entering this into the June Challenge over on Country View Challenges:  The Written Word.  I rather like the snarky comments on the Dyan Reaveley stamps and have used a few of them recently.

Thursday 7 June 2018

Wednesday 6 June 2018

WOYWW 470: Back to Work

Hello and welcome once more to the weekly desk share, hosted by head desker Julia on the Stamping Ground.  Having just celebrated the ninth anniversary, the next event to look forward to will be the annual crop in September.  Eva and I are looking forward to meeting up with everyone again.  To find out more, just visit Julia, where more details can be found.
Today is my last day of freedom before going into work tomorrow.  Monday was an INSET day at work and time was given over to report writing.  We had the option of working from home, so I spent the day typing in the shed.  To make up for the extended break, there is a parents' evening tomorrow night, so it will be a looooong day!
My side of the desk shows an art journal page that I have been working on using some DecoArt bargains that I picked up a while back in Hobbycraft together with some Claritystamp items.  I will be sharing this page on the blog either on Friday or Saturday, so you are welcome to pop back if you'd like to see the finished spread.
I was Bleubeard and Elizabeth's PIF and the clever anniversary ATC, together with some beautiful hand made paper arrived last Thursday.  I have saved the postage stamp too, as I'm sure that I will be able to find a use for it in my art work.  As we now have each other's email addresses, we are finally able to communicate.  I know that some of you have issues commenting on my blog, but I always share the day's post on the Sarah's Craft Shed Facebook page so you can comment there if it is easier for you.
Alas, the other side of the desk has nothing to show, as Eva was still getting over her jet lag, having jetted off to San Diego over half term.  Next week we will definitely be getting together, so I should have something to show.  Happy WOYWW everyone!

Tuesday 5 June 2018

A Field of Poppies: Canvas

The first of my samples for the One Day Special later today on Hochanda with Lou Withers, when she brings you all things Royal Talens.  The photo doesn't really do the piece justice, as the red poppy has an enamel look finish.

Monday 4 June 2018

Sunday 3 June 2018

Thrinchies and Inchies = Art Journal Page

The May prompt on Nina Ribena's Art Journal Prompts and More was Trade It.  For the fourth week, she specified inchies (1" x 1"), twinchies (2" x 2") and thrinchies (3" x 3") as the sub prompt.  As I am turning all the prompts into weekly art journal pages, this was my response.  As you will see, I turned two thrinchies and three inchies into dice to fit the quote that I chose.

Saturday 2 June 2018

From Cardboard Packaging to Mixed Media Embellishments

I have started collecting my drink packaging since attending a class with Maria Moorhouse.  We turned packaging into embellishments using Sizzix Bigz dies.  I have taken things one step further and used the dies that I have with matching embossing folders, for extra texture.  All these embellishments were created from one box!

Friday 1 June 2018