Music Feeds the Soul: An Art Journal Page

I was really challenged by the colour combination for this art journal page, following the prompts for April over on Mission Inspiration.  The colours chosen were Royal Purple, Postbox Red and Grass Green (not a combination I would have gone for myself), so I hope you like my finished page.  The prompt title was 'Music feed the Soul' and the five prompt words for this month were Music / Dance / song / Melody / Soul.

Forever Autumn: An Art Journal Page

The challenge over on the That's crafty Challenge Blog this month is 'Forever Autumn'.  I decided to play with layers of stamping and also wanted to see how heat embossing over Distress Oxides would look.

Fantasy Journal Page at the WOYWW Crop

As I was attending the annual WOYWW crop I decided to take the  minimum of crafting to do.  So much time is spent catching up, eating cake, catching up, cake, coffee ... you get the idea, that there is little actual time spent on crafting.  I therefore only took some stamps, my Strathmore Visual Journal water brushes and colouring materials: Luminarte Twinkling H2Os and my Ecoline pens from Royal Talens.  Even so, I didn't finish the page while I was there.

A Gothic Journal Page

This page was created for the July challenge on Mixed Media Art Journey, however, as it also fits the current Gothic challenge over on JJAMMMA (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art), I am also entering it there.

WOYWW 475: On the Road

Morning everyone. We all made it back from Berlin safely and I have just about caught up with my sleep having averaged about 4.5 hours a night for 5 days.  This week I should have more time to visit everyone, once I've analysed some data and made 6 more leavers' cards; it's a good job that I have an extra day off this week.

My desk this morning shows the results of yesterday's monthly journal meet up in Stockport.  The colouring page was a gift from one of the ladies, the page peeking out from underneath the result of an impromptu workshop that Louise Withers gave us and the background what I got up to with some Amsterdam acrylic paint and a scraper.  Why am I sharing a picture of my desk? To link up with the long running weekly blog share - WOYWW - run by our illustrious leader Julia over on the Stamping Ground.  I will be sharing a full step by step of the workshop later this week (with Lou's permission) so pop back if you want to see more.

On the other side of the desk yesterday, one of the ladies did her own interpretation of Lou's workshop.  Eva couldn't make it as she had a meeting, but normal service should be resumed next week.

Lou took a picture of us as we were working.

So I returned the favour later on.  Have a great week everyone! 
Adding a link to Hazel's blog candy page as she is one of us and has been blogging for 11 years now!

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.

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!

Abstract Background to Journal Page

This journal page started with no particular aim in mind.  I took some pens, stencils and oil pastels to a JJAMMMA journal meet up together with my Strathmore Visual Journal and simply played around.  I didn't finish the page until the next day as there were several ways that I felt it could go.

WOYWW 463: Road Trip!

Welcome to the weekly desk visit hosted by our great leader Julia over on the Stamping Ground.  Today she is sharing news of the impending ninth anniversary of this weekly blog link up.  My desk shots today weren't taken in the shed, as yesterday was the regular journal meet up at Stockport Hobbycraft of the JJAMMMA group (Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art).

My desk shows some of the items that I took with me to work in my Strathmore Visual Journal and the start of a background using my Ecoline pens.

On the other side of the desk, Eva had brought some colouring with her and had already taken advantage of some of the offers in store.

Kaz had brought some items for collaging in her journal.

Paul had brought some stamping and colouring and Lou was also working on water colouring.  I didn't take pictures of the other 'guests', but a good time was had by all.  Happy What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday!

A Layered Background With No Destination In Mind: Art Journal Page

Masterpiece or work in progress?
I started this page at a journal meet up while away from my desk.  I had taken my Strathmore Visual Journal with me, together with my Royal Talens Ecoline pens, some Spectrum Noir sparkle pens, my mini Archival inks, a folder of Stampers' Anonymous Tim Holtz Background stamps, tins of Distress crayons and my Tim Holtz mini layering stencils.  I had absolutely no plan or destination in mind when I started.  I finished the page when back home in my shed and there are not as many photos as usual of my steps, as I was too busy playing and chatting to think of taking many while I was out.

WOYWW 458: A Change of Scenery

This week's WOYWW is a little different, as I am not sharing my usual desk. I wasn't crafting in my shed yesterday, but with a group of JJJAMA friends (Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art) at the Hobbycraft store in Stockport.  We meet up once a month on the third Tuesday of the month.
Julia will explain more about WOYWW if you visit The Stamping Ground, where she hosts our weekly virtual get together.

My desk shows some of the stash that I took with me to work in my Strathmore Visual Journal.  I decided to build up a background, but you'll have to visit again tomorrow to see where the finished piece ends up.  The ice cream / doughnut stickers were a gift from a fellow attendee, Kaz.  She creates the most amazing art with the bargains that she picks up in various places.

She was using her latest find, a box of 24 water soluble pastels from Hobbycraft (usual price £6, bought on sale for £3).  They appear to be aimed at children but are fantastic to work with.
Eva was not on the other side of the desk  as usual; she had to go to Cardiff for an examiners' meeting.  Instead, there were two lovely and very creative ladies making a guest appearance to my WOYWW post.

Lou Withers and Jane Telford

If you caught Barbara Gray's live show from the NEC on Hochanda last Saturday, you will recognise Lou and Jane.  Lou - JJJAMA leader - brings Royal Talens and Golden products to Hochanda and Jane is a member of the Claritystamp design team.  Lou was working on adding embroidery to an IndigoBlu printed fabric piece which she had already added colour to; Jane was working on some Folk Art pieces.
I had a fabulous time catching up with everyone.  (Paul did turn up later Neet and we had a good natter, but I forgot to take a picture as we were talking too much lol.) 
The best news came when I checked my phone before setting off home.  I had received a text to say that I have a second Great Niece, born the day before!

WOYWW 454: Crafting on My Lonesome

Once again I am crafting alone.  Eva is still feeling poorly so was unable to visit yesterday when I usually take the photos of our desks.  Thank you for all the get well wishes last week;  I have passed them all on to her.  I was getting this post ready even earlier than ' normal (late Tuesday morning) as I had to go into school later for a parents' evening even though Tuesday is usually my day off.

My side of the desk shows my craft 'to do' list.  If the project has been ticked then it is complete and the photos have all been taken ready for a step by step on my blog.  Once the blog post has been written, I cross out the project on the list.  As you can see, I am four projects behind on Wanderlust having only completed two and a half of the lessons so far.  I'm not worrying though, as I have downloaded all the videos and will get to them in my own time.  The right hand page in my Strathmore Visual Journal shows the page that I created after work on Monday to wind down (see HERE).  The weird image is one that my son wanted me to turn into a Valentine's card (I didn't ask lol) and the ATC peeking out from underneath is one of three that I finished before writing this post ready for a swap.  I was about to start work on a tag for the fortnightly challenge on Tag It Tuesday too.

As you can see, the other side of the desk is bare!  I do hope that Eva is feeling a lot better soon and up to crafting with me in the shed.  Although I'm also hoping that she won't be with me next week as it will mean that she is well enough to go and visit her sister and family in Germany over half term.
To find out more about why I (and many others) share their desks each Wednesday, or if you'd like to join in yourself, go and visit Julia at The Stamping Ground where all is explained further!

A Bird Does Not Sing: An Art Journal Page

For once I simply created an art journal page for myself; not in response to a challenge or a prompt, but simply the result of playing with new media. In fact I got so engrossed in the process that I forgot to take photos of the stages towards the end.

Your True Colours: A Journal Page

This is the first time that I have created a two page spread in my Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal.  However, as that was the first prompt for the February challenge over on Mixed Media Art Journey, I decided to see how I could make it work in a spiral bound journal.  The remaining prompts were 'use blue', 'hide a secret', 'use a stamp', 'add a pattern' and 'song lyrics'.  As you can see, I chose the Cyndi Lauper hit 'True Colours'.