Warm Winter Wishes

I tried a new technique on my art journal page for the Something New challenge that I’m hosting this month over at Art Journal Journey.

The new technique was for the background and involved watercolour paints and sea salt crystals; I have to say it was a fun and easy technique to do (grin!).

I flooded the page with water and added Indigo, Ultramarine, Turquoise Blue, Cobalt Violet and White Kuretake watercolour paints, graduating the colours down the page to white at the bottom. Then while the paint was still wet I sprinkled coarse sea salt crystals over the top and left it to dry.

When dry I brushed the salt crystals off the page and a beautiful mottled effect was left where the crystals had reacted with the paint.

Next I fussy cut the owl sitting on a bench from an old Christmas card and arranged him onto the page so it looked like the bench was disappearing under a bank of snow. The snowflakes were die cut using my new Thinlet Set by Tim Holtz from white linen textured paper and some glittery blue/purple coloured papers. I added some wording from a sticker book by Tim Holtz which reads “a wondrous sight”, “the wintry landscape” and “covered with snow”. I die cut two labels from the blue/purple and also from white linen paper using a Tim Holtz tag die set. Then I cut the white paper label slightly smaller, stamped “warm winter wishes” using Ground Espresso Distress Archival Ink and an alphabet stamp set and layered the two labels together before sticking them in place, which finished the page.

Whilst on a winter walk around Glasson Dock we saw a strange shape in a tree and took some pictures, to our surprise when we looked through our camera lens there was this Little Owl sat there looking at us. My hubby took this picture before he flew away – isn’t he adorable (grin!).

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m joining in the Something New challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge with the new technique and Snowflake Thinlet set that I used on this page.

I’m so happy to join the #109 – Sketch challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps; the “paperbabe stamps” is represented by the “a wondrous sight” wording and the “flower” by the “owl” image, also the snow bank divides the page into two. 

I’m also pleased to join the Snowflakes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with all the snowflakes that I added to my page.

Don’t forget that you still have over a week to join our What a cutie/Make someone smile challenge over at Try it on Tuesday too, it would be lovely to see you there!

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paint set (Indigo No.67, Ultramarine No.64, Turquoise Blue No.62, Cobalt Violet No. 139, White No.10)
• Course Sea Salt Crystals
• Old Christmas Card
• Pritt Stick
• Sizzix Thinlets Tim Holtz (Paper Snowflakes, Mini 661599)
• Craft Sensations (Luxury Cardstock with Linen Texture – White CRO240/GE)
• The Works M&C Boutique (Paper Pad)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233)
• Zig Memory System 2-way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
• Sizzix Framelits Tim Holtz (Tag Collection 658784)
• Ranger Distress Archival Ink (Ground Espresso)
• Dovecraft Essentials Alphabet Stamp Set (WDN ALPHA STMP DCVW0050)
• X-Press double-sided tape

Winter Sparrows

We have been enjoying the antics of the cheeky House Sparrows that have been visiting the bird feeder in our garden so I created a page to remind me of them.

I used my new snowflake thinlet set by Tim Holtz and some images from a Winter Collective paper by Graphic 45 (also new to my craft stash) to create this page, so I’m pleased to join the Something New challenge that I’m hosting this month over at Art Journal Journey. I’d like to thank all of you for your lovely comments and wonderful creations so far, I hope you are having fun getting creative with this theme (grin!).

I stencilled the brickwork background using Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Ink adding some Peeled Paint Distress Ink so they looked like the brick walls of my garden. Next I die cut some snowflakes using my new thinlets set by Tim Holtz and Big Shot machine. They are cut from some recycled Kraft paper and are stuck in place using a glue stick.

Then I layered together some images and borders that I cut from the Winter Collective paper by Graphic 45 which are stuck in place using double-sided tape; the sparrows reminded me of the ones in our garden. I added some red glittery gems to add some sparkle which finished the page.

Here are the house sparrows visiting the feeder in our garden, they are such fun to watch as there are about 9 or 10 of them and only 4 perches on our feeder so they all fly to the feeder at once and then push each other off the perches to get to the seed (grin!).

In the end, they all seem to get there fair share of seed. We are pleased to see them in such numbers in our garden as House Sparrows in the UK have declined over the years and they are one of the highest conservation priorities.

We loved seeing them and these shared the love by creating a heart shape as they fed on the feeder (double grin!).

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m happy to join in the Love challenge over at Country View Challenges with my Winter Sparrows art journal page as we love them visiting our garden.

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Something New challenge too as I used new products to create this page.

I’m also pleased to join the Snowflakes challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with all the snowflakes that I included on my page too.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Craft Sensations (Deco Stencil Set 154892)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint)
• Recycled Kraft Paper
• Sizzix Thinlets Tim Holtz (Paper Snowflakes, Mini 661599)
• Pritt Stick
• Graphic 45 12”x12” Paper Seasons Collection (Winter Collective #4501616)
• X-Press It! double-sided tape
• Multicraft (Gemstone Embellishments – Glam SEO19C)

Something New at Art Journal Journey

I am so delighted to be hosting Art Journal Journey this month and the challenge that I have chosen is:

Something New

It’s a new year, so we would like you to create an art journal page with something “new” in mind. This could include a new product or technique, or be inspired by a new job, home or hobby, new beginnings, adventure or outlook, or even a Happy New Year!

I created a page with a fresh colour palette to depict something new. I started by covering the page with stamped images from a Steampunk background stamp by Docrafts and a new stamp set from Creative Sensations using black Archival Ink; I used this ink for all the stamping on this page. Then I applied Acqua Dolce, Guava and Kiwi Faber-Castell Gelatos by scribbling them onto the paper and then smudging the colour with my finger which I wet using a baby wipe.

To add some depth to the page, I applied some white gesso with my finger and also through a star stencil, and when dry I stamped some images from a Provincial and a Stargazer stamp set, both from Kaisercraft. I also splattered the page with Titanium White and Carbon Black Liquitex Ink using a paintbrush.

Next I chose five art journal cards from Kaisercraft and stamped them with the “Something New” challenge title using a Concord & 9^th stamp set and also listed some ways that you could interpret the challenge using a Dovecraft stamp set. They are stuck in place using double-sided tape and to finish I added some gold glittery stars, which were also new to my craft stash.

I chose this challenge with it being a new year and also because I normally have new crafting goodies as part of my Christmas gifts. This year didn’t disappoint as I have received some great additions to my craft stash and I plan to use some of them to join our Something New challenge.

Maybe you could use some new products as well on your pages, it could be a present or be something sitting in its packaging still waiting to be used – yes this happens to me too (grin!).

I’m looking forward to trying out a couple of new techniques on my pages for this challenge too, so watch this space.

I also thought that some of you might be setting new goals, choosing a new word for the year or even starting a new hobby so these would be perfect for this challenge too.

There are so many options, I hope that you are inspired by this month’s Something New challenge too and will join in the fun here at Art Journal Journey – I can’t wait to visit you and see your creations (grin!).  

Wishing you all the best for 2020!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Docrafts Creativity Essentials A5 Clear Background Stamp (Steampunk Background DCE907128)
• Craft Sensations Clear Stamps (CRO274/19A)
• Ranger Arcival Ink (Jet Black)
• Faber-Castell Gelato (Acqua Dolce, Guava, Kiwi)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Star Stencil
• Kaisercraft clear stamp (Provincial CS243, Stargazer CS327)
• Liquitex Inks! (Titanium White, Carbon Black)
• Kaisercraft Captured Moments 3×4” Journal Cards (Life’s Treasures CM108)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
• Concord & 9^th Stamp Set (Sophisticated Script 10056)
• Dovecraft Alphabet Stamp Set (WDN ALPHA STMP DCV0050)
• X-Press It! double-sided tape
• The Works Make & Create (Christmas Glitter Stickers – Gold Stars)

12 Days of Christmas

Our new theme for the next two weeks at Try it on Tuesday is Inspired by a Song/Christmas Carol.

My page was inspired by the song ‘12 Days of Christmas’. I’m so excited to find out which song you have chosen to inspire your creations, please be sure to let us know.

I started by dividing the page into 12 equal sections; each sections is coloured and then stamped with a Sheet Music stamp using a different colour of Distress Ink; in numerical order the colours were Shabby Shutters, Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron and Fired Brick. They are all edged using a Postage Stamp border stamp and black Archival Ink and then splattered with white gesso and black acrylic paint. I added the numbers which are die cut from black paper and stuck into place, like all of the paper elements, using a Zig Memory glue pen. Then I created a scene to depict each line of the song using some white mixed media paper to either stamp with black Archival Ink or die cut the different elements. The main characters are from a 12 Days of Christmas stamp set by Urban Stamps and for:

1. A partridge in a pear tree – I fussy cut the partridge and three pears that I had stamped and arranged them on the page with a die cut branch from a Garden Greens Thinlet set by Tim Holtz which I edged using a black marker pen.
2. Turtle Doves – I surrounded the dove with some hearts that were created using a paper punch.
3. French Hens – The foreground was created using a circle die cut which I stamped with some French wording and the three snowflakes are die cut too.
4. Calling Birds – The berry branch was from the Tim Holtz Garden Greens Thinlet set and the music notes were hand drawn and cut out.
5. Gold Rings – I suspended the five gold rings using thin strips of paper and added some bows that were stamped from the 12 Days of Christmas stamp set and they were very fiddly to cut out (grin!).
6. Geese a Laying – I stamped and cut out some extra eggs.
7. Swans a Swimming – I added some extra waves and a circle die cut to depict the sun.
8. Maids a Milking – The flowers were die cut using a Funky Florals Thinlet set from Tim Holtz.
9. Ladies Dancing – I created the dance floor and little flowers using another Urban Arts stamp set.
10. Lords a Leaping – The foreground and the snow fall were created using die cuts.
11. Pipers Piping – I used the Sheet Music stamp again to depict the Piper’s music.
12. Drummers Drumming – The tiered podium is created using a square die cut set and the stars are from the 12 Days of Christmas stamp set.

For more inspiration please pop over to Try it on Tuesday to see the amazing creations from my Design Teamies.

Do you know the song 12 Days of Christmas? It’s an English Christmas carol which has a simple verse structure that is modified with the progressive addition of Christmas gifts, so that each verse is longer than the verse before. It starts:

On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
A Partridge in a Pear Tree

On the second day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

… etc, etc

And ends:

On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
12 Drummers Drumming
11 Pipers Piping
10 Lords a Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing
8 Maids a Milking
7 Swans a Swimming
6 Geese a Laying
5 Gold Rings
4 Calling Birds
3 French Hens
2 Turtle Doves
and a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Our local garden centre had a Christmas evening that I went along to with my sister and mum, we had a wonderful time and we all bought some Christmas gifts for family and friends.

The Christmas displays were so pretty and they even had live music which I really enjoyed (grin!).

They also treated us to a free mince pie and some mulled wine, so as T Stands for Tuesday I’m sharing this treat with you too – Happy T Day!

Sending Happy Thanksgiving wishes to those of you who celebrate this week too!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the lovely Rike from rike’s art and her Fruit and Veggies challenge over at Art Journal Journey with ny pear tree.

I’m also happy to join in the Hand Stamped challenge hosted by the lovely Craftyfield over at Country View Challenges as I used six different stamp sets for this page including the main characters for each of the 12 scenes being hand stamped and fussy cut out.

As I included stars on my page, I’m also joining Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Starry Starry Night challenge too.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Shabby Shutters, Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Fired Brick)
• Woodware Clear Magic Singles (Sheet Music JGS111)
• Docrafts Papermania Mini Clear Stamps (Letters to Santa PMA907917)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (Black)
• Leon X-Large Coloured Paper (Black)
• Sizzix Thinlets Debi Patter (Brush Numbers 661726)
• White mixed media paper
• Docrafts Papermania Urban Stamps (12 Days of Christmas – Icons PMA907909, Craft Collection – Pastels PMA907223)
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlets (Garden Greens 661206, Funky Floral #1 662700)
• Sharpie Permanent marker (Black)
• Tonic Studios Paper Punch Accent (Hearts Sider 830E)
• The Works (Cutting Dies – Stitched Circles, Stitched Squares)
• Crafter’s Companion Parisian Collection Clear Stamp (Beau Collage S-PAR-ST-BCOL)
• Poppy Stamps Craft Dies (Small Blooming Poinsettia Style No: 902)
• Uni Pin Fine Line marker (Black 0.2mm)
• Craft Sensations (Clear Stamps CR0274/16R1)
• Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue (Glue Dual Action Pen)

Window On Your World

Our new challenge over at A Vintage Journey is Window On Your World, which is being hosted by Deb. Here’s what it is all about:

“This month we would like to see some kind of window or tunnelled element in your creations. Think hollowed out books, multiple layers with openings to see what has gone before, hidden flaps or windows that when opened reveal a secret element. Just remember to create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.”

I couldn’t resist art journaling for Deb’s fabulous Window On Your World challenge. Taking the challenge literally, I was inspired by the actual autumnal window display in my house incorporating maple leaves, pumpkins and sunflowers for my autumnal window scene.

I started by stencilling the brickwork using a mixture of Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye and Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. Then I created the grass by stamping a grass stamp with Cottage Ivy Memento Ink onto some green paper and cutting it out; it’s stuck in place using a UHU Stic which I used for most of the paper elements. Next I coloured some watercolour paper using Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and used a branch Thinlet from the Funky Floral set by Tim Holtz to create the tree. I also stamped a wood grain stamp from BoBunny using Rich Cocoa Memento Ink along the trunk.

I used a Vintage window die set cutting it out several times from white cardstock and one from some Tim Holtz wood design paper using my Big Shot machine; they are layered together to form the window frame and window box. To create the interior view through the window, I layered the window frame onto a piece of lace and then some pumpkin coloured patterned paper. The flowers for the window box, little butterflies, pumpkin and “Autumn” sign are all fussy cut from Autumn Collective paper by Graphic 45 and are edged using Spiced Marmalade and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker.

I also created a “be thankful” sign to tie into the season too, using Clipping Stickers from Tim Holtz; both signs are backed with some Tim Holtz paper.

Lots of small maple leaves finished the page; they were die cut using a Fall Foliage Thinlets set from Tim Holtz from the same Graphic 45 paper, coloured along the edges using Spiced Marmalade and Ground Espresso Distress Ink, edged with a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell marker and stuck in place using double-sided foam tape.

If you enjoy art journaling like me and want to add a window to your page or interpret the theme by creating some openings or hidden flap-windows on your page then why not join us this month (grin!). Alternatively for lots more inspiration and ideas, please pop over to see the amazing creations from my fellow Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey; it would be lovely to see you there!

I love the seasons and always decorate my dining room window to celebrate each season.

With the challenge being Window On Your World, I was inspired to use some of the elements, namely the maple leaves, pumpkins and sunflowers, that are contained within my own window display as part of my art journal page design; it was such a fun page to create (grin!).

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Challenges

I’m glad I found out about Challenge Blogs, like A Vintage Journey, as I enjoy taking part, they provide me with inspiration for my pages and are a wonderful way to meet like-minded arty people. So here are the challenges I’m joining today:

I’m pleased to join the lovely Rike from rike’s art and her Fruit and Veggies challenge over at Art Journal Journey as I included pumpkin on my page.

I’m joining the Autumn & Gratitude challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday with my autumnal scene and be thankful wording.

I’m happy to join in the fun over at Creative Artiste Challenge Blog for their #55- Anything Mixed Media Goes with my mixed media art journal page including inks, papers, lace, markers and stickers.

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Anything Goes challenge too.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Craft Sensations (Deco Stencil Set 154892)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade, Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso)
• Crafter’s Companion Luxury Designer Paper Pad (Angelica & Adam Collection A&A-PAP6-M)
• Dovecraft Clear Stamp (DCR588)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Cottage Ivy, Rich Cocoa)
• Watercolour Paper
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Funky Floral Large 664158)
• BoBunny Stamp (Rough It Up Item#12105155)
• White Cardstock
• Hobbybase Prestige Craft Dies (Vintage HBV004)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper Stash (Halloween #TH93712)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Cold Grey IV 233, Dark Sepia 175 B)
• The Range (Crafting Lace)
• Pion Design The Witching Hour Paper (October Garden 6×6” PD8104)
• Graphic 45 Seasons Collection 12×12” Paper (Autumn Collective #4501622)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Clipping Stickers #TH93583)
• Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlets (Fall Foilage 660955)
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• UHU Stic
• X-Press It double-sided tape and double-sided foam tape

Remember

I’ve been wanting to join a couple of blog challenges, so I created this art journal page which turned out to be quite cathartic in the end; with my friend passing, this journal pages serves to capture wording to prompt me to look at things differently – I hope you like it!

I also wanted to thank you all for your kind thoughts and comments regarding my dear friend, it is very much appreciated!

To start, I covered the page in Snow Cone, Lime and Boysenberry Faber-Castell Gelatos by scribbling the gelatos onto the page and smudging the colour with my finger which I wet with water. Once dry, I stencilled dots by removing the gelato colour through the stencil using a baby wipe and also added a flower design by applying white pigment ink through the stencil. Then I stamped some chevrons and arrows from a Kaisercraft stamp set using black Archival Ink. The feathers are wall stickers which I edged with black Faber-Castell marker and stuck to the page. I then splattered the whole page with black acrylic paint. Next I stuck a silver dreamcatcher and three silver arrows onto the page and embellished them with green gems. I added some Small Talk stickers from Tim Holtz which prompts me to “remember” the good times, to “just breathe”, to “be brave”, to “stay strong” and to “love you”; the top and bottom edge are outlined with a black marker pen. I also arranged some clear teardrop gemstones in lines down the page and to finish, I embellished the feathers with a silver disc from an old necklace.

I thought the T Gang over at T Stands for Tuesday, may like this cute otter that was etched onto a glass containing my pint of Otter Ale (grin) – cheers and Happy T Day!

Challenges

I’m happy to join in the Blue and Green challenge over at Country View Challenges with my page as they are my favourite colours.

I’m pleased to join the Anything Goes challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps too.

With the splatters of paint and splodges from the stencilling, my page also serves as a reminder that you still have another week to join our Splatters and Splodges challenge over at Try it on Tuesday, it would be lovely to see you there!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Faber-Castell Gelato (Snow Cone, Lime, Boysenberry)
• Craft Sensations (Deco Stencil Set 154892)
• That’s Crafty! 8x8ins Stencil (Decorative Flower – TC8039)
• Docrafts Artiste Pigment Ink (White)
• Kaisercraft clear stamp (Mister Fox CS173)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Main Street Wall Creations Jumbo Stickers (Watercolor Feathers SKU261499)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Black 199)
• Docrafts Crafter’s Acrylic (Black)
• The Range (Dreamcatchers Stickers CR1237)
• B&M Craft Pack (Turquoise)
• Graham & Brown (Adhesive Jewels)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Small Talk #TH93193)
• Handwriting Pen (Black)
• Old necklace
• Ranger Glossy Accents

Celebrate Friendship

Today my page celebrates one of my best friends who sadly passed away last weekend after battling cancer; it’s heart breaking, she was only in her forties and it seems so unfair that she left this world so early. She was a shining light of love, kindness, enthusiasm and positively, which I hoped to have captured on my page!

My friend loved colour so I painted the background using my Kuretake watercolour paint set to create a rainbow effect; by wetting the paper with water and then applying Lemon Yellow, Orange, Cadmium Scarlet, Red, Rose Madder, Colbalt Violet, Turquoise Blue, Ultramarine, Viridian, Sap Green Light and Yellow Ochre paint in stripes vertically on the page letting the paint blend together where they joined. When the paint was dry I used two Carabelle Studios Art Stamps to stamp the letters and also some thistle heads using black Versafine Ink. To finish, I added some appropriate wording which are Kaisercraft stickers; they read “love you”, “forever and always” and “The language of friendship is not in words but meanings by Henry David Thoreau” the latter being mounted onto some pink design paper.

It’s been an emotional week and my garden has helped by keeping me busy, here are my “pretties” (mesembryanthemums) that I grew from seed; I love their multi-coloured flowers which seem appropriate as they only open when the sun is shining!

I would also like to apologise to my blog friends for my lack of visits this past week, I look forward to catching up with you again soon. Thank you, Jo x

Challenges

I’m pleased to join the lovely Chris from pearshapedcrafting and her We’re all/going challenge over at Art Journal Journey as we’re all bright and colourful today.

I’m joining in the Make Your Own Background challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with my watercolour background art journal page.

There is still a few more days to join the Colours of the Rainbow Challenge over at Try it on Tuesday too!

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

• Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour Paint set (Lemon Yellow, Orange, Cadmium Scarlet, Red, Rose Madder, Colbalt Violet, Turquoise Blue, Ultramarine, Viridian, Sap Green Light, Yellow Ochre)
• Tsukineko Versafine Ink (Onyx Black)
• Carabelle Studio Art Stamp (Background avec des Lettres SA60233, Dans la nature, il ya … SA60175)
• Kaisercraft Sticker Book (Antiquities SK807)
• Craft Sensations Design Pad (Bright Colours CRO730/R)
• Stix2 double-sided tape