Here with you

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought I’d create a page with my hubby in mind. We have been married for many years (it will be 32 years this year) so I created a romantic vintage page.

I also used some of my new Wendy Vecchi Make Art Blendable Dye inks from Ranger; they were fun to use and I love the colours and coverage – see what you think.  

I started by adding some ripped book pages to the page using a glue stick and then I stamped an Finnabair and a Woodware Craft stamp to add some script and sheet  music using black Archival Ink. Next I applied some Pébéo white gesso using a brayer and when dry applied some Potting Soil, Acorn and Watering Can Wendy Vecchi Make Art inks which I watered down on an acrylic block before painting them onto the page with a paintbrush. I also applied some more of the Acorn ink through a Moroccan stencil using a blending tool.

The roses are fussy cut from a wallpaper sample and like all the paper elements, I created some shadows around them so they stood out more by applying and smudging some Dark Sepia Faber-Castell marker with my finger before sticking them down using Liquitex matte gel medium. The roses are arranged on the page with some Kaisercraft Stickers; this included some bird and foliage images, some white, green and grey hearts and also some wording which reads “here with you”, “there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy” and “joy is contagious”. To finish, I splattered the page with black and white DecoArt acrylic paint.

There are so many reasons to be happy when I’m with my hubby, we always have fun together and for that I am very thankful (grin!).

Over at Try it on Tuesday we have a Design Team call out, so if you are interested in joining our friendly group and have a current blog, just add DT to your challenge entry to our current or next theme over at Try it on Tuesday. We accept projects using any mediums, materials, style etc. it is your choice what you make, as long as it is based on the challenge theme.

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 Something New challenge that I’m hosting over at Art Journal Journey as I used my new Wendy Vecchi Make Art Inks on this page.

As this page was created with my hubby in mind, I’m pleased to join the Love challenge over at Country View Challenges.

With the Moroccan stencil that I added to this page, I’m also happy to join the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and their Use a Stencil challenge too.

I’m also joining the Anything Goes challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps with my vintage page too.

With the worn and weather look that I created on my art journal page, I also wanted to remind you that there is still time to join the We’re all getting older challenge this month over at A Vintage Journey, it would be lovely to see you there!

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

• Old book pages
• Pritt Stick
• Prima Marketing Finnibair Clear Stamp (Old Receipt Item#966980)
• Woodware Craft Collection Clear Magic Singles (Sheet Music JGS111)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Ranger Brayer (Small)
• Ranger Wendy Vecchi Blendable Dye Ink (Potting Soil, Acorn, Watering Can)
• Creative Expressions That Special Touch of Mica Masks (Morrocan)
• Wallpaper sample
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Kaisercraft Sticker Sheet (Everlasting SS376, High Tea SS336)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Marker (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (Black, White)

Chococo

When we visited our family for the Christmas holidays we went on a chocolate adventure to Chococo, which is a chocolate shop and café. We had such a wonderful time that I created this page to remember it by.

I covered the background with a striped piece of Kaisercraft paper; the bold colours reminded me of the Chococo logo and store. I edged the page with a thin brown washi tape and then cut up a leaflet that I’d picked up there; this included the Chococo logo, gingerbread caramel chocolate and two chocolate lollies with birds on them. They are arranged on the page with some die cut brown hearts, a circular hot chocolate image and some wording which reads “cozy” and “even when it’s cold outside our memories keep us warm”. The wording “sweet” is from Kaisercraft and “an armful of candy boxes” is from Tim Holtz, both of which are stickers. To finish the page, I added three wooden glittery snowflakes as we visited in winter.

Chococo is located in Horsham, West Sussex and celebrates all things chocolate.

They have a chocolate counter with lots of yummy treats and …

… also a café specialising in hot chocolate.

I couldn’t resist having one of their Gingerbread Caramel Hot Chocolates with all the works (whipped cream, marshmallows and chocolate shavings), it was so delicious and was accompanied by one of their award winning gingerbread caramel chocolates – yum yum!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m sharing my drink related post with the T Gang and wishing you all a very Happy T Day!

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

Challenges

As this was a new café for us to visit, I’m joining the Something New challenge that I’m hosting over at Art Journal Journey, it would be great to see you there (grin!).

I’m also happy to join in the Love challenge over at Country View Challenges with my art journal page, who doesn’t love chocolate (double grin!).

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

I’m also happy to be able to join the Anything Goes challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps with my page too.

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

• Kaisercraft 12×12 Paper Save the Date Collection (Invite P949)
• Washi Tape
• Chococo leaflet – recycled
• The Works Die Cut Book (Winter Feelings)
• X-Press It! double-sided tape
• Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
• Kaisercraft Sticker Sheet (Havana Nights SS354)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology Sticker Book (Christmas #TH93999)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• The Craftblog Christmas Village Collection (Glittered Wooden Shapes)
• Stix2 glue dots

Happy New Year 2020

We are so pleased to launch our first challenge of 2020 over at Try it on Tuesday:

Such a cutie/ Make someone smile

So I couldn’t resist using my favourite Merry Moose Tim Holtz thinlet set as the moose is such a cutie and always makes me smile especially with his antlers decorated with New Years bunting – wishing you all a Happy New Year!

To start, I coloured the background using Cracked Pistachio Distress Stain and when dry I stencilled the stars using the same Distress Stain too. I fussy cut a star constellation design in a semi-circle shape from an American Crafts paper pad and stuck it to the bottom of the page using a glue stick.

Next I die cut the moose using the Tim Holtz thinlet set and my Big Shot machine from some linen textured paper. I coloured the moose Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso Distress Ink and his antlers using Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I edged the moose with a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker and stuck him in place using a Zig Memory System glue pen. For the bunting, I stamped a bunting image onto some coloured design paper using black Archival Ink and fussy cut them out. Then I arranged some black wax cotton around the moose antlers and stuck the bunting triangles onto it.

I also stamped the bunting onto the top of the page and onto some more of the coloured design paper; again I cut the bunting triangles out of the paper and stuck them on top of the stamped bunting images. I added the gold glittery letters to create the wording “Happy New Year” and “2020” and also three clusters of stickers from Tim Holtz which I thought were appropriate for the New Year; they read “Artist – Life is full of beauty”, “Exploring – The first step in the journey” and “Wishing – peace, happiness and love”. Then to finish, I added lots of glittery flowers and dots which are Glitterations stickers.

For more inspiration please pop over to see the amazing cutie creations from my Design Teamies over at Try it on Tuesday, they are sure to make you smile!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m toasting in the New Year with a cocktail of pineapple gin and cream soda – Happy T Day! The pineapple gin was homemade by soaking pineapple fruit pieces in gin with some sugar for 4 weeks – so yummy!

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 Something New challenge over at Art Journal Journey that I’m hosting this month with my New Year page.

I’m joining the Triangles challenge over at Moo Mania & More with the triangular bunting on my page – so sorry that this is your last challenge at Moo Mania, I will miss you very much!

I’m also happy to join in the Love challenge over at Country View Challenges as I love the Merry Moose thinlet set that I used on this page and as my page says I’m wishing that 2020 is filled with peace, happiness and love.

I’m also pleased to join in the fun over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and their Something New challenge with my New Year page too.

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

• Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Cracked Pistachio)
• Creative Stencils Craft Essentials (Stars MAOB0004)
• American Crafts Paper Pad (DIY Shop 366665)
• Pritt Stick
• Craft Sensations (Luxury Cardstock with Linen Texture CRO240/GE)
• Wilko Metallic Glitter Tape (Gold)
• Sizzix Thinlets Tim Holtz (Merry Moose 663103)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso, Antique Linen)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• Zig Memory System 2-Way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
• Black wax cotton thread
• Paperstash from local craft shop
• Hobbycraft Clear Stamp (Bunting SO300HC)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Trimcraft Alphabet & Number Stickers (Gold Glitter SCSTK013)
• Docrafts Papermania Glitterations (Gold Flowers ANT8181020)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Clippings Stickers #TH93583)

Paris

Today I chose to travel back to Paris whilst Art Journaling for the new challenge that is being hosted by the lovely Alison over at A Vintage Journey which is:

We’re all getting older.

It has nothing to do with your age, it’s all about making things look older; here’s what the challenge is about:

“Time for weathering and distressing, or some ageing and antiquing. Make a project using techniques for making the new look old, whether that’s paper projects, altered art or mixed media. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk”.

I created a worn and distressed Art Journal page of Paris making the collaged papers look old.

To start, I ripped pieces of book pages about France which came from an old encyclopaedia and also pieces from a sample of Paris themed wallpaper. Then I collaged them onto the page using matte gel medium.

Once dry, I distressed the collage papers by staining them using Ground Espresso and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks. I did this by stamping the ink pads onto an acrylic block, spritzing with some water and pressing/dripping the ink onto the page and also by painting diluted ink along the edges of each of the collaged papers. To add to the worn grungy look, I also lightly sprinkled the page with some Dark Brown Brusho powder, spritzed it with water to activate the colour and dried it with my heat gun. Next I added some white gesso using a baby wipe and when dry, I edged the collaged pieces using a Dark Sepia Faber-Castell Big Brush marker smudging the ink with my finger.

I stamped a series of Paris related stamps using black Archival ink; the stamps included some little round “T” postage mark stamps from Prima Marketing and also a birdcage, bee, “Paris”, filigree branch and two crowns by Graphic 45 from Hampton Art. I then splattered the whole page with black DecoArt acrylic paint using a paintbrush.

I die cut some flower shapes and a round disc from dark brown and blue patterned papers using some Spellbinders dies and my Big Shot machine. Then I used two rectangular pieces of the same patterned papers which I distressed using scissors, the Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and the Dark Sepia Big Brush marker. I cut out an oval picture of the Eiffel Tower from the wallpaper sample and backed it with white card. Then I layered them all onto the page using double-sided tape and added some pearl gem stickers along the edge of the patterned paper.

To finish, I added a butterfly sticker from Tim Holtz and some pretty pale blue silk roses which are stuck in place using Glossy Accents.

If you want to join in the fun why not create a weathered, distressed or age effect too and share it with us at A Vintage Journey, it would be lovely to see you there!

For more Inspiration, please pop over to see the amazing creations from my fellow Creative Guides over at A Vintage Journey too.

It seems like many years have passed since we visited Paris, so I guess I must be getting older but hopefully not as worn and distressed as my page (grin!).

This is one of the yummy patisseries that we went to – can you guess which cake I chose from the lovely display here?

My favourite is always the strawberry tarts, they are so delicious and I only had one, I promise … well I only had one everyday for the week we were there (double grin!).

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 Art Journal Journey where I’m hosting the Something New challenge this month as I took “new” papers and distressed them to make them look old. Also smooshing the Distress Inks directly onto the neutral collaged papers to make them look old was “new” to me and I’m so glad it worked; it was so much fun making them worn and grungy (grin!).

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

• Paris wallpaper sample
• Book pages from old encyclopaedia
• Liquitex Matte Gel Medium
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso)
• Colourcraft Brusho (Dark Brown)
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• Hampton Art 7 Gypsies (Birdsong ICO151)
• Prima Marketing Clear Stamps (Rossi Belle 587499)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Spellbinders Die Cut – Unknown
• The Works Paperstack (Vintage Experience CRO239/TW6)
• X-Press It! double-sided tape
• Tim Holtz idea-ology Salvage Stickers (Crowded Attic #TH92898)
• The Works (Craft Flowers)
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• Poundworld (Pearl Embellishments)

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)

Christmas Pudding Tea

Over Christmas we have been enjoying some Christmas Pudding loose leaf tea, so I couldn’t resist creating a page using the packaging and a beautiful Christmas Pudding card that I received from a dear friend a couple of years ago.

For the background I smooshed some Peeled Paint and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks onto the page by stamping the ink pads onto an acrylic block, spritzing with water and pressing the block onto the paper. Then I stamped the page with holly leaves using Cottage Ivy and Pistachio Memento Ink and added some leftover pieces of green polka dot washi tape. Next I die cut the snowflakes from some recycled white card, covered them with Versamark ink and some glittery Wow! embossing powder; heating them with my heat gun until the powder turned glossy. I arranged them around the edges of the page and added the large Christmas pudding which was an old Christmas card.

I also added the Christmas pudding tea packaging, some die cut holly leaves and berries and also pieces of tartan which are from a Tim Holtz Christmas sticker book. To finish, I added some baubles suspended by strands of silver which are all stickers.

Here’s the lovely shop that we bought the tea from in Arundel which you may remember me featuring in a post last year called The Tea & Biscuit Club.

Their Christmas Pudding tea is a Christmas spiced black tea with a zesty fruit infusion creating a very festive aromatic blend – it tastes yummy!

As T Stands for Tuesday, I’m pleased to share this tea related post with the T Gang! Happy T Day and I hope you all had a lovely Christmastime.

Wishing you a New Year filled with peace, love and happiness!

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 Yvonne, aka Meggymay and her Words and Numbers challenge over at Art Journal Journey with the wording on my page.

I’m happy to join in the Stars challenge over at Country View Challenges with all the stars on the baubles.

I’m also joining in the Party Time challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with my T-Party page.

I’m also pleased to be able to join in the fun at Paperbabe Stamps and their #109 – Sketch challenge; I flipped the sketch so the “Paperbabe Stamps” is represented by the “Christmas Pudding” wording and the flower is represented by the other tea packaging and holly leaves.

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

• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Festive Berries)
• Washi Tape
• Docrafts Clear Stamp (Christmas Selection)
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (Cottage Ivy, Pistachio)
• White card – recycled
• Tonic Studios Die Set (Falling Snowflake Trio 1792e )
• Wow! Glitter Embossing Powder (Singing in the rain)
• Zig Memory System 2-way Glue (Dual Action Glue Pen)
• Christmas Pudding Card – recycled
• Pritt Stick
• Christmas Pudding Tea Packaging – recycled
• Faber-Castell Big Brush Pitt artist pen (Dark Sepia 175 B)
• X-Press It! double-sided tape
• White paper – recycled
• The Range (5×5 Dies Holly)
• Tim Holtz idea-ology (Christmas Sticker Book #TH93999)
• Stickers (Silver Borders, Baubles)

Christmas Reindeer

I love all things Christmas so I have another Christmas page which this time is inspired by the new reindeer street mural that was recently created by the wonderful artist Banksy. This time, he is highlighting the homeless at Christmastime.

For the background I stamped a Script stamp from Kaisercraft using London Fog Memento Ink and a wreath stamp using Black Archival Ink onto the page, and then I covered the page using Vintage Photo and Peeled Paint Distress Ink with a blending tool. Then I used a star stencil to remove some of the Distress Ink with a baby wipe and used the star stencil again to stencil the stars (in a Banksy style) using Black Soot Distress Ink, using a white Uniball gel pen to highlight some of the edge. Next I splattered the page with white gesso, black acrylic paint and Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.

The reindeer and snowflakes are glitter stickers which add some lovely texture and sparkle; it’s hard to see this on the photos. To finish, I added some white snowflake gems, red enamel dots and a fabric “Merry Christmas” tag.

Just a reminder that there is still another week to join our Christmas is coming challenge over at Try it on Tuesday; it would be lovely to see you there.

View this post on Instagram

. God bless Birmingham. In the 20 minutes we filmed Ryan on this bench passers-by gave him a hot drink, two chocolate bars and a lighter – without him ever asking for anything.

A post shared by Banksy (@banksy) on Dec 9, 2019 at 5:15am PST

If you haven’t yet seen it, here’s the Banksy street mural which recently appeared in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter over the weekend. It was reported that it was later vandalised with two red noses being added which then resulted in it being covered with Perspex to protect it.

When I think of street art, Banksy always springs to mind and you may remember me featuring his work on my blog before, I love his pieces! Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist who has been active since the 1990s. His street art style is a distinctive stenciling technique and often his works are controversial having a political and social message combined with satirical dark humour.

As T Stands for Tuesday I’m sharing my drink of ginger beer at a café in Lytham after a walk with our friends – wishing you a very Happy T Day!

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 Yvonne, aka Meggymay and her Words and Numbers challenge over at Art Journal Journey with the words on this page.

I’m also pleased to be able to join the Stars challenge over at Country View Challenges with the stencilled stars that I included on this page.

I’m pleased to join the Winter challenge over at Paperbabe Stamps with my reindeer page.

I’m joining the Anything Goes challenge over at Moo Mania & More too.

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

• Kaisercraft clear stamp (Script CS752)
• Ranger Archival Ink (Jet Black)
• Wreath clear stamp
• Tsukineko Memento Ink (London Fog)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot)
• Pébéo White Gesso
• DecoArt Crafter’s Acrylic (Black)
• Star Stencil
• B&M (Glitter Snow Window Stickers)
• Habico Signature Collection (Snowflakes PP1100)
• Dovecraft Premium (Festive Wonder Glitter Enamel Dots DCDOTO36X18)
• Docrafts Create Christmas (Stitched Ribbon Tags PMA157921)
• X-Press It double-sided tape