Mysterious

Hello and welcome back to my poor neglected blog, it has been months since I was last here. Today I am back with a mixed media art journal page.

 

Over on the Viva Las VegaStamps blog they have a month challenge and April is all about being inspired by not only the image below, but also "Be inspired by words like nature, natural, trees, forests, camping, mountains, skies & water, fishing, birds, reflections, boats, dogs, gray, tan, white & black, gray + anything else that you might be inspired by!"

 

One rule that you absolutely must follow is that your project must include at least ONE if not MORE stamps from vlvstamps.

 

This is the image for the April Challenge.

 

I used three stamps from plate 1471, which was released April 2016

 

This is my finished art journal page.

The way that the inspiration board inspired me was firstly all the different textures that you would find if you were actually standing looking at the scene in real life. The second way was what different shapes that you would find in nature and naturally I gravitated towards the circle even though there isn't one in the board. Circles are my favourite shape and appears in nature so often.

I kept my colour palette pretty neutral with the pop of teal to bring the page to life.

 

I gave my art journal page the title of mysterious because mother nature is pretty mysterious and so can be the creative process.

 

Below are some more phots of some of the different stages of my art journal page an close ups

 

 

products used: golden fluid acrylics - carbon black and teal, prima art basics heavy gesso - white, prima art extravagance texture paste - white crackle, stabilo all - black, archival ink - jet black and watering can, liquitex - matte gel, faber-castell tri graphite pencil 2B

 

Happy Creating

Only By The Walls

It is the beginning of the month which means another art journal challenge from Art and Soul Studio has started. You will find all the details for the challenge in the facebook group Soul Sisters which is part of the Art and Soul Studio.

The challenge is to use these images and quote for inspiration to create an art journal page.

Here is an close up of a part of my journal page if you would like to see the whole piece please follow this link to the Art and Soul Studio Blog.

Products from the shop: Tim Holtz Distress Ink: walnut stain, vintage photo and peeled paint

Happy Creating

Paperfic Melbourne 2017

I cannot remember the last time I attended the Paperific Expo, it is at least 13 years as I have know my husband that long and I haven't been since I have know him. Last month I was able to go, but it was a little different to what I would normally have done. Normally I would have picked a day, and gone, this time was there for four days and working. Thursday was set up day, got there around 1130 as I had to go after I had dropped my children at school. I was really excited but also nervous as I was meeting Kylie and Darryl Powell who own and run Shop and Crop Scrapbooking. I had spoken to Kylie on the phone and had conversations on facebook and messenger but never actually in person. Its a bit hard when I live in Victoria and she lives in NSW. I also meet the fabulous Donna who is also on the design team.

The weekend was a fantastic, I had an absolute blast. For the weekend I got to talk and meet lots of people, selling products that I love and on the Saturday and Sunday I got messy. I played with Expo Kit No. 4 instead of making a scrapbooking layout I create a canvas. Here is a sneak peak, if you would like to see the complete piece please pop on over to the Blog.

Happy Creating

Out of the Darkness

This past week was not a great week, and when creating art whether its intentional or not your emotions do come through. Today was my turn up on the Art and Soul Blog and I created a very dark journal page.

If you would like to know how I created this page and the products I used please follow the link above to the Art and Soul Studio blog.

Happy Creating

Stitching

Ever since I can remember I have been doing something creative whether it be mixed media, making cards, cross stitch, painting or drawing. Today's prompt for the Artsy Circles is stitching. So I combined my past love of making crosses with my current love of making mixed media and produced my Artsy Circle for the facebook group Soul Sisters.

I started out with my gesso covered circle. I prepared 6 circles, really should get some more cut and prepared because I am having so much fun.

The next step was using my stencil to create the circles. Once the texture paste dried I then stitched the crosses. I only had two size needles at hand, one was a tiny cotton needle and the other was a tapestry needle. The tiny needle was just too small and the stitching would have not really shown up. The tapestry needle really was too big but I decided to use it any way. I was really disappointed with the holes that it left but as you can see they don't show up on the final piece its just more texture.

Next I added my colour

My final layer for the circle was the gesso, I originally applied it with a palette knife but before it was dried I wiped it away. To apply the gesso I used my fingers.

products that can be found at Art and Soul Studio are listed below
marabu art spray - red orange and lemons

Happy Creating

You Have To Believe

Lately I have been struggling with my inner art demons, they are telling me that what I create is not good enough. They are telling me that I should give up and choose another hobby. Sometimes it is hard not listen to them when they are very, very loud. Most times I am able to turn then off, but lately it's been rather difficult. This morning I put them back in their sound proof box and proved to them and me I am good enough. I think I created one of my favourite pieces that I have ever made. It is an art journal page that I created for Art and Soul Studio.

Here are some close ups, if you would like to see the entire page and my process please follow the link to the blog.

Happy Creating

They Know The Way

Good Morning,

 

Have you seen the challenge that Shop and Crop Scrapbooking have running? If not here is a link to the post on the blog, where you will find lots of inspiration from the Design Team. To enter you need to belong to our Facebook group and add your creation into the correct album. You have until the end of the month to do so.

 

The challenge is a mood board

 

 

How much fun can you have with this, we would love to see what you create.

 

I took my inspiration from the colour palette and the quote and created a journal page. Here are some close up of the texture I was able to create. If you would like to see my process then please pop on over to Shop and Crop Scrapbooking Blog (see link above).

 

 

 

products used that can be found in the shop:

indigoblu mega-flake: autumn blaze

the crafter workshop 6x6 template: mini texturized

 

I hope that you play along

Happy Creating

 

Follow Your Dreams

Its the beginning of a new month which means there is a new challenge for Shop and Crop Scrapbooking, pop on over to the blog to see what inspiration the Design Team has created.

This month the challenge is a mood board

I created an art journal page using the quote as my focal point.

Happy Creating

Wild at Heart from Cocoa Vanilla Studio

Today up on the Shop and Crop Scrapbooking blog I have a trio of cards that I created using the Wild at Heart Collect from Cocoa Vanilla  Studio.

If you would like to see more then please visit Shop and Crop Scrapbooking and a photographic tutorial which explains how I created this background.

Happy Creating

Technique Tuesday

Today up on the Art and Soul Studio I have a photographic tutorial with different techniques using Nuvo Mousse, a Stencil Girl stencil both can be purchase in the shop.

If you would like to know more on how these techniques were done please pop on over to the blog to find out

Happy Creating

It's A Boy

For my second play this month for Shop and Crop Scrapbooking I got to create with the collection 'It's a Boy' from Carta Bella.

I really enjoy using this colour scheme and I had the perfect photo of my little man with the same colour on the wrap that he was laying on. I think this would have to be the least amount of mixed media that I have ever used on a layout but the papers said it all.

I couldn't just stop at a layout I had to create some cards as well.

The stencil that I used in the back ground is also available in the shop I think this was my very first stencil and the start of a very, very unhealthy addiction.

The papers that I have used can be found in the shop and some of them are on sale. If you do decide that you need to visit the shop please use the code DO5 and you will receive a discount.

Happy Creating

First Post For Shop and Crop Scrapbooking

Not sure which is more nerve racking being told that you are part of a design team, creating stuff with the products you have been sent or sharing on the design team's blog. Today it's the sharing.

It's all about Shop & Crop Scrapbooking today, my first share as a design team member.  Last month I was sent a box with lots of goodies to play with and I decided to play with the Petticoats & Stripes collect from Echo Park.

 

If you would like to see some close ups then please click on the link above and it will take you to the blog.

The Petticoats & Pinstripes collection is available in the shop, if you would like to make a purchase please use the code DO5 to receive a discount.

Happy Creating

Rusty Gears

The Rust Effect Paste trio by Prima Marketing have been my stash for a little while, but it wasn't until I went on retreat last month that I actually played with it. It was a lot of fun to play with.

In using up some of the gelli plate prints that I created in June last year I made a background that I really, really didn't want to cover up. I just loved all the texture and colours that I was able to achieve.

A brain wave hit, I could use gears because they had holes in them, even though I wasn't going to cover the whole background you would be able to see through the gears.

So now not only do I have yummy texture on the background but also on the gears thanks to the texture paste.

 products used: cogs from my stash, art extravagance rust effect paste - gold rust, brown rust & red rust, art extravagance texture paste - graphite, dylusion paints - vibrant turquoise, fresh lime and lemon zest, gelli arts printing plate, the crafter workshop stencil mini corncob etching, kaisercraft mini alpha stickers - chocolate & white, stabilo all - black, faber-castell pitt artist pen big brush - nougat, derivan matisse flow - raw umber, golden mediums - acrylic glazing liquid gloss, mixed media paper, art basics 3d gloss gel - transparent.

Happy Creating

Follow Your Dreams

Currently I have 5 bound art journals being used and 2 just patiently waiting for me to break them out, but I really love using mixed media paper or heavy watercolour paper that I have cut up myself.  Having all these different size journals and paper lets me just follow my journey where ever it leads.

The art journal page I am sharing with you today has a little story behind it which I hope you don't mind me sharing with you. It started out as a page painted with black gesso, then letter stickers stuck down. Once this was all dry I added colour with my Twinkling H2Os, which were pretty in colour but the design was ugly. I put it aside for another day. That day final came and then after many, many, many layers of thick gesso, texture paste, I was able to cover the old page up. My piece of mixed media paper that is 21.5 cm x 21.5 cm now weighs 64g. The same size and kind of paper with nothing on it only weighs 13g, that's a lot of product to cover something up.

Much happier with the new page

products used: mixed media paper, art basics heavy gesso - white, lindy's stamp gang sprays starburst - tiffanylou blue, blue hawaiian blue, lindy's stamp gang sprays flat fabio - tilt-a-wheel teal, tim holtz collection layering stencil - stripes, uni pin fine line - black 0.1, kaisercraft rubons - dreams, indigoblu stamp - limor circles, dina wakley media stamp - textures

Happy Creating

Fear Nothing

I cannot believe it was a fortnight ago I was attending retreat, the time has just flown and I have not created anything new in that time. I have finished a couple of things off but that's all.

One of those things that I finished was a mixed media layout from a class that I attended by Michelle Logan of M Logan Design  To create the layout we had to get messy, which is my type of fun. There was paint, chipboard, paper, different fun items to make texture in our background and stencils. Thank you Michelle for such a fun afternoon.

Normally it takes me ages to pick out a photo but before class started I pulled out this photo of my little man (although he's not so little now) and two of my dusty attic paints, I was armed and dangerous.

The process was lots of fun and I have a finished layout.

products used: dusty attic acrylic paint - denim & oceania, white gesso, acrylic paint - raw umber & black, chipboard - scrapfx, prima marketing paper - salvage district collection

Happy Creating

Mixed Media Magic Retreat

Two days ago I came home from a long weekend (4 days) filled with creativity. Thursday afternoon I arrived and from then on the weekend was jam packed with creating, laughter, food and friendship (new and old).

The retreat was organised by Cindy from A Scrappe Tiger , thanks Cindy. Now on retreat you can do as much or as little as you like, we had options of doing classes, and I did 6. Four extremely talented artists took the time out of their schedule to come and share their talent, knowledge and creativity with us and they were Fiona Paltridge (blog), Louise Nelson (blog), Michelle Logan (blog) and Cindy Porter (blog).

I am not going to share with you today any of my class work that's for another day. Please bare with me as I need to tell a little story behind my art work before I share.

When the class list came out, there was a couple of classes that I decided not to do and one of them was by Fiona and it was called "The Way Things Fall", after reading the description it still didn't really tickle my fancy. Then I gave myself a kick up the bum and a talking too. Fiona is one of my most favourite artists (which I am lucky enough to be able to call a friend) so why would I not do her class. So I did and I have to say oh my I LOVED that class.

When looking at the class requirements is said that we could bring special trinkets or findings that we had stashed away. I knew I had plenty of those, who doesn't.

 

Are you wondering what it is, it does look a bit strange. It is a piece of paper that has cotton string wrapped around and inside it. Then they have been put into a rust bath. When I was talking to Fiona about these pieces of paper (I had two) I worked out that they have to be at least 13 years old. I have been married 11 yrs this year and I know that I created this before I met my husband. They have gone through 5 moves and finally I was able to use one of them.

Hope you are still with me to actually see my art work.

I thought it needed something else but I didn't want to add anything else to it, and two very wise women told me, "if I think it's finished then it is". "Its your art work, doesn't matter what others think", "Now you just need to sign it" which I am yet to do

A close up of some of that yummy texture

products used: art basics heavy gesso - white, paper, cotton string.

Happy Creating

Believe In Magic

I had a background in my art journal that was just screaming at me to do something with as it was rather dark and plain. So I did.

 

From the photo above I had added some Ecoline liquid watercolour and over the top of that I put what crackle paste. The crackle paste picked up some of the colour which was not my plan, but it is now a happy accident.

 Really frustrated with my photos at the moment I cannot find my camera cord to charge it so I am taking my photos on my iPad and they are just not up to scratch. I apologise for this.

 

Finally was able to find my camera cord and charge the camera so much happier with the next two photos.

 

 

Just love all the texture that I was able to create.

 

products used: liquites matte gel, artbasics heavy gesso - white, derivan matisse structure -  paynes grey, art extravagance texture paste - white crackle, ranger archival ink - jet black, versamark, ranger embossing powder - seafoam white, ecoline liquid watercolour - 522 & 545, memorybox die - distressed collage windham, stampin' up stamp - playful backgrounds, kaisercraft stamp - script, tim holtz idea-ology tissue wrap - melange, kaisercraft rubon - enchanted garden.

 

Happy Creating