Hey there
It's most likely you have reached my blog today via the Scrapfest blog hop. Welcome. There's not a lot to see yet as I'm still fairly new to blogging and I have lots more to learn. My problem is finding the time to do it, what with all the scrapbooking, ATC challenges and the like. Plus I have a new job working in a scrapbook shop - Paperzone in Frankton, Hamilton - so I seem to spend a lot of time preparing for the classes I teach. I do a lot of what I call "research and development" that's really just another name for surfing the net looking for inspiration.
I'm looking forward to Scrapfest in August and meeting everyone I've met online - you all feel like old friends now. We are going to have so much fun.
Anyhoo, this is a blog hop so I guess you want to hop along to see the next scrapper on the list. thanks for stopping by - you are now off to Beth's Blog, hope to see you in August.
Thursday, 21 March 2013
Saturday, 9 March 2013
Creating a background paper
I wanted to share a technique I learned this week that was new to me. The background for this paper was created using white linen cardstock, shaving cream (yes, shaving cream) and StazOn re-inkers.
Firstly I laid down a bed of shaving cream on a glass plate, spreading it out with my palette knife. The next step was to let little droplets fall from the re-inker bottles into the shaving cream. My chosen colour scheme for this project was Ultramarine, Mustard and Cactus Green. I used a meat skewer to move the droplets around until I was happy with the balance of colour. Any object would work and different things would give different results. The next part of the process was to press the cardstock down onto the shaving cream to 'print' the inks onto the cardstock. I then set it aside to dry a little before carefully wiping off the shaving cream and then letting it dry fully. A little bit of glimmermist spritzed through a stencil, a few splashes of indian ink, trimmed and distressed edges, and I was ready to use it on my layout.
TIP: if you are going to have a go at this technique may I suggest you use a shaving cream you like the smell of as it tends to linger around ... for quite a while LOL!!!
I love the finished LO, I hope you do too. Thanks for looking.
Firstly I laid down a bed of shaving cream on a glass plate, spreading it out with my palette knife. The next step was to let little droplets fall from the re-inker bottles into the shaving cream. My chosen colour scheme for this project was Ultramarine, Mustard and Cactus Green. I used a meat skewer to move the droplets around until I was happy with the balance of colour. Any object would work and different things would give different results. The next part of the process was to press the cardstock down onto the shaving cream to 'print' the inks onto the cardstock. I then set it aside to dry a little before carefully wiping off the shaving cream and then letting it dry fully. A little bit of glimmermist spritzed through a stencil, a few splashes of indian ink, trimmed and distressed edges, and I was ready to use it on my layout.
TIP: if you are going to have a go at this technique may I suggest you use a shaving cream you like the smell of as it tends to linger around ... for quite a while LOL!!!
I love the finished LO, I hope you do too. Thanks for looking.
Thursday, 7 March 2013
Filling your cup
"There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it" - Minnie Ammonier.
These past couple of weeks I have had reason to ponder on these words, more so than usual, so it seemed appropriate to use them when journalling this week. The actual art work is unimportant, the process of getting there was very important.
I believe that we are given challenges in life for a reason. We learn from life, we grow because we face a challenge, move through it and come out the other side with new insights and knowledge. Hey, this is not new, and it's definitely not rocket science. How we grow from our experiences really depends on how well we listen to that inner voice, or in this case, the music in the trees.
Recently I have had several friends face huge health challenges and this has left me questioning why bad things happen to nice people. There will be a reason and by listening carefully to that inner voice we will find that reason.
One is a "doer for others" and the message has been to slow down, take time out for self, take time to play. When your cup is empty you do not have anything to give anyone else. Only by having your own cup full and overflowing can you have something to offer to others. The situation she is experiencing will enable her to help others more, but only once she learns to fill her own cup. It has been a harsh lesson but she will get through it but right now it is a tough journey. Kia kaha my friends ... be strong.
The background is a mix of Pthalo Turquoise and Diarylide Yellow with black acrylic paint around the edges. A music stamp was placed on the background before using The Crafters Workshop Mini Branches Reversed stencil with clear gel medium. Once dry, a black staz-on ink pad was wiped over the top of the gel medium. Iridescent medium was applied to parts of the page and then a light wash of the yellow paint was given to the whole page. With the addition of washi tape and some india ink drips, the page felt finished. The quote has been placed on the inclusion (which you can't see here as it is standing up towards the camera).
These past couple of weeks I have had reason to ponder on these words, more so than usual, so it seemed appropriate to use them when journalling this week. The actual art work is unimportant, the process of getting there was very important.
I believe that we are given challenges in life for a reason. We learn from life, we grow because we face a challenge, move through it and come out the other side with new insights and knowledge. Hey, this is not new, and it's definitely not rocket science. How we grow from our experiences really depends on how well we listen to that inner voice, or in this case, the music in the trees.
Recently I have had several friends face huge health challenges and this has left me questioning why bad things happen to nice people. There will be a reason and by listening carefully to that inner voice we will find that reason.
One is a "doer for others" and the message has been to slow down, take time out for self, take time to play. When your cup is empty you do not have anything to give anyone else. Only by having your own cup full and overflowing can you have something to offer to others. The situation she is experiencing will enable her to help others more, but only once she learns to fill her own cup. It has been a harsh lesson but she will get through it but right now it is a tough journey. Kia kaha my friends ... be strong.
The background is a mix of Pthalo Turquoise and Diarylide Yellow with black acrylic paint around the edges. A music stamp was placed on the background before using The Crafters Workshop Mini Branches Reversed stencil with clear gel medium. Once dry, a black staz-on ink pad was wiped over the top of the gel medium. Iridescent medium was applied to parts of the page and then a light wash of the yellow paint was given to the whole page. With the addition of washi tape and some india ink drips, the page felt finished. The quote has been placed on the inclusion (which you can't see here as it is standing up towards the camera).
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
In loving memory ...
Last Wednesday, a friend and former colleague, was killed in a car accident. He leaves two sons and a soon to be born grand-daughter. Last year the boys buried their mum, today they said farewell to their dad. Circumstances prevented me from attending the funeral today but I spent the time in reflection, creating a page in my journal in Shane's memory.
This is my tribute to Shane Robson 12.8.61 - 20.2.13.
"Every life has an impact on this world." You, my friend, made an impact on mine. RIP Shane, you will be sorely missed.
This is my tribute to Shane Robson 12.8.61 - 20.2.13.
"Every life has an impact on this world." You, my friend, made an impact on mine. RIP Shane, you will be sorely missed.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
"Strive for progress ... not perfection"
The title pretty much sums up the purpose of my art journal. I am finding much satisfaction in being able to play with products and techniques without worrying about 'spoiling' anything. With the pressure off I am free to just play and see what happens. The following page I have been working on over the past few days.
I started off with a wash of Pthalo Turquoise and Green Gold. Once this was dry I used my new Mini Chicken Wire template from The Crafters Workshop and coarse textured gel from Reeves to add some dimension to the page. I then let black india ink run and drip down the page before splattering droplets of ink across the page. With a sea sponge I added black paint and iridescent medium. It was then left like that for a couple of days.
Coming back to it today and the courier has been - he delivered my order of PanPastels. I bought a starter set 'Extra Dark Shades' - there is pretty much a little bit of everything on here (gotta try everything LOL!!!). The page was sealed with Mod Podge, the text added plus some pieces I accidentally tore when working on another project. The paper is Pink Paislee "London Market" - keep a watch for the other project which I will post once I have it all together.
The two butterflies with stamped using Black Stazon and then I went over it with Kindy Glitz. Gotta love that Kindy Glitz. Not sure if I like the overall result but I love some of the techniques and medium used and I definitely loved playing.
Until next time ...
Coming back to it today and the courier has been - he delivered my order of PanPastels. I bought a starter set 'Extra Dark Shades' - there is pretty much a little bit of everything on here (gotta try everything LOL!!!). The page was sealed with Mod Podge, the text added plus some pieces I accidentally tore when working on another project. The paper is Pink Paislee "London Market" - keep a watch for the other project which I will post once I have it all together.
The two butterflies with stamped using Black Stazon and then I went over it with Kindy Glitz. Gotta love that Kindy Glitz. Not sure if I like the overall result but I love some of the techniques and medium used and I definitely loved playing.
Until next time ...
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Self Worth
Another challenging entry into my art journal.
I found this quote by the Buddha about self worth. It reads "You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection". How hard is it to love yourself? How hard is it to value yourself as a person, unique, one-of-a-kind, valuable human being? Me, being a perfectionist, find this a challenge on a daily basis. Journalling in this format is also a challenge for me. My art is not perfect, it is what it is ... an expression of myself.
I started with drawing the patchwork pattern with PVA glue. After letting it dry I filled each area with a wash of Quinacridone Magenta, Green Gold, Phthalo Turquoise, Diarylide Yellow and Anthraquinone Blue. Once dry I took similar toned oil pastels and did a little shading and then covered the page with an iridescent medium. Bubblewrap covered with Payne's Grey acrylic paint was then randomly applied and then indian ink painted over the now dry PVA glue. After applying the text, the circle was created using Payne's Grey applied to a milk bottle top and stamped onto the page and Kindy Glitz applied to emphasise, before finishing with a layer of Mod Podge.
I found this quote by the Buddha about self worth. It reads "You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection". How hard is it to love yourself? How hard is it to value yourself as a person, unique, one-of-a-kind, valuable human being? Me, being a perfectionist, find this a challenge on a daily basis. Journalling in this format is also a challenge for me. My art is not perfect, it is what it is ... an expression of myself.
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Obstacles ...
Hi everyone
I have been picking up quotes lately that challenge me and this one is no exception. A week has gone by since I posted the first page in my art journal. Today I completed page 2 and the quote for today was around obstacles. I had picked up the brick stencil from Paperzone earlier in the week so it seemed to fit with what I was thinking about. How many times do we put obstacles in the way of doing something ... "I can't do that because ...". I know I am as guilty of that as the next person. I am the only person standing in the way of me achieving anything.
I used Quinacridone Magenta and Diarylide Yellow for my base followed by a light spritz of Tattered Angels Glimmermist called Blarney (lime green). After drying off with my heat gun I spread coarse texture gel over the "Mini Bricks" stencil from The Crafters Workshop. A little dirtying up with some indian ink rubbed on with a paper towel, a couple of heat embossed flowers, the quote, a pic of me and the obligatory date tag and we're done. Enjoy.
I have been picking up quotes lately that challenge me and this one is no exception. A week has gone by since I posted the first page in my art journal. Today I completed page 2 and the quote for today was around obstacles. I had picked up the brick stencil from Paperzone earlier in the week so it seemed to fit with what I was thinking about. How many times do we put obstacles in the way of doing something ... "I can't do that because ...". I know I am as guilty of that as the next person. I am the only person standing in the way of me achieving anything.
I used Quinacridone Magenta and Diarylide Yellow for my base followed by a light spritz of Tattered Angels Glimmermist called Blarney (lime green). After drying off with my heat gun I spread coarse texture gel over the "Mini Bricks" stencil from The Crafters Workshop. A little dirtying up with some indian ink rubbed on with a paper towel, a couple of heat embossed flowers, the quote, a pic of me and the obligatory date tag and we're done. Enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)