GOODBYE APRIL AND HELLO MAY

Well that's another month gone, it's amazing where time goes to, maybe time flies more so when we are all involved in Kate's calendar challenge. I have kept up with April and have got my May page ready to go even if it wasn't ready for the 1st. This time for May I have used a 7Gypsies stamp which is not a normal stamp and unfortunately the dots on some of the days, smudged and blotted, so that is why I have leaves here and there to cover up the mess. The stamps I have used this time are all from Paper Artsy and designed by Jo Firth-Young, they are wonderful stamps I love them and have quite a few, well you need them don't you lol !

May

April

A LOVELY DAY

Friday saw me at my favourite place Art From The Heart, I was there for a journaling workshop with the fantastic and talented Kate Crane. It really was a lovely day with a great bunch of friendly ladies. The objective was to learn how to SHADE using Suzi Blu stamps, these stamps do have large areas which lend themselves to the technique. We stamped our images, coloured them, cut them out and then did the background for this we used the gorgeous Golden paints and lots of Kate's background techniques. I also used Washi tape and the Suzi Blu quote I stamped on to old book page. I did my two pages in my small A5 Moleskine journal the pages are watercolour paper which is quite sturdy and perfect for journal backgrounds. Everything WE used can be bought at AFTH.

A SECRET BOOK BOX

Yesterday I spent a fantastic day at the Craft Den Sheffield, I was there for an Andy Skinner workshop and what a fabulous workshop it was, I can't wait for the next two workshops that Andy is teaching at the Craft Den in May. Yesterday we altered a "book box" using all sorts of different techniques such as image transfer, decorative aged crackle effect and how to acheive a rusty look using paints, stencils, modeling paste and a graphite pencil. Unfortunately I am not very good with a camera so I am not able to show you a lot of detail but you will get an idea from this photo especially if you double click on the photo.

APRIL CALENDAR POST

April already, I don't know about you but I don't like the way the time just flies by anyway it is that time again when we all post our calendar challenge pages hosted by the lovely and extremely talented Kate Crane. Again mine is in my home made 10"x8" book which I just love, the pages are made from Tim's manilla card which is perfect for painted backgrounds. This time my background is painted using Tim's Distress Paints in Spring colours seeing as it is supposed to be Spring at this time of year but unfortunately we are still experiencing Arctic conditions with snow still hanging around. I cut egg shapes for my journal blocks to represent new life in Spring, all my little figures are Stampotique except the blue bunny which is from the Octopode Factory. I have a few Rub-Ons here and there and my lettering is from a Suzi Blu alphabet stamp. Nothing too spectacular when you take a look at the calendar pages on Face Book but at least I am keeping up with the challenge this being my 3rd year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN SNOWED IN!

DH went out in his 4x4 to do the shopping and I worked on this page in my Dylusions Art Journal by Ranger, I love this journal infact I have two and can't wait for the next lot to appear in different sizes. For the background  I used Tim's Distress Paints Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn, Vintage Photo and Picket Fence, I love these paints they are so easy to apply. I glued various ephemera to the page, lace, torn book page, music, old air line ticket, mesh and film strip ribbon from Tim's Idea-ology range. The photo is from my Sleeping Beauty ballet programme which I distressed a little using a fine sand paper. The drips and splashes are Dylusion inks Black Marble and Nutmeg, butterfly is from a magazine. Actually the whole page was inspired by the front cover of Somerset Apprentice which was done on a canvas but I thought it would look good as a grungy journal page hope you do too. The photo looks a bit dark even though it was taken in the window with glaring white snow and sun shining through. Now I am going to carry on working in my book Art Doodle Love by Dawn DeVries Sokol which is a wonderful book for art journalling I love it.

ART JOURNALLING AND SILHOUETTES

I have been meaning to post this journal page for quite sometime but kept forgetting as normal life takes over as usual. I did this at my favourite place, Art From The Heart, at the beginning of March and because of St David's Day Dyan said we had to use yellow in the background. I really enjoyed doing this page, everything you see is Dylusions, background inks, stencils and stamps plus of course the journal itself which if you are an art journaler you must get one of these if you haven't already got one.

COMPLETED ON TIME BUT........

.....I didn't manage to post my art calendar page on time even though it was ready at the beginning of the week, too many other things going on. This is my Art Calendar March page for Kate's 365 Calendar challenge, have a look at Kate's blog to see all the other calendar pages. I chose the background colour as it is my Birthday this month, I think my colour is Amethyst but the background looks more like lilac rather than amethyst. The journal squares were cut from a piece I did on the Gelli Plate, my images are all from Stampotique. I have used some Washi tape too, it's one of my fave things at the moment.