Catch up news & Circle Journal 3

Hello my lovelies, I know it's been too long! I do have a good reason though. Well it's not good but it's a reason!

My son Sam was diagnosed in February 2018 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Totally turned our world upside down! Unfortunately, it didn't respond to chemo so he will be having a bone marrow transplant in the next few months. So lots of things have taken a backseat as you can imagine! I stopped doing art classes on Jot 2018 and Wanderlust 2018 and so I will be posting on those when I start to do the lessons again. It might be next year but I'm not worrying about it. I won't be buying anymore courses until they're finished anyway! 

The only art I continued with was the Circle Journal I talked about in THIS POST.

The journal which you can see in the before mentioned post, was posted off to other members of the group to do a double page spread and post on. Now this post is about the pages I completed in the other members journals! I tend to use quotes and my intuition in my artwork and these are no exception.

Catherine's Journal

 Front

Back

Unfortunately, Catherine's journal got lost in the post so we all did both sides of an envelope for a surprise journal that Chris put together for her.

 I used some magazine cut outs and went with my intuition. The quote on the front says: "Forget everything you were told about art. Just do it. Do you." on the back it says: "Make art you love!"

Chris' Journal

 Chris' journal had lolly sticks with prompts on. I chose the prompt 'Broken'. I used pieces of cut up CD's and texture paste for the hand. I used the quote " We're all a little broken. That's how the light gets in."

Claire's Journal

 Claire's journal was made in a vintage style, so I did my page to suit her style/colourways. I used the quote "Reach high for the stars that are hidden within your soul."

Deb's Journal

 My spread in Deb's journal was very intuitive. I used some cut up sequin waste and masking tape and had a grand ol' time! I used the quote "Find your own style" which I think I may have!

Hazel's Journal

 Front

 Back

I used some collage elements that Hazel included and added some of my own for this page. I stuck the eyes on the inside so they could peek through the envelopes window. The front says: "More than meets the eye" and the back says: "Look inside yourself."

Julie's Journal

 I heat embossed onto fabric which I'd never done before and used a Frida Kahlo collage element on Julie's spread. It says "Create a revolution." and "Express yourself."

Linda's Journal

I used some wire behind the element in the top left corner and the quote "Unknown expectation" which was chosen randomly from a box of typed words I have. There's also a little metal pen nib charm hanging off of it.

Marie's Journal

 Front

 Back

I used gelpress page scraps as collage as a starting point and went from there. The quote says: "Create a beautiful revolution." I love holding my heat gun close to the paint and making it bubble, it gives lovely texture!

Rebecca's Journal

 Front

 Inside

Rebecca's journal had fold out pages and we could choose from a selection of quotes to use. I used a vintage eye ephemera element for the front flap and sewed a button in the pupil as a closure. The front quote says: "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." I used a vintage lady collage element for the inside spread and the quote "Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist."

Tricia's Journal

Front

Back

I was inspired by a floral mandala type stamp I have for Tricia's spread. It made me think of a lotus flower and the quote: "Just like the lotus flower we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate love into the world." So that's what I used! Tricia was on holiday in Bali at the time which is probably why it called to me. I added a pocket and tag to the back of the page.

Wanda's Journal

I was inspired by the vintage photo I used along with some rusty metal embellishments I had knocking around and I used a page that a friend gave me from a very old book. I wrote the word Blessed in Indian ink along with a lovely splodge! I just can't do #CleanAndSimple! 

I hope you enjoyed looking at all of my pages/spreads. I will be taking part in round 4 of Circle Journal in October!

I will be posting another post on the pages/spreads that are in my circle journal too!

Thank so much for stopping by. I really appreciate it. Please feel free to leave a comment! Which were your favourite?

Much love 

Sez x

Wanderlust 2018 Week 3

Hello again my lovelies!
Last year I got stuck on a few of the lessons in all the courses I took, so this year I'm only doing the lessons I really want to do. So no more stuck and no week 2!
Today I want to share my versions of the 2 projects by Jennifer Lee for week 3 of Wanderlust 2018.
You can join Wanderlust 2018 here.

The first project is a 12x12 inch canvas with a rose mandala.

This year my word is Love and I want to 'do all things with love' so this is my reminder!

The second project is a journal spread of a compass. I put my home town in the centre because my home is the centre of my world.

I'm so glad you could visit me here today, I really do appreciate the support!

Until next time...

Much love 

Sez x

DT project 1 'Anything Goes' for Old, New & Digital Too! (ON&DT)

 

Hello my lovelies!

Welcome to my 1st DT project for Old, New & Digital Too.

I'm soooo excited!

 

Right then, as you can tell from the title of the blog, we use stash that's old, new & some digital stuff too! This months challenge is 'Anything Goes!'

 

My project started with an old canvas that I had previously collaged all sorts of different papers, including kitchen paper, (with a wedding photo & some lacey bits & bobs which I have removed) & covered it with a layer of white gesso.

I used this because A) it had been knocking about since 2008 when I made it, B) it's therefore old stash, C) it was hideous & needed a new purpose and D) I love recycling/repurposing stuff! :)

 

  

After it had dried I used my NEW stencils & my NEW ink sprays!

I treated myself to these at Christmas & believe it or not, hadn't used them yet.

The stencils are from Crafters Workshop & are the 6" ones One is 'Doily' and the other is 'Mini Swirly Garden'.

 I ordered the sprays from USA as I couldn't get them here. They're Decoart Media Misters which are an acrylic ink spray which is permanent when dry. I think they're fab!

I masked off areas using kitchen paper and sprayed away starting with the 'Mini Swirly Garden' stencil & then the 'Doily' one over the top in a contrasting colours. Then went 'spray happy' with all the colours. (This happens a lot with me I'm afraid!) 

I used  the 'Mini Swirly Garden' stencil & the black spray to add detail to the edges.

 

I used some Treasure Gold from PaperArtsy in 'Olive Bronze', 'Indigo' & a limited edition teal colour which I don't know the name of! I picked out the texture of the kitchen paper with it.

 

I then used squirts of the ink sprays & stood the canvas up so the ink would run. I love this technique.

Makes it look like graffiti! That's the background done.

 

 

 

These are the sprays I used for this project...

 

 

 

Now comes the DIGITAL bit...

I use Serif Craft Artist Pro. I like text. I'm a bit of a typography lover in fact!

I also love quotes... a lot.

I chose one from Pablo Picasso. He's an artist after all & I thought this particular one is very apt!

 

 

I used the letters from the 'Planet Pop' digikit.

 

 

I cut them out and stuck them on using matte Medium Gel. I prefer matte & use it all the time.

 I finished the piece with -Picasso in White Posca Pen as you can see...

 

 

TADA!

I hope you liked this project as much as I enjoyed doing it!

 

You can find this project featured on the New, Old & Digital Too Blog.

Please visit it & join in with this months challenge!

Make sure you check out the other DT members blogs too!

 Deborah Wainwright

Brian Raymond

Mo (Mass of Hair)

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty Hugs

Sez x

DT member ON&DT

Card for Mum.

Hiya Lovelies!

On Sunday I visited Colemans Craft Warehouse in Rushden. Lin Brown was demoing there. I also needed a few bits. It was a great day except for the fiasco on the way home! Those of you who follow me on Twitter will probably know but for those that don't, we broke down & had to be towed home!

 

Anyway, Mums birthday card....

I bought some Crafty Individuals stamps from Colemans on Sunday (along with a few Frescos Paints & Treasure Gold!) & decided to use one on mums card. I also bought a stencil by Crafters Workshop which I used for the background. I started by swiping Old Paper Distress Stain over some paper. To my amazement it had turned green! I only used it the other day & it was fine, so I emailed Ranger!

 

Now I decided to carry on with my green background... I used Picket Fence Distress Stain through my stencil & then Fresco Paint in Sage. I then blended Scattered Straw Stain around the edges & ran Peeled Paint Stain on the outside edges to give a border.
I stamped the image onto the background & a tag & coloured it in with my distress stains & a waterbrush. I also used Olive Bronze Treasure Gold around the edges. I cut it out & layered it onto the image on the background. I filled in the hearts & tassell with Sepia Accents.
I used Old Paper Distress Stain on a doily which I had cut into quarters & stuck it onto the background on the inside of the card. I then added 'Mother' in scrabble tiles down the side.

 

 

On the inside I finished off the card with an old book page & note. The note is just a notebook page aged with Scattered Straw Distress ink. I then stamped a heart & ornate corners in Memento ink in London Fog on the opposite side. I went over them again with gold paint. I also filled in the small heart with Sepia Accents.

 

 

I hope she likes it!

Crafty Hugs

Sez

x

Luckydip ATC Swap.

Hiya!

 Just wanted to share some ATCs I made for a swap, I organized on Twitter.

There wasn't a theme & we all made 3.

 I made 3 called 'Art from the Heart'.

 

 

I would like to thank all the ladies that took part.

Crafty Hugs

Sez x 

Lydia's Happiness House pt2 Mini Books.

 

Hiya my lovlies!

 Here's the mini books I made to go inside...

 

 

I hope she likes them as much as I did making them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Please feel free to comment!

Crafty Hugs.

Sez x 

Happiness house for Lydia inspired by Darcy's House of Books Pt1

Hiya my lovelies!

The very talented Darcy Wilkinson has done some fabulous projects over at PaperArtsy. One of which is called House of Books. I already had a couple of houses that I bought ages ago & Darcy inspired me to use one. My daughter Lydia is turning 13 tomorrow & I thought it would make a lovely present for her to keep! 

 

 Here's how it started...

 

 

I painted the house with different colours of Fresco Paints...

 

 

Once dry, I added a layer of Crackle Glaze & then a layer of Vintage Lace once it had dryed again!

I then used one of the JOFY stamps from the set I won. JOFY13

I painted them using Hey Pesto, London Bus, Haystack & Brown Shed.

 

 

I made some wallpaper & added it to all the 'rooms'.
 

 

I made the roof from cardboard, painted with Brown Shed & finished off with Indigo Treasure Gold. (lovely stuff!)

 

 

I cut a door from plywood. I painted it with Squid Ink, a layer of Crackle Glaze & then a mixed coat of Beach Hut & Sky. I finished it off by scoring lines into the wood with a bradle & rubbed on Indigo Treasure Gold. I also added a panel pin through a bead for a handle.

 

 

I made some drawers from plywood in the same way...

 

 

I added windows & handles to the drawers.

 

I brushed on some glue to the inside of my mini glass bottles & put glitter inside them & shook! I then emptied out the loose glitter. I added labels & stuck them to the shelf.

 

 

Voila! Completed house with Tintique springy painted heart in the attic.

Part 2 will show the mini books I made to go inside...

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Please feel free to comment.

Crafty Hugs

Sez x