Just Me...In my own place

Mailart

2009-10-01T06:43:00.003+01:00

Together with a few friends over on g inspired, I am involved in a mailart swap with friends from all over the world. The idea being that we dont tell the person we are sending the mail art too but just do it and send it as and when we please, so no real pressure. I have done two of these so far, one went to Pam in Australia and the other to Pam in Scotland, both very different. Suffice to say I forgot to get pics of them before they went in the post so Pam in Scotland has kindly photographed it and sent me a copy...I love this stencil, found it in a DIY store in a sale for 25p! Bargain!

Mottisfont June...and May too!

2009-09-06T07:30:00.004+01:00

I think I have said it before but the roses at Mottisfont are glorious in June. A lot of the stock of old english roses is held here and so this means most of the roses are beautifully scented. In June they keep the gardens open til 8pm just so you can appreciate the scent more. Its Amazing!

I stamped onto tissue paper for this one, love the effect!

And isn't she gorgeous?

Here's May...

Mottisfont May contd

2009-09-06T07:18:00.005+01:00

More messing around with different techniques...

For this one, I sanded aroound the bud with a little water and then coloured in with caran d'ache crayons.

More sanding and colouring...

Doesn't this stamp look great with the aquilegia?

2009-08-31T10:23:00.004+01:00

Whilst surfing the net a few days ago I found Sarah Whitmire's blog - Caspiana.

http://sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com/

If you look at one of her sidelinks it takes you to her soul journalling class which she did for free last year. How nice is it to find someone who shares something for nothing? Recently I paid to join an online class which I was really disappointed in cos no sooner did I join than she closed everthing down and I found I was the only one on the forum. No fun in that! Anyway I digress. Sarah's free soul journalling prompts are fabulous and not only does she give the prompt but talks you through lots of techniques too...wonderful!

I have been following along even though they are a year old and I joined the yahoo group too where it seems there are a few people doing the soul journalling class even now. What I like about her journalling class is that we often write lots of personal stuff and then cover it up. I have never done that before but really enjoyed the process. My journalling is so much better when I don't worry about who is reading what. Anyway, here are some of my early pages.

Take one Stamp CJ - Lion stamp!

2009-08-28T19:49:00.006+01:00

I really wanted to do something different with this one and finally came up with the idea of stamping on shrink plastic and shrinking the lions head. Course then it took me a few days to work out something to do with.

Then whilst rummaging through my 'found and kept' items (aka junk!)I came across an old calendar with shamanistic/shapeshifter pics on it so I tore one of them up and altered it with glitter, little stars, metallic paint and wool and then stuck my face on and voila...Shapeshifter! Hope you like it Sal!

More uploads for 52Q

2009-08-28T08:34:00.002+01:00

I am on a roll now!

Troll Bead

2009-08-26T22:39:00.003+01:00

I have been quite addicted to troll beads for several years but it all got a new lease of life when my daughter was home last week and she encouraged me to buy this little beauty...ladies and gentlemen...I give you...black silk!

Playing catch up - 52 Q

2009-08-26T22:02:00.004+01:00

I usually manage to keep up with the challenges that I take on as I absolutely hate things unfinished. I know...its the perfectionist in me! Anyway, I usually get things done but it takes me an age to upload them. So - I have had a major session this evening and at least now, everything is on the computer so I have a few days postings already sorted...huh!!!!

Here are 5 weeks of Emily Falconbridges 52Q's...just the fronts.

Mottisfont - April

2009-08-03T08:11:00.002+01:00

More pages from the Mottisfont Journal...I like the different size pages and the way that some of them peak behind others.

Mottisfont - March

2009-07-29T06:00:00.001+01:00

Finally got round to uploading my pages for March in my Mottisfont Journal. I am using this opportunity to experiment with different paint and photo altering techniques.

tfl

I've been away...

2009-07-26T20:24:00.005+01:00

so its taken me a while to get back into everything.

Hubby and I went on a mediterranean cruise aboard the P&O ship Oceana. Had a fabulous time and one of the highlights was watching the departure of the Tour de France in Monte Carlo. I am quite into cycling on account of my brother being a cyclist and taking me to see a stage of the Tour of Britain a couple of years ago so I was really looking forward to it and it never disappointed! Whilst I was sorting my pics today I came across some brilliant shots of some of the leaders. So here you can see Bradley Wiggins who began the tour with the Green Jersey and finally finished fourth overall today.

And here is Albert Contador who took the red/white jersey on the first time trial and finally won the Tour and took the Yellow Jersey.

And I was cheering so much for Cav when he won the final sprint in Paris today. Alas, no pics of him this time but WELL DONE CAV!!

Mottisfont thru the year!

2009-06-18T06:50:00.005+01:00

A few months ago whilst browsing the net I was inspired by something I saw to make an album out of oddments of paper, scrapbooking paper, wallpaper, book pages...anything I could get my hands on. The result was this little album with pages of varying sizes and quality. So what to do with it?

I am lucky to live just a short distance from one of the National Trust sites...Mottisfont...so I decided to document some of the garden changes and wildlife seen at Mottisfont throughout the year. Each month I pop up there and practise my photography skills and then put the best half dozen or so photos into the album but the beauty of this is that I am able to practise some artistic techniques at the same time. I don't want it to be just like a scrapbooking album.

I have now completed pages for March April and May and will add some of those over the next few days but here is the album.

.

Take one Stamp CJ

2009-06-10T16:09:00.002+01:00

This CJ came along with a face stamp and I have to say I was quite excited by it. I have never played with faces before so it was a first. I had a box of french lace which I had acquired from an antique shop and before I knew it I had come up with this. I do like her...Hope Netty does too!

tfl

52Q - upload catch up!

2009-06-08T16:32:00.002+01:00

I have been doing these weekly but for some reason haven't been uploading them hence the catch up.

So week 18 'Whats on my to do list?' I wasn't happy with this tag, I really threw it together but hey, nothing wrong with that is there? Just realised I havn't turned it to the correct orientation...never mind.

It reads
-make up g's album
-plant herb garden and baskets
-combat and balance - go to class
-lamp for outside front door
-fairy chores!
-stick to diet.

You can see that I lead a very exciting life can't you?

Week 19 'What gives me hope?'

Journalling reads 'everything I do gives me hope. Because hope is what drives me on. It stimulates me. Without it...what would there be?'

Week 20 'My latest obsession'

-Greys Anatomy present
-Greys Anatomy past (working my way through all series since I came to it late)
-Snow Patrol
-Smooshing paint as backgrounds
-Loch Garten Ospreys cam
-Packing tape transfers - still - thanks g!
-Cookery programmes

Week 21 'What would you do if you had a free day with no restrictions?'

Journalling reads - 'I would go in search of paradise on Earth. I would travel at the speed of light all around the globe looking at all the beautiful places that the Earth possesses - for Nature is the real treasure!'

Another CJ page!

2009-06-04T06:50:00.003+01:00

The 'Take one Stamp' CJ is in full flow now. This came along with a medallion stamp and I have to say its not my favourite type of stamp. In the end I stamped onto vellum with stazon and then coloured it in from behind with pencils. I then made it into a little window. The background was done with paint, a technique I learnt on one of the Vivian Bonder journalling workshops. A bit of bling...as requested by the owner and voila! I know...its a crooked photo!

Vivian Bonder's journal prompts

2009-05-17T18:35:00.002+01:00

I am following Vivian Bonder's journal prompts over on ning
http://vivianbonder.ning.com/ and am also doing her art journal workshop so thought it would be a good idea to combine the two. Here are the first two prompts: honesty and change.

tfl

52Q What is my super power?

2009-05-14T18:42:00.003+01:00

I got a little behind with these but am catching up. Here is week 17...What is my super power? I find this sort of question hard...its like blowing your own trumpet and thats not really me so I asked my hubby what he thought. Bless him! He said I was a good organiser, could analyse a problem and find a solution quickly. That I am good at making a bad situation, good. So thats what I wrote on the back.

I have learnt one or two new paint techniques at Viv Bonders art journalling class so practised a little and covered my tag with my own paint work!

Tfl.

g's Album

2009-05-14T18:15:00.002+01:00

One of the first homemade albums I ever made was done following a class by the very talented Gloria Froese. One thing led to another and now I have made so many of my own albums...I will never buy one again. This little treasure was a kit that G sold and I just had to have it! Gloria is a lover of old things and often incorporates a bit vintage in her projects...a lady after my own heart!

DaisyGray Designs

2009-05-04T20:48:00.001+01:00

Whilst surfing tonight I found Daisy Gray designs, a very generous lady who lets you use her background designs for free...how cool is that?

Thank-you Daisy!

52Q - What is the truth?

2009-04-30T18:17:00.003+01:00

This is definately not a good photo of this tag, its come out very dark but anyway...my answer is that 'we are born, then we live and then we die'. It sounds kinda morbid but lets face it, its the only thing we know for certain isn't it?

GPP Cat got your tongue

2009-04-29T12:29:00.005+01:00

Over at the crusades this month, Michelle has challenged us to get innovative with words on our journalling. Not just the written word but stamps, stencils...anything goes.

I have been doing a lot of art journalling over recent months but am still trying to find my own style...its tricky! And getting words on to the page is even trickier. It doesn't help that I hate, I mean really hate my hand writing...so this has been a challenge indeed!

Here, I used a few elements and techniques collected from previous crusades namely wax rubbings and masks. Even that spade shape was used as a hand made mask at some time.

here some stencilling and a little doodling which I am experimenting with at the moment

and some collage, paint and gesso!

and finally a page in progress

I have realised that I love to use the cut titles and words from magazines.

Mottisfont Abbey

2009-04-20T08:18:00.004+01:00

I belong to the National Trust and am lucky enough to have Mottisfont Abbey within a very short drive of my home so I can pop up there at any time, even if just for an hour. So on Saturday, I took one of these impuslive decisions and just threw on my coat and grabbed my camera and went off to see what was occurring up there.

This bench is one of my favourites, it sits within the walled gardens which are relatively peaceful at this time of year. Come up here in June though, when the roses are out and its a different matter!

the tulips are out

and just look at this fella...he is on a mission I think!

I am currently art journalling the changes at Mottisfont through the year...more on this later!

MMM - Mermaids

2009-04-20T07:47:00.002+01:00

Used this postcard of A Mermaid by John William Waterhouse on this page. I love his work.

Used Mica and distress embossing powders. tfl

52Q - Q15...What makes me me?

2009-04-19T08:38:00.003+01:00

The writing on the back reads...

All the good and all the bad, my ups and downs, my drive and motivation, my laziness and stubborness, my likes, dislikes, loves and hates. My DNA and that of my ancestors, my environment and how I was brought up. The people around me in my past and those who are there now. Events, moments, experiences, days, morals, beliefs. My husband, my children, my family. My love of life and my belief that everything and anything is possible with focus and strength of mind...my past and my future.

tfl

52Q weeks 13 and 14

2009-04-13T09:20:00.003+01:00

Had quite a laugh doing the hair one...I wish I could have found more photos! I have had a number of very dubious hairstyles over the years but here I am sporting the Kevin Keegan and the Farrah Fawcett-Majors :lol:

And secondly...books. I used to read loads when I was younger but it kind of got spoiled when I started studying and HAD to read. I never had the time to read for pleasure...so now I read lots of art books but mostly only read novels when I go on holiday and then I can easily read 4 or 5 over a couple of weeks. I like Paulo Coelho, Patricia Cornwell and more recently Lisa Gardner whom I discovered in Florida last year.

The Ospreys at Loch Garten

2009-04-11T18:21:00.009+01:00

I don't often say much on here about these birds but I watched them last year and they are back again now so they are top of my favourites list at the moment.

Last year we watched as EJ and Henry became a couple and then a family as all three eggs hatched. Sadly the youngest chick was beaten into submission by his brother and sister but the two surviving youngsters, Deshar and Nethy, fledged and eventually migrated in the search for warmer climes. They were tagged so we were able to watch on google earth as Deshar got his radar all wrong and disappeared into the Atlantic but Nethy found Africa and I think she finally ended up in Senegal for the winter.

As she was tagged the centre reported recently that there had been no movement for several weeks and they assumed she had met her end. Having said that it seems there is a possiblity that she lost her tag. Its been very sad as we watched these birds hatch, fledge and then migrate but it just makes you realise how few of these magnificent birds actually survive and how vulnerable they are.

Anyway, EJ came back a few weeks ago and has found herself a new man whom they have called Odin. The two have been mating and appear to be very happy and we are all awaiting the first egg which they speculate will be any day now. I warn you this is compelling viewing especially when she is keeping those eggs warm and calling for her partner to feed her and then again when the eggs hatch...it is sooo exciting.

Enjoy!

I can't seem to link this for some reason but there is a link in the side bar.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/webcams/birdsofprey/lochgartenvideo.asp

Another CJ page

2009-04-11T17:51:00.005+01:00

this time its Lorraines. The stamp she sent is the damask one from Heidi Swapp

This had me stumped as I really wanted to come up with something different. I layered several layers of 'fantasy film' in between paper and ran an iron over it to make the film stick together. I then cut out my shape and stamped with stazon. This film is fabulous stuff, its irridescent and shows many different colours depending on the light. I then kept the background fairly simple and just stamped with Stewart Gill paints before assembling the butterfly on sticky pads.

tfl

Journal Pages

2009-04-09T06:51:00.006+01:00

I thought I might start putting up some of my journal pages. I have been messing around with these for weeks but always felt that I was trying to achieve some kind of standard and then it clicked and I realised I can do whatever, I mean WHATEVER I want and I am the only person I have to please. I also realise that there will be some good ones and some bad ones but the main thing is they will all reflect how I am feeling at the time. The interesting thing is that I may be feeling really c**p but just going through this journalling process makes me feel so much better! So this is a page from a couple of weeks ago.

Paint, collage, stamping, doodling...this one has it all. And its a big book which I am using so I am altering it as I go. Often the diagrams and words show through a little but I don't mind that...it adds to the effect.
tfl

MMM Spots and Stripes

2009-04-06T08:55:00.003+01:00

I am very obsessed with journal working at the moment so much so that when I couldn't sleep the other night I started doodling and this is the result. It was 5am! Ridiculous time of the day...and I had already been awake for a couple of hours.

I hope it still qualifies for MMM...it was a bit of collage, paint and doodling :lol:

Grateful For - Em's challenge

2009-03-30T08:19:00.003+01:00

Here's my tag. My first attempt at using a sewing machine!

So amongst other things, I am grateful for (just this week) being 7 years cancer free!!!
My kids...as always.
Finding and being part of this wonderful hobby which has put me in touch with so many lovely people via cyberworld.
My art books...I am so addicted to buying these.

I have tags for this project in all sorts of sizes and made out of all sorts of things, even cereal boxes! I am determined to keep it going which is why I have kept all the tags fairly simple. I want to be able to do them quickly so I don't fall behind. When done I will bind them with the bind it all and I envisage lots of different tags all spilling out of a big fat book...we'll see!

Bits n Bobs

2009-03-25T10:42:00.002Z

I have just finished Natasha's CJ page. This CJ is small and in the shape of an envelope book so we had to create an ATC size layout and decorate the envelope to put it in. The challenge was to use just paint, ink and embossing...no embellishments. Now that is quite a challenge...to be embellishment free. The stamp was quite small and of waving or cheering hands. I really wanted to do something quite different so I stamped and embossed onto black card and then tried my hardest to make the hands look like trees! I then used one of my favourite quotes and came up with this.

On another note here is my submission for this weeks MMM's oriental challenge. I cheated here as this page is a few weeks old...hope thats OK?

52Q What keeps me awake at night?

2009-03-19T16:06:00.004Z

There are three things that keep me awake

1. Worrying over stuff...anything...mostly kids and money!
2. Back Pain! Since being diagnosed with a disc prolapse ontop of a degenerative disc I have had two lumbar epidurals for pain relief. Its settled a little but I live in chronic pain especially at night. Can't lay down and be pain free at all...it just doesn't happen. I guess I will have to have surgery at some time but I am putting it off!
3. Singing the same song over and over in my head. Sometimes I just can't stop and it drives me nuts and can keep me awake for hours!!!

Mixed Media Monday

2009-03-18T22:30:00.003Z

This weeks prompt is Spring colours and I have managed yet another page in my journal. I love using these prompts to kick start a page in one of my art journals. I now have about 6 six journals that I work in. This one was a kiddies hard back book which I am altering as I go.

tfl.

Another CJ

2009-03-18T07:03:00.003Z

I have only just decided to post pics of this latest CJ I joined. Its called 'Take one stamp' so each participant finds a stamp and sends it on its way with the journal. Here then is my effort. I did a lot of painting on this which is not really my forte but Michelle would be proud as I tried all sorts of techniques to get some depth on the page. And I was just a little 'g inspired' too as I used her walnut ink and yet another packing tape transfer! I am getting so addicted to those. I never bound the CJ as I want to make sure the binding wires are big enough for all the pages so I just tied it with ribbon. I should get this back in around a year or so if all goes well.

Crusade 29 - Brush Effects!

2009-03-16T20:29:00.005Z

Michelles crusade this month involves messing about with brush effects and that is exactly what I did! Working in this black journal (again!) and using some very bright paints, I stencilled, monoprinted, and used both clean and dirty dry brush techniques! One of the interesting things I did was stippling with a hard brush which I did to fill in the Orange flower which had gone rather 'blobby' when I had stencilled it. I am feeling rather pleased that I managed to cover up something which had not turned out as I had expected. Anyway, I still feel I have a little more to do here but wanted to put this one up for starters.

52Q

2009-03-14T09:39:00.003Z

This weeks question from Em is 'Which 5 movies inspire you creatively?'. I love 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' and it alone inspired me to do this tag.

The other movies inspire me in many ways...the funniest being 'Pracctical Magic'. The scene where they make marguerrita's definately makes me want to create!

Mixed Media Monday

2009-03-09T10:33:00.001Z

and the topic is the written word.

I sooo love this black journal...more play was had!

Mixed Media Monday

2009-03-01T22:39:00.002Z

This week the topic is Time...and once I started on this black journal over the weekend (for the pages in the next post) the 1960's page just evolved quite naturally.

Surprise!

2009-02-28T12:30:00.005Z

Imagine my surprise when I received a package from Michelle Ward and opened it to find all these goodies

From the moment I opened it the fragrance of roses filled the room. Every little package was so carefully and thoughtfully put together...I am completely and utterly chuffed to bits. That someone has put so much thought and effort into sending a gift to me is so amazing and just look at the little stencil with my initials on it...its such a personal gift. I am blown away by your kindness Michelle...so much so that I have already journalled it and of course put a little more 'portion control' into the process! All the little hearts are made from the gift wrap and I even included the decorated packing tape which is not easily available over here.

I am so happy to be part of this community...so many like minded people and so much kindness around.

From the bottom of my heart...thank-you Michelle...you made my day!

6th of the 6th

2009-02-28T07:28:00.002Z

This little challenge seems to be doing the rounds at the moment. I picked it up from Pam http://www.waltzingthroughlife.blogspot.com/ and the idea is to post the sixth picture from the sixth file on your computer. Here is mine...my son Josh on his 21st birthday. I can still hear him now...'stop pointing that camera at me every five minutes mum!!

I need to pick two people to send this challenge to so I pick Sue http://suejoy.blogspot.com/ and Lisa http://web.me.com/l.mandziak/figuring_things_out/Blog/Blog.html

Lisa - look here

2009-02-26T23:24:00.003Z

I went to Lisa's blog and thought I saw a photograph that looked just like one I took last year...so this is for Lisa but I realise that Lisa had more clouds in her photos. But in any case I still think there is a resemblence.

52Q weeks 7and 8

2009-02-26T16:25:00.004Z

Just updating with the last two weeks from Em's challenge.

Week 7 - What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? The writing reads 'I would buy an old house, one in the countryside but near to the sea, like those little villages scattereed along the South Coast. I would install an Aga and have a cottage garden. Would spend my days gathering flowers, fruit and veg in a basket and walking the beach. The rest of the time I would create with no worries about money or how I should otherwise be spending my time...its a dream!

Week 8 - The last time I laughed out loud - Was in the car this morning listening to Chris Moyles winding someone up...soo funny! This tag came off some clothing and I altered it a little.

I have really changed my outlook over the last couple of years. I realise that I am so up for recycling old stuff. A lot of my albums and tags are made like this. I like it so much more!

So thats me...still up to date

Mixed Media Monday - hearts and/or wings

2009-02-16T20:18:00.002Z

This week the challenge over at MMM is hearts and/or wings. I found this lovely parrot image and so played on the wing theme by seed beading them! I like this much more that I thought I would.

tfl

:)

Ta Da!!! GPP Crusade 28 Portion Control

2009-02-16T13:20:00.005Z

Over on the Street Team blog

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/

the challenge for the month is to practise portion control in order to give images more depth and hence make them more interesting. A challenge indeed for little ol me who has little 'know how' in these things. Still I rose to the challenge and came up with this page.

I know its not the greatest but its important that you see the process, the good and the bad! I was using some die cut shapes and I only had a few of them...it was all going wrong! So I decided to try again and cut yet another stamp (a technique practised in an earlier crusade). I found some scrap lino and camme up with the shape for my next pages. Not sure what you would call it but I associate it with the spade in a deck of cards! I then cut larger ones from paper and my tools were ready to go! I stamped, masked, stencilled and then stamped some more, dooodled and painted. Oh I had such a good time :lol:

And whats more these are my surviving leftover lovelies...

I think it was Regina who lamented the problem with journalling on these pages and I totally understand. They are sometimes too nice and thats one problem but for me...I also find the journalling, the word part, difficult. What to say? There's a challenge for you Michelle...a crusade in word journalling!

I realise now that I need to do my journalling different. I bought a ready made book in a local store but I really need to take my pages out so I can get better coverage on the page...the rings get in the way! I will need to put more thought into my next journal I think!

Anyway it was a lovely crusade and I am learning so much here. Thank-you Michelle.

2009-02-14T10:02:00.002Z

One of the classes over at the cyberecrop last weekend was to make a 6x12 album. You could order a kit but I decided to do it out of my own stash. There was a time when I almost threw the whole thing in the bin cos I just didnt have paper big enough but then I improvised and the further I went the better it looked. The pages fan out. Its quite clever! Anyway I decorated it this week.

Homemade Album

2009-02-14T09:54:00.005Z

52Q week6

2009-02-14T09:16:00.002Z

Here is my card for this weeks challenge over at Emily's blog

http://embers.typepad.com/e/

I did a gel medium transfer. Its not very clear, very subtle in fact, but I think you can just see it. Yes, I would change things. I wish I had taken my degree in my 20's instead of my 40's so then I could have pursued a better career but then if I had done that the course of my whole life would be different and I may not have had my children, whom I adore completely and utterly and who I consider to be my greatest achievement!

UKS Cybercrop

2009-02-08T16:23:00.002Z

Have been entering into the spirit of this cybercrop with gusto! Had about 8 hours sleep in two nights! Its a real marathon although of course you only have to do what you want to do...there is no pressure...except from me! I always seem to set myself the challenge of seeing how much I can get done. Am feeling absolutely shattered now and quite frankly couldn't care less if I ever scrap again :lol: And you should see my scrap room!!

Anyway lots of things for you to feast your eyes on over the next few posts although I have to say almost all of it was inspired by the very talented people that UKS got in to do the classes...I can take no credit!

UKS cybercrop

2009-02-08T16:22:00.002Z

and theres more!

2009-02-08T16:19:00.000Z

and theres more!

52Q week 5

2009-02-05T15:52:00.003Z

Still managing to keep up with Ems 52Q challenge. This weeks prompt is 'today I feel...'. The journalling is a little personal so I havn't put it up but here's the tag. The word 'feel' is a packing tape transfer which I have become somewhat addicted to since g. showed us how to do them.

A couple of days ago I dug out a tapestry that I had been working on a couple of years ago (still unfinished!) and whilst rummaging came across some of my completed ones. I have no idea what to do with these as I already have about 15 cushions. Any ideas??? I especially like the William Morris one...

Mixed Media Monday

2009-02-03T16:37:00.003Z

This weeks challenge is set by the lovely Hermine and the topic is fruit. I was a little unsure about where to start with this one initially but then a little play with some gliteratti film and some fibres gave me a material which was very citric in colour. So here we have more pages in my altered book and a great saying 'if life throws you a lemon, make lemonade'...

Hope you like it!

52Q week 4

2009-01-28T20:54:00.003Z

So the prompt for this week reads 'When I look into my eyes, I see...' and here are my tags. This was a very thought provoking question and very cleverly worded imo...it made me think!

Mixed Media Monday

2009-01-26T12:50:00.002Z

This weeks challenge was to create art that represents your country. I decided to go for the red telephone box which has been a familiar site in this country for around 75 years! They used to be everywhere but of course they are not used as much these days since most people have home telephones and mobile phones. A lot of our telephone boxes are being scrapped these days and in fact my brother actually bought one once and had it in his back garden for years. They are part of our heritage really and its kind of sad that they will prob be phased out at some stage. I think they are like our red double decker buses...very representative of the UK.

tfl

52Q wk 3

2009-01-21T15:17:00.003Z

This weeks question is 'Do you believe in fairies?'. I always believe in the mystical and magical...in fact I still believe in Father Xmas after I saw his sleigh going across the sky when I was about 6! So - yes, I believe in fairies...do you?

Mixed Media Monday

2009-01-20T16:08:00.002Z

This weeks theme is to use primary and secondary colours. I do like using bright colours so I used this as an opportunity to do a page in my journal which I am making much more of an effort with this year. Tfl

Mixed Media Monday

2009-01-18T16:06:00.004Z

The theme this week at MMM is friendship and I used this challenge to do the first page in my altered book. I have never attempted this before but have to say that having started the book, I will certainly finish it. The book - selected short stories by Guy de Maupassant - has been hanging around my craft area for a year or more and everytime I have paint left on my brush or sponge I have used it up on its pages which meant of course that when I finally decided to work in it, I already had several pages already started on which to continue.

Hope you like it!

52Q week 2

2009-01-13T20:29:00.006Z

My tag in answer to Em's question 'Am I afraid of change?'

I am not afraid of change...I dont always like change but its challenging and stretches me often to do things that I would not otherwise have done so I don't think change is bad...it just pushes me out of my comfort zone.On another note, I feel excited that UK Scrappers are having a cyber crop...I love participating and get quite carried away...often not sleeping for more than 48 hours. Of course this is always easier if my hubby is away which is not going to be the case this year. I wonder if I can get him to do all the chores and all the cooking over that weekend? hmmmm

Crusade 27 - Shape up!

2009-01-12T16:03:00.003Z

Not in the physical sense...phewwww!

Michelle Wards latest crusade is to shape up...take a shape and run with it!

I made up my mind right at the start of this crusade to keep my shape simple and so finally decided on the heart! The first thing I did was to use some leftover lino and cut my own heart. Initially I cut one 'lobe' larger than the other and (of course) I forgot about the fact that when stamping everything is opposite so of course my large lobe was on the wrong side. I ended up cutting it down more so in the end my heart shape had two fairly equally sized lobes. I then stamped with it on a brown mailing envelope. Something I had seen done in several art books but had never tried. I loved the way this came out. It has an almost poster like quality

Next I took some wax rubbings of my heart as well as of rubber stamps and painted with watercolour. Another technique that Michelle told us about last year whereby the wax resists the paint. This also gives an awesome effect and I have got so much better at it now that I am not trying to make it perfect! I also used my paper punch on this page and then found such a wonderful title for it when looking through my cuttings box. My cuttings box is something I started a while ago, just cutting out titles and pictures from magazines and throwing them into a box. Its great that we can make art without it costing too much money. I am so up for recycling whenever possible. The only thing that stops me is space! I have so many lovely boxes that I intend to do something with and I'm afraid to say I am stockpiling them :lol: Anyway, here is that page...

Next I used some modelling paste pushed through a stencil and then painted with some Stewart Gill paint that I had leftover from another project. This would be great with a bigger stencil as this one was a bit small. The page just had glimmer mist as a base. A bit more stamping and the page was done.

This next page was a bit of freestyle...I havn't been doing arty stuff for very long and sometimes I think I put too much thought into it but I am starting to find that I just go with the flow occasionally and get something done without thinking. These pages are starting to come together in a way that appeals to me and this next page was one of those. I don't even know what I did cos I just 'rolled with it'. I just love these heart shaped doillies...I bought them a while ago and always knew they would come in handy.

Crusade 27

2009-01-12T15:50:00.004Z

For this next page, I used a packing tape transfer as well as various hearts. I am fairly sure this page is not yet finished so I will add to it later but wanted to get it uploaded before I go back to work tomorrow.

And finally, I had the idea of actually cutting my page in a heart shape! I just roughly watercolour crayons to add some colour so you can see the shape of the page. I will journal it at some time in the future.

Another great challenge Michelle!

tfl

Mixed Media Monday

2009-01-09T09:46:00.003Z

This is my first attempt at a challenge with this group. I have watched from afar and been struck by the talent out there but this year I decided 'I will not procrastinate' so here is my attempt at their Moon challenge...

It really didn't photograph so well but I think you get the idea! Hopefully I will get better with practise :lol:

52Q

2009-01-08T18:48:00.004Z

I have decided to do Emily Falconbridges 52Q challenge http://embers.typepad.com/e/

Its always a huge commitment to begin anything like this as I discovered when I did her Deck of Me challenge two years ago and I dont like to commit to things unless I know I can get them done. What decided me was that this project can be kept quite small and of course it can be kept simple on the weeks when time is difficult to find. I threw together this card in just a few minutes and thats a big bonus in anything like this because its crucial to keep up. I know that if I get more than a couple of weeks behind then it will become a chore and if its a chore, its not enjoyable and art should be enjoyable. Anyway, the journalling on the back involves many of the things I put in my resolution post just a few days ago so I havnt repeated it here. I intend to have different size tags which I will bind together with the BIA at the end. tfl.

Blasted Flu Bug!

2009-01-07T10:13:00.003Z

I have been completely floored by this bug for the last 4 days but I swear I will get dressed today...maybe!

I am feeling a little better though cos I have managed to upload this xmas layout completed with photos from 2007 and of course that lovely little tag that I bought from g. It looks good here doesn't it? I did manage to be a little creative though...when I carried forward g's little red circles of glitter over my page! You can tell I was coming down with something cos I let g do all the work :lol: I still love it though!

Goodies in the post!

2009-01-03T17:09:00.004Z

Just look what the postie brought me today...wonderful goodies from my pal g in Canada.

First of all there is the little vintage xmas decoration which is exquisite. I won this in a giveaway that g did just before xmas and I just love vintage/antique stuff so its just perfect for me. Also here are the six tags of xmas that she did and I just could not resist buying together with a xmas kit she put together. This little package just ooozes vintage...not only are there decorations (sadly my candle got a little bit damaged en-route), but also beads, stickers, music sheets and poems and pics from vintage books. I just love this! At the moment I am still in the 'looking' phase but I am definately going to create something with this little kit. Thanks g!

And since our xmas days are almost over I thought I would put up a little pic of my tree which is still looking pretty good! I am just savouring my last few days with it.
Thats it for now...

Top Hat Pick!!!

2009-01-02T22:31:00.003Z

Imagine my surprise to log on today and find this

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2009/01/crusade-no-26-winner.html

Thank-you so much Michelle! I am so honoured to have been picked for this months top hat! Michelle first came to my notice as a participant in 'True Colors' my absolute favourite book (http://www.amazon.com/True-Colors-Palette-Collaborative-Journals/dp/0971729638/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top).

If anyone is even contemplating this book...go for it! I have had it a year and it is still a constant companion of mine...so much so that the pages are beginning to come out from the binding.

I find Michelles work so inspirational and have been following along with the crusades for quite a while. For anyone wanting a monthly challenge with a difference do follow the link on the side panel and have a go. Its so nice to be able to dip in and out and as you can see I even managed three this month!

Thank-you again Michelle! It was such a lovely surprise :)

1st January 2009

2009-01-01T12:50:00.003Z

Wow! Where did that last year go? Can't believe we are in 2009!

One of my new year resolutions is to be a better blogger... I am generally useless at it!

Other resolutions include the usual...lose weight, get more fit, be a nicer person but I also want to be a better blogger, do more art journalling and find more time to tinker with my camera. And I need to take my camera with me when I go anywhere. How on earth am I ever going to get good photos if I dont even have the camera with me? I would also like to master photoshop and finish the zillion projects I have stored in the recesses of my brain! And I would like to finish my second OU degree. I started another one cos I got bored and now I find there are not enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. I really dont have the time to work!

If I sit here long enough I am sure I will come up with a whole lot more things I want to do too! So what are your aims for the year? Do tell?

Crusade 24

2008-12-30T20:37:00.010Z

Well Michelle...three crusades in row! Didn't I do well?

Crusade 24 is all about writing our ‘final wishes’ for our loved ones. This was prompted by the death of Michelles sister in the latter part of 2008 and whilst Michelle acknowledged that some people would not want to partake in this challenge she nevertheless felt the need to encourage us to document our final wishes. You can find her blog post here

http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/2008/10/crusade-no-24-final-wishes.html

In 2002 the possibility of dying was very real to me. I had been diagnosed with Bowel Cancer one day and was operated on the next day. The next few months were very difficult and I did actually spend a lot of time planning my funeral. It used to really upset me but it was a process that was crucial to my acceptance of where I was...at that time. I really felt it was necessary. I once tried to talk to my daughter about my wishes but it upset her and she didn't want to talk about it. She thought I was being dramatic!

The fact is though, that these things are easier if decided upon earlier and after my good friend Ann died just before xmas at the very young age of 56 I decided that I really had to stop procrastinating and get on with it. So I sat a couple of nights ago and composed a very long but necessary letter. One copy has been attached to my art journal, the other has been placed in my jewelry box. I intend to tell all the family where it is so that there will be no question about my final wishes when the time comes. Whats good about this is that once you have a framework for it, you can add to it quite easily. I even woke last night remembering something I hadn't put in so its good that it can be modified!

When I read my letter back it struck me that all those things that are important to me could almost be thought of as useless pieces of information...that is until the event actually happens...and then my kids will be glad that I have picked the piece of music I have. They will love my references to 'Mummy's Moon' and I feel sure they will find some comfort from my little oddities.

Here then are the journal pages. I enjoyed doing these cos I was sat watching the tv and I kind of did a 'free spirit' thing. I cut and stuck and used those lovely caran d'ache watercolour crayons, finally adding an envelope with my letter inside.

Thank-you Michelle for pushing this...it was something I had intended to do for a while and now I am so glad it is done!

GPP Crusade 26

2008-12-16T16:23:00.002Z

The GPP Crusade for December is to journal a scent for the season so having put all the effort into making the backgrounds over the weekend I then went on to use them for this challenge. In the first one I adhered dried rose petals from my garden in the summer. I am not sure if these will last in this journal...I think they may perish...I don't know. Maybe someone can advise? But the pages really smell nice at the moment! BTW the background was stamped over with gesso before I added the petals.

And my favourite smell of the season...xmas tree! We always have a real xmas tree and I get so excited when it goes up. The scent just permeates the whole room for several days. I just wish there was a way of capturing that scent for longer but it generally fades. I have to keep my son away from the pine needles though as he is allergic to them! That said, he is 21 now so that shouldn't be too difficult! The little envelope is packed full of pine needles.

I have another one on the go so will post that as well if I get a chance.

And yes Michelle...you told me about your Graham...what month is his birthday in? Just wondering if they have more in common.

And something else exciting...g is having a little giveaway and I have won an antique xmas deccie! I am so excited about that...I love antique stuff! Will post a pic when it arrives. Thanks g!

Crusade no 25

2008-12-15T19:39:00.006Z

From time to time I follow Michelle Wards Crusades and no 25 was to investigate the properties of gesso. I had so much fun with this, turning out several pages to use for journalling backgrounds in the space of just a few days (allowing for drying time!). So here are some of my experiments...

This was stamping into a block of painted gesso and then painting over the top. As gesso resists paint, a short spritz of water and I was able to move the paint around and create quite a different effect.

In this one, I used 'gloopy' gesso...that is, loading the sponge with huge amounts of gesso and leaving it all 'gloopy' on the page. It took a long time to dry and I did a couple of different layers finishing up with paint over sequin scrim.

This one may well be my favourite. The effects were achieved by dipping a piece of string into the gesso and dragging it over the page. The photos dont do it justice as there is depth and texture on the page. And finally...

More 'gloopyiness' achieved by dragging the sponge horizontally across the page as well as the string technique and then painting and spritzing with water before spreading the paint. I have actually used this one as a background for crusade 26 but more about that tomorrow. Thanks for the inspiration Michelle! I am determined to stay more up to date with the crusades from now on...we'll see!!!

Oh and for those who asked, my square is the memory angel which I think was in the second photo.

Part Two of the Pink Artist Project

2008-12-13T17:20:00.003Z

Imagine my surprise, when I popped into Monica's blog, to find my little square in her sneak peek. That truly is awesome...look here if you want to see more

http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008/12/winter-wanderland.html

Making albums!

2008-11-09T19:11:00.004Z

I am still following g and her plan to do lots of creative stuff this month. She taught a class a few months ago in which we made our own albums and I was hooked. I had already dabbled in album making using a bind it all but that was the first time I had stitched in my own pages. Anyway, this is a slight variation on that first album. It is empty at the moment but I intend to change that real soon! Notice the use of yet another packing tape transfer.

My first Banner!

2008-11-08T15:19:00.002Z

I just played a little and managed to come up with this one. Its taken from the album I made to house my g inspired CJ pages. Hope you like it!

A Cunning Plan...

2008-11-07T14:01:00.003Z

A few of us gp's are joining g in her plan to use a few photos over the course of the month. The first of these prompts was to scrap a layout using 5 photos. So here is one I made a couple of nights ago but had to wait for all the glossy accents to dry before I could upload it. I have had these papers since last xmas...Cosmo Cricket...very oldy worldy which I love.

I glittered the outline of the snowflake and then glossy accented over it. Also you will see a packing tape transfer, something I have become very fond of since g showed us how it was done.

The next prompt is an album so I think I may go get a head start. Thanks g!

Les Petite dolls

2008-10-04T21:42:00.002+01:00

I have been following a class by suzi blu over on ning in which she is teaching us how to draw faces and do mixed media collages. Here is my girl so far...she needs wax though and possibly more layers first. What do you think?

More CJ pages

2008-10-04T16:42:00.004+01:00

I have been rather caught up with the Suzi blu class over on Ning so haven't uploaded much here lately. Having said that here is g's page which was penguin shaped and is winging itself all the way to Canada! She loves her garden so I used dried rose petals from mine to decorate the background. Hope she likes it!

A few more CJ pages for the g inspired group

2008-09-05T19:41:00.004+01:00

Here we have Manda's

Wendy's

Pam's

and Lisa's

I am such a bad blogger!

2008-08-31T07:52:00.003+01:00

No excuses really except I had a spate of trips which meant I was always coming from behind and never catching up on here. My 50th birthday came and went with a weekend away, a cruise around the Greek Islands followed by a week in Rome! Had a wonderful time and I am soooo glad we went away cos the weather has been awful here in the UK this summer.

One of my sons has taken off to Hawaii and California to coach football for the summer and returns here on Wednesday, the other son has managed to get all the required grades in his A levels and so will join the Uni community in a couple of weeks and my daughter completed her intercalated degree and so goes back to finish her medical degree this week. Only two more years left Char! So, this means I will have three children at Uni for a whole year! Scarey.

We went to Cardiff for Char's graduation ceremony and I will leave you with this lovely photo of her all gowned up!

g inspired CJ

2008-06-29T08:51:00.003+01:00

I have joined this group of ladies from all over the world who share a common interest and that is Gloria Froese! What a talented lady! Anyway, we are embarking on a worldwide CJ with a bit of a difference. The journals don't get posted...just the pages. We all decided on a theme and a size beforehand so then the pages can be done at leisure and posted around the world! Awesome challenge. Here are my first four

Alice in Wonderland for Monique

Whose at the bottom of your garden for Sue

String for Lisa

And Vintage Bathing Belles for Severine

Thoroughly enjoyed doing these...only 8 more to go!

BTW - that little heart on the Vintage bather...was made during Michelle Wards in which we made paper casts...lovely to see my own embellishment on the page!

Little Boxes - all done

2008-06-23T11:49:00.004+01:00

Finally finished the rest of my little boxes for Sarah's swap

http://www.ryan-kesler.com/swaps/littleboxes/

Thoroughly enjoyed doing them and learnt loads by trying different techniques.

Thanks Sarah :)

GPP Street Team Crusade No 21

2008-06-23T11:28:00.003+01:00

So Michelles crusades have come around again and this time we are doing wax rubbings and painting over them so that the wax resists the paint. I have actually done quite a few of these but many of them havn't photographed so well as the colours I used were just too light. That said I am particularly fond of my car tyre which I struggled to get to but you can just about get the idea from thisThis one was anaglypta wall paperAnd this one...the good old fashioned house brick! Rubbing done in a purple colour and the paint was metallic platinum ...just love the iridescence.
Of course what better place to put my rubbing of a house brick than on my little houses for the little boxes swap?

I quite enjoyed doing these rubbings and of course this is only limited by your imagination...and your crayons...mine were cheapies and I think a better effect could have been achieved with better tools...not that I am blaming them!

I won!!

2008-06-20T23:02:00.000+01:00

With the layout below...I won! I am so chuffed...see here
http://useyourstash.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Using your stash!

2008-06-15T08:45:00.004+01:00

This is something I am very into at the moment so thought I would have a go at this challenge. I used the remains of a whole pack of stickers on this layout (inked them first) and managed to scrap some not very good photos of my son taken 16 years ago!!!

http://useyourstash.blogspot.com/2008/06/june-5th-challenge.html

Little Boxes Swap

2008-06-13T08:28:00.002+01:00

I have made a good start on these now with various themes. I just love the little beach huts...I cut up lolly sticks and painted them to try and give an authentic feel. The others were just messing around with various techniques but have enjoyed doint them immensely.

Summer Workshop at Bad Girls

2008-06-04T16:28:00.003+01:00

Just completed Gloria's class over at the Summer workshop at Bad Girls and look at this little album...isn't the cutest? I love it! I didn't use the latest kit but dug out my 7 gypsies papers. I just loved the stitching on this class. Although Gloria used her machine I used some large stitches and twine...really love the effect.

Another class I did was this one using cardboard, paint and other bits of arty stuff. The idea being that you complete your layout with things you find around the house. I must admit I wasn't sure how this would turn out but I actually think I like getting messy and the end result is awesome!

Paper Casts

2008-05-30T22:48:00.006+01:00

Really loved doing the challenge this month, so much so that I have a few more 'drying' as we speak. I was rather slap dash with my method in that I just laid tissue paper over the mould and added water with a paint brush, dabbing it in around the mould. I then just pushed and squeezed the paper to get as much water out as possible before leaving them to dry in my airing cupboard which took a good 48 hours but loook at the results!

I am really pleased with the little heart shape and the aztec (y) type sun. They look fab irl and I will definately be doing some more. I am surprised at how firm the end result is and all this made from paper! So my next task is to paint them and use them!!

Little Boxes on the Hillside

2008-05-29T22:45:00.002+01:00

I am so excited about this swap, just imagine all these little houses lined up on your mantelpiece or window sill...

http://www.ryan-kesler.com/swaps/littleboxes/

I have been running a few ideas through my head this evening and hope to make a start tomorrow.

In the meantime I have finished a few layouts with the May Bad Girls kit.

Just realised the other two are in the other camera so I will upload those another time. You know I always wonder what my postie thinks when this kit turns up each month...promptley labeled up 'BAD GIRLS' :lol:

A busy month

2008-05-11T20:21:00.006+01:00

April has been a very busy month for me not least of all because it was my hubby's 50th birthday and I organised a trip to Eurodisney for both of us and all three kids...this was technically challenging since they are all in the middle of exams. Anyway we went, we conquered and had a fabulous time.

So I have been back a week and managed to finish off the two outstanding CJ's that I had hanging around and then finally got round to doing my layout for Shimelles class and April 25th. Believe it or not I managed to get 13 photos on this page (after cropping) and I am very pleased with it. I intend to use it to track my weight loss over the next few months...lets hope you see a little less of me in the future! Crikey...just realised that having put that out there I now need to make sure I do it!

Other things I want to record are the changes in the garden, 'whose in the house' cos we are a family of five and I am often here alone, and whats 'on my mind'.

Save your day!

2008-04-25T18:09:00.003+01:00

Shimelles challenge on UKS for the cybercrop is to Scrap your day...so what are you waiting for?

See here for details

http://www.shimelle.com/

So I have been snapping away all day...all the important and not so important things that have caught my eye. What a fabulous challenge? I am definately going to scrap the people in my house each month because with a hubby who works away and two children at uni I can have any number of combinations of people living here at any moment! I also want to get shots of my garden and anything that is in bloom (or not) and is looking particularly photogenic! There are also a number of other things I want to capture for example what I am eating for my lunch, what diet I am on at the time, what I am reading...oh so many options.

Here is my first page and there are a number of others in the last post.

And just a couple of shots which will be in my first month!

2008-04-25T18:07:00.001+01:00

Tagged!!!

2008-04-24T18:10:00.003+01:00

By Kelly Matthews... http://kellyface.blogspot.com/

Ahh revenge is sweet Kelly :lol:

1. If a movie was being made of your life who would you like to be cast to play yourself? And why?

Michelle Pfeiffer - cos I think she's a great actress...and my hubby has always fancied her!!

2. You are spending a whole month on a desert island for charity and you have to choose your favourite celebrity to spend the first two weeks with & your least favourite celebrity to spend the second two weeks with, who would they be & why?

Have to agree with you Kelly, its Johnny Depp all the way for me...why? cos he's a pirate of course and would be able to find all the treasure...plus I think he's fab! My worst celeb would have to be posh spice...can't stand the woman. As I see it she is fame obsessed and has no talent whatsover.

3. What are your three favourite crafting products?

I am very into my Bind-it-all for making mini books. I also love covering chipboard so chippy shapes would be next followed by paper, paper and more paper...I love paper!

4. If you could invent something to do anything what do you think it would be?

ummmm...something to actually dig and weed my garden sounds good right now...its a chore I despise especially this time of year.

5. What are the last three books that you read?

Atonement
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (love his books)
The Lovely Bones - Alice Seebold

6. Qvc or create and craft?

Don't watch either but have been known to look at QVC on line occasionally.

7. Docrafts or Dovecraft or DCWV? Not sure really...I do have some DCWV stuff and have recently reviewed the EZ runner for Docrafts...see below

8. What is your claim to fame?

Jogging round the deck of the QE2 with Jimmy Saville :lol:

2008-04-22T18:49:00.004+01:00

I have been so busy the last couple of weeks but have managed to get a couple of layouts done. The first one is done from a sketch put up on UK Scrappers for the cyber crop coming up this weekend. I really do like the Write Out papers that I used as its always so difficult to find nice papers for boy layouts especially when they are older. The other one I did at a crop on Saturday and its just a really nice photo of my daughter and parents.

EZ Runner

2008-04-10T17:55:00.003+01:00

I have been asked to review the 3L Scrapbook Adhesive EZ Runner for Design Objectives. This handy little tool applies little double sided tape tabs from a dispenser and so is definately a quick and easy adhesive to use.

Everytime I go into a craft shop I buy adhesive so I own all shapes and sizes including bog standard PVA glue, glue sticks, double sided tape, and the herma dispensers of either permanent or repositional glue. I tend to use different types for different jobs. For sticking photos I always use the herma repositional, and for covering mountboard to make mini books I always use PVA, most other jobs get left to the double sided tape of varying widths. For this project though, I pretty much used the EZ runner for all of the little book (not the box as that was already done and I think it would not have been tidy enough anyway, I like to glue things right to the edges when altering them).

The EZ runner was easy to remove from its packaging which I was very pleased about, I hate having to fight with vacuum packed items...and am often lucky to escape with my fingers still intact!

I have to say I really liked the EZ runner mostly because it can be used to apply adhesive to curves which was extrememly handy since I tested it on a circular minibook! This wasn't intentional but it was good because it made me realise that this is definately one of its biggest selling points imo.

My biggest problem was that a couple of times I picked it up and for some unknown reason had it upside down so of course the little rollers didn't work. This was soon rectified though but I dont know why I kept doing it.

This runner was supposed to be permanent but a couple of times I decided to remove the paper embellishement and had no problem doing so as long as I was careful. On one of these occasions a good ten minutes had elapsed. This was good for me since I wanted to remove the items but whether that is detrimental long term remains to be seen.

I did like this product but would not pay £4.99 for it. It would have to be a little cheaper for me to buy it...that said if I was doing a particular project with lots of curves there is a good chance I would buy it specifically for that reason. What I would like to see is a refillable option and perhaps even a thinner one which could be used for smaller embellishments like chippy alphas and scrolls and paper lace.

Anyway, here is the the project I used it on which I am very pleased with...more pics in the next post.

2008-04-10T17:51:00.001+01:00

2008-04-06T21:41:00.001+01:00

I did this layout for the Basic Grey fibre competition. It was hard trying to come up with a different idea for the fibre but eventually I decided to use the fibre to make the grid in the background and assemble the layout on top, raising it off the page...quite different for me but I am very happy with it.

The doll - Revealed!!

2008-04-02T16:22:00.003+01:00

See here for an update on Monica's doll, she is all finished.

http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008/04/pink-artist-doll-reveal.html

More cutting!

2008-03-31T18:42:00.007+01:00

I am still following Michelles http://michelleward.typepad.com/how_cool_is_that/ crusades and the challenge for March which is to cut your own stamp. Having had a very busy few days I still managed to have another 'cutting' session. This time I had a go at the dove, the bird of peace carrying its olive branch...at least I think its supposed to be an olive branch.

I am definatley getting more accurate with the cutters but even after buying the brayer I still had trouble with the printing side of things. So I dug out my rolling pin which, I hasten to add, rarely gets used for making pastry and used it to apply pressure to the back of the lino when I was stamping it. I guess mounting it onto a woodem block would be a good idea but I am far too impatient for that! Anyway, it certainly helped me get a more even coverage. I am desperate to have a go with cutting rubber but have yet to source a 'reasonably priced' one here in the UK! Anyway here is my dove...duly printed into my journal!

Next month we are making stencils. Come to think of it, I did this once before when I decided to stencil round my walls but that was a very long time ago so it will be nice to revisit it.

Monica - Girl Gone Wild

2008-03-22T15:39:00.003Z

This is a wicked blog...please check it out.

http://girl-gone-thread-wild.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

Monica is awesome and has involved people from all over the world in her quest to make a doll out of 2x2 art squares in aid of charity. I am honoured to have completed my square. Although I will be too late for the doll, I am hoping to be included in the wall piece which will follow it.

Please check out her blog for the story of the doll and the parade of art squares...amazing stuff!

Desdemona

2008-03-21T18:03:00.005Z

I made Desdemona for the Shakespearean CJ that I am in...isn't she cute? I stuck a face underneath a clear button and used wire to try and give her a neck and shoulders...it was a shame to give her away cos I loved her but I am sure Kathie will love her too! Ut oh I feel another addiction coming on now...

I have found a new (addictive) hobby - thanks Michelle!

2008-03-15T17:19:00.005Z

So Michelles challenge this month is to 'cut it out'... make a stamp or stencil. Thinking I would again be way out of my depth I still wanted to take part in this challenge so off I trotted to my local arts and crafts shop to see if I could get hold of any supplies. I came home with some lino and cutters. It seems most people use an eraser block but anyway, at least this meant I could make a start.

I have to say this is seriously an addictive hobby!! It has dominated my evenings recently...I started with this

and then moved on to this...

I had a mishap in between as well which was a great learning experience. I was only using an offcut of the first stamp I did so it wasn't very big but anyway somehow it cracked right through the middle. Thankfully it hadn't taken me long to do as it was quite small...it was then that my son told me that I should have warmed the lino up first...ah well its good that we have kids to educate us...doh!

Another challenge was getting the design onto the lino and after much googling (never saw your updated post at that time Michelle!) I used gel medium to transfer a photocopy. It was a little trial and error but hey I got there in the end! I am really pleased with the results although it was hard to ink up the bigger one and get a decent image...might try acrylic paint next time.

I have it in my mind to do a dice next so watch this blog for updates. I am sure this isn't the last time I will do this. I must see if I can get a uk supplier of that blender pen and the eraser block first though!

A better photo...I think...see post below

2008-03-02T12:05:00.001Z

Still trying to get to grips with blogger but I think if you click on this image it will become bigger.