Creative Ideas Journal Cover

Do you have a place that you store all your crafty ideas? I do it the old fashioned way in a notebook. It has sketches of my creations, materials used or that I wish to use, journaling, dates that I have completed projects, etc. I both record as ideas and inspiration strike as well as while in the process of creating. This book is always at hand's reach when I create.

I started this newest journal edition awhile ago but I had yet to make a cover for it. Well, today was the day.

Supplies: patterned paper (Simple Stories), doily (Michaels), embossed butterfly chipboard (Studio 18), Tim Holtz Distress ink (Ranger), label stamp (Fontwerks), StazOn ink (Tsukineko), alphabet wood veneers (Studio Calico), Glimmer Mists (Tattered Angels), pen (Sharpie), jean material, mother of pearl buttons, thread (miscellaneous)

I used up some old stash, as well as upcycled items.  The dyed mother of pearl buttons are antiques that I had in a button box that I got years ago at auction. The jean remnant, leftover from an old well-worn pair of mine. The partial crochet doily is the leftover from this beloved layout. With all the fabrics and notions, I thought it would be perfect to stitch the edge on the cover.

The element that was interesting to fashion was the label. I adhered the aluminum foil shiny side down onto an 140lb piece of cardstock to give it a more galvanized/brushed nickel look. After stamping the Fontwerks label image onto it using StazOn, I fussy cut around the outer edge leaving a border. Then I got out an old embossing stylus and embossed the in-between frames part and the border edge. This gave it some dimension and character and then it was ready for the Glimmer Misted Studio Calico wood veneer letters to be adhered to it. 

I am digging the shabby chic colours on this and the sentiment (which is similar to one currently on a Magenta stamp) that I thought was perfect for my journal purposes.

TTFN,

I {Heart} this Page!

The art journal page that I am sharing today is a little different than my usual pages in that it is really bold and bright. I LOVE it and I am thrilled that what I had envisioned in my head translated so well onto the page.

Supplies: 400 Series Watercolor Hardbound 11" Art Journal  (Strathmore), Tim Holtz tissue paper and stencil, Archival ink, glue n' seal (Ranger), stamps (CTMH), gelatos and Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), gesso (Golden), word strip stickers (Cosmo Cricket), beige tissue paper (misc.)

The inspiration for this page was Get Messy Art Journal Love prompt set 2 number 1 - I Love Things.  For me, that means happiness and how to achieve it by doing things that you love.

TTFN,

This Little Light of Mine

Today I am sharing a journal page that I finished up at Crop and Create Markham.

I made this one with washi tape inspired by a Get Messy Art Journaling prompt set 1 - #5 and Ann-Mari Reigstad's use of filling a page with washi bits. I also added in lyrics from a previous pre-class prompt.

A few close ups... here I hand drew the star and lettering.

I was able to use eleven different washi tapes in three different widths.

Supplies: 12x9 mixed media journal (Strathmore), washi tapes (MME, Webster's Pages, Stampin' Up, Freckled Fawn), paint (Plaid), glue n' seal and Tim Holtz distress Paint (Ranger), marker (Sharpie), glitter (Doodlebug Designs)

TTFN,

Tags Galore

With March Break upon me, I am finally getting around to posting some items from my Crop and Create Markham weekend from earlier this month.

First up, I am sharing some mixed media tags designed by Vicki Boutin using oodles of Tim Holtz products.

I really like Vicki's designs but I changed up the colouring on all but one of the tags (the top left one) but even on that one I did not go as dark. I like a cleaner lighter look; which is sort of funny because Vicki comments on not being able to get as dark and grungy as Tim Holtz yet I can't get as dark and colour comboed as Vicki does. All personal preference.

I added some Tim Holtz paper twine that I won in a class draw to the moments tag and black splatters to it and two others. Switched up and added a few other things to a couple of the others tags to make them work for my liking. All in all, I was pleased with the results. 

It was great fun getting inky and trying out some of the Ranger products that I haven't tried yet like the Texture Paste and Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint. There was never a dull moment in Vicki's class, as besides being very charismatic, she is full of stories and little anecdotes that you can't help but laugh a lot during her class. Already looking forward to next year's edition.

TTFN,

Bees Do Matter

I had a go at the blackout newspaper/magazine prompt from Get Messy Art Journaling.

Supplies: patterned paper (MME), newspaper article (Toronto Star), gesso (Golden), Tim Holtz Distress Paint and Glue n' seal (Ranger), Hexagon stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), foliage stencil (Magenta), B6 pencil (Faber-Castell), stamp (CTMH), ink (Tsukineko), Inktense watercolour pencil crayons (Derwent)

Some close ups...

My take is not so simplified but I am really pleased with how it turned out. It conveys how I feel about the current bee debate. If you are interested in reading the full article, it is "What's the real story behind bee deaths?" by Catherine Porter.

TTFN,

Love You Valentine's Card

A little mixed media gem for a special Valentine.

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Company), gesso (Golden), heart background stencil (Silhouette), gelato and glass bead glitter gel (Faber-Castell), sentiment stamp (Winnie and Walter), archival ink (Ranger), chipboard letters and small heart punch (Recollections), med heart punch (Marvy- Uchida), pen (Sharpie)

I created the background with gesso and a Silhouette cut heart background stencil.  The hearts are made from a mix of Bubblegum gelato and glass bead glitter gel which was mixed and left to dry on my craft mat. Then I peeled up the blop and used different sizes of heart punches to create the hearts. Cute floral chipboard letters, a little stamping, doodling, and it was done.

TTFN,

Sparkle and Shine

With all the new Finnabair - Prima products coming out with CHA, Finnabair had a eye-candy filled blog hop and a challenge.  I took on the Sparkle & Shine Challenge with this small seasonal canvas creation.

I got the sparkle and shine covered with glitter, beads, and jewels.

There are a lot of gorgeous creations among the entries over at her site worth checking out here.

TTFN,

Get Messy Art Journal Printable

I registered for the new series of Get Messy Art Journaling prompts. With pre-registration came a printable that I turned into this journal page.

Supplies: 12x9 mixed media journal (Strathmore), printable (Get Messy), soft gel (Golden), clear gesso (Liquitex), Dylusions Ink Spray (Ranger), Black acrylic paint (Artist Loft)

I reverse printed it and image transferred it on to the centre of my page. Then I clear gessoed it prior to adding the vibrant Dylusion ink colours. I sprayed each one on and then spritzed with water to make it saturated enough to run and blend as I went along. I dried slightly between colours and layers and finished it off with some grayish splatters to match the titling. So MESSY and fun!

TTFN,

Magenta February Challenge

First of the month means a new challenge on the Magenta blog. This month's theme is Valentine's Day.

Supplies: script and postmark, heart and sentiment stamps (Magenta), black Archival ink and Dylusions Ink Spray (Ranger), cardstock (Bazzill), border punch and pink emboss powder (Stampin' Up), Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), gesso (Liquitex), black watercolour pencil crayon (Reeves), white pen (Signo), black pen (Sharpie)

Magenta stamps used:

Crosshatched Heart 42.239.C

Sentiment stamp 07.731.I

Script and Postmark stamp 95.085.M 

  

While it is hard to see in the photo, the kraft cardstock is covered in pearlized glimmer as I pre-sprayed it with Glimmer Mist before I started stamping. I tried a little wax candle resist on the stamped Script and Postmark's postal seals and around the embossed hearts. Then, I used Dylusions Ink Spray for the first time. Love the ink's vibrancy. I just have to watch how much I saturate the paper when spraying as it bleed under the waxed areas a bit so the resist is not as prominent.

My fellow DT members have created a beautiful variety of projects for this month's challenge. You can see all the takes on the theme, read the challenge details, and see the prize pack here.

Even if you do not have any Magenta Valentine's themed products, do not let that deter you. Use what you have in creative ways, either, by using the colours associated with the day or just a love them in general. Remember that you only need to use 1 Magenta product to enter, so give it a try with what you have on hand.

TTFN,

Journal Journey - January

A journey begins with one small step... well, I am on a new journey for 2015... a Journal Journey generously being offered over at Kreative Koncepts.  The January Road Trip - White with 2 colours featuring resist techniques.

Supplies: 12x9 Mixed Media Journal (Strathmore), script and circle stamps and butterfly stencil (Magenta), alphabet stamps (Dollarama), Black Archival Ink (Ranger), gelatos and Black Stamper's Big Brush (Faber-Castell), watercolour paints (Artist Loft), white ink (Tsukineko), pen (Uniball), Vaseline, burlap, Styrofoam cup, candle (misc.)

I used Vaseline resist for the stenciled Magenta butterflies and wax candle resist for the titling. I started my watercolouring with pink and yellow Faber-Castell gelatos and deepened the pink with watercolour paint. I used some found items around the house too... to add texture, I stamped using a bitty piece of scrap burlap and the largest rings are made with the bottom of a styrofoam cup and a Big Brush Marker.

TTFN,