GJJ Day 22 - Gratitude For Butterflies with Nicole Watson

 Hello All.

There aren't very many butterflies around at the moment, it's turned very cold here now. I did spot one last week though, when I was walking across a meadow.

The GJJ tutorial with Nicole Watson was very full on, creating a background of many layers, then creating some multi- layered tip-ins also.

Here's my page.

With the tip-ins opened. The quote reads "Don't be afraid, change is such a beautiful thing." said the butterfly - Sabrina Newby.

A close-up with the tip-ins shut.

I think this could be my favourite page so far. Let me know what you think.

I'm linking up to Leah's Art Every Day Month Challenge Day 30. It's been a great month, and I only missed Day one. I should have set myself a calendar reminder!

Thanks for visiting me today.

Alison.

52 Weeks Art Journal - Week 47 - Enchantment

 Hi Everyone.

For Week 47 of Raspberry Blue Sky's 52 Weeks Art Journal, the theme was Enchantment.

I dusted off some of my favourite Lost Coast stamps to create an enchanted scene in my art journal. It looks like they are having a party in the woods. Hopefully there's a pool nearby for the mermaid fairy to take a dip.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 29.

Have a great new week.

Thanks for visiting.

Alison

GJJ Day 21 - A Reason For Gratitude - Crying/Tears

 Hello All.

Here's another GJJ page, where the prompt is gratitude for crying/tears. Not all tears are sad, but I think my lady's tears aren't happy ones.

I'm linking my art to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 28.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

GJJ - Day 20 - A Quote of Gratitude

 Hi Everyone.

I love the quote for Day 20 of Gratitude Junk Journal. It's all about being grateful for what you have, and not complaining about the things you want.

A fairly simple page (for me), just a collage of Seven Gypsies patterned papers and some old book page scraps. A little turquoise paint scraped over with a palette knife, some quickly sketched flowers and outlines with my Stabilo All black pencil, then activated with water. I held up my journal to get some drips, and added some splatters. I stamped the quote out using my trusty Hero Arts alphabet set, then finished with some white acrylic ink splatters.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 27. 

I think my page has some Summer vibes with the flowers and the turquoise sky, and maybe the drips are a Summer shower, so I'm also linking to Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

I hope you're all having a good weekend.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

GJJ Day 19 - Gratitude For Food As A Love Language

 Hello All.

Today's offering is Candice Hunter's GJJ class, Gratitude For Food As A Love Language.

I used Seven Gypsies patterned papers ( the word Abundance came from them ), some images and words from a Waitrose supermarket magazine, and the cute robins were from some patterned pocket tissues.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 26.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Final Batch Of Christmas Cards...I hope!

 Hello All.

These cards were inspired by some gorgeous Christmas cards made by Claire Snowdon for the PaperArtsy blog. I pretty much copied Claire's process, and made 16 cards like this. Hopefully I have enough Christmas cards now. This brings my total this year to around 70!

I'm linking these cards to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 25.

I'm also linking up to Try It On Tuesday's Winter Wonderland challenge.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Wishing all my friends across The Pond a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Alison

GJJ - Day 18 - A Question Of Gratitude

 Hello All.

Day 18's question of gratitude was 'When did something recently make you smile, or laugh out loud?'

My page is about a walk I recently went on, with my two friends and their dogs. It was lovely to catch up with my friends, and the dogs had such a lovely time, playing and racing around the woods and fields. They really made me smile and laugh, and my spirits were lifted so much.

I used a couple of green acrylics and orange in my background, with a couple of my hand-carved leaf stamps, and splashes of green paint and gold acrylic ink. 

I printed a couple of photos that one of my friends took, and glued them to the page, adding some gold leaf ribbon, and journaling.

That's me in the blue crochet hat and grey fleece, with my friend Louise. The dogs are Samson, Tilly and Pascal, left to right in the top photo.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge, Day 24, and also to Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

Madonna and Child Christmas Cards

 Hi Everyone.

I recently had a sort out, and found some beautiful stamped images that my blog friend Lynne/Stampingandbeyond sent me a few years ago. The lovely Madonna and child image is by Oxford Impressions.

I decided to use the images for some more Christmas cards. I simply paired them up with some of my monoprints, and added some gold lace.

I'm linking my cards to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 23.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

GJJ Day 17 - Gratitude For Change with Karla Archer

 Hello All.

Karla Archer's lesson for Day 17 of Gratitude Junk Journal was Gratitude For Change. Her idea was that sometimes we start off with an idea for some art, but often it changes and goes off course. Of course there are other changes in life that are not always expected, and not always good.

Here's my version of Karla's art.

There are many layers to this painting, and as I used a palette knife to apply the last layers of paint, there is plenty of texture too.

I'm linking my art to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge, Day 22.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

I Love Paying Bills!

 Hi Everyone!

Gratitude Junk Journal's 'reason' for Day 16 was gratitude for paying bills. A strange one you might think, but I'm grateful that I always have the funds to pay any bills I need to, and I don't have any money worries.

Here's my page. I collaged some old invoices as my first layer. That saved shredding a few 😁

I'm linking my art to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 21.

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.

Thanks for visiting.

Alison

52 Weeks Art Journal - Week 46 - When Life Gives You Lemons

 Hello Everyone.

For Week 46, Raspberry Blue Sky's 52 Weeks Art Journal prompt is 'When Life Gives You Lemons...'

Here's my page. I would add my lemons to a gin and tonic ;-)

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 20.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Gratitude For Self/Body With Nathifa Sligh

 Hello All.

Here's my page for Gratitude Junk Journal Day 15 - Gratitude for self/body with Nathifa Sligh.

Masses of sprays and mediums make up this page, with collage and reasons to be grateful for eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and heart, and a favourite photo of myself, taken when we visited Berlin a few years ago.

There were a few April showers in Berlin that weekend, hence the raincoat, so I'm linking up to Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

I'm also linking my art to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 19.

Happy Friday to you all, and thank you for visiting!

Alison

A Gratitude Quote

 Hello All.

Day 14 of Gratitude Junk Journal had a quote prompt. 

'When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out, and the tide of love rushes in.' - Kristin Armstrong.

I collaged some teabag papers and scraps of book text, then gessoed over them. The marks are some I painted onto tissue, then adhered them to my page with matt medium. I love how the tissue becomes invisible. I've been making lots of this tissue collage, using up black paint from my palette. I always seem to squeeze out more than I need!

I painted the large heart, wrote out the quote, added black pen outlines and scribble writing around the heart.

Then I painted and added drips and splatters with diluted coffee. I also added some blue paint and gold acrylic ink splashes.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 18.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Gratitude For Freedom Of Speech with Birgit Koopsen

 Hello All.

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 12's class was Gratitude For Freedom Of Speech with Birgit Koopsen.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 17.

Thanks for visiting, and for all of the lovely comments you leave.

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 11 - A Reason To Be Grateful

 Hello Everyone!

For Day 11 of the Gratitude Junk Journal course, our reason to be grateful prompt was to choose our favourite season. I chose Autumn, as I love all sorts of things about it, but especially the colours this time of year.

I first collaged some appropriate colours of gelliplate prints, added some black paint marks, and stamped with my hand carved leaf. I also added white paint pen splatters at this point. 

I drew the large leaf shapes, then painted around them with nickel azo gold acrylic. I added black pen outlines and white pen doodles and writing, then wrote my title.

I'm linking my page to Chris' All Kinds of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey, and Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 16.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 10 with Ady Almanza

 Hello All.

A quick post, as I only remembered to do this as I was on my way to bed!

Here's my page for Ady Almanza's class on Gratitude Junk Journal.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 15.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 9

 Hi Everyone.

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 9 had a quote prompt - "Enough" is a Feast.

Here's my page of a bird and some winter berries. 

I started with a layer of collaged teabags, then used a palette knife to apply some pale turquoise acrylic paint. I sketched the tree branches with walnut ink, and added the bird and berries using oil crayons. I finished with the quote, pencil scribbles and outlines, and some white paint splashes.

I'm linking to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 14, and Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

Wishing you all a happy Sunday,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 8 with Gwen LaFleur

 Hello All.

My daughter was at Cop26 this week with her work colleagues. They are working on a project for sustainable aerospace. She saw some amazing stands and displays, and came to the conclusion that there should be more young people sitting at the table and making decisions for the good of the planet. It certainly appears that there is a lot of talk, but very little action!

Day 8 of Gratitude Junk Journal with Gwen LaFleur was all about gratitude for water. Gwen's tutorial had an ocean theme to it, which is very appropriate in these times. 

Here's my page. I used diluted coffee for the drips and splashes, and the ocean creatures are Tim Holtz stamps.

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge, Day 13.

I hope you're having a good weekend.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

52 Weeks Art Journal - Week 45 - Ordinary Things

 Hi Everyone.

Here's my page for 52 Week's Art Journal - Week 45 - Ordinary Things, and also for Day 7 of Gratitude Junk Journal - What item do you own that brings you comfort? I chose my favourite cosy grey jumper. It's my go to when it starts getting chilly.

I'm wearing my chilly weather jumper, and I've used some Autumn colours, so I'm linking up to Chris' All Kinds of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

I'm also linking my art to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 12.

Happy Friday to you all, and thanks for visiting me today.

Alison

AEDM Day 11

 Hello All.

I'm not sure if it was a side effect from my jab, but I woke up feeling nauseous today.

I felt a little better this afternoon, and managed to make some more Christmas cards. I'd better think about sending my overseas ones off soon, as time is marching on.

I made 8 cards today, 4 of each colourway. It brings my total to 51 so far, only about 20 left to make. Fortunately, not all of them are posted!

I'm linking up to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 11.

Thanks for visiting.

Alison

A Reason To Be Grateful - Not having to Cook

 Hello All.

For Gratitude Junk Journal Day 6's reason to be grateful prompt, we had to make a page about not being grateful for not having to cook for a day. As we aren't going to restaurants these days, my gratitude was for a picnic on a glorious Summer's day.

A collage base with turquoise paint scraped over the top, then some bold paint marks. I adhered patterned paper clouds, trees, and a summer meadow and picnic cloth, and magazine images of bread and wine. I added some pencil shading, and finished with a hand-written title and some black ink splashes.

I'm linking up to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 10, and Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme for Art Journal Journey.

I'm thankful to report that I haven't suffered any nasty side effects from my 3rd Covid jab, just a slightly aching arm. I was able to have a lovely walk with my parents and Wednesday walking group today, and to spend the afternoon making this page 😊

I hope you've had a good day also.

Thanks so much for dropping by,

Alison

Star Ornaments Cards

 Hello All.

A few days ago, Birgit Koopsen did an online tutorial for Michaels the US craft store, using a Gelli Plate to decorate masking tape, then using it to create some ornament Christmas cards. Here's a link to the YouTube video if you're interested.

I finally put the finishing touches to my cards today, after my walk, and here they are.

The idea is that the recipient can take the ornament off the card to use as a tree decoration. I added some extra sparkle with some Patina Stickles glitter glue.

I'm linking these cards to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 9.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 5 with Shawn Petite

 Hello All.

Here is my latest journal page for Gratitude Junk Journal. It was a wonderful class with Shawn Petite, with layers of collage and paint. It took me two days to complete!

The butterflies give my page a summery feel, so I'm linking it to Chris' All Kinds Of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

And I'm also linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 8.

I'm out with my walking group tomorrow morning, then getting my 3rd vaccination in the afternoon, but I'll try to fit in some art time somewhere during the day.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal - Day 4 - A Quote

 Hi Everyone.

I have another page to share for the Gratitude Junk Journal course, and the theme for this one is a quote.

'Be grateful not only for others, but also for yourself.'

I laid down some collage, then scraped light blue acrylic over it, then I painted the woman hugging herself, and added some Autumn leafy vines around her. I stamped the quote using alphabet stamps, and finished with some paint splashes. I really wish I could draw hands! 😁

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge, Day 7, and also to Chris' All Kinds of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

I hope you've had a lovely weekend,

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal Day 3 with Ayala Art

 Hello Everyone.

I have another art journal page to share with you today. Martha aka Ayala Art's class was titled 'Gratitude For Your Backbone'. For example, our strength and forbearance.

We lay down some collage, then sketched and painted the woman, adding beads to accentuate her backbone. I darkened the left side of the page with Prussian Blue acrylic, and lightened the right with Snowflake Fresco acrylic. I added the circles using a lid and Snowflake acrylic, and finished with some paint splashes. I also wrote some words up her left side with a white chinagraph pencil.

I'm linking my page at Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge, Day 6.

It looks as though she is out in the snow, so I'm also linking up to Chris' All Kinds of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey.

She'd better get some clothes on! That butterfly shouldn't be out there either. 

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

Gratitude Day 2 and Week 44 of 52 Weeks Art Journal

 Hello All.

I love it when I can combine a couple of challenges/classes in one piece of art. 

For Day 2 of Gratitude Junk Journal, we used a phrase or quote that someone had inspired us with, and that we adhered to. I thought of the phrase 'Life Is Too Short'. I can't remember where I first heard it, but it's something I say a lot.

And the prompt for week 44 of Raspberry Blue Sky's 52 Weeks Art Journal challenge is 'Get Messy'. This prompt could have been made for me! Grin! I think that life is too short to make neat and tidy art. More grinning!

Here's my page...

I used a few pieces of collage I had in my collage fodder basket, including the half face sketch, that was left over from a class a while ago. I used a palette knife to scrape Seaglass Fresco Finish acrylic over, sketched some leaves, added some stencilled fabric strips and diluted coffee, wrote my quote, then added splashes of neon pink acrylic ink. I also painted the lips with the pink ink. So yummy!!!

I'm linking my page to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 5.

Here's a bundle of fabric collage fodder I made this week, using acrylic paint and stencils on strips of gauze bandage. I used a dotty one on my page above.

Thanks for dropping by!

A happy Friday to you all,

Alison

Gratitude Junk Journal 2021

 Hello Everyone!

This year's Gratitude Junk Journal course has just started, and the first class from Tiare Smith was to alter our journal covers.

Here's how mine turned out.

My cover has a summer's day vibe to it I think, with my hand-carved swallows flying in, and the orange flowers blooming. I'm linking to Chris' All Kinds of Weather theme at Art Journal Journey, and Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 4.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Take care,

Alison

Some More Christmas Cards

 Hello All.

As promised, here are some more Christmas cards I've made.

These ones were inspired by Leandra Franich's post on the PaperArtsy blog. They're very similar to Leandra's cards, but I added some round teabags and watercolour paint splashes to mine.

A close up of one...

These next cards were inspired by Anneke De Clerck, also on the PaperArtsy blog. They are pretty much a copy of Anneke's cards, I only had black wire to hand though, and the stars are Carabelle Studio stamps.

I'm linking up to Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 3.

Thanks for dropping by today.

Alison