Hidden Faces

 Hello All.

I'm back today with my art journal calendar for January 2022. I've hidden a few Dina Wakley tissue and stencilled faces in my pages for Erika's Let's Face It theme at Art Journal Journey.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Hugs,

Alison

Creative JumpStart with Dina Wakley

 Layered thoughts was the title of Dina Wakley's class on CJS. We layered text on tissue paper, using stencils, paint, coloured pencils and paint pens. Then we ripped it up and used it as the background for a collage page, with a few added drips and splatters, and some words.

I'm linking my page to Valerie's Heavy Metal theme at Art Journal Journey. Isn't that Amsterdam Deep Gold acrylic ink just sublime?! Makes me feel good. Are you all singing now? :D

Thanks for visiting me today, I hope you all have a great weekend.

Alison xox

Art Journal Calendar - November 2020

 Hi Everyone!

Before I share my November art journal calendar, here's a look at October all filled out. A busy month of walks and making art, and not going out!

And here's my new November calendar, ready for our UK lockdown, so even less going out! Although we did get a wonderful visit from our daughter today. She drove 3 hours from Bristol where she lives. We met at a local park with grandparents, for a lovely woodland walk and coffee. 

I'm linking my pages to Wendy's Birds theme at Art Journal Journey, and Leah's Art Every Day Month challenge Day 3.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xox

Gratitude Junk Journal 2020

 Happy November Everyone!

This month I've signed up to the Gratitude Junk Journal 2020 class. The first session was to alter a hardback book to use as an art journal. I chose a rather large book on African art. It's 13x10", a bit bigger than I usually use.

I've been really grateful for all the beautiful birds that have visited my garden this year, and as well as the stencilled birds flying across the moon, I added a couple of bird charms to dangle from the spine.

I'm linking my journal cover to Wendy's Birds theme at Art Journal Journey.

I'm also linking to Leah's Art Every Day Month Challenge Day 2.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison xox

Live Life Gently

Hi Everyone!

I made another page for my Pockets and Tags theme at Art Journal Journey.

My substrate is a gel print I made recently with some heart-shaped leaves I found on one of my walks. You can just about make them out if you look carefully. I added some torn pieces of painty paper and a teabag packet, popped a shipping tag and teabag tag in the pocket, then used Dina Wakley's Sunburst stencil with Primary Cyan paint. I scribbled some black pen journaling, attached a little heart-shaped leaf to the pocket, then added my hand-written words 'Live Life Gently'. I finished with some black paint splashes.

I hope you're all having a good week,

Alison xx

AJJ - When It's Hot

Hi Everyone! I have another page to share for Erika's When It's Hot theme at Art Journal Journey. For some reason, new Blogger's linking isn't working, so here's the link to the challenge (hopefully!): https://art-journal-journey.blogspot.com/2020/07/when-its-hot.html

I don't know about you, but when it's hot I don't particularly want to move or do anything, although the lady on my page looks like she is dancing, or maybe she's lying flat out on the ground!

Thanks for popping by,

Alison xox

Tree Top Bird

Hi Everyone!

I recently watched a brilliant YouTube video by the talented Giovanna on the GelliArts channel, where she used acrylic inks and re-inkers on her Gelli Plate. 

So yesterday, I tried the technique out myself, and today I was inspired to make this art journal page for Erika's In The Air/Sky theme at Art Journal Journey, using pieces of my prints and Dina Wakley stencils.

Hope you're having a happy & creative day,

Alison xox

  

AJJ - In the Air/Sky

Evening friends. I'm back today with another entry for Erika's In the Air/Sky theme at Art Journal Journey.

I first lay down some collage, including pieces of London A-Z and round teabags. Then I stencilled clouds with my hand-cut stencil from yesterday, and birds & abstract trees with Dina Wakley stencils.

Wishing you a happy and creative week,

Alison xox

A Surprise, My Art Journal Calendar, & A New Instagram Challenge

Hi Everyone!

It was Mothering Sunday here in the UK at the weekend, and I had a huge surprise last Thursday. Hubby announced that we were heading up to the Peak District for a hiking weekend. He'd hoped that we could meet up with our kids as it was Mothering Sunday, but unfortunately they were both busy.

But, as we arrived at the cottage, our daughter hung out of the upstairs window, shouting 'Surprise!!!' She called me inside, and presented me with these gorgeous designer boots she'd bought in Spain. They fit perfectly!

We then walked down to the village pub for some dinner, and our son was there to greet us, holding out a beautiful bouquet of roses for me.

I can't tell you how blessed I felt! We spent a wonderful weekend, hiking in the sunshine.

After spending yesterday cleaning out the guinea piggy and catching up with washing, I finally found time today, to create my April art journal calendar. As I used a PaperArtsy stencil for the journaling flowers, I'm sharing my pages at Try It On Tuesday's 'Use A Stencil or Two' challenge.

And Birgit Koopsen is hosting an Instagram challenge called Everything Circles, asking us to create circle themed art for every day in April. My April calendar pages are for Day 3, and here are pages for Days 1 & 2...

The next page has a window cut to see the previous page through...

I have been suffering a bit with a creative block lately, so I'm hoping this challenge will bump me out of it!

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xox

Be Strong, Be Happy Journal Page

Hi Everyone!

Who'd have thought I'd take to yellow so well?! I have another art journal page to share for Rike's February Colour Yellow theme at Art Journal Journey, and also PaperArtsy's Topic One Colour Mustard challenge.

I'm working in my handmade gel print journal so there was already a background. I added some stamping, using a PaperArtsy Seth Apter stamp set with archival black ink and Snowflake Fresco acrylic. Then I used Dina Wakley stencils for the silhouettes, daisy patterns and words, with Banana, Terracotta and Mermaid Fresco acrylic, and black ink. I finished with black and white gel pen outlines.

Hope you've had a happy and creative day,

Alison xox

Taking Risks

Greetings to all my lovely followers, and a very Happy Independence Day to my American friends.

Today, I'm sharing another art journal page with Chris' 'Art For Art's Sake' Challenge at Art Journal Journey. 

My inspiration was taken from an AJ video tutorial by Leanne Jago, using lots of DecoArt Media products I haven't used in a while, including Antiquing Cream and Interference paint. I also used Dina Wakley and That's Crafty stencils, and DW stamps.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Alison xox

TioT - The Call Of Spring

Hello Everyone! Try it on Tuesday have a new mood board and challenge theme 'The Call Of Spring'. Well I wish Spring would hurry up and arrive! Thankfully the last lot of snow melted away this morning. Here's my journal page encouraging Spring to come. I used collage and stencils, and added some marks. I'm also entering this page in Rosie's Spring Challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Also, I'd like to share today's Gelli Plate adventures for Birgit's Day 20 challenge, 'Black & Blue'. I love this combination!

Here's a lovely ghost print I picked up too...

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday,

Alison x

Happy Birthday Beth!

Hello Everyone!

It's been a hectic few days, but my beautiful daughter finally set off on her gap year travels last Wednesday. Her first stop is Hong Kong, where she is celebrating her 23rd birthday today. Here's the card I made for her...

You can follow Beth's adventures on her travel blog at northsoutheastbeth.com, and on her Instagram @northsoutheastbeth.

Have a fab weekend everyone!

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - November 2017

Hi Everyone! Happy November!

Here's my art journal calendar for the coming month, inspired by bonfire night, fireworks, and cosy nights in by the fire. I always like to have candles burning this time of year, to scent my rooms and provide a warming glow. My page also fits with Chris' theme over at Art Journal Journey '101 Ways To Keep Warm'.

Have a lovely day, and remember it's less than 8 weeks till Christmas...argh!!

Alison x

Wanderlust Week 18 - Dyan Reaveley

Happy Friday Everyone!

Here are two pages I made from following Dyan Reaveley's class for Everything Art's Wanderlust online course. Dyan's style is so recognisable, bright and colourful, and I love it!

I've used Dina Wakley, Crafter's Workshop, and Stencil Girl stencils and masks.

Linking my pages to Art Journal Journey's Colour In My World Challenge.

Wishing you a fab weekend,

Alison x

Listen to Your Inner Voice

Doing the ICAD challenge is slowly releasing my inner creative voice, and hopefully I'll be making more art if I listen enough! Today's play inspired me to create a page in my Dina Wakley Media art journal. It's also Dina inspired. I used some collage pieces that I had left over from the class I took with her in Harrogate, in March, together with a kitchen towel mop up from today's ICAD play :-)

I'm linking my page to the 'Circles' challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Hope you're having a creative week too!

Alixxx