Creative JumpStart with Rachel Greig

 Hello Everyone!

Rachel's Greig's class for CJS was 'A letter to my younger self'. She used distress inks and Darkroom Door stamps to create an art journal page. Here's my version. I used Crafty Individuals and Darkroom Door stamps on my page.

I added brads to the rose window images, so I'm linking up to Valerie's Heavy Metal theme at Art Journal Journey. 

Won't it be lovely when we can go traveling again?! I live on the outskirts of London, so I've been there many times. I've visited Paris and Prague too. I've been to Italy, but never visited Rome. I'd love to see the Colosseum someday.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xox

More Creative JumpStart

 Hi Everyone!

I have a few more CJS projects to share with you today, starting with Rae Missigman's Colour Story on 5th Feb (Day 36).

After creating some large pieces with acrylic paint, watercolour paint, and soft pastel marks, we cut them up into various sizes of squares and rectangles.

On 6th Feb (Day 37), Vicki Boutin showed us a fun faux watercolour mon-printing technique, using Distress Inks. Here's the background I created.

And on 7th Feb (Day 38), Cheiron Brandon showed us how to create a background, and make up a story with Tim Holtz Paper Dolls and story stickers. I'm linking my page to Valerie's Heavy Metal theme at Art Journal Journey.

Thanks for visiting me today,

Have a great week,

Alison xox

Creative JumpStart Days 8 and 9

 Hello All. I'm so glad I signed up for the CJS course. It's been well worth the money so far, with a great diversity of projects and techniques.

On Day 8 we had Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's class, Story-telling with Symbols. This involved creating a paper stencil that was personal to us, and using it with Distress Inks and a Gelli Plate. I created a stencil similar to Julie's, with dots representing my family and curves being the hugs we are all missing.

Then on Day 9, Danielle Donaldson's project was an Illustrated Mermouse, using watercolour paint. I painted a Mouse Princess instead. 

Here's Princess Pansy...

I'm linking my page to Erika's Favourite Things theme at Art Journal Journey. Watercolour paint is quickly becoming one of my favourite things to use.

Happy Friday to you all,

Alison xox

Sympathy Card

Hello everyone. Lovely to see you here today.

My neighbour asked me if I still made cards as she needed a sympathy card. A sad occasion, but nice to have a little project.

Here's what I came up with. I used PaperArtsy Hotpicks stamps, and I think the sentiment stamp may have come from Hobbycraft. I used Distress inks for the background, and to watercolour the flowers.

It's a lovely sunny and warm day here today, I have washing out on the whirlygig, and I cleaned out the guinea pig cage. I hope you've enjoyed some sunshine too.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xox

30 Days of Mixed Media with Ana - Days 4 - 6

Hi Everyone!

Here are some more fun techniques for Ana's Instagram challenge.

Day 4 - Glue. I made some masks with my glue gun, then used them with spray inks. I also drew circles on card with my glue gun, painted with acrylics, then highlighted the glue circles with Treasure Gold.

Day 5 - Gesso. I used black and white gesso through a Carabelle Studio stencil. I added distress ink to the black one, with splashes of water. On the white gesso, I spritzed with water, then dripped Liquitex Acrylic Ink.

Day 6 - Stamps. I got my 5x3" Gelli Plate out, applied acrylic paint, then stamped into the paint with Carabelle Studio stamps. I printed sections of each colour of paint on the cards. Then I added stamping with paint and black archival ink. I'm linking these cards to the More Mixed Media Challenge, Anything Goes with Optional Yellow.

I hope I've inspired you to play.

Love & blessings,
Alison xox

Instagram Challenges

Hello folks!

I've joined in with a couple of Instagram challenges this month. Gio is giving out prompts every other day in April, and Ana every day of April. These challenges are fun to play along with, and are keeping me busy and motivated.

Gio's first prompt was rainbow, and I used the theme for my calendar pages.

The second prompt was Home Sweet Home, and I used some of my gel prints to create a card...

Ana's first prompt was Brushos. It's been a few months since I used these! I used them with Carabelle Studio stamps, stencil and texture plate.

Ana's second prompt was Crayons. I used Gelatos with a Carabelle Studio stencil and texture plate.

Ana's third prompt was Distress. Distress inks are another product that I rarely use now. Wrinkle free distress used to be one of my favourite techniques. Again I used Carabelle Studio stamps, stencil and texture plate.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy weekend,

Alison xox

Christmas Remakes

Morning Folks!

I received a Christmas card order from a friend, and she really liked this one that I made last year, so I made a couple more in different colours for her.

The background is made with Dylusion Spray Inks and a Crafter's Workshop snowflake stencil. I die-cut two Tim Holtz Tattered Doilies, glued them together, and triple embossed with Frantage Aged Gold & Silver EP. The message stamp is by The Artistic Stamper, inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The ribbon was coloured using the same Dylusions inks as the background.

Which is your favourite?

I'm entering my cards in Country View Crafts' Christmas Challenge.

Have a lovely day!

Alison xox

New Babies

Hi Everyone! Sunday past was a momentous day, with two new baby boys born! One to my husband's cousin's daughter, and one to my best friend's daughter. I decided to save time and make two of the same card. Congrats to Philippa, James, Olivia and baby Harvey, and to Kat, Luca and baby Thomas!

The cute baby, bees and flower are from a Studio Stamps set, and the word is from an Art Journey set. I used Distress Inks to watercolour the images.

I'm linking my card to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is 'Anything Goes'.

Happy Wednesday!

Alison xox

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas 2017 - Week Eleven

Hi Everyone!

Here's another Christmas card! This one was inspired by the colours and ribbons on Linda's Week 11 Tag.

I've used Distress Inks and Frantage EP again, with a bit of Stickles glitter glue thrown in. I used a Wendy Vecchi stamp to make my red 'ribbon'. The sentiment stamp is by Crafty Individuals, and the holly is by Tim Holtz.

It doesn't want to get light here today, so the photos aren't that great unfortunately. Hopefully you can see a bit of the sparkle.

The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique, with voucher prizes to be won.

Have a fab Wednesday, I'm off for a coffee and catch-up with some friends :-)

Alison x

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week Ten

Morning Everyone!

I've got another Funkie Junkie inspired Christmas card to share. Today, it's inspired by the colours and elements on Linda's Week Ten Tag.

I used Vintage Photo, Festive Berries and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks, stamps by Artemio, Crafty Individuals, and Tim Holtz, and wooden snowflakes embossed with Aged Silver Frantage EP.

The Challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Happy Tuesday!

Alison x

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week Eight

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

I'm back today with my card inspired by the colours, techniques, and snowflakes on Linda's Week Eight Tag.

I used a Cuttlebug Music embossing folder and a Spellbinder's snowflake die, Broken China and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, Whitefire Treasure Gold, and a sprinkling of Aged Black Frantage EP.

The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Alison x

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week Five

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm sharing my card that was inspired by the colours and techniques on Linda's Week Five Tag.

I've used stamps by Crafty Individuals and Tim Holtz, and Vintage Photo, Evergreen Bough and Festive Berries Distress Inks.

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique, and there are prizes to be won.

Have a great Wednesday,

Alison x

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week Four

Hello Everyone!

I'm back today with my card inspired by Linda's week four tag for The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas challenge. I was inspired by Linda's colours and techniques.

I've used Seth Apter PaperArtsy stamps for the dots, Crafty Individuals stamps for the script, and all other stamps are from Artemio. I also used Evergreen Bough & Vintage Photo Distress Inks, Frantage Shabby White EP, and Candy Red Stickles.

The challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique, and there are prizes to be won.

Thanks for joining me today,

Alison x

The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week Two

Linda at The Funkie Junkie Boutique is hosting her 12 Tags of Christmas challenge again. Here is my card inspired by her Week Two Tag. I was inspired by the colours, techniques, snowflakes and bling on Linda's tag.

I used PaperArtsy Grunge Paste to stencil the snowflakes, then coloured with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The die cut snowflakes and 25 were embossed with Aged Silver Frantage EP.

I'm also linking my card to That's Crafty's Tis The Season challenge.

Have a great weekend!

Alison x