She Believed She Could...

Hi Everyone! 

First of all, let me share with you my Week 24 teabags for the 365 Somethings Challenge. 

These teabags were started with a circle of book page and a smaller circle of gelli-printed tissue. I then scraped on some DecoArt crackle paste. Once that was dry, I stamped some PaperArtsy Hotpick images, first with Fresco Paint, then I over-stamped with black archival ink. I added some stamped quotes, then finished with some painty splatters.

I also created a journal page for Gill's Inspired By challenge at Art Journal Journey, which started off being inspired by a couple of YouTube videos I watched, then soon went off in another direction!

I started with another page in my gelli-print journal, adding collage scraps, and painty marks, then stamped a Dina Wakley Scribbly Woman, painted her a body etc., then added a quote.

Hope you've had a creative Monday too,

Alison xox 

Hearts and Spring and Other Things!

Hello Folks. My art journal was feeling a bit neglected, so I'm back today with a page for Rosie's Spring Challenge at Art Journal Journey. 

I also have some Gelli Plate prints to share. Today, Birgit asked us to use 'Hearts'. I used stencils and also some paper heart masks I cut out.

As I passed my tortoises, I couldn't resist taking a photo of them queuing for a dip in the pool!

And finally, here are the beautiful flowers I received from my darling son yesterday. My backpacking daughter didn't neglect me, I had a lovely long video chat with her. 

Hope you all had a great weekend,

Alison x

Art Journal Journey - Spring

Hi Everyone!

I have an art journal page to share today for Rosie's Spring Challenge at Art Journal Journey. Today's theme for Birgit's Gelli Print Challenge was Crayon Resist, so I've used that technique on my page. The flowers, sun and birds were created with wax crayons, then I used a small round gelli plate and turquoise acrylic paint to colour the whole page. Then I scraped the paint away from the wax to reveal the wax colours. Cool isn't it? 

Here are some more wax resist pieces...

For the pieces below, I made wax rubbings with stencils, before applying the paint.

If you're on Instagram, there are some amazing challenge examples to be seen, using the hashtag birgitkoopsengelprintingchallenge.

Happy Monday to you all,

Alison x

Joy and Texture

Hello Folks!

I have my final Artmarks page to share today, for Rae's February Artmark Love challenge on Instagram. The final word prompt is 'Joy'. A perfect word to finish on, this challenge has been a joy to take part in!

Lots of collage, marks, and of course teabags.

I'm also sharing my Gelli prints for Birgit's March challenge, Day 4. The theme is 'Texture'. I found a great YouTube video by Cat Hand, showing Dendritic Monoprinting. Here are some process photos and the final prints.

Three little blobs of paint on my large Gelli Plate...

I used a small round Gelli plate to squish the paint...

Lifting off creates the texture...

I used a single little blob of pink acrylic to create some circle prints...

To take the prints, you lay your paper very gently on the paint, and press very lightly. If you've ever tried printing with inks on shaving foam, it's a bit like that. Pressing hard will destroy the texture.

Wishing you all a happy Sunday,

Alison x

Rest, Stencil and Teabags

Hi Everyone! 

You know I said I didn't like long posts, well I'm popping 3 different things on this one because I want to get out of the house this afternoon. Yes, the thaw has started! Yippee!

First, here is my penultimate Art Marks page. Day 27's word is Rest. I'm not planning to Rest anytime soon, I love making art and blogging every day! Actually, making art is my Rest.

Next, I'm sharing my Gelli Plate prints for Birgit's March Challenge. Day Three's prompt is to use Stencils.

And finally, here are my seven teabags for 365 Somethings, Week Nine. Doodles on a stencilled gesso base, with a little watered green acrylic added for some colour. My 'tulips' on the right, are bending in the wind! Hahaha

Happy Saturday Everyone,

Alison x

Replenish and Peek Through

Hello Everyone! 

It's still snowy and now icy outside, I believe, I haven't ventured out for three days. Plenty to keep me occupied though, Day 26 of Rae's Art Marks Challenge being one of them. Today's word is 'Replenish'. Apart from having a larder and fridge that desperately needs replenishing, I have replenished my creative heart and soul doing this challenge.

I used some gelli printed book page and a tea bag from yesterday's play, added some lines of red acrylic, some blue dots and circles, a cut out heart, black paint splatters and wrote the word.  Finished with some pencil scribbles. I love the white space on this page.

Onto some Gelli Plate play for Birgit Koopsen's challenge. Today's prompt was 'Peek Through', which is a great technique. I used torn and cut out circles and ovals as my masks, to get the peek through effect. 

Here are my little mask shapes, they'll be great collage pieces for an art journal page or two!

And a couple of pages, using up paint on the plate between prints.

Happy Friday!

Alison x

February Art Marks and March Gelli Prints

Hi Everyone!

First of all, I'm back with my Art Marks page for Day 25, and the prompt word is Root. I did some weird onions and roots, well that's what they look like to me! Lol! A bit of Bombay India Ink watercolour (left out from my calendar making), some collage circles, and a few marks. This page was very intuitive, and rooted in random creativity...haha...not sure if that makes sense, so cold here now I'm just sitting at my computer.

Onto a new challenge for March. Birgit Koopsen is running a 31 day Gelli Printing challenge on Instagram, with daily prompts. Today's prompt is circles. I used a circle Gel Press plate, PaperArtsy Fresco paint, and used bubble wrap and a plastic tube to make circle designs on different surfaces. Couldn't do circles without using some round teabags!

Time for some lunch!

I'll be back tomorrow,

Alison x

February Art Marks Love - Day 24 - Build

Hello Everyone! More snow overnight, so a perfect day to stay in and create.

The word for today is 'Build'. I loved this prompt, because I love to build layers on a page! This could be my favourite!

It started with a book page that had circles cut from it, that was lying around on my desk. Added a teabag, and paint with my fingers. Then a few marks, scrapes of paint, the word, white paint stamped with Lego, and more marks to finish.

Keep warm, and have a wonderful Wednesday,

Alison x

Wild Animals and Teabags

Hello Friends!

Here's my Day 15 Art marks page, with the word prompt 'Evolve'. Needs no explanation...we are evolving constantly.

I used an old credit card and new PaperArtsy Seth Apter Fresco acrylics, to create layer after layer of colour and lines. Painted the word, adhered some postage stamps, then finished with circles stamped with a lids and white gel pen marks.

I'm linking my page to Rike's Animals from A-Z challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Almost forgot... here are my teabags for 365 Somethings, Week Seven...

I originally did some stencilling and marks on the bags, but didn't like it, so I painted all over with black Fresco acrylic, then stamped and embossed some PA Ellen Vargo images with Stampendous Frantage EP in various colours. Finished with some splatters of white Bombay India Ink. Now I love!!! I really ought to use these EPs more!

Have a great week everyone!

Alison x

Art Marks Day 14 - Connect

Hello Folks!

I'm back with my next Art Marks page. We had a visit from my folks yesterday afternoon, and to be honest, I didn't feel a creative urge all day. I'm much better today though, after a lovely cross country walk to a nearby village for Sunday roast lunch.

I began with some PaperArtsy stencils, and used new Seth Apter Fresco Finish acrylic paints. I adhered some teabags, added some Tim Holtz rub ons, then finished with some marks and doodles. It was lovely to connect with nature today on our walk, but there were no butterfles, only dogs, horses & birds.

I'm linking up to Rike's Animals from A-Z challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Wishing you a creative week ahead,

Alison x

B is For Butterfly

Not technically an animal, but I'm linking this page to Rike's Animals from A-Z Challenge at Art Journal Journey. Erika's beautiful butterfly page inspired me today. 

Rae's February Artmarks Day 9 word is 'Invest'. I'm investing in me! 

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Alison x

February Artmarks and 365 Somethings

Hello Folks. 

Do you ever start a page, then you don't know when to stop? You just keep adding and adding. I watched two episodes of Grey's Anatomy...well listened actually...whilst making this one! Lol! That's long for me anyway. The day 8 word was 'Attention'. This page certainly held my attention.

Here's a closer look at the teabag flower...

Speaking of teabags, here are my decorated teabags for week six of the 365 Somethings Challenge.

I used a small Gel Press Plate,  some PaperArtsy stencils, and Snowflake Fresco Finish Chalk paint. Then I used a black pen to add dotty outlines.  The first, positive prints were naturally brighter, but I love the more faded negative, secondary prints too.

The sun is shining, so we're off for a walk with friends now.

Hope you're having a fun and creative Sunday too,

Alison x

Bread and Journaling

Hello Folks!

I'm a day late to Elizabeth's Tea Day Party. A friend had an emergency, and I stepped in to help. But I'd already taken a photo of my oat bread loaf, fresh from the oven, and my cup of peppermint & liquorice tea.

Today, I created an art journal page for the final day of Erika's New Year/New Adventures challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Finger painting, printing with lids, lego and Fresco Finish Paint, book page scraps, a teabag, and Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs. Finished with some scribble journaling.

I'm also linking up to That's Crafty's Feeling Blue Challenge.

Wishing you a belated Happy T-Day!

Alison x

A New Journal

Hi Everyone! Thanks for the lovely comments on my embossed teabags!

Today, I started off a new art journal with a double page spread. 

I brayered various Fresco paints for the background, added some tissue tape and teabags, then used Bombay India Ink and paint pens to add flower details. 

Linking up to Erika's New Year, New Adventures Challenge at Art Journal Journey.

Wishing you all a wonderful week,

Alison x