Thankful For Their Sacrifice

Hello Everyone!

Tonight, I have my November Art Journal Calendar spread to share with you.

I and my crochet friends have been busy crocheting poppy brooches for the Royal British Legion to sell for Remembrance, and yesterday I was volunteering on their stand outside a local supermarket. I was amazed at everyone's generosity, young and old alike, and although it was a tiring 4 hours, I was happy to help the RBL in my small way.

I'm thankful for the sacrifice of men and women of the armed forces, and I'm therefore linking my pages to Try It On Tuesday's Thankful Challenge.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xox

New Job, A Fantasy Calendar, & Some Teabags

Hi Everyone!

It's been a bit quiet on the blog for a few weeks, but I'm finally back. We officially have an empty nest now! Our son moved up to Manchester two years ago, and our daughter, after 4 years of Uni, an 8 month SE Asia gap year, and just over a month back at home, has now moved up to Derby to live. She started her grad scheme job with Rolls Royce today, and here's the card I made to wish her good luck. The pearly embellishments came from a pair of sandals that she bought on her travels, and wore out!

Next, and I'm late with this one! It's my art journal calendar pages for September. I normally have an Autumnal theme for this month, but the warm weather is still here, so I made a Summery spread. Perhaps I can fantasise that the Summer will last forever, and link my spread to Yvonne's 'A World Of Fantasy' Challenge at Art Journal Journey?

And finally, a whole week late, I have my teabags for Week 34 of the 365 Somethings Challenge to share. I used foil transfers on these ones, stamped some script, added some Tim Holtz phrase stickers, then flicked some white paint. They're extra sparkly as they were still a bit sticky in places, so I added some fine glitter.

Well that's me nearly caught up. I'll be altering some teabags for my week 35 Somethings tomorrow, so watch this space.

Have a great week,

Alison xox

August Art Journal Calendar & 5 Minute Journaling

Happy August Everyone!

Here's my new art journal calendar pages for the month ahead. I decided to go abstract, with PaperArtsy Fresco acrylic, mark-making tools, and I used a PaperArtsy stencil to create the little journaling blocks. The title was hand-written.

And, here is my 5 minute art journal page for SouthernGal's challenge. I did get some paint on my palette and found some mark-making tools, before I started the timer, and today I had seconds to spare, so I managed to add a dotty border and splatters with a paint pen.

I spotted this quote and thought it quite appropriate.

I'll be back tomorrow with another quick page.

Have a great evening,

Alison xox

Art Journal Calendar July 2018

Welcome to July everyone! I'm here today, to share my art journal calendar pages for the coming month.

I used my DecoArt Traditions acrylic paints for the first time in a while, a couple of blues and greens, to create a layered and stencilled background. Then I die-cut some tickets from some contrasting gelli-prints. I used various PaperArtsy stamps for my title, and to frame the pages, and I finished with some white highlights and splatters.

I'm linking my page to the new 'Art For Art's Sake' Challenge by Chris on Art Journal Journey.

Alison xox

Art Journal Calendar - June 2018

Hello Everyone!

As it's the first of June, I have my calendar page for this month to share with you. Over at Art Journal Journey, Gill from Gibbyfrogettcraftations has challenged us to be 'Inspired By' someone or something. The background of my calendar was inspired by some tags made by Joyce Shaulis, that I saw in Mixed Up magazine.

I used DecoArt Media Acrylic paints with some PaperArtsy Ellen Vargo stamps. The journalling circles were stamped onto some gelli-printed book pages, cut out, then glued on. I added doodles and dots around them.

Happy June!

Alison xox

Art Journal Journey - Flora Fauna

Hi Everyone! A new challenge has started at Art Journal Journey. Jo from Let's Art Journal has challenged us to use Flora & Fauna on our pages. As it's a new month, I have my May art journal calendar to share with you today...only a day late!

I created a background with my small round Gel Press plate, PaperArtsy paint and masks. The butterflies were stencilled, using the waste from a Sizzix die cut. I used PaperArtsy stamps for the title, then finished with some doodled flowers, marks and splatters.

We've had some good news, my husband has a new job, after being made redundant at the end of March! It's such a relief, and we booked ourselves a holiday to celebrate.

 Wishing you a happy new month! 

Alison xox

Art Journal Calendar - April 2018

Hello Folks! 

For my April calendar pages, I decided to tear up some of my Gelli Plate primary colour prints and collage them, so that I could link up to my Recycle and Collage Challenge at Art Journal Journey. I also added some Spring lambs and white splatters. I think the white helps to bring the spread together. 

Here's a peek at my March pages, all filled out.

Have a happy and creative Easter Monday,

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - February 2018

Hi Everyone!

Well January certainly sped by, but not without a few hitches along the way! At least we have heat and hot water, being without a boiler for 10 days wasn't good! And Hubby's job is still a bit uncertain, but he has a couple of options on the horizon, all being well. So, here's hoping February is a better month!

 I created a bright and cheery February calendar page, inspired by the Spring flowers that are starting to appear here, and some rather lovely yarn I'm crocheting with, that was gifted to me by my good friend Jan. I used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints, stamps and stencils, and Darkroom Door Alphabet stamps.

Happy February!

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - January 2018

Happy New Year Everyone!

It was so good getting my fingers into some paint again to create my January art journal calendar. 

I began by collaging torn book pages, then used my fingers to add cobalt teal and green gold paint, then stamped the PaperArtsy Lin Brown dotty circle with primary magenta paint. I used part of the Lin Brown phrase stamp for the quote, hand-writing the first line, and stamped a border. I painted in the circles, then added splatters of black and white Bombay ink.

I'm linking my pages to Erika's New Year, New Adventures Challenge at Art Journal Journey. I am hoping to create some art every day.

We're off for a little walk before it gets too dark. Hope you're having a good day.

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

Art Journal Calendar - October 2017

Hello Everyone, and a happy October to you all!

I have a new calendar spread to share, but first I will show my September pages all filled in.  Lots of walking, arting and crochet!

And, here is my Kate Crane inspired October spread. It took me all day to make this, and it was hard to stop adding, but I'm happy and looking forward to writing in some of the boxes.

Happy Sunday, and have a wonderful week,

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - September 2017

Hello Everyone!

I've been beavering away this afternoon, making my art journal calendar pages for September. 

Art Journal Journey has a new challenge today, set by Yvonne, and the theme is Colour In My World. Has there ever been a theme that so fitted me?! As you know, I love my bright colours. So here's my bright and colourful spread.

To make my page background, I used a 5x3" Gelli Plate, Dylusion's Paint, and PaperArtsy Kim Dellow masks. I filled in some white areas with turquoise paint, seen quite clearly in the bottom righthand corner. 

I added punched tags, smudged black pencil outlines, and used PaperArtsy Everything Art and Darkroom Door stamps for the title.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,

Alison x

Art Journal Calendar - August 2017

Hello Everyone!

I just spent a messy, painty morning making my calendar page for the coming month of August.

I was inspired by my recent mark-making adventures, and used my favourite Dina Wakley paint colours (turquoise, magenta, lime & tangerine), with some of Dina's stamps. I added some marks with paint pens, and the journalling boxes were painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Mermaid paint. This gives a nice smooth and matte surface to write on. I finished with some doodles around the boxes, and quotes about August around the edges of the pages.

I'm entering my calendar pages over at Art Journal Journey, where Jo from Let's Art Journal is hosting this month with the theme 'Poetry in Motion'.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison x 

Art Journal Calendar - July 2017

Here's my art journal calendar spread for this month...

The first layer was some collaged book pages, then I painted with gesso, then stencilled with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint and That's Crafty stencils. I added some highlights using DecoArt Media Primary Magenta and PaperArtsy Ellen Vargo stamps. Cut teabags into four to make the journaling squares, then used Carbon Black paint to write the title. I wrote in the numbers with a black journaling pen, then doodled dots around some of the squares.

Happy July!

Alison x