AJJ - Geometric Journaling & New Guinea Pigs

Hi Everyone!

Let me start by showing you the new Guinea pigs...

That's Angus in the foreground, his 'mini-me' Hamish top right, and Fergus is just peeping out on the left. The cage is bigger than it looks, but I'm thinking of getting a larger enclosure. Just need to clear some more space in my craft room!

Here's a better pic of Fergus. He has a cute little white quiff.

And here is another art journal spread, inspired by Susi's recent art, for my Geometric Shapes theme at Art Journal Journey. I'm also entering it in Moo-Mania & More's Square Challenge.

My craft friend Hazel, who some of you may know from Hazel's Creative Moments, came over for a wonderful arty session, catch up, and lunch yesterday. We both played in our art journals. I got messy with paint, collage, PaperArtsy stamps, and mark-making.

I also did some scribble writing with Bombay India Ink and my new glass dip pen. Teabags got in the page too, of course, both underneath and on top!

Happy Thursday,

Alison xox

365 Somethings - Week 42

Hi Everyone! As promised, I'm back again this morning, with my teabag art for 365 Somethings Week 42.

I must say, I really enjoyed putting these together! For each teabag, I stapled together some small pieces of map, music sheet, notebook page, and envelope, then simply stapled each one to a teabag. I found some Friendly Plastic charms, I'd created using moulds many eons ago, and used them to embellish the collages.

Here's a close up of the dragonfly...

And I really love this leaf... appropriate for the season I thought, and suitable for the Moo-Mania Autumn Challenge I hope...

Thank you so much for dropping by,

and I wish you all a wonderful week!

Alison xox

5 Minute Art Journaling - Day 7

Hi Everyone! It's the 7th and final day of SouthernGal's 5 Minute Journaling Challenge on Instagram. I'm definitely getting the hang of this, and it's a great way to fit in some creativity, even when it's too hot, or you're busy.

I got some paint out ready, and chose a great colour combo that PaperArtsy have as their current challenge. Claret, Sage, Mint & Gold. Although I forgot to use mint, and I have turquoise scraps, so it probably won't count. I'm going to enter my page for Try It On Tuesday's Book Paper Challenge though.

I applied the base of sage paint with an old credit card, and used the corner to scribble in it. Such fun! And I used a small round paint brush to create the flower petals and marks, another of my favourite techniques.

This speedy challenge has been such a blessing in the heat this week, so I'm linking to Elizabeth's Count Your Blessings Challenge over at Art Journal Journey too. And Moo Mania & Moo are asking for Sheet Music, so I'm linking there too!

Hope you all have a wonderful and creative weekend,

Alison xox

Mixed Media Birthday Card

Hi Everyone! Tonight I have a birthday card to share with you, that I made for my very best friend Karen. 

I used to enjoy cross stitching a few years ago until the mixed media art took over, and I recently found a few little pieces I'd made. I had intended to make cards with them, but they got forgotten. Anyway, I picked this little garden bench picture that I knew my friend would love, and teamed it up with a gelli print.

Can you spot the tiny butterflies? I'm going to enter my card at the Moo Mania & More 'Butterflies' Challenge.

Happy week!

Alison xox

February Art Marks Day 23 - Invent

Hello Folks! 

I just got back from my usual Tuesday Silver Screen cinema trip. Today I had the company of my lovely friend Jan. We went to see 'Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool', a lovely film about the relationship between ageing Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame, and young Liverpudlian actor Peter Turner. We both loved it. 

Getting back to today's art marks page with the word prompt 'Invent'. I believe this past year I have been re-inventing myself through art journaling. I love the direction I'm taking on this current adventure too.

I used iris images from Vision Express (opticians) junkmail, added teabags, stencilling, and marks. I'm entering my page for MOO-MANIA's Think Of Spring Challenge. Spring is a great time to re-invent ourselves!

We've had a few inches of snow here during the day, so I'm now turning up the heating, and bunkering down till it goes away. Hope you're all keeping warm!

Alison x

Art Marks Day 18 - Tend

Hi Everyone!

I'm up to Day 18 of Rae Missigman's February Art Marks Love Challenge, and today's word is 'Tend'. It made me think of Spring seedlings, but also of tending to my daily art needs.

I started by scraping some Pea Coat PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint onto my page, then added some scrapes of Snowflake paint. I glued some teabag papers on top of the white paint, then painted some flowers and marks with Sargasso, Cerise and Magic Moss. The teabags were vanilla chai and blackcurrant, which makes my page smell delicious.

I'm linking my page to MOO-MANIA's Think of Spring Challenge.

Happy Thursday,

Alison x

Moo Mania - Love

Hello Folks! 

I was in a minimalist mood for today's Artmarks page, just some book page scraps, teabags, pink/white Fresco Finish Chalk acrylic paint, and black/white pens.

The word for Day 10 is quit. Quit that self-doubt...Heart your art!

I'm linking today's page to Moo-Mania's Love/Valentine's Challenge, and as it's teabag art, I'm also linking to Elizabeth's Tuesday T-Day.

I've got a filter coffee dripping/brewing at the moment, I might have to warm it up in the microwave! Lol!

Happy T-Day!

Alison x

Teabag Stars

Hello Everyone!

I decided to use some of my hoarded teabags to make a few Christmas cards, as I have loved using them in my art this year. They fit perfectly with Moo-Mania's Christmas Challenge. 

I also used some hoarded music patterned paper, that I've had for a very long time. And I stamped one of Carabelle Studio's Scribbled Stars by Birgit Koopsen onto Gelli-prints, before outlining with Stickles Glitter Glue and cutting out. I added a little watered down Cerulean Blue paint also for contrast.

On some I used Candy Cane Stickles.

And some Platinum. This one is my favourite.

I hope you're all having a great Friday!

Alison xx