Raise Your Hand(s)

 Hello All.

I've been reading a lot over the last couple of days. I signed up to our library online, and found the latest Kate Mosse book, then a couple of Jojo Moyes' books. After the recent stress of Graham's mini stroke, I think I needed a little relaxation time. He seems ok now, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

I do have another page to share today, for my Play it again, Sam theme at Art Journal Journey. This one is inspired by Bon Jovi's song Raise Your Hands.

The hand image is a PaperArtsy stamp by Kasia Avery of Everything Art, and I used some other stamps from the set in the background.

Thanks for all your lovely comments, and for visiting me today.

Alison

Handbags and Gladrags

 Hello All.

I have another art journal page to share today, for my Play It Again Sam theme at Art Journal Journey. 

This page is inspired by Mike D'Abo's brilliant song Handbags and Gladrags. He originally wrote it for Chris Farlowe, but it's been covered by Rod Stewart and The Stereophonics, all great versions. It's definitely one of my favourite songs.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison

100 Days of Watercolour - 45-51

 Hello Everyone.

Yesterday my husband had another visit to the hospital, this time for a neck scan. Fortunately this was clear too, so the doctor thinks that he probably had a mini stroke, and has given him more medication. He'll also have a follow up appointment in a few months. So hopefully he'll take it a bit easier at work and be ok now. 🙏

With everything happening with Graham, I forgot to post my watercolour art for The 100 Day Project yesterday, so here they are. I've managed to pass the halfway mark 😊

Day 45 

Day 46

Day 47

Day 48 - you can see the gold watercolour better in the second photo.

Day 49 - I used some shimmery watercolours by Little Rainbow Moon in the next few pieces. There are matt colours too.

Day 50

Day 51

I'm really enjoying doing the abstract pieces, there'll be more next time.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

April Art Journal Calendar & AJJ - Red Rain

 Hello All.

I finally got around to creating my April calendar yesterday, and it was inspired by the great Peter Gabriel's song Red Rain, which links it perfectly to my theme Play It Again Sam at Art Journal Journey.

I started with a layer of teabag papers, then scraped light blue acrylic randomly over this. I hand-cut the raindrops from various red gelprints, and die-cut Tim Holtz's Umbrella Man and lettering from scraps of black card.

I used a red acrylic marker to add shadow to Umbrella Man and my title, and also some red splatters. I used a black gel pen to write some of the lyrics of Red Rain around the edges of my spread, and to add shadow to the red raindrops. I wrote in the day numbers, and finished with some randomly stamped lines using a Crafty Individuals stamp.

Here's my March calendar all filled in with my daily happenings from last month.

I pleased to let you know that Hubby's MRI was clear on Friday, but he has to return to the hospital for a neck scan and more tests tomorrow. 

Wishing you a happy Sunday, and thanks for visiting me today.

Alison

Art Journal Journey April Challenge - Play It Again Sam

 Hello All.

I'm delighted to be the host of the April challenge at Art Journal Journey. 

My theme is 'Play it again Sam', and my ideas for this are pages based on your favourite movies or songs.

I have created a page inspired by the movie Pretty Woman, which stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. I love the Cinderella themed love story, and I've watched this movie many many times. I love the song Pretty Woman too.

I used watercolour crayons to create a background, then added collage and the magazine woman. I created the song lyrics with my Dymo label maker, and finished with some scribble writing and outlines.

I hope you have fun with this theme, and I look forward to seeing your beautiful art journal pages uploaded at Art Journal Journey this month.

Happy April!

Alison

100 Days of Watercolour - 38-44

 Hello Everyone.

I'm back with another week of watercolours. I've been painting little houses this week. 

To be honest, I painted these all at the start of last week, I knew it was going to be a busy one. It was actually a rollercoaster of a week. My phone decided to die, so I had to get a new one. On Tuesday I had to get a crown fitted on one of my teeth. Wednesday we got the car MOT'd, thankfully it passed. Towards the end of the week our son was fighting to keep the house he is trying to buy. Hopefully things are moving in the right direction now, and it will happen. Then on Friday night my husband ended up being taken to hospital with suspected stroke symptoms. After various tests, a CT scan which was clear, he came home yesterday afternoon, but has an MRI booked for this Friday. He seems ok now, and I'm clinging to the hope that it was just a trapped nerve as he lay down on his side in bed. His arm went floppy, and his speech was briefly very slurred. We were also worrying about our mums, as both got Covid on the Sunday. Thankfully they seem to be getting over it now. Graham's mum is 89, and mine is 81, but both are fully vaccinated.

Anyway, hopefully this week will be less dramatic.

Here are my watercolours.

Day 38 

Day 39

Day 40

Day 41

Day 42

Day 43

Day 44

Thanks for visiting,

Alison

AJJ - Spring

 Hello All.

I have another page to share for Valerie's Spring theme at Art Journal Journey.

This started off as a gelprint for GelliArts' March Printing Challenge over on Instagram. The prompt was sunshine. I've used my hand-carved foliage stamp on the print, and I used my circle stamp on the edges of the background. The little house is one of a series of watercolours for The 100 Day Project, and I used some book text for the words. 

Below, you should be able to see the gold watercolour that I used on the house and the sun.

Thanks for visiting me today.

Alison