New Art Journal Page

It has been a little while since I have had time to create something, between myself being sick and having sick kids I have not had a lot of free time.

But.........all that changed today!

After some much needed tidying of my craft room I managed to sit down and create a page in my art journal. I have changed things around a little as I have been having a lot of trouble finding a journal that can take the weight of all the media that I use and lately I have really liked using lots of embellishments.

Because of this the books I have used tend to become quite bulky and will not hold lots of layers. So I have gotten myself a wire bound sketch book and I am creating my pages on heavy weight cardstock and then mounting them into the sketch book.

So without further ado..............

Materials Used:

- Kaszazz SB Essentials 12x12 Cardstock (White)

- Kaszazz Leonardo Stamp

- Tim Holtz Decorative Strip Die (Tattered Banners)

- Metal Embelishments (Gears and Flourish)

- Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)

- Distress Paint (Tumbled Glass)

- Recollections Flowers (Blue)

- Prima Marketing Gem Flourish

- My Minds Eye Cowboy 6x6 Paper Pad

- Old Book Pages

- Crafter's Workshop 12x12 Stencil (Ledger)

-Kraft Cardstock

-Tim Holtz Tiny Tabs and Tags Die

- Ranger Archival Ink (Black)

- Glossy Accents

This is by no means a complete list of materials as I have a feeling that I have forgotten something, but at this stage I cannot think what it could be.

One last thing before I go, I just have to say that I really love the blue/brown colour combination and I seem to really use it a lot in my artwork.

Well thats all from me for now, keep a look out for another creation very soon!

My New Toy!!!!

I have a new little toy in my house at the moment.........

My little MacBook Air, and I am so in love with it already. I have been playing with this little gem for half the day now and I just cannot stop. 

It sure beats my old Acer PC hands down........... (shhhhh! don't tell Acer)

I got it mainly because I needed a faster computer for my Graphic Design stuff, but mostly because I have always wanted one.

This guy was an absolute legend when he came up with this laptop!

Well not much else from me today, I have been hard at work........not really working but I have been showing up!

I have not had much fun on the Artful side of things lately as I just have not had the time, I have however managed to get my challenge blog up and running and the first challenge goes live on August 1st.

Hopefully now that my work hours have been cut back I will have time to create again.

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - July

I am a mad Tim Holtz fan, I mean absolutely obsessed with his products. I have so much stuff by him that not only has most of it never been used, but I am running out of places to store things (I am going to end up being one of those people that dies under fallen piles of stuff that I have hoarded).

Well every month Tim creates a tag that contains techniques that utilize his products beyond what they are originally intended for. Even though I frequent his blog 2-3 times a week looking for inspiration, this is the first time I have created a tag using one of the techniques on his blog.

And........Here it is:

Materials:

- Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Large Die (Tag & Book Plate)

- PVC Sheet (250 Microns)

- Kraft Cardstock

 - Simplicity Jute String

- Tim Holtz Ideology Swivel Clasps

- Tim Holtz Ideology Monocles

 - Tim Holtz Texture Fade (Blueprint)

- Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)

- Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Stamps (Time Travelers CMS157 & Warehouse District CMS124)

- Ranger Archival Ink (Black)

- Distress Markers (Brushed Corduroy & Mustard Seed)

- Ranger Water Brush Detailed Tip

- Papercraft Foam Dots

I am extremely happy with how this tag turned out, and I have decided that I may go back over the previous monthly tags and techniques and try my hand at some of those as well. 

Well thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again very soon.

July Mixed Media Tag Swap - All About Stencils......

I am a member of a nice little group over at Ning called Art and Sassy. Have been a member there for a month or two now and have just finished my first swap (I still need to post it to the swap organiser) 

Every month there is a Mixed Media Tag Swap, this month is.....

All About Stencils!

Here is my creation:

Materials:

- Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Large Die (Tag & Bookplate)

- Corrogated Cardboard Box

- Heidi Swap 6x6 Lattice Stencil

- Reeves Modeling Paste

- Liquitex Gesso

- Beading Wire

- Tim Holtz Ideology Muse Tokens

- Tim Holtz Ideology Pen Nibs

- Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher

- Zig Glue Pen

- Kraft Cardstock

- Walnut Stain Distress Ink

- Twine

I was aiming for a basic tag with little embelishments and mediums yet still have a good overall effect, hence the reason I used corrogated card (it was actually a box that had one of my son's birthday presents in it, I tend to keep all kinds of boxes)

After finding out that the Tim Holtz Tag Die cuts through corrogated cardboard, and even chipboard, I have realised that my tag making possibilities are endless and will probably never buy another packed of precut tags again.

Hope you like my creation, and stay tuned for more...........

Birthday Party........

July 1st was my Son's 2nd Birthday. Despite being a little unwell, I managed to bake a birthday cake.......a very chocolate birthday cake........

Not the best looking cake but boy it tasted great, and my little Birthday Boy enjoyed it too..........

Tutorial - Alcohol Spray Inks

Well as promised in my last post here is the tutorial for making your own.....

.........Alcohol Spray Inks........

What You Will Need:

- Rubbing Alcohol

- Spray Bottles (I use Ranger Mini Misters)

- Distress Reinkers

-Paper Towel

- Gloves to protect your hands.

Firstly put some paper towel down to protect the surface you are working on. Then depending on how big your spray bottles are and how vibrant you want your colours to come out, you will put your desired amount of Distress Reinker Ink into your spray bottles. Like I mentioned I used mini misters so I used 2 eye droppers full of color.

Then carefully fill the remainder of the bottle with rubbing alcohol. Just remember to not fill all the way to the top, or you will get spillage........

And, there you have it......... simple really. The colors I used were:

- Dusty Concord

- Peacock Feathers

- Fired Brick

- Spiced Marmalade

- Mowed Lawn

- Mustard Seed

This is how bright and vibrant they are when sprayed onto watercolour paper. One of the easiest things you can make. 

As an alternative you could use food coloring instead of Distress Reinkers, and for a shimmer effect just add Perfect Pearls or for a cheaper alternative Powdered Eyeshadow.

Well thats all from me for now..............

Inspiration Journal - Sneak Peak

I have a lot of inspiration on pinterest, lots of boards, and lots of pins......... but sometimes I prefer to have things in hard copy rather than on a computer floating around in cyberspace.

So I have created my own inspiration journal, it is still just a work in progress......

.......but I will post some progress pictures and when it is all finished I can post a tutorial. 

Here is the journal cover, all it is a folder made from the cardboard insert you get with new sheets. 

The inside is a series of hand stiched notebooks that slide into place with hat elastic.

The notebooks are covered with sewing patterns stamped with stamps that match the pattern paper of the cover.

Like I said the journal is still a work in progress, there are still a few more things I would like to do to the journal before it is finished and ready to use.

Stay tuned for updates on this journal and maybe oneday more like it.