What's outside - AJP

This was an Art Journal spread created in response to a challenge with the theme what's outside.

I decided to go with whimsical animals, birds and butterflies...all bar the dog are often found in our garden even though we do not own pets ourselves. I ended up not adding any title or wording to this. That may come later or it may just stay as it is. I liked how it came out.

Until next time
C xx

Happy Birthday Son

Yesterday was number one Son's birthday and this was the card I made for him... with a little  design input from his Dad, who thought it was perfect for his dog crazy "boy".

I used distress oxides for the background and assorted stamps from Tim Holtz, Letter it and Stampin' Up!

Until next time
Cxx

Happy Birthday card

Quick and simple card using a free stamp set from a magazine with a wording stamp by Ranger (Letter It range) I used a small element stamp for each corner of the base card and matted the central panel onto coordinating pink card and popped it up on dimensionals.

Until next time

C xx

If you are lucky enough to be different, never change

This art journal spread was in response to a mood board prompt in Nina Ribena's art journal group on FB. I spent ages staring at the mood board and then I went off to my creative space (which is a TV and PC free zone) and this is what happened.

The background was made by layering gesso with a palette knife to give some early texture and then layering up paint (with the palette knife) on top of that until I was happy with the general effect. The birds and leaves were stamped onto linen paper, coloured and fussy cut (took ages to do all the leaves).

To build the page I stamped the borders with black archival and then began to adhere the leaves to form the tree...and then I used brown Posca pen to build up the tree trunk. When it was dry I added some texture and then went over the trunk again with two shades of brown promarkers. Once that was done I just had to place the birds and add the words and I was done.

It came out better than I expected and I am quite pleased with the latest addition to my latest art journal.
Until next time
Cxx

Spring is Sprung, the grass is Riz.....

This was made for an art journal challenge in an online group - the prompts were "Spring is here, some teal (ish) colour, birdies, some hidden numbers, use pencil, add some words"

 I had such fun with this. It was inspired by my late Mum who, at this time of year, would always quote

"Spring is Sprung, The Grass is Riz... I wonder where the Birdies is?"

It goes without saying (or should do) that I used gesso on both pages to prime them before I got started

On the first side I adhered some torn book pages (happened to be foreign language text) and then using a palette knife applied a layer of teal paint that had been mixed with tinting base. Once dry I used the same palette knife to drag layers of colour over the top, sticking to shades of teal , grey and blues. This helped to build up texture as well as add dimension to my "sky". The leaves , grass and flowers were stamped onto to linen paper and coloured with promarkers. I fussy cut them all and used gel medium to add them to the page, building up the leaves with layer upon layer....

 On the birdie page I added numbers using a stencil and some crackle paint before adding and blending white, Payne's grey and teal acrylic paints. I used a couple of different stencils to go over that with both grey and teal paint and used a white gel pen to scribble some words on there too, before adding my birdies which were stamped and then coloured with promarkers.

I am really pleased with how this page came out. I think of my lovely Mum all the time and love it when my art work is inspired or influenced by her. She would love that too.

Until next time
Cxx

Rise Above

I have recently been playing around with abstract art using acrylic paints and a hot glue gun. The thing I particularly love about this technique, is that it's quick and easy to do and every project is an absolute original.

For this one I used a round wooden base, black gesso, metallic paints in green and teal, the hot glue and I added fairy wings sparks paint over the top of the glue. The paints I used were all from a range by Finnabair, but any acrylic paints will work as well and these were just to hand.  To finish it off I added a wording sticker (from a range by Tim Holtz) and I went around the outside edge of the wooden base with some gold wax.

All in, including drying time, this took around an hour and would make a great project for a class or group.
Until next time
Cxx

Happy Birthday Brother

I made this card for my "baby" brother who had a birthday this weekend. He is in his fifties now so not much of a baby, but he is the youngest sibling and  I saw him being born so he has always been - and always will be -  my baby bro.

For this one I used glossy embossed background papers and a quirky Illusionary Artists stamp by France Papillon. I think he will appreciate the  sentiment (courtesy of Tim Holtz)
Until next time
Cxx