Wednesday 23 December 2015

Christmas pom poms and stencil play.

Hello All,

I love Christmas crafts and always try and make something new with my girls each year. This year we went a bit pom pom mad. We made ones to hang on the tree plus enough little ones to make this:


Which is now hanging on my wall :) I wrapped a picture frame and stuck the pom poms on the top. 

My eldest who is 6 has obviously inherited my love for all things creative and loves to draw all the time. She decided this year to draw me pictures to go in my advent calendar. Here a few of them:


It has been fab to find out what she has drawn each day and she has even written little notes on the back for me too! :)

Apart from all things Christmassy I have had time to play with one of my new stencils and created this background:


I used modelling paste, acrylic paint, brusho pigment powers and irridescent ink on this so far. I don't know where it is going to take me next. I felt I had to leave it a while to see where I wanted to go with it. I love the stencil though which was made for me in the last art swap. It may well become one of my favourites! 

If I don't get chance to blog before Christmas now I hope you all have a fantastic one! I for one am really looking forward to it all!

Bye for now! xxx



Tuesday 22 December 2015

Finished page

Hello All,

Managed to find some time somehow to finish off this page in my small journal.


The background started as a gelli print which had lots of circles in it. I added the doodles in white and black pen over the top. I then added blue acrylic and a piece of a stencilled napkin. Finally I added the girl and the text. I think I like the combination of blue and orange best in this one. I love big bold colours and in particular orange at the moment.
The girl appears to be looking forwards and so that was what this page became about for me. Especially with new years approaching its all about looking forward to all the things I have to look forward to.

Bye for now! xxx

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Art Swap

Hello All,

The other day I received my art swap for this month from the lovely Tanja in the Netherlands. It was as if Christmas had come early! The theme this time was 'embellishments'. We were tasked with making (or buying) a bundle of goodies for our partners. I really really enjoyed this one, with the time of year it felt like I was sending off a treat for Christmas. Here is what I sent to Tanja:


The bundle included handmade tags, a mini journal, beads and origami butterflys plus some bought mini tags and little hessian jars.

I was truly overwhelmed with what Tanja sent to me:


Her bundle included Christmas glasses for me and my children, handmade beads, beautiful stencils and tags galore. Stickers, confetti, sequins, felt flowers and a box each for my girls with the components to make their own xmas decorations. 
The postman delivered the box of gorgeous goodies as we were decorating our tree so it really was like Christmas!


It is absolutley fab doing the art swaps each month. I love chatting to people from all over the world, finding out about them and trying to make something that I hope they'll love! Plus, lets face it, who doesn't love getting post! 

Bye for now! xxx


Monday 14 December 2015

Commissions delivered

Hello All,

With both portraits completed I finally delivered them last Thursday and Karen was thrilled. I was a little worried as looking at a portrait of yourself is very different to looking at one of someone else. I was worried that she may not see herself the way I had portrayed her but she was very happy and she delivered them straight away to her partner. They were supposed to be his Christmas present but she said she couldn't wait.




Later that day Karen text me his response .... 

"I can't help looking at them. I'm moved to tears here, it's so flipping weird having you here but not .....And the colours are just so fluorescent, wherever I hang them they must have changing colours to bring out all the aspects......I'm flabbergasted. In fact, my flabber has never been so gasted."

What a response! I am well chuffed!

Bye for now xx

Wednesday 9 December 2015

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Hello All,

I am sorry I haven't been about much! This time of year I get so busy with other things and Christmas prep I haven't had time for my blog. Its not that I haven't been creating, though my focus switches this time of year to what gifts I can make.

I am finishing a gift for my Mum (can't give any other detail away in case she reads this!) plus I have been commisioned for a journal and a picture so busy trying to finish them in time. The journal is going to be personalised with song lyrics and pictures in amongst the pages that have some meaning to its recipient.

Journal in progress
Picture now finished!














I did however manage to start a journal page last night which so far I am quite pleased with. Here is a detail of it:


 Really liking orange and reds at the mo. This will have a little portrait on it too once its done. Also I have been doing some filming in preparation for some workshops that I hope to run in the new year. busy busy editing them now! :)

As well as all the gifts I have been making Christmas pom poms with my girls and we will start making decorations including our own wreath from this weekend. The tree will be going up and it will all be mulled wine, mince pies and cheesy Christmas music from then on. In our family my husband's birthday comes first (this week) and then we can turn our focus to all things festive :)

I do love Christmas!

Bye for now xxx



Monday 23 November 2015

Contemplation

Hello All!

The news at the moment is full of bad things, such hatred and violence. Watching the reports about Paris made me so sad, angry and frustrated. How people can do that to others with so little remorse. All the cruetly and evil on this planet stems from us. Human nature is a strange thing so full of hatred on one side and then again so much love on the other. Why can't we all just live in peace? Sometimes I am ashamed to be part of my own species.

I felt I needed my journal for this one, and whilst processing my feelings I was surrounded by my wonderful family and it reminded me of the good in this world. I hope the next generations learn to live in peace together and learn to protect this world from ourselves!


Bye for now xx

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Hibernation

Hello All!

I am finding lately I have very little time to get anything creative done. Perhaps it is down to the time of year with Christmas approaching it's dark and getting colder by the minute. I seem to be out more often than I'm in and when I am in, the kitchen (my usual work place) seems dark and cold and I'd rather sit on the sofa under a blanket. Perhaps I was a bear in my former life because I go into hibernation mode! I need to just put on a hefty jumper get myself a cuppa and battle through! Having said that I have nearly finished my second commission (which is for a Christmas present so need to get it finished soon!) and here it is:


I am going to add some text and you can't tell from this photo but I haven't finished her hands yet. I am really pleased with it and looking forward to giving it to her. Once this is done I will really try hard to get back into going some more journaling and I have ideas for a few more paintings plus a monthly challenge to get my teeth into, this month the theme is 'sky' and I love painting skies so really want to tackle that one. I also signed up to this months art swap which is creating some embellishments and goodies to send out which sounds fab :)

So message to self Lisa stop being nesh and get going!

Bye for now! xxx

Monday 16 November 2015

Christmas Stall

Hello All,

This weekend my sister and I got together and ran a stall at my local village Christmas fair. I was selling my journals and labels and Fliss was selling her gorgeous jewellery:



Our stall looked lovely and Christmassy and it was great fun running it with my sister. The fair was lovely and busy and a great success, and it all helped to raise money for our local school.

Hopefully it is the first of many for Fliss and I.

Bye for now!  xx

Monday 9 November 2015

Art Swap

Hello All,

I seem to be having a bit of a slump the last week or so. Not been inspired to do much and not had much time either! My little girl just turned 4 so its been all about that this last week anyway! I have however received Octobers Art Swap from Audrey in Canada. We had to create a journal page about where we are from. I loved this idea as I enjoy learning about other places and how others live their lives on the other side of the world. This is what Audrey sent me:



It is really beautiful and I got a lovely letter explaining all the different aspects of it. She also included the little double sided tag (above) which I love! 

I found my piece really difficult, I don't know if its just lately and I have lost my mojo a little and feeling bit meh but I couldn't get into it. Anyway this is the piece I created:


I tried to keep it looking quite industrial to reflect Sheffield, the city I live in which is famous for its steel industry, in particular cutlery. I also wanted to include a bit about the countryside as living on the edge of the national peak district has always meant a lot to me. So I added sheep and a millstone with all the lovely purple heather. Not my best I must admit but I really hope Audrey likes it!.

Lets hope I get back into the zone soon!

Bye for now x x 





Wednesday 21 October 2015

Quick Index Card

Hello All,

It has been busy week so far and doesn't look like it will calm down any time soon! I have only managed to do this quick mixed media index card:


The text went a bit wrong but other than that I like it. The three figures look like they mean business and so to me gave the card an impatient sort of feel, like they are chomping at the bit to get started with something. I enjoyed playing around with the background, using inks, brushos and tissue paper.

Anyway hope I get some more time this weekend to do a bit more!

Bye for now! xx

Monday 19 October 2015

Weekend Work

Hello All,

This weekend I had loads of time to work on my various projects. I am doing a another stall next month, a local Christmas fair. I have plenty of journals and labels left over from the last stall but I wanted to add something a bit more christmassy so I set about making packs of christmas labels:


I made these using my Gelli plate and some Christmas washi tapes.

The other thing I worked on was my commission which is coming on nicely but still has a way to go, here it is so far:


I also had a friend over who has been going through a rough time and has started coming to my art journaling sessions as a form of therapy to try and help her make sense of things and vent her emotions. It is brilliant for this and I myself use it in this way a lot! She was stuck though, she had started a page and just didn't know where to go next with it. We got out loads of materials and I helped make suggestions and point her in the right direction. She managed to finish her page and was happy with the result:

Susan's page

I really love that about teaching art journaling. It is really relaxing just to sit and play with all the different mediums and at the same time it really helps to get things sorted in your head and process how you are feeling about something. To see that working for the people I teach is wonderful. :)

Bye for now! xx

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Using Paper Towels

Hello All,

The other day I mentioned about making collage papers and patterned paper towels. I thought I would elaborate on the paper towel technique as it is one of my favourites.


This is a page I did in my altered book journal last night using the for-mentioned paper towels. What I tend to do is that whenever I have used a stencil I clean it with a baby wipe on top of a paper towel. It uses the excess paint left on the stencil to create lovely patterns on the paper. Leave them to dry and voilà! lovely for adding to my journals (whilst not wasting a drop of paint!)
When I come to use them I use matt medium to stick the paper towels into my journals, though you could use PVA as well. As soon as you add the medium the paper becomes transparent whilst the pattern remains.

I also stamp on to paper towels and again stick them down using matt medium, which works well too! Both are fab techniques and really easy and effective, so give them a try!

Bye for now! xx

Saturday 10 October 2015

Bookbinding

Hello All,

Recently I have been watching a lot of bookbinding vids on you tube. I would like to learn more myself and I have in mind a bookbinding workshop, creating a 'art journal to go' where all the pages will be bound with pre-done backgrounds making it great for travelling.

I found a fab you tube channel called Sealemon with lovely clear tutorials on different stitches and bookbinding ideas. So I decided to follow one of the tutorials and try out coptic stitch using sketch pads for the signatures and the board at the back of the pads for the covers. Here are the results:


This should be a perfect stitch for what I have in mind. I plan to also include my own video tutorials as part of the workshop so watch this space!

Bye for now! xx

Friday 9 October 2015

Some Time To Myself

Hello All,

This week I actually managed to get some time to myself to do some Journaling and other bits and pieces I have been meaning to do for a while which was fab!


I love making collage papers, it is great to just play with mediums and tools without really thinking too much about the outcome, just enjoying the process. I am really pleased with how this turned out. Once I have created a collage paper I put it aside and use it chopped up in my journals. Also I clean my stencils on top of paper towels with a baby wipe and the paper towels often come out looking great, so again I save these for later!


I also created this spread which is inspired by a Fiona Apple song that I have always sung to my daughter. I particularly like the line I have used here from the song.

I even had enough time to do more on my commission which is going well. It is so great to get that time on my own without any distractions to really get stuck in with some art work. It is quite a rare thing!

Bye for now xxx



Monday 5 October 2015

First Commission Finished!

Hello All!

I realise I have been a tad quiet on here recently, I have been very busy with my commissions and I have finally finished the first one!


I am really pleased with it and when I delivered it last week she loved it! It is the first time I have ever painted a beard (and lets face it what a beard to start with) and I am really pleased with that bit!

The text is taken from one of the subjects songs as are the crabs and fish.

And so straight on to the second one which I am doing in wintry colours with lots of snowflakes. Here is what I have done so far:


I am loving this one so far and can already really visualise the final thing and where I will be placing the portrait. I have to get this done before Christmas so going to be busy on this for a while!

In other news there is a new monthly challenge which I will be looking into and I am planning a series of bookbinding workshops to create a 'journal to go' which hopefully will also include some video tutorials as well. busy busy busy!

Bye for now! xx

Wednesday 30 September 2015

September Art Swap

Hello All,

This months art swap on journalworkshops.ning.com  was to create two ATC's (artist trading cards) in an Art Deco style. I was partnered with Tora from Iceland. This was right up my street having just participated in a 1920's style dance show. I do love getting dressed up with all the costumes and make-up :) Here is what I made for Tora:


And here is what I received from Tora:


I particularly like the stained glass one she made me, it's lovely!

Also as promised I did film myself making these cards and so here is my new video, hope you enjoy it!



Bye for now! xx



Friday 25 September 2015

Show Page

Hello All,

Last weekend I took part in a dance show set in a 1920s speakeasy. It was great fun and I even did my first ever solo eeek! The people involved are such a lovely group and I have really enjoyed working with them and getting to know them all. I am still on quite a high from it all but at the same time feeling quite sad that it is all over. I decided it needed a page in my journal to help me remember, so here it is:


The girl is me in my costume and the other pictures a shots taken at the dress rehearsal. I also used some washi tape and modelling paste through a handmade stencil, acrylic paint, plus a bit of ephemera. Hopefully i'll look back in years to come and remember it all :)

Bye for now. xx

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Facebook Group

Hello All,

Not got much to post up this week, I have been busy in my dance show and working on my commision which is nearly finished but I will wait till it is before posting a piccie.

I have been partnered with Tora from Iceland for this months art swap which is exciting. I have to make two art deco ATCs, I have some good ideas but haven't had time to make a start yet.

What I thought I would mention is my facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/554702017988644/

This is a group I set up for anyone that loves art journaling and mixed media to chat to like minded people, share ideas and post pictures of their work. I also post my upcoming workshops on there for those want to attend.

Just the other day one member of the group asked for some help to prompt a page and I thought I would start my own monthly challenge on there. So this month I have challenged them all to create a page about their favourite moment this summer. If you would like to join us and have a go please do!

Bye for now,

Lisa



Wednesday 16 September 2015

Muse

Hello All,

Just a quick one today of a page I finished last night in my littlest journal. Been back and forth with this page but think I am going to leave it quite simple.



The gold is done with gold texture paste through a crafters workshop stencil (Rosetta by Rebekah Meier, one of my favourites!) and the word is done with modelling paste. I found the image of the girl about to dive from a magazine and have wanted to use it for a while but it hasn't suited any page until now.

Hope you like it! Bye for now xx

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Texture and Bling

Hello All,

This week I decided to have a play in my altered book with my new stencil girl stencil and some modelling and texture pastes. I am really happy with how the page is turning out but I have got to the point where I love it and don't know what to add that won't spoil it (if anything) So I have had to hit pause for a while until I decide. Here it is so far anyway.



I am really loving shiny and metallic mediums at the moment, like the silver texture paste, shimmer inks and metallic gel sticks that I have used on this page. Don't know why, just really enjoying the bling, I'm like a magpie :)

I realise I haven't done a new video lately so that is something I am looking to resolve very soon. I have just signed up to this months art swap so may create a video of that. This time the challenge is to create two art deco ATCs. Really excited by this one as I love making ATCs but also because over the last few months I have been involved in a dance show set in a 1920s speakeasy and have been surrounded by all things art deco and since I love vintage it is a perfect one for me :)

Me in my 1920s dance show costume
Bye for now! x

Saturday 12 September 2015

Just a quick picture

Hello All,

Just a quick piccy today to show the finished index card from the other day. I really like how the gold texture paste worked out and excited about the idea of creating a series of these and binding them into a memory book for my girls.


Wednesday 9 September 2015

A spark of an idea.

Hello All,

The other day I was in the supermarket and ramdomly found some acrylic texture paste on offer. I didn't have a lot of time for art this week but managed to sit and have a play with the pastes and with a new stencilgirl stencil on a little index card. I love the stencil and the pastes turned out to be fab, particularly the gold one.


It is not completely finished, but here is a detail. In it I used an old painting my daughter had done as a baby and an image of a rocking chair and it got me thinking. I would really like to make a series of index cards based on the songs and stories that my children love and that I have always read/sang to them. I plan to make a video for each card and at the end perhaps bind them into a little memory journal for them to keep.

So watch this space, I will hopefully get these started soon!

Bye for now! x

Monday 7 September 2015

A bit of pondering

Hello All!

I decided to take a break from commisions and do some journaling for myself. I recently received some new Dylusion paints which I see a lot at the mo on many you tube vids and although it is not easy to get over here in the UK, I decided to get some to see how good they are.



I have to say I can see why people like them, the colours are really vivid and they go on really smoothly! I have already ordered some more colours! Also in this page I used wax paper with some gelli printing on it and my new color pep smoothy crayons. The text I did with a new stencilgirl stencil called 'verbage'

The theme of the page came as I went on, I was overthinking some aspects of my life, which was only leading me to panic and worry. This page ended up being about that and helping me to stop. Think and ponder by all means but do not dwell on things!

Bye for now! xx

Friday 4 September 2015

August Art Swap

Hello All!

Last months art swap was to create a shabby chic art journal page. Shabby chic is not my usual style and so this was a definitely a challenge. My partner this time was the lovely Janet from New Hampshire. I decided to start on a old page taken from an old 50's girl annual. It had an image of a woman looking out of the window that I really liked so I went with that as my theme.


I started with modelling paste and scrim tape, adding colour with lindy stamp gang sprays and pearlescent paints.


Here is the final piece I sent to Janet. I enjoyed making it but found the shabby chic hard to get right. I really hope she likes it!

In return I got a lovely parcel from Janet in a beautifully decorated envelope. The piece she made for me is beautiful and she also included some homemade beads and buttons which are gorgeous!


I wonder what this months challenge will bring!

Bye for now! xx

Tuesday 1 September 2015

Dovefest Stall

Hello All!

This weekend saw the long awaited Dovefest craft stall. The day started early, setting up at 9am but the gates didn't open till 12.




It was a slow start but picked up at about 3pm. It went alright but perhaps not as well as I had hoped and I still have lots of journals and labels left. I think I may start to put some up on my etsy shop instead and perhaps look for a Christmas stall later on, Regardless it was a fun day and I really enjoyed it :)

Bye for now! xx

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Finished Spread.

Hello All,

I managed to finish my spread that I posted a few days ago. I was going to paint a portrait in it but liked the background so much that, in the end, I decided to keep it simple.



The colours seems so sunny and happy to me and it made me think about this summer and all the fun we have had as a family. I love being able to spend quality time with my girls and they are growing so fast. It made me realise how precious these summers are whilst they are little and so I added a journal entry to remind me to soak it all up, savour the summers and carry the memories with me.

Hope you like it!

Bye for now xx

Monday 24 August 2015

Shopping!

Hello All,

This week I been watching quite a few you tube vids and it inspired me to purchase a few new things. I found that a lot of people are using dylusion paints and the colours look really good so I have ordered a few to try and also a few fab stencils from www.stencilgirlproducts.com.
The other thing on the way is some mapped colorpeps smoothy crayons which all the reviews I have read say are very similar to gelatos (but cheaper) and that the colours are really vivid. Looking forward to it all arriving so I can have a play. I hope to make a new vid, trying out some of the stuff.

Also on you tube this week I watched a fab vid by Julie Fan-Fei Balzer. If you haven't seen her work, check it out, she is really good. Her You Tube channel is:

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYS7gznVtfxvVQsKOW1Jiww

The vid I watched shows Julie using some simple but very effective mark making. Mark making is something I like but more often than not forget to do. I decided to create a background in my art journal inspired by Julie:


I started with a gelli print, pealescent paint, brushos and modelling paste before adding stencils and my mark making. I think I am going to attempt a portrait or a figure of some kind over the top but not sure yet. I will post a piccie up again when it's finished.

Bye for now xx


Friday 21 August 2015

Progress

Hello All,

This week I have been busy working on my commission which is coming along. It is really good to be doing some large scale work again. It has been ages since I have worked on canvas. Here it is again so far:



I also signed up for this months Art Swap on journalworkshops.ning.com. This month the challenge is to create a shabby chic journal page. It is not my usual style so it will be really good to have a play and see what I can come up with.

Also coming up is my stall next weekend. Everything is ready so fingers crossed I will sell a few bits!

Bye for now! x