Journaling by 5s

Hello All!

Today I thought I would share with you an absolutely fantastic idea called Journaling by 5s. It was invented by an artist called Shannon Green and I came across it whilst watching journaling videos on you tube.

The idea is that you break down a journaling page into 5 stages and each stage is timed (1 minute per stage per page) It is absolutely brilliant for those of you starting out as it makes the process nice an easy but also encourages you to let go, relax and just enjoy the process. For those who aren't beginners it is great way to get many pages done it very little time. I adore that I can be creative and produce full pages even if I only have a few minutes here and there to spare.

The stages are:

1. Background - paint, ink etc
2. Texture - collage, recycled materials
3. Pattern - stamps, stencils
4. Focal point - words, images
5. Details - pen, pencil, doodling

They are so much fun to do and very addictive. Here are a few I have been doing:

You can do these on loose sheets, old packaging, index cards, in journals or on old leaflets. Whatever you fancy really! And why not try adding extra stages of your own! I hope you all have a go! and please go over and check out Shannon Green on You Tube as well!

Bye for now!

xxx

Happy New Year!

Hello All,

Happy new year to you all! I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas/holiday. I have had a fantastic busy Christmas full of family and laughter. It just goes far too quickly, after so much build up it is over in a flash. Now I am back at work :( but the sun is shining and so far the new year has been a good one. I have a few resolutions this year.

1. To try and get more art/workshops done and focus on maybe getting some exhibitions.
2. Build up my you tube channel (although I hate filming myself!)
3. See more of friends and family.
4. To do the splits for the first time ever by the end of the year!

Please leave me a comment telling me what you got up to over the hols or any resolutions you have!

Now for a bit of art, here are few art journaling pages I managed to do over the hols:

This one is in my altered book journal. I was just playing around with texture and mark making and I restricted myself to just a few colours.

This is in my small journal. I really fancied using a collage background and used an old comic torn into pieces
. Many if the images were of ladies in the 50s looking so glamorous and feminine and it got me thinking about myself and how at times I don't feel very lady like at all! I used a copper paint to highlight certain areas.

I also managed to complete two mini mixed media paintings:

These are painted on canvass board and are only A5 size. I plan to frame them. I enjoyed painting these especially with the use of texture and pattern. I used pigment powders and iridescent medium to colour them.

Anyway lunch is over and it's back to work for me. I will be back with more hopefully very soon.

Bye for now! xxx

Art Swap September

Hello All, 

I am sorry I have not posted for a while, we have had some building work at home and everything else kinda got pushed to one side! But i'm back and this time I wanted to share what I made for September's art swap.

We were tasked to create a complete mini journal. I was partnered with a young girl who told me she was really into anime and manga figures. With this is mind this is what I created for her:

It was a challenge to draw in the anime style but I really enjoyed having a go and I had a message from her to say she really likes it. She sent me a lovely journal full of inspirational quotes.

I have also been busy journaling and I started a new painting but more on this later!

Bye for now! xxx

Self Esteem

Hello All,

Sometimes I go through periods of low self esteem as I am sure most people do. I have put on a little weight, not enough that would be noticeable to anyone but me but it knocks you a bit. I have to kick myself and be grateful for what I have. Everyone is a different shape and size. Wouldn't it be boring to all be the same! I am active and healthy and that is what should matter. I felt I had to do a art journal spread to give me that kick I needed to snap out of it:

This spread really has many many layers and I just kept adding to it. I started by sticking torn paper towels soaked in ink down then used a pallet knife and acrylic over that. then stencils, doodles, more paint, more stencils  more doodles etc. Finally decided I wanted to do a portrait to represent my self esteem and how I ought to feel about myself. She doesn't look like me she just expresses the confidence I need.

It did help and I do feel much better. That's the beauty of art journaling! 

Bye for now xxxx

First ICAD of the year

Hello All,

Last night I sat down with a cuppa and had a play with my new stencil which is a crafters workshop, Rebekah Meier design  I really like this series of stencils, they produce some lovely results. I decided to do a quick ICAD (index card) with it:

It has a cheery feel to it but with the image of a wasp (I hate wasps, having stood in a nest at the age of 8!) I decided on the text "There is no need to be afraid" and overall it feels like it's a card to remind me to look at the bright side of things and not to worry too much! As well as the stencil I used acrylic paint, silver texture paste, irredescent blue ink, washi tape, patterned tissue paper, collage and text stamps.

I am going to try and do lots of ICADs this year and bind them into little journals. They are a great little format to work on.

Bye for now! xxxx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Play

Hello All!

I just got some new Daler Rowney shimmering colour inks and pigment powders and so had a quick hour having a play on the back of and old cardboard box.

I really like the vivid colours and the shimmer in both the inks and powders is really nice. You have to give the inks a good stir each time because the pigment settles at the bottom but they are lovely colours. The pigment powders are really versatile as you can mix them into paints or mediums or add water to make shimmer sprays. Definitely a good buy!

I also managed to finally make a start on the background of one of my commissions, here is what I have done so far.

Detail

It will be a portrait of a guy who is a musician, hence the music and instruments. Adding loads of texture and lots of yummy colour, can't wait to get back to it now!

Bye for now, x

New Video

Hello All,

As promised my new video! This shows me making one of the mixed media tags that I made for July's art swap. In it I use a variety of techniques and mediums. I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to leave a comment :)

Bye for now! xx

Monthly Challenge

Hello All,

The monthly challenge on journalworkshops.ning.com  for August is 'Windows and doors' I didn't start the page as the challenge but it must have been on my mind cause it just kinda happened.

I initially thought about cutting windows into my page for the challenge but as I worked on the background for this page I was really enjoying the colours which inspired me to add my new stained glass window stamp and then as I was sorting through some old magazines I found the quote and it all just fit! I really like how it turned out :)

Bye for now!

Holiday page

Hello All!

Just got back from a lovely family hol in Angelsey. Lots of beach combing, making sandcastles and paddling, walking and visiting castles and cafes. It was Lovely :) This is the reason I haven't posted for a week but I did manage to take some art stuff with me and get some journaling done. Here is a piece I managed to do in my altered book.

I was inspired by all the beachy colours and the all the flotsam and jetsam washed up. The painting is my daughter and brother in law having a paddle. I am pleased with how it turned out. It has loads of texture to it and for me really expresses the seaside.

Now back to work, loads to do! I also have a new vid that I will be posting up hopefully later today.

Bye for now! xx

July Art Swap

Hello all,

I just received my art swap for this month from Fran in Essex. we had to make three tags, one bright, one pastel and one tonal. I always really enjoys making tags so this was right up my street! Speaking to Fran I knew she was not a fan of pastels and didn't like pink but liked steampunk and rust colours. She also told her favorite colour is blue so I tried to make tags that I thought she would like and get use out of. Here is what I made her.

Pastel Tag

Bright Tag

Tonal Tag

Fran emailed to say she received them and really liked them. I have made a video of me making the bright tag but it still needs a bit of work so I will hopefully post it up soon.

Now here is what I received from Fran:

I really like them, the colours are great and there is loads of texture on them too! It was a pleasure swapping with Fran! Can't wait for August's swap!

I am in Wales all next week but taking some art stuff with me, so I hope to get some journaling done!

Bye for now x x x

Tags

Hello All,

I have been busy the last few days working on my July art swap. This month I have to create three tags, one in pastels, one in bright colours and one tonal. I have really enjoyed working on this, but I won't post piccies up until I have confirmation that my partner has received them. But piccies and a new video coming soon!

Whilst making the tags I decided that I am going to make sets of three tags to sell at my Dovefest craft stall in August to go alongside all the journals I have been making for it. I had a practice run for these and this is what I made:

I gelli printed the background and added the butterflies on top. I am going to do these in all colours and all different but going to try and keep them all quite simple.

In other news I have my last of four workshops this Saturday so looking forward to that and really enjoying working in my altered book but will post piccies of this when I have done a bit more. Once my workshops have finished my summer project is to get started on my portrait commissions!

Bye for now! x x