Calendar Journal In The Sky

 Hi everyone, I'm going to join Wendy with her 'Above Us Only Sky' theme at Art Journal Journey. 

I'm ready for filling my Calendar journal but before I start here it is.

I used a sponge to add two shades of blue distress ink to the top of my page then used an Aall and Create cloud stencil with some white Fresco paint. I used green distress at the bottom of the page with another Aall and Create stencil and used the same stencil to add some birds to my sky with a Lavinia geese stamp at the bottom. There's also a rather feeble attempt at adding a murmuration with black Pitt Pen.

Here is last months if you want to see what I've been up to.

That's all for today, it's been very grey here all day - time for a film on TV I think.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Above Us Only Sky

Hi everyone, it's December and our new host at Art Journal Journey is Wendy of 'Wendy's Art And Craft Journal' blog.

Wendy came up with a wonderful theme for Winter - 'Above Us Only Sky' - we do get such varying skies during Winter but that doesn't mean you have to be thinking about Winter, think of all those glorious sunny days we had this year (OK, we had a lot of rainy, grey ones too with their own beauty)

I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights, maybe I still will one day, who knows?

My page started with sprinkles and spritzes using Brushos.

I added my favourite Christmas tree stamp - an old Artemio one.

I finished it off with a Tim Holtz word and some Nuvo Glitter Drops along the bottom.

We would love to see you at AJJ during this busy month, I'm looking forward to seeing your skies in all their stages.

There are some rules to be followed at AJJ but they are quite simple - please take a look here!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Learning To Fly!

 Hi everyone, I am popping in to show you my last page for Jo's 'Nature' theme at Art Journal Journey and also to say a big Thank You to Jo for hosting this month - I had so many more ideas in my head, I just ran out of time!

I found some images of little owls, many of them juveniles. I made a background of torn paper which I covered with gesso then used brown distress inks through a Lavinia stencil which I then spritzed for a reverse stencilled effect.

The rest is simply fussy cut owls and some words from a sheet of quotes.

Tomorrow is the start of a new month so keep an eye out for the next Art Journal Journey theme and host!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Threatened....by a squirrel!

 Hi everyone, I had already started this page when we decided to take a walk in a local park - Marie Louise Gardens as we were passing.       We hadn't been there since 2020 - it is a short walk away from our apartment and is well known for squirrels coming up and taking food from offered hands.

Hubby had walked on a little as I saw this squirrel coming towards me -  My first thought was 'Aah! Cute' but as it came closer and closer I became convinced that it was going to jump on to me to see what I had in my hand so I took the cowards away out and stamped my feet at it!

Sorry, rambling again...my page for Jo's fabulous 'Nature' theme at Art Journal Journey......

I stamped an Aall and Create leaf stamp in different Autumn colours on the page then used Stamperia paper and images along with a freebie quote.

Here are more photos of the park.

The Gardens are named for a local lady and were made especially in her memory - you can read the tragic story HERE

For such a small park there was so much lovely Autumn colour!

I'm sure you know what we did next!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Traditional Christmas at TIOT

 Hi everyone, was that really a fortnight that passed by? Here we are with less than a month to Christmas Day! 

Our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Traditional Christmas' which can be interpreted in many ways I'm sure.

I was thinking of things that make up Christmas for me and my family - Christmas trees, presents, stars or fairies on top of trees, wreaths on doors, fairy lights, Christmas dinner(for us, always Turkey) and of course a nativity scene.

You will see some of these featured on our Design Team's blogs so please take a look here.

I have already seen Christmas wreaths on a couple of doors (they may have their trees up inside too!)It's a little early for me but I have made a card with a wreath on it.

The stamp has been removed from it's packaging so I can't tell where it is from.

I coloured it with Stabilo Fineliners.

Now, me being me I just had to try it with a little bit of spatter...

 ...hmm...not sure!

I hope you will us show what 'Traditional Christmas' means to you at Try It On Tuesday this time.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Berry Thief!

Hi everyone! We have a lot of trees and bushes around our communal gardens here at our retirement complex! It's fun to watch the Pigeons, Magpies and Blackbirds vying for berries on a particular tree right outside our window. When our complimentary magazine from the RHS arrived the cover and the envelope it came in featured this Waxwing, I was reminded of a day we watched Waxwings while up in Cumbria. 

For my Journal page for Jo's Art Journal Journey theme 'Nature' I used the image from the envelope as it was less shiny than the magazine cover.

That doesn't mean that this is not a shiny page though.

I used a Tim Holtz Metallic spray some direct onto the page with some turquoise mica powder and some at different angles through a Lavinia stencil.

I outlined the image with a Glitter pen bought at the Works. I also added some red (which show here as pink)dots using a Sakura Gelliroll metallic pen.

Here is a very fat pigeon helping himself to some Rowan berries!

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands For.....the underground experience!

Hi everyone, I'm taking you to a magical place today. It is somewhere tried to visit last year but when we went it was closed and we didn't get back there until this year!

It is the Grotte de Tourtoirac and isn't far away from our son's manoir!

The most interesting thing is that these caves were only discovered in 1995 and only opened to the public in 2010

I wasn't sure what to expect but was absolutely blown away by the beautiful sights.

No words - just enjoy!

There is glass over this ladder in the visitor centre - there are lifts down to the caves now!!!!

Afterwards we went off to nearby Chervais Cubas and had lunch at Franca (another favourite of ours!)

Hubby was delighted to get a Cafe Gourmand - coffee with a few samples of desserts

So, for T Stands For Tuesday over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog The Altered Book Lover, although we had water, tonic water and Coke during our meal I will let you focus on hubby's coffee and mini desserts!

Thanks for looking, Chris