Circles and new stamps!

Hi everyone, I can hardly believe it  - the sun is shining again! We're quite busy but getting through things much quicker now! Yesterday was a day off though - we went to Lyme Park (amongst others things) for hubby's birthday and although chilly in the shade had a lovely walk.

As I mentioned in my previous post we went to the Stamping Together show at Port Sunlight on Saturday. 

Kate Crane was there demoing her new stamps for Paper Artsy(you may remember she used to design for Carabelle Studio who stopped trading last Autumn)

Her new stamps are wonderful and of course I bought some!

I also bought some new paints - Paper Artsy Mattints - they're so lovely to use.

The only mistake I made was not buying all of the colours! They do mix well though!

I tried them put by painting lines in different colours over my page in both directions which is how I found out about the colours blending. Next, for some contrast I used a trusty old stencil, covered it in Black Oxide ink, spritzed and pressed it onto my page.

The stamps were all stamped onto art paper, coloured with the Mattints and cut out along with an Alison Bomber quote.

I added some pink spatter to the girl tag and black over the page.

Here are the stamps I bought 

Here's Kate with her brand new PaperArtsy release - she had been allowed to show them pre-release. 

Now they are released I am happy to link this to Valerie's Art Journal Journey theme 'Geometric Forms'

I will also enter at.. 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Up In The Air

Thanks for looking, Chris

Shaping up...or not!

Hi everyone, it's all happening here! We have had workmen just outside creating a lot of dust by using a grinder, the mess they created is still to be cleaned up and the rain on the dust turned everything to a white mud. Fortunately the sun has been shining for the last two days, although the temperature hasn't risen so much.

I have had yet more changes to my medication following seeing the nurse - my sugar levels weren't dropping and test results showed a hormone problem which means I am now having weekly injections. As I only had my first one on Friday it is not showing much change in my levels as yet.

However I did get to visit the craft show at Port Sunlight. I got a few sneaky peeks at some new realeases coming up too. Yes, I did have a little spend too. Earlier in the week we had a little bit of sun that allowed us to visit Tatton Gardens before the afternoon deluge hit, huge hailstones too!

I made this page over several days for Valerie's 'Geometric Forms' theme at Art Journal Journey.

  I covered the page with squares and rectangles using scraps of paper.

Next came a coat of white paint and some squared washi tape. I used a stamp I have had for a long time, bought in France, it had some shapes on that too. I added some triangles with a stencil and some text with a stamp.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Inspired By A Song

Hi everyone, we're all singing away at Try It On Tuesday this time - our new topic is  'Inspired By A Song' I'm sure at least one of will give you your 'earworm' for the day! Please take a look at the songs that inspired the Design Team.

Many years ago I went on my first date with my hubby, we went to see the Lion King at the cinema and since then I have seen two different stage productions. One of the most beautiful scenes is where all the animals appear to the song 'The Circle Of Life'

I stamped the Pink Ink lion and drew round a lid to get the circle. The background was made with Neocolourll watercolour pencils and a random shaped stamp using VersafineClair ink. I also used the Neocolours to colour everything else. The birds, animals and trees are all stamps by Crafty Individuals.

I wrote the song title and stamped and outlined the word LION, also in the Pink Ink set.

I am looking forward to seeing which song you choose, and maybe give me my ear worm for the day!

The Try It On Tuesday challenge runs, as usual, for two weeks. For rules please check here.

I am also joining Valerie at Art Journal Journey with her 'Geometric Forms' theme.

Thanks for looking, Chris 

Just Doodling.....

Hi everyone, that's all I've been doing some days. Just when I think all is sorted I have a blip. I am now wearing a sensor again and due to see the nurse tomorrow. The sensor doesn't seem to work well at night and I had one very disturbed night when it sounded an alert four times. Since then I have checked levels with my manual tester and found that there is no need for alarm so I switched it off the following two nights and will tonight too!

Doodling, doing some cutting out and making some mini pages has kept me going art wise. 

This is my favourite doodle page so I'll show you it first.

The words in one of the large circles says 'Going around in circles' I used various mediums to colour the circles - ink, water colour paint and watercolour pencils. I used different pens to doodle with too.

Valerie's Art Journal Journey theme is 'Geometric Forms' and I am joining in today with lots of circles.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Calendar pages squared up!

 Hi everyone, I am a bit late with this but here it is. I've used large and small Aall and Create stencils with lots of squares!

I have use Aall and Create stamp sets, one from Tracy Evans and the other from Bipasha. 

I chose the sunflowers because of the lack of sun in these parts and today, although we have had sunshine we have had heavy showers and howling wind at times too - definitely April Shower time!

Here is last month's calendar if you woud like to see it.

I am joining in with Valerie's Art Journal Journal theme 'Geometric Forms'.  

Thanks for looking, Chris

Rainbow Colours!

 Hi everyone, it's  time for a new topic at Try It On Tuesday. We are looking for 'Rainbow Colours' in your entries this time.

Please take look at the TIOT blog and see the fabulous rainbow colours the Design team have used.

I used a stamp with circles and text on it that I inked with Distress Ink then spritzed before stamping.

The figures are Jane Davenport washi tapes to which I added some Funky Fossil rub ons. The words are from a very old book of Velum quotes.

I hope you can join us this time at TIOT. We would love to see more rainbows!

Thanks for looking, Chris 

I am also adding this to Valerie's 'Geometric Shapes' theme at Art Journal Journal

Not Geometry!!!!

 Hi everyone, actually no, not really - but 'Geometric Shapes' are what our new host Valerie of Bastelmanaia would like to see on your pages at Art Journal Journey this month. 

Before I show you my page I would like to thank all of you who entered my March challenge and left me so many lovely comments.

Now Valerie would have been happy with just one 'Geometric Shape' but she is happy to see as many as you wish to add....which is just as well because I have added lots of my chosen shape - the hexagon

First of all I sprinkled some Leafgreen Brusho through an Aall and Create stencil taking care not to hit the four larger ones and then spritzed with water. When the page was dry I used a water colour pencil to draw in the larger hexagons and a water brush to drag the watercolour across. I then used a Bipasha hexagon stamp (Aall and Create) randomly over the page.

The fruit images are PET tape by Freckles Tea - one of my favourites. Finally I added some Dylusion words and outlined them with bronze gel pen and used a water brush and pencils to frame the page

I hope you can join us at AJJ this month. Please remember we do not accept Cards, Tags or ATCs as entries - unless of course, they are part of your page (the rules are here if you want to check)

Thanks for looking, Chris

Finally......

Hi everyone  I have a little 'zine' to show you. It is my final collage for my 'On All Fours' theme at Art Journal Journey.

I used magazine pages and stencilling for the background for these lovely silhouette stamps from Lavinia Stamps.

Here you can see a photocopied version of the little journal and below are pages of the original - of course the photocopied version folds much easier.

The words are all from Lavinia sets.

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments and all of your fabulous entries this month.

Thanks for looking, Chris

In the forest

 Hi everyone, has Spring arrived in your area yet? It's still quite cool here but the leaves are slowly turning green and we are having a little more sunshine. We actually managed a walk in the woods at Fletcher Moss today even though the paths are very muddy in places! We managed to get most of the way round before a heavy shower -luckily we were in the garden by then and could shelter under a thick bush!

I found an old metal stencil a while ago and have used it here to create a woodland scene. There's a little bit of greenery but deep in the woods the leaves are slow to grow. 

I used blue Distress Oxide ink through the stencil then added the woodland creatures torn from a napkin.

This was one of the first pages I made for my 'On All Fours' theme at Art Journal Journey but had forgotten which journal it was in.

Hear a few photos from this morning. No animals but lots of birds!

I'll be back with one more post before the end of the month -I've been making little collaged 'zines' again

Thanks for looking, Chris

T Stands For The Big Catch Up

Hi everyone, at last I feel as though I can join in again at T Stands For Tuesday, hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth at The Altered Book Lover, although I am making no promises, I will try my best to visit everyone. There was so much going on that I didn't seem to find time to leave comments even if I had a look at your post - I have problems with using the computer (my preferred place) to leave comments and using my old tablet was making me stress - I was reducing insulin doses (now off insulin again, wearing new vari focal specs and had a few legal issues to deal with - my glucose levels are adjusting slowly to going back to my original meds which are now available again but still a way to go yet - the nurse has threatened insulin again if they don't go down!

Sooo, how have you been? I'll be along during the week to see!

We had a lot of rain here so outdoor visits were few and far between!

However, we did get away for a couple of days last week as we had a voucher that had to be used before the end of March.

We went to the city of Durham, we visited years ago but couldn't remember much about it.

On our first afternoon we had a guided tour of the castle which is now used as student accommodation  

Our first real view of the Cathedral and castle. Of course I had also forgotten just how many hills we we have to walk up and down but it really is a beautiful city.

This is one of the best preserved Norman doors in the UK as it became an inside door when the cloisters were built.

These cloisters were in two Harry Potter films

Lucky students get to eat here!

Here is the cathedral - I'll show you more next week!

We had a few coffees while we were away! Hubby had a Cappuccino and I had an Americano with cold milk. We shared a very large fruit scone!

I had time to add to my little journal that fits inside this tin.

Time for a rest now and a favourite TV programme 'Interior Design Masters'

Thanks for looking, Chris

Standing Out In the Crowd!

 Hi everyone I have been having difficulty with getting my photos onto the computer since I came home from a trip to Durham.

We have now bought a new connection wire that has helped!

My page for Art Journal Journey and my 'On All Fours' theme uses part of an old tag.

The background is made from lots of scraps from my little box of scraps, which I doodled on once they were stuck onto my page.

I have often wondered whether I should colour my hair, but I don't think I would go as far as this little guy with his fabulous multi coloured hair do!

The page title came from a Radio Times cover.

It's been a funny old week but hopefully back to some normality now!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Stencilling at TIOT

 Hi everyone, it's time for a new topic at Try It On Tuesday and as you can see from the hint in my post title we would like you to 'Use A Stencil', well at least one!

The Design Team have some lovely examples of how to add a stencil - please look here.

I had some excess paint on the page and also a little bit of stencilling using a new stencil bought last week from Lavinia Stamps(hubby kindly took my friends and me to the Extravaganza)

I added some black paint though another stencil bought there as well.

The baby elephant is one of my favourite designs by Tracey Easson. I stamped him onto white paper and then onto the page so that when I cut him out the sketched edges showed.

I don't know where the text stamp is from  - it has been in my box for a while! I stamped it on to card, decorated the edges then mounted it on more white card. I also doodled around the edge of the page too.

I hope that you can join us at TIOT this time with your stencilled art. It doesn't have to be a card or a journal page, as long as you have used a stencil on it will be welcomed. 

I am also adding this to my 'On All Fours' theme at Art Journal Journey.

Thanks for looking, Chris 

Adjustments - snarky style

 Hi everyone, I'm still adjusting to new medication but I am now wearing a blood glucose sensor so I can at least see that I am adjusting to the change slowly.

I made a quick page using a mop up page to which I added some stencilling and stamping 

The cat is a cute Katzelcraft stamp and I added some white paint. The words are of course Tim Holtz Snarky words. 

It just about sums up how some days have been - I slept most of one day, not feeling unwell just very tired. Yesterday and today have been slightly better and I am last getting around to picking up on posting and commenting.

Bad timing as I am hosting at Art Journal Journey this month with my theme of 'On All Fours' - this cat seemed to fit quite well!

I will be visiting soon and have more pages ready too!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Going wild

 Hello everyone, I can't believe how quickly this month is going, but at least we are getting lighter nights now. I'm having yet more changes to my medication and seem to feel tired far more quickly at the moment (4 days in) and of course wouldn't this just be one of the busiest weeks I have had for a while! I'm hoping for a quiet weekend.

I have used a Funky Fossil horse for my page today. Ive been listening to some old CDs one of which had Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones on it....I'm so easily influenced!

I had intended to mask this horse but forgot and started the background before I remembered. The background is blended NeocolourIIs I wanted muted colours to create a stormy look. The horse was stamped onto white paper and I liked him white so changed my mind about colouring him! I stamped the image onto the page and added the white horse and also added some parts of the main stamp around the page. The words are part of the same set.

I am loving all of the pages you are sharing at Art Journal Journey, thank you for the support too.

Of course this page is for my 'On All Fours' theme!

Thanks for looking, Chris 

Up A Mountain

Hi everyone, no I am definitely up a mountain - not my kind of fun!

I have another page for my 'On All Fours' theme at Art Journal Journey and this goat loves mountain climbing!

He's a stamp designed by Bipasha for Aall and Create and I stamped him in one of my small square journals with cream pages. I wanted a rocky background for him so used some Paper Artsy Fresco paints which I dabbed onto the page with a cheap triangular make up sponge. I drew in some cracks with black and white gel pens.

He is a bit of an old goat so the Tim Holtz snarky quote fits perfectly. I'm sure he's still good climber though. We once watched goats on a mountain in Italy - they were so sure footed but it still made for some heartstopping moments.

Thanks for looking, Chris

In the cold!

 Hi everyone, I hope you are enjoying some sunshine - we have had three days of sun, although it did cloud over on the first day!

I have got lots done this week so far!

I have another journal page to share for my 'On All Fours' them at Art Journal Journey.

I made this on a mop up page (you can see the Lavinia stencil print I made mainly on the top right and bottom left)

I added some random stamps across the middle of the page and added some  'Northern Lights' using Neocolour IIs. The Arctic Wolf and the image of the Arctic circle are from Stamperia. The wonky writing at the bottom is mine.

I made this page the day after watching Dr Zhivago (I have lost count of the times I have watched it) so the sound of the wolf was in my head while making it.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Spring at TIOT

Hi everyone, we are celebrating the arrival of 'Spring' at Try It On Tuesday.  

Meteorological Spring started on March 1st although I think of Spring as starting on 21st March - which used to be my Mum's birthday.

The Design Team are definitely celebrating with their fabulous inspiration - please see here.

I love all Spring flowers and I especially love to see them in groups of the same variety.

I made a journal page.

I stamped some images directly on the page - part of a Crafty Individuals stamp, a little House Mouse stamp and the birds are from Aall and Create's Janet Klein but there is a lot of paper piecing going on too!  

I used part of a quote from Alison Bomber's Spring quotes set.

I hope you will join us at Try It On Tuesday this time - I for one will look forward to seeing more 'Spring' flowers!

We have a small Village Green close by that we pass several times a week. Last week on a walk I stopped to take photos.

As you can see there are a few daffodils too.

When we visited Dunham Massey the other week there were lots of snowdrops.

The Daffodils weren't quite out so here are last years

It will be a while until we see Tulips so these were last years too

Just in case you are here for Tea Stands For Tuesday at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's Altered Book Lover blog here are some Flat White coffees that hubby and I had while out shopping last week. We were waiting for toasted teacakes so I had time to make a little journal page. 

I am also adding my TIOT page to Art Journal Journey for my 'On All Fours' theme.

Thanks for looking, Chris