T Stands for the update!

 Hi everyone, long time, no see! I really don't know where the time has gone - it seems like only last week I turned the calendar over to March!

Speaking of calendars here is my calendar for the coming month.

It includes a Spike Milligan poem which my boys used to love and I am entering it for Erika and Valerie's 'Poetry' theme at Art Journal Journey

You may notice that some of my squares are missing - yes, we are off to France again! I will be taking the squares with me to fill in while we are away - as well as making a travel journal!

Here are last month's pages if you are interested. I have started new meds which at the moment are making very little difference - the dose doubles while we are away so hope there are no fireworks!!!We have both had quite a few things to deal with during April.

This morning on our way to shop we called in to Tatton Park for walk in the sunshine.

This amazing Wisteria wall is right by the garden entrance

It is so calm in this tropical house and I had it to my self after the lady who encouraged me to take a selfie, as she had just done, had left.

Outside was this display...and...

..... one of the many Shaun The Sheep figures that are all around the garden.

Hubby trying to keep out of the sun!

Another Shaun with a lovely scene on his side

A beautiful Viola display in front of the Mansion.

Another Shaun!

At this point I heard lots of bird song and decided to use a new App on my phone  - Merlin - that identifies and picks out different bird songs

The handkerchief tree is in full bloom - waving it's hankies in the gentle breeze

It's a real beauty

A quick long distance look at the Chinese garden

A last look at the Wisteria and it was time to shop.

Now, I am also here to share my drink, but as I forgot to take a photo of today's drink here is the Americano I had on Saturday at Petit Delice in Wilsmlow, which I am sharing with the folk who share their drinks too, over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's The Altered Book Lover blog for T Stands For Tuesday

Hubby had an Americano too, with a Pistachio Croissant while had a plain croissant with butter and a little jam.

As you can see I managed a little bit of Coffeeshop journaling too!

I may not be able to post next week but will try to join you at least once from France.

Thanks for looking, Chris

It's Poetry!

Hi everyone, I really enjoyed Valerie's 'Geometric Forms' theme and while I am thanking her for hosting last month I am also welcoming her to host again this month along with another co-administrator of Art Journal Journey - Erika.          

The new theme is 'Poetry' and they would love to see interpretations of poetry on your journal pages.

I am not so good at writing poetry but I do love to read poems.

I made the background with some Lavinia stencils and Paper Artsy stamps (designed by Scrapcosy).

I typed out the start of the poem and then printed it onto tissue.    The tissue was taped to a piece of copy paper before putting through the printer.

The rose image is from a book of flower paintings.

I added some paint around the image and added some white pen to some of the petals.

It probably won't surprise some of you to know that I have a book of Flower Poems

The poem I chose to represent my page is called 'The Love Of Flowers' by Thomas Lovell Beddoes.

I hope you can find some Poetry to inspire you make a page.

Please remember that we are a journaling blog so no cards please.

Thanks for looking, Chris

 

Fantasy for TIOT

Hello everyone, can you believe a whole two weeks has passed by? I think that pixies must have stolen a few days! Which leads me to telling you that our new theme at Try It On Tuesday is 'Fantasy' and we'd love to see what your imagination comes up with. The Design Team have some great inspiration if you take a look here!

Did you know that when fairies wash their wings they have to have the sparkle put back on them by the Glitter Fairy?
Here she is giving the washing line a good sprinkle - so good in fact that she got some on me!(grin)

I used a Lavinia stamps hexagon stencil and two colours of Lavinia acrylic chalk paint for the background.

The washing line is a Lavinia stamp and the Glitter fairy was from a freebie magazine set designed by Tracy.

The words came from my box of quote stamps.

Here are some close ups of the glitter - also from Lavinia.

As you can see I'm still trying to get decent close ups!

I do hope you will dream up something of your own for this new 'Fantasy' theme at TIOT 

I am also joining Valerie's 'Geometric Forms' theme for one last time at Art Journal Journey  

Thanks for looking, Chris 

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