What a Day!

I was lucky enough to attend Kate Cranes workshop at Art from the Heart in Harrogate on Saturday. Up early(no problem - I was sooooo excited) and off to pick Sarah up. I was surprised that the journey didn't take as long as I thought it would, so time for a quick look round first - if you've been yourself you will know that there is so much to take in!

Then the workshop, it was great to find that there were so many people that I knew, Gez and Sheila who got me into this blogging malarkey, Elaine and her mum Kath, Pat who I met last year in Manchester. It was also nice to meet others from blogland and put a face to the name so to speak, namely Flutterbycrafter and gotpaintinmyhair. 

Kate is a fabulous teacher and after gessoing some pages I got to use the Dylusions paint, I wish I had bought this before now it is f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!!! 

We added texture by using more gesso and stencils,and Kate had prepared a little bag which contained(among other things) the Stampotique image and some acetate with the bee on it which we then cut the wings off to go behind the image.The text stamp is one of Dyans. I just had to use a quote from 'Miranda' to go with this as I was really having a ball!!
The second page was started by Kate giving us all a rub-on to inspire us, mine was a world and led me to this.

We also had the excitement of Sheila's birthday with choccies and cake!!

Sheila getting ready to blow out her candles

The day ended far too quickly, but not before I had a little wander around the shop to select some goodies before the long drive home(thanks Sarah he!he!)
Thanks to Kate and everyone else for a fantastic day and BAGS of inspiration!
Chris

Three sided coin anyone?

I've got a dilemma, I'm going to a Kate Crane(yes,the Kate Crane!)workshop with my friend Sarah and I'm supposed to take a small journal.The thing is I don't know what to do....should I take one I've started already...or should I take said 'one I've started already' and turn it upside down and start from the back....or do I take a new one(I do have one that I bought as part of a special offer)? I'm also so excited that I'm not thinking straight at all and with de-cluttering, thinking we may have found our new home and having our decking re-vamped - it's now a lovely shade of green thanks to hubby and eldest son, I suppose come Saturday morning I'll grab both and decide when I get there!


It was our anniversary on Tuesday and my son who was staying with us went off with my grandson for the night to go camping(in his words "to leave us lovebirds on our own"!!)It was nice to go out and not feel guilty about leaving them with baked beans on toast he!he!We found a lovely pub, 'The Lunesdale Arms' in Tunstall near Kirby Lonsdale and had a fabulous meal in peaceful surroundings! 


I didn't have much time for crafting other than make fish and sharks with my grandson - lots of shiny stickles involved(a very aptly named product where my grandson is concerned!!!)

I did however complete a journal page that I'd already started.One night I went out onto the decking and looked up and through the stars could actually see the Milky Way - I know....small pleasures, but it inspired me to make this page.
The background was a very bright pink but by the time I'd added Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans distress stains and let them move around before spritzing then mopping up, then dabbing Corduroy Distress ink around a star, sprayed everything lightly with Silver Perfect Pearl spray and stamped with some spotty Kaisercraft background stamps I was happy enough to add a Crafty Individuals image and add some words and a bit of doodling!


So, tomorrow we are off for a couple more viewings to confirm (or not) whether we are actually going to make a decision!!


Thanks for looking and Thank you too for your comments, they are much appreciated, Chris     

Downsizing!

Along with all the de-cluttering I've made a page in my little moleskine - I don't use it often preferring A5 size but yesterday used a background that I didn't like much to do this....

....because we think we may have found somewhere we like, need to go into one or two things but we shall see!!!
OK off for a little break with my youngest grandson and his Dad - deep breath and go....
Thanks for looking, Chris

More journal pages

Hi Folks,we are in the middle of a massive de-clutter so I was pleased that I had some backgrounds done and I was able to sit and play with ease.

This one was just because I found this picture in a magazine along with the lovely(banned)cup cake! Just added some words and a NoNo arrow from a Dyan downloadable sheet!

I also started this on my new squared paper journal - don't know where I am going with this!!
Okay on with the GRAND CLEARANCE!! We really are such hoarders- we've got five big bags of shredded paper and we've already filled the big recycled paper wheelie bin so will have to go to the tip with those and the three big bags of papers and magazines that won't go in!!!!
Still we are feeling more positive about this now and we are going to view somewhere tomorrow!
Back soon, Chris 

Just journaling

Since I last posted we've been away and I did little more than play with my art journals. This was mainly because I had a viral infection that gave me conjunctivitus, sore throat and an excruciating earache and didn't feel like doing anything(in fact I didn't for days) Luckily I had my lovely view to keep me sane which I could see from my sofa! 

Before I began to fully recover I did this...

Barbed wire doodling - can you tell how I felt?!! he!he!

Fortunately following a visit to the local docs I began to feel much better once the anti-biotics began to work and finished off something I'd started in a new journal(from Asda -with lovely squared pages)

Now we are home we are trying to sort out things to get rid of - we plan to sell our house next year and we both know that as hoarders we need to clear the decks AAAAAaaaaggghhhh!!!! 

Back soon with more pages, thanks for looking, Chris 

A journal page

The other day I looked at a background I had made and I could see an outline where a face could go. As I continued it seemed to me to remind me of someone. I used to love Amy Winehouse's voice and the way her life went was so tragic. 

I don't know whether you can see where it came from but I hope you think it a fitting tribute to a talented woman.

Thanks for looking , Chris

Oops!...

...I'm just a little late this month(we've been away again)with my pages for the 365/11 journal challenge, organised by the talented Kate Crane (if you want to know more about the challenge click here)
Here are my July pages completed..... 

and here are my August pages ready. I've 'sent' Mort and the twins(you didn't know Marci had a twin?LOL. I think she may be called Darcie!!)to the seaside. Sorry about the reflections but weather here is awful for photos.

I used Crafty Individuals stamps along with a (very old) freebie from Craft Stamper for the shells etc.coloured with Cosmic Shimmers and Perfect Pearls, and of course the brilliant Stampotique characters Mort had a pincurl and Marci. The beach huts are the product of a woman with too much time on her hands(lol) cut individually and coloured using NeocolorsII.


Looking forward to a few seaside days myself this month - weather permitting! Have fun yourselves! Chris.