A journal page..

 a birthday card and a sneaky peek!
I started these pages some time ago in my little moleskine but it's taken me until now to finish it. I thought it would be just right for Dawn's 'inclusion/tags' journal challenge. 

It started out by being a mop-up page for a flower stencil to which I added some watercolour paint, flowers dabbed through a small flower that I had used on a card,some ripped leftover paper and some hearts cut out of some more mop-up paper(anyone would think I don't own any paper he! he!)I made the tag by swiping with distress stains and dabbing more paint through the flower shape and then turning it over to make a further flower shape. I was going to stamp the words but then decided that Sakura pens might look nicer(not sure about that tho')
I sent this card to a good friend the other day, I hope she liked it even though it was made from scraps!!

The stamped image is part of a Crafty Individuals stamp, which I stamped onto some more mop up paper using Adirondak ginger ink. This was then mounted onto  scrap of fabric from a bundle I bought in a sale, little flower cut out and then built up with more cut out flowers and all mounted onto a script stamp from Kaisercraft. A leftover peel-off(I've given loads away)and a coloured insert and I was quite pleased with this one.
I'm still battling away with sorting 'stuff' but took time out this morning to prepare a background for my 365/11 journal (see Kate's blog here)so here's just a sneaky peek at what I've started.

 Right back to work, I can't take everything!!!
Enjoy the sunshine!! Thanks for looking, Chris

Waiting!

When I knew I was going to have to wait for the car to be fixed I got my paints and made a background I could doodle on. I used water colours and just splodged them on to a double spread in my smallest journal. I took a little bag of bits and pieces with me and I was able to relax while I waited and waited until they finally diagnosed the problem - Oh Dear! the steering column has to be totally replaced, I was told that we shouldn't really have been driving the car! Anyway I had to come home without my car and hopefully it will have fully recovered by later on today! When I came home I thought I may as well finish what I started!

 I had left two spaces for writing but then added a quote from a download from here from generous Darcy. Just as I thought 'done!' I found the little heart which I realised reflected one of my little doodles.I know it looks a bit busy but it certainly kept me calm and isn't that part of what journaling is all about?
Here's hoping the bill won't break the spell.....
Thanks for looking, Chris 

Glorious Mud!

I hope this makes you smile! Yesterday we set off with some family members to walk up Rivington Pike,near Bolton, weather was fine if a little windy! Halfway up and I was getting just a little weary and saw this which cheered me up - no fairies though!

I also seemed to get a "second wind" and we seemed to reach the top fairly quickly to see this view

A few clouds blowing over but you can see for miles!

We got the kite out and my grandchildren(and grown men)had great fun flying it..... and waiting for it to fall!!

We could see the signs coming........

as we started the walk down, but of course the ground was slippery and we couldn't rush too much so we got caught in a short but sharp shower. Someone decided that we should take a different route back - yours truly trooped along obediently until we came to very muddy path - which way to go? The bottom route was right above a steep slope so middle son and I(with me leading and being 'guided' by hubby who had already passed the problem)took the top route - very boggy and was just debating going back when whoooosh! gloop! slurp! my foot disappeared almost to my knee and I had to drag my leg out with much squelching and clawing at anything I could grab!!

Once out and with much laughter this is how my leg looked...

But as you can see I was still smiling!

My sons were laughing about what I would blog today so here it is lads!!

The next time I go up the pike will not be on a day following several rainy ones!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

Why do birthdays that all seem to come at once? This next 3 months sees a whole run of birthdays so I have been making cards like a mad woman! As none of them will have been received yet I'll keep them a secret for just a little while longer!
Of course while I had inks etc. out I have been making journal pages, I am finding journaling a relaxing thing to do and it gives me a push to get on with things. I kept coming back to this page - a few distress stains put on first then used up some of the inked baby wipe from the other day to dab through a stencil(Special Touch of Mica)

Over the days I have sprayed on Special touch of Mica (Rose) through the same mask, stamped, doodled, added scraps, cut hearts out of mop up paper and added a Crafty Individuals image.

I've added this image using my scanner, not altogether happy with this method but in a lazy mood today, my medication is making me feel queasy in the night and I couldn't sleep for ages.


I'm getting on quite well with the big sort out, took a load to the charity shop on Tuesday and some craft stuff to add to stash at craft club in Salford. We have both been looking through our cd collection and are making some cuts there too-small steps:) We should have at least till next Spring before we think of moving, just need to clear some stuff before we start to let people view this place with LESS in it LOL!!


I was looking at a video demonstration here yesterday by Chris Cozen and Julie Pritchard when my grandson arrived, he looked over my shoulder, then said "She's like you isn't she Gran?" - I wish!!! He was guessing what it would look like next pretty accurately too - I can see what we'll be doing in our next craft session!


I spent yesterday afternoon with my friend Tina at Abakhan in Manchester, picked ourselves a few bargains out including these at 17p each

At least I hope they're a bargain - I don't have anything in mind- I just loved the colours! 
We had great fun, mainly because Abakhan just is not wheelchair friendly at all and we had had to keep moving stands, boxes etc. with much giggling involved!!!(and yes I did put them back afterwards - well, most of them lol)


Off now to go and buy a birthday present, thanks for looking, Chris 

Journal starters

I had a job getting started yesterday with 'the task', so what to do but make some backgrounds and chill first! 

This one using a Big and Juicy Happy Birthday pad on my craft mat, sprayed with water then smooshed around, then sprayed cosmic shimmer paint and twinkling H2Os with a paint brush, a bit of stamping with Kaisercraft background stamps and I was beginning to feel more worklike! 

For this one I use the same process using the Hydrangea B&J pad,another Kaisercraft background stamp and Perfect pearls pearl mist.

I also ended up with this lovely piece of mop up paper:)

Looking forward to using these but had to get on and even though I hardly stopped there's still looooaaaads to do!! 

Craft today at Sale, looking forward to seeing everyone and we're sewing today, should be fun!!

Thanks for looking, Chris

So True!

Just a journal page to show you.

I certainly feel as though I'm dreaming at the moment! Things are happening so fast too!
The panel with the text on was from trying out some water colours and along with the bird was from Elusive Images. Background was made by 'smooshing' with distress stains then I used various background stamps from Kaisercraft and dabbed ink through the wing of a Tattered Angels bird mask. The flying birds are of course Tim's and the little flowers at the bottom are MollyBlooms.


Bit concerned at the minute as they are knocking down a building close by and I keep feeling the ground shake!!!


Thanks for looking, Chris

Always in a rush....

but I'm just having a break from you-know-what so thought I would show something from the Summer Holidays

We went to Kendal one rainy day to see the Quaker Tapestry - I'd heard about this some time ago but had never managed to go on a day when they were open. It was well worth the visit and I will go back again as there was too much to take in all at once!
After a delicious lunch in their cafe we went for a wander around the town and came across a Bookworks where I found this..

A little journal with lovely paper, some stickers and 3 Pitt pens, I do so love a bargain! When we got back to the caravan I got out my Inktense pencils and my idea-ology mask and a bronze Versamagic ink pad to make this.The image came from Printshop.I was so keen to try out the paper that my spelling went to pot, much to hubby's amusement!
Thanks for looking, my time is up!!
Chris

The light has come on!

While I've been waiting to hear whether we have got the flat we liked I have found journaling has really helped!

This was done by using black gesso over a page I'd started and didn't like much. I used worn lipstick,peeled paint and bundled sage distress inks over that, then stencilled and stamped using Aurora and Peacock Brilliance inks. The silhouette was made by using a photo of one of the figures from Anthony Gormley's 'Another Place' at Formby and drawing around it(but giving it a skirt!)The paper was some from other craft projects.I would love one of Dina Wakley's stamps but this will have to do for now.
The other pages are also part of how I've been feeling!

 More stencilling over a 'smooshed' page which turned out much lighter than I'd planned - got to get the hang of using 'Picket Fence' stain!The gorgeous bird is from an old Elusive Images set. I've also added some rub offs that seem to have been around forever. Since attending Kate's workshop at AFTH where we used rub ons I've dug them out. I've got more somewhere - no doubt "the big  clearout" will unearth them!!


Anyway, since doing these pages we've heard that our offer has been accepted so I'm not waiting and no longer in the dark!
I am slightly panicking though, we've now got to get this place sorted...shouldn't really be here should I!! Soooooo, back to it, I could be gone for some time hehe! 
Thanks for looking, Chris 

August, September

Ok, so I'm a little eensy bit late, but I have a cracking excuse...
Here are my August pages for the 365/2011 calendar. If you don't know this is part of a calendar challenge run by the fantastic Kate Crane and you can find out more here.

Sad to say but Summer ends this month, so my pages are a goodbye to Summer with Rainbow colours using my fabulous new Dylusions paints.
I sprayed with perfect pearls mist and flicked some watered down broken china distress ink over the top of my yellow journal squares. The sun is an old favourite of mine from Rubber Stampede and the silhouette flowers are Hobby Art.

Oh, my excuse, I think we have found a flat and we've been just a little bit busy(and will be for some time methinks....an awful lot of downsizing to do!!)
Thanks for looking, Chris.

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