a journal page

I love it when I have a nearly finished journal (which doesn't happen often!) as it gives me the oomph I sometimes need to get journaling!  This is my passport sized moleskine journal.

I couldn't find my gelli plate but did find a cellophane packet so inked it up, sprayed it with water and printed it onto my gessoed page.

Some added depth of colour using a sponge .... and that's where I forgot I was taking step by step photos!  Oops!

There's a bit of text stamped in the background for added texture, then I stamped 'Daniel's hearts' in black directly onto the page.  They didn't stamp well in the centre so I stamped them again on another inked up piece of paper, cut them out and added them to the page.

A little quasimoto and a quote and my page was done.

Stampotique stamps used:

Daniel's hearts  #6109  Daniel Torrente

Quasimoto #3  #6015  Daniel Torrente and Jill Penney

Antique Description  #7228  Amy Wilson Wellenstein

Whole Heart  #12011  Linda Peterson

just being u isn't always easy

It's not always easy to be yourself.  We worry about what people will think of us so choose what to portray and what not to....

... I got quite philosophical whilst making this simple scrapling for Stampotique this week!!!  Such a simple sentiment on the surface but it really got me thinking.

This week I've left the instructions over on the Stampotique Designer's blog, alongside my fellow designers, three of whom also used this stamp!

Stamps used:

Daniel's Hearts by Daniel Torrente

Just be U by Roc Nicholas

Happy Valentine's Day

 Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you have a lovely one.

 

I'm in a sewing mood at the minute ...

... so I gathered a collection of fabrics, stamped on a couple of them then settled down at my sewing machine.

Stamps Used:

Daniel's Hearts by Daniel Torrente

Metal Love by Amy Wilson Wellenstein

my Stampotique February calendar pages

I am so pleased with myself...I've got beyond January with this year's calendar pages!  This is a first :)

I've missed a couple of days, but keeping my 'journal' by my bed means I usually remember to write something.

I'm particularly happy with the little pages I added which gave me space to list the books I read in January.  I still need to add a couple but it's pretty much up to date.

The stamped lines are from a homemade stamp - I carved it from a big eraser purchased in Asda/Walmart.

And look!

I've completed almost a week in February too :)

To be honest, having a weekly commitment to the Stampotique Designers' Blog helped motivate me to get my February pages made.

I added some sprayed paper to my journal.  This was torn at one end so I stamped Journey Collage with Archival Monarch Orange over the white space.

I decided to colour Peggy's face and hands, rather than paper-piece them.  Whilst colouring I discovered that she had a heart on her jumper ... I'd never noticed that before!

I was a bit worried that the white hearts stood out too much, but once they have writing on they 'tone down' a touch ...

... and I think I like it :)

Stamps used:

Peggy by Jill Penney and Daniel Torrente

Daniel's Hearts by Daniel Torrente

Row of Numbers by Amy Wilson Wellenstein

Journey Collage by Amy Wilson Wellenstein

Alphabitties by Jill Penney and Daniel Torrente

And if you'd like to join in with the calendar challenge, or just drool over some gorgeous pages, head over to Kate's blog here

Inspired by ...

.. a new journal, and a challenge!

I've been struggling a bit with my journal recently.  Mainly because working in a larger format I'm trying to create my own main images for the pages as I have few stamps big enough, and I also want to stretch myself and practise my drawing skills.  Sometimes, though, it's good to get back in your comfort zone.

So I decided to respond to Stampotique's 2014 design team call (my stamps are organised by theme EXCEPT for my Stampotique ones, I keep them altogether as I love them so much and they co-ordinate with each other so well) and got out one of my favourite stamps - Mushroom Group

Earlier this week I sewed some bunting for school and enjoyed it so much I decided I wanted to do something 'textiley' with my Stampotique stamps.  After stamping on some white felt, just with a black versamark as it's just a guide, I used a needle felting tool to add some wool before outlining the mushrooms on the sewing machine

I trimmed them, added some stamping and some distress ink to a tag then sewed on the mushrooms.

I googled 'mushroom quotes' and discovered this one,

"I am a mushroom on whom the dew of heaven drops now and then"

John Ford

so put my tag in the typewriter and added it.

Then I used some diamond glaze to add drops of 'dew' to the tag, to the top of the largest mushroom and to adhere the tiny beads.

Not ready to stop I reached for a small journal and found one I bought a long while ago that looks like a paperback book (possibly purchased from Waterstones)

Inside I used more distress ink and added some stamping and stenciling...

I LoVe this size of this journal, and it contains great paper so I'll definitely be using it some more :)

Oh happy days :)

Stampotique's design call finishes tomorrow so there's still time to apply.  I thought I'd apply as Stampotique images are my 'go to' stamps and I love how I can use them for collage, in textile work, on my journal pages, on tags...  They make me happy!!!  Stampotique ask you to describe your style - hmm, not sure what mine is - 'eclectic' springs to mind!!  I love the challenge of being on a design team - it keeps you producing work on a regular basis, encourages you to visit many blogs (as you leave comments re challenges), and brings new friends .... so fingers crossed!!  It's been a while now since I was on the Play Date Cafe design team.  I've been a guest artist for the Artistic Stamper and been published in Art Journaling, Somerset Studio and Stampers Sampler.