Journaling in my Passport -sized Traveler's Notebook

I treated myself to a passport sized Traveler's Notebook on Black Friday, and saved it for Christmas.

Inside I have a kraft notebook, a lined notebook and a week-at-a-view diary.

I'm using the kraft notebook as a 'glue book' (love that term).  I was reminiscing with my brother-in-law on Christmas day about the wrapping paper our presents were wrapped in as children, and wishing I could see some now.  (Our stocking pressies, left by Father Christmas, were always wrapped in different paper to family presents, and it was ultra thin and scrunchy).  

This led me to collaging some bits of paper from this Christmas.  I LoVe cutting and sticking!

In my diary I am writing out a bible verse a day and there's more on this post if you're interested.  I've really enjoyed filling in spaces with scraps of paper and washi tape..

... and creating more art journal like pieces in larger gaps (such as the last week of December's page)

There was another double spread prior to this so I added some previously painted and sprayed paper and doodled, collaged and stamped over the top.

It's so good working small, it makes it achievable.

Art Journal Everyday

day six

I am still surprised that I successfully completed the #100dayproject over on Instagram and decided that this year I'd try art journaling everyday.

day seven

I'm working in a Daler Rowney sketchbook 5 x 5.75.  I don't always like what I produce ..

day eight

.. but that's ok as sometimes I really love it!  I do, however, feel very chilled even if I only spend 5 - 10 mins on a page.

day nine

Some days I have more time than others

day ten

... and that's ok too.  And it's a great place to use up scraps, or try out a new stamp.

day eleven

I didn't wait until January 1st to start either, I just got started right away.  You can see a step by step to my first page here

day twelve

..and I post daily as @sarahthemoodler over on Instagram.  

Thanks for taking the time to peruse my art journal!

Craft Stamper 3d Challenge: Altoid Tin

I finally got my hands on a copy of Craft Stamper yesterday and the day before, my project had been returned to me in the post so I thought I'd share some more detailed photos of the project.

We were sent an altoid tin (complete with mints!) to alter and I had it a while before I could decide what to do with it.  Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy, wanting to do something a bit different and not what you'd expect. 

The Happy Stampers show at Port Sunlight was coming up so I decided to look out for inspiration there; stamps or embellishments etc.  I adore old typewriters so when I came across the 'chunky vintage typewriter tag' by Crafty Individuals, which was surrounded by telephone and postcard theme stamps on the stand, I decided on my theme.

I didn't have the tin with me but was pretty sure the image would fit.  When it didn't, it gave me the opportunity to layer postage stamps, bits of envelope and other ephemera underneath a 'fussy cut' image of the typewriter (and the telephone inside the tin).

Inside the tin I added more collage, this time from the 'Chunky Vintage Telephone Tag'.  I stamped the pretty edge of the stamp with distress ink and tore it off to use in the collage - I just love bits and pieces like that.

The tin was hammered, painted with layers of paint, and sanded with a sanding tool to get the distressed look.  I loved the idea of a battered old tin storing typewriter ribbons (although I think they're round!).  I love tiny collage so much I even added some to the back of the tin.

The tin stores a tiny collection of tags and cards of encouragement that can be slipped in some happy mail or tucked in a friend's bag for encouragement.  Most of these use 'Paisley Script Background' and distress inks.  Crafty Individuals have a great range of postcard stamps too and they look amazing just stamped with black ink on white card!

apothecary, a step by step journal page

I've been playing with some of my Christmas present goodies so thought I'd share a step by step to this journal page.

I've ummed and ahhed over these Prima watercolours for a while as I have watercolours already but decided to put them on my wishlist and my kind bro-in-law bought them for me for Christmas. [If you've not already discovered it, it's worth knowing that That's Crafty has a wishlist facility.  I just add things I'd like and relatives hop on and choose things for me for Christmas and birthdays!!]

I added the watercolours to my new star stamp by Carabelle Studio and stamped on the page, then added some puddles of colour.

My next step was some collaged papers as I wasn't sure where this page was going.

Stencilling with white is one of my 'go to's when things are looking a bit busy on a page.

I added some stamping using some of my favourite numeral stamps and some textured Paper Artsy images.

My family know me well and my daughter wrapped up some White Company tissue paper (it's very architectural) as a Christmas pressie!  I added a bit to the page..

... before adding patches of letraset lettering.

I finished off the page by stamping out some images on white paper and cutting them out.  The leaves and bottles are by Paper Artsy, the Apothecary label is by Makistamps, and there are a couple of Chamil Garden stamps in there too.

 I am a much more frequent Instagrammer [@sarahthemoodler] than I am Blogger.  This time I had a bit of a play with the filters on IG and rather liked how this piece looks in black and white.

                                      

Making Marks

My goodness, I knew it had been a while since I'd blogged, but April?!!!  My internet presence is much better over on Instagram which is, well, pretty instant when it comes to sharing photos!

I have been using a LoT of PaperArtsy images lately and their latest challenge really caught my eye (I've been challenging myself to making my own marks rather than always using stamped images, as well as allowing myself to use stamped images to make marks as that's what I love and part of who I am!!), followed by Roxanne's (or 'By Bun' as I know her as I follow her on Instagram and love her work) wonderful step by step post today.  I don't have vintage photos in my stash but instead decided to apply her principles to a stamped image to see where it took me!

 I started by adding some fresco paints to my paper with my fingers.  I watched a fantastic video by Roben-Marie Smith this morning which also influenced this piece, starting with finger painting!

I added some splashes of watercolour ..

..followed by some sprinkles of PaperArtsy infusions.  I love how the colours merge and fleck.

I selected an area I really liked and wanted within the flower petals .... and missed!!  It's that splashy bit to the left of the numerals 487!!

I painted around the flower image with Snowflake fresco paint (I didn't have the same colours as Roxanne) which picked up some of the blue from the Infusions.  At the time I really wasn't keen on this but seeing it again now I'm not sure why!  I carried on though, telling myself it was a learning experience!

I added some yellow fresco paint, stencilled with some distress crayons, and stamped with Snowflake paint...

... and then got so involved I forgot to take any more step by step photos!!  There's lots more splashing of watercolour paint, some mark making with fresco paint and distress markers, some stamping and finally lots of collaged stamped images.  I had a great time rediscovering PaperArtsy stamps I've had for a long time!

I'm linking this to PaperArtsy's 17th blog challenge, 'Making Marks'

#the100daysproject

I am finding it much easier lately to post on Instagram rather than my blog.  You'll find me over there @sarahthemoodler.  I rarely blog hop either these days, which is a shame, but I guess it's the immediacy of seeing and producing images onto Instagram that makes it so much more accessible. No laptop to start up, just a touch on my phone!

I've recently decided to play along as part of the 100 days project on Instagram.  I suspect that I'll end up doing a collage a day but I didn't want to restrict myself to this so am using the hashtag #100daysofbeing creative.

day one

I have a feeling that the most challenging time will be when we go away on holiday as this year that is abroad :)

day two

I'll just have to be prepared with some stamped out images, and other collage fodder in my suitcase!

day three

I have to say, the beauty of collaging everyday is that you can let it take from a few minutes to a lot longer.  This fits in well with my life as I often come home from work absolutely exhausted from a day in the classroom, so getting out my paints etc is a bit overwhelming..

day four

...but a bit of cutting and sticking is definitely do-able.

day five

Each day I've included the number for that day somewhere in the collage.  There are often other numerals there too but the day number will also be there somewhere.

day six

Some days have a bit more inkiness.  Days when I've had a bit more time or energy.

I'm rather liking having something different on each page of the journal.  I am using an A6 hardback watercolour sketchbook and including a variety of ephemera, as well as some stamped images.

day seven

day eight

day nine

day ten

day eleven

Today's page came about following on from last Saturday's Documented Life Project prompt. Numerals are my thing, I have to say!  

day twelve