Craft Barn Challenge Heart and or Risk.

Being Christmas it was easy to choose lyrics. One of my favourite carols is In The Bleak Mid Winter.
The last verse being:
What shall I give him poor as I am
If I were a shepherd I would give a lamb,
If I were wise man I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.

It says a lot about what Christmas should be, not a glut of shopping and presents but time spent with the ones you love.

I made a 'mid winter' background and stamped with trees. In the middle I practiced some zen doodling to produce the stable and star. I tried to make the writing bigger as it came down the page. I apologise for the error. I always want to put the shepherd before the wise men.

Craft Barn Challenge journey and/or friendship

For this challenge I chose the word journey and a quote from The Incredible String Band's song Ducks on a Pond. Lyrics and video can be found here http://www.metrolyrics.com/ducks-on-a-pond-lyrics-incredible-string-band.html  and here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvVNcttXoX8

The lyrics are odd to say the least but I do love the band. The 1st verse is:

Ducks on a pond, ducks on a pond
Very pretty swimming round
The lion and the unicorn journey very far
The answers are the question, sir
The lady soothes the lion's fur
Meek as a lamb he follows her
Wherever angels are
Sing me something

I printed out a picture of a lion and unicorn that I felt suited the 'mystical' air of the song, then spritzed and stamped a back ground. One of the bands album covers had 60's bubble writing around a picture so I thought I would do the same...one problem I cant do bubble writing! So this is my take on it. I then added a border with twiddly bits. This has got be me to listening to album ( Wee Tam) while checking out other peoples entries.

Hope you like.

Craft Barn Challenge moon and/or sensation

Well quick off the mark this time although, once I saw moon I knew exactly the song I wanted to do. I may have mentioned I like Pink Floyd and have already used two of their songs. This time I am using Eclipse from The Dark Side of the Moon. The last line is:

'Everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon'

I painted the page with paynes grey acrylic paint. I then cut out a template of the moon and used pastels to create an aura around the moon. When I lifted the template off I gave another coat of paynes grey to the moon bit as the pastels smudged a little. This made it really black and standout against the rest of the page. Finally I wrote all of the songs lyrics down the side in white gel pen in as small writing as I could.

I am well pleased with the result.

Craft Barn challenge: Nowhere and/or Hug.

Hi

Only just got in with this challenge. Been a long week at work even if it was only a four day week.
So, I have chosen nowhere and the fabulous lyrics of the song 'Tragedy' by the Bee Gees and also sung by Steps - a favourite group of my daughter when she was younger. Probably still is if the truth were known!

Tragedy
When the feeling's gone and you can't go on
It's tragedy
When the morning cries and you don't know why
It's hard to bear
With no one to love you you're going nowhere

I decided to use my silhouette stencils and create a background of anonymous bodies and one more distinct on it's own. So out came the dylusions and off I went. Not quite how I imagined it but, I am still pleased with the result.

Paris Scrap Festival

I am very excited because I am off to Paris this weekend with my friend Vicky for Paris Scrap festival. Visitor are invited to enter a challenge which is a 30 x 30 scrap page on the theme of winter. So I dug up a photo of Spook in the snow. I am rather pleased with the result.

I will write more when I get back.

Craft Barn Challenge Destiny or Gift

Hi

I had a wonderful time in Nepal and enjoyed every single day. I visited towns, villages, temples and even white water rafted. No hiking though, which in view of recent events was just as well. There was excellent wifi in most hotels/guesthouses so I think I managed to visit everyone. Does that me good for keeping up or sad for having my phone on...who knows.

I have chosen destiny this week and a quote by Winston Churchill.

'It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time'

I spritzed on a background and drew on mountains. I filled the mountains with time and stamped glasses over then as if trying to look forward. Lastly I added the word destiny in a linked chain. I think we are all guilty at some point of worrying about the future and not concentrating on and appreciating the now.

Hope you like.

Craft Barn Challenge patience and/or better.

I am up with the Lark today, loved the words and I have chosen Patience. I am off on holiday today to Nepal (hense the early rise) and thought patience fits right in with the Hindu and Buddhist belief.  The quote is:

'The Greatest Patience is Humility' Buddha

I sprizted a background with a picture of Buddha in the corner and then stamped. I used 1st 2nd and 3rd generation stamping so it wasn't to in your face and easy to write over.

Thank you all for looking at my page and leaving lovely comments and those that look but cant leave comments. I may not get around to looking at all your lovely pages this time, and if I do it will be from Nepal.

Hope you like and will be back again in a couple of weeks.

Craft Barn Challenge Childhood and/or Easier

Hi

Before I start can I just say I  live in Southampton not Spain, if only I was so interesting. I remember once when selling our house in Norwich I put an advert in our window (it was the late 80's you could sell houses that easily then) saying for sale £45,000 phone Spain on... After a number of calls about our non existent villa in Spain we re worded the advert!

Took me a while to find a quote this week. However came across this, and I do like Miranda Hart.

'I spent my childhood clad in 1970's hand-me-downs, primarily from male cousins, which mainly consisted of a selection of beige, brown and orange dungarees. That, combined with a perfectly round pudding bowl haircut, made me look, on a good day, like a cross between Ann Widdecombe, one of the flower pot men and a monk.'

I sprizted the page with yellow and blue colour bloom and then made a collage of a what I envisaged Miranda Hart meant - complete with straw hat. I used a male template to emphasise they were boy dungarees, but also added girly shows and blouse.

Hope you like.

Craft Barn challenge. Peaceful and/or Grace

Hi

Today is the perfect day for crafting...rain, a bank holiday and no work. Plus a Husband to feed me tea and wine!

When having a look for lyrics I came across Human by The Killers. I think most people must know this song and have sung it a little sozzled at some do or other.

The part I have chosen is:

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could

And so long devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye, wish me well
You've gotta let me go

I don't know how this page came about. It had to be melancholy as the song says good bye to everything. I used dylusions on the background and the colours puddled by the spine of the book to look like a tree trunk. So I added a tree with black marker and stamped leaves with black stayz on ink. Then it needed something going away and of course that had to be butterflies. I wrote the words with white gel pen adding little flourishes. It was still lacking so I added a simple silhouette figure playing a flute.

Hope you like.

Piano hinge journal

Hi

At the last craft club at Jendenink's  http://www.jendenink.co.uk/ I was asked by the group to show them how to make a piano hinge book. I don't normally stand up and do stuff like this so was a great challenge for me. Happily the evening went well and everyone had fun and went home with a journal.

To make an A5 journal you need:
Scoring board
Ruler
Scissors
A4 Paper - any sort depending what you want to use the journal for. I used water colour paper so I could     paint backgrounds.
Bamboo skewers
Wool and/or ribbons

Method:
1. Fold the paper in half and score a 1/4 inch or 5mm in from the folder edge.

2. Measure and mark at 1/2 inch or 1cm along the folder edge and then snip to the score line and bend backwards and forwards.

3. Push the pointed end of the bamboo skewer through every other tab.











4. With another piece of paper and bamboo skewer...push it through the 1st tab of the 2nd piece of paper and the 2nd tab of the 1st paper and continue to weave them together. (I hope that makes sense!) and continue till your journal is the size you want it.

As you add more paper and sticks it can become a bit of a challenge to get the sticks through. We thought whether candle wax can be used and some people put the bamboos through the tabs first to open them up and then remove and weave with page before. You may have to make tabs deep especially if you have very thick paper.





5. Weave wool or ribbon in and out of the sticks. This stops the sticks moving. You may wish to add a little amount of glue that dries clear to stick the wool to the bamboo. I used acrylic glue. Leave the ends as that is what you will use to hang beads and embellishments. Then snip the bamboo ends.












So that is the basic journal and the fun is in the decorating. You can make them in various sizes and types of paper.






This one I added an old book cover too. I made the pages the correct size before putting in the bamboo. This was my Paris scrap book.













I also found you can use cockail sticks!











This I used to stamp and add silly sayings. I did have to readjust the score and tab measurements though. It is small and dinky and could be used for birthdays and other occasions.







Have a go and enjoy and remember it is not meant to look perfect.

Craft Barn challenge family and/or thing

Yay another chance to use lyrics from Pink Floyd..thing(s).

It is a silly song but I love it. I have used the first verse and chorus.

I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like. 

It's got a basket, a bell that rings 

And things to make it look good. 

I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it. 

You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world. 

I'll give you anything, everything if you want things.

It was written by Syd Barrett and is an early song..I was 3 at the time.

I knew in my head what I wanted and went on google images to find an image of a lady with a bike, I then found a bell and a basket. Once stuck on to a background all I had to do was add

'things to make it look good'

So out came the sharpies, ribbon and bits of paper. I enjoyed this, hope you like.

A reading for a wedding.

Hi

Those that know me know I freak if I have to make something for someone else. My creativity shrivels up and I end up a bit of a wreck. I can make cards to give people, but that extra step of making something for someone to give someone else is a step too far. My friend Sam is doing a reading at her sisters wedding and she asked if I would make a double sided card for it to give to her sister to keep afterwards. So deep breathe and I went for it.

It had to have cup cakes, photography and an anchor on it. I downloaded lots of photography related images plus a picture of a pint glass with  bike on that Sam liked on to publisher. Put them together, turned them sepia and then a little paler. I did not find an anchor but did find a lovely quote :

You are the anchor to my heart

a cup cake was made and cut in half. For the front I painted a heart and wings and Sam wrote her reading which was stuck down and surrounded by lace. I am quite pleased with the result and hope Sam and the couple like it too.

Craft Barn challenge mind and/or ignorance

I decided to go with the song 'The Windmills of Your Mind' sang by Noel Harrison in the Thomas Crown Affair. It took a while to decide what to do as there are so many images in it. I decided on the first verse which is about spirals, balloons, carousels and apples.

After making a background I stamped on cogs and a clock and hand drew a balloon. Then I used translucent paint to add colour and depth. I found a stamp from my stash that was a girl with lots circles in the background which I felt was just right for this. Finally I added the Lyrics in a spiral in keeping with the song.

Burlap book

Hi

Well Saturday was very exciting...Andy Skinner came to Jendeninks to run a class. There were 13 of us and we had an amazing time. Here is my finished result.

Craft Barn Challenge Imagination and/or Logic

The first song that came to mind with this challenge was a song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory sang by Gene Wilder. The verse I have chosen is:

There is no life I know

To compare with pure imagination

Living there, you'll be free

If you truly wish be

The lyrics are by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

It says it all for us crafters doesn't it? Also it was an excuse to let my imagination run riot. I made the the background with acrylic paint, my bubble stamp and flower masks. Next the fun bit of making up the picture. I got out my stamp stash and picked a child stamp and the rest is their day dream. Flying like butterflies, off on a merry go round like Mary Poppins through loads of flowers. I added glasses because well.. because. I had to stazon ink for this as the paint and ink background sucked the colour out of usual ink and I wanted it vibrant. The butterflies, balloon, glasses and leaves where stamped on inked and stamped background papers from my stash and cut out to give a little depth.

This was a fun page to do.

Alice In Wonderland

Hi

This canvas is a blatant copy of one made by Alicia Hayes www.aliciaartshop.com who is featured in July/August Somerset Studio magazine. I love the colours and Nigel (long suffering craft widow) loves Alice in Wonderland.

The above are the original photos from the magazine. Alicia Hayes painted straight onto the canvas which is much too scary for me.

I used spray inks on the background and while the layers were drying I painted each character with water colour inktense on watercolour paper. They where then cut out and stuck on the background. As you can see mine didn't all fit on and the queen is partly walking of the canvas, but I think that's OK.  Finally I used pastels to blend the characters with the background and inktense for the ground.

Nigel loves the result.

A photo canvas.

Last weekend I spent Saturday at Jendeninks craft shop and spent a lovely day making a canvas using all different bits of metal, lace, fabric and a photo. My Photo is of a gargoyle from Notre Dame.

After adding all the bits of metal and stuff the canvas was covered in gesso.

Then it was time time to have fun with inks. At first the result was too coppery, it needed to be more stone like so out came melted chocolate and black. I love the way the inks interact with each other as you add more layers. I am really pleased with the result.

Craft Barn Challenge path and or hoizon

Hi

Now, I have two adorable black kittys who are two years old. There is Spook, aka The Fat One and Sebastian, aka The Thin One and it is just as well they are of different build as they are both totally black with no markings and it can be hard to tell them apart. I have often wondered as they race me down the stairs and try to trip me up on the way to the fridge to fetch them prawns are they good or bad luck? So I did giggle when I came across this quote by Grouch Marx:-

'A black cat crossing your path signifies the animal is going somewhere'

(With mine it is the fridge..)

I used the skills I learnt with Dyan Reavely to make the black ground using dylusion inks. I was very bold and included black. It is amazing - when you follow instructions things come out not to bad. I used watercolour paints for the cat and black and white journalling pens for the whiskers and writing.

Hope you like. X

Craft Barn challenge proud and or vintage.

I have got this in just in time! I am not use to this working 5 days a week lark. Sorry I have not had a chance to visit and comment on other peoples pages. Will do better next week - I hope as also working another 5 day week. Work is such an intrusion to crafting. Blow ladies that lunch I want to be a lady that crafts. And yes I am a Lady!

So last weekend was spent with Dyan Reaveley making a wonderful journal and actually learning how to use dylusions inks properly. While there I mentioned the craft barn challenge and she immediately came back with this quote:

'Never be too proud to wear vintage'

That includes both words...yay!

So I used one of the background pages I made that by luck (certainly not judgement) looked like two people dancing. This is is the first time I have drawn and I am proud of myself.. never thought I had it in me. I am really pleased with the result and a good memory of a fabulous weekend.

Please forgive the spelling error..to instead of too

More from Dyan's class.

Dyan's class was excellent, such fun, humour and mess.The first thing she handed us was a straw...see point one..and suck it up was the key to everything. She looked after us well and worked us hard and taught some wonderful new techniques. (well they are new to me!) I came home with a journal ready for journalling in. Just need to practice my writing and doodling. I can see the need for another class coming along.

So some other key learning points:

• If it is not going well or someone has the colour you want or it is too messy..get a straw and suck it up.
• A background is a background.
• Fingers are as good as brushes. You know where they are, don't cost a fortune and don't go solid if left unwashed. If you don't like dirty fingers... see point one.
• There are warm colours and cool colours. Keep them separated especially when learning and using inks or else you may end up with mud.
• When buying paint and you cant afford the whole lot you should a light, medium and darker of the same colour, not 3 or 4 different colours. Why have I not been told this before?
• No ink is wasted. Use card to mop up spray on your mat, wipe a your messy inked baby wipe over card or tag, use the sharpenings of you water colour pencil. These do make interesting backgrounds but if you don't like it see point 1 and remember point 2.
• Do lots of the same at once. Cut all your pages, gesso any pages if you wish, ink your pages, then ghost them all, then large stencil them all, then small stencil them all and finally stamp them all. You then end up with lots of backgrounds to stick in you journal.
• When putting the journal together alternate your made paper with scrapbook paper from your stash.

The main thing I took away is that there is no wrong and if it is or your think it is see point one. Now I wonder if I can hand out straws to people at work....

Ink, ink and more ink.

After a horrendous journey including a sign ' Prepare to meet your God' Vicky and I arrived after 7.5 hours on the road.

Dyan is lovely and is aided by her daughter Jay. We started by cutting all the paper to A4 and adding dictionary and gesso. Then the fun started! Puddles of ink all over the paper plus water what glorious fun.
My hands after a wash.

A wonderful day ...and the shop...ooh the shop. Did I mention the shop? 

I am doing this post on my phone and it is not going as well as hoped. As I am on the point of throwing my phone I will finish.

A dirty weekend!!

Today I am off to Harrogate and Art From The Heart with Vicky. We have booked on a weekend of mixed media with Dyan Reaveley. We are so excited and cant wait to get messy and dirty with inks, paint and stuff. I hope to up date each evening on my blog so watch this space.

Craft Barn Challenge Mountain and/or Mistake

My most favourite bands of all time is Pink Floyd. I was lucky enough to go and see them them live in London performing The Wall. So, this was the story of Pink (based on Roger waters and Syd Barrett a former member) and he builds a wall around himself because of everything that has happened to him.The song I have chosen is 'The Show Must Go On' and the lyrics are as follows, it is only a short song but full of feeling.

Ooooh, Ma, Oooh Pa
Must the show go on?
Ooooh, Pa. Take me home
Ooooh, Ma. Let me go

There must be some mistake
I didnt mean to let them 
Take away my soul.
Am I too old, is it too late?

Ooooh, Ma, Ooooh Pa,
Where has the feeling gone?
Ooooh, Ma, Ooooh Pa,
Will I remember the songs?
The show must go on.

In the story Pink builds a wall around himself so, I have taken a picture of Roger Waters and placed it behind a wall. 

I stuck a picture of Waters on the page and them added texture paste. Then I stuck on the lyrics which I printed on normal copy paper. Next I added colour with silks acrylic glaze pretty peridot. It is very translucent and the words show through and of course you have to have some dylusions, I chose the melted chocolate. I then used more texture paste though a mask to add the wall, I tried to do this with a light hand so as not to mask all the lyrics. As the paint was barely dry the silks colour came through on the paste. I emphasised some of the words and added more around the edges. 

I am really pleased with this and feel the picture of roger Waters really blends in.

Craft Barn challenge - Passion and/or Music

Hi

This week was passion or music. Now I do like music and punk was a love of mine. My mother refused to let me have safety pins in my ears or bright spiky hair so I just had to make do with playing The Ramones, Clash, Sex Pistols etc..very loud (or as loud as you can when you have 3 siblings under the age of 5 in the house). I ended up with head phones for Christmas.

I painted the background in a neutral colour. I sprayed some sunshine color and bloom and green dylusions and let it all dry. The hair was coloured using my inktense pencils in red and orange and the out line in black. I thought it needed more colour so added pink spray. Finally a pointy finger, a pink brad for an ear ring and black gems for the lapels.

Hope you like.