Playing in my Art Journal

 Hi there! Thought I would share with you my first finsihed journal spread in this lovely 14cm square journal that I had for Christmas. My journal has a couple of other pages with backgrounds but nothing else finished yet.

You can probably make out that the colour in the background was brayered (Chalk finish acrylic) - just me cleaning my brayer before using it in another colour. I was rather pleased with the result. I also put a stencil (paint side down) onto the right hand page , and you can just about see the gold just behind the boat. Having seen a fabulous demo from the lovely Isa, I decided to use the 'of the sea' stamp CI-559 designed by Sharron Bates to make a seaside scene.

Before stamping the boats, I used quite a few background stamps to add to the background. CI-017 - french script was stamped in broken china distress oxide, as was the number from CI-397. The circles from CI-540 were stamped in cracked pistachio distress oxide. After that I added the grey crackle CI-116 and the mismesh pattern CI-542 around the edges. 

I stamped the boat (with frame removed) onto my page and then again 3 more times onto some mixed media paper. I painted them with my dewent inktense blocks and cut them out. This one had an extra layer for the lower part of the boat and the one above was made from parts of one cut apart. I also stamped, coloured and cut out a seagull from white card. I stuck these in place and applied a layer of Tim Holtz Distress Collage Meduim of the crazing variety (LOVE this stuff!) and added some Prima Finnabair small art stones below the boats. I added more colour to ground them using the inktense blocks and finally added the verse from CI-397. 

I definitely need to do more of this sort of thing! I really enjoyed it and it came together so well. Almost as refreshing as a stroll on the beach! Before I go, here is a date for your diary - Jean is on Hochanda next on 12th February at 10am and 2pm. I can tell you now that the new stamps are absolutely gorgeous!!! Got a feeling they will sell very well indeed!

Thanks for looking and I hope you are keeping well and finding solace in your crafting! 

                        Sally x

Hochanda Samples for Crafty Individuals shows

 Did you see Jean on Hochanda on Saturday with the latest stamps from Crafty Individuals? There are 4 brand new stamps designed by Sharron Bates that you can find here on the crafty Individuals website, along with some other goodies. I had such fun making my samples! First is 'of the Sea' stamped onto an alcohol ink background

Next is the same stamp, watercoloured and teamed up with the Craft Individuals 'wonderfully weathered' papers

 And again with Wonderfully weathered 2 papers and splattered and painted with distress oxides

The second stamp 'The Street' looks great coloured with Speckled Egg and Crackling Campfire Distress oxide inks.

I also tried stamping it on a background sprayed with dylusion inks and highlighted with posca pens

My last sample using The Street was embossed in white over an inky background

I had great fun with 'Pablo the Penguin'

Not only does he look wonderful on card, but he also works brilliantly on shrink plastic as earrings...

and as a bauble

The final new stamp is the beautiful Cone flower or Echinachea, firstly painted and decoupaged...

and secondly stamped onto an alcohol ink background

Whilst we are on the subject of Crafty Individuals, I would like to send a huge 'Congratulations' to my lovely friend Lynne, who was announced as a brand new member of the Crafty Individuals DT during Jean's live yesterday afternoon! I know she will make some stunnng creations and be a real asset to the team! Well Done, Lynne!