Art Journal Page: Wherever you go

My first post about my Art Journalling Journey included a bright yellow page that I didn't really know what to do with....

Well.... I finished it!

I love taking photos. Chris is really patient with me as I stop every 3 feet when we are away for the day or on holiday as I take pictures. So this is a tribute to my camera.

The picture is from a calendar from last year. I added paint through a square stencil to tie in the colours from the focal image.

I love to travel and so the saying "wherever you go, go with your heart" has always meant something to me but as I said before this is an ode to my camera! 

I'm really please how it turned out :)

Stay crafty,

Katie

Bullet Journal: Journal with Purpose Six Week Challenge - Week 3

This weeks challenge with Helen over at Journal with Purpose made us think about where we would like to be in 5 years time to continue us on our journey to this things we thought about in week 1 of the challenge. And also where we would like to be in a year to keep us on track. 

I liked this challenge as I find it easy to dream of where I will be in a few years, and planning to aim for those dreams seems easier than looking at where I am now in my life.

Once again I have blanked a couple of entries out so I am honest with myself.

I am on vacation from Wednesday for three weeks - something I have been looking forward to since we booked it!! If I get a couple of minutes to do the last three challenges when I am away I will, otherwise I will have to play catch up when I get back :)

Stay crafty,
Katie

Art Journal Page: Untitled

I had a fabulous Saturday morning at a Journal Class with Mike Deakin last weekend. I'm learning so much and really look forward to my monthly meetup with Mike and the Gals.

This month Mike got us to create texture using torn up paper and blowing paint with straws.

I'm still trying to think of a quote to go with this one... Any help would be appreciated, just comment below!!

Stay crafty,
Katie

Bullet Journal: Journal with Purpose Six Week Challenge - Week 2

So just as I was finishing Week 1 the lovely Helen was putting up Week 2 of her Journal with Purpose Six week challenge.

I found week 2 very difficult - describing where you are now. I decided I would be more honest with myself if I kept this one personal, so sorry for all the blanked out bits folks. 

The most challenging thing for me was actually writing where I am now rather than writing what I should be doing to improve things. I might actually come back to this at regular intervals (every two months?) and repeat the process. Sometimes it hard to measure where you are going when you don't note where you have been.

I'm looking forward to where we go this Friday. 

Stay Crafty,

Katie

Bullet Journal: Journal with Purpose Six Week Challenge - Week 1

I think I used to be organised. I remember a time when I could have an active social life that fitted nicely around my work life. Recently I have found I have very little time in the evenings and weekends fly by without really achieving anything. Not necessarily big tasks like redecorating the house or solving the world financial crisis - just going to the cinema would have meant I have left the house and done something for me and also with Chris.

I used to keep a diary with daily tasks when I was a Post Doc in Glasgow but my job now doesn't really lend itself to this and I have tried to keep a diary for me and found I never have time (and sometimes the inclination) to do it. I have followed many 'Bullet Journallers' on Instagram and thought this was exactly what I needed!

I came across the lovely Helen Colebrook on Instagram, Helen then started a blog (Journal with Purpose) and a YouTube Channel - Well Helen, hello from your new stalker! Helen has also started a Six Week Challenge (How do you have time for all of this?! Oh wait... the Bullet Journal...) which I am going to try, So I hopped on to the internet, tracked down and purchased (not as easy as it sounds at the moment!) a Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal.

I know I could have used and old note book but I thought I would try this first as it has all the features needed for a bullet journal including instructions and hints and tips.

The first week of the challenge is to think about what you would like to be remembered for at your funeral. Not in a morbid way but in a this is what I want my life to be kind of way. And to also think what you would liek to have achieved in life. So here are my pages:

I found some of this quite difficult as I don't yet have children and thinking of their children is quite surreal. I loved doing these pages though and I hope they will make me focus on what is important.

Now to think about my weekly layout to organise my life!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay crafty,
Katie

Circle Art Journal: Explore

I love flamingoes. I find them quite comical. My mum bought me flamingo napkins so of course they go straight on to a journal page!

A quick how-to

1) Napkin was glued on to page with Mod Podge and trimmed to shape.

2) A quick wash of green paint was used to dull down the colours

3) "Explore" quote was added by dabbing blue paint over a Leoni Pujol mask with a baby wipe and outlined in black pen.

4) Clarity Stamp flamingo was added and coloured in using Distress Markers

5) Boarder was added using the grass stamp from the same Clarity Stamp set as the flamingo

Ta da!

Stay crafty,

Katie x

Canvas - Dream

I really enjoyed making my Paris Mini Canvas so I thought I would try another one and after playing with my Adirondack Alcohol Inks for my previous Art Journal page I thought I would use them too!

I put a layer of the Adirondack Alcohol Blending Solution on to the canvas and then dropped spots of ink and allowed them to merge. I used Wild Plum, Stream and Denim.

After the inks were dry I used the Clarity Stamps Dreamcatcher Stencil and texture paste to add the dreamcatcher image.

Once this had dried I highlighted the dreamcatcher with Green Gold Gilding wax before addingthe word "Dream" from the Clarity Stamps set  Word Chain 5 in gold Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink.

I decided the word Dream did not stand out enough so I went round the stamping with a white gel pen to help it pop.

I think this is possibly one of my most favourite things I have made!

Stay Crafty!

Katie x