Brusho arrows

This afternoon I have been having a little play with my Brushos having been inspired by the fab post by Sam Butler!

I am in the process of creating a mini album/journal for the month of September. This is my third page with todays experiment!
I started by gessoing my page and then applying grungepaste through an arrows stencil.
Next, I sprinkled light and dark brown brusho and sprayed it! I dabbed and repeated until I was happy with the results!
I drew around the shapes with Black stabilo pencil and wet the lines and added a little white doodling! I stamped the word go a few times in black archival. Finally, I applied White Fire Treasure Gold to the arrows.
So, a quick play with brusho in my little book.

I think that it looks a little industrial.

I am entering this into the PA challenge.

Notebook Holder

Yesterday morning, I was sitting having my breakfast reading the latest Art Journalling Magazine from Somerset Studio when I came across the most fabulous Journals created by a group of talented ladies from over the pond!

This is my version of their fabulous creations.
1.I started with a piece of cardboard that had a fold in it and I created more folds and strengthened them with masking tape.

2. Next I gessoed it and added patterns with fresco paints to both sides!

3. I added some magazine cuttings, doodled and stencilled.

4. I sewed a pocket inside to slip in my Moleskine notebook and added a loop for a pen and a pocket for pencil sharpener and rubber.

5. I selected oddments...envelopes, tags, postcards etc and sewed little fabric flaps to them and sewed them to the left hand side where they can be lifted up and written on.

6. I washi taped all the edges; plaited some Sari Silk; made holes and threaded the silks through for a tie.

I now have a folder to take out and about and am thrilled with it!

Number 9

Over on the CountryViewCrafts blog, inspiration continues to pour in on the theme of Numbers! great variety from the Designers on there.

I decided to add my second piece to the mix.

This time, I selected some bits and bobs left over from work on Fragile Papers that I did earlier in the year on the Paperartsy blog.

I gessoed my journal page and added some torn dictionary, stamping from a Lynne Perrella stamp and  Wrinkle Free distressing using Hickory Smoke and Vintage photo distress sprays.

Next, I arranged my "found" fragile papers and, as these cardboard letters fell off of the shelf as I was looking for a brad for my flower; I decided to create the word September! 

It was my intention to repeat stamp the number 9, as in the ninth month, but the letters demanded to be included, so I distressed them and added them to the mix.

So, my number 9 is to be found in the centre of the flower.

The inspiration came when I wandered around my garden this morning and lots of plants were looking fragile and dishevelled!

I also drew inspiration from the wonderful blog belonging to the amazingly talented Diana Taylor.

So, this piece is my second entry into the CVC challenge and, like the first one, came together almost by itself!

Really like how the leaf cut out really shows off the inks underneath!

Here is the finished piece.

Numbers

Love the new topic over at Countryview Crafts and lots of varied inspiration from their designers!

I immediately started to piece together a few elements in my head.....3D numbers, plumbers tape and Grunge Paste sprung to mind.
This piece grew all by itself with a little help from me!

I started by Grunge Pasting through a TH stencil. Next, I wanted to apply the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique but couldn't press my large journal onto my craft mat. So, I sprayed some distress stains onto a small mat and pressed it onto my page! Quite pleased with the results.

Next, I added some 3D letters and fastened a strip of plumbers tape over them! I pressed them down with a ball tool and added some PA Treasure Gold in Onyxite and Sapphire.

I stamped a new PA Hot Pick, attacked it with the tiny attacher, PA letter stamps and added some Salvage Sticker numbers and a nameplate and "Voila".....here was my finished piece.

The wording pays reference to my rubbish head for numbers!

I am entering this into the CVC challenge.

Selfie, encouraged by Julie Ann.

I was very brave this weekend and set myself the task of drawing and painting my portrait!
Having been used to using magazine pictures of beautiful models it was a complete contrast.
I started by taking a photo, printing it out in black and white and noting the proportions.
I then set to on my journal, having first gessoed the page.
I used a soft graphite pencil and filled the page.

I must admit that I was pleased with my first attempt and was nervous about painting it in case I lost my work.

Sam Butler suggested that I take a copy of it, which I did.

So, I carried on and painted over my original drawing using only Black and White fresco paints.

Every now and then, I drew over some parts with my Graphite pencil and at the end with my Stabilo pencil.

My son, whose opinion I rate highly, says that the pencil drawing looks more like me. Which is fine....it was a good exercise in learning to handle brushes and paint and I was not looking to create a passport photo.

It is a bit weird painting yourself for the first time.

Here is the photo!

Think that I might have given myself a cosmetic cheek filler.....I wish!

Am entering this into the very inspiring Kim Dellows challenge and wish to dedicate this to the ever encouraging Julie Ann Lee. She leads by her shining example of creativity and generosity of praise.

Ups and downs

Here I am with another circles blog...just because I am enjoying playing.
This time I was inspired by a colourful page in the Times colour Supplement this week. It featured a fairground girl who graduated from Oxford University and then went home to work on the family dodgems. The bright colours of my circles are cut from the dodgem cars.

I started in my journal with red lines created by painting string with London Bus and dragging it down and across the page. Next, I dipped a ribbon reel into green paint mixed from frescos and rolled that down and across. Then I stencilled some dots with Black Archival.

Next, I arranged my circles on the page and glued them, doodled around them with my black Stabilo pencil and wet some of the lines.

I thought of something to write and scribbled it with my black Fudeball pen.

Just love the combo of colours.

So, entering this into the Paperartsy challenge.