Let your art have wings

Hi All,

This is another page of my journal, that I did earlier this month, playing with Dylusion inks, some stencils and stamps.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Sisters

Hi All,

Babies are tiny little people, but they don't half need an awful lot of paraphernalia! As I am spending a week or so at my inlaws i really wanted to take some craft stuff with me, I knew I would get a little time to play as the Grandparents would want to spend some time with the baby .... however packing a load of craft stuff was not practical either......So this is where I quote Michelle from C&C and say " I Loooooove Seriff" I have mostly used it for making scrap pages. However what I did was design a few cards, I have printed them off, along with the elements I wanted to decoupage.  I also brought my copics, a few basics, scissors, 3d foam and sticky dots and a sheet of gems. I got chance to do some colouring yesterday and put together this card for my sister.

I can see these hybrid projects become a far more regular feature of my crafting.

I do have to apologize for the photo, I am having to use my phone in rubbish light, so its not the best quality.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Sugar Nellie/Picking Apples

Hi All,

I am sat at my inlaws just now looking forward to a relaxing week ahead. I was delighted this morning when I was able to spend a little bit of time and realised I made the satuated canary top 3 for last weeks challenge!! big smiles on my face!!

I made this card a couple of nights ago, again with the images I coloured about 9 months ago.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Everbody Art Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Pick a challenge from last Year ( Anything Goes )
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Stamping for the weekend - Anything Goes
Crafts For Eternity - Anything Goes

Hugs Juls

Pink is not a colour .....

Hi All,

Thank you for all your positive comments on my last page, I really appreciate it. This is another of my pages with my own doodles .... I know whats with the flamingo's!!! when I was doing "Art" drawing and painting birds was my favourite subject. Back then I was trying to get an exact representation, now I am just playing and seeing what happens.

The background has been created with watered down cosmic shimmer drawing inks. I have coloured the image with Prisma pencils and have used gel pens for details.

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

So Much on my Mind

Hi All,

I have finally got round to taking photo's of some of my journaling pages. This is in my Dyan Reevley Journal. I am a little nervous at sharing this as it is my own doodles, as I have said I am really enjoying working in my journal, and am gradually gaining more confidence in myself. Although I still do not feel like an "Artist" but think If I keep playing, I will get there eventually.

On this page I have used Dylusion Ink, white acrylic paint, Prisma Pencils, Cosmic Shimmer drawing inks, and Gel pens.

Thanks for looking
Juls

Hot Choc & Marshmallows

Hello All,

Check me, a post 2 days in a row!! I saw the challenge on Saturated Canary and really wanted to join in. Also I have recently purchased this image, but I didn't think it was very hot chocolatey!! So hence came the idea of a mug of hot choc! so I could combine the 2.

Loved making this, felt like I was properly playing, The papers are from he "Tilda" range, and I created the marshmallows with "co-ordinations - whitewashed" card. I just had a random thought that I wanted to create steam with wire .... but could I find where I have put my wire!! ... eventually I found a wire embellishment that said LOVE, so I reshaped that, its worked out nice though because there was also beads on the wire.

Hugs to all
Juls

Daisy Daisy

Hello All,

I have been watching "one born every minute, what happened next" It has been quite entertaining viewing, as I am fully understanding the joys and the challenges of having a little person take over your life ... I found it especially hilarious when one of the mums said, " I knew I would not get much time for myself, but I do miss going for a wee on my own!!" too funny and too true!! I am quoting this rather than apologise once again for the lack of activity on my blog!! I think I will just have to accept that for quite sometime things are going to be hit and miss.

I am still very passionate about my crafting, however I spend more time watching rather than doing!! What amazes me is that when I watch c&c and they interview the guest to find out when they began crafting, and so many times they say " well when I had the children I had more time and began crafting " ...... I just think HOW? I was already an avid crafter and barley have time to craft, let alone discover a new passion!!

Last night I made this card, and a couple of others. I colored this image not long after Kezia was born so about 9 months ago, and it is just getting used now!!

I am still spending lots of time working in my art journal ... I am really enjoying that, I find it easier as I dont need as much stuff!! Just a journal a pen and some pencils, I have done lots of doodling which I am loving, and am gradually gaining confidence in my drawing .... I did used to take Art at school but had no confidence in my ability. I will show some pages here I just need to get them photographed. I am hoping as my confidence grows I will be able to use some of my own art work in my cards.

Love to all
Thanks for looking ( and for sticking with me, whilst I am just dipping in and out of blogland, I do think of you all often!!)

Hugs Juls

Fashion Collage

Hello All,

Still playing in my journals ... I now have 8!!! and I only have a few pages done in each, I have just bought the Dyan Reaveley one, I have not done any pages yet, I just keep stroking it, lol!!!

This page has been done in my smash book, This is my first attempt at fashion collage, I am in the process of reading "collage couture" by Julie Nutting .... I am hoping I will get to grips with this as it will be a fabulous way of using up all my scraps.

All sorts has been thrown at this page, I have used acrylic paints and momento inks in the background, I have used stamps from Dylusions and Kanban, and I have made the little girl with all my scraps. Hope you like the results..

Baby sleeping just now, so I am going to use the opportunity to try and do a quick catch up with you all.

Hugs to all
Juls

Smashing Mr Darcy

Hello All,

I know its been an absolute age, since I have posted, life working at home with a 7 month old baby is just manic, I am getting a little time to craft now and again, I just never seem to have time to photograph it and put it here, I do keep popping in and out of blogland when I have the odd 10 mins or so just to see how you are all getting on.

At the moment I am definitely loving the art journal thing ... I have just ordered 3 books off Amazon, and I am desperately waiting for them to arrive!! If I do get time to craft that is what I am picking up first, although I really need to make some cards, I always keep a little stash so I have some cards and they are fast running out!! Our local craft shop is holding an art journal class once a month, it is just fab, Hubby takes the baby and I get a few uninterrupted hours to play with inks and things and just get messy!!!

Last time I was at the craft shop this K&Co smash book fell into my basket!! This is my first attempt at a smash page! I hope you like it!! I have used the fabulous " What the librarian reads" image from Saturated Canary .... I have altered the titles of the books in seriff to reflect my Pride and Prejudice obsession ( many of you who have been following my blog for a while will be very aware of that!! ) - ( Krista, I hope it was ok to make the alteration)

I have visited Lyme park the home of Pemberly on a few occasions, a must for any P&P fan!! I was there when they had a display of costumes that were used in the Colin Firth adaptation .... yes I have actually touched the coat that Colin Firth wore!! (swoon!!) You were not supposed to, but it was just too hard to resist!! - All the leaflets have been very lovingly preserved in my best copy of P&P ( yes I have many copies) - A hard back copy with Colin Firths picture on the front!! ...... last night I took the very brave step of cutting into those treasured leaflets to make my page!! ..... Think I am glad I did, now the memories preserved in a lovely book that will have more chance of being looked at!! ........ Now for some strange reason I am really feeling the need to read P&P once again!!!!

Love to all, do think of you all often, and hope to pop round and visit you all soon!
Hugs Juls

Art Journal Class

Hello All,

Well I was at my art journaling class today, I want to thank the lovely Lesley for taking it. I just loved it ... it was so nice to get messy with inks and stamps . The top page is the first one we did I loved how it turned out, however I felt I had created a fabulous background but it did not have a good focal point, so I added the stamp and white journaling when I came home ..... despite me owning more stamps than I care to admit .... hundreds and hundreds!!! however I don't have art journaling style stamps ...... think I need to buy yet more crafting goodies!! a good few dillusion sprays fell into my basket, I have played with paints in previous art journaling pages but as yet I have not used sprays, think they may become a new obsession!!

I love the 2nd page its really quirky, not my usual style but loved the creativity of just letting loose putting things together ans seeing what happened.

I took the scrap pages that we used to protect the pages of the books home, and I have used it to make the cover of my journal ... it needs a bit of work to finish it I am sure it will appear here in a few days!

I took a friend with me to the class today, she is not a crafter, but I have always felt journaling would be something she would enjoy, and be good for her. and she loved it I am so pleased.

As always thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Bella Bunting Gets A Scooter

Hello All,

I have spent the last few evenings trying to catch up on all I have missed in Blogland, I am hoping things have settled down a little now and I may be able to make a more regular appearance!

Baby is 5 months old now, & beginning to go down slightly earlier in the evening, although she still insists in waking up 4 times a night, so I am slightly sleep deprived!! I am also back at work, I work from home, so often I end up working in an evening as my little angel does not believe in giving me much time during the day. I have been going a tad insane and have felt a real need to craft, so I have now set aside one eve a week where hubby takes on main babysitting duties and I hit the loft, so I can have a little crafting time each week.

I am continuing to enjoy using my seriff programme .... I even now have a signature for my photos, something I have been meaning to do for donkeys!! eventually I would like to redo my blog page but time as always is an issue.

Also this week I am booked into an art journaling class at my local craft shop, I am very excited about that!

Whilst catching up with you all in blogland, the inspiration photo that Krista has set for the saturated canary challenge kept popping up, It reminded me of a Kanban topper I had, then ideas started forming in my head, and I had to play along ... so this card is the result of last nights excursion to the loft, & I finally got playing with my Grand Caliber too!!

Card Blank and Toppers - Kanban
Image - Sugar Nellie/Simply Sassy
Colouring medium - Copics
Dies - Spellbinders/bookpages
Embossing Folder - cuttlebug

This is my entry for the Saturated Canary Challenge

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Graphic 45

Hello All,

Yes it seems like I have disappeared of the face of the earth! We are beginning to get some sleep through the night now, but she still does no more than catnap during the day, where I frantically run round trying to get some jobs in the house done!! so very little time for crafting, still watching and spending though!!

The other night my Hubby took main babysitting duties, and I just did the feeding and he allowed me to escape into the loft for a little while and have a play, I had just been watching the Graphic 45 hours on c&c and managed to sit on my hands!!! I knew I had a couple of sheets tucked away somewhere in my stash, so feeling all inspired I dug them out and had a little play! I have teamed it up with some Kanban Velacetate, and then I coloured the ladies lips red with my prisma pencils and that was it.

Hopefully as my little sweetie settles I will get more time to play and will be able to make an appearance here more often!!

hugs to you all
Juls

Steampunk Romance

Hello All, yes shock horror a card from me, I cant believe it has been 6 weeks since I last made a card! wow how life has changed. My beautiful baby girl does not believe is sleeping for more than 15 min at a time, unless she is being held!! so at the moment my production has dramatically decreased and my spending increased, as I seem to spend a lot of time watching create and craft, and just cant resist.

I have purchased the seriff craft artist professional programme, that has been such a life line, as I have been able to do some scrap pages, and more baby thankyou cards, and I can craft with one hand and print out later .. I do much prefer to uses scissors glue, inks e.c.t but it is allowing me to release a little creativity at the moment.

By some miracle she did sleep for a little more over the weekend, plus my hubby was available to keep her contented, so I managed to escape into the loft for a little while ... it was bliss!! Although I should have taken the opportunity and make quick cards, I just wanted to play ... so embossing powders, the heatgun and sewing machine all made an appearance.... I didn't know where I was going with this when I started I just continued playing and fiddling, and this was the result.

Stamps - Chocolate Barouque/punky Romance
               Kanban/ Jasper
Embossing - Couture Creations/Workshop
Colouring Medium - Prisma Pencils
Inks- Brilliance - a pink one! (cant remember the exact colour, sorry - and cant be bothered to run into the loft to check!) Distress ink- Worn Lipstick & Antique Linen
Embossing powder - Seafoam white (with some Mica powder mixed in)

P.S - I have just come back and discovered this new look blog, its taken me forever to do my post today, cant understand how the stupid thing works!! Its taken forever to do my post today!

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

4 day card

Hello All,

Well, I am finally here with a card, when Kezia first came home although she took up a lot of time, she would sleep for periods of 4-6 hours, however that very quickly changed !!!!! I started this card, and it took me 2 days just to get it coloured and cut out!! eventually after 4 days, of just giving it 10 min here and there I finally got it done! ...... I think all these topper kits that I keep obsessively buying and never using, my finally get an airing out of necessity!! LOL!!

Card Blank - Kanban
Image - Saturated Canary
Colouring Medium - Copics
Inks - Distress - spun sugar & antique linen
Papers - Prima - Pixie Glen

P.S the lace was from a pair of pj's that I bought, and then altered because they didn't fit properly! (the pj's had never been worn) , its great I have never had lace available to put on a card, so I enjoyed using it here!

This is my entry for:

Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Use a Digi image
Fussy and Fancy - anything but, square/rectangle
Fairy Tale - Anything Goes
Saturday Challenge - shaped card

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Bird What?

Hi All,

Thank you for all your kind messages. We are doing well, just trying to go with the flow, today I have had a nice peaceful day, as Kezia as slept all day, however other days I dont get a minite, but I am loving it all.

This is a card I made prior to Kezia bieng born, this was made for a friends teenage son, who has not been well, he was diagnosed with "parrot flu" which is really rare, and it will take him 3 to 6 months to recover, at the time I made the card, I had just heard that he had some infection connection with birds ..... I was hoping that he would see the funny side of my card which he did, so that was a relief!!

This is my entry for:

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
Dutch Dare - Cute and Cuddly
Stamping for the Weekend - Anything Goes
Totally Papercrafts - Humor
Sweet Stamping - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft - Clean and Simple

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

have you heard the news? .....

Hello All,

As you will have seen I have been a.w.a.l !!! I am sure you will have guessed why!! Yes my princess did arrive on the 17th at 7.09pm weighing 9lb. It was a difficult birth for us both, but thanks to the wonderful staff at Raigmore both myself and my little Kezia are doing fine.

My husband has been enjoying getting his camera out and having a play, this is a little shot that he took just for fun ... Kezia is sleeping in the basket .... he has tried to make it look like the 2 toys are looking over the pram, and the little teddy is pulling the blanket out her basket!

Will be hit and miss in blogland, but I still enjoy popping in and out when I have the time.

Hugs all round
Juls

Dress Up

Hello All,

Still no news, been for a bit of a walk this morning, still bouncing on my ball, but recon she will just come when she is good and ready, at least it is allowing me a little time to craft before my world as I know it turns upside down!

I fell for a Kanban kit a few weeks ago, and it had not quite made it to the loft yet, so I have had to hand to have a little play with. I don't really do toppers, yet I still manage to fall in love with images, and think they will be great ..... and then don't really like the cards I make with them as they look manufactured, and at the end of the day I love stamping and colouring, and is always what I look to first, so I have boxes of kits, that never get used, and I never learn my lesson!! I decided to try having a play and to still use stamping and other techniques so I still feel like I have crafted the card. I have used some toppers, stamped, played with twinkling H20's and done some embossing and this has been the result!

Also this is me attempting the "more is better" look, which I love but never quite manage to achieve, I am not sure on the results but decided to share anyway, if you have any tips on where improvement can be made, it would be much appreciated.

Card Blank, Topper and acetate embellishments - Kanban
Papers - Tilda ( flowergarden)
Stamps - (dress) Kanban (sissors) Loralie
embossing - Couture creations - workshop ( it is actually more of a steampunk look, I just cut out the tape measure detail)
Colouring medium - copics & twinkling H20 (iridescent green)
Inks - Distress ink - spun sugar

This is my entry for:

The shabby tea room - spring is near, plus dry embossing plus 3 colours from photo ( pink, green and aqua)
Papertake weekly - For the Girls
Totally gorjuss - Anything Goes, with a button
Paper Sundaes - feminine Flair

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs All round
Juls

Still waiting on my princess

Hello All,

Well I will hit my due date tomorrow, but I am pretty sure that she is going to be late as there is no sign of anything happening yet, despite the fact that I give her a good talking to every morning, explaining that she would have much more freedom to wriggle about if she came out .... but she is not listening to me, guess I should get used to that now I am going to be a mother!!

I just Love this image, again its one I have had for a while but not yet played with it ... I love how she is all glam, but looking fed up .. that's how I feel at the mo, but I am not looking at all glam, I have a huge belly, ankles to match and I am sitting on a ball and not a pumpkin .... but it does make me think of how I am waiting for my little princess to arrive.

Card Blank - Craft work Cards
Image - Saturated Canary
Colouring medium - copics
backing paper - Kanban
Floral embellishments - Polkadoodles (sundae of seasons)

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Kaboodle - Spring/flowers
Papertake weekly - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Special Girl
Crafty Catz - Special Lady
Paper Sundaes - Feminine Flair
One Stitch at a time - Use a digi.

Once again thanks for looking .... I hope it will not be too long before I am back with my big news!!

Hugs all round
Juls

Umberella

Hello All,

I am still here, I have a feeling she will be late!! On the upside I was able to sit and have a little play last night, just for the sake of it. I made 2 cards, both of which I am reasonably happy with, which is amazing it has been so long since I have made anything, when I do sit down I hate everything I make, and feel like I have lost all crafting ability.

I am having to craft with limited resources which is proving an added challenge, My craft space is now in the loft, and with a huge belly and swollen ankles it is a little difficult!! so I literally have a little bag with a few essentials, some card blanks, my copics and prismas.

One thing it has meant is that I have rediscovered some of my cd roms, as they are downstairs with the computers ... what an amazing resource, I don't use them nearly enough, I buy them falling in love with images or papers I print out a few things when I first get them, and then forget about it, as when I start crafting I use some of the paper I have to hand ...... so this card has been made from crafty goodness stored on my computer, and my copics!

card blank -Kanban
Image - Saturated Canary
Paper - Polkadoodles (Sundae of Seasons)
Colouring medium - copic's
Colour tinting - distress ink tumbled glass & Antique linen

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Craft your Passion - Anything Goes
Cup Cake - Yellow&Red
Papertake weekly - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T - Inspired by a song (Umbrella - Rihanna)
Totally Paper Crafts - Your Favourite things ( the colour red!)

Once again, thanks for looking, I will keep you updated on any news!!

Hugs Juls

More Baby Thank you's

Hi All,

It's a week today ...... eeek, although nothing exciting seems to be happening, so I kind of feel like it never will!

I have made some more thank you's .... Lets hope the scan was right otherwise I will have a LOT of cards that I wont know what to do with, and I will have to start again from scratch!

I think I am almost done now, I plan to make another 10 and see how I get on with that. I plan to use the same design as the top one, as I think that is my fav of the 3 designs that I have done.

Look forward to having a play just for the sake of it, as I not sure when I will next get the chance to do some crafting.

Thank you for all the kind comments and well wishes that I received from my previous post, it is much appreciated.

Hugs all round
Juls

Baby - Thank you's

Hello All,

Yes, please don't faint .... I have finally managed to make a card to post here. I am now at 9 days to go and counting!! I have finally stopped being sick, 2 weeks before she is due, but I have a whole host of other things, I am looking forward to having her here ... and getting my body back!!

I have been trying to get some thank you cards ready. I have made about 15 of this design, I have used a whiff of joy stamp, and some scraps of paper. and I have just inked round the edge with "distress ink - spun sugar"

I have got about 50 of these images coloured but will prob do a few different designs or I will get soooo bored. Although its been so long since I have made cards I feel like I have no ability left! I just stare at my stuff and cant get started.

I would like to enter this card into:

Simon Says - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

If I ever get back into any sort of routine hopefully I can get on here a bit more and do some commenting ...... I do get to pop on occasionally and check out your fabby creations.

once again
Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Journaling Backgrounds

Dear All,

I am so sorry I have neglected you all in blogland ... I have only 5 and 1/2 weeks to go until my little girl will finally be with me, unfortunately the closer I am getting to the end the worse my health is getting, also my work has been crazy recently ... so I have had very little energy to do any crafting.....

I have packed myself a small bag of crafting goodies and have sat it in the living room, as getting up and down to the loft is proving a bit of a challenge!! LOL!!

So far my brain has not been in gear so I sat and made these background pages for future journaling, using a bag of scraps and some gel medium! ..... I have also been brave enough to tear into a book!!!!! My Lovely hubby bought me a kindle, as we thought it might be a good idea to have wen I spend all day everyday feeding a baby!! .... This is one of my Elizabeth Gaskel books, which I have now been able to download free onto my Kindle! ....... I don't think I will ever be brave enough to do the same with any one of my 4 copies of Pride and Prejudice .... even though I have that on my kindle too.

I will try my best to do a little catching up with you all, however I have a feeling that it may be a hit and miss year, with all the stories I hear about looking after a newborn I am not sure on how much time I will have for crafting or blogging!! ..... I may be back before baby is here I really need to get some thank you cards made, also I have 3 family anniversaries in March so I need to make cards for that too!!

Thanks all for taking the time to look, and for putting up with my endless waffle!!

Hugs Juls

Going Retro

Hello All,

I am still working on my Mahooosive pile of scraps!!!!! and after reading Lisa's post, I am also on a mission to use any of my unused images, either rubber or digi! ..... Can you believe that this gorgeous Simply Sassy image has been sat in my box uninked!! ... I am not sure if the card is a little busy with all those colours and patterns .... but hey ho!! My art journaling has made me a little braver when it comes to doodling on my cards, I know It is only 3 little hearts, but I never would have been brave enough to draw them onto a card before. Not completely sure of the results, but hopefully it is a fun card!

This is my entry for:

Crafty Card Makers - No floral embellishment
MAWTT - Step back in time
Paper Sundaes - Saturated Colours
Dream Valley - Anything Goes

Once again Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Being Creative .....

Hello All,

This is an art journaling page that I have been working on for the last few days .... I had been checking out some tutorials on art journaling over the holidays, in the quest to learn more, whilst doing that I came across the saying:

"Being Creative means allowing yourself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to keep" I also came across one that said "there are no mistakes in art journaling" .....

These are sentiments that I am really having to take to heart with these pages ..... especially with my dodgy painting, I really should check out some tutorials or online classes for painting faces rather than thinking that I can just fudge my way through it .... I think she looks a little scary, I think it is because the eyes and lips are just a bit dodgly painted!! ... especially the eyes I find it really difficult to get them even! ..... I guess this is a case where I just need to practice!!

Most of this is my own drawing .. (which you can probably tell!!!) with the exception of the butterflies which are kanban stamps. It has all been painted with acrylic paint. and then I went over her hair and lips with twinkling h20's to try and lift it a little.

Once again thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Scrap Attack

Hello All,

A few cards using up my scraps!! When I was making the card posted below, I liked the way the background paper turned out, so while I had those scraps and my sewing machine out I decided to make a few more backgrounds to use up the paper and then save them from future use. In an effort to try and use up scraps I have also had a good root round and found these little toppers, that I must have bought eons ago, before stamping became my obsession. all the embellies are also made out of scrap paper too. Despite this effort there is not even a dent in my stash ..... I think I would prob have to challenge myself to use only scraps and odd bits and pieces for about a year, in order to make any sort of dent !!!! LOL!! cant see me doing that though! I will however make more of an effort!

This is my entry for:

Papertake Weekly -Anything Goes
MAWTT - Step back in time
If the Shoe Fits Scrap it - Use up my stash
CES - Anything Goes

As always thanks for looking
Hugs Juls

Bump Buddies

Hi All,

Well I have my first card of 2012, One of my best friends is expecting, she is exactly 3 months behind me, so we will be bump buddies!!! I have bought her a mum to be spa kit and have made this card for her.

I have used a load of scrap paper, for the background, I have colour tinted it with " Distress ink - tumbled glass" and the fabulous "whiff of joy" images which I have coloured with copics.

I apologise for the photo, its a dark snowy day, and with no decent light I was struggling to take a good photo, I have tried to lighten it up on the computer, however it is still a little blurry ...sorry about that!

This is my entry for:

By the Cute and Girly - New Beginnings
Kaboodle - Lets Celebrate
Party Time Tuesday - Something New
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - Xtra special occasion
Stamping for the weekend - New Beginnings
Sweet Stamping - New Beginnings
Allsorts - New Beginnings
Saturday Challenge - Anything goes

Thanks for looking
Hugs Juls