Art Journal Page: Halloween Weirdness

This months art journal class with Mike Deakin was Halloween themed. He was kind enough to share some of the Halloween themed digital downloads.

I used a cob web tissue and acrylic paint for the back ground and added Tim Holtz die cut cogs and Halloween ephemera along with Mikes creepy cat s the focal image.

I hope you like!

Stay crafty,
Katie

Mission Inspiration - October

I really enjoyed taking part in the July Mission Inspiration Art Journal prompts. Time has been short so I haven't managed to join in with the other months but here is a step by step of my October page!

1. Add black gesso with a baby wipe - I didn't have any black gesso so I used Docrafts Artiste acrylic paint in Noir. Black Gesso definitely needs to go on the shopping list!

2. Add torn magazine fragments.

3. Add texture paste through two different stencils - I used IndigoBlu Super Thick Slap it On through the Texture IndigoBlu stencil  and the graffti stencil from TimHoltz  (sorry I can't find a link for this one. I got it on EBay!!)

4. Add Paint or spritz with two different colours - I used Perfect Pearls Mists in Blue Raspberry and Pewter. These are now discontinued. I haven't really used them before and to be honest they are not my favourite product. They are very wishy washy.

5. Add marks with bubble wrap - I added dabs of Docrafts Artiste acrylic paint in Ice Blue. This has a lovely pearly sparkle to it.

6. Add a focal collage image - This is a picture of Dali from a leaflet I got when I visited the Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL. I love his art.

7. Glue small triangles of patterned paper randomly -This was just something I found in my stash so I am not sure where it came from!

8. Add a quote or phrase like a ransom note - A quote from Dali seemed very apt!

9. Add a border of your choice - A simple scribble border with a white broad Uni-ball Signo.

10. Finish with drips or splatter - Once again with the Docrafts Artiste acrylic paint in Ice Blue to tie everything together.

I love the texture page and I'm really pleased with how it turned out :) The photos do not do the sparkle of the Pearl paint justice.

If you would like to join in the the Mission Inspiration you can find the prompts on the Facebook page.

Thank you for dropping by. Please feel free to leave a comment!

Stay Crafty,

Katie

Pattern testing - Spooky Spiders

I have a sewing machine. My mum gave it to me when she decided she didn't  use it enough. Years went by and I had a sewing machine I didn't use enough. Nothing deserves to be locked up in a carry case for that long. So I went on a mission.

In an attempt to get myself more acquainted with my machine I went on a quest for some fun but simple patterns and came across the spectacular Jessica at Sweetbriar Sisters. Have a mosey on over and you will see a magical button - pattern testers!

After a peak on that tab and seeing the words "very beginners" I signed up. Not long after I had an email asking to pattern test Fiona the Fairy Princess.She was more complicated than anything I had ever attempted before but Jessica's patterns are very well written and very easy to follow! Since then I have pattern tested a few of Jessica's patterns - the most recent being her Spooky Spiders that will be appearing on her website soon.

I decided to try a baby spider. In hindsight I should have gone for Mama Spider as I think her legs would have been less fiddly - something to remember in the future. Beginner = big things easier!!

I found the legs to be the most complicated thing - to sew and to join on to the body. And it being a spider there were 8 of them to contend with. But after watching hours of Debbie Shore on Hochanda I told myself to take it slow. It's not a race... But I'm still going to have to research how to sew in circles. Pointed toes for baby spider this time!

Spot the essential crafting accessory in the background...

And here is the adorable Baby Spider:

Of course I had to find a way of getting buttons on him and I didn't have any safety eyes.

I just love the way his little legs sit, they give him a definite cheeky character.

A big thank you to Jessica for letting newbie and less experienced sewers have a go at pattern testing. I love having a go and all of Jessica's patterns are fab. I can't wait to see what she has in store next time!

Stay crafty,
Katie

Art Journal Page: It's never too late

I'm not sure how this page sneaked through the net,but this was the creation from the Journal Class with Mike Deakin in June.

The background you can just see peeping through is a napkin. I found this page a challenge as usually I am all over the bright colours and this quite muted for me. Never would I have picked up a brown without the gentle coaxing of Mike!

 What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment below :)

Stay crafty,
Katie

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