An Attitude of Gratitude #11

 Today's thought on "An Attitude of Gratitude" was about things you have learned. The techinque - a messy one - Vaseline Resist! I was a bit dubious about the vaseline as I wasn't sure how my pages would take it but piled in yet again!


I don't have many nice paints so was left with grey, oh well..... and worse still I only have 2 stencils not counting the few I have made since starting this challenge. Really needed one with not too big holes so plumped for the alphabet one, and did just a small boarder top and bottom - just incase!

Well the Vaseline didn't make too much of a mess. It hardly showed through the previous page and not too bad on the following page.


As for the things I have learned - well the grey turned out to be the right colour after all, as I have learned that life just isn't black and white most of the time. And the pink pearlescent "clouds", well they seem to represent the happy sparkles in life.

An Attitude of Gratitude #10

Today we are looking at emotions, on "An Attitude of Gratitude". Mine are a bit of a rollercoaster over a month let alone over years so I had to depict them as such. I used Distress Stains (Frayed Burlap and Tea Stain) for the backing again, nice and quick and good coverage. Edged with some Mustard Seed and Gathered Twigs. The stars were cut on my Cuttlebug from previously Dylusion sprayed papers.

 

I got out my trusty newly made circle stencil for the top with gold paint, all happy and sparkly. For the bottom I used an alphabet one with clay paint all jumbled up and confused.

I know the remit was just positive emotions but to me life is just a mixture of both.  I liked the quote for today about emotions being like waves, you can't stop them coming but you can choose which to surf. Sometimes this isn't all that easy but a nice thought. I was drawn to the New King James version for the Scripture again, don't know why as I am a New International Version girl really. The technique was hearts or stars and as I used hearts on day 5, stars it had to be.

Can't believe we are a third through this challenge already. What a wonderful journey.

An Attitude of Gratitude #09

The technique for today on the "An Attitude of Gratitude" blog is FABRIC . Well would you know I only just sorted my fabric drawer recently when my Altered Book Course asked for a fabric page. I used the Weathered Wood Distress stain for the backing, edged with Distress Inks, Salty Ocean and Stormy Sky.

 

I used my Sizzix Alterations dies to cut the fabric. The bright satin blue fabric I used was from the lining of the box my wedding present from my Dad came, the green and purple from cushions I have made in the past.

The doily and pictures came in my "happy-mail" from Bernice the organiser of this daily AJ challenge for November.

I did the "strengths" on-line test and have noted my top 7 in white writing. I used the New King James Version for the scripture.

An Attitude of Gratitude #08

Just a quick post today as the day seems to be running away with me. Might well add to this page (have been adding to previous ones as the mood takes me) but for now, here is my offering for today's "An Attitude of Gratitude" challenge.

An Attitude of Gratitude #07

Thought I could take a break today as the technique on "An Attitude of Gratitude" is to make your own stencil and I had made one on Day 2. Thought I'd have a go at another one all the same. I had to make a tag shaped stencil as I don't have a base tray for my Sizzix Movers and Shapers.

I know the base of the tag die is actually a base tray and when the glue wears away I'll be able to use it as such but couldn't prise it off today.  Managed to get 3 butterflies on it and added some Big Bite holes to jazz it up a bit.

Just HAD to use something from my "Happy Mail" (Thanks Bernice) - the 2 bigger butterflies. It also included some dictionary pages which prompted me to tear some appropriate words out of an old dictionary I am using for journaling to go with today's scripture.

 

Better get on with some housework, all this art journaling it taking up alot of time! Oops better have lunch first, where does the time go?

WOYWW #179 - Gratitude Journal

Happy WOYWW to one and all as we jolly on through November. I have taken the November Daily Challenge over at the "An Attitude of Gratitude" blog of doing an Art Journal page every day. I am managing to keep up thus far!

I also managed to fit in making 18 Christmas cards, how scary is that? I used up some toppers sent to me by a friend and also some freebie 6x6 papers from a magazine last year. Getting there...

An Attitude of Gratitude #06

How brave am I? If you saw yesterday's installment of Bernice's Gratitude Journal Challenge, you'll have seen the pickle I got into with my Dylusions! So why would I be using them AGAIN! I covered my journal in wax backed paper as usual, but not taking any chances this time, I taped the seam!

I enjoyed the inking and spraying and blotting safe in the knowledge I wouldn't be getting any seam seepage and I didn't - YIPPEE!

Today's scripture was about being heavy laden and having been watching Andrew Marr's History of the World and just seen the Industrial Revolution episode, what else would do but Steampunk!

An Attitude of Gratitude #05

Today's technique on the Gratitude Journal was Dyan's Bleachout Technique. First hurdle, no black Dylusion's so used brown instead. Second hurdle, no big outline stamp, but had the one shown here where I cut out the solid centre! The bleachout worked well and my new white pen was just dandy. I used 3 stamps within the scripture today too. The "good" was cut from a Good Luck stamp.

Now for the shocker! Wait for it! The Dylusion inks seeped through the seam along the cords mainly and went on the previous 4 pages! HELP! Managed to paint a bit over the splodge on yesterdays green page. I sort of diluted the red on the sun, and have added journaling too.

I have no idea what to do with the stalagmite on the cosmic page but the small red splodge on page one became a poppy!

Any ideas - I'm all ears!

An Attitude of Gratitude #04

 Today for the Gratitude Journal technique we were asked to stamp with an embossing folder. This was completely new to me, never even thought of doing it before.

Our scripture was about time and the only appropriate folder I have is the Darice cogs one. I practiced once and was thrilled with the result so I stamped the positive top right and the negative bottom left. I also happened to have a stamp of the scripture so used that too.


I used some green paint with a Tesco card to cover the pages initially and pearlescent pink to cover the number dies. I even had a go with my new white pen which seems to work nicely.

I added some Crushed Olive and Walnut Stain Distress Inks aswell.

An Attitude of Gratitude #03

Oh dear have to say today's technique on the Gratitude Journal blog filled me with dread - draw freehand! Not something I am inclined to do, but I watched the video of a mixed media project and knabbed the backing of book pages (left over from my Altered Book) so my pages weren't completely blank to start with.

The picture is of a little stained glass frame we have. I started with watercolour pencils but added distress ink and watercolour pens too as I prefer more intense colours. Still can't get my white pen to work so opted for glitter instead! It's still wet in the photo!

I wrote a synopsis of the scripture Exodus 35:30-35 as it is the one place in the Bible which outlines the gift of crafting.

 

I hope it portrays my thankfulness for the sunshine and each day we are given.

An Attitude of Gratitude #02

Day 2 of Bernice's Gratitude Journal prompts and inspiration and the technique was circles or squares. I went with circles... Always been meaning to make myself a circle stencil, so at last the push to make one. I got out a piece of packaging acetate and rounded the corners. Then got the Big Bite out and made big and small holes.



 

I used it ramdomly with a baby wipe to remove distress ink. Also dipped the baby wipe in pearlescent lilac paint and did some more. Loving this technique learnt at Neil's "Sew Trew" workshop. Wish I could find a white pen that works though!


The sunshine made me happy again today, also go some new coloured lights for outside the house this Christmas and shopping went without a hitch and I even got a queueless checkout - Yippee.

 

An Attitude of Gratitude #01

Bernice is setting the challenge of doing a Gratitude Journal daily throughout November. I have got off to a good start but who knows if I can keep up.

I was taken by the Scripture for today which is from Psalms 100:4 "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;" All I could think of were some big old gates so I googled for an image and just went from there.

The technique today was to use a colour you didn't like or didn't use often. I couldn't think of the former and had to do a survey of my last couple of scrapbook albums (71 pages) to see what I DID use. Here are my results:-

23 - Blue & Green
12 - Red
11 - Brown
10 - Pink
  9 - Purple & Yellow
  5 - Orange
  2 - Black, White & Grey.

You can tell I live in a male dominated household can't you. Although I have been bringing Purple and Pink in wherever possible. But, oh dear I was left with Black, White & Grey! OK so I squeezed in a bit of Yellowy/Orange too, couldn't help myself.

WOYWW #178 - Busy Scrapping

Here we are again at Julia's Place to present our desks in all their glory! I've been busy scrapping this week trying to catch up with my day to day photos and I only have them printed up 'till the beginning of July! Hmmm need to order some more prints methinks - oh the selection is so laborious.

My latest page is laid out as it was earlier. It is of The Craft Barn Extravaganza back in June where I met Karen on the Tando table and Neil busy with his "big one" (kitchen towel!!) and Dylusions. I have since finished (I think) the page so you can see the "before" & "after" stages, and I used some of  my watch pieces from woyww #176, for the first time. GRIN!

 This week I have also received the next Art Journal in a circle thingymebob I am doing at present. My first real adventure into AJing and so nice to see other people's work in the flesh as the AJs pass through.

There are also some SWAPs hiding in the final picture. My November SWAP card on UKPC where we have the theme of spots for Children in Need, plus my December EXCHANGE pieces where we are doing a patchwork wall hanging in Red, Gold and Green. The brown envelope has my original Advent tag all packed up and ready to post in December!

Still need to make more of those pesky Christmas cards though!!! I'll be looking out for inspiration on your desks for those. I'll always reply if you leave your number. Happy WOYWW - BJ.

STOP PRESS

 

Just received my prize from the $50 winning on the Random Draw at Simon Says Stamp and Show. It took a week to get here and it was my first ever entry so I was extra blessed. Can't believe how cheap card is in the USA, so I go 2 packs, some metal embellishments and the adorable little mini lantern just right for my Nativity Scene Stable. You can see I couldn't wait to see if it worked, hoped USA batteries were the same as UK ones - phew! The tiny bottle of crackle accents made up the amount including the mega postage from the US. Oh happy me. Thank you SSS&S.

 



Advent Tag - Just Add Pearl

Oh the trials of taking a picture of this tag without getting something strange reflected in the candle flame mirri-card! I took a dozen photos altogether to get this one.

It just had to be done though so I could to enter it for the current Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge - Just add Pearl.

I used pearl paint for the stensiled backing. I edged the candle and foliage with pearl paint too.

I added pearl stamens and half pearl berries oh and of course the pearl droplet.

Yes definitely pearly.
BJ

Tag Journal

Here's my latest page in, what seems to now be, my TAG journal. I do Tim Holtz's tag each month and one of my own. I then make up pages for them. Got a bit adventurous this time and even stamped the background!

September always marks the return to school so a tag on books, using spare pages from my altered book. Also Tim's Tag using a typewriter. I found my picture of the typewriter in a local magazine! Here's my original post for this tag.

October seems to mark Autumn really getting a hold with nights drawing in and the days getting colder. Definitely time to hibernate! Here's my original post for this tag. My leaf tag is a take on a SWAP I did but using my NEW Fall Distress Inkpads. So glad they are now a permanent addition to the Distress range as I have been waiting ALL year for them having missed out last year when they were released!

It's all a bit Autumnal - BJ

WOYWW #177 - Christmas at last!

Yep - at last I have made some Christmas Cards. Made a few for a SWAP (can't show those) then thought of all the cards I have saved from last year. I had already cut most of the pictures out using nesties so just had to find some papers, do a bit of inking and sticking. Add some glitter and greetings and more or less done. Glad to get some done at last, don't wish to give in and buy any.

If you wish to have a snoop at other desks pop over to Julia's. Please leave your number if you are a WOYWWer then I will reply to any comments.

Happy WOYWW, BJ.

WOYWW #176 - Steampunk!

My husband bought me a couple of crafty things this week, the "Heat it" craft tool from Ranger and a 30g bag of watch parts which are in my trusty purple tidy tray. Been cutting out some leaves for an Autumn tag (like my October SWAP card - previous post), also planning a few swaps.

To join in this wonderful Wednesday of Workdesks go and visit Julia, and all will be revealed. And please leave your number in comments so I will be able to find you more easily. Happy WOYWW.



October SWAP - Embossing

On our UKPC group, this month's SWAP theme was embossing. I used a Darice Woodgrain embossing folder through my Cuttlebug for the backing and a Tim Holtz Frame for the topper. I heat embossed both with gold powder. Wondering if you can count Glossy Accents as embossing too and what about Cosmic Shimmer Glue for the dots? Definitely having a Autumnal Leafy time at present. BJ

TH #10 - October Tag

I knew this month's Timmy Tag would not only be a challenge supplies wise but also subject wise.

I pondered a while and then jumped straight in by making my own tissue paper by stamping some music score on plain tissue paper with jet black StazOn. Quite amazed at how well it turned out. I Pritt sticked my tag and squished the tissue paper on and again pleased at how well it crumpled up and moved about.

Got some Autumn paints colours out (Avocado and Clay) and did the baby wipe thing - hmmm like that technique. Smooched the paint about and added Pitch Black to the edges. I highlighted with  Crushed Olive and Spiced Marigold Distress Inks and stamped a few bare trees with black archival. Nearly forgot to spray with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearl Mist but so glad I didn't forget as it looks lovely and rich and sparkly.

The word "TIME" just grabbed me so I black glittered some of my WORDPLAY letters. (Don't think I have glittered this way since last year's 1st Christmas Tag - LOL).

I cut out the October month from my Lost and Found Paper Stash and attached with a swirly paper clip. Hmmm - then what next? I hunted around and found my last ceramic hedgehog button and sewed him on the bottom edge, added a few leaves, an acorn, some string strands and even a dangly metal leaf.

Then after the word "TIME", I just HAD to add the words "To Hibernate".   Done!

I'm sure this would count for Simon Says Stamp and Show's current Rustification Challenge too as it is rather RUSTIC!

Just had to pop this in to ABAC too.

WOYWW #175 - More Scrapping

My desk might be tidy but my shelves are heaving! Bought some Timmy goodies this week, some are hanging from the bottom shelf. Made a couple of scrappages, both hanging from the second shelf. You can find close-ups here and here.

I tried out a little bag made from an envelope from the tutorial by Christine Embers, and I have the template for a paper angel printed out from Carol's tutorial pending...

For more desk snooping visit Julia's and join in the WorldWide What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday frenzy.

Scrapbook Journaling

I had the good fortune of tuning in to Sunday Scrappers on Create and Craft last Sunday and saw their guest Melanie Heaton.

Melanie gave great hints and tips for scrapping and highlighted the journaling aspect which is something I usually leave 'till last and often just write round the photographs. She said to journal FIRST, and to try to handwrite something about the time and the feeling surrounding the photos.

I rarely matt my photos either and she showed various ways to matt photos and emphasised what colours were best to use. Dark to recede, light to bring forward and skin tones to draw the eye to faces in photos.

She talked about the design triangle where you place three embellishments round the page to draw the eye round the page.

Anyway, thought I'd try my best to incorporate her principles into my next page. I made the journaling tag, nearly first, as I had previously cropped my photos. I double matted my photographs, and there are a few sets of threes too. My final page uses handmade papers which might well have come from India.

Anyway Melanie said she'd add her sample pages and tips to her blog sometime this week, so I'll be watching out.

November Fireworks

Continuing the firework theme for November.

For those "over the pond", here in the UK we commemorate with fireworks, the thawarting of the Gunpowder Plot, where Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament back in 1605.

This little ATC is for a SWAP, where we were asked to use something that was a gift. As I rarely buy gems, I suspect the blue gems must have been in a free gift on a magazine some time ago.

Scrapping the Generations

At last - scrapping mode. Here's some photos of me, my Mum and son in my Aunty's back garden when we visited over Jubilee Weekend. Loved the poppy photo and just HAD to cut round it and it pointed me towards the colour for the page. The pink paper had the turquoise boarder already and it just snowballed from there. Used my WORDPLAY die and my now trusty typewriter.

WOYWW #174 - Fabric Page

I have at last come to the final page in my Altered Book whilst doing the course run by Elizabeth. Lesson 16 is all about fabric and I was determined to use some especially as I love sewing. Fortunately there were more trousers to alter, so as I was getting the sewing machine out for those, I had no excuse. My book's theme is seasons and I needed a November page so it just had to be fireworks. The black fabric was from an old work skirt of mine which I loved and the gold and red fabric circles already had fused glue backing as they were off-cuts from when I made a banner for church.

 

I sewed the circles on with metallic thread and then added spirals coming out from them. I have hand sewn seed beeds around the spirals and star sequins inbetween. I have machine sewn it all onto torn out pages from my altered book but haven't got around to glueing it in yet. That might proove a bit tricky!! Oh and there is a little card I made for American friends who are going, from here in the UK, to work in France.

Well that is me for this week, if you fancy a look at other desks in the mad frensy that's called "What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!" pop over to Julia's to be amazed.

PS My son said it looks more like starfish and my husband said it was more like something biological - oh well I tried!!

October Leaves

Here's a little October leaf ATC. Winter is fast approaching now but the trees look wonderful in their autumnal colours. Thought I could enter this into the Simon Says Stamp and Show, as their theme is "leaf-spiration".