Exploration - Darkroom Door

Darkroom Door's Polka Dots texture stamp was the inspiration for this journal page.  Polka Dots is so striking when inked in black don't you think?!  

1. Stamp 'polka dots' three times - first, second and third generation stamping on the lower section of vintage paper panel to add a variation in depth of colour.  I used paper from an encyclopedia.
2. Find a black and white image of a person, trim it so that their eyes are the focal point.    Position this in place and stamp a 'top hat' above it.  Add a thin layer of white paint just below the face, when dry stamp 'airship'.  Add a touch of taupe paint to help blend the paint to the colour of vintage paper.
3. Stamp 'New York sign' on plain vintage panel, trim to size and affix to work.  
4. Layer work onto another piece of torn vintage paper, torn black scrapbooking paper and a thin layer of card (small than the other panels - to add strength to layers in preparation for machine stitching).  I added red ink to the torn black scrapbooking panel for contrast of colour.
5. Add matching stitching to frame and make connections between the elements on the page.
6. Stamp '31' using red ink, trim to size and add to work.  Affix postage stamp to the lower section of work. 
7. Layer work onto sheet music, encyclopedia paper and cream card.  Stamp 'exploration', 'adventure' and 'small cog' twice to complete work.  

Darkroom Door products used:

Polka Dots texture stamp

Steampunk stamp set

Other supplies:

Vintage papers (encyclopedia, sheet music), cream card, black scrapbooking paper, ink - red and black, sewing machine, threads - red and orange, acrylic paint - white and taupe, postage stamp and double sided tape.

Grace - CJS39

I worked on Jamie Dougherty's tutorial (Creative Jumpstart No. 39) a few days ago and have completed three different backgrounds on tags.  I'm really enjoying working with paint and am beginning to feel a little more confident to play and have a go and let myself get more messy!  I've snatched a bit of early morning playtime (before I go to work) to collage the tag with the first technique.  I've used some of my new rubber from Artistic Outpost and a little image from Darkroom Door.  I really liked the results I got from this technique and can't wait to really get stuck into some art journalling in the near future.

Another big discovery for me, whilst participating in Creative Jumpstart,  has been finding how amazing Ranger's non-stick craft sheet actually is.  I've kept mine in a box for years... I've been more inclined to work from my cutting mat, but wow, it's so easy to clean up!  I love it!

Anyway, there's a little more journaling on this tag.  I've written about grace and a recent experience I've had of someone lovingly extending grace to me, when it was so undeserved.  How amazing and humbling is that?!

Painting Up A Storm - CJS12

This Creative Jumpstart tutorial, presented by Catherine Scanlon, has been, for me, the most challenging one of all thus far!  I occasionally dabble with paint.  I add a dash of gesso here or a splash or watercolour there, but that's about as far as it goes!  So as I watched the video for the first time, I was tempted to skip the lot and move onto something easier!  Each of the three techniques had their own challenges and I spent a lot of time working on these pieces.  I persevered because I knew it would do me good to stretch out of the comfort zone a little more and try to develop my confidence with paint!  I have hesitated to show you the end results this time round - they are not masterpieces - but I said I would share it all, so I will!

I really like hidden journalling!  This journal entry was all about how amazingly good it feels to be strong on my feet again, after recovering from my mystery virus!  

And another reminder to play!

Let It Go! - CJS10

Nathalie Kalbach demonstrated a 3rd technique in Creative Jumpstart No 10.   It was a twist on a technique that I have used before and it was great to approach it from a slightly different angle.  I achieved mixed results and would like to try this again with different tools and cooler weather.  

 One of the really wonderful things I'm rediscovering through CJS, are some lovely products I've stashed away and forgotten about.  For instance, see that daisy stamp?  I don't think I've used it in the past 10 years, but I was thrilled to find it, as I thought it'd be the perfect image for this tag.

The journalling, unintentionally, got lost on this tag... in the end I needed to add layers to achieve a better balance.  Joel and I have recently been talking about forgiveness and how difficult it can be to forgive yourself of some mistakes you've made in the past.  You know, the ones that haunt you, the ones you can't quite let go of for a final time.  The ones where the damage has been done and there seems no possible way to repair it.  I have a few of those kind of mistakes, I guess we all do, and in the end, I've found it's best to try to 'let it go' and place all that anxiety into the hands of God, resting in His forgiveness and trusting that He will work all things for His glory.  And when that anxiety creeps back in again, you realise you've got to 'let it go' once more!

At Play - The Girls

'Thoughts on Why'

I have loved working with my stencils so much more after Julie's Creative Jumpstart tutorial.  It's great to once more put them to good use, my stencils have been very inactive, for like forever!

This time I added more collage layers:  stamping, textiles, buttons, stitching, scraps of paper

I'm also seeing more 'heartstrings' in my work - I'm wondering what that's all about!  I have been missing my mum, especially having been so unwell in recent times!  I can't help but wonder what kind of wisdom she would bestow upon her newly-wed daughter, but then again, deep down, I think I know the kinds of things she'd say.

'Girl At Home'

This one kind of looks like a house with the way the silk ribbon is sitting at the top of the tag.

I'm feeling more at home when working with stencils, which is fabulous.  But I'm also a girl that revels in lots of time spent at home - I just love it!

All stamped images are by Stampington (designed by Dina Wakley and Colette Copeland)!  I especially love the second girl image, designed by Colette Copeland.  Colette is one of my most favourite mixed media artists.  She's such an inspiration to me!

Creative Jumpstart 2013 - Balzer Designs

I'm 'at play' and it's getting messy!

I signed up to participate in Creative Jumpstart Summit 2013... a fantastic programme founded by Nathalie Kalbach from N*Studio to help creative types find inspiration (and get a creative kickstart) for the new year... and amazingly it's FREE!

You can find out more information and sign up here!  It's not too late, as the video tutorials will be available until the middle of the year!

So here it is, mid-January, and I thought it was about time to get stuck into Creative Jumpstart and I sure could do with a some inspiration, creatively speaking!  I'm looking forward to learning some new techniques and skills too!

'It's All About Playfulness'

This is my first attempt at working through a Creative Jumpstart tutorial.  This one was presented by Julie Fei Fan Balzer of Balzer Designs - CJS No 2. It was all about, 'Three Different Ways to Add Colour to Tags'.  This is also my first ever attempt at what I would call an art journalling style!  I can see myself really enjoying playing in a journal, up 'til now I wasn't convinced!  Yes, I think it's time to buy an art journal and have a play!

Here's my second tag 'I Love To Play', with just a touch of collage - an added strip of vintage paper.

These were so much fun, well after I got over getting very messy hands and not having complete control over the outcome!  They were also a great reminder to add layer, upon layer, upon layer until you're satisfied with the end result!

I'll be working on more of these for sure... perhaps you'll see some more tags tomorrow!