Jubilations

So here we are in June. I've managed to complete half the year in Kate's Journal challenge and have even come in on time for this one - Miracles do happen ;o)

June's calender background just had to be a Union flag.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Markers (picket fence, chipped sapphire and fired brick) for the flag and love the effect when I splatted it with water. 

I chose 'hats' as my days as it's in keeping with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. My intention was to have a crown for the day of the Jubilee but ...... being a bit dim ...... I cant work out which is the correct date! If  2nd June 1953 was the coronation day and Elizabeth II became Queen in Feb 1952 what are we doing this weekend exactly? Feel free to educate me if you know ;o)

This is how May's page ended up.

I did  challenge myself to do some things differently - some will and some will not be repeated!

Thank you for stopping by.

xXx

Head Adventures and Snails for Tea . . . .

In my endeavours to do somethings differently in May:

I have been 'Jemima' in Starbucks, (not the most original name but it made me giggle)

I have taken two of my lovely friends out for the day, despite them not knowing a thing about it!

check out the full adventure here on Dy's blog

We've had a day trip to Liverpool and amongst much else we wandered around (some might call it trespassing?) my old halls of residence - a fab city and fab trip down memory lane

and this evening I really pushed the boat out by feeding my family snails for tea

For the record we won't be doing that again!!

I had a play in my journal this evening 

I might doodle some more on it but for now it says what I wanted it to say: When I am pulled in so many different direction it's OK to say 'No' - I'm closed for a refill!

 What are you doing differently in May?

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you chose to leave

xXx 

Do something differently

Sometimes, when life feels stuck, the challenge is to do something differently to shake it up isn't it?

I've loved blog hopping and seeing how different people have chosen to lay out their 366 Journal Challenge calenders and was inspired by Donna and Sandy to use the film strip idea - thank you ladies ;o)

The biggest challenge this month was using the date stamp, what fiddly little things they are! I think I'd rather cut the numbers out than use that again. All I can say is there is a well date stamped piece of paper at work which could have been received on all the days in May!!

and this is how April finished up

I am still loving the challenge thank you Kate and very pleased to see that it looks like you are having a blast in NYC pre Ranger U

No, I'm not jealous, not really, not much! . . . . .

xXx

Confessions . . . .

Way back at the beginning of March I was bought 12,  yes 12, Ranger Tim Holz water brushes for my birthday - I think there was some collusion going on between a certain hubster and the one and only Dyan Reaveley! There was a plan to fill them straight away with Dylusions ink  and get colouring.

The confession is that its taken me til now to fill them ......... but ......... ooooooooooh they are amazing! The gorgeous inky colours just flow so easily and smooooothly.  

All I've done so far is stroke them and colour things in! Very therapeutic - as I cant really post a 'more chilled out' picture of me here they are:

My second confession involves another of my lovely friends the fabulous Dina Wakley. At the beginning of March I did a 3 day course with her creating a masterpiece of mixed media entitled 'Poetry in Motion.'

I loved, loved, loved creating it and being taught by Dina but on the eve of my parents' golden wedding celebrations I couldn't make what I had planned for them as a keep sake work ...... so I undertook some further alterations and recycling of the project.

(I have already asked for forgiveness before you ask!)

Here's what it morphed in to...

The pics are a bit naff as they were taken in a rush on my phone before it was given away but I loved it and they loved it.  Once more I thank you Dina for your inspiration and am glad all that positive energy was passed on to make more ;o)

That's it, confession time over.

I'm going back to play with my inks.

xXx

Constipated!

Not literally it has to be said . . . . .  that would be too much information!

You know when you are desperate to be creative but all sorts of obstacles get in your way? That's been me for the last few weeks - I am glad of my 366 journal each day so I do something!

Today I had a look back over early journals, the art isn't at all complex but 'art journalling' has always been just that to me - spilling something that is going on inside on to the paper.

I feel this today as I am aware of sadness in folks I care muchly about - I know I can't fix stuff but maybe wishing I could helps in someway?

One of my many mantras (I think that might contradict the idea of a mantra but never mind!) is from Helen Oxenbury's book 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt.'  I learnt the text of the book off by heart when my girlies were little but have learnt it by life since.

When faced with an obstacle or difficult situation or even just a big pile of work the only way through it is through it so face the fear and get on with it.

It helps when you have folks who believe in you and affirm you along the way - why not take the time to tell one person today that you believe in them - and yes, that person can be YOU!  

 

So now I need to get through my constipation and go and get on with it don't I?!

Have a great week folks, thank you for stopping by.

xXx

You are loved more than you know . . . .

At last I've made it out of the rabbit hole. As predicted March was a 'march' but on reflection was a brilliant month filled with brilliant events and opportunities ;o)

This is how my 366 journal page finished up looking

The month started with the fabulously talented Dina Wakley coming over to Art from the Heart to teach an amazing multimedia class - I loved the process of creating and learnt lots of new skills and techniques including wet rubbing and dry brushing - lol!

March finished with my parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary  - I'd say that's an amazing achievement and we had a fab weekend of celebrations with them.

Here's the card I made them

As for April  - well with all the above frivolity I have had no time to play until today: Good Friday

I wanted to remember what the day was all about (other than a welcome bank holiday)  so this morning watched the Mel Gibson film 'The Passion of the Christ' 

Having sobbed buckets at the horror of the torture and the realisation of God's love for mankind (and lil old me) I set to on April's journal page

I've missed journalling as I've been so busy .... so .... this is a spilling of how I am feeling today, but hey, that's what Art Journalling is all about is it not?

I used my newly learnt techniques of wet rubbing and dry brushing through  the new Crafter's workshop 'Cursive writing' and 'Ledger' stencils and Dylusions 'Chequered dots' stencil to create the background and used Dylusions 'Write between the lines' stamps for the tags.

So remember .....

YOU are loved more than you know !

Have a great Easter weekend

xXx

Down the rabbit hole!

Phew, I've done it at last!

For a couple of days my status on FB had to be 'I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date' as I had wanted to be ready and prepared for March and have my pages completed to link to Kate Crane's 366 Journal Challenge. I didn't quite make it but I'm secretly quite pleased to be ready for March 2nd!

March is always a busy month but this one seems like its gonna be extra busy and over in a flash as there are so many significant events in it.  I want to enjoy them all and not just rush from one to the next which is so often the way for me. So my real challenge for March is to enjoy what each day has to offer and not be 'marching on' to the next one ;o)

So here it is . . . .

and just to prove I do fill in the diary parts here is February all finished . . . . 

Thank you for stopping by and for any comments you might be kind enough to leave

xXx