Art Journal pages "Embrace imperfection"

It's been a while since I have done an art journal page and it really made a change from my recent art work.

I started by collaging some scraps and adding a couple of tags for interest. I then added lots of heavy gesso for texture...

 

I used Liquitex inks in Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and Burnt umber. Then I added black. Lots and lots of black. In fact I got a bit carried away...

 

At first I thought I had ruined my pages but as it dried I really liked it...

 

The black ink has given the pages I think a very moody, dark look...

 Did these pages turn how I expected? No. Did they turn out perfect? No. Hence the title "embrace imperfection".

I will be adding these pages to this week's grunge challenge at Simon Says Monday challenge. I was thrilled to have made the designer spotlight for the "Take Note" last week!

See you soon xx

Mixed Media collage cards: Pretty Grunge...

I'm still in full on grunge mode lol!

These creations will be my second entry for this week's Simon Says Monday challenge " Grunge it Up". This time I've gone all out pretty grunge, with floral collage papers and silk ribbon to finish.

 

I've used Dovecraft's Nature's Grace 6 x 6 papers for my collage to give a lovely floral backdrop to my cards. 

 

 I used my Gelatos and Prima oil pastels again to add depth of colour.

 

After collaging I grunged it to the max with black India ink and my China pencil.

 

Of course I have used the Tim Holtz ornate book plates to frame my sentiments which are by Stampin Up. 

 I can't promise I won't do more grunge, I like challenging myself to see how many different grunge looks I can create. Anyway, see you soon xx

Bright grunge collage art journal pages...

If you have read my last few posts you will know how much I love the grunge look, so I was thrilled when I found out that this week's challenge over at Simon Says Monday challenge is called "Grunge it Up".  How could I resist?

However rather than use dark colours as I have over the last few weeks I chose much brighter colours, in fact one of my fave colour combinations-shades of lilac and green.

I used Pebeo acrylic paints in Anise Green and Blackcurrent, and Gelatos in Black Cherry and Raspberry. The scribbles were made with a black China pencil and white Sharpie.

 

I just used a 300gsm A4 piece of card and used acrylic paint and collaged some book papers. I also used Prima oil pastels and some Gelatos.

Here are a few close ups of the finished piece...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was going to make some cards with the finished artwork, but at the last minute decided I liked it too much to cut it up too much and put it in my Dylusions Art Journal instead.

 

The lovely sentiments are by Donna Downey called Empowered Words, which I've embossed in silver. 

 Lots of photos today, but I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I loved creating them. See you soon xx

Vintage collage...

I have made these little creations especially for this week's Simon Says Monday Challenge which is called " Tear It Up".

I first tore up lots of old book pages and collaged them with stamped images from the fab Stampendous Andy Skinner stamp set called "Shabby Chic".



 Then I used distress inks in Seedless Preserves and Victorian velvet, two of my fave Tim Holtz colours. I also used them on some flowers from my stash to match my background.

  

To finish I embossed a couple of Stampin Up sentiments on gold embossing powder.

  It is very unusual for me to attempt vintage, it is not my area of expertise, but the distress inks and stamps really did all the hard work for me.

 I do hope you are all having a lovely week, bye for now xx

Trio of abstract thank you cards...

I've managed to combine my love of abstract art, Gelli printing, collage and card making with these creations. These cards started life as an A4 Gelli print and I then just kept adding acrylic paint and some collaged book papers to create these abstract designs.

 

Little pieces of art to which I added an Indigo Blu leaf flourish stamp in white acrylic.

 

I really love the colours of DoCrafts acrylic paint in Conifer Green which is almost a turquoise colour,  and DecoArt Lush Foliage which is the pale green.

 

All the sentiments are from Papertrey's Boutique Borders Thanks stamp set and I used Crealies dot rectangles to die cut my rectangles as I think they give a really lovely finish to a card.The silver twine is from some old Christmas gift wrapping stash I have.

 Really enjoyed making these little cards. Hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

Layered stamping...

I am making the most of the extra hour today and have created this card for this week's Less is More challenge which is layered stamping.

It is actually one of my favourite techniques. I've stuck with neutral tones of brown, adding another collage stamp and sentiment in black ink for contrast.

 

The frame stamp and sentiment is by Papertrey called Boutique borders love stamp set, and the lovely postal collage stamp set is by Kaisercraft. 

I have tried to create some balance with the stamping on each side of the card, and then adding a black tab with a Stampin' Up brad to add extra interest.

 I hope you are having a great weekend, thank you for stopping by x

Mixed media collage art journal pages *you never know*

As I was still in the mood for art journalling I decided to use my new Dylusions creative art journal. I bought the 9" x 11" size, and it was only when I opened it I realised how much blank space there was to fill.

I don't normally journal in quite such a big book and it was daunting. However, I just started by collaging in opposite corners and tried to let the pages evolve.

Some of the collaged pieces were left over from another project where I had used blue paint, so I used blue and magenta pink watercolour together with highlights of gold, and then added black for some dramatic contrast.

I did go a bit overboard with the Tim Holtz flourish stencil!

I have to say I really like the colour combination and I'm pleased with how these pages turned out.

Thank you for stopping by xx

Mixed Media Collage Collection...

30 years ago today, here in the South East of England, we were hit by a great storm. I remember it vividly. I was woken at approx 4am and looked out of the window to see trees bent over straining against the wind and debris flying everywhere. I remember our greenhouse being lifted up almost in one piece and then dropping to the ground completely smashing it to pieces. I could not believe this was happening in our little part of the country. I had only ever seen this kind of weather in films or in news reports from other parts of the world. No-one had ever seen anything like it in the UK in their lifetime, or indeed since. 

Luckily we have escaped ex-hurricane Ophelia which has hit the west and north of the UK today, but I feel for those who are affected and hope everyone is OK.

Today I have been making a collection of collage pieces. I used old dictionary papers and magazines to collage and then used my Prima Oil pastels to add colour. I also added some stencilling and stamping to add a bit more pattern and detail. The lovely lace pocket die I've used on the larger card is by Elizabeth Crafts.

 

I collaged an A4 piece of card and after cutting it up found I had enough for all of these creations.

I really love the colours of yellow, pale pink, grey with hints of gold here and there. The tags were made using a tag die by Papertrey.

I have used my Donna Downey Empowered words stamps again, with the exception of the Gift sentiment which is by Heartfelt creations.

  

 And here is the whole collection...

 
 I really love how grungey they turned out.

Anyway, I hope you are all OK and the weather is being kind to you x

Collage art journal pages...

Sometimes I like to create mini collage pieces that are not just quick to do but make me think about how I can build on what I have created. 

And so I came up with these little collage journal pages.

I stamped Kaisercraft "Postmarks" stamp onto 2 pieces of white card and then collaged some stripes of deli paper which I printed on with my Gelli plate in oranges, pinks and gold colours. I then adhered them inside my 8" x 5" Dylusions creative journal. I could have stamped and collaged directly into my journal but I like the contrast of the white card against the buff colour of the journal.

I like the areas of white space for the eye to rest on, and the transparency of the deli paper allowing the stamped image to show through. And to finish I added the simple Donna Downey sentiment stamped and embossed in silver.

This will be my second entry for the Simon Says Monday challenge which is "anything but a card".

Thank you for stopping by x

A Walk on the dark side...

This is my entry for this week's Simon Says Monday Challenge.

I do love bright colours but I will be honest that if given the chance I will always prefer to work with dark colours so this challenge was a joy for me.

I decided to do a collage art journal spread, with lots of old dictionary papers and beautiful tissue paper by Papermania which has lots of really great dark imagery, perfect for my art pages.

I added some of my stamps by Hampton Art and Inkadinkado which I stamped in black archival ink.

Then I added some black india ink around the edges of my pages to add to the Halloween effect.

I like how it turned out and the overall monochromatic effect.

I really enjoyed creating these pages and hope you like them too. Thank you so much for stopping by xx 

Mini collage art book using Prima Oil pastels...

I absolutely love collage and totally lose myself in the whole process. I also love the unpredictability, never really knowing quite how things will turn out.

 

One of the ways I like to display my collage pieces is to create mini art books. I have created quite a few now and use them when I want to look at back at my work and remind myself of the different products and techniques I used in each one.

 

I think one of the tricks to collage is to expect it to go through a bit of an ugly duckling stage at first. Is this something you find too? However, as I added white Gesso and then the Prima pastels to co-ordinate with the collage papers, it all began to come together.

 

Here is a photo of the front of my mini book. The addition of the black half circles was a last minute thought but I think it helps to bring each pages together. I simply drew them in a charcoal pencil and added a tiny amount of water to blur the edges.

 

The lovely little tassels are by Provo Craft which I have had in my stash for years now. I don't know who make the little black word stickers as I have also had these for a long time too.

I added some faux texture to the collage by stamping a background stamp by Studio Lights (No.181) in white acrylic paint which has given the whole piece a slightly distressed look.

 

And, finally a picture of the fab Prima oil pastels. This is a new type of medium for me, but I have to say I am in totally love with them. Initially I was applying them by scribbling with them and then adding water, but if you spray the water first and then add the oil pastels, the pastels just dissolve beautifully into the water. I don't think it matters which way you do it but I love how these just melted into my artwork and the colours are amazing too.

I really loved creating this little mini book. What to do you love about collage? Have you tried it yet? Do leave me a comment and let me know what you think,

Have a great day and I hope to be back very soon

Eleanor xx