Artchix Blog

I recommend you go and have a look at Helga's blog - she's the owner of Artchix.

Its a brilliant blog - very inspiring and full of exciting ideas and challenges.

I asked her permission to show some of her work here - these are part of a 4 x 4 'chunky book' swap she hosted.

Fabulous!

ATC

This is the ATC I told you about on Tuesday - it was inspired by something I saw on Sarah Whitmire's blog. It has a surprise!

She's very athletic!

I finished it off this morning with my Artchix collage sheet

Look What I Got!

Look what I got today - I'm so happy! Gorgeous things from Invoke Arts, Retro Cafe Art and Artchix. A beautiful card made by Rosie plus a wonderful brooch which I saw and admired on her blog a while back. My favourite La Source stuff from Crabtree and Evelyn. And last but not least...the most fabulous doll from Sesga! I also admired this a few days ago and said how lucky the person would be who received it.....well its me! These are just a few of the things I received today............................because its my birthday!!!!!!
I know you should really keep quiet about it when you reach my age - but what the heck!

Wylde Woman Award

Wow, thanks for this award Sharon - I do rather like the title of it.
It was started by Tammy Vitale and this is what she says about it:
Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.
What an honour!
Well I'd like to nominate Rosie, Sesga, Jaqi, Shashi, Jacky and Sarah. I think they all fit the bill perfectly!

Soul Journal pages 9 and 10

I'll try my best to explain what all this is about, but for more detailed information see http://www.sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com/
First we covered the pages with torn print and dry gesso.

Then.......(this is from Sarah's blog):

-Fill the page with descriptive adjectives (Use a permanent ink pen)

-Cut out a silhouette of a person and ink or paint over it (Use the Magazine Stencil technique)

-Add a wash of paint (use a color you haven't used yet)

-Write your grocery list or any other list somewhere (use your non-dominate hand)

-Add tape

-Use pencil somewhere

-Make some quick lines, fast and without thinking

-Drip and splatter at least two different colors of paint

-Dry-brush on some paint (use a color you haven't used yet)

I think I've done all these - some things get obliterated though! (Don't think that matters).

I'm really pleased with the way it looks (ooh, steady on Linda) and I'm very interested to know what we are going to do next on these pages!

I'm off to make ATCs now.

There's an amazing idea on Sarah's blog I want to try.

Paper Dolls - Soul Journal pages 7 and 8.....part 3

Well, what a laugh we've had with these - thank you Sarah for your inspiration!
I very rarely wear dresses or high heels, so I decided that's what I'd have. So here I am stroking the cat, doing a crazy dance and hugging Brian. Now I'll go and do something sensible like preparing the 3 full page spreads for tomorrow.
Bring it on Sarah.......!!!







And just in case you think I've gone a little bit crazy, please have a look at what some of my Soul Journal friends have done..........see links down a bit on the right-->
There's some amazing artwork there!

Soul Journal pages 7 and 8....part 2

I am ashamed to say I posted a picture of these pages last night - then deleted it half an hour later. I'm struggling with the naive quality - but that's not what this journal is about. This morning I have decided they are ok (-ish).
My favourite houses are the ones I see on Greek islands and these drawings are supposed to represent the manor houses on Symi. They are really beautiful and they are all set in the hillside overlooking the amazing harbour.

Here's the pocket in my house - awaiting more instructions!

ATC

This is the first time I've used my Zetti face stamp - I fancied a bit of a doodle this morning.
You maybe can't tell, but I've put Glossy Accents on the eyes and a gem in the o.
Its also got blobs of turquoise Appli Glue which I've had ages and only just started using.
Well, I'm getting a bit more adventurous now.

Back later with my journal - I'm off to paint houses!

Love Linda x

Soul Journal pages 7 and 8

Here are the first 2 steps of our 'house' pages.
We had to draw our own house on the left and attach a brown paper bag - wonder whats going inside? Thats what I like about this; Sarah keeps us guessing and takes us back to pages when we think we have completed them! On the next page we had to draw any houses we liked.....well, I began drawing the lovely houses I remember seeing on the island of Symi. Only later did I regret the choice because I don't think they look right next to my house!! I think Sarah would say that doesn't matter - oh well, we'll see what we have to do to them next........
I forgot to mention, the second step was to stick bits of newsprint, tissue, patterned papers - anything we liked onto the houses. Wasn't sure how far to go with this, but I'll find out later today!
Rosie has emailed me and she wishes she was doing this journal along with me....that would have been nice. Hopefully this won't be the last journal challenge though!
Love Linda x

Little House...and Gifts!

I made a tiny house today for a change. I decided to use colours I wouldn't normally choose, as a challenge. Its quite thick and looked better standing up, so I glued a piece of card on the back to help it.


I've made some lovely new friends through the Soul Journal, including Vicki at http://alteredeverythingandmore.blogspot.com/
She was kind enough to give me an award yesterday! I am very honoured to receive another one of these. Thank you Vicki; I shall be a regular visitor to your blog.

Another surprise today was a parcel from Australia! My lovely friend Jacky (who is also doing the journal) sent me some amazing things, for which I can't thank her enough. I love her Klimt dolls (such a beautiful face) and the wonderful ATC has its own stand! And that wasn't all - she also sent me chipboard shapes to play with. (I used one of the little house shapes today.)

You are so kind Jacky, thank you.


Well, if that wasn't enough, I also received gifts from Jaqi yesterday (different spelling!). I admired her Beatles and Raven ATCs, which she kindly sent to me as swaps and included bags of gems, sequins and flowers as well. Oooh, and I nearly forgot, she also sent lovely papers and postcards. (See the background on my little house, Jaqi.)

I'm so lucky to have met such great people through my blog.

Tape It - pages 5 and 6

These pages aren't complete, but I thought I'd show you the first steps. I've caught up now and am awaiting Sarah's instructions of what to put on the pages.
First the page was prepared with print, gesso and journalling. Then we stuck tape all over; foil tape, insulation tape, masking tape and sticking plaster. Everything then had to be sanded - you might be able to see I've done the right hand page.Next, dry gesso, followed by paint.
And finally sand it all again. The foil tape shows through quite nicely after the sanding.

I'm aiming to work on this on alternate days so I can do a challenge or two in between.

Magazine Images - pages 3 and 4

Sarah gave us a list of 24 things to find in magazines, including a number, a flower, a circle, the letter R and something blue. We then stuck them down in a specific pattern (after preparing the paper with gesso and paint). I tore the edges of the pictures and went round with a brown chalk inkpad. I added a bit of scribbling and thought that was it - but no, Sarah told us to go back to it 2 days later and add paint and some specific patterns.
Well I rather like my brown page so I left that and just followed the instructions for the next page.


I have learnt a great deal about preparing and making backgrounds up to now.
What next I wonder? If you want to see Sarah's instructions, look here.

Thanks for all your supportive comments, by the way - I really appreciate them.
Love Linda x

Soul Armour - page 2

I want you to think about what you need to protect and nourish your creative spirit. Think about the things that sustain you. What’s needed to shield you from outside criticism and your inner critic?
This was the instruction from Sarah.

It was a pleasure to do. You can't tell but its got lots of lovely metallic paint on it.
I referred to my collection of quotes....the top one is from Eleanor Roosevelt: No-one can make you feel inferior without your permission.

The background has torn pieces of writing on it, then my journalling, then dry gesso, followed by some acrylic paint and finally metallic paint rubbed on with my finger!

It was quite hard knowing when to stop with this page. I may add more to it later!
(Click for a closer look.)

Almost Done

Have a peek - I'm nearly done.

Journal

I've been inspired by Jacky to attempt something that has been on my 'to do list' for some time.

She is following a blog tutorial by Sarah Whitmire started on July 13th (I'm busily catching up!)

Sarah gives daily prompts so you can journal along with her. First I had to get a book (mine is covered in blue suede - £4.99 from TK Maxx) and then cover the first 3 pages with torn book pages.Next, write all over the first 4 pages with a black pen, starting Today I feel........................

Next, dry brush gesso all over the writing.

Then stamp This book belongs to....... on the first page and write your name all over the page in different font styles and decorate it. The next page involves your 'soul armour' ie what protects you from outside criticism and your inner critic. I've only just started this so will show more tomorrow. if you want to see an amazing one completed, look here.
Right, I've got to go and find metallic pens, glitter, foil, metallic paint etc.

Back later!

Tagged

Jaqi has tagged me....so I'll have a go
1.What was I doing 10 years ago?
Teaching Y2 children and probably celebrating because it was almost the end of term!
2.Name 5 things on todays 'to do' list....
Do mum and dads shopping (done)
Buy a book so I can start my journal (more of that tomorrow) (done)
Phone my cousin in Canada (done)
Help Brian order stamps for my birthday (done - hope they arrive in time!)
Buy a shelving unit for conservatory (ooops)
3.Snacks I enjoy...
Mini Cheddars, olives, pistachios
4.Things I would do if I was a millionaire....
Buy mum and dad a bungalow with a conservatory
Have my baggy eyes sorted out
5.Places I have lived...
Here (in the middle of Nottm and Derby)
Crewe (for 3 years at college)

Now I tag.................Chriss, Sesga, Shashi , Sharon, and Judy.

Storing Stamps

I was talking to Rosie a while ago about the best way to store unmounted stamps and she told me about an idea she'd seen on a blog where someone had used old CD cases. And it works brilliantly! I'm in the process of sorting all mine, but I need more cases. Brian won't let me have his Beatles/Rolling Stones/Eric Clapton (etc) ones, so maybe I need to go to a car boot sale or something.
Anyway.....I've stamped the images on paper and put that in the front of the case..........
...and the stamps cling beautifully to the inside! Sorted!

Hope that might be of some use.
Love Linda

Shopping

I've done a bit of shopping today. I was supposed to be buying a shelving unit for the conservatory, but I found these instead. I rather like the 'shabby chic' look! I was going to paint them turquoise, but maybe that would be overdoing it. So I think I'll keep them cream. And shabby-looking. I also bought this metal sign for the bathroom - and they put it in this bag! Its 12" by 12" and both sides are covered in vintage images - think that just might come in useful!

Dans ma maison il y a.....

Dans ma maison il y a ......... La Tour Eiffel!
This is my contribution for this weeks challenge.
I used the PaperArtsy stamp plus some of the multi-image stamp that I bought when Rosie was here (so, Rosie, this is also my version for our challenge!)
You can see her Paris collage on her blog.
I stitched a lot of this down and used transparencies for the butterfly and the french script on the roof.
Added a few doodles, a bit of glitter, some embossing....then decided it was best to stop!