Playing With New Toys

I've had these two toys for a week and I'm just now getting to play with them.  First toy is the Tim Holtz texture fade blueprint, second is Hero Arts, Skyscraper die.  They seemed like a natural together but that thought only came to me tonight, not at the time of purchase.

Navy card stock then was embossed with the blueprint folder, then lightly swiped with Club Scrap's wonderful white pigment ink pad.  The buildings were cut on the Cuttlebug from various colored scraps in my stash.  I stamped the buildings with October Afternoon's "Cakewalk" cling rubber background stamp in Distress Ink Chipped Sapphire.  Happy Birthday stamp is from Club Scrap stamped on a die cut label from Simon Says Stamp!

I think this will make a great guy card.

Same Journal Page, Second Layer

I spent this past weekend taking passes over these pages.  First thing I noticed after drawing black ink lines around the edges was the image of a bird's head...naturally!  So I drew in it's head and added a wing.  On the right edge I drew a few free-hand leaves.  The center red and black flowers is a stamp from Alisa Burke as are the left yellow ones.  I used Distress Paints to fill in the white spaces that weren't working for me, just leaving an outline of white remaining on both sides.

Working with the theme for the week's inspiration is "Be a good listener".  I don't think this is quite what Shimelle had in mind but while I was working on the stamp portion yesterday, I stopped to "listen" and then journaled in extra fine black Sharpie, what I was hearing.

Far from done yet.  The center will be next and I think the leaves and wing may have to be a bit altered too.  Time will tell.  Meanwhile I have a sketch ready for my next page that I am busting to start.  I actually have a plan which is not normal for me, LOL.

Art Journal...first mess

Tonight I made time to dive into my first attempt to mess in my new Dyan Reaveley Art Journal.  First steps consisted of Gesso, some Dylusion spraying and then a little stenciling.  Also I'm experimenting with white space per Dina Wakley.   What dawned on me is that I don't have to do this all at once.  I felt compelled when I began that I would have a completed double page to admire before the night is out.  Ha...I don't think so.  Stumped, I decided to stop and think about my next step.

While doing all this I am also incorporating LSNEW.  My theme for the coming week is "Be a good listener".  I think I'm going to add "be patient".

Next is deciding what goes inside and what happens with the white space.  Will it remain white?  Stay tuned.  I am excited to find out!

Art Journals

Yesterday my friend Jen and I took a little road trip out to Berkeley.  Our mission was to meet up with friend Lucy, shop at Scrapbook Territory, lunch at the Pyramid Brewery, shop some more.  We succeeded in all ways.

One of the main things I was out to find was a suitable art journal to begin some serious experimenting in.  I succeeded in actually finding two journals which now brings me up to having 3 going at once.

With 3 journals there should never be any waiting for some kind of art work to be happening.  While one is drying the other can be used.   The one with the Kraft paper pages will be more like a diary and planner for my ideas.  The little board book and the Dyan Reaveley journal...well, anything goes!

Below you can see my efforts to date.  The little board book has been sitting in my craft room for years.  Last night I completed (I think completed) my first page in playing with my new Stabilo pencils, a wooden veneer bird cage that I used as stencil, Distress Paints, Spectrum Noir markers and my beloved Alisa Burke feather stamps.  Next stop...slopping around in the big journal, LOL.

Thanks for looking!

Jen's March Card Sketch Challenge

Boy I no sooner squeezed in the February challenge and now I have already completed March's sketch.  My good friend Jen is known for her vast collection of embossing folders and fabulous use of them.  I on the other hand have a budding collection that tends to gather dust.  So I decided it was time to use them for this month's challenge over on Club Scrap's Forum.

I used two Sizzix folders...the Medallion and the Dotted Swirls.  All papers and the sentiment are from Club Scrap.  Distress Stain in Tarnished Brass for the metallic look and all other inking by Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire and Walnut Stain.  This was a fun sketch.

Jen's February Card Sketch Challenge and more...

More being Nancy's Squirrel Challenge to use some items never used and make it a guy item.  I'm not sure what to think of this card.  Often when I am doing a challenge...I AM challenged.  I wanted to use a hot air balloon theme for Jen's and make it guy-ish for Nancy's.  I fit those bills but not sure I am loving this card.  I used the CTMH "Artiste" cartridge with my Cricut for the Balloons.  All other materials are from Club Scrap.

Play time

I have been enjoying my new Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers and learning not only how to color and shade with them but what else I can throw at colored areas.  Today I played with a set of stamps called "Butterfly Kisses" from Dare2BArtzy, my markers, Clear Glossy Accents and Distress Stains.  After coloring the flowers and leaves with the markers, I used glossy accents on only the flowers.  Once good and dry (several hours) I stamped a few embellishing stamps and then swiped Distress Stains Broken China and Spiced Marmalade to alter the white card stock background.  I'm liking the vibrancy and liveliness of the piece.