Actions speak louder than words.... art journal page

I know these pages aren't everyones cup of tea but I am fascinated with them. The things that come into my head when I start to create a page and the fact that I can just let it flow from me. It is so cathartic...even if it means nothing to anyone else it means a lot to me.
The sheer abandonment of creating just for creating' sake just fills me with joy. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut as most of us do from time to time... but sticking, doodling and colouring often get the creative juices flowing again so that I can move on to something more structured. Long live the coloured pen and glue stick lol
hugs
Chris xx

Gothic Arch Challenge - Crackle

I had lots of fun with this weeks Gothic Arch Challenge 'crackle'. So much so that as usual I got a bit carried away...lol
The first arch had to be a bit on the 'love' thing as it's almost Valentines Day and I have done nothing romantic in my artwork of late so I thought this just might fit the bill. The words mean... "Remember Paris my love"... well I can't say I do cos I haven't ever been (cry...blubber...sniffle...maybe one day!!) Still waiting for someone to whisk me off me feet onto that private aeroplane (think Pretty Woman...heh heh).
Images are from Lisa's Altered Art (digital kits)

My next arch is a bit tongue in cheek... one of my sketches transformed digitally... 'tis sooo me.
I don't look like that(hmmmm although the hair thing sometimes goes on of a morning now my hair is long...lol) but I am definitely unique... one of a kind... and definitely a dreamer!!


Thanks for popping by...see you soon :D
hugs
Chris xx

Decorated button jar

I got some lovely shaped spice jars from Ikea some time last year with the idea of altering them to hold my supply of buttons/charms and or ribbons. Well I finally got round to doing one of them and I am going to love doing the others.
I used a gorgeous charm image from Lisas Altered Art as my focal point ...on top of some script paper doodled with gold.

I put some angel hair behind it so it would look a little bit more delicate...

and I finished off by decorating the lid of my jar with sticky ribbon, ordinary ribbon, mesh and half pearls.

Now all I have to do is find a home for it... think it's time to have some shelves put up :D Don't want to hide it away... I think it's much to pretty for that.

hugs

Chris xx

Artist Trading Club- February challenge.... Cookies

Donna (Cookie Sunshine) is this month's guest designer at the Artist Trading Club and she has named her ATC's 'Cookies' after the blog she previously ran. Her Cookies are made up of art she has previously made including doodling, paintings and images etc, digitally collaged and then other pieces added after printing out.
Well I just knew I was going to love this!! So I painted and doodled my backgrounds...
scanned them... added my own digital image stamp

printed them out on canvas paper....

added some rub-on words and extra doodling...

and also some bling... lol

Cor I just loved it...it was so much fun.

Have a fab day all and thanks for looking :D

hugs

Chris xx

Playing 'Dress it up'

The other day my pal Chriss sent me a link to this fab blog where delight of delights... ladies are playing dress up and making all kinds of dresses...paper, fabric, mixed media etc. and OMG it took me back to when I was a young 'un cutting out the dresses from the 'Bunty' and then progressing to making my own with anything I could lay my hands on. I would spend hours cutting and sewing, sticking and admiring and I have been transported back to that glorious time. If you'd like to join in pop over to Margaret's blog here.
Margaret is challenging herself to make one dress each month... but well as usual when I get my teeth into something I couldn't stop!! I knew I wanted to use some Basic Grey papers that I bought a long time ago...I could picture them in my head.

My first dress is using one of my favourites and just had to have this bird as it's focal point.

Number two includes some lace effect paper and some more of my lace stash...

and I just had to add some half pearls and some bling :D

Number 3 is using vibrant colours with some soft muted pink.... I layered... decoupage style... some of the gorgeous cerise pink floral pieces from the paper and then made some shabby circles for more interest.

Finally (well for today at least... I'm addicted now..lol) I must've been having a sober moment ;-)

cos I made A SUIT. The paper was just saying... 'make me into a suit' honest IT WAS!!

A few half pearls for embellishment... a couple of paper cuts for interest and some patterned paper for colour and Bob's yer Uncle I was finished.

Errrm but after I took my photos I started again... told you I was addicted... so I've more to share but I have to keep you in suspense for a little while or you will be here for the next 24 hours scrolling down to the end!!

Hope you enjoyed the fashion show.

hugs

Chris xx

Gothic Arch Challenge - Correspondence

This weeks Gothic Arch Challenge is 'Correspondence 'and I had to join in... as I had these lovely images from Lisa's Altered Art and I have been waiting for something gorgeous to use them on
and just for a change I've been using touchy feely stuff :D

This is a close up of those gorgeous images....

and I just had to show you a close up of this amazing lace that I received aons ago as a little gift from Karen at Scrapz I have had it forever!! but I couldn't bear to use it... I just wanted to look at it and stroke it lovingly. I mean come on...look at the g o r g e o u s bling encased within those special threads. ooooh I can't believe I used some but I had to so I could share it with you...lol

hugs

Chris xx

Dream in colour art journal page

Having a lazy day with my Grandson today... still got my pj's on (shame on me...lol) We've had a carpet picnic and hot chocolate with marshmallows, cream and chocolate sprinkles(dreamy and yummy too). He had tried to introduce me to the joys of Playstation 3 but hey I must be getting old cos it totally bamboozles me. Really prefer playing games with him on the WII ...much easier...don't have to think about it :D Still I've had a fab day and am going to snuggle up on the sofa with him soon as I finish this post to watch Aladdin... well what are grandkids for if you can't indulge in a bit of huggy time eh :D
So just a quickie to share another of my art jounal pages with you today... hope you like.
Have a great day
hugs
Chris xx

playing with digi...

I just love digital kits and the new digital atc kits from Lisa's Altered Art are fabulous to play with whether you love this style of creating art or prefer the traditional sticking and pasting of images using arty backgrounds :D
My queen of flowers is completely digital... using this gorgeous lady as the focus and building up layers from the kit to create the background and give her her crown....

and this atc is done the traditional way using one of my painty backgrounds and images from the kit that have been printed out and then placed where I wanted them. Would you have known the difference I wonder :D

My free painted backgrounds are still up for grabs a couple of posts down so don't hesitate to grab them to make your own atcs/artwork with.

Have a fab day

hugs

Chris xx

One World One Heart 2010 giveaway

This is the first time I have taken part in this fabulous event. The One World One Heart giveaway event was started by Lisa a few years ago to bring bloggers from around the world together who would never ordinarily meet :D What a fab way to make new friends and also be in with a chance of winning some amazing goodies from those that take part. If you'd like a chance to receive one of my little giveaways then hop onto the magic carpet and join in with the fun.
The giveaway is open to ANYONE but you MUST leave a comment on THIS post to be entered into the draw. If you don't have an active blog then you must include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you should you be a winner.
The winners will be notified on or immediately after 15th Feb which is when the draw will take place.

I have 3 little giveaways .... firstly this mixed media piece.

secondly I have a fabric arch ...

and finally for those of you who aren't 'into' crafty bits... this handmade bracelet which you could give as a gift if you wouldn't wear it yourself :D

Be lucky... and if you'd like to know more about this event and/or would like to take part yourself... then you can find all the info you need right here.

hugs

Chris xx

Doing the fish dance....lol

I told you I was losing the plot... 'n' my artwork becoming stranger by the moment. Well I don't know what tricks my mind was playing with me while I was creating this but I was even laughing at myself :D
Don't quite know what kind of music she could be dancing to (answers on a postcard please...rofl) but it's definitely the fish dance!!

Little bit zetti.... little bit nutty.

free images from Aisling.net

Thanks for looking

hugs

Chris xx