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

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

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

ATC challenge- zetti

The lovely and ever so talented Hermine is this months guest artist for the Artist Trading Club and she has chosen Zetti as the theme for our atc challenge. Loving it...loving it.... loving it!!! Thank you Hermine :D
My mojo seems to have returned big style just in time it seems. Well actually it's gone into overdrive cos even though we're only supposed to do 5 atc's keeping one ourselves and sending the other 4 for swaps.... I did 9 rofl.
Actually did some stamping...

and doodling.... some collage...

and some watercolour backgrounds too as a home to my luscious ladies...lol

I would never have been brave enough to have been a Goth but doing a Gothic atc was such a lotta fun.

If you'd like to join in with the challenge and receive some fabulous swaps you still have time as the challenge is open until the end of the month. Check out the links in the comments section on this post on the Artist Trading Club blog to see some amazing artwork and to see what you could receive in your swap.

Happy Crafting

hugs

Chris xx

He sleeps....shhhhhhhh

It just wouldn't do to wake him .... you know who I mean... that pesky black dog. Like a naughty puppy.. he yapped and tortured me... he laid down and was quiet for a while and just when I thought he would give me peace he darn well decided it was playtime. I'm too old for this... believe me!!! Anyway don't know how long for... how long's a piece of string... but finally he decided I deserved a break and settled down to sleep and if we're all very quiet he may just sleep for a while ALL Together now.... SHhhhhhhh LOL

I managed a few more pages in my journal and took time out to smell the coffee
thought about painting my nails

and even managed to get me some beauty sleep

Hope you likeeee.

On a slightly more serious note I appreciate all the support I've received over the last week... thanks to each and every one of you who have left me a comment and/or emailed me. Depression can be a very lonely illness and although it saddens me that I'm one of MANY sufferers it does help to know that others can empathise.

I know that Depression is a difficult illness to understand (hey I don't bl**dy understand it myself and I've lived with it for years... it's become a lodger in my home) but from my own point of view I don't expect people to understand... only to accept. My close family and friends try very hard but often I shut them out completely and withdraw from everyone with my demons, but the joy is that when the light shines again they're there waiting for me no matter how many times the light flickers. That's all I can ask.

hugs

Chris xx

Stash revival - don't you just love it...

when you find something in your stash that you forgot about and give it an airing and have loads of fun getting messy.... oooooh what a fab feeling. I so often get caught up with using new (must have) stuff that I forget what I have tucked away from former purchases.
I came across some textured paint that I bought about 5 years ago for 50p...yes 50p... in an art shop sale. It got hidden away in a draw never to see daylight again...lol Well 'till now that is and am I glad I found it...it's fab. I love texture... it's so much nicer when something is touchy feely as well as being pretty to look at. So I did myself a favour and created a plaque for my room to remind me of what I love to do.
I used the texture paint before I added my own colours over the top. The original was white with sparkly bits in it (bling it on...sigh) I painted a canvas first of all giving it a second coat of brown acrylic paint. These Maya Road chipboard letters were coated with the texture paint before using Tim Holtz distress inks to add colour.

The chipboard crown from Riff Raff designs just has two layers of the white textured paint and some bling added cos I love princessy things (the little girl in me is still here). For the background paper I used BasicGrey cupcake attached to a scalloped chipboard base which I cut in half for the top and bottom of my plaque. I added glitter and flock to portions of the design for more touchy feeliness :)

This lovely bit of bling is from some stick on pieces that DG bought for me at Christmas in his little parcel of loveliness. He knows his Nanna so well ...bless :) Believe it or not they were meant for decorating your hands!! I'm not quite THAT with it...rofl but they did come in useful.
One of my other loves is making things 3d and sticky pads are never far from me in my stash bag (the crown got the treatment) I added a little more colour to the canvas with distress ink rubbed in which brought out the sparkle from the textured paint and 'Bob's yer Uncle' and 'Voila' etc.. etc ..etc. I now have no excuse for not knowing what to do when I'm in the crafting mood.... I can see my reminder every day....

Create ... A R T :)
See you soon and thanks for visiting

hugs

Chris xx

Gothic Arch challenge- Open theme

Well as it's April and in the words of the song " I'ts rainin' again" my arch for this weeks Gothic Arch challenge says it all....
Splish splash splosh... little April showers...lol Ok maybe it's not that wet but I had such fun turning this little fella from Lisa's altered art into a welly wearing, brolly carrying... puddle stamper :D

Don't ya just lurve his snazzy wellies :D

hugs

Chris xx

Hybrid Altered Art Doll

Hi all... I seem to have been missing for an age... and I really have missed blogging so although I still have some 'stuff' going on I had to pop in and say hello and a huge thank you for all of your comments and e-mails of support :D Blogging pals really are the best!!
I have done a little bit of creating so I will share it with you over the next couple of days but forgive me if I don't get round to you all to comment on your fabby creations... I will try my best to visit as many of you as I can though ok.
A little while ago I downloaded Cen's loft free 'A little love' digi kit ( which contains some gawgus elements and fabulous papers) which you can find here and knew exactly what I wanted to do with some of the papers.
I have had one of these artists poseable wooden dolls for years and always intended to do something with it but never seemed to be inspired but I just loved the papers and knew they were what I had been waiting for to pretty her up :D
I had a grand old time ripping and tearing the papers after printing them out ( I love hybrid projects) and added the torn pieces to the limbs and head of my doll by layering and gluing in a papier mache fashion.

The joints, hands and feet were coloured with felt tip pen... heh heh... much less messy than paint and because the wood is quite bare the ink sinks in fine.

I cut out a ladylike top from the green heart paper and also punched out a flower to add a corsage to her waist using a circle of fringed paper and a button for layering, inking the edges of the flower for more definition. I crumpled the paper for the skirt before smoothing with my hands and cut it out with a bit of an angle so that I could add this gorgeous lace to the bottom of it and finally gave her a pair of shoes by drawing them on with a darker pen.

She will now have pride of place in my craft room and will still be useable to sketch with and it will be fun to change her pose as the mood takes me.

See u soon

hugs

Chris xx

Remember my Altered fairy box....

from here.... well finally I'm going to show you the other side. As usual my memory deserted me and I forgot to show it to you and as most of my time has been taken up at the Oscars this week I'm afraid there hasn't been much creating getting done...ooops. So just to show that I haven't been a total diva all of the time...lol I thought you might like to see.....
what the other side of my fairy box ended up like. It began with this...and I added some Papermania paper and pretty butterflies

a little bit of bling and silver pen to make them more delishiousssss

Some Papermania chipboard shapes are always a welcome addition and the forever tag even had added bling attached... no hard work for me there then :D

Birdies and blooms go well together and this little fella with his crown is right at home...

he comes from Lisa's altered art... as does this little fairy and her friends... wonder what she's thinking!! She could be wondering why this little guy is looking soooo surprised... is it because he's outnumbered by all the girly fairies or is he wondering where his own little birdie has disappeared to ? Or maybe it's because this little fairy, so pretty in pink seems not very happy about something... maybe he got the blame... for something that wasn't his fault... mmmm I wonder :D Whatever the reason they are all part of their own little fairy tale... and it has a happy ending for me because I get to keep the box...lolThanks for looking... have a great day :D

hugs

Chris xx

Artygirlz-challenge (frames)

Whoops time got away from me yesterday... I fully intended to blog but things got in the way. Don't know where the time goes sometimes. I remembered I hadn't blogged while I was watching "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here" ... but couldn't drag myself away from the box!! I am definately not a telly addict in any shape or form but I am obsessed with the program this year... not least of all because David Van Day (think that's his name) would drive me to drink... but I can't stop watching his antics. He has got to be the most annoying man on this planet... errrm okay maybe not... that would be Timmy Mallet then...aaaaaarggggghhhh...rofl Only a few more nights left before the winner is announced and then maybe I can get some crafting done... and just for the record if anyone else watches I want Joe to win. What a totally funny cute guy he is... I will never in my life get over him flirting with Esther Rantzen..hee hee.

This weeks Artygirlz challenge is frames and as my cute little flower girl is framed on my altered coaster heart I think she fits the prompt nicely :D Can't remember where I got the image from but the backing paper and frame are Papermania and the ribbon a RAK from my pal Chriss.




I inked and curled some parchment paper and sanded back the paper to make it look a bit more worn.

Hope you like :D

hugs

Chris xx

Big art adventure challenge- chunky atc

I soooo enjoyed doing this challenge as I haven't painted so much since I was a kid... it's amazing how you don't really forget... just that the ability to do something lies dormant in you until you rediscover an interest. I am so inspired by Linda's paintings that I wanted to do something similar but I always manage to end up with something on the twee side...lol Maybe that's just part of my personality which comes out in what I create.
Anyway I am slightly impressed with myself that I managed to finish her... even though I re-painted her face so many times it's a wonder it doesn't stand off the block an inch on it's own... she had small eyes and big lips, then smaller lips and a nose, then big eyes big lips and no nose... honestly a face lift from a surgeon would've been quicker. I can draw cute faces but when it comes to filling them in with the paintbrush I was totally kak handed. The paint was going in every direction but the one I wanted...lol

I also found that what looks like delicate painting in reality.... looks quite splodgy when you take the photo to put on your blog... but then that could also be my eyesight :D I am glad that I have finished my piece and even managed to add a wee bit of bling...well I just had to didn't I.... but I think I need to keep on practicing to enjoy my art adventure more :D

have a great evening

hugs

Chris xx

Altered popcorn bucket - halloween

Well it's technically Friday but this is Thursdays post cos it's been one of those days when nothing has really gone to plan time wise... but in a nice way. Dad continues to improve and is getting into trouble from the nurses already for not doing as he's told... though when they see the glint of devilment in his eyes I know telling him off will be very tongue in cheek :D He always manages to come out of hospital with a dozen more friends than he went in with. Thank you all for your comments wishing him well.. it means a lot to me. I've spent today running backwards and forwards to appointments and the like so no crafting done today... planned to do it this evening but ended up on the phone chatting for 3hrs (could be more actually ... sorry Sharon but when I talk .... I really talk...rofl)

So it's just as well I have my Blue Peter project ready (you know... here's one I made earlier...lol)

My final Halloween creation... well the witching hour is almost here. I ate all the popcorn from the tub.... but only in the interest of Trick 'a' Treat you understand... DG will need it empty to store his collection of goodies :D

More black paint on this one... but only because on my bottle on the post further down the paint took an age to dry... so I started doing the bucket in between coats.

I was really good with my addiction too... cut up some RIBBON... lots of it!!!

Made sure that the time was displayed in the window so the witches will know what hour to go witching on their broomsticks....

and ensured there was a bat to keep an eye on the bubbling cauldron :D
Pumpkins and monsters are ready for tricking ... with bags ready for the alternative treats


with huge grins to scare you into submission...lol

and whoever misses out on tradition could well find themselves followed around by these fellas... just to make sure you get the message. So Happy Halloween and boo to you all ;-D

Credits (all images except computer generated lettering are Kate Hadfield)

Thanks for looking

hugs

Chris xx

Linda and Rosie's awfully big art adventure challenges

Okay everyone hold on to your hats cos this is a Loooooooong post...lol After a few hiccups and problems with my camera I have finally managed to upload the creations I have made for Rosie and Linda's last three Art adventure challenges and I have to say I have had heaps of fun with these and been taken well out of my comfort zone :)

In reverse order challenge 4 was to alter an empty beans can :) I wasn't sure where I was going to go with this but because I found one of those plastic can saver lids in my kitchen draw I decided to use that to decorate the top by adding one of my paper flowers. I already had this made up so the papers were an easy choice.

I added a chipboard embellishment to the front as I intend to use it to save little pieces of paper with little memories written on them to help me with my scrapbooking. How often do you wish you had written something down to jog your memory... well this is going to be my way from now on :)

This is the top of the flower looking down so that you can see the vellum middle and the seed beads... I am loving these at the moment attached with 3d gloss. Sorry the photos are a bit pants at the moment I am working on it I promise :)

Challenge no 3 was to create an ATC altered doll... now I really had fun with this one... meet Acrobatic Amy...lol I wanted to do something different so out came my sketch pad and colouring pens and with the addition of a few other bits and pieces she was ready to join the circus...lol

She wanted to be a girly girl... but all glammed up too so I gave her some flowers in her hair and some girly jewellery bits to adorn her arms... she was well chuffed I tell you... she kept looking up at me and smiling her approval. One thing that she insisted on was legs that would go right up to her neck... you know the sort of legs we all would give our high teeth for...lol Well I couldn't let her down could I....

and just to make sure she felt completely comfortable I let her wear her lovely colourful tights for when she would be indulging in her acrobatic feats...

Well the girl was so impressed she immediately launched into her acrobatics to let me know how blissfully happy she was and oh boy what a show... she's so flexible... what a gal.... hope you enjoyed the show....rofl

Okay last but not least Challenge no 2 was to create an album in a matchbox.... now this one for me was a tad difficult... not because of the challenge... I will try anything once but just the sheer size of it. The problem is I have got man fingers... honestly my hands are massive, so fiddly little things sometimes cause me heaps of problems. I did get there in the end though and was quite elated at the fact that I managed something half decent :)

The images were all rub-ons (sorry can't remember who by) and I went for a theme of Ladies accessories. I haven't fastened the tiny album together yet just so you could see the pages as some I did 3d. I actually for once did some major stamping to make the paper to cover my box and pages with ... because my friend Chriss gave me a special gift (thanks Chriss x) of two gorgeous stamps and I just had to play with them.

I used German scrap to add a bit of bling to the front which I got from Scrapz and then lined my box before decorating my tiny pages :)

Wow!! that was a long 'un ... need to get my breath back now...lol I will be looking forward to this weeks challenge and if you want to get yourself thinking out of the box and try out something different then pop over to Rosie and Linda's challenge blog yourself and join in with the fun.

See you soon... happy crafting :)

hugs

Chris xx