Creative Dreams Journals

The 12 months have run their course and I have now finished and returned my last art journal to its owner.  I have been showing you the pages monthly as I've finished them, but here I've brought them all together. 
Firstly here is my last page, which is in Louise's journal (I'm sure by now she will have received it).

 

This page started with gesso randomly splotched around the page thru a template to create a resist.  Next I glued on some ripped pieces of dictionary paper.  This all got a good coating of Dylusions Ink Sprays in several different oranges, pinks, yellows, greens.  I love the effect I've got here.  Once this was dry I got out my latest template to create the foreground (flowers & butterflies) where I used several different coloured Distress Inks.  This is the first time I've had the chance to use my Prima 'lady' stamp, which I stamped onto dictionary paper, then coloured with gelato's & cut out.  The house was created the same.  The bricks were created with a Donna Salazaar stamp & chalk ink.  I then stamped the wording & framed the pages with Dylusions stamps.

 

Here are the other pages, starting with my own book right at the beginning:

 

 

Wow what a lot of variation, I really did try to do something a bit different everytime, especially if there was no theme.  I am proud of what I've created and now can't wait to get into some more of the same sometime.

Thank you to all the ladies who have contributed their time and talent in my journal.  At the time of publishing this post sadly it has not returned home yet.  I wait with baited breath.

Gift boxes galore

Creating these little gift boxes is such a fun way to send off that little something special.  Both these boxes I'm sharing today are going to special people who deserve 'just a little bit more'.

 This first box is my entry into the August I am Roses whose theme this month is 'anything goes' and 'make something special for someone'.  How could I resist?

I love the vibrance of these colours, and the special person who is going to receive this was especially interested in the zipper flowers I have created, hence having one as the centrepiece.  There is also more partially finished zipper flowers inside along with a very detailed tutorial, so I'm sure she can now learn to make her own.  The I am Roses products I have used here are 1. daisy, 2. mini roses & 3. buds.

The recipient of this 2nd box is waiting for a recipe from me, so she is getting a sample as well as the recipe in this little keepsake box.  This is just a little thank you for the lovely afternoon and evening we spent at her hubby's recent birthday.
                                          

The paper I've used here is gorgeous, and used together with the pearl trim & flowers is perfect for the more mature lady I think.  I also made the lace flower on top.  I hope she likes it.

Thank you for visiting.  Wish me luck for the challenge as I would sooo love to win some of their gorgeous blooms, they are so versatile, I love to use them on everything I make.

Colourful Beach Hop

This weeks creation for Imagine if . . is anything goes as Jo and her team of helpers are busy moving into the new shop following a 2nd really successful craft show (she does nothing the easy way, lol).  So to carry on with her theme of  'painting' I thought I'd show you the MDF Art Box I've made up.

 

This was such a fun project to work on, and allowed me to share my other passion with you all, yes I am a petrolhead. 

 

The MDF box comes in pieces and is assembled very easily as shown

 

I covered the base & outsides with embossed aluminium foil before painting each section with Lumiere Metallic Acrylic, this is a gorgeous, luxurious paint to use.  I love the finish I've achieved. 

 

Now for the real fun part.  I have so many photos taken at the Beach Hop - a Rock'n'roll & Hot Rod week held annually at Whangamata, which we've attended nearly every year since buying our Dodge.  It was a shame to cover the awesome background, so I've kept the colours true as best I could, and showing off the embossing where I could.

 

I've used lots of gorgeous Imagine if . .  chippies here.  The words & small cogs were heat embossed, chicken wire & banners were painted, lamp post was covered with embossed aluminium foil, while the quote was inked.  These flowers & leaves are also now available.  A few trinkets just finish the whole thing off nicely.

 

This has been a real fun project to tackle, I now wonder where this will live . . . in the man cave perhaps ? ? ?

 

 

Cheeky Monkeys

Gee where has this last week gone, here we are again, time for another blog hop with Imagine if . . where this time the prize for visiting all the DT's and leaving a comment is 2 sheets of quotes of your choice.  These are an awesome prize, very versatile, I use them on everything.

My layout this week is sadly a rush job as I was working on the wrong project, and didn't find out my mistake until Thursday night.  I hope you can't tell I struggled for inspiration.  This week Jo wanted us to showcase her awesome stencils of which I only received earlier in the week.  These are awesome, and who can't use more stencils?

 

I started with a Donna Salazaar paper and firstly using the bubble stencil I added some texture paste on both sides of the photo, I also inked thru the same stencil randomly around the page.  Next came the wording stencil inked around the edge, very apt for the photo I think.  I then added a bit of subtle colour by sponging ink on random places.  The cogs were heat embossed, monkeys got painted then flocked, bird on top was glimmer misted.  I've used another of the new zipper flowers I have just learnt to make.  Finally to use the 3rd stencil required I inked on some birds

 

The page feels quite strange to me, I'm not sure whether its the pale colours I've used, or whether its just the fact that I didn't have too much time to think over things.  Anyhow it has all come together quite nicely and shows off the photo well.

 

If you are following the blog hop correctly you would have come to me after visiting Jo, and now to continue on your way the next stop is Lilian.  As usual please leave a comment here and every stop to be in with a chance to win the lovely prize.  Good luck.

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Bottoms Up

Here's a fun layout I've done as part of the Creative Dreams August challenge.  The requirements were:  1. Green,  2. Use some Imagine if . .  chipboard,  3. Recycle something.

1. Green is easy, 2. as I have just been making some fun zipper flowers I decided they could be my recycled items, and 3. of course being on the Imagine if . .   design team I am lucky to have lots of gorgeous chipboard to play with.

 

I love the grungy look of this Kaisercraft 'Basecoat' paper which I've distressed & stitched the edges, randomly stamped & used some homemade texture paste through TCW stencils.  Behind the embellishments I've also inked thru Imagine if stencils.  These fun photos needed a bit more colour to be introduced so I've layered these coloured bits on top of some doilies. 

 

 

This little reed chipboard from Imagine if . .  is stunning, I've painted it with about 4 different browns & greens, then glued micro beads onto the seed heads.  I love the outcome, and have perched the small bird on top. More birds are used also, with one sitting on the lovely little branch, which was painted after I added some texture paste.

 

 

The zipper flowers have been fun to make, follow the link to my tutorial here.  Also used are I am Roses & Dusty Attic blooms.

This has been a great chance to use this fun photo taken on a recent holiday to Australia of these cheeky parrots having something to eat from a feeding station.

Thank you Jules for offering the challenge, I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.

 

Hearts, hearts & more hearts

Wow another month starting already, so now its time for our first blog hop at Imagine if . . .  This month will be a lot easier on us all now with all the pressures of SENZ over, even tho Jo is exhibiting again at the Quilt & Craft Show at Hamilton, so she has given us 'free rein' to create whatever we wish.  This layout has been created for our friends' daughter who recently got married.

 

These photos were all 'pinched' off facebook and sadly are not the best quality, so I decided they would be best shown off as this mosaic of shots rather than using one or two not so good photos.  The couple were married on Anzac Day in Cornwall Park, so I tried to use lots of elements from the day in my layout.

 

They loved all the stone walls where they had a lot of their photos taken, so accordingly I've started my page with a Kaisercraft Basecoat paper.  With the paper being so dark I found I needed to outline the heart shaped photo mosaic with the boldness of a wide black border.  The doilies and lace lighten and lift the page as well.  The bouquets were made up of dried hydrangea, dotted with red roses and all tied together with black organza ribbon, here I have copied this as best I could.  I've carried on the heart theme with Imagine if . .  hearts of differing sizes & patterns, which were all faux stitched.  The title also includes lots of hearts, which have all been finished with a coat of Glossy Accents.  The large 'double heart' matches the wedding invites as best I could.

 

Enjoy the close ups of the flowers which were painted to match, and you can see the stitching and glossy finish of the hearts. 

 

I am really privileged to do this keepsake for the family and hope they are can amicably decide who gets to keep it, be it the brides parents or the bride & groom.

 

So how are you all going through the blog hop?  You should have come to me directly from Ngaere, then leave here following my link back to the beginning which of course is Jo.  I hope you've enjoyed the diversity of all the creations and as always please leave a comment at all blogs to be in with a chance to win this weeks prize which is 2 packets of felt flowers.

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