Gorgeous painty backgrounds ...

... well I think so anyway. These 'postcards' are an amalgamation of lots of techniques gleaned from people like Kelly Kilmer, Mary Ann Moss, Dina Wakely, Tracy Bautista, Michelle Ward and probably many others - thank you to all of them! They are (mainly) collaged backgrounds, gesso, acrylic paints, spray inks, stencils and stamps. There are lots of layers. I have added a little collage to one or two - the idea being to use them as journaling cards at some point ...

More ATCs

These ATCs are made using packing tape transfers

ATCs

More ATCs - vintage sewing related theme.

Memories and Reflections

I love Kelly Kilmer's blog and have taken several of her online classes - and have loved them all. The latest is Memories and Reflections which is similar to A Life Made by Hand but 'more' - I am already enjoying it. My friend Carol is also a member of this class and emailed today to say she is finding it hard to start! So I thought I would talk about how I go about making a page using one of Kelly's templates. Obviously I can't show the template itself on this blog as this is part of the class but for those who are able to access the group the template can be seen here - bottom row far left. If the link doesn't work it's MARTemp1 bottom row far left.

I spent some time on Saturday evening (while watching 'Con Air' - again!) cutting out images from two sources, a free glossy magazine that I picked up recently advertising events and places in the county of Buckinghamshire and an old National Geographic. I may try and limit myself to just using these as my main images for this journal.

I have a journal already made but have not constructed covers yet - I also decided that I wanted my pages all the same size they are approximately 71/2" x 51/2" - here is my first page

I really liked this sheep and chose her (she looks female to me!) as my main (focal) image. You can see that she is placed centrally and lower down than in the template sketch. This is because - in this case - the picture needed anchoring to the bottom of the page. I then chose an old book page as my largest background piece. The picture made me think of 'counting sheep' to get to sleep and so I used the words (from an advert) as another background piece and then decided on the red check as a third background and a matching journaling label for the fourth. For the last background piece in the bottom right hand corner I used this 3 printed from my PC because by this time the picture was making me think of the nursery rhyme 'Baa baa black sheep'. The 'extra' bit of red check down the left hand side was added to create a 'balanced whole' and was needed because my focal image is placed centrally and not to the left as in the template - it just looked better with it.

Hopefully you can see where my thoughts were leading me when completing this page and the journaling will probably reflect these thoughts - maybe something about my childhood and bedtime nursery rhymes. This type of 'thought process' often just happens when I make these pages even though the decisions to choose particular images aren't conscious ones. Try it and see!

Fabric Paper

I've been busy making fabric paper. I follow Beryl Taylor's method although I think there are others around. The basic principle is in her book, Mixed Media Explorations and she demonstrates it on an Interweave DVD called Layer by Layer.

This is 'paper' made with sweet wrappers. The brand name is a bit too visible but can be disguised in several ways e.g. heavy stitching or layering over the top, foiling and using paints or oil pastels.

Below are some small stitched samples using this paper. The fabric paper is backed with thin felt first.

This piece has been free machined with a couple of different threads, one varigated and one metallic and some foil added to cover the brand name on the right hand side!

These pieces are using the same paper and are from an idea in Quilting Arts magazine by Jackie Cardy. They are layered (all pieces are the same fabric papers) and then stitched, beaded and hand embroidered. The purple one needs a bit more added to disguise the brand name! Clicking on the pictures should show a bit mre detail - sorry the colours don't show up too well.

These fabric papers are made using gift wrapping paper

Another Journal

Well I said I was becoming addicted to online classes and this is the result of another one - actually it's unfinished as it needs 'bits' added and some shading etc plus journaling of course on the pages. BUT I loved doing it - it was good for a change just to tear and glue and like the ROD journals uses up some of the mass of papers and pictures I have collected. It's from Kelly Kilmer's online class A Life Made By Hand. Check her out - she has a great blog with lots of lovely links. Anway here are some of the pages from the journal I made...

Just collage on these pages although I may decide to add some paint and/or ink. The journaling over the top really brings a page together...hopefully that shows up below...

Enjoyed making these pages especially the one on the right! Have my journaling planned already - I want to be like her as my hair greys - I was never outrageous enough when I was younger.

These are definately a bit 'bright' but I couldn't resist the painted fire hydrant.

I have kept the front cover simple and just attached one of my favourite paintings - 'The Sense of Sight' by Annie Sywnnerton.

A sort of quilting class

I spent last Friday at The Bramble Patch (again!) - this time for a workshop with Jenny Rolfe. ( I don't think she has a blog so have linked to one of her books so you can see 'who' she is) and had a really good time. The workshop was called Tall and Slim and it is a 'tall and slim' wallhanging! There was too much to do in one day so we concentrated on three of the seven pieces. I have carried on since and got this far ...

Piece1 - free machining on the back ground and flower pieces attached with satin stitch. Finished with beads and buttons and still waiting for the edges to be finished off so all the pieces can be joined together and hung. Pieces 2 and 3 are pretty much at this stage too and have been completed in the same way. The rest are appliqued but waiting for their embellishments.

With this last one I was finally pleased with my stitching!