Day 1 - 10 Thirty Days of Gratitude and a Handmade cereal box journal

So a couple of days ago i showed you a little Gratitude journal that I had made out of a box and some cardstock. Today, as part of Louise Gale's 30 days of Gratitude and Effy's Sunday Swoon blog hop, I would love to show you the larger journal I made using a cereal box as a cover. I just love this ready made peep hole in the front cover. This journal was once again inspired by one that Jennibellie made. The link to the you tube video is here.

 First I carefully opened the box at the seams to lay it flat. I kept the flaps on the box until the end so I could use them as little pockets if I wanted to, but also as reinforcement for the outer edges of the cover. I cleaned up the edges where it was stuck together and gave it a good coat of gesso.

After this was dry I painted the background with Jo Sonja paints in Pthalo Blue and Aqua. Don't you just love these two colours together?

I then stenciled Pthalo Blue all over the cover with this lovely new stencil I just bought from Crafters Workshop.

then I laid the stencil in a different direction on the cover and stenciled again with Aqua and white

added a layer of stamping with Black Archival ink and then stenciled on some feathers with Rich Gold paint.

I glued a piece of scrapbook paper on the inside of the cover to reinforce it and the spine,

gathered my papers and made signatures out of them

punched some holes in the signatures and spine, bound with some linen thread coated in beeswax...

and there you have it, a journal made with a cereal box. I doodled around the letters with a Gold Signo pen and a Gelly Roll Clear Star pen as well as outlined the feathers in black Aqualip pen. I just have to add some beads to the dangling thread and I'm ready to use it.

I used various leftover scrapbook papers and various other types of papers that I had in my stash for the inside pages. This is a great way to use up those leftover scraps of paper or patterned paper that you bought ages ago but don't know what to do with now.

 They feel so good in my hand and I can't wait to use them, They are infused with so much positive energy that I know they will be a special keepsake for my thoughts.

So my Sunday Swoon is the feeling I had when I finished these lovely little journals.

I still have to finish some of the pages in my gratitude journal for the 30 days of gratitude so will share those at the end of the month. I'm off on a 10 hike across New Zealand next week so not sure if I can fit my journal in my backpack but I will try my best.

My gratitudes this week are

• firstly for the host of wonderful artists that share so generously on you tube (thanks Jennibellie)
• for my students that have come to all my classes this year. We had our last class for the year on Saturday and it was great. I have some great recipes to share in a future post.
• for the time I am able to spend in my studio with my creative muse
• for my family who unconditionally support my creative endeavours
• for this beautiful place on earth that I live in
• for my friends who I love to bits
• today is Remembrance Day so a huge gratitude for our service men and women, past, present and future. 

 Namaste

Lee

Day 12 - Find Your Voice

A few days behind, but better late than never, I say..

So my voice came back last week, finally. It's all about listening to your body and doing what it is asking, isn't it. All week I have been mediating daily, and concentrating on relaxing my throat, speaking my true voice and being present. When you lose your voice in a literal sense, and then get it back again, you also work out what you really need to say and what is just unnecessary gap-filling chatter. Better to try to be present in all that you say.

On Saturday I taught my art journal class and we were playing with gel medium transfers, and using gel medium as a resist. For the resist layer, I doodled on a background layer with the gel medium in a little squeeze bottle that has a tip on it to write with. The transferred image was the second or third to last layer.

I have the original sample page and the two pages I taught in each class, hence the 3 variations here of the same class. Here is the original sample page.

 I must say that I've had mixed results with this in the past so I was prepared for unpredictable and varying results. I don't have a laser printer at hand so have really wanted to find a way to use ink jet prints in this technique and I think I've found a way that works for me. This is not a new technique, it has been all over the internet for a while now, but it takes a bit of practice.  Of course, everyone still has different outcomes depending on the brand medium you use, the amount of medium you use, how much water you use and the amount of pressure you use when rubbing off the paper. 

This is the result from the morning class..

I'm happy to say that it worked really well and particularly for first timers, my students came away with really lovely results. I found that the balance between the amount of water you use when soaking the dried image, preparing for the removal of the paper; and the amount of pressure you use when rubbing the paper, was the key. Too much water and you end up rubbing off the whole image, too little and it doesn't rub off the white layer of paper. Too much pressure and you rub holes in the image, too little and it will take ages. 

 This is the page from the afternoon class.

Supplies used-

Atelier Regular Gel medium Gloss

Jo Sonja paints in Brown Madder, Permanent Alizarin, Yellow Oxide, Titanium White

Various Kaisercraft background stamps - Dictionary meaning, Flourish, Distress

It's all in the touch. 

I use my fingers a lot in my art journal pages. I like the feel of what the paint is doing and I really get a true idea of the readiness of the page for more layers or ability to keep blending and working the paint. It connects me with the page. It is me being present and fully in the process. It doesn't have to be a lot of finger painting, so try it. While it gives wonderfully different textural results, see how much more connected you feel with your page.

Namaste

Lee

Day 2 Blogalong - Time for a new story...

So I have made it to Day 2. I'm not usually that consistent with blogging so this is a big deal for me.

This spread was in my Book Of Mirrors. What is the Book of Mirrors you say, and what is the difference between Book of Days(BOD) and Book of Mirrors(BOM)? Effy explained it perfectly in one of her videos (I'm paraphrasing here because I can't put my finger, or ear,  on the exact wording) The Book of Days is for what is happening in the world around you, memory keeping and usually has photos involved. Book of Mirrors is about what is going on in your inner world, you inner landscape, something that is affecting you deep to your soul; it is your souls' voice. It can be a representation of an epiphany or it can simply be a reflection of your inner dialogue at that time. A BOM spread can have a lot of journaling like this one I am sharing today or it may have nothing other than a title. I usually do a little meditation or centering practice first to quiet the mind and really tune in. I light a candle or burn some incense. I do some automatic writing. Armed with the prompt given and inspiration from Effy I sat down to explore what is really rocking my world at the moment. Currently I am in week 4 of viral laryngitis and I am over it. In the metaphysical world, laryngitis is associated with words unsaid, not being heard or feeling supported so this is what I explored in reframing what is the root cause of my problem. This prompt was perfect timing.

supplies used were 

Silks paints in Snap Dragon and Stargazer

Jo Sonja metalic paints in rose Gold and Pearl White

Violet Shade in Pan Pastels

Black Permapque pen,

White signo pen

What is the story/s that you are telling yourself and is it time to reframe and write a new one?

Namaste

Lee

Book of Days update

 Hi everyone,

Well it's been a busy week, painting and art journaling. I've been having a lot of fun with my Book of Days and would like to show you today how I did the cover of the book. For this year long project we are altering a book and in her comprehensive videos Effy shows us the steps to alter an old book or to make a Book of Days out of a composition book. So I scoured the charity shops and found my book - From here to Eternity. I thought the title was appropriate for me at this time in my life. Effy suggested to use your word for the year on your cover so thats what I did and with out further ado I will take you on the step by step with me.

 So, after preparing our book I covered my book with Jo Sonja Blue Lagoon and Harbour Blue in a slip slap motion with a flat brush. I just love these colours together.

 Next I found some scrapbook papers with some script on it, ripped it up and adhered to the book with Atelier Binder Medium.

 i used my make up sponge to rub the two colours of paint lightly over the papers and the book to blend them into the background somewhat.

 I then used Jo Sonja Warm White and a circle dot stencil from Crafters Workshop. This is the centre of the Peony 12 x 12 stencil. Inside that I doodled with my white Gelly Roll pen. Now I love these pens, they write over anything and they are so versatile. I love circles as you know, and these two are representing the endless possibilities that await me this year in balance from beginning to end.

 I also used the 6 x 6 cosmic bubbles stencil with the make up sponge and Jo Sonja Lilac to stencil randomly over the cover. I picked up some Warm White as I stencilled so there is a variation in colour in the bubbles.

I then found an image off the internet that really represented my word of 2012 which is Balance. i printed it out on photo paper, then sprayed it with Matt fixative spray so it wouldn't run, tore the edges and adhered it to the cover with Binder Medium.

I then did some stamping with StazOn in Midnight Blue and a Kaisercraft script background stamp and Kaisercraft saying, wrote my title on the cover with the Sakura Souffle pens and there you have it.  To finish the cover off I rubbed perfect pearls over it although it doesn't show up on the photo. It gives it a subtle shine and shimmer.

Now I know the words balance looks out of balance ( I'm not very good at spacing words without measuring) and when I sat back and looked at it I was disappointed but you know what, that is to me part of finding my balance in my life at the moment, meaning that I have to let go of the little things and concentrate on the important matters. My choice was - do I rub it out and start again(which wouldn't have been easy) muck up my cover that I loved and probably put it away in frustration and probably would still not have been finished, or do I embrace it how it is with all its imperfections. After all, that is what I love so much about art journaling, knowing that nothing is wrong, it is your expression and getting it on the page is more important than fretting about whether it will be perfect or not.

Book of Days has a huge following with over 1000 members online and over 500 members on a very encouraging and inspiring Facebook page. Do go and check it out if you would like to join in on the fun.

I would also like to share a fun video from you Tube that is going around Facebook at the moment. Is is only me that recognises myself here. 

What else can you add to the list of crafters sayings?

So I have pinched the saying from my Book of Days cover for today's post

"Remember that something incredibly wonderful is always possible"

Hope you are having a creative week

Namaste

Lee

Post Christmas reflections

Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas Day. We had a lovely quiet at home. 
I promised to show you the photos of my Christmas cake this year if it turned out OK. Well it did apart from the fact that I think the sneaky ice cream companies have changed the make up of the ice cream to have more milk or water in it than cream. This therefore meant that it melted really quickly and it was more icy than last time. It was still thoroughly delicious and I will be making it again. Well I have to keep making it till I get it right, don't I??

So I started by making my triple chocolate brownie slice. Then when cooled I sliced it up and lined a pudding bowl with cling film, then pressed it against the sides to form a bowl inside a bowl.

 Here is my brother in law chopping the marshmallows for me with my husband looking on

And here is what was left of the brownie slice, well for a while anyway. It was quickly eaten.

In a separate bowl I mixed the slightly softened hokey pokey ice cream with chopped marshmallows, violet crumble, and frozen raspberries. Mixed it all around and then put into the bowl, covered the top with baking paper, folded over the cling film and froze.

So this is the finished cake...... Sorry it is a bit blurry but I was in a hurry to cut and get it on the table before it melted.

and here is the slice...... yum yum! It was perfect for the warm day we had.

The boys have grown up so no early morning wake-up which was good, but sad in a way. As Tracey has said in her post Christmas post, it was a realisation this year that things have changed. 

No more Christmas lists are written to Santa, no more hiding Santa presents; this year there was even no shortbread and beer out for Santa and his reindeers. 

Yes, I know my boys have been way to old for that for a while now, but I have liked holding on to that little bit of Christmas magic. 

But you know, really it is not as if something is lost forever, it is just a change in how we make that Christmas magic isn't it? 

We are evolving as a family and I do love seeing the way my kids have grown into wonderful young men. My youngest son has just received his drivers licence and I am such a proud Mum. This of course, means that no-one is dependant on me now to get them to and fro. It is a big change and a scary one at times. It is like a new phase in my life.

So that said, it has me thinking of my word for 2012. I am tossing up between two or three at the moment so I had better decide in the next couple of days. If you choose a word for the year have you thought about yours yet?

2012 is shaping up to be an exciting busy year for me so far and I am really looking forward to all the wonderful experiences that the universe has in store for me. I am in the process of making my first vision board for 2012 and have signed up for Flora Bowleys online course and Effy Wild's Book of Days. I am just hoping that I have not overcommitted myself and can keep up. I think that the Book of Days will keep me more committed to art journaling on a more regular basis.
Before I go I would like to show you some more bags

This bag is using Jo Sonja paints in Pthalo Green, Prussian Blue Hue, Yellow Green and Aqua. Stencils are Crafters Workshop 6x6 Daisy Cluster, Cosmic Bubbles, 12 x 12 Cosmic Swirl

 This bag was painted with Jo Sonja Prussian Blue Hue, Pthalo Blue, Brilliant Violet and Diox Purple, Crafters workshop stencils, 12 x12 Mums, Gathered Flowers and 6x6 Harlequin.

 Various stamps were used in each and a Bic Black Marker.

 My quote today comes from one of the stamps that I used on the bags.

Hope you are having a lovely week everyone, see you soon before my little holiday up the coast.

namaste

Lee



 

Christmas cake

 How is everyones week going? all your shopping done? all your presents wrapped? the Christmas Day menu is worked out and ready to go? Christmas Cards sent?

If  you answered no to any of the above questions you are not alone. I have done a bit off all of the above but just can't tick them off my list yet. I have just written my last Christmas card, still have a couple of presents to buy and then wrap and still can't decide what yummy recipes to use on Christmas day. It looks like we will have seafood and salads.Which leads me on to dessert.(no matter what I am talking about I always end up talking about food!! Didn't I start off with Cards and present wrapping??)

Anyway, a couple of years ago I made a frozen ice cream Christmas cake.....

 

.....full of yummy goodness including marshmallows, chocolate, ice cream, maltesers, and frozen raspberries and it was great on a hot day. 

The weather forecast is for a sunny 32 Deg C on Sunday so this might be the ideal dessert. 

For my northern hemisphere friends I hope this doesn't make you feel colder than you are right now.

Here is the recipe for you to try.

Ingredients

• 1 x 2 litre tub of vanilla ice cream left out to soften a bit for about half an hour
  
  
• 1 165g packet of Maltesers , cut each malteser in half with a very thin sharp knife. We tried smashing them but they ended up too crushed
  

•  250g pink and white marshmallows (ours are raspberry and vanilla flavoured) cut into halves or quarters depending on the size you prefer

•  2 handfuls of pistachio nuts lightly smashed but not finely crushed
  
  
• Half a 450g box of frozen raspberries, used whole and still frozen.

Method

Put the chopped marshmallows and maltesers in a big mixing bowl with the smashed pistachios and the raspberries, stir a bit till mixed.

Then scoop the ice cream on top and stir well till combined with the other ingredients. Try to be quick about it so the ice cream doesn't melt too much or it will be icy when re frozen.

Push the mixture into a round springform cake tin (I used the 20cm diameter size) so there are no gaps and smooth out the top a bit.

Cover the top with foil. I put it in a large kitchen freezer bags and then wrapped it in plastic cling wrap to stop any leakage dripping in my freezer and then froze overnight.

We served ours with a nice thick store bought choc orange sauce.

Enjoy!

I also finished some more bags. Trying out different colours and patterns, doodling and stamping.

 

For this bag I used Jo Sonja Pthalo Green, Pthalo Blue, Yellow Green, and Brilliant Green and Titanium White. Crafters workshop stencils Harlequin and Flower Shower

For this one I used Jo Sonja Prussian Blue Hue, Pthalo Blue, Diox Purple, Brilliant Violet and Titanium White. Crafters workshop stencils, Cosmic Swirl and Daisy Cluster

For this one I used Jo Sonja, Diox Purple, Brilliant Magenta, Brilliant Violet, Titanium White and Ultramarine Blue Deep. Crafters workshop stencils Cosmic Swirl, Daisy Cluster and Flower Frame.

Now how about this fabulous photo I found at Streetartutopia. How cool is it? This site is well worth a look.

Streetartutopia

The quote also comes from the same site.

“There´s tools and colours for all of us,

to lend from nature to make the world

more understandable and beautiful”

Have a lovely week everyone.

Namaste

Lee