A little book of gratitude

 
Hello ! My final post (I think!) of 2021 and it's a mini book on the current PaperArtsy blog theme of Journaling Gratitude. Lots of details over at PaperArtsy as usual.

Nikki xx

Favourite Colour?

 What's your favourite colour! Over at PaperArtsy that's what we are focussing on for the next couple of weeks! Do head over for lots more details on this chaotic journal page.

Nikki xx

Vellum Flower Journal Page

Hi everyone. It's week 3 of my little adventure over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. This week the theme is 'We Can See Clearly'. I have used some of the newly released stamps and stencils from PaperArtsy by Tracy Scott (TS058 and TS055) and Alison Bomber (EAB21) to create this colourful journal page with Vellum flowers.

For my background I used lots of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics - I used Slimed, Cerulean, Banana, Byzantium, Azure, Cerise, Chalk and Little Black Dress. I painted in colour 'patches' before adding additional stenciling and stamping to the background. (Stencils used PS224, PS242 and PS234.

I added a frame to feature my flowers and quote. The flowers are stamped on vellum with versamark and heat embossed in white.

If you play along with this week's challenge at Simon Says stamp - you could win a $25 gift card to spend in store. 

Nikki x

Blooming Triangles

Hi everyone. I am back again this week on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. This week the theme is Beautiful Blooms and I decided to create a journal page using a Stamp Set TS054 by Tracy Scott / PaperArtsy.  This set is made up of lots of patterned triangles - which I have used to create my large flower.

I also used PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics - I love these as they dry very quickly and come in a fabulous range of colours! I mostly used 3 colours here:

I sponged my background before adding some interest through stencils and some stamping. I used Tracy Scott stencils - PS224 and PS242 and a further stamp set TS055.

I stamped the triangle several times on different coloured backgrounds and cut them out, layering up my 'bloom'. Finished off with some pen work using Posca and Sigma pens.

Nikki x

Mandala Mash Up

 
Hi all - just a quick post to redirect you over to PaperArtsy if you would like to see how this all came together!

Nikki

Journal Vibes

I have been working alot in my journal recently and loving it! I am sharing this page today over at PaperArtsy if you would like to see the details! 

Here are a couple of other pages I have done recently at some online workshops with Tracy Scott.

Will try to share more soon! In the meantime check out @a2acraft on Instagram!

Nikki 

xxx

A little science in my journal

It's time for another post over at PaperArtsy for the current blog theme of Creative Laboratory. For all the detail (probably too much!) head over to PaperArtsy!

Nikki

A little numerical journalling

 

It seems ages since I have I have joined in one of the challenges at A Vintage Journey. This month the theme is Numbers - hosted by lovely Annie!

"Numbers is our challenge theme for this month and we would like to see them being a focal point in your entries. You can use stencils, die cuts, fussy cuts or rub ons, rust them up, use texture paste or paint them, the decision is yours as long as the numbers are prominent. Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

I decided to a create journal page with lots of numbers. My background was fun - a combination of collage, stamping, stencils, washi, paint etc. 

I die cut some flowers in black card and added numbers to these too before dry brushing over the surface as the black was a bit - black! I wanted the quote and clock to have a little more prominence!

I don't know why but I have really lost my mojo during the pandemic - when it would be a great opportunity to craft. This was a fun way to just be free and play.

Nikki

Isolation Skype Craft 4 - Journalling Dina style

Hello and welcome to our 4th Isolation Skype Craft adventure - where Brenda Brown, Alison Bomber and I craft together over Skype. This version was another - do as you please, rather than our original rules based projects. As always just lovely to craft in the virtual company of  crafting buddies.

What is good about this project is I have finished something. It seems recently that I keep starting projects and not finishing them. I blame all these Facebook workshops - I have done a couple and both are unfinished - despite them being great projects.

I did a Dina Wakley workshop last Saturday evening and my Skype craft was Sunday morning - so you can see what inspired this page!

I followed alot of the process I had done on the workshop but in my journal instead. I love Dina's free style, mistakes are ok, letting things happen. She has a great eye for colour and composition though so I am not fooled it is easy as she makes it sound!!!

Compositionally this went a bit wrong.... spotted it? I do not like where I have positioned the face on the RHS - the masked tag is sticking out of her head! HOW did I not see that - LOL.

The masking on the silhouette figures worked a bit better - I like these. You can see all the layers here. What I failed to maintain is much white space - something I am working on - but must have got distracted by the conversation!

As you would expect wonderful projects from Brenda and Alison that you can find here:

Alison

Brenda

Nikki xx

Journalling with Gelli Plate Prints

Hi everyone - time for our April challenge at A Vintage Journey hosted by the lovely Julia Aston of Create with Me.

It's Gelli Time!

Yes, get those gel plates out and have a play.  Printing and mark making are unique and somewhat addictive when you start so let us see what you create and how you use it in your project.  Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.

I love using my Gelli Plate and it's a bit of a go to - when my mojo is lacking! I love to experiment with textures and layers and just seeing what happens. No two prints are ever the same and that is its magic! 

I therefore have alot of prints lying around and decided to see what would happen if I punched some circles and created a montage.

I punched 2.5, 2, 1.5 and 1inch circles of 5 prints and arranged them on my page - this was a challenge! Once happy I stuck them down and then adding a little extra stamping, doodling and stencilling - including a little on the black background.

I am sure the girls at AVJ have some great ideas - so do hop over for some inspiration. We would love it if you joined in the challenge.

Stay safe everyone.

Nikki xxxx

Getting the journal out .....

It's a PaperArtsy day today where I am sharing this subtle (for me!) journal page using new paints and stamps from Tracy Scott.

Nikki

Dragonfly Journal Page

Some journal play this week in my A4 journal.

I used Dina Wakley paints and stamps from AALL and Create (Tracy Evans). A little different to the butterfly card I made with the same stamp sets! You can see it here if you missed it.

My original journal page was kraft card - but I think it is covered. I stared with random black coverage and white around the edges. I added some scraps of paper and card and both thick gesso and texture paste through 2 stencils (Tim Holtz dot fade and the stripy one!). I then began building colour - mostly with my fingers.

I added random stamping with archival ink from the AAll and Create border stamp set (the random circles) and stamped 3 hearts, the dragonly and words on separate scraps of paper. I added a little colour to these before adding.

The circle was a leftover die cut.

I would like to join the fun at The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog:

(I used 2 stencils, gesso, Dina Wakley paints, texture paste and ink)

Have a great weekend.

Nikki

xxx