Free your Imagination

I am taking part in #52CafeCards
which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards
following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The next prompt is I for Imagination.

I coated the playing card front in white gesso,
then added crumpled tissue paper,
to create some texture.

The butterfly image was stamped on top of dictionary paper.

You might just be able to read some of the text.

I added a scrap of printed paper
to add colour & detail.

Dictionary definition
Stamp: Anna Griffin
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Background paper: Kasia Avery
Printed Text

Start where you are

This week's Art Journal page is inspired by one of the Wanderlust activities.

Eliza Trojanowska challenged us to find a random quote that resonated with us.

After a few tries, I found this quotation by Arthur Ashe

Start where you are.

Use what you have.

Do what you can.

Sounds like a very apt motto to me.

The base of this week's page is Tim Holtz Idea-ology white cardstock.
This piece has arrow resist motifs.

It was a reject for a earlier experiment that didn't quite go to plan,

but a quick coat of white gesso gave me a clean base to start again.

I added Ranger's Texture Paste through a Tim Holtz stencil (Flourish).

Once this had set hard, I added Gelatos & Distress Crayons,

Perfect Pearls (Heirloom Gold) & a multitude of pen lines around the edges.

The white arrow resists are just showing in this corner.

There was some Distress Ink (peeled paint) as well.

The paintbrush was wrapped in gold coloured beading wire,

metallic gold & hessian threads,

orange sewing cotton & a piece of blue fibre.

I have tried to capture the different textures & layers in these photographs.

Getting Lost in the Storm

Some of the best times I have had when travelling
have been when I have got
lost,
finding treasures that I would have otherwise missed
& enjoying unplanned moments in my life.

The same is true of Wanderlust.

I am getting lost
& enjoying every moment.

Fellow Wanderlust travelling companions may be confused
as to how my art journal/mixed media pieces relate to the week's lessons -
well I am here to tell you that they probably don't.

This week more than any other week,
I have dawdled off,
taken a side road that everyone else walked by,
lost in my own little world ...

The base of this week's page is white watercolour paper,
which already has a great texture to it.

I just threw all kinds of colour
& different mediums on to it.
Acrylic Paints, Distress Crayons,
Getalos, Perfect Pearls,
White Gesso
Distress Marker ...

Added a few elements from 7 Dots Studio,
including a large circle that I had copied
& made into small button tabs,
to mark the monthly Activities pages,
(using Kasia's lettering from the free Newsletter from Everything Art).

Tab on my Activity Page from Week 4

Then I turned to my favourite artist,
Joseph Cornell,
for inspiration to finish off this piece.

The second day I spent working on this page was the day that storm Doris hit the UK,
so I dared to brave the strong winds to collect a few small twigs
which had been blown down from my Silver Birch tree.

I coated these in white gesso.

I also added some book text (from you know where)
some printed text,
abaca ribbon &
fabric ribbon.

The finished page certainly reflects the dark stormy colours of the last two days.

Open your Heart

I am taking part in #52CafeCards
which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards
following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The next prompt is H for Heart
&/or Hummingbird.

Marta couldn't choose between to two, so we have both this week.

I coated the playing card front in white gesso,

then added a layer of crumpled white tissue,

to create some texture.

Now the hummingbird is a favourite of mine,
has been for a few years,
due to the fact that I am often given cards made by Papyrus.

Their logo is a hummingbird
& with each card they enclose a gold hummingbird sticker
(to seal the envelope),
together with a card detailing the legends of the Hummingbird.
You can read about it here.

I took the words to create my background,
printing them on tissue paper.

My heart is cut from corrugated card,
first painted black then coated in Crackle Glaze,
followed by white paint.

Golden Gesso

White tissue paper
Mod Podge Matte
Printed text on white tissue paper
Pritt Stick
Corrugated card by Inspire me

PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze

Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints (Black/White/Pure Gold)

Printed text on white card
Hummingbird charm
Gold Metallic Thread

Be Strong

I am taking part in #52CafeCards
which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards
following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The next prompt is G for Gears.

I coated the card front in white gesso,

then added a layer of crumpled white tissue,

to create some texture.

I created some gear style elements from card, using circle punches

& added three screw top brads.

I used the following to create texture & colour.

Golden Gesso

Golden Soft Gel (Matte)

Ranger Texture Paste

Ranger Perfect Pearls Aged Patina  (Blue Patina, Green Patina & Heirloom Gold)

Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints (Aged Silver & Waterfall)

Distress Ink (walnut stain)

Seen & Noted

Inspiration for week 6 of Wanderlust was brought to us by Amanda Grace.

Amanda's inspiration for her art journal spread,

was Valentine Day.

She composed a love letter to her husband,

incorporating an image transfer of a photograph from their wedding day.

My interpretation is below.

Before you say anything,

it is obviously nothing like Amanda's

& I know that.

The base this week is a hessian page,

to which I added another piece that I had coated in gesso. 

On top of that is a #8 size kraft tag by Ranger.

I added a piece of a Tim Holtz Pocket Card,

to make a pocket,

some lace & three more images from the pocket cards.

I used a white Uni-ball Signo pen to add some detail to the edge of the kraft tag.

A couple of staples to adhere two of the images.

The pocket holds my linen envelope,

hand cut & sewn with red cotton,

with a cute heart button.

Inside holds the butterfly tag,

with words cut from an old novel

(you know the one that I always use).

My love letter is attached to the back of the aeroplane tag,

made from two more pocketcards & a staple.

My Wanderlust journal so far.

Trust your Feelings

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The sixth prompt is letter F - Folk.

I coated the card front in white gesso,

Added colour with tissue paper,

detail with printed text, Dylusions Black Paint Pen
& sanded the edges.

Creativity

Week 5 of Wanderlust was interesting,

but there was no specific technique or style tutorial,

so I just spent time playing
(my number one aim this year)

& below is the result.

The base image was a free printable from Everything Art,

just sign up to their newsletter.
The lettering Kasia used is their new stamp set made by PaperArtsy.

The base of my page is cardboard.

I added book text, a word cut from a calendar,
a butterfly (also from Kasia)
& elements from 7 Dots Studio

There is a little doodling, paint splattering
& colour from Distress Crayons.

Shine your Light

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The fifth prompt is letter E - Eclipse.

I coated the card front in white gesso,

then adhered white crumpled tissue paper to add another layer a texture.

I added colour with black acrylic paint,
then dry brushed white gesso over a circle mask.

I added printed text, with a slight play on words.

It was edged with black acrylic paint.

Fly

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The fourth prompt was the letter D - Dragonfly

I coated the card front in gesso,

then adhered crumpled tissue paper
to add another layer a texture.

The dragonflies are from coloured tissue paper.

There is a little Distress Crayon (spiced marmalade)
then I added printed text & washi tape.

I edged the card with Distress Marker (black soot).

The best Solution

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The third prompt was the letter C - Coffee

I coated the card front in gesso,

then adhered some coffee coloured crumpled tissue paper
to add another layer a texture.

Then came a layer of book text

& a strip of handmade washi tape,

then a piece of hessian.

The focal point is card cut from a Starbucks cup holder.

I added text, again with a slight play on words.

I edged with Distress Marker (black soot).

Just Breathe

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The second prompt was the letter B - Bubbles

I coated the card front in gesso,

then adhered crumpled tissue paper to add another layer a texture.

I added colour with Distress Crayons
mustard seed
spiced marmalade
twisted citron
peacock feathers

Now with the prompt of Bubbles,
I took my Bubble stencil by Tim Holtz
& added colour with Distress Crayon (mermaid lagoon).

I added printed text, with a slight play on words.

It was edged with Distress Marker (black soot).

Small Art

I am taking part in #52CafeCards which is a year long creative challenge,

creating art on playing cards following the prompts provided by Marta Lapkowska.

The first prompt was the letter A - Art

I coated the card front in gesso,

then adhered crumpled tissue paper to add another layer a texture.

I added colour with Distress Ink (picked raspberry).

Then came a layer of book text

& a strip of handmade washi tape,

then a sticker from 7 Dots Studio

& a heart embellishment made from another sticker

(coloured with Distress Crayon - picked raspberry).

Edged with Distress Marker (black soot)

with some detailing added with a black Stabilo All pencil.

I am ready

Week 4 of Wanderlust, is a week of activities & discussions.

I have made a piece for my journal combining two of the activities.

The January journal prompt of

I am ready ....

& following the rule of only using 3 colours that I could see from my own surroundings.

I chose

I am ready to PLAY

The three colours were green, browns with a little red.

It is Winter here in the UK,
so the colours in my garden are mainly greens & browns,
but there are a few red berries that the birds have not yet eaten.

Not only did we need to choose our colour palette from our surroundings,

but we also needed to tell a story,

reflecting our own experiences during this month.

The base is cardboard (from a box of my cat's favourite food).

I coated it with white gesso, before adding my colours.

The focal point is the butterfly from Kasia,
as the Wanderlust course has been a key part of  this month.

Under the butterfly is a cotton label,

cut out from a piece of clothing before it was sadly thrown away.

It held memories, been on our travels with us,

so it's nice to feel that part of it has been incorporated into this piece.

The piece of torn cardboard box,

is from a delivery I received this month.

There is also some green text washi tape made from Kasia's collage sheet,
you can just see it here in the top corner.

The colours used were

Gelatos (Chocolate, Pistachio & Red Cherry)

Distress Crayon (peacock feathers)

Distress Ink (walnut stain)

We were also allowed to use black & white.

Acrylic Paint (Black)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Stabilo All pencil (Black)
Chinograph pencil (White)
White Gesso

I included two elements from the Dreamer collection by 7 Dot Studio

The script stamp is by Crafty Individuals.

The stencil is Bubble by Tim Holtz.