Preparing for Advent

Kasia Avery at Everything Art
is running an
Advent Calendar
event this December.

I made another journal to use for this project,
using up spare paper
from the handmade notebook
I made back in June.

I really enjoyed working
in it for Eliza's Art Jar class.

The cover for the new one uses
a graphic from Shawn Petite.

One signature with
six pieces of paper,
stitched with string,
gives me a journal with 24 pages.

This journal is 4 x 5½ inches,
just slightly smaller than my Art Jar Journal.

I prepped the pages with watered down
white gesso primer
from Daler-Rowney.

To add some base colour,
I used acrylic paints
from Eco Green Crafts
(Orchard & Butternut).

Then I added some Distress Inks
(tattered rose & antique linen).

Kasia suggested gathering
a few key supplies together
& keeping them neat & tidy
& readily accessible,
so I will be using the same Art Box as
yes, you guessed it,
my Art Jar Self-Edition class.

With the previous projects supplies
tidied away & refilled with my new choices.

I will be using watercolour pencils
by Faber-Castell.

I have also selected some design tape
from Tim Holtz to include
& a small Tando Creative mask
called "Criss Cross".

If you would like to join in,
registration for this free class
closes on 5th December 2018.

Art Jar: Bloom

Week 13 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
encouraging us to
bloom.

I used the middle section of my notebook,
which uses an image from
Cloth Paper Scissors
on the outside.

There is a word definition
torn from an old dictionary
& printed text.

On the inside is paper from my typing manual,
to which I added some watered down
white Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer.

The postcard image is from
Paper Cloth Scissors.

There is Faber-Castell Watercolour pencil
around the edges.

The tag & printed quotation are from
Hot Off The Press.

Design tape is by Tim Holtz
& the library card image is from
Cloth Paper Scissors.

This is the last week of Eliza's online inspirations,
but this weekend, Kasia starts her
free Advent Journal event,
registration for which is open until
5th December 2018.

Art Jar: Make More Art

Week 12 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
encouraging us to
make more art.

I used a blend of DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of mixed Distress Ink
(peeled paint, picket fence & mustard seed)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

The tag & quotation are from
Hot Off The Press.

There is a word definition
torn from an old dictionary
& printed text.

The bird & floral images are from
The Graphics Fairy.

Design tape is by Tim Holtz.

With just one week left of this online course,
my handmade journal is nearly full.

I have loved looking back
through it each week,
watching it grow & develop,
each page sparking memories
& filling me with inspiration.

Art Jar: Imperfect

Week 11 of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
getting us to consider our thoughts about being
imperfect.

I used DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon)
mixed with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
splashes of Distress Ink
(broken china)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges & for shading.

This page has lettering from
Eliza's collage collection,
word definition torn from an old dictionary,
floral image from The Graphics Fairy,
printed text
design tape by Tim Holtz
& gingham ribbon.

 Beneath the floral image is a quotation
from  Richard Powell

"Wabi Sabi nurtures all
that is authentic
by acknowledging
three simple realities:
nothing lasts,
nothing is finished,
and nothing is perfect."

Next to the quote is a Tim Holtz Paper Doll.

It was imperfect because the machine cutting had
misaligned one of the girls legs,
so I made use of it on this page.

On this page, there is a tag by
Hot Off The Press,
a library index card image
from Cloth Paper Scissors
&  other pieces already mentioned.

Let's celebrate
the impossibility
of perfection.

After all,
what is perfection? 

Art Jar: Ordinary

Week ten of  Art Jar Self - Edition
had prompts & inspiration from Eliza
about celebrating the
ordinary.

"Celebrate the everyday,
the ordinary things
of daily life
&
enjoy every moment."

I used a blend of DecoArt Americana acrylic paint
(Blue Neon & Yellow Neon)
with Daler-Rowney Gesso Primer
(White)
with splashes of mixed Distress Ink
(peeled paint, picket fence & mustard seed)
for the background.

Then Faber-Castell Watercolour pencils
around the edges.

There is a Tim Holtz Paper Doll,
some Design Tape,
a tag from Hot Off The Press with some string,
a library card image from Cloth Paper Scissors,
a Bingo card image from Red Lead
& a plain black photo corner.

A Simple List for November

This month's
To Do List
inspired by a regular feature in The Simple Things magazine.

Each month they publish a list of things to try.

Wrap up & go outside
whatever the weather.

Read a book by a sunny window.

Bring your duvet downstairs.

Watch the flames of a roaring fire.

Slow down a little,
come up for air
& take your time.

Note down or photograph things
you hear or see for the first time.
.    .    .

I typed my words on background images
from Emily at Sweetly Scrapped
then adhered to Tim Holtz Resist kraft card.

Each card can be used
as a prompt to try something new,
to go on an adventure that month
or just spark your creative imagination.

The cards measure 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms
& they are kept together in an altered matchbox.