A Simple List for March

My last monthly
To Do List
inspired by a regular feature in The Simple Things magazine.

Each month they publish a list of things to try.

Spend time with
people who
make you feel happy.

Note the seasonal
changes in your garden.

Walk off a blue mood
in the fresh air.

When spontaneity strikes
go with it.

Treat yourself.

Write down three new skills
you'd like to learn.
.    .    .

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.

A Simple List for February

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.

Wander around
your local park.

Do your food shopping
somewhere different.

Write down five things
that made you smile.

Write down five things
you're proud of.

Stop every two hours
to focus on your
breathing.

Read a short story
in one go.

.    .    .

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.

A Simple List for January

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.

Give someone you love
a big hug.

Make looking
after yourself
your number one
resolution.

Spend all day
in your pyjamas.

Try cooking with a
new ingredient
each week.

Relish the time to
ponder new beginnings.

Have a digi-break
from 8pm onwards.

.    .    .

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.

A Simple List for December

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.

Take a walk in the dark
to see the Christmas Lights.

Remember your time
is as valuable as
any present or gift.

Aim to do one small
act of kindness each day.

Replace "Perfect"
with "Good Enough".

Write down what you really want
this Christmas to be like
& start from there.

Do one thing at a 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.

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.

A Simple List for October

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.

Pull out your woolly jumpers
& look forward to wearing them.

Put on your boots
& kick up the leaves.

Make an Autumn Salad
with colourful
root vegetables
& leaves.

Go to bed an hour
earlier for a week
before the clocks change.

Watch an old movie you love.

Write a list of words
that describe an Autumn day.
.    .    .

I typed my list 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.

A Simple List for September

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.

I have taken their words,
(adapting them slighty)

typed them 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.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing poetry
every day last month.

I wrote a three lined non-rhyming stanza
in the format of 7-5-7 syllables
(an inverted Haiku if you like).

What I have now is a daily record
of a memory from each day
& whilst each stanza is wholly unconnected to another,
every one holds something meaningful to me.

So on to this month & I need to find a journal
to start recording my thoughts & ideas
& note down the changes to the season.

There are already a few dried leaves on the ground,
the temperature is cooler,
the breezes stronger
& dusk falls earlier each evening.

A Simple List for August

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.

I have taken their words,
(adapting them slighty)

typed them 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.

Each card measures 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms
& they are kept together in an altered matchbox.

The Dimensional Quest

This project was made using a Chunky ATC
by That's Crafty.

question

These come flat,
so you need to glue the pieces together
to create your chunky ATC,
which then measures 2½ x 3½ x 1½ inches.

play

To create the textured base,
I used tissue paper.

search

The texture is then highlighted
by using various colours of
metallic rub-ons.

discover

The collage elements
were a free download
from Cloth Paper Scissors,
designed by Seth Apter.

think

There is also a postcard
from CPS
fabric & cotton thread
& finally Tim Holtz Doo Dads.

find

It has a different feel
to my first Chunky ATC
seen here.
which demonstrates
the versatility of this substrate.


.

be memorable

This project was made using a Chunky ATC
by That's Crafty.

be memorable
for all the
right reasons

These come flat,
so you need to glue the pieces together
to create your chunky ATC,
which then measures 2½ x 3½ x 1½ inches.

I covered it with white gesso,
then sanded back the edges.

I used patterned card by Tim Holtz
to decorate the six sides.

There is a Paper Doll
Remnant Rubs Elements
& a word definition torn
from an old dictionary.

I wrapped string around the sides
& attached a key to the top knot.

A Simple List for July

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.

I have taken their words,
(adapting them slighty)

typed them 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.

Each card measures 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms
& they are kept together in an altered matchbox.

Cloth Paper Scissors Mini Book

Yesterday Cloth Paper Scissors posted a mini book tutorial,

including images for us to download. 

This is my version,

which includes some of their images,

old paper, vellum, ordinary cotton thread,

die cut words, fibres & beads.

There is a tag on the front cover

& another on the first page.

It is 4 by 6 inches, with three signatures

& an extra piece in the middle.

I am planning to use this as a holiday journal.

Somewhere to keep memories of my journey,

tickets, photographs etc.

Maybe to write some poetry

or just journal.

Let me know if you decide to give this project a try too.

I’d love to see your versions.

gathering ephemera to add in

Be sure to follow @mixedmediacps on Instagram

for more mixed media inspiration.

A Simple List for June

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.

The card can be used

to  prompt me to try something new,

give focus in my journaling,

lead me on an adventure

or just spark my imagination.

I have taken their words,
adapted them slighty,

typed them onto background images
from Emily at Sweetly Scrapped

& adhered them to Tim Holtz Resist kraft card.

.
They measure 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms
which I keep in an altered matchbox.

So they say

This project was an idea to use up some patterned paper

I had leftover from other projects.

It was from a docrafts Papermania range called Madame Payraud's.

so they say

Together with a selection of Tim Holtz Paper Dolls,

I cut out sentences from my Pride & Prejudice book

to complete each page.

be ready for anything/we will not expose ourselves

There is also a little ribbon & some washi tape.

and very pretty they were

There are 6 pages in total,

each measuring 3 x 6 inches.

perfectly indifferent

They are bound together using 6 Tim Holtz Mini Book Rings.

all wondered who he could be

To find the right caption for each page,
I search through the pages of the book
to find words that speak to me.

she remembered everything perfectly

I add a heart shaped gem on her belt.

he was the wisest and best of men

The next one needed a cover up as I realised,
once I had finish it,
that the printing on the dog had been misaligned.

he had a very good opinion of himself

More paper & a different dog to the rescue.

All were struck with the stranger's air.

The last page.

let me persuade you to walk up and down

Click below to watch a flip through of the project.

I hope you enjoyed looking through this little project with me.

Simply Charming

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.

My prompt card can be used

to think about starting something new,

give focus in my journaling,

lead me on an adventure

or just spark my imagination.

I have taken their words,
adapted them as needed,

typed them onto background images
from Emily at Sweetly Scrapped

& adhered them to Tim Holtz Resist kraft card.

.
They measure 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms

The Simple Things

A quick project inspired by a regular feature in The Simple Things magazine.

Each month they print a list of things to try.

I have taken their words,

added them to background images from Emily at Sweetly Scrapped

& adhered them to a kraft card backing.

Each month the prompt card can be used

to help me start something new,

give focus in my journaling,

lead me on an adventure

or just spark my imagination.

April

I will be keeping them in an altered matchbox.

My cards are 7.5 cms by 5.5 cms

The kraft card is Tim Holtz Resist.

I have something to say ...

"Isn't the value of writing

in the very moment that something is written

&

thereafter in the rediscovery of that moment

when the words are found & read again,

revealing it's memories?"

These are the words that I found myself writing

in response to a question about whether there was a reason as to why

we keep notes, save quotations & record our thoughts.

This prompted me to think about whether I had a deep desire to write more.

I love words.

Words are so very powerful.

They can evoke memories,

trigger emotions,

prompt action.

They can soothe & calm

or enrage & anger.

Words have the power to change the way that we view our world.

2018

is going to be my year of writing

& finding ways to read between the lines of text.

10th Anniversary

Today marks the 10th anniversary of my first blog post.

I would encourage anyone who is creative to start a blog

( or continue to update their existing one )

as it is a fantastic way to reflect on your progress.

I use my blog to remind me of the different techniques learnt &/or used

& old supplies that I may have forgotten about.

When I need an idea, I look back to see which projects brought me the most pleasure

or which type of project I have not done for a while.

It is a wonderful resource & 

sometimes I surprise myself at what I find!

Although few people visit

& of those that do, even less leave me a comment,

I am so pleased that I continued to record my creativity here,
with the hope that maybe it inspires someone else
or at the very least, brightens their day.

I wonder if I will still be posting here
ten years from now.

Add a Sprinkle of Colour

Have you watched Leandra from Paper Artsy
explaining about their Infusions Coloured Stains?

Infusions create the most amazing backgrounds.

In this video, Leandra also shares some beautiful samples.

To be in with a chance to win a set of the 12 new colours,
Magenta
Slime
Raspberry
Frankly Scarlet
Rocky Road
Terracotta
Rusty Car
Sleight Blue
Olive Tree
Green Man
In the Navy
Violetta
just enter The Craft Barn Blog Candy giveaway.

Click the image below
& follow their instructions.

Close date is 19th March 2017

Playing with Paint

Creating colour swatches
from three of Dina Wakley Media Heavy Body Acrylic Paints. 

Not new colours, but now they are available in a new size.

As well as the original 2oz artists tubes,

you can now purchase these paints (& her other mediums) in 1oz bottles,

which is very useful if you like to travel light

or like me, you are just running out of space to store art supplies.

There was a need for these in my artist life, but which colours should I choose?

I really couldn't decide, so to start I plumped for

Lemon, Ruby & Lapis.

Yesterday I spent some time getting to know them,

mixing them,

falling in love with their strong pigment,

adding a little white to make more colours.

I could have played for hours.

The tape in the top corner is the widest Dina Wakley Media Tape (1 inch).

I used strips of tape for any excess paint, with a Tim Holtz Stencil (Faded Dots).

These will be added to projects later on.

I am going to attempt to show you the colours created,

but the light today is very dull.

It's overcast & currently raining.

Firstly the three primary colours.

From the Lemon & Ruby, there was a strong vibrant orange.

From the Lemon & Lapis, there was a deep dark forest green.

From the Ruby & Lapis, there was a sumptuous rich aubergine (eggplant).

Mix all three primary colours & you get a delicious milk chocolate brown,
which to my eye, looks like Umber in Dina's colour chart.

Here are the Primary & Secondary colours together with brown in the middle.

To the Lemon I added a drop of Liquid Pearls (White Opal),
which gave a real sheen & reflection to the surface.

To the other colours, I just added white to create Tints.

Lots more playing to do ...