Sit Back, Relax & Turn Up The Volume

As mentioned last week,

I have complied a short video of my collection of Index Cards

made during June & July,

for the Index Card a Day Creative Challenge.

Hope you enjoy looking through them.

Did you enjoy the music too?

2016 Index Card A Day

During June & July, I have been taking part in ICAD2016.

I used this as an opportunity to work through two art journaling books
by Dina Wakley & the idea was a great success.

In the final week, I have made another stencil,
using a doodle design from card 32.

Card 32 - Taking my Pen for a Walk

Index Card 32

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Pistachio)

Dylusions Stencil - Honeycomb

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

Card 33 - New Beginnings

Index Card 33

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Pistachio)

Black Acrylic Paint

Distress Ink (peeled paint)

Stencil (own)

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

Printed Text

I will be making a quick video next week of all my index cards for my YouTube channel.

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley Week 7

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am now reading through the second art journal book, Art Journal Courage.

Card 28 - Be Extraordinary

Index Card 28

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Pistachio)
Silhouette Mask - my own
Crafty Individuals Text Stamp (CI - 017)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Stabilo All Black Pencil
Waterbrush
Ohto Black Fude Ball 1.5
Book Text
Distress Marker (black soot)

Index Card 29 - Listen to your heart

Index Card 29

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Pistachio)
Magazine Image
Carbon Paper
Stabilo All Black Pencil
Waterbrush
Printed Text

Index Card 30 - Find your hidden depths

The ICAD challenge is not only about being creative everyday,
it is also about pushing yourself out of your own comfort zone.

One of my comfort zones is using soft muted colours,
so say hello to bright neons.

Index Card 30

I used the following materials:-

Americana multi-surface acrylic paint Neon by DecoArt
(yellow/green/blue)
ecogreen Acrylic Paint (Black)
Golden Gesso (White)
Ohto Fude Ball 1.5 Pen (Black)
Signo Pigment Ink Pen (White)
Crafty Individuals Text Stamp (CI - 017)
Printed Text

I revisited this card & added some DecoArt Neon (pink)
& a Tim Holtz Grungeboard heart,
with a little doodling.

Card 31 - Trying to keep my cool

Today is the hottest day so far this year,

so I've gone for hot pink overload.

Index Card 31

I used the following materials:-

Americana multi-surface acrylic paint Neon by DecoArt (pink)

Golden Gesso (White)

ecogreen Acrylic Paint (Black)

Tim Holtz Stencil (Dot Fade)

Distress Inks (picked raspberry/black soot)

Printed Text

Silhouette (own)

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley - Week 6

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,
adapting the techniques when necessary.

I am now reading through the second art journal book, Art Journal Courage.

Card 25 - Keeping it simple

Index Card 25

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Orchid)
Stabilo All Black Pencil
Acrylic Paint (Rose)
White Gesso
Distress Ink (broken china)
The Crafters Workshop Stencil (Chicken Wire)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Tim Holtz Stamp
Printed text

Card 26 - Imagine, Believe, Create

Index Card 26

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Orchid)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (picked raspberry)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Typo)
The Crafters Workshop Stencil (Chicken Wire)
Printed text


Card 27 - Me, myself & I

Index Card 27

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Pistachio)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (walnut stain)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Bubble)
Stencil - my own
Printed text

Progress through this book is slow, so only three cards this week.

It took me a long time to make the face stencil for card 27,
but I am thrilled with the result.

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley Week 5

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,

adapting the techniques when necessary.

I have nearly finished working my way through Art Journal Freedom.

Card  21 - Love the one you're with

Index Card 21

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Waterfall)
Distress Ink (dusty concord)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Tim Holtz Stencils (Flourish & Bubble)
Distress Marker (black soot)
White Gesso
Crafty Individuals Stamp (heart)
Old Dictionary Paper
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Silhouette (own)
Printed text

Card 22 - Use your head

Index Card 22

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Waterfall)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Bubble)
Old Dictionary Paper
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Head Image (Michelle Ward)
White Uni Posca Marker
Printed text

Card 23 is the first index card using Art Journal Courage for prompts.

I used carbon paper to trace the outline of the lady's face,
then used a Stabilo All Black pencil to re-draw the lines.

I used a waterbrush to then move the colour around.

Index Card 23

Not too happy with the outcome,
mainly because the only carbon paper I could find at my local shop was blue
but also because I am outside my comfort zone.

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Orchid)
Carbon Paper
Magazine Image
Stabilo All Black Pencil
Waterbrush
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (walnut stain)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Bubble)
Whispers Watercolour Pen (brown)

Card 24 - Stop Hiding

I used carbon paper to trace the outline of the lady's face,
then used a Stabilo All Black pencil to re-draw the lines.

I used a waterbrush to then move the colour around.

Index Card 24

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Orchid)
Carbon Paper
Magazine Image
Stabilo All Black Pencil
Waterbrush
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Typo)
Printed text

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley Week 4

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,

adapting the techniques when necessary.

I am starting with Art Journal Freedom.

Colour Schemes

Card 16 - Just being me

This card uses an analogous colour scheme.

I found the words on the floor the morning I made this index card,
which I think are cut from a BGU graphics sheet.

Index Card 16

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (Light Green/Lemon Yellow/Cobalt Blue)
Distress Ink (peeled paint)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (mustard seed)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Crafty Individuals Stamp (heart)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Silhouette (own)
Wording from BGU

Card 17 - Still becoming

This uses the same paints as the previous card,
but this time I was trying to create a different feeling
by adding a contrast colour.

Index Card 17

I used the following materials:-

White Gesso
Acrylic Paint (Light Green/Lemon Yellow/Cobalt Blue)
Distress Ink (fired brick)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Crafty Individuals Stamps (butterfly & heart)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Wording from BGU

Contrast With Colour

Card 18 - You matter

This card uses an analogous background
with a focal point in a complimentary colour.

Index Card 18

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (pine needles)

Distress Ink (peeled paint)

Distress Ink (mustard seed)

Ranger Mini Mister

Tim Holtz Stencil (Bubble)

White Gesso

Word butterfly & floral paper from BGU

Card 19 - Sometimes it rains

I used the technique shared at the end of the chapter,
which uses gel medium as a resist.

Index Card 19

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (mustard seed)
Distress Ink (picked raspberry)

Ranger Mini Mister

Tim Holtz Stencil (Typo)

Gel Medium
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps

Printed text

Card 20 - Time to fly

I used Dina's Glimpses of Every Day as inspiration for this card.

Index Card 20

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint (waterfall)
White Gesso
Tim Holtz Stencil (Bubble)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (mustard seed)
Distress Ink (Picked Raspberry)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Crafty Individuals Rubber Stamp (heart)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Word Butterfly from BGU
Dictionary paper

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley - Week 3

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,

adapting the techniques when necessary.

I am starting with Art Journal Freedom.

Proximity

Card 11 - All lined up

This card uses elements in a line.

In contrast to yesterday's colour choice,
today I plumped for the soft, muted pastel colours.

What I like the most is it shows how grey the weathered wood blue is.
What I like the least is the use of the stencil - bad idea.

Index Card 11

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (tattered rose)
Distress Ink (milled lavender)
Distress Ink (weathered wood)
Ranger Mini Mister
Crafty Individuals Stamp (butterfly)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Tim Holtz Stencil (Flourish)

Card 12 - Get over yourself

A quick card as time was short today,
using a saying by Tim Holtz
in his first live chat for Summer of Creative Chemistry.

Index Card 12

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (peeled paint)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (weathered wood)
Ranger Mini Mister
Silhouette (own)
printed text

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Card 13 - Don't overthink the ink

The colours were inspired by the outfit worn by
HM The Queen the previous day at Royal Ascot.

It is also demonstrating the use of a combining element,
again using another Tim-ism by Tim Holtz.

Index Card 13

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (broken china)
Distress Ink (spiced marmalade)
Distress Ink (weathered wood)
Ranger Mini Mister
Crafty Individuals Stamp (butterfly)
printed text
Archival Ink (Jet Black)

The oval frame was cut from a printed version of another index card,
made using the scraps of paper from the challenge so far.

I then copied the image, altered the colouring & printed it out.

Original Index Card with printed copy underneath

The butterfly images are stamped on this paper as well.
You should be able to see some of the lettering
showing through on Index Cards 11 & 13.

Card 14 - Je t'aime

This is the first card made for the chapter
Dominance & Repetition.

Index Card 14

This card uses repetition in the background.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (antique linen)
Distress Ink (picked raspberry)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Ranger Mini Mister
Crafty Individuals & Paper Artsy Stamps
printed image (shadow jigsaw piece)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens (doodling)

Card 15 - You are resilient

I was reflecting on the first Summer of Creative Chemistry
live chat with Tim Holtz,
so this index card uses the three shades of brown
Distress Ink that I own,
to create a multi-layer background
with a dominant focal point.

Index Card 15

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (antique linen)
Distress Ink (brushed corduroy))
Distress Ink (walnut stain)
Distress Ink Re-inker (walnut stain)
Distress Marker (black soot)
Ranger Mini Mister
Crafty Individuals Stamp (heart)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
printed text
silhouette (own)
Kraft Tissue Paper by Suttons Wrap (Dragonflies)

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley - Week 2

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,

adapting the techniques when necessary.

I am starting with Art Journal Freedom.

White Space, Continuance & Closure

Card 6 - Cheerfulness

Index Card 6

Card 6 is looking at how to use white space as an element.

I used the following materials:-

magazine text (background)
Distress Ink (broken china)
Stencil by Tim Holtz (Bubble)
 Sakura Pigma Micron Black Pen
Line stamp (own)
old book text (hearts)
Golden Gesso & Soft Gel

Distress Ink (fired brick)

Distress Ink (black soot)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Card 7 - Believe

Index Card 7

Card 7 uses the same ideas as Card 6, but changes how the white space is used.

I used the same materials as Card 6, listed above.

Card 8 - Be there

Index Card 8

Card 8 plays with how your eyes move around the card,

first lead by the direction of the ink drips across the card,

then downwards by following the sidewards text,

circling around the figure 8 upwards towards the heart & the final text 

be there.

The silhouette anchors all the elements together.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (broken china)

Stencil by Tim Holtz (Bubble)

magazine text

old book text (heart)

Golden Gesso & Soft Gel

Paper Artsy Stamp (number)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Silhouette (own)

Card 9 - Today I am

Index Card 9

Card 9 is the last card for this chapter of Dina's book,

again challenging how you look at the piece.

This time it is to provoke & puzzle the eye.

The pink drips grab the eye at the bottom of the card,

the feet point one way, while your eye darts across to the number 9,

across to the text,

today I am

then upwards following the drips to the elements,

which disappear off the page ...

Comparing card 8 & 9,

you should feel that when you look at the first,

your eye knows where to look & feels rested,

but the second you feel unease ...

For card 9, I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (picked raspberry)

magazine text

Paper Artsy Stamp (number & squares)

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Silhouette (own)

Card 10 - Keep moving

Index Card 10

Card 10 is inspired by the next chapter, Proximity.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (mustard seed)
Distress Ink (spiced marmalade)

printed text

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Silhouettes (own)

I am falling in love with my black silhouette figures ...

Art Journaling with Dina Wakley - Week 1

This blog post is about the Index Card A Day creative challenge.

This year I am using the challenge to work through two Art Journal books by Dina Wakley.

I am using what supplies I already have to hand,

adapting the techniques when necessary.

I am starting with Art Journal Freedom.

Symmetry & Asymmetry

The technique shown at the end of this chapter

uses spray inks, which I do not own,

so I used Distress Ink, watered down on my craft mat

& a heat gun to dry between layers.

Card 1 - Dream

Index Card 1

The first card uses a grid composition.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Distress Ink (mustard seed)

Mini Mister Water Spray Bottle

Tim Holtz Tissue Tape

Sakura Pigma Micron (faux stitching)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Paper Artsy Rubber Stamps

Card 2 - Taking time to think

Index Card 2

The second card is using the rule of thirds.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Distress Ink (mustard seed)
Distress Ink (black soot)

Mini Mister Water Spray Bottle
Sakura Pigma Micron (hearts)

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Paper Artsy Rubber Stamps
Printed text
Flickr Image from Brenna Black

Card 3 - Remember that you are worth it

Index Card 3

The third card is using a centre weighted composition.

I used the following materials:-

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)

Distress Ink (black soot)

Mini Mister Water Spray Bottle

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Paper Artsy Rubber Stamp (number)
Printed text
Silhouette (own)

Card 4 - Love, Hope, Joy

Index Card 4

The fourth card uses the rule of three, with a visual triangle.

I used the following materials;-

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)
Distress Ink (picked raspberry)
Distress Ink (black soot)

Mini Mister Water Spray Bottle

Archival Ink (Jet Black)

Crafty Individuals Rubber Stamp (butterfly)
Paper Artsy Rubber Stamp (number)
Printed Text

White Space, Continuance & Closure

The fifth card use following the technique at the end of this chapter, using acrylic paints.

Card 5 - Take 5

Index Card 5

I used the following materials:-

Acrylic Paint by Eco Green Crafts
(Waterfall/Rose/Buttermilk/Aged Silver/White/Black)
Stencil by Tim Holtz (Bubble)
Archival Ink (Jet Black)
old book text
Golden Gesso & Soft Gel
Silhouette (own)
Uni-Ball Signo White Pen

Paper Artsy Rubber Stamp (number)

Distress Ink (broken china)

Distress Ink (dusty concord)
Mini Mister Water Spray Bottle

These are taking me longer than the fifteen minutes I had hoped each day,
so I will follow what I did last year &
only make the index cards during the week
& keep the weekend free for other things.

I want to ensure that I continue creating a page each week in my art journal &
continue with the fortnightly alpha challenge at The Craft Barn.

1, 2, 3 Go

Today is Day One of the Index Card A Day creative challenge for 2016.

The basis of the challenge is just to be creative in some way,

once a day, throughout June & July.

At the end of the challenge you should have 61 pieces of creative work

to look back on, reflect & use as inspiration.

There are a few rules,

but you can basically do whatever your muse tells you to do,

you can follow the prompts that Tammy at Daisy Yellow provides or not.

This year I am changing my approach.

I will be working through two art journal books by Dina Wakley.

Art Journal FREEDOM &

Art Journal COURAGE

I am planning to set aside 15 minutes each day - every day if I can.

Enough time to read a section of the book &

not too much time to be precious about the creative process.

As Tammy says, it is not about the outcome, but the action of doing.

I will be working on 3x5 inch cards & using my index card box from last year.

I am aiming to post each day on Instagram,

so if you want to follow along with my journey,

make sure you are following me there.

Time allowing, I will also write a weekly blog post.

Here goes ...