Art journal or scrapbook page?

Apparently there are no rules in art journalling, so on that basis my art journal is a mixture of lots of different things.

• Some pages are all about motivating myself and persuading myself to do the right thing;
• Some are me just playing around and one day they may become a "real" art journal page with writing and all;
• Others are for purging my soul, if it's really personal I'll hide the journalling or make it impossible to read (not difficult!);
• And, some pages have photo's on.  I've already scrapped the subject, but I adore the photo so use it in my art journal instead.  I don't have to say much about the subject then if I don't want to. 

Purists may want to keep art journalling separate to their scrapbook, but I love the fact that my journal is a bit of all sorts (and I use one, not one for each subject ... one).  I can look back at it and see what sort of mood I was in throughout the year, what I was thinking and what I was drawn to at that time.  Some days I want to be frivolous and not think about the difficult things, sometimes I want to scream into the page and other days I want to remember. 

One of my favourite pages probably isn't the best, but I found a photo which reminded me of travelling with my parents when I was younger.  The picture wasn't even of travelling, I think it was Moroccan, but it got me thinking about motorway travel of all things.  You don't have to use appropriate pictures, use what you are drawn to, use what reminds you of happy or sad times, use images that motivate you ... use anything you damn well want!  I do!!

Just a thought though, be careful if using images from magazines or newspapers.  My understanding is that if you alter it then you can get away with it, but how altered it has to be I don't know.

This page was taken in Bangkok, Thailand.  My favourite destination of all time.  I don't know what it is about Thailand but I feel so peaceful there, perhaps I was Thai in a previous life!

I don't want to be prescriptive on what I've done, how and with what as that's not the point of art journalling.  To me it's about playing.  If you want details please ask and I'll point you to the right manufacturer.  What I can tell you is there is probably PaperArtsy Al Fresco paint on it somewhere!  If this was on a Design Team post it would be a different matter as I'd be selling those stamps or images, but it's not so I can do what I want!!!

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Quick and dirty

Well maybe not dirty, but definitely quick.  This is my entry for Scrapagogo's Circle journal for January 2012.  I'm in art journal mode at the moment so my scrap booking is taking a bit of a beating.  January is never a good month as it's crazy busy at work so I get very little craft time and sometimes the mojo demon visits.  Very annoying when I eventually find time to craft - ggggrrrrhhh!

My scrapbook collection is getting a bit out of control so I've decided to be as unfrugal as possible on my layouts.  Instead of using papers and inks to follow the layout I was sent I decided to use as many brads as I could without ruining the effect.  Luckily for Emilie, she received the layout a while ago!


Not the best of photo's but hopefully you'll get the idea

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Life, the universe and everything

Are you like me?  Do you ignore the post during the week? 

Actually that's not entirely true .... if it looks interesting I'll open it, but if its a bill it gets ignored. It's not like we don't all pay by direct debit these days so it's not like the bill won't get paid!

Whilst at a local craft fair I picked up an mdf letter rack as I've never found anything I liked.  When I started painting it all I knew was that it was going to have the following ingredients:

1. Metal
2. Embossing
3. Viva inka gold and ferro
4. A wooden heart I've been meaning to use for ages!

Not keen on watching paint dry I went a hopping whilst waiting and found two challenges to inspire me, Hel's Sunday Stamper with the theme "Life" this week and Simon Says Stamp and Show "Anything goes."  Pity the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge was last weeks!  Oh well, it still inspired me!

I hope I can get away with saying I've used stamping - I did, honest!  The word life was stamped on the metal and then embossed.  I then used a Tim Holtz embossing folder to create the distressed harlequins.  Once happy with the look I polly filled - it gets used more in my craft room than in DIY!

To hide the edges of the metal I used Viva ferro around the edges of the letter rack before painting everything black and wiping it back.  Then I got carried away with Viva metallic paint and inka gold in several colours.

The little wooden heart was treated in a similar way and stuck to the back of the letter rack.

I'd prefer to recycle items, but if you can't find the right thing I'd recommend the mdfman. If you fancy a challenge grab the above ingredients or create a list of your own and see what you can create.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Taz monster, currently in possession of one bald ear.  It's a good job it's warm at the moment and that he still looks as handsome as ever!

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Back on the right weight loss path

I gave myself a talking to at the beginning of February.  I couldn't get into the right frame of mind to stay on my weight loss path, instead I kept eating sweets, chocolate and other junk food.  It was great though ... I still lost weight .... why?

That's easy, I was only eating sweets, chocolate and crisps some days.  I'd balance it out by not having dinner.  Clever, hey?  NO!

I  still lost weight, fab?  Not really, I expect I was losing muscle, not fat.  If you ever get in that frame of mind or you're in it now STOP!  It might not be food that's your vice, it might be shopping, drinking, starting smoking again or some other negative thing.  The point is ... is this what you want to be doing?  do you feel guilty afterwards?  is there something you need to deal with?

Fancy a challenge?  Next time you want to eat crap, smoke a cigarette or whatever your vice is, grab your journal or a loose piece of card and a paint brush.  If your painting you can't be eating or smoking, well not easily!

I've used a couple of unusual items on these pages - Viva ferro paste and Viva inka gold.  The paste has been stamped into which has given great texture under the pictures which I've highlighted with inka gold. 

This is my first double page and I'm not sure I'll do another one.  I like the quickness of a single page and it doesn't feel repetitive.  There's nothing wrong with double pages, but I 'm a quick win person!

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Kissed a frog

I'm experimenting with blogger on my phone today so this is going to be short and sweet!

I've wanted to scrap this photo of a frog for a while but didn't want it to be a nature based layout...

Happy crafting
Debz
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From tatty to floral

I love recycling things from car boot sales, but having spent lots of time shopping for bits I've decided that I have to start using up stuff before I get more.

It's all part of the craft cleanse which I'll tell you more about another day.  All I'll say for now is wow I have a LOT of stuff and eek several duplicate items.  Better still I've rediscovered items and am challenging myself to use them.  You know, those stamps that you have had for years that never seem to have been inked ... don't deny it I know you have them too!

Anyhow this is a memo holder which I updated and gave to a friend for her birthday.  Lots of Fresco paints from PaperArtsy (Yep, I'm addicted and I'm not even ashamed!)  It's got a few Art Parts on it, a bit of a tissue paper flower (thanks Artsy Craft weekend) and I may be addicted to my Claudine Hellmuth stamps too.  But they are fab, so I'm happy to be a Claudine floozy for a while longer.

These tissue flowers are so simple.  Use a die cut or just simply cut some rough circles, scrunch them up and then add a button or something similar for the heart of the flower. 

Happy Crafting
Debz
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Just a quickie tonight

I'm glad I didn't make a new year's resolution to keep my blog updated regularly otherwise I might have had to sack myself!

I've been having a craft cleanse in the hope that I can clear some rubbish from my craft room and make room for regular crafting.  Then I might even get organised and remember to take photo's of what I make - shocker, I know.

Anyway, this is a quick and cute card I made for a friends birthday using distress ink, Claudine hellmuth stamps, paperartsy paint and a really cute owl.

Happy Crafting
Debz
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