DLP (Start with a black background) and daily journaling

If you've been following me a while you'll know I love to art journal {almost} every day. We had a very busy and fun last week and weekend of our school holidays and I finished my last daily spread ready to start the new term on 25th July. We've been resettling into school, getting organised for more family birthdays, trying to prune roses between wintery cold and very wet days, and although I've been working on some projects that I can't share completed yet, I'd been feeling a bit like I'd lost some of my art mojo. I decided to start fresh again for August...a new month called for a lovely new title - in June I cut a previously spray-painted piece of cardstock to use for art cards. 

I used that doily HERE

and the lacey bit HERE

It was time to use that lovely henna hand creatively. I started with gelli plate background fun (I made the foam plate HERE) : 

and then added the hand

With all our happenings I had plenty of photos, but was forgetting to make space for the art. The black tag is there to remind me to use it for a Documented Life prompt, but I came to a bit of a stand still last week. Then on Saturday, I found out I'd won Effy's online class Book of Days July-December! She is so encouraging with such wise words - after watching a few videos I was reminded that I NEED to art - it's good for my soul, it's good for my development, it's good from my general happiness which means my whole life benefits - I need to make priority time for it in my day and recognise that the other stuff can be done around the space I need to make for that. That afternoon I was adding more art to my spread :

And although there were some memory-keeping photos I had to add at the top of the next page, I remembered to use some tape and silver pen to add to the shivery weather feel of the day

The best way to celebrate my Book of Days win was to art it. And it was time to properly use a Documented Life prompt "Start with a black background". I began with lovely stencils of feathers = art gives me wings ♥

Then it was time to add sparkles with gelli pen work

and decided I would also like to use my black clothing tag

Attached with a small brad - I'll be able to cover the back with some paper when I turn the page. 

I love how this half-page has turned out

and here's the final spread complete.

Looking forward to seeing what happens next on my art journey. 
You can see my Flickr album with all my daily journaling spreads HERE. You can find out more about DLP 2016 the unPlanner HERE.

Book of Days

When I joined Life Book at the beginning of the year I did so through Effy and became part of her Seekrit Life Book Club with a bonus class on note-taking. I created my cover for my Ultimate Notebook immediately I got the information at the end of December

In it I take notes about every Life Book class I attempt and it helps my learning tremendously.

I've so enjoyed Effy's lessons from Life Book. Last December I did Sunshine and Roses

and this year was Reframing your story which I completed in June.

As a member of Effy's Seekrit club, each month she gives her members a chance to win : 

JULY CHALLENGE

Every time you post an image of your artwork for Life Book 2016 in the comments beneath each post, you will be entered in a drawing for the month’s prize.JULY’S prize is a seat in BOD Semi-Annual Edition! All you have to do to be eligible to win is post! I will announce the winner on the first Wednesday of AUGUST and then we will have a whole new challenge!

It's pretty obvious where I am going with this!

If you're new around here - click HERE for the fantail version and HERE for the winged.

I am so excited as you can imagine. Online classes are such a wonderful opportunity and it is even more amazing to get to study with a teacher that you love for FREE! THIS is what I've won : 

Spend the second half of the year with me, Effy Wild, filling up your journal with gorgeous mixed media spreads that deeply express your life.
I have long wondered what this class is like and I am hopeful that it may provide the injection of new enthusiasm I need at this very wintery and sometimes dormant (art-wise) time of year for me. I have watched a few of the videos and yep - inspired ♥
Note that Effy has released part of her Book of Days class : Boot Camp FREE.

The materials are designed to take you through the entire process of creating an art journal (called around here, the BOD or Book Of Days) & an art grimoire. The BOD is for art journal spreads and the grimoire is for experimentation with different mediums/techniques. Many of us use both in our creative practice, but you are welcome to use one book as you see fit.
Links to this and other cheap and FREE online art classes are always available in link top right under my profile. Hoping to share again soon.

What's happening around here....

I can't share any finished projects at the moment but I can show some in progress

Next daily journal spread has been started for August (gelli print background)

Quilt top completed - Disappearing Nine Patch. I'll share a complete blog post about this one when I've got it quilted and finished.

Another Life Book lesson started - another gelli printed background

This one's a secret for now.....
We got Netflix recently and are enjoying watching this in the cold dark evenings 

The whole family is inside together beside the fire - probably why my projects aren't getting finished as well as they do in summer when I stay out in the studio after dinner :-)  Also happening this month - birthdays for my husband and eldest son and some good friends, and I'm hoping to see this at the movies soon :

Hope you are finding time to create.