Watercolour Calendar Journaling

I keep all the paper towels that I use to blot my work

They are grungy and yummy and I thought it would be fun to start my next spread by gluing some down on the background. I just used one paper towel for this spread - 2 layers pulled apart and torn. I love it.

Click on any photo to see it larger

On my left hand page I had sprayed onto one of my lovely stencils and then pressed it down as a stamp, so I just glued the paper down around it.

This spread was during our school holidays - a good chance to catch up on some reading and some viewing...We never watched the TV series of "Elementary", so very happy to be able to catch up on that on DVD from the library. Also saw "How to Tame your Dragon 2" at the movies as a family - highly recommended.

A busy and exciting week - I started the Me Time Messages project, and our Manawatu rep boys' team won their Under 15 National basketball tournament! (our older boy is in that team) What a fantastic experience that was. So lucky we were there for the quarter, semi and finals to cheer them on.

Enjoying playing with lettering and some pretty pieces of washi tape given by a friend - I'll remember her visit without even writing it down :-)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend with some time for creativity.
You can see all my calendar journal pages in my flickr set HERE.

Me Time Messages 5

Have just completed envelope #5 of "Me Time Messages" : instructions HERE. Started with another area for improvement :

Decided to use a window envelope this time - here's the other side of the journal card inside my recycled envelope before decoration.

The gesso didn't cover as much of the black writing as I'd hoped, but I pressed on. Here's the envelope with gold stamping (not very visible) and gloss gel medium through a stencil which was supposed to act as a resist to the layer of dylusions spray. Didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped but it's just another layer in the process. You'll see the effect a bit better if you click on the photo - we'll call it subtle.

I used masking tape over my window so I'd be able to see my word when finished

What a transformation when I added black ink stamping, and other details. Here's the completed window side of the envelope, showing my word inside on the journal card and I also added a found word "calm" with a bit of doodling. I like that I left a bit of "negative space" where you can see the texture from previous layers.

Click on any photo to see it larger

Used ransom style lettering on the back of the envelope and a bit of doodling around them. Love this effect :-)

Only 1 more lesson left. See all my postings from this workshop HERE

Me Time Messages 4

I've been following the free instructions on the blog of Miscanthus Crafts, creating a series of "Me Time Messages"

Just completed envelope #4 - instructions HERE. This time I focussed on something I'm happy about : I have a positive outlook - I am an optimist.

First step - stamping in a grid pattern on the envelope - I used purple staz-on ink

Colour added - the first side I used twinkling H2Os

On the other, watersoluble crayons

The next instruction was to add washi tapes

I got a bit carried away adding those - I really enjoyed what they added

Then it was time to finish off by adding the words and an appropriate image

click on any photo to see it larger

Surprised myself again by how much I like this envelope now it's done...had no idea when I started the first layer of stamping how it would finish.

Only 2 more envelopes to go. See all my postings from this workshop HERE