Catching Up ......

Being ill is not fun especially if you've been bedridden for 2 whole days and not being able to think about or do any art.  I didn't even have the energy to pick up a book to read.  Thankfully I'm over the worst and getting back into creating art and catching up on my challenges.  I was hoping to have had a head start with the artwork as I'm heading over to the USA in 10 days...........yikes 10 days and I've not even gathered all my things that I need to take out there.  I do have a list.......its a very looonnngg list.

Anyway here are some of the pieces I've worked on in the last couple of days.  Luckily they can be crossed over onto each challenge.  

Small canvas I need more practice on textured backgrounds.

Journal page using 3 stencils - prompt at Wonderstrange for the 50 Canvases challenge set up by the lovely Sarah (aka themuppet).  

They made me join in hahahaha.

Journal page using the prompt Up Up and Away - this is a facebook group and the challenge is to create 52 journal pages - journal52 it's a closed group but the link is for the blog page.

I found these artist trading cards while I was looking for something else and thought they would be a great addition to my signature cards for taking to Arizona - a time saver considering I've only got 10 day before I fly out.

A couple of backgrounds with lots of texture and design - not sure what I'll be doing with these yet.  I have an idea for the first one but will see how it develops.

Lastly this is a wedding album I'm making for a very special couple and I'll be hand delivering it (providing I get it finished on time).  

The cover is Nottingham lace over shantung silk.  I'll post pics of the finished album after it's finished and delivered.

Phew so that's me all caught up......I think.

I'm linking up with the following blogs and challenges.

Journal52

Creative Everyday 

30 Paintings in 30 Days

Creative Mondays

Handmade Monday at Handmade Harbour

50 Canvases at Wonderstrange

Gritty Janes 40 Portraits (facebook open group)

Dance Like No-one Is Watching ...Handmade Harbour Mid-week Papercraft Party

I am sat here sniffling and coughing while I write this blog so I hope you'll excuse me if I keep this short and sweet this week.  I've noticed recently that there are so many people who create daily, weekly journals - it seems to be very popular.  I have signed up for a 52 challenge on facebook where you create a journal page every week.  There is a weekly prompt from the group admin that everyone is going to use to make their journal page - you can join in here - journal52.

So as there is such an interest in journal pages I thought I would use one of Wendy's designs to make a page for my journal and show you that you are not limited to using the designs just for card making.  

The theme for this week was pink or blue and as you can see I opted for blue.  The image I've used is the Happy Dance Girl #264.  I printed her onto some cartridge paper and used acrylic, watercolour paints and polychromo pencils for colouring in the image and the background.  I've added some glitter to her hair and dress and a little around the frame and flower.  The words were rubber stamped on using archival black ink.  

Please pop over to the Handmade Harbour Midweek Papercraft Party for more inspiration.

Unfinished...................Day 6 of 30 Paintings

I'm not sure this is quite finished yet.  I feel there is something else I could add to complete it.  I'm not quite sure what maybe some texture with embossing powders or texture paste.  I'm going to put her up on the wall and see what inspiration comes to mind.

What do you think?  All suggestions welcome.

Slices of Life - 30 paintings in 30 days

My Way...........Day 5 or 30 Paintings in 30 Days

As the title of this post says I'm doing it My Way in 2014.  I think it's about time I did things that I want to and not always what others want.  I'm going to do what I want, when I want and how I want.  If anyone wants to join me on my journey they are welcome to but don't expect me to change my plans. There will be times when I have to be flexible and that's fine but on the whole I'll be sticking to my plans.

I didn't plan to make this card to be anything other than another piece for me to learn from but it seems my sub-conscious was trying to tell me something and this is how it turned out.  

Watercolour paper - neo wax crayons, polychromo pencils, white gel pen, black pitt pen, scrap book paper, quilling paper rolled up to make flower heads.

To see more artists work pop over to Slices of Life blog.  I'm also including this in the Handmade Monday blog post over on Handmade Harbour

Till tomorrow enjoy your crafting

Anita

Day 4 of the 30 paintings in 30 days

So today is day 4 of the 30 paintings in 30 days and I'm already behind with my blog posts.  I'm slowly getting back into some kind of routine.  I have made the paintings for each day but as it got dark early I wasn't able to take any pictures until today.  Also it was the first week back at work.  Thursday was my first day back after nearly 2 1/2 weeks.  Yesterday I took my niece out and had a great time - we went to see WANTED Robin Hood at the Lowry theater Salford.  It was an alternative play to the original - most enjoyable.  

Here are my paintings for days 2,3 and 4.

Day 2 and 3 -these are similar to day one - I needed to make a set of these for trading.  They are Artist Trading Cards 2.5 x 3.5 inches in size.

Day 4 - Faber Castell polychromo pencils, acrylic, white and black pen, rubber stamped words - water colour paper. 15x11 cms

If you fancy joining in the fun or just want to see what others are creating then pop on over to Slices of Life blog.

Anita

Happy 2014!!!! New Goals and Challenges.

Happy New Year everyone.  Hope you've had a good start to the new year and suffering too much from a fuzzy head.

So as the new year begins everyone makes resolutions to lose weight, eat healthy, exercise more etc etc.  But these are the common things what about really challenging yourself or setting goals? 

My challenges/goal for 2014 so far are - 
- to try and read at least 52 books (yep one a week may not happen but that's the challenge), you can find the facebook page here if you fancy joining in.

- finish the 40 portraits challenge (there is no time limit on this one)

- the 29 faces challenge starts again in February -1 face each day

- make space by using up all the fabric and wool I have in my collection

Another challenge I signed up for (early this morning haha) is 30 Paintings in 30 Days - I'm not sure how I'll do with this one as I'll be heading off to the USA in a couple of weeks - I may have to get some made in advance.

My first painting for the 30 paintings in 30 days is a mixed media Artist Trading Card (ATC) it measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches.  

So there we go the start of my New Year.

Happy New Year

Anita