Happy Wednesday all my crafty friends!! Well, we have made it round once more for expressing and the showing of our arty sides through snapshots of our crafty and sometimes sloppy (ME) desks over on Julia's Stamping Ground Blog! It's a great opportunity to see what like-minded folks are up to, making friends, and maybe even be inspired by others' wonderful talents!
Out of the gate today, I just want to stop and truly thank all you lovely folk who take the time out of your busy day to pop on over here at my place and leave encouraging and kind comments!! I work full time and it takes me at least half a day, in between doing what I am supposed to be doing, which is work, to go by and visit each and everyone that I can and leave a comment, so I KNOW what it means to do that! So again, thank you ALL so very much for doing that for me! That being said, I think I recall in all the stories leading up to the "600" post for Julia that when this idea was at its beginnings there were up to 100 folks participating!!!! Did I read that somewhere? All I'm thinking is how in the blazing saddles did you all get round to everyone and comment???? LOLOL I can't even imagine? We usually have up to 30 or more now, and that's a labor of love, so can't quite wrap my head around larger numbers!!! LOL So good on ALL of you for participating!!!!
So my head is STILL swimming with ideas and projects! I write them all down so I don't forget and trying to start looking for supplies to get some of these projects started!! I must admit, if it weren't for Google, I'd be lost! Never thought I'd say that one! LOL That being said, even with the almighty Google, I am still having a hard time finding some supplies. A lot is due to low stock because of our arch-nemesis, the COVID, ut a lot of it, I don't know the proper "key" words to search for things or where to find things. But onward ho I go! LOL
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| Altered Book Cover |
Today I will share the finished products of things I showed you last week! I am having a blast, I tell you! So the first is the book turned art journal! This turned out to be a little more different in my mind than what came out. I was hoping I could use my gelli print to do the cover, but....that didn't really work too well. After about three tries, I got completely frustrated and chucked that puppy to the side! I then just went back to good old stencils and acrylic paint!! It turned out pretty good, but still not exactly what I was imagining. So, that just leaves room to try again. Anywho, I am satisfied with this for right now. The main stencil on the front was from my trip years ago to Donna Downey's studio. I so enjoyed that trip, seeing her studio and meeting her staff. It says "artists create from emotion and truth." I LOVE that and feel it is so true! So had to put it on the front!
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| Watercolor Flower in altered book journal |
I pasted the book page watercolor flower I showed you guys last week, in the front, and then did this watercolor flower over the weekend! I really enjoyed doing this one. Really, I just really enjoy doing it period! LOL I can't wait to fill this journal up with many more of God's beautiful creations!
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| Wonky pattern, but fun!! |
I finished the second cross that I showed you last week and then actually have been so excited about these guys that I did another one! LOL Honestly I don't know where all this gusto is coming from, but I love it! Both of these crosses were from a local big box store that has like two craft aisles, so they aren't from a craft store. That being said, I feel lucky that they carry any kind of wood pieces, but they just aren't symmetrical and even all around, so when you try to measure to do things, it inevitably turns out to be off or wonky. So, there are some obvious flaws regarding that, but hey, it's all for fun right???
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| Top view but has a shadow |
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| Different view to see dots! |
I'm definitely NO expert at this, it's usually trial by error.....A LOT of error!!! The hardest part for me is getting the consistency of the paint just right. But what I have found is that just plain old DecoArt Americana Acrylics are the best. But as I alluded to previously, paint and other crafting supplies seem to be hard to come by these days. Not sure if that is happening everywhere, but it sure is in the states! So I had to order more paint and it took a minute to get to me? Oh well, I should have enough paint for upcoming projects...I hope! LOL You know how we are crafters......there is ALWAYS ANOTHER color that we just HAVE TO HAVE!!! LOLOL But for now, I'm good.
Well, that's about all I can show you, today friends. I had someone reach out to me last week about my crafting and I joined yet ANOTHER swap group! I know....where in the world will I find the extra time? But luckily it is just another ATC Group, so, small treasures AND.....I love expressing, so there you go! LOL Hopefully be able to show both sets next week!!
Happy Wednesday to you all and stay safe and healthy!
Blessings
HI Felicia, don't worry I sometimes take several days to get around to all my WOYWW visiting and I'm retired so I have no excuse! I don't think I've ever managed to visit every single person in one week either :) I do love having a nosey though. Your new journal cover looks beautiful as it is to me, very artsy and those dotty crosses are fabulous. Have you mixed your paints with anything? I think some people use a mixture of paint with fluid pouring medium or something, but I'm too mean to buy it, though I'd love to try making a dot mandala. You seem to have got your dots just right so I'd be interested to know what you used if/when you get a minute! Have a great week. Annie C #27
ReplyDeleteWell you must never feel you have to visit everyone - I don't think many do it even with today's numbers. When there were 100 (or more) I tended just to choose 2 numbers say 3 and 7 and do everyone that had those numbers - plus special friends of course!! I'm retired and it is a big commitment, not sure how Julia has done it all these years. But it's fun to see what people are up to. I love your journal cover, but am blown away by that dot pattern on the crosses! Really eally lovely. Happy WOYWW, stay well, stay safe, Cindy xx #8
ReplyDeleteYou’re right, there did use to be 100+ deskers, you either had to take time to get round them all or just pick your favs and a couple of others! Love the altered journal cover, I know you walked away from it once but I really like it and think you succeeded there - also with the watercolour flower, having attempted a few myself, I realised hoe adept you are. Doesn’t painting it on old book pages alter the look, I like it!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 4 xxx
Me again! The titles for my blogs are always song lyrics and you got this one, I love the songs of Bread, am a bit of a hippy really, lol! Great songs with good lyrics and easy tunes, my kinda music! And Sarah did give me that black patterned one!!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ xxx
Hi there loving the journal. I think it's a good idea to use old books in this way, better than them ending in the bin. There were a lot more deskers when I joined but it had already gone down a bit to about 50 or 60 but it was still hard going and I know some people used to do all odd numbers one week and even the other. It was hard work and to try and visit everyone used to take me all week. Thanks for the lovely comments over at mine too. Wishing you a very happy and creative woyww, Angela x18x
ReplyDeleteOooh, I know ( I am peeking in from work, I never make it to each desk each week but, I do try to hit say 1/3 of them) and those crosses look amazing :) ~Stacy #33
ReplyDeleteLove all your projects. I try and do most of the commenting in one day, but sometimes the last few take until the end of the week. Today I have been acting midwife to my daughter’s dog who had 4 boy puppies! Have a great week Angela #15
ReplyDeleteYes, we regularly had over 100 joining in - it was a real achievement if you got round all of them!! didn't often happen for me! Love that watercolour flower, it is beautiful. thanks for visiting mine already -yes, it is actual denim fabric in the journal, but nice and soft! Helen #1
ReplyDeleteI love the dot style on the crosses, especially against the dark background - so striking! And I love using music paper and book pages for art so I was especially drawn to your watercolour flowers. Stunning. Stay safe and keep smiling, Lisa-Jane #10
ReplyDeleteI can't spot any wonkiness with the crosses Felicia just beaty and love. The watercolour book is looking great and the latest page is beautiful. Hope you manage to source the rest of the supplies you are after. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #3
ReplyDeleteHi Felicia, sorry for the late visit. I'm in the same boat as you, so to speak. I work full time, so fit in my desk visiting after work, which invariably means it's a day or two before all my visits are done. I think I also read there were over 100 desks in the early days - yeah, I wouldn't have been able to visit them all and comment on all of them. I do try and visit and comment on as many as I can, but invariably there are some I miss! If your crosses are wonky (which I cannot see) then I would say they are perfect imperfections - they really are absolutely gorgeous, and beautifully decorated. Sorry to hear your crafting supplies are harder to source at the moment. I haven't had any issues, but I'm trying (unsuccessfully) to stick to a budget this year. Thanks for stopping by my blog - I'm having a great time with the junk journal. I've never done one before, so it's all new - but that is half the fun! And when I have finished the Jan Blan, I will post a pic. Have a lovely week, hugs Heather xx #21
ReplyDeleteAdore your altered book cover and the flower on the printed page, that's going to be some special book with all your paintings. Thanks for the visit BJ#11
ReplyDeleteLoving the altered book so far, but the crosses are simply stunning! Happy belated WOYWW. Take care and stay safe, with love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#14)
ReplyDeleteStunning projects all round, Felicia. Your crosses have come out absolutely brilliantly as has your book cover. I just love the look of watercolour on a printed page, and you are so talented, to paint such a beautiful flower. It's all just gorgeous. Thank you for your visit and your lovely comment, and sorry you had problems commenting before. I checked my over-active spam checker and all was well for once, so it wasn't that.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are enjoying seeing the progress of my hubby's kitty throw. It certainly is turning out to be a really fun project that I have enjoyed doing right from the start. I've decided to do several more of that latest square even though it does take a long time. Part of the problem is that I keep going wrong and having to undo it!
I really appreciate your input and enthusiasm over the smoothies and Vitamix! I absolutely love my Vitamix and am so glad I went for it in the end. I think with a bit more practice and watching a few more YouTube videos I shall end up making more delicious green smoothies. With the crunch and texture from the toppings, they are awesome to eat. Everyone says they don't like gloopy "baby" food but smoothie bowls don't have to be like that if you add the right stuff, do they. I do hope you enjoy that YouTube channel - that lady is awesome, very knowledgeable, and such a good teacher too. I also watch Life's No Yolk and Blending with Henry, which are both really good on the Vitamix.
Thank you for your support over my ongoing medical issues. The doctors are 100% brilliant - it's the NHS system which is rubbish and they really need to sort themselves out. Maybe this whole Covid issue will make them realise they've got to be more efficient but I'm not holding my breath.
The kitties live in the lap of luxury. Today my hubby actually brought in a chair from another room to sit on so he wouldn't have to disturb them in his armchair at lunch time! He's even been known to sit on the floor for the same reason! Pics next Wednesday. I'm afraid I'm a lot less soft than him and just turf them off if I want to sit down!
Have a great week, and happy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi x #24
Hi! You have been busy! Good for you ~ Your on a roll! I love the crosses ~ they turned out beautiful. No way I could do that ~ you have a steady even hand an eye coordination. Your Iris and book cover are awesome as well ~ Enjoy your weekend! Love, Karen#32
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late visit. but life get in the way,
ReplyDeleteGreat work but really love your crosses, I try to visit as many people as I can and it always take a few days and do not think I have ever got to everyone
Take care and stay safe,
Lilian B # 16
Thanks for your lovely comments. I love to see all the crafty things you get up too. I have tried a little painting today but realised I really do need to practise more!! xx Jo
ReplyDeleteI was SURE I commented previously! No idea where it might be. I was just popping back to the list to catch up with people who posted after I thought I was done :) I'm sure my original comment was longer, but I'm sure I said how much I love your altered cover and the crosses are very pretty too!
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW
Mary Anne (2)
Putting in a very late appearance this week, but wanted to stop by and say "Hi, thanks for visiting!", and what beautiful work on your blog this week.... :)
ReplyDeleteMorti #20
Sorry I'm so late! I thought I'd been! (The name colours on Mr Linking over at Julia's used to change when I'd visited, but these days there's already a few people with different coloured names so I think I've been! Oh my such a lot of crafty goings on! I remember the pictures so I was here!! Sometimes I start typing and then forget what I'm doing! Yes, there used to be hundreds of us on mr linky (over at Julia's) I was doing it for quite a few years and then I started A Dog Waking business, and time just went! I couldn't do both 24/7 but I've now retired, so here I am again! Stay Safe, keep crafting! Happy Very late WOYWW! (Lyn)) #17
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