Saturday 20th June 2015

In order for me to fully document my journey with Art Journalling this year I'm going to carry on a publish pics of the pages I've done so far.  When I've caught up I can then think about doing some step by step posts; which, if nothing else, will be a great way to continue the theme of documenting my life in 2015.

I have to admit that over the weekend I wasn't feeling too bright so did a spot of channel flicking and came across Create and Craft again - do you have phases when you religiously do something or watch something and then turn around and you aren't doing it any more.  Well I've gotten myself into the pattern of just having peep at C&C only to find it's compulsive watching!  I have spent money too this time and I've even joined their club.  They've been doing a Christmas special so I've managed to bag some stash for the mammoth task of Christmas card making.  Can't wait, want to do lots of different things and perhaps having this blog will encourage me to do them and document them.

By the way has anyone else found the Barbara Gray's blog - I love it all, You Tube Tuesday and Mindful Wednesday - just have to pop over there every day!  Take a look as her work is really amazing.  Barbara Gray click on this link to go straight there.

Anyway back to my pages.  These next pages are for February with the theme of 'Layers You Will Love'.  All about the different layers you can use in art journalling.  Below is Week 6 with the Art Challenge of When not to stop! and the Journal Prompt "Don't stop 'til you get enough".  This reminds me of the discos of my youth when this was a hit record and we were all dancing around our handbags!

Week 7's Art Challenge was Cover up good stuff (that almost brought me to tears!) and the Journal Prompt of Going Undercover:

Week 8 - nearly at the end of February by now and dreaming of warmer and longer days.  The Art Challenge was Repeating Elements and Journal Prompt It's work repeating:

The final week in February (Saturday 28th) the challenge was Using at least 5 layers and the Prompt Give me a high 5:

My high 5 were all about my family, my home, my dogs (2 greyhounds both retired racers), my health and my work.

As time goes by it'll be good to come back here to see how I progress (or not!) over this year and hopefully I'll be able to see how the work changes.

Eyes are nearly asleep so it's time to go.  Thanks for dropping in.  Much arty love.

Cheryl

Tuesday 16th June 2015

 Thought we'd carry on with the theme of art journalling and I'll post some more of the pages I've done since I've started to follow The Documented Life Project from the fabulous Art to the 5th ladies over in America.  I've found it a great help on my journey this year and I've loved doing all the pages and just having a go!

We're still looking at January with the Theme of 'The blank page and how to face it'.  In week 3 the art challenge was the colour wheel  and the journal prompt was "I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way'.  This is a quote from the American artist Georgia O'Keeffe.  I'd heard the name before but had not really looked at any of her work, or how she lived.  It was great having the opportunity to look further into this artist's life but again I get so into the research that I almost forget to have a go and get my bit down!  I seem to have lost the photo for this page so will have to carry on and if I find it later then I'll it here.

Week 4 was about words with friends and this is my interpretation:

Looking at this page now I can appreciate the background as I've managed to make it seem as if there's lots going on.  The words are mine, not sure where they come from but I guess they're true.

Week 5 was about under paper which I have to admit I hadn't heard of before but again got into the research which meant I wasn't creating:

As you can see there were a lot of 'oops' moments but perhaps that may have enhanced the final page.  Enjoyed all the doodling I'm finding it very relaxing.

Anyway the end of another busy Tuesday, I must go and tend to the chores so I can retire to my bed at a decent time.  So long for now.

Cheryl

Sunday 7th June 2015

Can't believe we're already in June!  Have you noticed this seems to be how I start every post!!  It feels as if I've turned around at the end of last year and turned back to find myself here on a bright, sunny Sunday in June.  What happened to the time?  I've just realised that It's over a year since I've posted anything!!!  What has been going on???

Well in just one word 'LIFE' has been going on.

Quick round up - since last posting my son has turned 18, he's passed his driving test and we've helped him buy his first car, he's working part time at both Dominoes and Morrisons and is due to go to University in September.  Needless to say I'm a very proud mum indeed!

I've been working as usual and have found it difficult to find time to blog - and now sitting here I'm realising that I've missed it.  It actually doesn't matter if anyone else in the world is reading this, there's just something so good about getting stuff down on paper.  I'm a touch typist so I'm probably getting this down quicker with the computer than if I had to use pen and paper.

What I have been doing in 2015 is joining in the fun with The Documented Life Project run by the fabulous ladies at Art to the 5th.  Click here to pop over to their site and see what's been happening - it's never too late to join in.

These are some of the pages I've done since January.  Not all of them brilliant, not all of them even good but it'll be interesting to sit down at the end of the year and go through what I've managed to get down on paper and to see if I'm any nearer to getting to understand what my style is and what I like doing the most.  So here goes:

This layout was the first week in January when I celebrated my birthday.  I like the colours and the depth I managed to get in the background.  Looking back now it's rather apt as I haven't been much good at being the keeper of my goals!

The Documented Life Project works by the ladies at Art to The 5th post on their blog a monthly theme, January's was 'The blank page and how to face it' and then each week there is an Art Challenge and a Journal Prompt.  January's challenge was to use Book Paper and the journal prompt was 'be your own goal keeper'.  As you can see all this went into the page which really helps as a starting point.

I also started out using the pages as a weekly planner but I think that was far too adventurous for me!  The face was drawn on tissue paper and then painted from the back and the flowers were drawn on to greaseproof paper and again painted from the back with some embellishments done to the front.  As you can see I need so much more practice drawing faces and doing the lettering.  To date I'm still not good at it but keep on reminding myself that being good at it doesn't actually matter it's all about just having a go, enjoying the moment you're in when you create the page and as Dina Wakley always reminds us 'oops never mind' is what we should be chanting whenever we make a mistake, because we can always do something to 'fix' it!

I've been watching Dina in her you tube videos and I've managed to get a copy of her book Art Journal Courage as that's one thing I've identified that I need more of and that's the courage to do things like this blog and to not over think my pages (this I find hard to do as my job involves a bit of thinking and I realise this is a flaw I have - I'v so good at thinking about things I forget to do them!)  No doubt there are others in the world who can relate to that?

I can also see I may have a tendency to ramble so for today I'm going to call it a day and take a deep breath and publish this page!

My challenge for the coming weeks is to publish a page a day and see how I go from there.  Wish me luck as I'm going to need it.

Take care and thanks if you've managed to find this page and read to here - if you're in fits of giggles that anyone can be so  . . . (you can fill in the blank) I'm so glad you've left here with a smile on your face.

Cheryl

Saturday 19th May 2014

Can't believe it's May and the middle of May at that!  Have been busy travelling out of the county and making a few cards for birthdays.  Have been so busy I didn't get a chance to photograph the cards I've recently done but today I've finished a christening card for my niece's little boy's day tomorrow.

This card has been made using my Big Shot and fancy nesting frames die, some papers I had in my stash, ribbon, buttons and star pin plus distressed ink.  Had fun putting it together and am always surprised when the finished article is nothing like the card I took some inspiration from.

The christening is tomorrow and hopefully the sun will still be shining.