Art Journal Portrait Page

Hello!
This is just a quick share of a portrait page I did in my Art Journal.

The journal is 9" x 12", 140# watercolour paper that provides a lot of texture when colouring or painting.
For my portrait I used pencil crayons and W/C paints.
It's been over 20 years since I've done a portrait. The inspiration struck in the last few minutes of watching a TV program so all but the initial oval sketched is from memory only.

What's an art journal for if not for trying new things or things that move us outside of our comfort zone. What will you add to yours, the mystery of what's next is what makes it fun! :)

Have a crafty day!
Jutta

Friendship Card for Feb Card Chain Challenge +

Hello! 

This friendship card with the wonderful  Quietfire Design Stamp -Find yourself a cup...,

 is on it's way to Austria as part of  Card Chain Challenge at SOS.

(Click on the sidebar blinkie for more info.)

I think that I nailed all 4 of the challenge criteria with this one. :)

And my last share for today, three ATCs made with some die cuts and instructions 

from Linda at Hero Arts Flickr Group.

Have a great day!

Jutta

Frosty and Wonderful Winter

Good morning!
I love my walk to work this time of year.  It's just around zero cel., all is frosty and so pretty. The snow is hard enough to walk on top of without sinking in.

View to Boulder Mountain

A great grey owl landed here.

Frost on the willows in shade and sun. :)

Hope you are enjoying a sunny day too!

Jutta

80th Birthday Card

Hello!

Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made to give to a 

very special fellow who will soon celebrate the big 80! 

He loves his orchids, so for this card I went for a 

painterly effect back ground with some 

bolder colouring across the bottom.

Stamps and die are from SU!

Thanks for looking!

Jutta

Bloom Journal Entry

Hello!  It's another snowy day in the mountains and looks like it's not going to let up any time soon.

This kind of weather always starts me day dreaming about spring and colourful flowers. 

Here is an Art Journal Page that I drew with my markers for the most part. 

For the friend I used a stamp from Quietfire Design Set # 5853 it has the sweetest little heart on each letter. I split a couple of die cuts and added some of the scrap bits around the flower. To complete I added rhinestone hearts that I coloured to match my flower. I'm entering this in the Die Cut Divas -Feb Challenge which is being sponsored this month by Quietfire Design. There are always lots of inspiring projects to check out at Die Cut Divas Blog and also at Die Cut Divas Flicker Group.

Friends may not always be close by, but they are never far from your heart!

Thanks for the postcard my snowbird friend!

Have a lovely day all!

Jutta

Colour Experiment - Blues

Hello,

Last week a friend on Facebook asked which alcohol markers did we consider best. I hadn't really given my markers much thought other than to use what was close to hand for colouring. Often I use markers, pencil crayons, inks and watercolours altogether on one project, depending on what look I'm trying to achieve.

Here is the results of a colour experiment  I did using a variety of colouring materials in blue I have on hand.

I started by stamping nine eggs (SU! back yard basics set) with Versa fine pigment ink (Onyx Black) on a 9" x 12" 140# watercolour journal page.

Most of the supplies I used, I did a swirl with copic blender on each egg to see if it made a difference. The red sharpie is in the photo only for size comparison.

I had fun with this colour lesson and learned a bit too. :)

Have a crafty day!
Jutta

Valentines Dotee Doll

Hello and welcome!
This has been a fun week for me as I continue with Valentines projects for exchanges I'm taking part in over at LOVE handmade cards... Flickr Group , lots of great inspiration there.

Today I'm sharing is my take on a Dotee doll she is 5" and made from felt die cut hearts. I even stuffed her with more hearts. Her face and hair are drawn with fabric sharpies. She is on her way to Debbie in Halifax. It's supposed to be a surprise but I just couldn't wait to share her.  :)

I've entered her in the Die Cut Diva's  January challenge - anything goes.

Thanks for your visit!
Jutta

Wooden Pencil Box

Hello friends!

Today I have 3 posts to share with you. The first is quick and inexpensive home decor item that will make a nice little gift. I decorated this wooden pencil box with paper crafting supplies and some sealer coat.

Wooden Pencil Box (before sealer)

This started as a plain unfinished box I picked up at a dollar store. I dyed the lid and sides with milled lavender distress stain. I then randomly stamped butterflies all over the top with lilac distress ink. Next I added some picket white distress stain, this caused the butterflies to blur leaving only bits of colour. I'm okay with the result so I didn't re-stamp the butterflies. After lid dried I stamped the Quietfire Design I write you letters quote and design elements stamps in Timber Brown Staz On ink. I covered the entire lid with some crackle paste when this was completely dry I added some vintage photo distress ink to all corners and lightly across lid to further distress.

I like that the stamping looks a bit like wood-burning but so much easier. :)

Be back in a bit with a fun Valentine project.

Keeping it crafty,
Jutta

Have A Heart... Valentines Card

Hello, today I'm sharing a Valentine  I made for an exchange at LOVE handmade...Flickr Group 

I've also entered it into the Die Cut Divas January Challenge-Anything goes

For my sentiment I used the lovely new Quietfire Design Stamp -Have a Heart That Never Hardens.

I always like to add some thing up-cycled to my projects and for this one it's the bird die cuts.
In the photo below you can see how many I was able to cut from just the flap of an envelope. I received the envelope during a recent card swap and it is a pretty copper colour and has a nice weight to it, perfect for die cuts. :)

I heat embossed the birds for a more harmonious colour match.

Close up of bird embellishment.

Inside with the Quietfire Design -Valentine's Day/Love, set

 

Supply List

Stamps - Quietfire Design: #5911 and #6428

Paper: Graphic45 - Botanical Tea, Cardstock - Stampin Up!

Dies: Elizabeth Craft Designs -#709 Birds, Spellbinders - A2 Devine Eloquence, Stampin Up! -Heart,

           Memory Box - Bingham Heart

Ink: Staz On - Timber Brown, Encore - Gold, Distress Ink - Spun Sugar

Other: Embossing Powder, Rhinestones, Wink of Stella, Ribbon, 3D foam squares

Thanks for your visit!

Jutta

  

A RAK, a Card and a Thank you!

Good morning friends!

I've been RAK'd! ... the Christmas kindness just keeps on going.

What a nice surprise to find this wonderful joy card along with some extras from RS in my mail box on Friday! :)

On Saturday I attended a very successful craft supplies fund raiser for MG.

Our hostess YT offered up the most delicious baking and snacks. I wish I had taken a photo

of the table...super yummy!

She also had some fantastic homemade prizes for a draw that had a game twist to it so we had a lot of fun and laughter.

This is the awesome altered book journal and re-purposed tea towel apron I won. :) 

Thanks for a fun afternoon YT.

I also found time to finally make a couple of cards on Sunday...woo hoo!

For this card I just layered papers and used distress markers straight and diluted for water colouring.

The image is from Penny Black called The Artist and the sentiment is from SU!, I think they go nicely together.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Due to technical difficulties... okay I confess I forgot my camera card.;) I'll have to share my other card next time.

Thanks for sharing your day with me!

Jutta                                                                                    

Love Lives Here - Valentine ATC's

Hello again,  here are my first two ATC's for 2015. 

I made these for a Valentine Swap at

 LOVE Handmade cards etc. Flickr Group.

The love lives here sentiment is from Quietfire Design. 

All other stamps and punches are from Stampin Up!.

What challenges will you be joining in this year?
Thanks for stopping by today!
Jutta