Something a little bit different

Hi Folks, I want to share some photos of an online course that I have been participating in recently. It is the Embellishing edges and Text workshop with Valerie Sjodin, and I have to say that it has been really inspirational. It is a self-paced mini workshop, showing you simply how to create shaped edges for a journal, and then how to add colour to those edges. However, you can look at Valerie's blog for lots more inspiration. There is a Facebook group that you can join if you want to, but it is not compulsory.

This is the front cover of my journal, as you can see, I haven't added any colour yet, it is just drawn out in pen, ready to be painted. I am planning my pages and drawing most of them before I add paint, because I can do this on the move, while I am sitting in the car, watching TV, visiting my parents, etc. My journal is based on the word 'Tranquility', something that I feel I am often missing in my life. I have looked for lots of quotes that reflect this feeling, or something similar, and it has been a lovely rewarding experience. You may have noticed that my blog motto is 'with crafting comes tranquility', I really find that when I craft, a lot of my stress just slips away. I have certainly found it with this journal.

Here is my first attempt at colouring the Valerie Sjodin way, it's okay, bit I need to refine the technique a bit. You can see how colourful the journal will be!

Here is a virtually finished inside page, minus the colour of course. There are strong links with Zentangle with this course, which is so great for me, as I get to flex some of those techniques that I do not use often enough. You will see tangle patterns throughout the journal as and when I show you pictures during its completion, I'm sure.

Here's another decorative edge using a phrase that I really like.

This is the flap underneath the outer cover, with some more great words to tie in with my central theme.

I will be back to show you some more progress once I have managed to complete a bit more. I have some half finished pages, but I'll save those for next time. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Zentangle Fairy

Hi Folks, I have a project with a difference for you today, which I'm also posting on my other blog

I'm using the new stamp set from Chocolate Baroque called Punky Flowers, but this time, I wanted to incorporate them into a piece of Zentangle Inspired Art. I am a huge admirer of this kind of work, but rarely get the time to dabble in any tangling myself these days. I recently purchased a new Zentangle book called 'The Art of Zentangle', which is a collaberation by four women, one of whom, Norma J. Burnell, draws the most beautiful fairies. The book actually has a very easy step by step piece included, and I used this to help me plan my project. I had never drawn most of the tangles before, but slow work and planning as to where the stamps needed to go paid off. I will certainly draw more of these fairies, as I found the whole process very relaxing, and want to create some more now!

I have given her green eyes, as my Daughter has green eyes. Normally my fairies have brown hair, just like my Daughter as well, but I wanted to keep my tangles black and white, which seemed to add to the design, rather than take anything away.

I hope that this has given you another idea for these lovely stamps, don't forget to keep popping over to the Design Team Blog to see what my team mates have been up to. Thanks for stopping by, xx