Sunday 17 January 2016

A brand new art journal

My last post shared my final page of my small Dylusions art journal. Thanks so much for all the kind comments you left.....it's always hard using your own photo to create a journal page...not something we usually do.
Today I am going to share the very first page of my brand new large Dylusions journal. As I said last week there really is a big jump in size. Here is the old and the new together.
 I am not sure whether I prefer this or not but will see how I get on during the year. My initial reaction was wow....lots of lovely space.
My first project is a combination of several challenges as I do love entering them.

Over at the Craft Barn they have a new challenge starting which is the dictionary challenge. They are mixing up the letters and the first challenge is to use a word beginning with B .
My word beginning with B is beginning as I thought this was so apt for my first journal page.
I wanted a sentence to contain my word and came up with;

Every day is a new beginning.

I get so much inspiration from the area where I live and from my garden that I decided my first page had to feature flora and fauna. I decided to hand write my sentiment across my pages.  I wanted use lots of floral images and stamps to remind me of lovely sunny days in my garden and walking locally. Every time I open my journal I will have a sunny page to greet me, whatever the weather.


So here is what I got up to. I have a fun old dictionary which I use for some of my mixed media work...yes shock horror I rip out the pages.
I picked it up in a charity shop for a few pounds

I turned to the page for beginning and tore it out.

 I added the whole of the page in strips to my journal...keeping the "beginning" definition at the top left page. I added texture paste through several stencils.
I then added some green and blue acrylics, mixing around until I was happy.
 I highlighted my "beginning" words in yellow...like the sun in the sky and framed it with a Cheery Lynn heart die cut.

I also added my hand written sentiment and lots of floral stamping.
After lots of lovely paint and ink play this was my finished pages.

 Here is my dictionary page highlighted in a Cheery Lynn heart frame. If you look closely you will see some eye stamps...it represents me looking to nature for inspiration. I added some Tim Holtz, Crafty Individuals  and old tiny tapestry floral stamps. I needed some glitter too.....

 I coloured up a Tim dragonfly with inks and also added some sparkle to the wings.
I also added some PaperArtsy leaf stamps and some Cheery Lynn flowers with some sparkle.


I really loved creating my new beginnings pages.

I would like to enter my journal pages into the following fun challenges;

The craft barn dictionary challenge B is for beginning
Pixie's snippets playground  1/3 #212 I used a snippet of dictionary paper and a snippet of card for my dragonfly and flowers.
Cheery Lynn sweethearts
Sweet stampin 1/3  things with wings
Noor anything goes
Simon Says stamp Monday stencil it
Penny Black and More 3/3 one for the girls
Open minded crafting  3/3 something new my art journal is new.
Crafty catz  2/3 word art
Pile it on Use your first initial mine of course is J and this is J for journal pages.
Anything but cute Ring out the old...bring in the new this is my first page of my brand new art journal.
Bunny Zoe 2/3 hearts there are hearts surrounding my dictionary paper.
Crafty calendar something new this is my first page in my brand new art journal.

We had a wonderful first visit of the year from Daisy and Co yesterday. We were also joined by our son and my parents for a pre birthday party for my darling Hb. We managed a walk even though it was freeeezing out... can you see how I am  inspired by these surroundings.................?

the setting sun was so beautiful
We had a few flurries of snow this morning but nothing really lasted. It stayed very chilly though, so I had just a very quick visit down to my studio with Daisy Jane this morning. Every time she comes she points to Nanna's studio and takes my hand....how could I refuse ;0) Of course we had time for some inky play...I will share it soon.

Thanks for visiting and a warm welcome to my newest follower, it's always lovely to see someone new joining me on my creative journey. Keep snug everyone and carry on crafting.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

38 comments:

  1. Lovely! The colors are great! Thanks for joining us this week with cheery Lynn designs

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  2. Enjoy your new journal.. I loved your very first post in it.. so perfect for January. I also enjoyed the images from your walk.. I hope your hb had a great birthday celebration. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. beautiful new journal - love it - need to get mine out!!! Big hugs rachel x

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  4. What a great first page, I shall enjoy seeing you fill your new journal.

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  5. New journal and pages to fill for the new year. Old dictionary...how nice. I actually picked one up a few years ago. It's supposed to be in the small book case. If I can't find it, then I know Megan has it when she's reading books of old. That way she can figure out what words mean that are different than now...some we don't even use any more! The park looks so lovely and I'd be there often as well. Hopefully we can go for a walk to stretch my muscles today. it's raining ....again...will be most of the week. Sigh...but it's Oregon! Hugs and have a good week!
    http://grandmabeckyl.blogspot.com

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  6. Hi Jane, The first pages in your new journal are beautiful. I enjoyed reading how you did it and the significance of what you chose to add. Your photos are lovely too. Barbxx

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  7. What a great start to your new journal Jane, lots of lovely colour ....and flowers, flowers are always good.
    Sounds as if you'll have to do some Daisy crafting when she's there no matter what the weathers like!! :)
    Have a good week my friend and happy birthday to M,
    V x

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  8. I love the journal!! Getting back to reading my favourite blogs and yours is the first I stop at :)

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  9. Wonderfully done!
    Thank you so much for joining our Ring Out the Old, Bring in the New challenge at Anything But Cute!
    Hugs

    Samra DT
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  10. Really beautiful beginning to your new journal Jane! I love the result - as well as reading and seeing how you got there - and so much meaning to the wording and images. Brilliant!

    Hugs

    Di xx

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  11. Jane, what a gorgeous beginning for your art journal! The saying is just perfect, and your stenciling adds wonderful texture. So glad you joined us this week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  12. Terrific first page in your brand spanking new journal.
    xxx

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  13. It is a big step up from the smaller journal (I know!) but you have done a beautiful job on your page Jane, I love the stencilling and the eye looks good just peeking in there...

    Thanks so much for joining in our 'Ring out the Old, Bring in the New' challenge at Anything But Cute. Anne DT x

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  14. Loved seeing the step by steps, and the page has turned out fab.
    Also, when you've finished ripping bits out of the dictionary please reuse that cover - how gorgeous!

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  15. Wow your journal is amazing and so beautifully illustrated.
    Thank you for sharing with the Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenge and best of luck with your entry.
    Annette DT Member

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  16. What an incredible first entry in your Craft Barn challenge. Very fitting for the first entry in your new journal, too. I really like that this journal must take lots of abuse, because I have no idea if texture paste will work in an altered book. I certainly like what you did, though. I especially liked your step out photos and was able to follow along easily. I also believe in tearing pages from books and dictionaries, so I wasn't surprised at all.

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  17. So much scope using a larger format - love all your layers!

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  18. Like you Nature offers me so much inspiration Jane and you have captured the essence of warmers days in your journal page here, just beautiful.

    Many thanks for joining us at Penny Black and More challenge.

    B x

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  19. Wow Jane, you did a beautiful job filling up the page. I have done just the opposite with my new journal and went to a smaller one, lol. Love the dictionary page idea and how you framed the one bit with the heart! Great colours and the stencil designs work so well together!!

    Love your pictures, looks so beautiful there. Our weather has been all over the place this year. It snows, it melts, it snows, it melts. Crazy!!

    Oh yes, while I'm here...Thank you so much for joining us at Anything But Cute for our 'Bring in the New' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  20. Fabulous project as always! Thanks so much for participating in the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge this week and good luck.

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  21. Have fun with the new journal. You're off to a great start with your beginnings page xx

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  22. Wow!! Another amazing creation from you :) You are right too.. the journal is quite a bit bigger! I LOVE how your first pages turned out. I love all the texture and color! And I LOVE that you tear pages out of dictionaries!! Isn't that what they are for?? hehehe You can look up those words online now.. .who needs the actual paper!! ;) Absolutely gorgeous!! And those photos!! I totally see how you get inspired!! Beautiful!!! :) Thanks so much for playing along with us at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges!!! Good Luck! I hope we see you again!!

    - Susan, Owner @ Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges
    {Scrap A Thousand Words}
    {Sentimental Susan - Etsy}
    {Sentimental Susan - Zibbet}

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  23. Great word to choose and great page too - love all the textures/layers you have created and it's so bright and cheery too!

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  24. Fab pages. Lots of lovely work. Thanks for joining us at Sweet Stampin'
    Cass xx

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  25. Hello Jane,

    Happy new beginnings! Those crispy, white pages for sure are an inspiration, and you started it beautifully, all that color to brighten any day! It will be a wonderful journey for 2016!

    Happy crafting, stay warm dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  26. What a great project. I love the colors and design elements! Thanks for joining us this week for the Cheery Lynn Designs Sweethearts challenge!

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  27. Beautiful pages Jane, so much texture! I love the idea of doing new beginnings. It's always so exciting starting a fresh page in a new journal isn't it? Lou x

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  28. What a beautiful piece you have created, love it x

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  29. I love this page, the colours and the background is stunning and I'm so jealous of your hand-writing :)

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  30. What a fun page to kick off your new journal. Love the bright colours and the dictionary paper, filigree heart and that fabulous dragonfly. Thanks for joining us at Anything But Cute.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  31. I love how you left the center white, it really accentuates the quote, great first page.

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  32. A beautiful page.
    Thank you for sharing at Penny Black & More January challenge and good luck x Susan

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  33. This is a lovely start to your new journal Jane. Great bits and pieces in the details. Thank you so much for entering the Crafty Calendar (Something New) Challenge this month, lots of luck to you. Hugs Sue Pxxx DT.

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  34. What a beautiful page, love it! Thanks for playing along with us at Open-minded crafting Fun.
    Monica DT

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  35. Fabulous - love the colours!
    Thanks for playing at Pile It On!
    Helen x

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  36. Another fabulous journal page. I love the texture and how you´ve used the dictionary pages there! The eye stamp is great too! Thanks for joining us at Open-Minded Crafting Fun Challenges. Good Luck! Hope to see you soon again.

    Hanne, DT
    Handmade By Hanne

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  37. A fabulous "beginning" to your new art journal and the 2016 Craft Barn challenge.

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  38. I'm back again and wow what a wonderful start, to the year and to your journal. May you record many happy memories in this new one as you did the last one.
    Thank you again for joining us for our challenge at Open-Minded Crafting Fun.
    Samantha (AngelicBadGirl) DT x

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Jane x