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