Z is for...

The letter for the dictionary challenge over at the Craft Barn this fortnight is Z..with a twist..a pearl! Also over at PaperArtsy the challenge is pattern and I decided to also have a play with making a pattern for my background...even though I covered most of it up. There are also some other fun challenges running so I thought I would keep these in mind too.

I had company in the garden whilst I worked in my studio over the weekend from my furry grandson, Bear, my son's dog. He is such a good boy and great company.

I decided that I would choose Z for zip and make a vintage sewing themed page in my Art Journal. I thought initially that I would try to create a zip but this proved tricky so I changed my mind and decided to use a real zip. I saw an brilliant art journal piece earlier this year by Vicky P of Clips n cuts and loved the way she inserted an opened zip so I used this great concept in my piece.

For the background I used an ancient piece of buttons paper my stash. After cutting it to size I started to made my pattern. I used  large Wendy Vecchi stamp, a Rubber Dance burlap texture stamp and also a stamp from a PaperArtsy stamp. I wanted the background to look like quilting.

 I also added this PaperArtsy stamp to the pattern but forgot to take a photo...you can see it in my final piece.

I gathered together all my sewing themed ephemera and a pearl, a snippet from a Tim Holtz pad and also some papers from my stash.

I have had these X cut sewing dies and thought they would be fun to use. I stitched round the edge and added cotton to the spools.

Then it was time to put on my creative hat and this is what I came up with.

Here is my definition from my dictionary..you can also.see the Paperartsy stamp here. I really like my inserted  zip. I added some faux stitching too. 

I added some fun ribbon a dear friend sent me....Keep calm and craft on...it made me smile and that gave the idea for the sentiment I added to my tag

It was "sew"so  much fun to create.

I would like to enter my art journal page into the following challenges;

The Craft Barn Dictionary challenge Z with a pearl..which is on my tag.
Paperartsy patterns my buttons background was created using different stamps to create a quilting pattern.
Sparkles Monthly 1/3 lots of layers
We love to create 2/2 anything creative/mixed media
Happy Little Stampers anything goes with dies
Addicted to stamps and More 1/3  make your mark I have used archival inks for my stamping, Distress Ink around my dies and on the end of my pins and silver marker pen to create the pins themselves.
Mod Squad the die's the thing
Crafty Hazelnut patterned paper challenge
Mod Squad the die's the thing
Simon says stamps Wednesday make for the border I have used a wide piece of lace to make a bold border across my art journal piece.


When I finished I showed it to Bear..............do you think this is a smile ;0)

We certainly had great fun with him... and I rewarded him with a new piece of antler which he chose in our local pet shop.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x