Giving and receiving

"But if I'm not the same, the next question is , 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" (Alice In Wonderland)

I'm not sure what an 'Art Journal' is for and I think there are many answers to the question so I'm going to use it as a pondering device for the question Alice poses.

I have been very inspired by the concept of 'Art Journaling' of late and the posts of Rinda. Also the posts of Jacky and Katie who always try new things and look at the world differently. I made my first art journal a while back and I have been sitting looking at it and thinking, and thinking...

Yesterday and today I've been inspired and made my first page

'Giving and Receiving'

I've made it using watercolour paper, acrylic and watercolour paints with some perfect pearls too. The stamps are Paperartsy, Joanna Sheen and g Studio. It also includes collage and PM (Black), Inksessential (white) and Sakura Gelly roll (Silver) graffiti.

My version of the Cheshire Cat. "It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had very long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect."

A good way of looking at many of the gifts life gives us I think!




I first came across this quote when a respected teacher wrote it in a card when I left Primary School and it's always stuck with me, of course when I realised it was from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' it doubled in significance and I still think it holds really. When I came across it in the Paperartsy collection I had to have it.

For me it holds up when looking at my own behaviour and that of others.

This has been a really interesting creative step for me, thanks for staying with me through the post - sorry if I've bored you. I am entering this in Rinda's 'Alice Art Challenge' as a way of saying thanks for the inspiration and as the beginning of this new journey for me!
Rinda has pointed me in the direction of The Scrappy Tree who have an Art Journaling Friday challenge - Alice inspired page - so I think if it's ok with the very talented gals over there - my page fits. It's really a great way of getting feedback and finding new directions to go in.
Have a sunny Sat! XXX

Pollycraft Magic Candy

You know you want them!

Well you can be in with a chance over at http://pollycraftdesigns.blogspot.com/ as Paula is offering them as a candy. Go and check them out before 28th Feb! Have a fab Friday. XXX

Double take Challenge #3

Double image and stitching is required on the sketch over at http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/ - very intriguing but a great sketch.I have very loosely used the Alice in Wonderland character as inspiration for this card. The stamp is Pink Gem Designs 'Milly' and she is of course coloured with PMs.

She is in a stamped window by Paperartsy which I've painted with acrylics, the flowers were re-stamped and coloured with PMs and stuck over the top.

She is teamed with a pearlecent card over which I've added distress ink (faded jeans) and stamped two keys in the same ink, another stamp by Paperartsy. The white card is PM and is embossed with a Sizzix plate 'Stars and Swirls' over which I rubbed the distress ink. The stars are punched in mirricard. The gems are by Anita's and the sentiment is a g Studio one.

The faux stitching is in Sakura Gelly Roll pen silver around the white card and of course there is a little on the image around her pocket!

I enjoyed thinking around this project. Hope you are all having fun with whatever thinking you are up to this Thursday evening. Hugs Cherry XXX

Trying to spring!

It is trying very hard to snow again here - so I'm trying to pretend it is warm and springlike!

Tilda is from an image swap (thank you) and she is coloured with PMs and a little stickles.

This is the sketch on I ♥ ProMarkers CHALLENGE (I've changed a few bits around - hope this is ok Karen!).
Cardstack is PM, layers are from QVC and ribbons are Dovecraft. The stamps are all g Studio ones and the flowers are from a candy.

I'm still feeling rather cild and wintry I have to say! Off to have another quick look at Craft Day - I wonder what people are buying?

Have a warm afternoon Hugs Cherry XXX

Whimsy Stamp New Inspirational Blog and candy

I've just discovered the Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Blog and their lovely stamps - they

have just released a new collection on 17th Feb which is magical.

They also have this lovely 'spread the word' candy on offer so go and join in.

XXX

Birthday mouse.

The Lovely Hannah is hosting the LGS group this week on a GDT spot. below is her sketch and her theme is 'animals'.I received this cute mousey on an image swap and thought he was perfect.




He is coloured with PMs and teamed with Willow Design and Dovecraft papers and a D&D cupcake and sentiment stamp. The gems are by Anitas.

I've added a little sparkle too.Thanks for looking and have a stupendous Saturday - I'm off for an Indian meal this eve - yummy!

XXX

A Walk in the Park (without snow!)

Heidi over at Willow Sketchie Challenge has designed this lovely sketch to follow.

I've used one of Sharon's designs 'A Walk in the Park' for this card and had a lovely time making it. The design comes with so many bits it is really versatile and useful not to say cute.
I couldn't resist putting an image inside the card too!

This was a great way to take away the thought of snow - which as we had a lot of again was good.

Hope you are all warm and thanks for looking.

Here's to a lovely weekend Hugs Cherry XXX

No stamped image says Lauren!

Nice sketch I thought as I logged on to the LGS group this Saturday gone. I'm a simple gal and I like simple sketches. Then Lauren added her twist !NO STAMPED IMAGE!

What is a gal to do? As the days have gone on lovely creations have appeared with alarming speed and gorgeousness whilst I have been walking around in a fog of uninspired gloom.

Thank goodness for the 'Bee Crafty' chipboard flowers I purchased at the NEC. I've combined one of those with some Terra paint purchased from Paperartsy again at the NEC which I have stamped into and heat dried to create bubbles, as demonstrated by Leandra from PA. I've inked over the top in sliver and black and stickled it and added black seed beads to make an embellishment. It's teamed with Black Market Paper Society Paper 'Casablanca' and I've cut two Sizzix leaves too. The ribbon is from Thorntons! I've added a stamped sentiment and one gem.

I'm pleased with the effect - so thanks Lauren for the challenge!

Have a terrific Tuesday! XXX

Pink Gems

The lovely PINK GEM DESIGNS have set up a monthly challenge blog 'A Gem of a Challenge' and this is their first challenge sketch.

I love the designs so here is Milly in dungarees in pink with gems. She is coloured with PMs and teamed with papers from MME and PM 'Blueberry Hill' stack. The dies are cut with Sizzix dies and the gems are Anita's

A short post today I hope you are all having a thrilling Thursday!

Hugs Cherry XXXX

Hearts and Promarkers - a marriage made in ...

Milly in Dungarees by Pink Gem Designs is such a cutie and I've used Karen's sketch and colours (Brown and Pink) over at I LOVE PROMARKERS to set her off.

Susie and Vikki are asking us to 'Have a heart' over at DIE CUT DREAMS and I thought the Sizzix heart dies set her off by mirroring the heart on her dungarees. I have deliberately put the heart paper behind Milly facing each otherto symbolise the bringing together of two hearts - it is not a mistake (honest).



Papers are MME and Smirk, layered with PM cardstock. The gem is a Paperstore one.



NOW...


for something completely different Perfect Pearls, Craft Stamper Mag stamps, and Sizzix Dies



Have a wild Wednesday

Hugs Cherry XXX

This is Karen's lovely 'Wings' sketch over at LGS this week.The DT have craeted some lovely winged creatures so go and see them. I got carried away yesterday with the theme and forgot the sketch - ooops! So I've made a matching card for the box with the lovely C.C. Designs Gretel and the PM 'Blueberry Hill papers.
I hope this makes up for my lapse in concentration Karen!

Have a mellow Monday XXX

Valentine Pixie Box

This weekend has been a bit of a wipeout as I've had a yukky cold - but I have had a little fun making this box. I was inspired by a post on Athena's blog - go and check it out.

Making the box was quite complicated and I think I want to try again now I've learnt a few tricks. My pixie is the C.C. Designs Gretel and she is coloured with PMs and Sparkles and paper pieced with PM 'Blueberry Hill'.

Flowers and beads and candy are from my pixie stash.The box is made from PM card and covered in PM 'Bluberry Hill' paper and MME ribbon. The sentiment is a tag sent from Metallicbutterfly in a candy win.

This is my LGS challenge - theme 'Wings' sorry Karen I've loosely used the sketch! It also fits the ATS 'Valentine's Packaging too I think. Thanks for looking and have a great week. Hugs Cherry XXX

Faerie Wings

A lovely sunny day today - definately a faerie dancing day!

The star today is the Star faerie from PollyCrafts. She is hanging amongst the stars sharing her faerie magic with us. She is coloured with PMs and Sparkles on an inked card.

The papers she is lighting up are Dovecraft 'Fantasy' ones. The tag stamp is CTMY and flowers, brad, and ribbon from my faerie stash. Gems are Anita's. All cardstock is PM.

This little lady is a card for a crafting buddy and I'm entering her for several magical challenges...

1. Pollycraft Monday Challenge - things with wings
2. Quixotic Challenge - I believe in faeries
3. Crafty Creations Challenge - Wings
4. My Time to Create
- Faerie Folk.

Go and look at all the stunning makes and be inspired with all the magic that is in the air. Happy Faerie Friday. Hugs Cherry XXX

Pink Gem Candy

Another amazing candy that you can't afford to miss! I love these stamps (i am the proud owner of Spring Milly and Milly in Dungarees) and I know lots of you will too. Janet is offering 6 stamps of your choice as a celebration of her birthday on the 27th Feb.

Even better news is on 8th Feb their new challenge blog starts 'A Gem of a Challenge'

Go and check out Janet's blog, the challenge blog and the shop blog.

Good luck all and thnk you Janet. XXX

Love is all around...

What another grey day - so the only answer was to play with hot colours and a little LOVE!

Here is Willow from the WOJ Autumn set cherishing and letting love fly free...
She is coloured with PMs and Sparkles and edged with Dew Drop Pink Orchid ink. Papers are from K&CO and Papercraft Magazine. Cardstock is PM. I've stamped the hearts using red ink on a Joanna Sheen stamp onto the K&CO paper and cut them out. The bling are Anita's gems and Paperdream hearts. Sentiment is WOJ too, I've made a border with it too. The ribbon is from my stash.

I have really enjoyed making this and it has made me forget the cold. What a lovely thing to celebrate... LOVE.

I thought I would support the following challenges as the DT work is amazing and I love following the blogs...
1. Whiff of Joy 'Love' Theme
2. Charisma Cardz 'I LOve You' Theme
3. C.R.A.F.T Challenge 'Valentines or Love' Theme

Thanks for stopping by and raising a cheer for LOVE.

XXX