'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Saturday 9 June 2018

The theme at Art Journal Journey this month is ‘Inspired by…’ – what a great theme Smile

My first entry for this is inspired by friends and friendship…

I think the hardest thing about getting older is losing people who’ve had a big influence in your life and been very precious. Sadly, we tend to take people for granted until they’re no longer here, and this is my inspiration.

I firmly believe that everyone who comes into our life is sent by God for a reason… sometimes it’s only for a season, but other times the friendship lasts a lifetime and as we are the sum of our experiences, so each friend makes a contribution to who we are – some more than others….

INSPIRED BY FRIENDS

I gessoed my pages first, applying some thickly so that I could stamp into it for texture, and some sponged with natural sponge before it dried. Then I decided I wanted pastel type colours and grabbed my Adirondack acrylics – I really ought to use what’s left before they dry up like the others…

I stamped with Distress Oxide, then clear embossed it. I’ll probably add a lot of journaling to this later because it aroused lots of memories, especially of friends no longer with us and others who are quite poorly.

On another note… this is my entry for the Allsorts Penny Black ‘In the Garden’ challenge, and I’ll also enter it into the Penny Black Saturday challenge, which is ‘Anything Goes’… obviously, I haven’t gone for the optional challenge of ‘Masculine’ in this one…Winking smile

PB GARDEN

I’ve been playing with one particular stamp the last few days – variations on a theme. Here are the results.

PB COLOURS

I stamped three of them in black, then coloured with Prismacolour pencils, the other one is stamped in a dark brown, though it’s hardly apparent that it isn’t black!

Here are the individual cards.

PB BLUE 1 PB LEMON 1

PB LILAC 1

PB PINK 1

I had to reimagine the last one because my very reliable stamp smudged when this very unreliable stamper stamped it Sad smile

I stamped the flowers first, then overstamped some text in Delicata Shimmering White, which works well on Kraft card, before colouring. On the third, I stamped the background first, using Versamark, then heat set it before stamping and colouring the final flower.

Here’s another card using the same stamp, obviously focused again on friends... I stamped this one in the Stamping platform, using Tombow pens, adding colour little by little.

FOOTPRINTS 1

I’d like to link to the following challenges:-

Country View Challenges – The Written Word

Dragonfly Dreams – Anything Goes

A Bit More Time to Craft – Anything Goes

Not Just Cards – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – All things Bright and Beautiful

That’s all for now.

Thanks for looking

Back soon

Cath

xxx

20 very kind comments from lovely people:

Cath Wilson said...

Test...

Sandma's Handmade Cards said...

A very thoughtful post and I agree entirely with your sentiments about loosing the people around you. For me, it’s probably the hardest part of growing older. Your artwork is wonderful and I really like the variations in colour. Sandra x

froebelsternchen said...

Your spread is so utterly beautiful!
I love all about it, the colours, motifs textures and sentiments! Gorgeous! So pleased that you are joining us this months again over at Art Journal Journey dear Cath! And the flower cards are so pretty. I am in love with the pink variation ! Gorgeous!
Happy weekend!
Hugs, Susi

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely variety of floral cards! I like that you made each one unique by changing the sentiments and colours. Thank you so much for playing along with us at the Penny Black and More challenge.
Linda

Joan said...

Lots of lovely cards once again Kath. I agree with your sentiments only too well, I have lost so many family and friends, we need to cherish those we still have.

Joan

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

This is a fabulous spread, Cath. I love how the friends are sitting on the brick wall, and the two friends sharing a secret together. It's a beauty and I can see how it could bring up some good and some thoughtful memories. I was delighted that you shared it with us at Art Journal Journey.

Those cards that use the same stamp are incredible. They are all so different and unusual, and could be used for a man or a woman. They certainly allow one to have some gorgeous cards on hand when they might be needed. And each of the colors is so different, too. I am super impressed.

Elizabeth Hart said...

Beautiful cards - I especially love your floral card. Thanks so very much for joining us this time at the Dragonfly Dreams Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)

crafty-stamper said...

Really beautiful thoughtful journal pages and fabulous floral cards-beautiful selection of stamps
Carol x

Gibby Frogett said...

What a wonderful post and with so many beautiful pieces.
Your words about friendship and loss really resonated with me :)
I love your friendship journal pages, lovely colour and stamps.. I like the hand of friendship reaching out at the top.
Thanks for sharing what inspired you and joining in at AJJ.
Gill x

Sue said...

What beautiful cards Cath, you've teamed the images with the sentiments perfectly, and each one is wonderful. Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Country View Crafts, and have a very happy week, Sue xx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous journal page Cath, love the collection of images and sentiments and it's true, we really need to cherish our friends.
Love the cards, I've always liked that floral image and you've used it so well, making them all look individual.
Hope you're having a great weekend.
Avril xx

hazel said...

A beautiful journal page, I love the colours and textures on the background, beautiful cards too.
xxx Hazel.

cheiron said...

What a collection of wonderful projects! Thank you so much for playing along with us in the All Things Bright and Beautiful Challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog this week :)

lynda said...

Beautiful cards, Cath. Thanks for joining us at Penny Black Saturday Challenge!
Hugs,
lynda joy

brenda said...

Back again on my catch up rounds Kath, more lovely creations, believe it or not the second stamp you used is not in my stash (as yet) and not sure why, need to put that right. It's very effective in all your colourways and of course the white does as you say work so well on Kraft, I don't use it enough.

The blue flower on your first card are very delicate and it's prefect for our PB&M theme, many thanks for joining in.

B x

brenda said...

More lovely inkiness Kath, had that HA wheat stamp for years and amazing how many times it comes out.

B x

pearshapedcrafting said...

I love this spread Cath and your thoughts on friendship too! Your cards are beautiful and lead through very nicely to the sentiment on the last one - I can relate to that! Hugs, Chrisx

Daniela said...

Wonderful floral cards! Thanks for joining us at Penny Black & More and good luck!
x Daniela (DT)

WendyK said...

Love your journalpage and the entailment behind it. Your cards are fabulous, I love the flower stamp.

Evelyn Walter said...

Wonderful makes! I love them all, from the journal page to the variations of your flower stamp, all these cards are gorgeous!
Thank you so much for joining in with our challenge at Country View Craft this month.
Evelyn xx