ARC & PPF

I love to get a new book, get excited about it, guess what may happen and get involved with the characters. This was a great book for this. ARC with Darcy is a challenge for readers & artists of any skill. If you have lots of books you have been meaning to read this challenge is a chance to do that.  You read a book in a month, review it then do some art for that review. I read a lot any way, so I may not be reading books off my shelf as I have read them. I am constantly buying new or second hand books. I really like this idea of reviewing it with art as well.

 

This is for a book called Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. (Click the link for further information or to buy from Amazon)

The Review This is about a married couple, the wife goes missing and the husband is suspected of a hand in her disappearance. and it all goes on from there. The author uses diary entries from the wife to show how the wife views things and the present time is how we see things from the husbands point of view. 

I didn't like either character, both were less than perfect as in real life we all are. So I couldn't root for the hubby to be vindicated and I couldn't care less if the wife was found or not as she seemed a devious cow from the get go. But having said that, I think this is how the book is meant to make you feel. (although this could just be me). Wifey each anniversary sets up a mystery treasure hunt, each clue is given at the answer to the previous clue. (hope that makes sense?) hubby does this with out telling the police and as he finds each clue ....... Can't really tell you any more with out spoiling the book. But even though I didn't like the characters I wanted to know what was going to happen to both of them. I really liked the book actually and I thought it was very cleverly written. The heading at the beginning lets you know where you are and in what time reference so it's easy to follow. Over all I gave this 10/10 after reading it, I really enjoyed disliking the pair of them. They were made for each other and in my opinion it has a good ending.

The Art I found some resist paper I had forgot I had and decided this would be the base for my journal pages, as it had a writing feel to it. This would go along with the written diary and clues given. I made some envelopes out of card and wrote the clues on there and added lots of ink all over. I wrote my own review and popped that in the pockets I have made for this Journal, for book reviews. I have quite a few finished now and I am behind with a couple of others I have read as well.

Next months book could be 'If' - by George Kempis' a freebie e-book from Kindle I read on my phone. Here's the link so you can read this if you like as well. Or I may just review Granny Squares by Susan Pinner I haven't reviews a craft book yet and I read a fair few lol.

Finally I would also like to add this entry to PPF and join in with all the wonderful artist there as well. Have a lovely weekend Dxx

Playing with charcoal & faces

What better way to  play/experiment than in your journal?  So, I thought I would show you how I have been playing with faces.

I prefer the simplicity of the top one 'Candy Girl' to the intensity of the bottom two. But the background on the 2nd is just from excess inks from my stencils then gessoed over, how cool is that? Dxx

Texture!

Just thought I would show some of the pages in my texture journal. Dxx

Only just realised this is my 102nd post went right past 100 with out realising, thanks for being with me on this journey in to ART JOURNALING and long may it continue Dxx

Journal Journey's Ch19

A big thank you to those who joined in last month challenge. Looks like I really hit on something everyone really enjoyed, so much so some of you entered more than once Woo Hoo. I have to say I have written down some of the wonderful quotes you used to put in some of my future work. I had a blast visiting you all old and new players. We also smashed all records for entires and we have now more than 100 followers, How cool is that? I really hope you have all come back this month to play again.

NEWS

I thought it would be nice to pick a random person each month to be a special Guest Designer (GD) for the following month. The winner would write a little about why they craft perhaps (optional) and will also have their work for that month shown in the challenge post. I hope you like the idea. 

This months winner is

Lucky 13 Susi

Susi if you would contact me, I can give you the details for Ch20. 

To me you are all amazing, this is not who has the best art journal spread. I believe you are all super, this is just a random recognition, getting a little lime light and we all get to know a little more about the people who are joining in the challenge each month. You do not have to be a GD if you do not want to (no pressure is involved at all) just let me know and Random Generator can have another go.

Now on to this months challenge

BIRDS

I love all things to do with Birds, nests, eggs, feathers, chicks. Whatever you like, just make the focus of your page BIRDS. As always I am excited to see what you come up with again. All are welcome even if you have never done any art journaling before, we're a really friendly bunch here, there are no criticisms only love. Here is my silly story spread for this month :) Dxx

The journaling says; "This is the story of King Tweet. Top Hat Harry would steel kittens & pups, making them perform as jesters against their will." I made up a whole story in my head about these sparkly evil birds lol I had my friend who visited in stitches lol I have a vibrant imagination lol. Have a great month looking forward to seeing your work and getting to know you all better.

Please enter the link to the post for the challenge in the linky below :) Dxx

I'm feeling...

Spring like today (just). And I always want to make things nice when the sun shines. I have been tidying the surfaces of my craft area, it's taken most of the day (I'm not that mucky really). And boy am I tired now; so hubby kindly offered to do the tea while I put this post up and have a much needed brew. So here is a double A5 spread to celebrate my cleaning madness.

Some close ups. The quote says 'Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels beneath her, still she sings away all the same; knowing she has wings' Victor Hugo. Isn't that a beautiful quote. You can still join in this months journal journey challenge for April which is Quotes. Hope to see you there (link in the side bar). So many of you have joined in this month I am so pleased to see so many new faces as well, this in turn has brought lots of lovely new followers, how exciting. Thank you for taking time to stop by, Hope you are enjoying the Spring where you are. Dxx

P.S. There is also a small candy give away over on my other blog Crafty Dawn if you would like to join in. And if you follow my FB page Crafty Dawn there is soon to be a crafty giveaway there as well so do stop by :) Dxx

Playing

I really loved this image I have been meaning to use it for a while. It reminds me of what my dad would have done when he was a kid, just playing out on a lamp post. Children so easily amused then and were always out. Come to think of it so was I playing skipping, two ball, elastics, hop scotch, walking on stilts (that my dad made) when there was a mad craze, loads of games. 

I can't remember where the image is from (maybe google) However, I have cut it right down to the focus which is the boy playing. And I really like the quote by George Bernard Shaw. You can still join in with the monthly Journal Journey's challenge Here which is 'Quotes' this month. Hope you can find time to play along Dxx

All children are wise

I have been journaling & painting loads, I love this quote. I have heard something similar about give me a child until he's seven & I''l show you the man. This is put better though I think. 'It is easier to build strong children than to repair a broken man/woman' I think of the times I was called a 'Dummy/Stupid' as a child and it still effects me even now. Hence, the little boy with the hat on (I didn't want to put a D for dummy/dunce on even now) because I truly believe all children are wise and it is for us to nurture and show them how truly wonderful they are and what they can become.

I am linking this to PPF & Art Journal Journey. Have a wonderful weekend and show any children you meet how precious they are, even if it's just a big smile you give to the kids in the shops. Love Dawn xx

Is family important?

This sentiment just came to me and I went with it, if you think of family History (family tree) this is really true. I think family is Really important. They make us who we are in some ways, What we teach our children now this is what we give to the future. So we best make it good lol It's alot of responsibility when you think about it.

I really liked the paint stamping of one word. I wanted in the back ground I do this alot but in this case it felt more important, both with the words and the clock because all make a difference to each element of family. Well this wasn't suppose to be a deep post but these journal pages really moved me and I felt my heart agree with the sentiment, so there you have it. Dxx

Can you stand it?

More Journal pages from me that is? lol I have been beavering away like a good un lol I have so many pages done and I have to say I am LOVING IT!  So with out further ado. I thought I would have a go at the theme over at Art Journal they do a monthly challenge just like me, (how cool) I was sad not to get round to the one last month 'Crowns' But I may have a play with this word soon. No, this month it's all about the word 'Peace' and what that inspires so here is my spread hope you like it Love. 

I used Pride & Prejudice book paper (have lots of copies of this book) as back ground paper, gessoed, painted & stamped, then drew some hearts & books on more P&P sheets and then got the neo2s out and coloured them in added water and that's about it really, oh a bit of doodling and hey presto, enjoy Love Dawn xx

Journal Journey's Ch 16

Hello all, so you made it through January, well done. It's such a long month isn't it. I hope your drying off from all the horrid weather we've had in the UK & abroad  I hope you are all safe and feeling warmer. I would like to say thankyou for everyone making a special effort joining us here at our monthly Journal Journey's challenge in January :) I also want to do more art journaling this year as well as the many other crafty hobbies I have. 

So what do I have planned for this month? Well, blog land really inspires me and that's what has got me thinking about this month's challenge. Every year I see many people in blog land (some of my friends included) chose a word for the year, I have noticed this trend a lot in blog land and I'ts something I have long thought about doing, and this year I have decided it was the right time for me. Here's what I would like you to do....

Choose A Word

Now I don't want you to necessarily choose a word for the year (although you can if you so choose to). However, you can also have a favourite word? However you decide to interpret this I would like one word to be the focus of your page. so there is lots of leigh-way here and I know you won't let me down. So go to it. Here is my word for the year I hope it gets you started :0)

I started off with scraps of paper, then added some distress inks and some water to blend the papers together, followed by some stamping. I went on a free site for fonts Da Font and printed the word joy out on some card and then put the DI on a matt and sprayed water top of the ink and dipped the card in the various colours until all the letters were covered in ink, I allowed them to dry and then stamped some more over the ink, I also stamped some dragon fly's on some pretty scrap paper and cut them out to add to the spread, all very simple techniques but I think they look really effective, so have fun and share your work  in the linky below and we can stop by and see what you have been up to :0) Dxx

Journal Journey challenge 15

Happy New year. I hope you had a joyous & safe Christmas last year, wow last year :0) I'm sure you got some lovely gifts and had some fun sharing with family. Food is my favourite part of Christmas and I love LOVE cooking this special cerebrationary dinner and feeding the family. 

I do hope you will want to have fun again this year with your art journals. I have been finding getting stuck into my journal hard work. However, once I get there it doesn't loose it's fun appeal for me. I really enjoy playing with paint, inks and what ever else I can grab. This months challenge was no exception and I hope you will have fun as well.

NEW

Is the word I would like you to focus on for January as it's New Year. Many look at this time to start a new regimen and make promises to them selves to start a fresh. I really want you to create what YOU feel new means to you in January. I personally don't really go for all this new year resolutions. I do like to make some short term and long term goals for the year though. Any way it's entirely up to you, I hope you can make time this month to join in, and here is some inspiration from me to help you kick start your pages.

I decided to add lots of colour using ink spray & do some ghosting and also cut out some book pages and paint them as well, I have had the letter stickers for ever so thought I would try and use them. I out lined  the letters to give them dimension and then add lots of sentiments that may well be new this year to me. Some are certainties like new fabric & yarn  :0) others are wishes like a new home or a new business. You get the idea, so go and have fun journaling with the word NEW and come back and share with us as always what you create. Love Dawn xx

Regenerate!

Has any one else had problems commenting and uploading? Blogger drove me slightly balmy yesterday and most of the morning. OK rant over blogger is back I forgive you ;0) please don't leave me like that again. lol

So some more journalling what else on this blog? ha ha I am happy that your all enjoying the links and some daring to have a go at what can seem really scary at first. I have also joined a new group (link on the side bar) I really love this variety in this group and they love art journaling as well as others ha ha so go and join it's FREE and lots of ideas and inspiration. They have a group (well they have a few;0) but I love the 52 Pages & Wild Precious Art Journaling (which also happens to be the name of the group to join) and each week we have a word or theme last weeks was 'Regenerate' & 52 Pages was 'Stencils' and here is what I came up with.

I wanted to get this shot with the light shining on it so you can see the Gold ink reflecting and I drew it all by myself which is a wee achievement for me. So yes I am still learning and I am trying new things with the journaling so you can have a go as well, be brave you can do it. I thought I may well start a journal challenge and this will be the perfect place for you to experiment and get the support you need at the same time. So don't forget to fill in the poll at the top right, I need your feed back. Love Dawn xx