Art Journal and More

Life has been crazy for me lately and I apologize for missing a few posts. My daughter got married at the end of April and the day before the wedding I broke my ankle!

Thankfully it is almost good as new. That is lucky because on June 3, I leave on the #PaperTrail, a month long teaching trip throughout the country in Scotty, my vintage camper.

I invite you to follow the trip with me on my blog. I will be teaching classes in scrapbook stores, attending events like the Country Living Show and a big stamp show, meeting up with crafty celebrities and seeing the country. I can't wait! Just check my blog for updates or follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see where we are and what is happening.

My project today is an Art Journal made using the Mini-Album from the Cherished collection.

Although the packaging for this collection is decorated in the baby theme, the dies are very versatile. The Mini Album has been one of my favorites to work with lately. There is a metal opening built into the die that you can use with Movers and Shapers dies to cut windows in the cover of the album. This is a ScoreBoards die that is designed to cut and score thick material like matboard or chipboard- or any material up to 1/16" thick that you can cut with scissors. It always surprises people to know that you can run matboard through the Big Shot with embossing folders.

For this project, I cut two windows in the Album cover and then embossed the die cut squares with the Animal Print folder. I used the Gelli plate and my new ColorBox Blends inks from Clearsnap to ink the cover and pages of the mini-album Art Journal.



I also used Stencils from StencilGirl and embossing paste from Wendy Vecchi to get some dimension on the pages. I also free handed text on the pages and added some photos of our family. There is a special technique I use to bind the pages really quickly. I like this method because in addition to being fast and easy, the pages of the book lay flat when you are writing in them.

And now, here are some of the projects the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team has created in the past month. They blow me away!

The Inspiration Team Coordinator, Amy Bowerman, of Plucking Daisies has this thing about gnomes! Read about it on her blog...

 I love this soft and shabby Caddy by Melissa Phillips. I also love what she says about hope. See the post on her blog here...

 Beth Watson has made a chandelier of hydrangeas. Wow- very cool. Check out her post here.

These are just a few of the amazing projects featured on my blog by this super-talented team of designers. Check every Tuesday to see what the Inspiration Team is up to and on Thursdays you will see posts from Team ATB (Artist Trading Blocks). They have been stepping up the game so high I can't imagine how they will keep outdoing themselves, but they do! For more out of the box projects and lots of inspiration visit The Artists on the Block.

Thanks for coming by and I hope to see you on the #PaperTrail!

Whites, watercolors, ferns - freestyle journal page with Sizzix

Hi again, I hope you had a great creative week! 

It is good to create something more "airy", lighter- from time to time. For me it is important to play with white spaces and more flat  structures - especially after a weekend full of grungy, dimensional projects I teach during my classes. This page below is a great example of such "mind-cleaning": white background was painted wuth Distress Inks, Watercolor Pencils and Pencil and the main elements of composition are ferns - cut outs from one of my favorite dies in last days - Garden Greens Bigz Die by Tim Holtz.

To show more beautiful details of the floral shape I lined it a bit with very soft pencil. It looks fresh and artsy - I'm really happy about this look! I also repeated the shapes of "petals" of the intricate flower die and added a bit of dots and free-hand journaling.

Here are the Sizzix dies I used for this layout:
- 659117 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime
- 659436 - Sizzix Bigz Die-Garden Greens

I hope you will all have a great weekend - I surely will! This year I'm attending CraftHobby and Stitches Show in Birmingham for the very first time - and I'm super excited about it :)
I hope to meet you there:)
hugs
Finn

Back to journaling - praising the leftovers!

Hi, did you have a good, peaceful Christmas time?
I had - celebrating Christmas at home, in new place - this time in more quiet way than it was years before. But you know? I liked it too - I had a moment to work on one or two special projects, to think about my plans for the coming days, to try something new...
Before Christmas I was making project like crazy - I had to be on time with so many cards, layouts and journals that it was a great pleasure for me to do something just for myself as a break and a bit of "mind stretching"! I was lucky to have great inspiration - my friend's Round Robin - and here is the result of my "free time creating".

I have a special "leftover basket" in my studio now - I put there all the bits and pieces of Sizzix cut-outs I didn't use in my projects - and when I need some elements, some quick inspiration - I can always get some from there! Can you see how in quick and easy way I could build, interesting, layered background using some flower and doily elements from my small collection?

Here is the list of dies I used for this project - but it would work with any similar ones :)
- 658947 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 2PK - Doily & Doily Border
- 659127 - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Frame Layers & Flower #2
- 658506 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Vintage Doily
- 658502 - Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Flower, Daisy
- 658720 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Ornate Frame 

I really think this basket was a great idea - it is a shame to throw away pieces you don't need in  that moment...they can be perfect for your future projects, right?
Sending you lots of love
Finn

Art Journal For My Daughter


Hi All,

Today I would like to show you art journal that I made ​​especially for my daughter. She is 8 years old. She loves to draw, she loves to create collages and different projects from paper. And she wants her own art journal.

I created the inner sheets using watercolor paper. And I decorated the cover using Sizzix dies. My daughter loves animals. And she choose this cute dog for art journal cover.

Items used:
Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Dog, Scotty w/Bone (657688)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Tree & Heart (657697)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Fence (657689)

Have a nice day!

Daria.


Всем привет!

Сегодня я хочу показать арт-журнал, который сделала для моей дочки. Ей 8 лет. Она любит рисовать, делать коллажи и всякие штучки из бумаги. И конечно, насмотревшись на меня, она хочет свой арт-журнал. Я не могла ей отказать. :)

Она очень любит животных, поэтому на обложке у нас красуется такая милая собачка, которую она выбрала сама.

Материалы:

Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Dog, Scotty w/Bone (657688)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Tree & Heart (657697)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Fence (657689)

Дарья.

Journal obsession continues - Thinlits in mixed-media way!

Hi, it's me again!
Not so long ago I was posting some pages done in my "Odyssey" journal - altered book which I fill with new pages from time to time. All of them are dedicated to my family - parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. All of the pages are media based but when I add elements I simply can't resist and I HAVE TO add something special, dimensional and intricate....and that's why I love Sizzix Thinlits so much!
The page below is no differetn - there are beautiful elements cut out from white cardstock with a set of Echo Park Paper Sizzix dies. The photo shows my uncle, Bogdan during one of the important family gatherings. I think he could be around 20 in this time...

Here you can see some more of the details - I used Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - For the Record 2, Documented (659109) and a lot of paper scraps, canvas scraps and metal embellishments from Prima (Vintage Vanity A4 journaling pad, Vintage Vanity Stamps, Elementals - Canvas resist Sheets, Sunrise-Sunset Stencil, Mechanicals).

I love how the cut outs correspond with the shapes of the metal trinkets and how they add the great depth to the project. It is so simple yet spectacular...
I hope you will have a great, creative week!
See you soon!
Finn

Planner


Hi All!

Daria is here.

This year will be over soon and I will need a new planner. I decided to do it by myself. I created a cover, inner sheets and dividers which I decorated using different Sizzix dies.

Items used:
Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6PK - For the Record (659108)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 8PK w/Stamps - Banners #2 (658696)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 9PK - Tags #2 (658611)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK - Frames, Instant (658608)

I used only papers, Sizzix dies and washi tapes to decorate these dividers.
I love my new planner!

Have a nice day!

Daria.


Всем привет!

Сегодня я хочу показать вам мой новый ежедневник. Этот год скоро закончится и мне нужен будет новый органайзер. Я решила сделать его сама. Создала обложку, сшила внутренний блок и сделала разделители, которые украсила с помощью ножей от Sizzix. 

Мне нужно было, чтобы разделители были как можно более плоскими, чтобы было удобно писать в ежедневнике, и при этом радовали меня. Поэтому я украшала их только бумагой (вырубками сделанными на машинке) и декоративным скотчем.

Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 6PK - For the Record (659108)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 8PK w/Stamps - Banners #2 (658696)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 9PK - Tags #2 (658611)
Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK - Frames, Instant (658608)

Всем хорошего дня!

Дарья.

Art Journal


Hi Everyone!

Daria is here.

Today I would like to show you a new art journal. I made it for one of my scrap-friends. I hope she will love this art journal and will create a lot of gorgeous mixed media projects.

Items used:
Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Mini Butterflies Set (657209)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower #2 (657711)

I made the inner sheets from watercolor papers. Сover I made using cotton fabric. To add different shapes on the cover, I cut these shapes using dies (also from cotton fabric). I sewed them onto the cover using a sewing machine. Then I used white acrylic paint and different sprays with stencils. After paint dried, I outline the edges of the shapes using PITT Artist Pens.

This is back side of art journal.

Have a nice day!

Daria.


Всем привет!

Сегодня я хочу показать новый арт-журнал, который я сделала в подарок одной из своих скрап-подруг. Его размер А5. 

Арт-журнал сделан с нуля, внутренние листы у него из бумаги для черчения, мягкая обложка. Разные интересные формы для обложки я вырезала с помощью ножей Sizzix. Так же я использовала краску, трафареты и спреи для придания законченного вида обложке.

Материалы:

Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Movers & Shapers Magnetic Die Set 2PK - Mini Butterflies Set (657209)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower #2 (657711)

Всем хорошего дня!

Дарья.

Art Journal obsession - more journaling with Thinlits!

Hi, it's me again!
Last week I posted a page from my ongoing project - "Odyssey" vintage book which I keep filling with pages inspired by my old family photos. Well, the problem is I got so inspired after last time that I simply couldn't stop! so today I've got another journal page - this time dedicated to my beloved grandpa - Edward - who passed away way too early in 1993.

This time I also focused on Echo Park Paper skeleton flower die (aren't these shapes just amazing?) - Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime (659117) - and vintage papers and tickets from my home collection. I had so much fun creating it. Here you can see  more details!

Again- all the colours come from homemade tea stain, Vintaj Patina and sprays (Luminarte Primary Elements with water), there is a bit of gesso and some 3D Foams by Scrapbook Adhesives used as embellishments too ;) As finishing touches I used some metal elements such as paper clips, an iron plate I found on the street, piece of wire I got from one of my students, buttons and staples. The checked fabric is one of the Canvas Resist Sheets (my Elementals by Prima) and stamps are a choice of background patterns from my Prima Vintage Vanity collection.
See you soon - have a great week!
Finn

Art Journaling with Thinlits - vintage love...

Hi, I hope you had a great week!
Today I'm sharing one on the journal pages which is a part of my creative project inspired by my old family photos. From time to time I open the book I bought in the charity shop and add one or 2 pages inside... and because I use the photos of my beloved ones the book turns into a precious keepsake that I'd love to keep on my shelf forever.
The pages below are about my dad, Chris - I think he was about 30 when this photo was taken.

The pages are mostly created from leftovers and found papers - I love to create this way, including pieces I have somewhere in my stash. One of the most important parts of the composition was the Echo Park Paper skeleton flower cut-out from the white cardstock: Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Springtime (659117).
 I love the beautiful pattern it made, I was so inspired by it I started co color the inside of the cut-out with a pencil to make it even more visible!

Of course - The color comes from homemade tea stain and sprays (Luminarte Primary Elements with water), there is a bit of gesso  and some 3D Foams by Scrapbook Adhesives - this time used as embellishments ;) As finishing touches I used some metal elements including two of the Vintage Centers (my Mechanicals by Prima), paper clips, buttons and staples. The checked fabric is one of the Canvas Resist Sheets (my Elementals by Prima) and stamps are a choice of background patterns from my Prima Vintage Vanity collection. 
Huge hugs from the Emerald Island and see you soon!
Finn