Those lists I always make......

The lists and lists and lists.. of stuff.. that I then promptly forget where I put and nothing ever gets done.......
WELL!
My friend just posted this on her blog.. and with her permission.. here is the LINK... Thank you so much Shelley.. for posting, letting me post and inspiring me Humongously!!! GO SEE!!!!  It was like a lightbulb moment.. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gonna do this!  And I am gonna do it fancy and smancy and pretty... no more boring lists for me!

I have even dug out the "OMG this is soooooo Lush I can never use it" Stampin Up This and That (Smash-esque) book another friend bought me last year.. and.. I AM GONNA USE IT!!!!  (I also have Smash books that I can use.. so no excuses!!)

Yayyyyyy

Watch this space! :-) x

I appear to have lost 20 days!

Oh am I bad!!!!  I made very few New Years Resolutions this year.....  Art More.... Self Care (less Guilt!)  Put on a Stone (sorries) and BLOG!  That was about it.. and although I am arting, doing fairly well with the self care... eating loads (but I haven't weighed myself) I have failed miserably at blogging!  Whoops!  Bad Me!

So.. belated .. but... HAPPY NEW YEAR! :-)

What ya all been up to?  It is Freeeeeeeeeeeeeezing here as I type.. but no snow, which I think it very stinky.. if it is going to be this damn cold.. at least make it pretty as well!  And I want to make massive Snow Angels!

Done a few arty bits this year... with the Fabulous Effy in Book of Days, and the Fabulous Tam of Willowing in LifeBook 2015.... both amazing courses and again I am learning so much!

PLUS.. I do have some rather exciting news.... I GOT PUBLISHED!!!!  Yes.. serious.. I am so so thrilled... LOOK------->

This is Simon.. the creator of the book.. it was such a fabulous idea..... I sort of stumbled into it by accident and I am so thrilled I did!  Simon put up a series of photographs of himself... and 100 of us drew, painted, interpreted him... such a great idea.. the standard of work is incredible.. I feel very humbled to be included among it!  The book is called  1 Man, 100 Faces.  And ..watch this space.... there may be more news soon ;-)

A couple more Arty pictures.... these are from LifeBook.... this was lesson one and I had so much fun.. I kept doing it!  I just love Tams way of shading faces, and I am getting better with each one I do.... Yayyyyy! 

And a last picture to leave you with...... do you know what a foot looks like?  I mean 12 inches, not the things at the end of your leg... LOL

TaDaaaaaaa!!!!  I am thrilled!
Right.. off to do something ..... not sure what yet.. but back soon... I hope! :-)
Toodles! x

Treat yourself to a GREAT Arty 2015.....

and look here! :-)

Book of Days

Toodles.....x

Post Christmas, Pre New Year

and doing my annual ramblings on what has passed and what I want for the next 12 months!

Same blog.. but new name and hopefully a bigger and more confident Arty Identity.  I really want to keep this blog up to date and active, but hey we will see!  Going to try lots of the fancy buttons blogger has to offer too.. I never really have learned how it all works!
Been a tough 12 months... had my head in the sand for a lot of it... Health issues have caused me all kinds of strife and I have sort of sunk into myself and wallowed a little bit...  I know I can't have a Magic Fix, but over the next few months I intend to climb and clamber and haul myself out of my pit.  I know I will have down days, but I plan on trying to control the extent of them... and make a Bad Day an OK day instead.  OK days I can live with.. bad days are getting to me!

I am going to be bigger and bolder with my art life.... I have so many experimentals I want to try.. so why not.. lets try them.... plus I am in a group where we commit to do 100 faces... so that is being started soon.... and I am trying as hard as I can to sign up for as many of Effy Wilds courses as I can for another year, cos, well.. I have to! .... plus I won a seat on the 2015 LifeBook with the fabulous Tam of Willowing Art.. so Art is in the list of things to do in New Year.

Not going to waffle on much more.. just needed to get a post up and out there to keep this blog rolling.....  so.. if you are gonna stick around.. watch out for a HUGE amount of Art to be posted!

Toodles.. and a Happy New Year! *mwah*

Anybody still there?

Ermm.. Hello... haven't blogged for so long, I doubt anyone is still with me! :-)
Anyhoo... just in case there is an follower still.. and there is interest still.. I have been busy in the back ground doing *stuff*  which can be found here, my new website and blog.... still rather basic and little.. seeing how it all goes before I shell out the necessary pennies to make it all singing and dancing... but for now, all Arting, Blogging, Waffling etc as well as future Big Plans.. (sssshh.. secret still)  will be occurring there.....  Keeping this one open tho.. just as a back up for when I spectacularly fail plan whatever I am up to! LOL
So.. hopefully see you there.. maybe?
Toodles! xxxxx

 http://experimentalbeanartist.doodlekit.com/blog

That Craft Place HOP!!!

Yayyy... Good morning!  As I type.. the sun is beaming and it is a stunning day... hope it is where you are too!  I am off to cook myself in it.... Perfect! :-)
So today, we are doing a Blog Hop.... not done one for ages, so very exciting.. and there is Candy and Prizes... Yayyyy (again)  You should have found me via Gayle,  If you didn't, why not jump back to Lisa at the start and hop through......

 Here is a bit about it.....

Come and join us on our blog hop for 

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/ - That Craft Place 

We are having a wonderful Blog hop to show case our amazing Design Tem 

theme is Anything goes so dont forget to enter into our challenge 

Links to Shop and Groups 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/271008489659989/ TCP facebook Shop 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/184329015068367/ Natter page 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/756886094323719/ Ditzie Digi Design's inspiration 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DitzieDigiDesign Our Etsy store 

We give away freebies in the Ditzie Digi Design group once a month so please hop over and say Hi 

Here's the prize's 

 1st £10 spend in That Craft Place

 2nd £10 DDD esty store 

 3rd £5 That Craft Place 

 4th £5 DDD etsy store 

Now to win you need to make sure your a member of each group 

Now the amazing Design Team have some inspiration on there blogs and ( some of the DT ladies are giving away there creations to one lucky blogger ) so make sure you hop by and give them some love 

Love & Hugs 

from all of us at 

That Craft Place

  So... here are my offerings....  I took a blank house cubby hole thingy, spayed it with various inks and Dylusions Sprays.. and them just went mad filling it up....   Love making random stuff like this.... just for the sake of it.. and it looks smashing on my shelf!   Pretty much all of the ingredients are available at That Craft Place!

For a little bit of Candy.....  the images (TCP Digi stamps)  I printed onto Shrink Plastic, and then made this one into a key ring.. I will be pricking a winner at random and sending it on its merry way!

 
Happy Hopping.......  from me you go to Cheryl  xxxx

Like

DT Offerings and Monthly Challenges......

Hello!  Right... two in one here.... For this months The Cupboard Trilogy Blog Challenge, the theme is flowers.... Hmmmmmm.. don't really "do" flowers.. which is why my post is a little late in the day! :-)

Second.. I have been meandering about Facebook.. and there is a challenge for May of a Painting a Day....  A whole Painting.. Every day.. That is thirty.. WHOLE PAINTINGS....THIRTY!!!!  ****Eeeeeeek****  that is a serious commitment!  So I haven't quite signed up yet.. see how I go.. then maybe sign up later on if I keep up and back post... Hmmmmmm.... Oh OK... you just know I am going to finish this blog and go sign up don't you!   Sigh... OK.. 30 days and 30 paintings it is then!  Be prepared for Blog Overload!

Anyhoo's..... Painting One.. and DT entry..... "Flowers"

Been reading my little Watercolour Handbook.. and very informative it is too.....  been reading about Wet on Wet.. Not done that before (and Yes.. it shows!!!)  So I had a go... Only a small bit of paper, taken from an A6 watercolour pad..... so nice and non-threatening.....  Bit of Masking Fluid dotted about... watercolour paint and masses and masses of water...  Keep dropping wet paint on wet paint and dropping on water....It all bleeds out and goes a bit magical actually!!!! Leave to dry.... rub masking fluid off...... Black gel pen scribbles.... Done! ....  Fine art it most certainly not.. but great fun it was......

Suppose I will see you all tomorrow then! :-)   Toodles xxxx

  (imagine it framed.. it will look miles better framed!!)

Artist Experiments......

This is an old post from my last blog... but feeling the want to repost it... so apologies to any of you who were following me back in February 2014.. cos here it is again........ For new followers, here is an Arty Experiment using bits and bobs and embellies (subtle direction push to That Craft Place if you need any embellie bits! :-) ) (only it wasn't that subtle was it??  Oh Well! LOL)

Soooooooooooo.. after a weekend "celebrating" something that has slipped my mind but was worth celebrating at the time.. I wanted to play, but had no idea what..... and this is what happened! ...... xxxxx

Bit of an Arty Experiment

which worked!!!   Well.. I think it did!! :-)

Hello.. sorry I have not blogged for ages, been busy and well.. busy!!  But I went to a party last weekend, and there must be something in the dishwasher chemicals my friend uses, cos I felt rather fragile the next day...  Must have been the chemicals.. can't have been the wine now can it!!!

Anyway..  I wanted to craft, but my brain was full of cotton wool and I had no inspiration at all... so I decided to play with all my new "Messy Stuff" and see what happened.....  and this did....

(long post.. hope you are comfy!!)

Right.. I took a sheet of A4 card stock, and I randomly spritzed it with misting sprays etc....

The cat helped.....

Then I randomly stamped all over it....

Then I stuck a stamped sheet of ATCs on the back.. which I wrote on AND numbered, so I couldn't cheat and not make the full set!

And cut them all out........

Then I was a Very Big and Very Brave Girlie.....  and I dived into my Crafty Stuff.. and... Shock Horror.. I Used Some of it... It was a shock to the system.. but I have now recovered!!!  Here are my 9 totally random background Artified ATCs

I am sooooooo chuffed with them......  so I made them a new ATC Book to live in  (nearly finished.. promise, but I did tell you it was a long blog!!!)

Outside cover......

Inside cover...

 Inserts.... (I have fallen totally in love with Washi Tape!!)

Assembled....

 and finally all decorated....

Phew!  You will be please to know.. thats all!   Good job I don't blog very often if they are this length!!!

Right.. off I toodles..  Got some more Arty Type stuff to do to so I can fill my new book!!!
Happy Crafting all, and if you stayed with me to the end.. Gold Star to you!!! (and please leave me a comment...  makes me feel like I have friends then! LOL! x)

Trying to remember what comes next.......

Hello Bloggers.....
been a busy few days.. school holidays and had a birthday and a trip to London, now Easter Weekend and a houseful.....   Not much "me" time occuring to play in! :-)

BUT.. I fell in love with some stamps recently.. and I had to have them.....  but having gotten them, it has been so long since I made card.. I am having a little rest and think what to do next!

I think my biggest problem playing with these was the size.. I am so used to doing BIG now, in my journal and on canvas, that little cute faces were tricky.. but I had great fun...can't beat a good colouring session!  I used Derwent Pencils (what else!) and I was trying the new Blender Pens on the coloured Pencil..... now these I really love, make blending and swooshing of colour so much fun..... then I switched back to my comfort zone, and did some one pencil shading on a couple of stamps.....  Really do enjoy this method.. and it is so easy as there is no worry over picking up the wrong pencil to add a bit and then discovering you picked up the wrong shade! (haven't we all been there!!)

So.. while I decide what to do with them now they are coloured and die cut (except the watch... yes, I know.. I forgot the watch!!) ..... here they are......

.......and.... just so you know.. the Gorjuss stamps, papers and all kinds of accessories are available from That Craft Place along with some fairly decent pencils..... OK.. they are not Derwent.. but I have heard Prisma's are Ok.... <cheesy grin>

Toodles xxxxx

Theres life in the old book yet!

Gooood Morning!  Beautiful sunny day (again).. bit shocked as it is school holidays.. I was expecting rain for two week! :-)

Following on from my last post.. I have been thinking... and I am going to start writing all the stuff down to get it out.. but you all don't and to be reading it.. and some of it may not be publishable!!   So.. I am going to be writing in a book, and arting, and letting it out!

So I needed a book....  there has been lots of chat in a group I am in, and the words Book of Shadows has popped up lots..... so I went off to have a look.... WOW, there are some stunning ones, but also at a stunning price!  Then I remembered a book I bought a few years ago at Covent Garden Market.  There was a stall there selling the most divine leather bound notebooks..... not cheap, but my friend called me over as he had a couple that were not considered sellable because the binding had broken.. so we got them for a very silly price......  Much as I loved the cover, the book itself was no good to art in because the paper was too thin.. so it sat on the shelf.. till yesterday, when I carefully cut the entire book out and just had the cover.. then using handmade papers, various parchments and just scrummy papers in all colours and weights, I played.......  I think it is now perfect to write, art and reflect....   I love it!!!  And here is a quick step by step run through........

One Beautiful Leather Bound Book.... and lots of papers......

Al the pages cut out.....

 All the scrummy papers folded into 5 signatures....... All mixed, handmade, fabric-ish, parchment etc

 See..........

 Sewn together.. (cos I found just enough waxed cord to do so) and each signature is stitched onto a canvas page which will be glued into the book....

 ...and finally all glued in place... and it still shuts! LOL  Yayyyyy

I am very happy with it....    Hope you like it

Toodles! :-) xxxxx

Doing Guilt and an Identity Crisis!

Now, there's a heading!

I am not sure if I am going to press publish or not yet.. I am just writing to get it out there... so you may or may not be reading this!

Guilt....  Guilt is a bugger... and I Do Guilt at Olympic Gold Level.....  over everything, you name it.. I Guilt it! I apologize, I try to make amends.. even if it has nish all to do with me.....   Guilt.. A killer.

When I stopped making cards, I Got Guilt, because all my friends were making cards.. I was the odd one out... I had lost all love for cardmaking, but I felt so damn Guilty, I carried on for longer than I should have, and now the love I had lost has turned to hatred, and I seriously cannot make a decent card to save my life.....  The same with ATC's.. I lost the mojo, I couldn't follow the guidelines for swaps, and I Got Guilt..... I tried unthemed ones, but they were leaning towards my Arty-Farty Muse, not cardmaking ones, and I Got Guilt that they were not good enough and I was letting the team down......

When I was finally brave enough to start Arting, scribbling, doodling, I got negative comments....  I Got Guilt..... why was I doing this, I should admit I was crap at it and go clean the kitchen or something, Who the Hell did I think I was to pretend I was a frickin' artist?  But, Luckily I (not ignored cos the comments stuck, but pushed them to one side) carried on... I now SELL my work.. so hey, Up Yours Guilt.....  I win this round!

At the moment, I am having slight Guilt, cos of my DT spot... I am Over-Trying to produce something Fab-U-Lous, and all I am doing is feeding the bin..... and the damn Guilt!

Silly things hit me too..... and it really digs in.... from clothes to music to hair colours....... I have to dump the guilt.. it is a cruel and vindictive lover, and I need a separation order!

BUT.. to get that separation.....  I have to work out, who the hell am I?  Hey I am Debs, I am a wife and a Mother and a Housewife, and an Artist ...... only I try not to do the House bit of the job description, cos I would rather be doing art (and yes.. then I Get Guilt) But who am I?

On Monday, I am going to be older than I have ever been before..... and I get a new number to label myself with...... and Get Guilt over.... I will be 47.   What does a 47 year old wife and mother do?   Does she dye her hair scarlet, pull on leggings and a funky top and not care that her hair clashes, and go out and have fun? (I hope so) Or does she do things that portray an image to the outside world of something else,  dare I say a Grown Up! (scary)

SO again... who am I?   Well.. I will tell you something... I am not me!  I am lying to myself!

I am not unhappy with my life.. not at all.....  I had an amazing childhood, I am so close to my parents it is untrue, I adore my kids, and as for my hubby... yeah.... I hate to admit it, but I need him in my life..... and I have fabulous friends.... so I am not unhappy.. I have a charmed life, its not the easiest, but I am happy......

But I am not content.. and that is the fault of no-one but myself and my pathetic inablity to stand up to the bastard that is Guilt!

On the inside, I am a flowing frocked, candle bearing Pagan-esque free spirit, a paint splattered, ink drenched Goddess, I have strong leanings towards Witchcraft....  not black magic rats and bats, white witch, herbs and candles and moonlight and meditation.......  I am a flamboyant artist, a paint thrower and smoocher,  my inner Goddess don't care what anyone else thinks... but the other side of me, is like, You What??  You daft cow.. you can't be parading around with candles at midnight in a floaty nighty-frock... WHAT would people say, It was hard enough to tell people I was studying Buddhism, Witchcraft might be a step too far! LOL .... and then Guilt joins in... and I smother myself to be acceptable to society I suppose.  OK yes.... I am fun, easy going and ready for a laugh at a moments notice.....  but there is more to me which is buried deeply, for fear of suddenly becoming unacceptable...... an outcast... I know it won't happen (well I hope not) but the fear is there.. fed by Guilt

Why am I typing all this?   Cos I can!  I am doing The Artists Way at the moment..... and it is making me think......  I have no solutions yet... but the thoughts are there and I am seeing the cracks that I have glued together to make myself feel acceptable as I think I should appear......  I think the time has come to loosen the glue a little, fight the Guilt into submission, and find myself.....  Not find myself in a Mid life crisis/Shirley Valentine kinda way and run off with the nearest young man for debauched sex and vodka sessions on a hot beach somewhere...... (although if anyone has Nate Ruess's phone number, I wouldn't say no! LOL) but find myself as in, be brave enough to slowly let bits of me emerge...... and see how it goes!  I actually feel heaps better for just typing all this out!

Now.... do I press publish or not???

If I do.. and you are still with me after all this emotional drivel.....  Gold Star... and hugs.....  Appreciated! <3 xxxx

On a much happier note to end with.. the fabby Jennibellie blogged....ME!!!!   Look! :-)    Now that goes a looooong way in the Guilt Stamp-Out Fest! :-)  Yayyyy!

pppppsssssst......
OK.. I am back... Got Guilt over the blog post after I hit publish .... what if I upset someone by typing all this out? Offend them? .... OMG... Guilt Guilt Guilt!!!
I can clarify, nobody else was involved in the making of this blog...... all the suppression and doubt has been caused by me, and me alone and my patheticness towards growing a set and pushing Guilt over a cliff is my problem and not caused by anyone else!
I WILL NOT feel guilt over this post.. because I have blamed no one but myself, and I am trying to be myself... and that shouldn't upset anyone.....right? :-) x

Well, Colour Me Happy!!!

Just Quick.........
I finally got time for a good nose about, and Guess What!   That Craft Place's Etsy shop (here) only have the Wonderful Irrepressible Fantabulous Kelly Rhodes as one of their Digi Artists!!!!
O.....................M................................Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!
Not going to say it too loud, cos I don't want to inflate her ego too much..... but she has to be probably my pretty much almost possibly favouritest Digi Designer... Maybe, almost! LOL   I ADORE the quirkiness of her work......
I am off to colour!
Yayyyyyyyyyy!
xxx

Pssst... there are other equally fantabulous and wonderfully talented designers there too......  But don't take my word for it.. check em out..... you will love them......  I am just so happy to have found more of Kellys designs! :-) xxxx

Happy April 1st!

Good Morning... so how many of you got tricked then?  Seen a few.. my fav is from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, you can see it here!


Got a few bits to blog today..... Starting with The Cupboard Trilogy Monthly Blog... this month is Friendship..... and mine is heavily taken from a lesson with the Fabulous Effy and her Book Of Days class.... (heartbreak.. it is the last week this week... ***sobbing*** .... but Good News.. I signed up for the next session! Yayyyyy!)   I loved this lesson so much, that I decided instead of doing it in my Journal, which is essentially private, I would create it on canvas instead......  the lesson topic was Soul Tribe.... which equates to Friendship perfectly, and using spray inks, acrylics and marker pens..... here it is!

Talking of the Cupboard.. a few of us ladies got together and did a "Stash Swap"   I have been very nawty and sitting on mine a while... but Inspiration hit!  Using the goodies I was sent by my Swappee... and the goodies I was send by Lisa from That Craft Place I decided to play!

This is what my Swappee sent me.....

and this is what I did!!!!

Firstly I took all the backs etc off the picture frame... then I glued some of the heavy cardboard in my pack together to double the thickness, and cut into really silly fiddley little strips, (and I mean silly and fiddly!!) which I wrapped Washi Tape around (hmmmm.... was a good idea at the time!) ..... I covered the larger of the card (cut to fit the frame) with the papers, then glued the Washi Strips into place to create a kind of Printer Tray frame.....

I gessoed and then used Artbars on the frame, and using various bits from both my swap bag and That Craft Place, I embellished it...... Using a fair amount of glue and the odd rude word! LOL
I am rather pleased with it... been a long time since I have made anything like this..... so was a nice change to get all gluely instead of inky-painty.
I will say however in hindsight..... although it was fun....  next time I have a Grand Idea like this.. I am gonna buy my printer tray from Lisa and save myself a lot of stress and bad language! LOL

And finally (last bit.. promise!)   All the scribbling/doodling/practising seems to have paid off......  LOOK...... I drew PRETTY!!!!
You have no idea how ridiculously happy she makes me... I adore her! Yayyyyy Me!!!

Right.. that is all for now... but I am sure I will be back soon.......
Happy Arty-Crafty Stuff...... xxxxx

Pssssstttt.....Do you wanna know a secret??

You must promise not to tell... but it is VERY exciting news........

Have you heard of a shop called That Craft Place?  If you haven't (where have you been??) I linked it... so go look......  It is Fab-U-Lous......  they have a page on Facebook which is where I got to know Lisa and Danny, and give them lots of money every month, and they are the nicest people you could hope to meet.......
They also have an Etsy shop for Digi's and a Challenge Blog.  Really.. go look... they have some amazing stuff.. for crafters and arters...... they are great......

Anyhoo... why the big write up for them... well....

I MADE THE DT!!!!!!!

Oh My Everything!!!!!!!  I have known for a week, but wasn't allowed to tell....... and I haven't stopped bouncing!!!!  I am soooo soooo thrilled!!!  I am all of a dither.. so excited.. Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!




Look.. I have a badge and everything.. it is official!!

The blog has some of the loveliest peeps I know on it.. a really smashing bunch and so much talent.... I am a little nervous at my arty throw-togethers being up there with them... but they picked me so I must be doing something right! :-)

I can't wait to get started..... the next challenge for the blog is 30th March (they run every two weeks) and there is oooodles of inspiration on their Facebook Natter and Chatter page........   Come join the fun!

I am off to bounce a bit more.....cos I can........ :-)


In other news....... Marcel (said in a French Accent) my mini manikin, has been busy painting down by the river.........

Have a fantabilous Sunday... the sun is shining and there is Creating to be Created......
See you all very soon. xxxxxx

Trying out new stuff.......

Hello!!
Been playing over the weekend with my new pens.... Graph'its, and the results are in.....  I LOVE THEM......

After selling my pro-markers cos they didn't like Mixed Media very much..... and after talking to loads of people, I went for a skin-tone set of the Graph'its as I was promised they were fully capable of Mixed Media work...... and they are!!!

I was also very excited by this Full Moons lesson in Moonshine, Effy produced such an amazing painting, I couldn't wait to have a go.. and she was using markers as the base.. so I was all set!

I only have the one set of markers (at the moment... I have my eye on many more!!!) but I only needed the skin colours for this painting.. so off I set and got at it... and I love the results... fabulous pens.. totally fabulous!

In the absence of a rainbow full of colours with the Graph'its... I used my Giotto markers for her hair, and Derwent Aquatones for the background.......

I also finished this over the weekend..... I think I like it... :-)

Lots of exciting things are occurring right now... (but more about then after I have gotten through tomorrow, when I am having a tooth brutally ripped out... LOL.. well.. I will be asleep, but right now I am panicking!)  So watch this space...... Plus I am about to start The Artists Way, a 12 week course from the book of the same name by Julia Cameron.. I have had a flick through and it looks  great.. but very personal... so not sure how much will get blogged about...... I might have to start a separate tab for it all.... then you can choose to read or ignore!

Right....  Off for my final meal.... roast chicken and all the trimmings.. making it a good 'un in case I expire from sheer fright tomorrow! LOL  If I make it... see you all soon....
Mwah! x