Jenny's Paper Doll Journal

When I knew that Jenny's AASG journal theme was going to be Paper Dolls, I was ecstatic, my eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
I decided I would do an "Enchanted Forest Prom" theme for my page. I am obsessed with Julie Nutting paper dolls, I haven't used them in quite a while, so when this opportunity presented itself, I jumped at the chance.

 I used two different paper themes from the Kaiser craft 'Enchanted Forest' paper packet, as well as the alphabet stickers to spell out Enchanted Forest Prom. The butterflies are from a sticker pack I bought from the reject shop ages ago, and the heshan/red gem flowers were purchased from a $2 shop, I felt like they suited the theme, so decided to add them in. 

The red/burgundy lace was added to act like drawn apart stage drapes, it was given to me in a lovely happy mail swap. The keys adjoined to various parts of the "drapes", were added for affect to the Enchanted Forest Prom theme, almost like a 'Secret Garden' type of thing; which I was also considering at the beginning. I wanted to make sure the journal could close properly, I double checked a number of times that it wasn't too thick and bulky, and I am happy to say that it worked out fine, it can close very easily, without compromising all other parts of the journal, including any future work done by other members of the group.

I then went ahead and painted the dolls with Jane Davenport acrylics, Ceramcoat acrylics, as well as using an additive called liquid sparkle by Ken Oliver, for shimmery effects to the shoes, bows, hair bands etc..

I cut out various additional pieces of the stamped dolls to make them look like they had a 3D effect, I didn't want to use foam stickers between each layer as I thought it would look unusual, I'm not sure why I thought that but maybe it was "less is more" type of thinking.

And now the completed picture. For a while I was stumped for ideas, I felt frustrusted because paper dolls were one of my favorite things to create with, so I began just sifting through a heap of magazines and finally the light bulb turned on.

Anyhow Jenny I really hope you like what I have done, once I had the theme firmly in my grasp, I had the best fun, so thank you for the opportunity, sincerely Melissa.

Gone with the Wind

This is my page in Deb Clarks Memorable Movies Journal hope you like it Deb Hugs Robyn xxx

Australia

This is my spread in Janie's Australian journal. 

I absolutely love aboriginal art so I thought I would create an aboriginal inspired page.

I started with a blue background and traced circles with a cup. I then attempted to follow in the circles with dots. I used blue and white dots to create water. It was so hard to keep perfect circle shape. I definitely have so much more respect for aboriginal artist,  it's so much harder than it looks.

Once the ocean was completed I then used Brown to create the Australian map. I did do dots then changed my mind after filling in the map. 

I then traced circles inside the map. Once completed I realized I should have made the circles going in an opposite direction to the water as it kind of blends together. 

I hope you like this page Janie, it really was fun to make.

Home - The Retirement Plan!

by Lisa for Sallyanne

For Sallyanne's journal, about what home means to you, I decided to do some wishful thinking.  In 15 or so years, when we can retire, wouldn't it be nice to move down the beach?

My father-in-law has a holiday house in Ocean Grove, southeast of Geelong.  We love going there for a mini break, and are often there between Xmas and New Year.  We even considered moving down there when the kids were young - but I didn't want to leave Melbourne at the time.

Ocean Grove has become very popular now, and populous.  But somewhere down on the Bellarine Peninsula would be lovely; sell our Melbourne home for a good price and buy a few acres not far from the coast.  Nice to have a dream...

So I decided to have a bit of a go at the dream retirement home.  Since it's my dream, it must have a HUGE art room where I can just play all day.  And a decent kitchen.

A bit of land, so Scott can justify buying a ride on mower.  He's always wanted one... 😄

A spot for a vegie garden out the back, where Scott can grow some veg and herbs.  Not me though, I'll be busy in my art room.... 😝  Plus a verandah to keep the house shady, and a nice pergola for entertaining.  An open fire, timber floors.

A spot to park the caravan that we'll also buy, so we can go tripping around Australia.

It's nice to have a dream... 💜

The spread was gessoed, then everything inked in, and watercoloured.

Hope you like it Sallyanne!  Happy Arting all!

Cheers, Lisa 

Bohemian Rhapsody

 Is this the real life, 

is this just fantasy?

No, it's my offering 

for Sass's Bohemian Floral.

I started with a doodle, added watercolour and more doodles.

I needed something to easily worked on, in short bursts.

Janie O'Brien's piece for May is the Opera Carmen, completed for Wendy Hanna.

I've always adored the opera, Carmen,  even as a child, when I first saw the Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte in the film version made in 1954 . I was age eight and saw it with mum and dad at the Hampton picture theatre in Victoria. It contains some of the best music ever written - one of my favourites being Habanera. I have seen many versions of the opera since then and often feel the need to see it once again late at night on Youtube.

Had I not chosen Carmen, I would have chosen a Freddie Mercury (Queen) song. I hope someone else choses Freddie who shall live forever in sound.

The background comprises acrylics and sprays. Fussy cut images that make up the collage from Pinterest & Google. I created a pocket which contains a scroll with the words to the song Habanera, a hauntingly beautiful song:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFFoxeCACOw

Love is a rebellious bird

that no one can tame,

and if you call for it, it'll be quite in vain

for it's in its nature to say no.

Nothing helps, neither a threat nor a prayer

one talks well, the other rests silent

and it's the other one that i prefere

doesn't say a thing, but pleases me.

Love! Love! Love! Love!

Love is a gypsy's child,

it has never, never known what law is,

if you do not love me, i love you

if i love you, then beware!

if you do not love me,

if you do not love me, i love you!

but if i love you,

if i love you, then beware!

The bird you thought you had caught by surprise

beats its wings and flies away...

love lies afar, you can wait for it

and when you don't expect it anymore, there it is!

All around you twirls faster, faster

it comes and goes, and then comes back.

you think you've caught it, it eludes you,

you think you've escaped it, it captures you.

Love! Love! Love! Love!

Love is a gypsy's child,

it has never, never known what law is,

if you do not love me, i love you

if i love you, then beware!

if you do not love me,

if you do not love me, i love you!

but if i love you,

if i love you, then beware!

Bee Happy Louise..

Louise's lovely little journal arrived rather late in the month and so I had to rethink what I was going to do. 

After talking it over with my good friend Jenny, I decided to continue with my obsession with Uni Posca paint pens. They are easy to use, dry quickly and keep their colour, which is handy when your in a hurry. 

I went with the flower image I used in Meg's Bucket list journal last year.

Jenny suggested that I use one of my bees. I have been playing with this little bee character in my personal art journals for about five years. There's sad bee, cross bee and queen bee, who went into Jenny's Bees knees journal last year. This one is Sallyanne bee.

The rest was just a colouring exercise, I doodle then I colour.

The wooden bee is just a reminder that in these uncertain times, no matter what, Bee Happy. 

Fabulous Flowers by Jenny

Mostly I just sit around all day, being fabulous!

This is my journal page inside Robyn's beautiful book for "World Flowers". It started off as basic shapes formed from Darkroom Door and Tim Holtz stencils with Dylusions acrylic paints, then grew from there.

The big daisy is Darkroom Door's Carved Flowers Stencil used to create the main shape, then I overpainted it, one dot at a time to give it a fuller, more rounded appearance. Some of the spots are heated embossing powder... I was adding it to the bees and couldn't help but add some to the flower as well :)

The main word, Flowers, is created using Dina Wakley Media Alpha Parts Stencils with various colours of Ranger's Embossing Powders. I prepared the area using the clever Ranger Anti Static Pouch, painted on a Clear Embossing Ink then scattered over the colours to create an abstract blend. After melting, I added a light pink for the highlight and used a black marker for the shadow.

The little girl sitting around being fabulous, is one of Tim Holtz's Idea-Ology Paper Dolls, she's holding a bouquet from Tim's Idea-Ology Botanical Layers. A few other elements were collected (some made, some Tim's die-cuts) and glued in place using matte medium. The quote is from the Dylusions Colouring Sheets Borders, a fun set of edges and sayings!

The bees, honeycomb pattern on the edge and faux script in the background are stamped in place using Ranger's Archival Ink with Tim's Entomology and Darkroom Door's Buzzing Bees stamp sets. Some of the bees have Distress Embossing Glaze (translucent embossing powder) over their bodies plus wings and bodies coated with Ranger's Stickles Glitter Glue.

Its a fun colourful page, I hope Robyn likes it! I'm quite happy with it :) Daisies are such friendly happy flowers! What's not to love about gorgeous little bees? They're amazing little creatures!

Thanks for looking! Have a wonderfully happy arty day!
:)
Jenny