Dream of good things, art journal spread

Hi

This is something I made last year but couldn't add it to Instagram because I couldn't successfully show the 'before and after' so I thought I'd add it here.

Below is an art journal spread I completed last year.... I think for the product release....  but there's something about it that I just don't like.

I'd flip past it (quickly), or clip it shut and was seriously considering sticking the pages together so I didn't have to look at it (I've done that before on pages!)... 

So, I decided to take drastic action - I painted the whole art journal spread black.  Oh it felt good to do that!!!  There's something about a page covered in black gesso! It looks so lush!

I remembered I had some sample flowers left over after teaching my 'Bloom' online workshop (sample below) - the flowers would look stunning on a black background!!   It would be really interesting to have two versions of the same project in dramatically different colour schemes.....

So that's what I did! I used most of the same flowers and foliage die cuts, & used the same stencil to add background detail using Arteza' Pearl Space Gray' metallic acrylic paint (it gives a really lovely shimmery grey/almost black finish).

LOVE LOVE LOVE this journal spread now!  lol

I really like that the 'history' of the page can be seen - the black paint didn't completely cover the embossed white flowers of the original spread, and I don't mind that at all - it gives interesting texture to the back ground.

I think its a gorgeous transformation... (I've already painted several other journal spreads that I didn't like.... NB I always take a photograph of the original pages because I think there is always something to learn from things that go wrong, or that are disliked)

I'd recommend covering up pages/spreads you're not happy with - cover them with paint or papers - alter them in some way.. part of the fun of art journaling and you'll learn something along the way... I know I did.

Thanks for stopping by

PS: The 'Bloom' workshop is still available as a Facebook Live class, please contact me on FB if you'd like to join.

Upcoming workshops....

WOW! November, really! Where did October go? Where has 2019 gone!!!! I was reading a blog post earlier today and it pointed out that this is the last few months of a decade!!! I'd never really thought about that until it was pointed out! Gives it a certain gravitas doesn't it.
I only really contemplated decades back in 1999 and we headed into a shiny new Century...
2020 is the start of another new decade - maybe its better to look at what is starting and not what is ending...

aaanyhoo... that's not what this post is about - but this does involve dates and calendars... (which is entirely unintentional but still quite a neat lead in!)...

During November I'll be running my final workshops of the year. I'll be teaching my 'Date Keeper' workshop at different locations, hopefully one will be close to you and you'll be able to join me!...

In this workshop you'll create a project that's useful and lovely! We'll paint, stamp, stencil two masterboards (in colours of your choice) and use these to create the pages of a perpetual calendar, - we'll also customise the frame. We'll use the brand new JOFY journal stamps too.
Also, with christmas only being 53 days away (just thought I'd mention it, don't panic just yet) this project would also make a lovely christmas present for someone (if you can bear to give it away! lol)... 

Saturday 02 November 2019, I'll be at Loobi Crafts in Leighton Buzzard- if you're quick there's still time to book a place - call 01525 838535, or visit the website at www.loobicrafts.co.uk

Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 November 2019, I'll be at Amelia's Creative Crafts in Studley - contact them on 01527 857 111, and www.ameliascreativecrafts.co.uk. I'll be there all weekend running two workshops:

Saturday: Merry & Bright, a triptych of wood blocks with a very christmassy theme.

Sunday: Date Keeper, I've included cards in the photo above to illustrate what else you can create using the techniques learned in this workshop.

Saturday 23 November 2019: I'll be spending the day at The Artistic Stamper in Faversham with the final outing of the 'Date Keeper' workshop. You can contact the shop on 01795 597757 and www.theartisticstamper.com


I taught this project at 'Handmade at Helen's' in Scotland a few weeks ago.  Here are a few photos of the gorgeous masterboards/ pages being created in the class:

Others went for individual pages, and seasonal colour batches:

Fabulous to see the different versions being created.


If you'd like to join any of these workshops please contact the shops direct.  I look forward to seeing you there!

Workshop at Handmade at Helens...'

.. I'm heading oop north tomorrow... and when way I say 'North' I mean way oop North - to Scotland!  I'll be spending the weekend teaching workshops at Handmade at Helens - you can find all the details HERE on the website.

Here are some (not so) sneak peeks of the projects we'll be creating - you can make the projects in colours of your choosing - and we'll be using new (previously unreleased) stamps I've designed specifically with one of these projects in mind...

On Saturday we'll be creating these gorgeous 'Nature Blocks'.... (decorated on all sides, they'll never be the wrong way round...)

& on Sunday we'll create this flip style calendar that will hold all those important dates you need to remember....  Created from painted, stencilled and stamped masterboards and (featuring lovely new stamp designs) this project will make a great christmas gift (if you can bring yourself to give it away!)... The photo below shows the project 'in progress'.... you can add as many dimensional details as you'd like but remember to leave space to write the dates!

Its going to be a lot of fun - there are still places available so why not come and join us for a lovely creative weekend!

Hope to see you there!!

Workshop: Nature Blocks....

Hi

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you've been keeping well.

I've updated my teaching page and I wanted to let you know about a workshop I'm running this Saturday (14th September 2019) at The Artistic Stamper, Faversham, Kent.

This is the Nature Blocks workshop - its a gorgeous project of 3 wood blocks decorated with the latest release of JOFY stamps (you can see them HERE ) and we'll be working on all four sides of each block so you can move them around and rearrange them to your hearts content - there's never a wrong side!

What nicer way to spend the day?! 3 pieces of wood, your chosen colours, JOFY stamps and stencils (bit of Kay Carley in there too), PaperArtsy paints, tips and techniques on how to get the lovely (and surprisingly easy) ombre paint effect shown in the photo above, lovely lunch provided by Jennie (owner of The Artistic Stamper), good company of fellow crafters.... all resulting in a lovely project! (the project would/could also be a lovely present for the gardener in your life! (should I mention that, ahem, Christmas is only 106 days away)(no? is it too soon to talk Christmas?  oops)

That sounds to me like a day well spent!

If you'd like to join me in this workshop the deadline for signing up is Tuesday evening.. so don't delay.

To book a place go to www.theartsiticstamper.com or call the shop on 01795 597757.

Look forward to seeing you!!

Classes at Create98...

Create98 is a great new workshop venue on The Broadway in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. It offers a fantastic variety of creative classes - flower arranging, photography, painting, printing & sewing to list just a few.
You can see all the details and class listings on their website at www.create98.co.uk 

I’m really pleased to be offering two days of classes - 

16 March 2019
AM: Card making : bottom right photo above shows samples of the style of cards we'll be making
PM: Blooms around the block : left hand photo shows sample - create in colours of your choice

06 April 2019
Cover to contents : upcycled journal making (top right photo) - this is a sort of Wombles approach to journal making - using found papers, upcycled element and lovely bits and pieces to create a junk journal... (start saving envelopes and interesting bits and pieces now!)


To book a place please contact the shop either via the website or on the phone.

Hope you can join me!!

Christmas Workshop No. 2 !!!

24 October 2018

Ooooh!  A little bit more Christmas creativity!

In this workshop we'll be working with Artist Trading Coins - a fab little size to create some festive art on - hang them on the tree, use as part of christmas wrapping... the choice is yours!
We'll be working on MDF coins which will take the weight of the embellishment and decorations that will be available for you to work with... and you can tailor them to your colour scheme.

The class will be held at the Leigh-on-Sea Community Centre, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex and run from 7.00-9.30pm.
The cost of the class is £25.00 and everything you need is included - substrates, embellishments, & materials.
To book a place, or ask any questions please contact me on jo@jofy.co.uk.

There will be glitter! Well it is christmas... and it wouldn't be christmas without a touch of glitter would it?!

Ho ho ho!!

Christmas Card Class

I'm really excited to start offering classes - the first of which is dedicated to making Christmas Cards.

Yes, you read that correctly - a Christmas Card Class! On the day the class runs there will be less than 100 days until christmas (!!) so why not make a headstart?!

We'll make a selection of cards in the 2.5 hours, but unfortunately I can't show you samples because we'll be using the latest JOFY stamps (yet unreleased).  If I showed you those I would go straight to the top of Father Christmas's Naughty List! lol  but I can tell you there will be glitter, stamps and paint! (oh my!!)

The cost of the class is £30.00* - you'll receive a class kit containing all the substrates you need to create the cards, and one of the new A5 JOFY stamp sets (rrp £20.50) we'll be using in the class.

Everything you need will be provided but please bring an apron if you're a clean&tidy sort of crafter!

The class will run at the Community Centre, Elm Road in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.  Its a great venue and there is a big public car park next door (free after 6pm).

I'm really looking forward to sharing the new JOFY designs with you - I hope you can join me for some festive crafting....

*To book your place, receive more details, or ask any questions please email me at jo@jofy.co.uk

(BOOKING EDIT: deposit of £10.00 (non-refundable) holds your place, payment in full on the day)

June Workshops....

I'm teaching two half day card making workshops at Birds in the Barn (Studio 36) on 30th June and there are a couple of places remaining...

If you'd like to spend the morning or afternoon creating lovely cards with paints, inks, embossing powders and stamps then head on over to Birds in the Barn's website and you'll find all the details you need!

Hope to see you there!

Love Life Canvas workshops...

Do you like working on box canvasses but find them a bit tricky - working down the sides, over the edges, working on the unstable surface?? Then I might have just the perfect workshop for you!

Working on 2 fabulous flat pack, self assembly canvasses (don't worry about the 'flat pack'  they're easier to assemble than Ikea furniture!) we'll go from this...

... to this ... using paints of your choosing, stamps and stencils...

The canvasses are SO easy to work on and look just like a fabric canvas! I'd like to shake the hand of the person who thought of the idea - they are a little bit genius!! lol

I love this project!! Its so summery & fun!! And because I like it so much I have scheduled 3 workshops around the country using them.... 

In calendar order:

If you're in/near Essex the workshop is at Birds in the Barn (now located at Studio 36) on Saturday 14 April 2018, limited spaces remaining...
Call  01376 326358 to book a place, and to get more details... or visit the website

If you are based in the north of England I have a weekend of classes for Rowan Tree Crafts, Carnforth on 21-22 April 2018 (you can find details about that here) and I'll be running this workshop on the Sunday. 
Go to the website for more details.

Then last, but by no means least, if you're in the Kent area you can join me at The Artistic Stamper on Saturday 12 May 2018.. and you can find details here 


These are going to be fun workshops and I hope you can join me!

April Workshops... Part 2

On the 21-22 April 2018 I am venturing north to the beautiful location of Carnforth for my second visit to Rowan Tree Crafts. Last year I taught one workshop but this year I'm teaching 2 days of classes.  

On Saturday (April 21st) we'll be creating this lovely floral canvas using lots of new JOFY products..

... and don't worry if these colours aren't what you'd choose because there will be paints on site so you can choose your own palette to work with.

On Sunday (April 22nd) we'll be decorating a pair of box canvasses (with a difference ;o) ) in a colour scheme that just shouts spring and summer!  

Contact Rowan Tree Crafts on 07590605078 for more details and to book your place (or places!).. you can also find details on their website at www.rowantreecrafts.co.uk

This is going to be a lovely weekend and I hope you can join me.

April Workshops... Part 1

I have several inky painty workshops coming up in April all of which I'm really looking forward to!

First up is at Studio 36 (aka Birds in the Barn) on 14 April 2018.  Workshops for Birds in the Barn will now take place at Studio 36 in Braintree
(NB this is not a shop location).

In this workshop we'll be painting, stenciling and stamping 2 box canvases using all new JOFY products combined with paints, inks and die cuts.

This is a lovely bright summery project - a great tonic for the wet cold weather we're experiencing here in the UK at the moment - roll on spring & summer!

The cost of this class is £45.00 and includes lunch!  Call  01376 326358 to book a place.

Hope to see you there!

Christmas is coming!! ....

Last saturday I went to Loobi Crafts in Leighton Buzzard and taught my Christmas Blocks workshop... (it was a lovely, fun day - thanks to everyone who came along and created beautiful festive blocks!)

The class was overbooked and so its running again on the 18th November - with only a couple of places remaining - so if you'd like to come to this workshop and create this lovely (in my humble opinion) triptych of christmas blocks then call Lisa at Loobi Crafts (01525 838535) to book your place.

Look forward to seeing you!


ho ho ho

This mini book is brought to you by the M6, M1, and M25 motorways

... on the journey home from a lovely weekend in Lancashire.

BUT, before we get onto the book.. lets start at the very beginning...

We set off on Friday... and the journey up to Lancashire from Essex was a loooooong one! made (much) longer because it included the type of traffic jams where engines are turned off and people are starting to get out of their cars to stretch their legs....

There was nothing to do... we'd run out of 'I spy...' ideas.... and we'd eaten all the snacks!

but then we arrived to this...  and all was well in the world again...

I spent Saturday teaching a workshop for Rowan Tree Crafts to this lovely group of ladies...

It was held in the old railway station in Carnforth where they filmed the classic film 'Brief Encounter'... and I was only 'briefly' distracted by the piles of vintage suitcases around the station which is now a museum dedicated to the film.... (I love a vintage suitcase!! lol)

It was such a beautiful part of the country - definitely coming back 'oop north' soon!

On the journey home I wasn't going to be caught out again with nothing to do so I raided the carboot for my kit boxes from the class and gathered up some basics...

5 hours, 3 motorways, 1 dual carriageway and a stop at the services for snacks-&-a-'comfort-break' later I'd made a minibook from sample pieces, spare kits and bits from a magazine I bought at the services (very interesting & useful! though with regard to making this 'book' I really couldn't find a use for the eyelash curlers that came free with the magazine!)

The covers were made from one of the envelopes I use to store/hold kits... the flap is cut from a page of book text...

 ... it covers the words I wrote .. with a nod to old maps where at the edge it would say 'beyond this place there be dragons' .. or something like that...

The book is decorated with bits from spare kits (doily die cuts, book pages) and the pages were cut from a sheet of Smoothy (again from a spare kit) and a book I have to use for spare pages in class - in my mini book it provided pages and quotes..
The book itself is 8x11cm so a dinky little size!  Mainly because I was working on my lap in the car! (note to self: keep tray in boot of car!)

One set of pages was made by cutting and folding a page from the magazine I bought - it had really nice printed texture and I enjoyed the challenge of covering up the little girl! lol

Now you see her...

Now you don't!....

I like this centre spread - making the leaves look like trees on hills....

This was a lot of fun to make and kept me quiet for most of the journey... for which my husband is very grateful!
:o)

When I arrived home I sewed the pages together with simple bookbinding stitches and added a length of ribbon to wrap it closed.

It was satisfying to create something with so little supplies...!

x