Jeudi Journal Jingle

"Go Jingle Your Own Blimmin Bells" was my choice for Christmas of the funny quotes from Dyan.  Still finding it difficult to work towards a quote and preferred what we used to do when we made our own words up - we could have always used a Dyan one - but that way I tried to fit words to the picture.  Still, giving it a fair go before I throw the towel in.

For this one I used what I had learned from Dyan herself by masking some of the mistletoe out so that it could overlap.  I also did the colouring in for the main page with blue ink (London Blue) although I must admit it looked a bit of a green when it got on the page.  Could it have been the painted, yellow, stars?

Anyhow, I used my favourite little elf but gave him a body from an old set of stamps which to me was perfect for him.  Chose the Poodle to be his companion on the page because of her woolly outfit - just perfect for Christmas.

It's the only Christmas page I have done as my back is really bad again - so I am sorry I did not get to enter any more than this into Art Journal Journey.  So Elizabeth this is my only entry for your delightful theme, sorry.

Hope you like it.  Merry Christmas!

WOYWW 498

Short and ..... well, short - just the way Julia likes them.  Busy weekend trying to get the bedroom looking like we actually use it - yeah - it is finished!  Simply emptying boxes, suitcases but not the "sucky" bags as yet.  Mopping the dust up ... and suffering like crazy with my back.  So much so I have had to cancel my little op on the 28th but the good news is I can now eat at Christmas (otherwise it was going to be a silly pre-op diet for a week starting the 21st).  

This has been my main Christmas card this year, well a copy of it because this is one my dear friend Mary sent a couple of years ago and one which I loved so much she sent me the die (it's a Top Note by Sizzix), and step by step instructions on how to cut the shape up - and even sent me the red glitter card that she thought was "the best" that I would not be able to get in the UK.  So my card this year was a tribute to a dear friend who I miss like crazy, love and remember with such fondness.  Hope you like it:

All that remains is for me to wish you all "A Very Happy Christmas" - hope it is a good one for you and now I am hopping over to see Julia and my fellow WOYWW'ers.  Toodle Pip!

Jeudi Journal - Mood Swing

Another journal page that had some pink on it already so it ended up with a creamy yellow over the top and then a bit of stamping with my favourite small stamps for backgrounds.  I love that brick wall and the chicken wire.  A few additions with bottle top and credit cards and it was finished - but not before we had some swirls to indicate the change of mood.

"Caution Mood Swing in Progress" was another choice of Wendy's and I opted for this figure with her hands pointing in different ways.  The little bird indicated that this was always the case - she was always having mood swings.

Coloured in with my Promarkers for speed (so much to do at this time of year and with the bedroom being nearing completion ...) here it is:

WOYWW 497

Well, a big change from yesterday on my desk.  Yesterday I had some of my work from the weekends workshops with Abs as I was continuing with one of my watercolour exercises.  The weekend was great - good accommodation in The Royal Station Hotel in Carnforth (Carnforth of Brief Encounter fame), and the two workshops with Abs were both good and we learned a lot of new techniques.

Here you can see the stamp I was painting with watercolours on Sunday but the Journal cover I made on Saturday is going on Instagram rather than on here.

I hadn't taken my Inktense pencils so when I got home they came into good use along with one of my tiny watercolour palette and the compact one I got from Mary.  I am trying to come to terms with water pens but must admit I still prefer to work with a pot of water and a brush.  On the left are some tags which we did on the final afternoon showing all the different techniques we had used.

Now my desk today!  What a mess it is.  I hope I have done enough Christmas cards as my craft room is out of action for at least a day.  The electrician is coming and will need the loft ladder down and he is going to put me a new socket in my craft room.  Hurrah!

So you see, no room to craft but as I am going out tonight I will be spending the biggest part of the day trying to find something to wear.  It might be in the bath!  My clothes are everywhere and now, two weeks down the line I have not a clue where what I would like to wear is.  Ah well, Christmas is around the corner and theres a lot to do by then.

Hope you all are a bit more ready for the big day than I am - let's go and see what is going on around the desks of the exclusive deskers.

Jeudi Journal - Being Fabulous

"Mostly I just sit around all day being fabulous".  In my head `I was going to use a seated figure but then I ended up with this small standing one as I quite fancied her being in a mini skirt.  I tried three pairs of legs and eventually settled on these although I did slim them down a bit when I cut them out.

As you can see I used my Brusho paints.  This time just two of them and I tried to do the blue on its own just around the edges.  Then I put Gamboge in the centre as it was the yellow that seemed to have most other colours in its mix up.

Still look at this and think it needs something adding but cannot think what - am still struggling with this latest idea of coming up with a quote and making a picture to fit.  Ah well, onwards and upwards - a challenge is a challenge.

WOYWW 496

Well, it had to happen didn't it - I have made some Christmas Cards.  On Monday the guys moved in and began taking the old bedroom furniture out so that meant I was relegated to my craft room so between making cups of tea I set to with my Christmas card making and now have over 30 cards ready and waiting to have envelopes addressed and sent off.

It was a batch making process, never before have I made so many all the same but there is a reason for that although I am not making any more in that design.  When I get bored and make several then the year after I don't know who has received what so this time I will have a fair idea.

Here's my desk amid batch making:

Now to decide what I am going to make to send to my son.  Bless him, he said not to bother as life was so hectic here but I can't not make them a Christmas card.  Today is his birthday but the card is a commercial one as he prefers the funny ones so it seems the correct day to make his other card.  What the heck will I do?

Perhaps I can gain some inspiration from the blog hop that takes place every Wednesday with Ms Julia and her happy band of crafters.  Think I will pop on over and see what I can glean.  Toodle Pip!

Junk Journal - Albert - a Happy Ending?

At last we have the final chapter of Marie's Journey.  The observant reader will notice that the train ride took an abnormally long time but I did so enjoy myself playing along with Erika's theme of Vintage or Modern at Art journal Journey.  Big thank you's to Erika for giving me the spurt I needed to do some crafting and dream up "Marie's Journey".

This also covers one of the challenges I have with Lorraine as it contains a clock in the picture.  Just a couple of torn papers also, one depicting a train and one representing a love letter that had been carried in Albert's pocket for almost a full year.  Apart from the word 'beloved' I didn't think the page needed any more as the Tim Holt figure says it all.

There are two blog posts today and there were three yesterday so you might want to scroll down to see what has happened up to now unless you were just waiting to read the 'happy' ending which is right here.

"As Marie neared the huge clock in the station she could not decide which was making the loudest noise, her knocking knees or the beating of her heart.  Then she saw him, Aldrich was there, looking so handsome in his straw boater and wearing what she imagined must be his best suit.  He was sat, directly under the huge clock, his hands casually resting on his knees and a faraway look in his eyes.  But wait ... his face lit up as he saw her and he unfurled his long frame and rushed towards her gathering her up in his big strong arms, carpet bag, hat and all.  He swung her round and round and all her butterflies disappeared, tears streaming from her eyes as she was once more reunited with her beloved."

A short ending to a love story which spanned the miles but at least it was a happy one.  Now will we find out what happens next?  You will have to wait and see.