As long as I enjoy it...

Hello!

A short post today to share with you my latest art journal page. It took me 2-3 days to finish it, but I really enjoyed making it. It is about something I've been thinking these last few weeks:

So, I received my Dylusion mists and boy, am I in love! Although I've written so many things on the page that you might not be able to see it, I couldn't stop using my mists, masks... and water!

The stamp is one of my favourite Suzi Blu girls. In my previous page I only used her head.

And, of course, lots of doodling and zentangle... I have found the perfect solution for when I'm stuck and/or don't have enough time to finish something. I just reach for a piece of paper and a marker and I pracitce my doodles. ;o)

I hope you like it!

Hugs,
Anastasia

Art journal - Life is better with friends

Hello!

In my last post I was telling you that I wanted to make an art journal page to go with the picture of the art journal book that I made, but I simply couldn't do that. Well, it goes without saying that as soon as the book binding post was published, I was unstuck and made an art journal page that same night!

Last weekend was full, being all Saturday with friends and then most of Sunday as well and I had a GREAT time, so I wanted to make a page with the known saying "Life is better with friends". And here's the result:

As soon as I finished it I knew what I wished I had made differently, but I'm actually a beginner, this is the third art journal page that I'm making, so I'm not too harsh on me. And this is how we learn, from our mistakes, right? ;o)

What I really, really enjoyed was using my masks (or better said stencils?) and modeling paste to make the three hearts. Some close-ups:

The first heart is what I call the "normal" one (you'll see what I mean later on). And actually yes, I have used some glitter! ok, it's actually discreet, it is Distress Stickles... but still, it is glitter ;ο)

For the heart above I used on purpose much modeling paste and I just love this "hard" look that I got.

In contrary, for the third heart I didn't use much modeling paste, so that the misted design below it could show.

And a close-up of the Suzi Blu petite dolls. It's a Unity Stamps stamp that I used on old book pages:

I even used Distress Stickles on their hair!

So that's it...

I hope you like it!

Hugs,
Anastasia

Book binding - Art journal

Hello!

I had told you that I wanted to share with you a book that I made last weekend for art journaling. I wanted to combine the post with an actual art journal page, but I haven't managed to finish any. So I thought I should at least share the book with you.

As the title of the book suggests, I made this one for creations that will remain private ;o)

And a closer photo:

I left the back side simple:

Here's the spine:

Because the paper I used was really thick, I made many signatures with only two pages each. I like my pages to be uneven, so I left them as they are.

...And a bonus photo - the curious cat called Sakis ;ο)

I hope you like it!

Hugs,

Anastasia

Time for Zentangle

Hello!

It's sooo hot here in Greece this last week, the air condition is working non-stop and I'm terrified when I think of the electricity bill!

Anyways... A couple of months ago I experimented with Zentangle (apologies, I just realised that for some reason I don't have the post in English!). Our friend Eleni has caught the bug for good and make amazing things incorporating it in layouts and art journals.


Since the first three Zentangles I prepared where wandering around my desk for all this time, I thought I should prepare a kind of small book to keep everything together. And here is what I have made, combining Tim Holtz with Studio Calico:

This morning I added a pocket on the first page so that I can keep the blank sheets or the completed zentangles before adding them to the album:

(look how different the colour is because of the shadow! pfff....)

And the inside pages, with two pages I did yesterday:

And closer photos of the zentangles - thank you Eleni for th inspiration!:

It seems amazing to me how simple lines can result in something that looks quite complicated...

Yesterday I also made a book for art journaling, but I will share this with you with another post later on ;o)

What I can be sure of is that I don't seem able to get out of my craft room these last few days!

I hope you like it!

Hugs,

Anastasia

Mini album - Panama

Hello!

I have finally finished what I've been preparing these last few days and I can share it with you: a mini album about my trip to Panama 2,5 years ago.

A while ago I had registered for a seminar by Celine Navarro and Studio Calico called "Get Messy". Gesso, modeling paste, mists, masks the main materials... and the most important of all: FUN!


I experimented with many new (for me) techniques, some of those were successful from the first try, other resulted a bit more difficult for me. I saw what I like a lot and what I like so much that I will use for sure in my next albums and layouts. And the most important of all - I finally have an album with my favourite memories from probably the best trip I've had so far... Isn't that the meaning of mini albums?


So here are the pictures from the album. I hope you like it! (At the end of the post I have added separately each of the photos - thank you for asking!)

Oh yes... The final "bonus" photo is from (part of) my craft room when I finished the album... and it's not as messy as it was a few hours ago!

Hugs,
Anastasia

Your true colours

Hello!

Today I want to share with you a layout a bit different than my usual ones. I think it is the most "full" layout I have prepared so far. The colours are quite strong. And the theme of the layout is myself. Here's the layout:

My main inspiration - Amy Tangerine's wonderful embellishments (I just LOVE them) and the challenge from Bird is the word that asks us to make a layout with the word "Colours" - or "Colors" if you prefer! ;o)

The first think that came to my mind was Cindy Lauper's song "Your true colours". I thought it would be a good idea to make something for myself, kind of inspiration - Louise Hay - self appreciation - self motivation kind of stuff if you know what I mean?

I also got inspiration from My Creative Sketches latest sketch:

I'm not sure whether it's making it into my favourite layouts -aesthetically speaking. However, it is the layout I most enjoyed making so far.

I didn't have papers to go together with the embellies, so I made my own with acrylic paints and background papers. Ok, you cannot see too much of them, but I did enjoy making them!

I found out that when I want to stamp with white color, the best result by far is with Colorbox Frost White. The downside is that it smudges if you touch it, even days after you have used it. So I used a matte spray varnish - and that was it, problem solved!

Lately I also love-love-love doodling. I'm taking an online class that I'm loving it and soon you'll see more of my creations. For now, I decided to use it on my layout as a border (hmm.. again! ;o)

So... that's all for now! I hope you like it!

Hugs,
Anastasia

Main supplies (that are still available as far as I know):

Get Creative - July card challenge

Hello bloggy neighbourhood!

I have disappeared lately, but between business trips and weekends with crops and crazy hours working in front of the computer when I am in Athens... I really don't have the time to do something! But I'm planning a relaxed weekend and I'll come by your blogs to see your creations!


So... it's the 5th of the month, so time for a card challenge over at Get Creative! Because of summer holidays, for July and August we will only have one challenge for layouts and one for cards (although my summer holidays are not until September...


But before I continue with the challenge, I want to give you some amazing news... We have a new member for the card design team, one of the best crafters I have had the chance to know, Puccarina!!! Every month we have been admiring her participations over at Get Creative (and not only that, have you seen her felt creations? Simply amazing!!!) and I was soooo so happy when I found that she was going to join us and inspire us every month with her creations!


So, back to the challenge now... For July we have the following sketch:

I loved the sketch as soon as I saw it! I had so many ideas! Finally I thought I should finally use my Sew Easy tools. To tell you the truth, I don't find it very convenient, but after the practice I did for this card, I think I'm going to use it more often. Oh, right, I have to show you my card as well, right? ;o)

It is funny you know... I have so many cards in a box and when I need a birthday card I don't have one and either I make one quickly... or I don't give a card (I know, I know, shame on me..). So I decided that from now on I should make mainly birthday cards so that I don't find myself in the same situation again.

And a close up to see the dimension I have given to the card:

Finally, the sponsor for this months is our own Channa Suitella with her new online store Crafts and pieces. The embellishments she offers are really gorgeous and this month's winner will get the following prize:

Aren't they gorgeous?

So, why don't you come by Get Creative for some amazing inspiration by the design team and to play along with us? We'll be waiting!


Hugs,
Anastasia