I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Getting in a spin over Katzelkraft

Hello all!  Thanks so much for dropping in, and an especially big welcome to the newest followers - on Bloglovin' too - it's lovely to have you on board for the journey.  I'm in blue-and-brown mode today, but if you missed my flurry of spring colour, Butterfly Moments, check it out over at the Calico Craft Parts blog.

Today I've got some journalling pages for you, using some of the amazing Katzelkraft stamps. I was thrilled to be invited by the lovely Béatrice of Katzelkraft to play with some of her designs, and this is the first of the projects which I'm ready to share.







I was inspired by the wonderful spiral clock collage stamp, and it just seemed to want some rusty wire to echo those fabulous swirls of time.











The pages started with some book text and tissue tape, layered with a gesso base.












And then I did my stamping, using Coffee and Sepia Archival inks.

The Clock Collage forms the main image for the left-hand page, and the Baby Collage for the right hand page, and then I repeat stamped the flock of birds from the top of the clock, fluttering out into the world in all directions.







Then I had great fun spritzing with some of the Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays I bought last spring, and have finally got around to mixing up with water!

They have a fabulous shimmer to them... 










I found myself adding some Enamel Accents to the harlequins within the image to accent them.













And from there it was a short trip to adding some enamel harlequins to the opposite page.













The Idea-ology clock echos the image opposite, and I added another swirl of rusty wire to that too.












The die-cut words got a good spritzing of Distress Sprays, including the metallics, so that they have a sheen to complement the shimmer of the background.














I added some shading underneath with Distress Ink and pastel pencils...












... and carried on the shading into the Harlequins to give some depth to them.

The tea/coffee stained book page fragments create clouds streaking across the blue sky.













And the wooden arrows offer an accent to take the eye around the page.













Perhaps they're there to help the baby decide which direction to go in life...















... to help him choose in which direction to fly.












There are so many original and fascinating stamp designs at Katzelkraft - I really recommend a visit if you've never been, but don't blame me if you end up with a basketful!






A circle is the reflection of eternity.  It has no beginning and it has no end - and if you put several circles over each other, then you get a spiral.
Maynard James Keenan

I'd like to share this in the final ever challenge over at Artful Times - where they are celebrating rather than mourning with a Party Party Au Revoir Anything Goes theme.  With the artful swirls of time in my coiled clocks this seems the perfect page spread to say a fond farewell to Artful Times with... it will be a slightly less "beautiful world" without you.

45 comments:

Helen said...

what a gorgeous journal page, full of movement with that spiral!!

Amanda said...

Beautiful Alison great pages using those 2 Katzelkraft stamps, love the addition of the gloss on the diamonds.
Love
Amanda x

chrissie said...

A wonderful spread Alison showing off the terrific new stamps. Your use of the wire on the clock image looks fantastic.

Thank you for finding time to comment on my blog in your very busy life :)

Love Chrissie xx

Nikki Acton said...

Wonderful pages. The wire to compliment the clock is inspired! Nikki x

Astrid Maclean said...

Lovely movement to these pages Alison, wonderful spread!

Vintagehandmade said...

Spectacular pages, Alison! What a genius idea to use the wire on the clock, it looks amazing! Great textures and fantastic colour combination! Brilliant!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and leaving such sweet comments!
Hugs :)
Branka xxx

Ruth said...

Beautiful world, beautiful work! Love everything about it from the coffee coloured stamping to the use of wire...and of course those shimmery sprays, wow! Ruth x

Unknown said...

I couldn't possibly visit Katzelkraft as I would most certainly ended up with a full basket :) your journaling is gorgeous! One of my fav colour combos and your seriously have magic hands and a very good taste! Xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

I love the gorgeous colours of this Alison and the designs are so original and fresh. I have several katzelcraft sets and I love how imaginative they are. I hope Beatrice comes over again. You've done a great job for her!

Lucy x

rachel said...

this is wonferful alison and thanks so much for the steo by step! you always give me such inspiration. big hugs rachel x

Pamellia said...

Wow, fantastic Alison!! I love the harlequin, great background texture! The metal wire and trinkets really add a rustic feel to your page. Love the ripped book pages too! hugs :)

Kay Wallace said...

You have used my all-time favorite color combination here, Alison, and, in part, it's likely why I love this journal spread so much. That said, I also really like your metal bits and, of course, book text is always "in" for me! Great composition, my friend!

Unknown said...

What a sweet farewell to Artful Times Alison. Your project is perfect for your Artful Times sentiment. Your colors are beautiful - wow but my fav part is the rusty wire. It's perfect. You showed off the Katzelkraft stamps amazingly well! j.

Unknown said...

Great work, so much going on and so much work and thought put into it, its lovely! xxx

Terry said...

Alison, all the texture and inky layers is stunning! I always love this color combination and the two pages with all the embellishments are wonderful! Love this! Hugs!

Dorthe said...

Such a beautiful spread, my eyes finds interesting and wonderful, techniques and colourmix in every turn they take. Love the enamel harlequins, you made, and the birds flying all over the pages are lovely.
Thank you Alison, for another great experience on your blog.
Dorthe, xo

S@ndy Diller said...

Great pages, I love the stamps and what you did with them.

Corrie Herriman said...

It does't matter what stamps or materials you use, Alison, it is always going to turn out fabulous !

Corrie x

Redanne said...

Gorgeous colours, beautiful stamped images and wonderful wire elements - just beautiful, I love how you brought all the elements together in this great spread! Anne xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Fabulous pages Alison. I love the metal text - wonderful idea! Jennie x

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Wonderful spread....the circles look like wind directions...intriguing artwork Alison!

Juliz Design Post said...

Super journal pages and great step by step. Love Lindys sprays too and am just waiting on some more colours coming.
Julie x

Anonymous said...

Fabulous pages Alison ! Love the colours, right up my street and the addition of the wire is fantastic ! Sue C x

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

More work of wonder Alison....you really should have your own range of blue and green paints as you create such beautiful things with them :)
Big hugs
Donna xxx

Kirsten said...

Gorgeous pages!

Cocofolies said...

Oh that's great Alison!!! I love both pages, and your vision of the future for this baby.. :) A wonderful world and a wonderful work for Béatrice and Katzelkraft stamps! But I'm a bit surprised to not see your pages on KTZ's blog too?.. Maybe the post didn't run for some reason... Anyway, so glad to be able to look at these gorgeous samples as your follower and friend first! :) Hugs, Coco xxx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Beautiful pages! Love the earthy tones!!!

Unknown said...

Awesome pages!!!

Scraps of Elegance said...

The background work is just exquisite Alison.

Annie said...

absolutely fabulous pages Alison and my favourite is of course the way you have used the rusty wire with the swirling clock....so clever.

Sending you huge hugs
Annie xx

Jackie PN said...

Very very cool!! Love this spread! xoxo

Kasia said...

So beautiful pages, Alison! Great background :)

Anke said...

Wonderful pages, great work.

Hugs
Anke

craftytrog said...

I love the images on this beautiful, inspiring spread Alison! xxx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

So cool, an amazing spread with wonderful things to see.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Fabulous!, but dare not look at new stuff right now! !! Love your brilliant pages, Chrisx

Hettie said...

Another beauty Alison. Just wonderful.
Hugs
xx

Sue said...

Gorgeous pages Alison, I love the torn bookpages xx

Deb said...

Wonderful journal page Alison, love how you have echoed the swirl of the clock stamp with the wire and how the birds also echo that motion the way you have stamped them over the page. I'm not familiar with Katzelkraft, will have to go take a peek as I love those stamps!

WendyK said...

Fantastic journal page, love the stamping and colours. The added wire is a fab touch. Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing this with us on Artful Times.

Paper Profusion said...

This looks stunning Alison. I always love your blue / brown works. Beautiful detailing as always and my favourite part is the fantastic, swirling timepiece. Nicola x

Julie Lee said...

Gorgeous pages, Alison! I love the watery background. You are the true queen of spritzing! Loving the blue and brown combo and the swirling - oh and the wire of course! Brilliant! xx

Craftyfield said...

Interested to see what you are doing with my latest acquisition... -your warning about a basketful of KT stamps does come too late unfortunately!- I wondered if the spiral could qualify as a circle, in any case love what you've done with that gorgeous stamp.

Neet said...

Thanks Alison for your lovely pages spread which you shared so carefully with us. I love the way you give us photographs along the way as you build up your work. And then there is the colour - my favourite - absolutely delightful. Love the idea of the rusty pieces.
Thanks for the final paragraph, you summed our closing just perfectly for us - so glad I decided to embrace what could have been sad in this way.
Hugs, Neet xx

Margaret said...

Finally getting around to visiting again and so glad I did!! This is absolutely fabulous with the rusty wires and the gorgeous inks!! Wish we had arrows pointing the way in reality!