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...

Sunday 2 December 2018

Winter Journal I

Hello all!  My Silent, Soft and Slow tags kicked me into the winter season, and I've decided I need to kick myself back into action at the craft desk.  I'm missing the Funkie Junkie's 12 Tags of Christmas, so I'm going to challenge myself to do some wintry journalling every (or at least almost every) day in December.  (I already missed 1st December because I was busy singing, but maybe I'll manage a double further down the road.)

The posts will be fairly short so that I don't take up too much of your time (or mine!) in these busy days leading up to the festivities.  So, without further ado, here's page one...


It's done in a square journal of kraft paper, 8x8 inches, and it was mostly a case of hoovering up some bits and bobs which were lying around on the craft table anyway.









The snowflake was left over from the tags I mentioned at the beginning - it got left out when I rearranged the original composition.
















The background involves some torn pieces of a splendidly wide washi tape I found, with some brayered Snowflake Fresco paint.














There are some spritzes and splatters of Colorex Watercolour Ink in Cosmos Blue, and some white cotton thread meanders around over the textured gesso, applied with a palette knife.














The boy is standing on some Tim Holtz tissue tape, and a piece of acetate film strip gives a little more horizontal structure behind him.

It's stapled at one end...













... and because the stapler wouldn't reach to do the other end, I used one of the Idea-ology Typed Tokens instead.  












Some Idea-ology word stickers, with exactly the right words for my current state of mind, finish things off.









So, that's Winter Journal I.  I'm not guaranteeing a daily helping here on the blog, but I'm really going to try for a daily helping of creativity for myself at the craft table.  I hope you will each find time amidst the preparations to feed your creative soul too.

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

I'd like to share this at Art Journal Journey where there's a double theme of My Favourite Season/Tis the Season
At Try It On Tuesday they are inviting us to a create a Winter Wonderland

32 comments:

Cath Wilson said...

This is beautiful, Alison. I think the best artwork comes from 'hoovering up' the remains on the craft desk :-) Love the mix and isn't that washi tape amazing? Beautifully wintry and simply great art.

Thanks so much for sharing with us at TIOT this week.

Cath x

Paper Profusion said...

Beautiful Alison! Good luck on your challenge - bet you will keep to it too! Nicola x

sirkkis said...

What a lovely vintage feel in this beautiful page. Love the embellishments, too.
Have a happy start to December 💙

Amanda said...

Brilliant starting page for your personal journal challenge, good luck and I can’t wait to see your pages
Love
Amanda x

Julia said...

This is beautiful! Doing a page a day in December sounds so ambitious but a fantastic thing to do. I look forward to seeing your artwork as always. Julia x

Sue said...

This is such a beauty Alison, it's amazing what gets left behing on the craft table isn't it. Have a very happy week, Sue xx

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic page, love the colours and style. Hugs, Valerie

Redanne said...

A beautiful collage Alison atop a fabulous background. You found a wonderful way to use the gorgeous snowflake. Anne xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I was in awe of this first entry you chose to share with us at Art Journal Journey. I was amazed at everything, including the wide washi tape I've not even heard of before, much less seen. I love how you used the paper doll as a vertical element and the washi tape and film strip as a horizontal element. Your snowflake added pizazz and the thread added even more texture. All in all, this is a fascinating journal page and was most inspirational for me. Thanks for sharing this with us at Art Journal Journey, dear Alison.

pearshapedcrafting said...

What a fabulous page your scraps made! I adore these colours and the wonderful background! Seems you found some great washi tape! Thank you so much for joining us at Try It On Tuesday! Hugs Chrisx

Meggymay said...

This is a gorgeous winters page and a perfect beginning for your winters journal.. I look forward to you sharing your pages when you can this month.
We are happy that you also linked this fabulous page with us at Try it on Tuesdays.
Yvonne xx

My name is Erika. said...

Fabulous winter journal age Alison. I like the slats (for lack of a better word) of white on the vintage paper. Then you dressed it all up beautifully. Hugs-Erika

Helen said...

what a fabulous page! Easily identifiable as an Alison work of art.
I hope we see some more of your pages and you keep up with your challenge!

Marci said...

Lovely, wintry page.
Beautiful!

froebelsternchen said...

Oh Alison! I am in awe of this first page in this winter journal - most impressive... the layers are so wonderful and it looks absolutely charming and artful - created in your perfect style, that I so adore! I am really looking forward to the pages you will be able to create when time allows in those busy days before Christmas.
Thank you so much for linking to us over at Art Journal Journey and Try It On Tuesday!
You know how much we appreciate your participation! You just make us happy!
Thank you for your lovely words for me on my blog!
Friends in art art the best!

hugs
Susi

Jackie PN said...

So gorgeous! Oh I do love your blues you use!
I quite like that square journal as well Alison! I think it is rather neat- different!
When you work in something like this journal, do you work both sides of the pages or leave them in case you decide to frame or remove a spread? Curious mind here...
Hope you have now received some of that snow you asked for. Here in Wa, there is none, and my honey at home says it is miserably raining...quite sick of the rain actually!
Anyway, hope your day is beautiful- thank you for adding some beauty to my morn!
Jackie xoxo

Diana Taylor said...

This is stunning - what beautiful bits and bobs you have lying around! I love the snowflake, it's so delicate and I love the way the thread mingles in and out.
Diana x

Roosterhead Designs said...

Hello to you Alison, This is really dreamy!!~~ You've created such a beautiful look with all the textures and authentic vintage feel. Love this!:) I need 'reminding' a lot (like 'use your washi!') & so I appreciate your details. < I find that very helpful~ I like the metal!
Looking forward to seeing project and creativity continue! hugs, karen o

Craftyfield said...

I should do the same as a way to keep me inspired... sadly no time! Great start of your journal with this gorgeous page, Alison!

Lenie said...

I love this page Alison. You always give me new ideas. I make my own page with your ideas and my embellishments who are different. Just as you wrote when you made the twelve tags of Christmas last year. Thank you! I enjoy your blog. Hugs, Lenie

experiments in paper said...

So lovely, Alison, and what a fabulous idea! Kraft seems an ideal substrate for your preferred earthy, natural color palettes - and so it is here! Love how you've grounded the boy, and given him the bit of horizontal reference as well. I also miss Linda's tag challenge - so will look forward to whatever you come up with in whatever time frame! xxx Lynn

Marjut said...

Wonderful page. Thank you for joining us at TioT.

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a wonderful winter page! I love the grungy look with the background papers and brayering, and you captured the season beautifully with the pretty snowflake and touches of blue - stunning 😀. Thanks so much for joining us at Try it on Tuesday and wishing you a Happy and Crafty December! J 😊 x

craftytrog said...

A wonderful Wintry page Alison xx

Dorthe said...

This is so very beautiful, Alison, the boy there with all your amazing backgrounds details behind him , standing so clear, but also letting the eyes see the beauty of your mix of papers, die cuts and paints , love it !!
Hugs, Dorthe

sheila 77 said...

This is really something special, Alison, and I'll certainly be popping by to see what else you make this December. It all looks lovely and frosty with lots of fascinating layers. I did enjoy reading and seeing how you made it. Extra wide washi tape is a wondrous thing, as washi tape is usually narrow and sometimes looks just like washi tape (as it would). The little "Create" token is just the right thing to add, and although your collage would look great without the boy, the boy standing there (on Tim's tissue) is the perfect finishing touch.

Anneke said...

What a great idea working on Craft paper. And such a good idea too to use som tissue paper where you put the paper doll.
Ik love the white with the blue on the Craft paper.

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous page Alison, I'm missing the 12 FJ tags too, they've always been a great motivator, although I might have struggled this yeat, too much time away from home and not enough in the craft room.
Avril xx

Words and Pictures said...

testing

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

So lovely to see motivation in all it's glory Alison, I do hope you achieve your goal as you will feel so revitalised by it. The sheer crispness of those blues and frosty whites makes me love my winter woollens. The TH snowflakes are a real delight to play with.
Off to check out II..
Hugs Tracey x

A Pink said...

Wonderful start to your winter journal , Alison . As I am working backwards with this visit I already know you are making great progress with your personal challenge . Every page so far a winter winner .
Hugs
x

Cheetarah said...

Gorgeous colors and compositions! xo Cheetarah (via Art Journal Journey)