Saturday 10 January 2015

New Beginnings!

Hello my lovely crafty friends and a very warm welcome! It has been very quiet here for the last few weeks, but I am now back home so you can expect to see more over the next days and weeks.

I would like to start by saying a big thank you to you all for all your lovely comments and visits. Since I left home I have gained 30 new followers, I feel so honoured that you decided to follow along on my arty journey, thank you for that.

Today I am sharing the first page in a brand new journal:
My lovely talented friend Brenda from Bumblebees and Butterflies started the year with a visual journal challenge. You can read all about it here.

The moment I saw her post after my return, I knew that that was just the kind of challenge I needed to get me back into an arty groove.
Here's a quick run down of how I put my spread together:
1. Cover the centre of the page with white, and the edges with clear Gesso. (I wanted to experiment with the difference in texture with both)
2. Add texture with the help of texture paste and stencils in various corners as well as some crackle paste randomly with a palette knife.
3. Add colour using various sprays, I used a mix of Tim Holtz Distress Sprays and Lindy's Stampgang ones.
4. Use the top layer of a paper napkin to add a focal image, using gel medium to adhere it.
5. Add various background stamps and use some watered down gesso to integrate the napkin into the page.
6. Add more colour with sprays and paint and some washi tape.
7. Finish with a sentiment, and some shadows using markers and a water brush.

Here are some close ups still:
The sentiment was computer generated, shadows were added with some Distressmarkers and a water brush.
Grungeboard numbers, given a metallic look with the help of Stampendous Ancient Bronze Embossing Powder.
A washi banner to give some balance to the bold design of the napkin.
Stencilled texture given the rusty look with the help of Treasure Gold in Renaissance Gold and Copper.

Well, that is it. I had great fun just playing and using some of my favourite techniques, without any dead lines and other obligations. I really hope to do much more of that this coming year.

If you love journaling, or even if you are new to it, - why not play along with us? You can link your project HERE, and players will visit each others blogs to see what we have all been up to, great fun!


Thanks so much for your visit like always, and I hope to see you soon again!!

50 comments:

Maryanne said...

Welcome home, Astrid! It's so nice to see you again! As usual, your journal pages are beautiful! I started a year long journal in a class my daughter and I took to celebrate my birthday last week. I think it's great fun to start the year with a project like this. A great way to recover from the holidays!

froebelsternchen said...

What an amazing spread Astrid!
Good to see you back well and creative as always!

Lucy Edmondson said...

This is absolutely exquisite, Astrid!

Lucy x

Sandy said...

Love your journal pages but to be quite honest Astrid, I have always loved your journal pages!! What a smashing way to start the new year!!
Sandy xx

Christiane Courtin-Mangez said...

Hi Astrid,

Happy new year...

I hope God will hear your words that :

What appears to be the end is often a new beginning!!!

We are so sad here in France, I will hope it's exactly !!!

Warm hugs from another Charlie !!

pearshapedcrafting said...

A brilliant spread, love the colours but it's the texture that has me hooked! I'm about to join you at Brenda's Chrisx

Juliz Design Post said...

Welcome back to blogland Astrid, hope you had a wonderful time with your family. Stunning Journal pages as always.
Julie x

Maggie R said...

Hi Astrid
I love to make journals too and your page is gorgeous....
Thanks for the inspiration
Hugs
Maggie

Ruth said...

Wonderful how you incorporated the napkin and love the washi banner, beautiful pages, can't wait to see more in your new journal. Ruth x

Redanne said...

You always create the most wonderful texture on your projects and this one is so beautiful, I love the wonderful colours you have achieved too. Hope the weather is not too bad in your neck of the woods. Hugs, Anne xx

Anne (cornucopia) said...

This is beautiful Astrid! And thanks for mentioning this new challenge. (I added a link to it on my blog.)

Deb said...

Beautiful as always Astrid, love the depth you've achieved with all your lovely layers.

Dorthe said...

Dear Astrid, this is a beautiful way of starting your new year,- and the bouquet of happy coloured flowers tells about happy occations for you to arrive this year, I`m sure. The wonderful texture I alwayes so admire in your art, is also here gorgeous and entlightened so beautiful with the treasure golds !!
Hugs,Dorthe

Ink Art Designs said...

What a beautiful and creative way to start the new year Astrid! Very inspiring and such a happy and contented feel to the pages. Gorgeous!
Dot x

Debi said...

Astrid this looks so brilliant- and what a perfect new page for a new year! Happy 2015! Debi x

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
I hope you had a lovely holiday with your family, I thought you would join in this little party of inspiration via the Art Journal.
They are great pages with wonderful texture with thought provoking words.
Smiles:)
Sue

Valerie-Jael said...

Lovely journal pages, have fun with journaling! Hugs, Valerie

Fliss said...

This ia absolutely beautiful Astrid and the colours and texture look amazing.
Fliss xx

Jennidee Mills said...

I love this page Astrid ... did you mean the napkin added a 'focal' image? A bit confused by that. There are so many layers in this. I've used computer wording before, but never thought to distress it like that, it looks so much more 'part' of the layout. Amazing work ... very inspirational.

Meggymay said...

Lovely to call in and see your beautiful journal spread. The textures and layers look awesome . I love that quote as well.
Yvonne

Silvia(Barnie) said...

That's a wonderful spread with fantastic details and texture. Great idea to use both types of gesso to see the difference.

rachel said...

stunning make Astrid - I really must try to use napkins more - you have incorporated this one beautifully. Thanks for your kind words - I really do appreciate it! Hugs rachel xx -

Lynne Moncrieff said...

Astrid, not sure if my comment came through. I seem to be having so many issues with blogger at the moment.
I said that I liked the way in which you introduced metallics onto your spread and that overall, the pages are so rich in texture. Clever to use different types of Gesso on your pages to achieve different effects.
Really very beautiful.
Wishes
Lynne

Brenda Brown said...

Lovely to have you back Astrid, will catch up with you soon. Thanks for linking to A Visual Journey - I just need to be free lol. xxx

Mrs.B said...

Fabulous Journal pages. Love the textures and rich colours. It's a wonderful quote.
Avril xx

Kathy G. said...

Astrid this is stunning. I also love all the texture and color on the pages. You're quote is fantastic!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Welcome home Astrid!! Hope you had a fantastic holiday! Wow!! What a comeback!! This is stunning. Gorgeous colour and texture and I love the touch of metalics in there. I haven't done an art journal page for quite a while but I think you have just inspired me!! Love this!! ox

massofhair said...

So great to know you are home after your wonderful Family holiday, bet it's a tad colder here, HAPPY NEW YEAR once again and what a fantastic surprise to have so many new followers!

Brenda's new Challenge is awesome isn't it would like to take part but struggle to do visual journal spreads... Always beautiful inspiration and fantastic pictures whenever i visit, it's like you are my virtual visual journal lol.

Hugz
Mo:-) xxx

Laura Turner said...

Welcome back! I love the idea of an art journal. I need to have play time with my papers and stamps too! Wishing you a joyously creative new year! Laura from sundayview.blogspot.com

Heather Jacob said...

OMG !! beyond magnificent ... loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee x

chrissie said...

Lovely to see you again Astrid and to have such beautiful pages to admire. The techniques you have used are amazing and add so much texture and interest to it all. I am looking forward to seeing more of this journal.

Love Chrissie x

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous Astrid! Love all the texture and beautiful mix of colors! Stunning pages! Thanks for the inspiration!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Amazing pages Astrid, really impressive combinations and techniques...love it!
greetings, Alie

Pamellia said...

I hope you have the most wonderful vacation with your family! It sure is nice to have you back in blog land and what a fantastic way to jump back it!WOW, absolutely gorgeous! I just added another stencil, some bronze embossing powder and some treasure gold to my never-ending wish list! HA! Stunning work Astrid, glad you're back! big hugs and smiles :)

Rupa Swaminathan said...

This is just so beautiful and frankly inspiring! You made this page look so simple in those steps...really wanting me to giving it a try! Thanks for the share, Asrtrid.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous pages, love the design and textures. Welcome back and Happy New Year. Thanks for all your inspiration, Shirleyxx

Dagmar said...

Liebe Astrid, was für ein grandioser Einstieg in ein neues, kreatives Jahr!!! Die Doppelseite ist einfach traumhaft gestaltet - man würde am liebsten einmal darüber streichen, um die Texturen zu spüren!
Ganz liebe Grüße, Dagmar

Words and Pictures said...

Welcome home! A lovely burst of colour from the napkin here, and a gorgeous page spread. Wonderful textures as always, and great depth.
Alison xx

Matilde said...

This page looks amazing!

sheila 77 said...

Great post, Astrid. Loved to read about and see your fascinating techniques and what a result. Beautiful textures, superb use of colour and patterns and a helpful sentiment.

Julia Aston said...

What lovely pages Astrid - I love all the texture and your clever incorporation of a napkin for imagery!

Rosie said...

Absolutely gorgeous and brilliant pages, Astrid. As always perfect

brenda said...

A very quick visit Astrid, we've had no internet since Saturday morning and sounds like it's going to be off again for server maintenance but just wanted to check on your latest makes and say hellot.

B x

Maryann Laursen said...

WAUW Astrid, this is sooooo gorgeous work once again. And if this sets the line for this year, it ccertainly promisse great for the rest of this year, cause this is really stylish class of 1st degree, that´s forsure. I LOVE it.

Meihsia Liu said...

Beautiful journal pages, Astrid. Love the gorgeous colors and textures. :)

Ros Crawford said...

What a fabulous start to your new journal ... I love the details and the textures

Deborah Wainwright said...

Hi Astrid a bit late but Happy New Year :) I love your journal page it has inspired me to do more journaling xx

www.deeadamsart.blogspot.co.uk said...

Hi Astrid I hope you had a good Christmas and New year, love your journal page fabulous start to the new year. Dee x

experiments in paper said...

Welcome back! Love this layout - so lush and non-wintery! And as always, your work with texture , balance and depth is phenomenal! Learning a lot, as usual, from you!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous journal pages, Astrid!! This is a wonderful way to start the year and I'm so inspired to do the same!! Can't wait to see how your future pages become transformed :) XOXO-Shari

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