Friday 6 February 2015

Believe that you can and you will!

Hello and let me start by saying how much I appreciate all of you who drop in here! Those of you who come by every time I post something and those who just drop in occasionally alike. We are all so busy, so thank you for taking the time.
Today I want to share my latest journal spread.
I love to see all of the amazing Valentines pieces out there, but this year I have not been in the mood to do the usual red with roses type Valentines, so this is my alternative Valentines piece for this year.

I wanted a wintry feel to this spread and took out the Lynne Perella stamps my daughter gave me for Christmas, they had never been inked yet....
I started by  spreading heavy gesso with a palette knife and then added colour with 3 colours of Distress paint: Antique Linen, Weathered Wood and Pumice stone, spreading it on with a brush and baby wipe and then creating some texture with a crumpled piece of kitchen roll. When the paint was dry I added the snowflake detail with the help of a Dylusions stencil and Ranger Texture paste. While that was still wet I sprinkled on some Rockcandy Distress Glitter, which like usual does not show up on the photo sadly, because it looks lovely and wintry IRL
. I also added a few spritzes of the same colours of Distress Spray.
 Next came the stamps. I stamped them onto tissue paper in Wateringcan Archival. I had planned to use a smokey grey Versafine ink, but it proved too oily, and the images did not have the clearness I normally get when using black Versa fine. I have had this pad for years and not used it, so maybe that was the reason....

Here are a couple of close ups, I adhered the images to my page with Ranger Matte medium and then lightly dabbed on some more paint with my fingers to blend them into the background.


The heart was next, after all, this was meant to be a Valentines piece....
I glued some old text paper to a piece of card. Then hand drew a heart and cut it out, making sure the aperture was just big enough show the believe sentiment, (part of a larger stamp in this set). The rest of the text is computer generated.

After it was glued in place I went over it with Glue n Seal and then added shadows with Faber Castell Big Brush pens, they blend wonderfully over the Glue n Seal and when dry are totally permanent (unlike Distress markers for instance).

A bit of background stamping finished it all off.


Having been really busy with other things behind the scenes it was great to have some hours to just play in my journal. I love this message, it can have so many connotations with Valentines day, - from being desperately in love and keeping fingers crossed it will work out, - to like in my own case having been married for 40 years to a wonderful man (whose birthday is actually on Valentines day). We believed we could those 40 years ago and we did it!


I am going to add this to the Artist Trading Post challenge 9 "Love is in the Air", and also to the Inspiration Journal challenge where the theme is also Love is in the air.

Well, that's it from me today, thank you for dropping by! I'll be back soon and look forward to seeing you somewhere around in crafty blogland!

45 comments:

massofhair said...

40 years is an awesome achievement, congratulation to you both and i love that you are still going strong, gives us romantics hope...

Beautiful pages, always enjoy perusing your ArT as there are always more areas to ooh and ahhh at!

It's good to have a change from the traditional colours and mix things up.

Off to look at your georgeousness again:-) xxx

Rita said...

Good Morning Astrid. What Wonderful pages. I love all the textures and colours, it really gives it that vintage theme. Congratulations on 40 years together. Hugs Rita xxx

Kim said...

Beautiful journal pages! Love that you went with something other than the usual pinks/reds. You have given me inspiration to make my daughter's Valentine's card...she is a pink hater and doesn't much care for Valentine's Day either. Thanks for sharing.

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
Great palette that you have chosen to work with here; it is quiet and relates the message wonderfully.
Smiles:)
Sue

Margaret Mifsud said...

Love the soft colour on these pages Astrid ... absolutely gorgeous!!! Wishing your husband a very Happy Birthday for the 14th and congratulations to you both for 40 years together!! Awesome!! ox

Shilpa Nagaonkar said...

Beautiful page, Asrid

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great page Astrid, the colours are so nice and soft, I love the structure and the quote, great stamps as well!!

Greetings
Maria

Ruth said...

I'm all for alternative Valentine colours, these are beautiful shades and I love the wintry feel to these beautiful pages, subtle and romantic.....and you can't go wrong with Lynne Perella! Beautiful Astrid! Ruth x

Inkypinkycraft said...

Gorgeous colours and I for one love them less than red myself ! Must get some of those big brush pens x

Maryann Laursen said...

Such wonderful pages here, and I totally agree to what you said about it, even I can´t quite beat you, as we´ve "only" bee married in 39 years now ha ha ha. This would´ve suited sooo perfecgt for our wedding back then, as everybody said back then, that this would never last, as we were too young, but here we are 39 years later, and still going strong and just as well as we were back then, so ofcause you all can, if you just believe enough in it and respect each other.

Valerie-Jael said...

Fantastic journal spread! Valerie

chrissie said...

Very beautiful and great that you chose alternative colours. The textures are terrific and the quote is what we all need I'm sure

Love Chrissie

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Great use of colours and texture Astrid...it's a lovely spread in total!
Have a nice day, Alie :-)

Jennidee Mills said...

Very unusual valentines project. i love the wintry feel, even if it is summer here.
And thankyou so very much for becoming my 2nd follower.

Carol said...

Beautiful journal pages Astrid and congratulations on your 40 years together. Carol x

Ros Crawford said...

I love the wintery feel to this ... Beautifully done! Happy birthday to your husband!

The Sparkly Fairy said...

Such a fabulous layout :)

Ana K. said...

Gorgeous Astrid!!

Words and Pictures said...

A lovely frosty take on love and Valentines - the textures as always are delicious, and I can just imagine the sparkle of the Rock Candy.

When I was complaining about lack of clarity with Versafine (PA's preferred ink, though definitely not mine), Leandra mentioned exactly that thing with the oiliness with lack of use, and she also suggested a "cure". If I can track down when and where it was, I'll pass it on!!
Alison xx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Gorgeous journal spread and wonderful step by step tutorial. I love the vintage colours that you use in your artwork. Have a great weekend, Shirleyxx

Pamellia said...

Such a beautiful journal page Astrid! I love the patches of colour, so vintage yet soft and supple! Wonderful stamps and I just adore that sentiment! Gorgeous! hugs :)

Marisa Job said...

This is fabulous!! Great use of colors and texture!!

Dorthe said...

Congratulations Astrid on your Anniversary , 40 years is a long time ,-so wonderful it was also a happy time !! Your Valentine card is very beautiful, I love you chosed the winter look, as that is almost sure that is what it is , on 14 February !! Beautiful background, and the stamps from your daughter are gorgeous, surrounding your wonderful heart !
Hugs,Dorthe

Terry said...

Another treat and feast for the eyes, Astrid! I love your less traditional colors for Valentine's Day, but none the less still full of romance and love! The texture is gorgeous and I love your new stamps! Congratulations on the big 40 and a Happy Birthday to your husband! Hugs!

Redanne said...

The non traditional colours work beautifully Astrid, I love the cool colours and the wonderful texture you have created in the background. The sentiment is perfect too. Huge congratulations on your 40 years together! Hugs, Anne xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

So true, and love that you added the snowflakes...adds so much, and I would never have thought it!

Jackie PN said...

Gorgeous Astrid!! I wish i could have moved my muse to that color palette when it came to my valentines- the usual does become quite dull! I adore your spread! xo

Annie said...

This is beautiful Astrid. I love the muted colours and amazing textures and random stamping. The LP stamps look amazing as does your gorgeous heart.

Huge hugs
Annie x

craftytrog said...

So beautiful and inspiring! xxx

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous textures, love the soft alternative colours you used. The quote, should be a mantra for us all. thank you for sharing it with us over at ATP Exchange as well
Yvonne x

Anonymous said...

Hello Astrid, Happy Friday!
What a beautiful page. It has a romance which is more 'grown up', rather than the sickly, gooey type. It's warm, romantic, soft, yet striking and catches your emotions perfectly. It also has a depth which comes from deep inside you.

Filled with admiration for your artistic skill.

Take good care, Astrid.
Sending love, caring thoughts and gentle hugs ~ Cobs. x

Klaudia/Kszp said...

this is gorgeous :) I love your textures and soft colors!

Lisa H said...

I love the wintery feel!! This is really pretty. =) Thanks for sharing with us at Inspiration Journal this month.

froebelsternchen said...

Beautiful colors and textures on this Astrid- a beautiful spread! Happy weekend!

buttercup said...

Astrid, your pages are beautiful. Took my breath away. Right up my alley and I had to post. Save your tutorials because you are so generous. Love your vintage looks.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous pages, Astrid!! Considering Valentine's Day is still in Winter, your colors are absolutely perfect for those of us who celebrate in the snow :) :) LOL!! Oh, and speaking of celebrating--Happy B-day to your hubbie and congrats on 40 years of marriage!! Those are things to celebrate!! Enjoy!! XOXO-Shari

Julia Aston said...

What beautiful pages Astrid! love the thickness of the gesso and the lovely stampings!

maria's knutselplezier said...

Great page for your art journal dear Astrid, great structure, great colours and image ,I really love it!!

Greetings
Maria

Paula J Atkinson said...

I have to say, I much prefer your alternative colours than a traditional red. I do not think this page would have worked half as well had you chosen that colour. I love the texture and I particularly feel the imagery stands out far better on the paler background. Love it!

pearshapedcrafting said...

I have been very patient to wait and see this on a computer rather than my phone! This is so worth the wait! The colour choice I could see but the texture is so beautiful! A fabulous spread! Chrisx

rachel said...

stunning texture on these pages Astrid - I'm off to do a journal page tonight so this is full of inspiration for me - thankyou! Big hugs Rachel xx

Deb said...

Beautiful Astrid, amazing textures and love your colour palette! Happy birthday to your hubby!

Julia S-W said...

Gorgeous Astrid! Those pages are the kind that I just want to run my hands over and feel all the wonderful textures that you have created. I love the colour palette and the little snowflakes are such a lovely detail. It's perfect and makes me wish that I could get into journalling!
Juliaxx
(thanks for joining us at ATP Exchange too!)x

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful watery winter colours
The images and Valentines heart are lovely surrounded by the soft snowflakes

Wishing your hubby a very happy birthday and you both a lovely Valentines

Jools x

Marjie Kemper said...

Gorgeous pages! Love how you framed the first word of your wonderful sentiment.

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