Friday 5 April 2019

Neutral Zone for A Vintage Journey and a blog break

Hello friends and welcome. It's the first Friday of the month and that means a new challenge is starting at A Vintage Journey. This month the lovely and talented Nikki is our host, and this is what she had to say about her chosen theme "Neutral Zone":
Time to banish colour! You can create with blacks, whites, greys, beiges, creams and browns but whatever you make, and whatever style, needs to stay in the neutral zone. And remember to create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby,mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk.

I decided to make an eggshaped tag, seeing this month we will celebrate Easter. I then decided to use the tag to decorate the cover of my latest journal insert.
At the last moment I decided to add one of my dried ferns, which of course adds a little spot of colour, but I hope this will still qualify as most of it is definitely in the neutral zone....

Below a quick step out of how I made the tag:
I diecut the tag from white card, using the largest of a set of tag shaped dies I had in my stash, and added some strips of book and craft paper and some texture using one of Tim Holtz's stencils.
.

Next I added a mix of some Paper Artsy Fresco paint in Buff and some Decoart Media paint in Translucent white and while the paint was still wet a few spritzes of Distress Oxide spray in Vintage photo, plus quite a bit of water. I then dried with my heatgun.


Next came some background stamping and a little strip of washi tape, to balance out the darker left side a bit.
Finally I added some lace, some dried baby's breath flowers and a wax seal and hand wrote the sentiment with my dip pen. At first I thought that was the project all done and dusted, but as I had no one particularly in mind to give this tag to and I have piles of tags and other projects gathering dust in my craftroom (do other people have that problem)? - I decided to add the tag to the cover of my latest journal insert.
As you can see that's when I then decided to add the little fern to the other dried flower, gluing it down with some collage medium.

Below still a few close ups and a few of the journal pages inside.
And some of the journal pages, please bare in mind this is really a writing journal, not an art journal, I just like to decorate the pages a bit with ephemera, washi tapes, some background stamping and so on. Makes it more fun to write in it.
So, that's it for my project, do hop over to a Vintage Journey  to see what my talented teamies have created and of course we would love you to play and share your neutral projects with us all.

Well, like always thank you for your visit for now and it may become even more quiet here as I will be going off to Australia in a few days time to spend time with my grandchildren and family there and I am pretty sure there will not be much time for blogging. So I may see you now and then and again towards the end of May on my regular Fridays...
xxxxx






21 comments:

Rita said...

I love your Easter theme Astrid. Especially all the dried flowers, never had much success drying flowers . So much to see and very inspirational too. Hope you enjoy your time with the family and hopefully we can catch up when you return. Hugs Rita xx

Maryann Laursen said...

As always you´ve made a wonderful piece of art. I love your tag, and that fern really give it something special, so sure hope, it can qualify as neutral too, as it would be a shame to remove it, sooo gorgeous work here as usual from your hands Astrid, really amazing work, well done.
Have a wonderful time Down Under with your precious family, and enjoy a great time there with the grandkids, they just grow sooo big sooo fast, so enjoy every minute witrh them. And a Happy Easter to all inhere too.

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful tag and love the journal pages, as always. Have BIG fun in Australia, safe journey! Hugs, Valerie

Words and Pictures said...

I just love your vintage egg - the Oxide sprays give it such a great look of ageing and weathering and the script and text stamps all make me happy. I'm very happy you added the fern too - that little touch of green brings it all to life. Lovely to get a look at some more of your journalling pages too, and the beautifully styled photos are inspiring in themselves. Another lovely post full of inspiration.
Alison x

My name is Erika. said...

What a fabulous way to use an egg. No spring colors and stereotypical images. This is really pretty. And I love seeing your journal every week. (Yup, glad you found those comments as I have been by). I love how you used the leaves and dry flowers. They look great on the page and bring the outside in-into art that is. Hope your weather just keeps getting more like spring. We are slowly getting there-but I'll take any little improvement. happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

sarascloset said...

Astrid, adding that gorgeous, neutral toned egg tag to your journal cover was a stroke of genius and what a perfect fit! I love how the VP spray mingles with your painted and textured surface, giving it that instant aged look. Your hand lettering is the perfect finishing touch to the tag! I always enjoy looking at your journal pages--each one is a delight! Sending hugs!

Helen said...

Just stunning!!! LOVE how you used the wax over the stems of your flowers! Brilliant!!

froebelsternchen said...

Pure delight Astrid! A*M*A*Z*I*N*G !!!
Happy weekend!
oxo Susi

S@ndy Diller said...

Your tag is delightful - you have managed to stay in the neutral zone yet convey Easter in a lovely way. Love your tag, S@ndy

Meggymay said...

It is a fantastic Easter themed page for your journal and the other pages looked gorgeous as well.
Yvonne xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

What a fabulous tag Astrid and how wonderful to use it on the cover of your journal insert. The textures and colours are just stunning and then so gloriously finished with the flowers and lace. And then the other pages ........ just wonderful ! xxx

A Pink said...

Your tag is gorgeous , Astrid with a wonderful mix of texture and text detail and vintage neutral tones. I love that you made it the focal feature of your journal cover as it enhances its beauty so much more.

I admire your ability to continually making entries into your journal - that is real dedication. I alset off with good intention but never seem to sustain, sadly. One day , mybe , I hope .......

Hugs x

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

What a great shape to use Astrid, to think I have spent hours and hours cutting this shape out over many Easters for my pre-school children to decorate, if only I had known back then there may have been something to help.
I love the idea you have given to decorate the shape in this way, so much detail and attention. It makes for a great topper in your delightful every expanding journals. You've given me a wonderful idea for a tag I need to make for a Birthday gift which falls on Easter this year. Thank you for the inspiration and giving us so much more, beautiful as always. Hugs Tracey x

Nikki Acton said...

Love the egg shaped tag - a wonderful decoration for your journal. Was only chatting last night about starting to journal and this is the perfect inspiration for me , thankyou xxxx

Dorthe said...

Dear Astrid it is so adorable, so filled with quiet beauty, I`m in love -
such a joy for you, to have it laying around , to open up for writing and making each page something special.
I wish you a most wonderful vacation with your family - almost two months , wow- it must feel fantastic . Take care , and see you - Hugs, Dorthe

Margaret Mifsud said...

Stunning tag Astrid and it is perfect for your cover. I love the neutrals and that added bit of fern adds just the right touch of colour. Your journals are so gorgeous, would be an absolute delight to write in. Love it all.
Have a safe trip and enjoy your stay in Aus. Would have been lovely if we could have caught up with you again but Melbourne is so far away. Have a wonderful trip Astrid and enjoy your family. Love and hugs xx

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

Love the egg and the 'arise'...perfect!

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, your egg shaped tag is stunning! I love the layers of paper and texture that you created. The wax seal and baby's breath finished the tag beautifully and it looks wonderful on the front of your journal cover with the addition of the fern - perfect 😁. Sorry I'm so late visiting, it was my birthday on Wednesday and I've been celebrating with family and friends every day since, I just need to catch up now with everyone's blogs ...lol 😉. Creative wishes! J 😊 x

Redanne said...

Such a beautiful tag Astrid, so perfect for Easter too with the egg shape and the sentiment. The neutral tones work beautifully on your insert cover and the dried fern is the perfect accent.

I hope you have a wonderful visit with your family in Australia. Hugs, Anne xx

Julia Aston said...

I just love your beautiful egg on this cover Astrid! the colors and textures make it all so vintage! The little spray of dried flowers held on with the sealing wax and your beautifully written sentiment are perfect adornment for your egg! Your journaled pages are lovely as well! xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

I am so disgracefully late that I didn't even realise until I saw IG that you were away! I am last having time to catch up on some visits! Your journal pages are an absolutely wonderful treat to see! Hugs, Chrisx

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