It's still all about ME Me ME!

Hi everyone
Sharing my latest for Scrap Matrix today....

How are you all doing in this bizarre and unprecedented time?

I am having a couple of weeks away from work right now which has been very needed. I work within an essential service and it has been a difficult time going in to work, knowing I am needed, however feeling like I should be at home.

I really value my arty obsession and the positive effect it has on my mental health, but now more than ever this has been a blessing.

Having somewhere to turn to process some of my thoughts and emotions is something I am truly grateful for.

Art Journaling is all about that for me. 

If I'm feeling any sort of emotion strongly, it comes through always.

Again, inspired by the current situation.

As you can see I express my feelings through both my journaling and through the use of colour.

So let's take a look at how this one happened...

I began with a page in my art journal - as you can see I'd added excess paint leftover from another project. (can't waste anything!)

I covered it with white gesso, and was not concerned that some of it was peeking through.

That just adds to the layers.

I began to gather my supplies.

I decided to use something from Dina Wakley's Collage Collective.

This book is amazing!!!

So much in it, so usable, so inspiring.

I selected this piece.

I then gathered a few more supplies....

I used the colours in the figure as my inspiration.

First I trimmed down the figure.

Time to add colour.

I used Dylusions 'Lemon Zest', 'Cut Grass', 'Calypso Teal', 'Black Marble' and PaperArtsy 'Cherry Red'.

Whilst wet, I wiped off some of the paint with a baby wipe through a stencil.

I used one of my fave stencils 'The Crafters Workshop Botanical Dream 12x12'.

Such an awesome technique, totally inspired by the fabulous Lisa Oxley.

Repeat with Dylusions 'Cut Grass'.

I used the smaller stencil this time.

You see I love this stencil so much that I recently ordered it in 6x6" too!

Add Paper Artsy 'Cherry Red'

Ok, time to add some Dylusions black marble

This goes with my emotions, the heaviness that surrounds us all right now.

This time I used 'TCW 6x6 Deco Leaves'.

Another fave.

Look what happened when I pulled it off!

Yikes, my gesso underneath wasn't properly dry and it pulled off some paper.

Ok time to replan.

Instead of  placing the figure on the right hand side as previously planned in my head, it now had to go right there to cover up the mess!

Notice that the figure looks like it is sitting upon the top of the page?

Time to fix this.

By going around with a black scribble stick, it helped to blend it and push it forward.

That dark section seemed like the perfect place for my title.

The lone figure made me think of the current #socialdistancing and #stayathome requirements.

So I grabbed some alpha stamps by Tim Holtz, and added them with white paint.

I then used the Dina Wakley stamps to add

'stay strong'

'stay kind'

'stay brave'

Next I added a few flicks and scribbles with white Dina Wakley paint

Finally I added some journaling.

I wanted it to go with the bright colours peeking through the darkness, so I really wanted to highlight some of my positive thoughts.

It reads:

"something that I am excited about with everyone staying at home is all the art and all the beautiful music that will come. 

Our world will be colourful again".

The final step was a few scribbles using my fudeball pen, and some flicks of black paint.

I LOVE IT!!!

I have created another page too.

This one was inspired by a previous page.

You see I have a mini book - 6x6 - it's the perfect size for me.

Due to work commitments, I often don't have a lot of time to create.

Often half an hour or so is it.

If I grab my large journal, often I just feel overwhelmed.

The smaller space of a 6x6" seems to free me up.

It's a place I can experiment, try things out.

I'm not concerned about the end result. It's about colour, about play, about not thinking.

Often those experiments turn up on a large art journal page later. Just with more detail.

So let's have a look at one of these.

Here's my 6x6 experiment.....

Love those glorious drippy colours.

Here's what came through....

Same drippy style, but lots of stamping added.

 Let's take a look.....

I began with my inspired piece and applied gesso to my page.

I selected the following Paper Artsy paints:

Cherry Red

Carribean Sea

Zesty Zing

Electric Violet

Slimed

I wanted to use these like watercolours, so diluted them by adding lots of water.

I loosely sketched a face with pencil.

I began with the Cherry Red, applying lots of water and letting it run.

I repeated with the other colours, drying inbetween each colour.

This is important, so you don't end up with mud.

I then painted in the face using Dina Wakley 'Apricot'.

I then grabbed these floral stamps by 'Art by Marlene'.

I stamped these onto the page, and added the leaves so they were cascading downwards.

I then added in some detail to the face.

I added colour to the leaves, some pen work and a quote by 'Art by Marlene' from the Whimsy Stickers.

Here's the finished product.....

I really hope you join in with the challenge at Scrap Matrix this month.

Our goal as designers is to inspire you.

I often wonder if people read the blog, or try out some of the techniques.

So here's your chance to show me!!!

Plus we can all use a bit of extra colour this month.

For even more 'Tammy' inspiration, keep your eyes peeled on the facebook page.

I will share a few more projects.

Don't forget you can head to the 'Tammy' album for a one stop shop for inspiration.

Much love, stay safe

Tam

xx

It's all about ME, ME, ME!!

Hey guys

Well this month over at Scrap Matrix is particularly exciting for me.....cause it's all about being inspired by MY creations!!

I feel so flattered, a little nervous, and just a teeny bit famous! lol

So how did this become a challenge?

Well in April I was scheduled to teach a full weekend of classes at Scrap Matrix, but unfortunately due to all the uncertainty in the world right now, and the restrictions that are in place we have had to postpone.

At this stage, we haven't set a date, but when we do we will let you know.

Speaking of the uncertainty of the world, that's where my inspiration came from.

I was a little blocked, and couldn't seem to get creative. My heart felt heavy.

I was scrolling through Instagram and a post really spoke to me so I decided to use that as my jumping off point and that maybe art journaling might just be a good way to get it out and get me back into an arty headspace.....

Can you guess where the inspiration came from?

Who remembers this page?

Yep that was my inspiration.

I love all the colour.....

and here's the quote that unblocked me...

"And the people stayed home. 
And read books, and listened and rested and exercised and made art and played games and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. 
Some meditated. Some prayed, some danced, some met their shadows. 
And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. 
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. 
And when the danger passed and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
-Kitty O'Meara

Ok so let's take a look at how it came together...

I began by grabbing some Art by Marlene Collage papers, and some of my leftover papers I created in my last gel printing session.

Apply white gesso to your page and then add washi tape to the edges for a neat border.

I painted a hill on one side using Dylusions paint in 'Cut Grass'.

I then used a stencil and damp baby wipe to wipe off some of the paint whilst still wet.

I used an Aall & Create stencil 

I repeated this process on the other side, this time using Dina Wakley paint in 'Lime' and 'Evergreen'.

I used a TCW stencil called '6x6 Brick Poetry' and just focused on the arches.

I created the sky using a mix of Dina Wakley paint in 'Sky' and 'Turquoise'.

I used a TCW stencil '6x6 Texture Love' to create some clouds.

You may be able to see a stamp in the sky.

Prior to painting I decided to use one of Tracy Scott's Mandala's from the stamp set by Paper Artsy ETS23 for the sun.

You probably have worked out by now that I love looking at my stamps differently, turning them into other things.

But when I stamped it I stuffed it!!

Now remember there are no mistakes, so instead I grabbed some yellow paper I created in a gel print session and stamped onto that.

Next I cut it out and stuck it over the top.

Problem solved!

Ta da!!

I used  some more of Tracy Scott's stamps from the sets ETS23 set and the ETS09 set 

I stamped them onto various sheets of green paper from my gel print session.

I then cut out all the circles and they became trees!!

Next I cut out a heap of triangles and rectangles from the papers I had gathered.

These became houses.

I added a few hearts from the Art by Marlene Die Cut #4 Book.

Now time to create the little scene.

I adhered all the bits with Soft Matte Gel.

You may notice in the picture that my Maisy helped me, she often does!

This Carabelle stamp reminded me of a fence.

I wasn't worried about perfection, as I wanted the scene to be a little whimsical and rustic.

Adding a few lines turned it into an immediate fence.

Finally, I added the journaling to the sky, and a simple yet powerful border.

Love those cute little flowers, which are from the Art by Marlene Die Cut books.

There you go, a page inspired by both the current world crisis and Me, Myself and I!!

I just love that my art can bring me joy, and that it gives me an avenue to process what is going on around me.

It is just an added bonus if it inspires you!!

I hope that many of you may find the time for yourself and create something for our challenge.

Just be inspired by ME!!

There's a whole album which contains all of my creations for Scrap Matrix.

You'll find it HERE.

I really hope a few of you have a go and join us.

Just add your creation to the 'Tammy Album' in our Scrap Matrix Shares Facebook Group.

I'd love you to tag me, so I can see them (and feel just a little bit more famous) lol

Wishing you all peace, joy, strength and colour.

We are all in this together
Love and kindness

Tam

xx