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