Sunday, January 10, 2010

GPP Street Team Crusade #36 - Braving the Elements

So yesterday was pretty cold here in Manchester, NH. Not the kind of weather where you feel like hanging out outside. The good news was that I had $70.00 dollars worth of gift certificates (Thank you sweet hubby !!!) to my favorite craft store, Absolutely Everything, they were having a 40% off all Xmas stuff sale and I had a sweet friend ready to head out shopping with me ! The lovely Colleen from Candia even drove us to Topsfield, MA for our shopping spree!

A few of the things I bought with my juicy gift certificates were perfect for the GPP Street Team Crusade Crusade #36 - Braving the Elements ,where Michelle encouraged us to take simple elements, like hand cut snowflakes, and use them with a variety of painting techniques we have learned from past Crusades.

Today was a perfect Sunday morning to "brave the elements" - it was freezing outside but the sun was beaming in the studio and I had lots of free time for experimenting.

Look at this incredible snowflake doilies Colleen found for me in the Xmas Clearance !!!

Talk about a perfect mask !

and these chip board snowflakes are perfect for this project but will also be perfect on the tree next year and they were only $2.00 !

I can't use spray paint in the winter but I thought about these glimmer sprays

and the alcohol inks and misters from Ranger

and gathered them up along with my acrylic paints and make-up sponges
to get my play time on !

I did cut a couple of snowflakes myself as well - you can see their outline here, where I misted over them with the alcohol ink in demin and pearl.

The two shots above show the doilie used as a mask (top portion) as well as those chip board snowflakes.

This page was done using the snowflake I cut myself used over and over with the misters and with acrylic paint and a sponge.

I ended up gluing the painted snowflakes down on to my two page spread...

along with some other collage elements...circles, the front of a gorgeous angel Christmas card we received, a piece of paper napkin, an image of a sweet little one, and a photocopied dictionary page.

So this is what the two pages looked like before I added in my journaling, some pen work and some extra touches of acrylic paint...

And this is the final Winter two page spread after my hour or so of play time...

(click to enlarge)
It is not quite finished - I will probably add in some more journaling about winter in the section on the bottom right. Lots more winter left too !


(in this detail, you can see the other cool rubber stamp with boxes for the date that I got for $2.50 - it will be great for many, many journal pages !)

So there you have it !

As I wrote in my journaling, I still dislike...okay, hate...winter in lots of ways. But I am finding the silvery lining in this one. I bundle up and go where I have to go, with not too much complaint. And I am enjoying my inside time very much as a lot of it is being spent in the studio. Doing projects like this is such wonderful therapy and fun !

I also loving watching the beauty of this coldest season through my windows...

I will leave the outside stuff to this brave little guy as much as possible !

Head over and join Michelle and the other Crusaders for some winter play time fun ! It is always a pleasure no matter what the weather !

34 comments:

Sherry said...

And once again synchronicity calls our names!! Okay, I haven't done this (yet) but I was just over at the GPP Street Team blog looking at the challenge, thinking maybe this is the year I'll do some of these. Then I come here and voila, the Queen has already taken the challenge!!

I'm into my cranky pants stage of winter -- and these kind of snow flakes (and we haven't even had near as much as you have!) are perfect..just my cup of tea!! And your pages sparkle and shine!!

Sounds like you really cleaned up at the after Christmas sale at Absolutely Everything!!! xo

LuLu Kellogg said...

I love your pages....the Tattered Angels mists are some of my favorite things to work with!

Have a wonderful week!

LuLu~*xoxo

michelle ward said...

There she is! One of my favorite girls finding the silver lining. Check out your loot! You'll be flaking out for a while :) Love seeing the process....you are always good about showing all the details Kim. Thanks for sharing your work and for Braving the Elements in such a shimmery way. xo

BoldAmy said...

A really beautiful and detailed layout!

By the way, your post from Wednesday showing your "dancing" journal pages was so inspiring, I've been playing with that technique all afternoon! Thanks for the cool ideas!

beth said...

you are just the best journaler ever....I need to take lesson from you !

I'm so glad your cold day turned warm with shopping and supplies !

Dawn said...

kim, it is amazing to see where you started, and where you finish! I have yet to accomplish something so drastic and different and full...but you are VERY inspiring!

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

Oh, they are beautiful! I love the light, light, spray colors. Gorgeous.

I love New Hampshire (I went to college there for 4 years). It's the perfect snowy place.

Thanks for stopping by today. I've added you to my blogroll as your pages are amazing.

Chris said...

Love your journaling. Those sprays are awesome! I've never worked with them, but they really enhance the page. don't you love supply shopping sprees?!

Imelda said...

Yummy pages you made and I liked the showing of the process.

goudenregen said...

Wow, I really love your pages and your snowflake cuttings! Thank you for commenting on my blog.
I hope to find some sparays too, but so far never seen them.

Sueann said...

I love glimmer mists!! They give such a wonderful look! Your pages are terrific! And the snowflakes are fab!! Thanks for showing the process too! Perfect!
Hugs

SueAnn

jgr said...

Hi Kim,
WOW! I love your pages, and (drool) your new 'toys' are wonderful too. Thank you for showing all the steps of your process.

--Jane

DMG said...

Kim,
Your "wintery mix" in your journal is so much better than the real thing that we had here in Georgia last Friday. If you can believe it, it has been 18 degrees every morning for a week, when I've left for school, and the high has only been about 37 degrees daily. I DO NOT LIKE winter either, and that's why I have to use such hot colors in my art. It gave me a vicarious thrill to read about the fun you had shopping for art supplies. Isn't that just the best? These pages are so beautifully impressionistic that I'd really like to give alcohol inks and spray mists a try now. The stark black and white journaling looks fabulous in contrast with the pretty, delicate colors you chose. Reading this post and the comment you left on my blog today has warmed my heart enough for me to try the "Braving the Elements" challege now. I hope you have a snuggly, warm art-filled day, Queen of My Heart!

Anonymous said...

You have captured the gorgeous colors of the winter sky...you continue
to amaze me with what you create.

Hugs dear friend.

gretchen said...

SIMPLY MAGICAL! I love these pages! You never fail to amaze me with your beautiful creative heart;
lovely, lovely pages, dearesr Kim
love, gretchen

patti said...

I love the snowflake effects Kim, now I want some!! I have never liked winter much either and if you spent a Sydney winter with me, you'd be laughing, because it's more like your Spring!! I'm such a wuz! However, getting cozy inside with a journal is the best thing ever!

Judy Wise said...

wow, these pages really caught my eye. Love them all.

angel said...

hey sweet girl...
send some of that energy my way...i love trying to keep up with your colorful journal pages.
i can't tell you how many times i picture your sweet face and big smile...when i spot one of your birds or rocks (they're scattered around my house). you warm my heart and i appreciate your comments on my blog...just makes me melt.
stay warm, BIG love your way too!

Kate Robertson said...

Great Pages Kim, I like the winter theme.. It sure looked like you had fun with those gift certificates. Did you like the glimmer mist sprays? I have been meaning to try them but haven't so far. I love those mew papers that are great for stencils. I have the snowflake and found a new flowered one the other day. I miss not being able to use my spray paints.

Kate

Genie Sea said...

Your journal pages are absolutely enchanting. I am in awe of your queenly gifts! :)

Paula said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! And, boy, did you find some bargins! If we have to do winter, I think you've found the perfect way to do so!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful page!! Thanks for showing the products you used and step by step...Great work!!

Julie Prichard said...

WOW What a score on the snowflake stencil paper....really great looking results!!

Susan Sager Brown said...

I love seeing your process, Kim and the end result is just Gorgeous!! I especially love the way the Winter lettering just pops!! Beautiful work!! xoSusan

Janet said...

Great pages! I've never used the glimmer mists but now I have to get me some!! I like the softness of the colors.

iHanna said...

Kim, your winter spread is just perfect for the season and the weather right now! Snowflakes are just so beautiful! Hope you had a great holiday..

Marlynn said...

Kim - this is really great.... you are inspiring me to get over to GPP and do this challenge. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful art. Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

Crafty gift vouchers - FANtastic! And those snowflake doillies are just ideal - using Glimmer Mist was a great idea. The end result looks fab. I'm like you though - winter's not my favorite. Mind you, neither is the heat of summer LOL

mariasangel said...

the doily worked out great! and i love that you used misting! very lovely!

Regina said...

lucky duck to have gift certificates & find such treasures. You made great use of them.

Bethany said...

oh, how fun. Thanks for showing this process. It's an inspiration. I love the date stamp. Love your pages. Love that you chose pink for the snowflakes and how you got them masked on the page.
I have alcohol ink, but what is this mister you speak of?
Will have to google that.
Great effects.
Love your lettering and the doodle frame around the angel.

Mescrap said...

This is such a beautiful post,the journal pages and also the photo of the cute squirrel...

Jackie Wood said...

Wonderful pages and really love seeing each step along the way.

scj said...

These pages are absolutely fantastic. Thanks so much for the inspiration. I must have a go with my alcohol inks and glimmer mists - never even thought about it! And what a find in those doilies. Just gorgeous.