Love Life everyday using a second hand old book . . .

Hello sweet friends, Tracy here today and can I just tell you all how excited I am to be sharing my love for second hand books with you all . . . I loooove them!

Tatty, battered, rustly, pages missing, corners turned down, signatures inside . . .

 that`s what I call a book that`s lived and has character, my favourite,lol.

I have two to show you, inspired by Christy Tomlinsons She Art Workshop

and 

the ever so talented Karen who is hosting this months 

ePlay Challenge - Alter a book.

You can find all the details for this months challenge HERE

 This is going to be my new art journal book, I usually forget about the covers . . . but not this time!

I want something to inspire me to pick it up and play.

Apologies in advance to you all,  I seem to be doodling She Art girls at the mo, always with half a face, hahaha!

Anyhoo I applied Gesso first, the pigment in the old cover bled slightly but that`s okay I can go with the flow.

A quick doodle when it was dry and then out came some Dylusions Ink Sprays, a little scoosh onto my craft mat and then applied with a brush to give my girlie some hair, lovely loose strokes.

I just kept adding colour, drying with a heat tool, adding more and drying until I was happy.

I also used a touch of Dylusions Ink Spray in Pure Sunshine as well  . . .  

just typing that name makes me happeeeee . . . mad I know.

A few doodles doodle doo`s because I do love to doodle doo.

The background was created by first applying the green Pan Pastel from Mixed media Kit 1 and then fixing the color with cheap hairspray.

Now more scooshey fun with Dylusions Ink Sprays in a few green shades and then applying them with a brush.

A touch of Distress Stain in Vintage Photo around the sides to add a touch of age and shadow.

A few Idea Ology Chit Chat Stickers and then a light coat of Faber Castell Gel Medium all over to protect it and I was done.

Now I have had time to have a wee play inside . . . wanna see?

I used a mixture of Pan Pastels and Dylusions Ink Sprays to color me doodle doo.

 Guess who is going on holiday in a Gypsy Caraven in July?

Whoooo . . . Yes Me, Alex and the mad pooch Rosie!

I am getting sooooo excited, can you tell, hahahaha.

 Here`s my other altered journal.

This one is full of texture and I kinda love her blue colored hair, more pictures of this one and step by step on my blog HERE 

if you want to see more.

Well that`s about it from me today except to say

thank you for taking the time to look

and 

I hope I have inspired you to go grab a book and get altering!

Be sure and check out the challenge

 plus

 you will see some of the most

Inspirational Journals from the rest of the team right HERE

Till next time

XOXOXOX

List of materials and links -

Gesso

Faber Castell Gel Medium

Pan Pastels from Mixed media sets 1 & 2

Dylusions Ink Sprays

Idea Ology Chit Chat Stickers

 Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Vintage Photo

More Quick n Easy Cards and an Art Journal Spread

Hi everyone, Micki here.

I have been in card making mode so I wanted to share several more CAS style cards.  First up is a card that was inspired by Julie's "Morning Sunshine" card several weeks ago.  I had received my eP package with Christy Tomlinson's She Art Flower Stencil by Pink Paislee and decided to use it on my card:

supplies listed at end of post

I used my Inkssentials Foam Blending Tool, dabbing Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink straight onto the card base.  I added the sentiment from Wplus9's Strictly Sentiments 1 stamp set which was stamped onto scrap white card stock and then cut apart.  Added some rhinestones in the corner and called it good. 

Then I played some more with another  Wplus9 set,  Quilt Prints.  

supplies listed at end of post

I have to confess that this is the first time I ever attempted to create a stamped background like this.  But using the Fiskars Stamp Press made it really easy and fast.  I am loving both the  Quilt Prints and the 
Strictly Sentiments 1 sets.  Endless possibilities!

And one more...... this one I used Donna Downey's Wayward Blooms from Unity.  However, instead of using ink, I used paint and I absolutely love that effect:

supplies listed at end of post

I really had fun creating these cards.  It was fun to use items that are geared more towards mixed media, such as the stencil, on a card.

With all this card making, I did neglect my Dylusions Journal this past week.  But I thought I'd share one I had created a while ago:

This one was all about using lots of paper scraps for the house, lots of paint and Faber-Castell products.  You can see more pictures and read more detail about it on my blog HERE. 

Talking about stencils, paints and stamps, have you seen all the NEW ITEMS at the ecclectic Paperie shop?  I literaly jumped up and down with delight.....definitely check it out!

Stenciled HB Card Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Quilt Prints Birthday Card Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Wayward Blooms Card Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Home Art Journal Spread:

InLinkz.com