Wanderlust 2021 - Week 39

On my goodness - it's been months since I did my last class - not game to look back, but I know it's a fair few!

Anyway, I thought I'd give this weeks class by Kate Crane a crack to get back in the swing - I really enjoy the process but with my studies and life in general at the moment, the small quick projects are what I can manage.

I did go off course just a touch, but I love the outcome.

Lucky I decided on a set of colours I would use through the year at the beginning so I didn't have to think about that too much.
The butterfly is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Transparent wings set.
There was some quotes provided but I decide to go with some from my Bonkers file from Michelle Grant Designs.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 Week 18

Gosh, I loved this weeks lesson with Maremi.....and I don't normally like doing collages as such.

We are still on the recycled theme so used papers in our stash.

I honestly love this page.

I got out some old pages from my stash along with some ephemera I had printed out from TLCreates Vintage Monthly Club files and maybe some others that are mixed in my bits and bobs stash box.

Some white Gesso and my black Aquarellable pencil.

I also got to use on of my wash off brush napkins - this is actually the second layer in (napkin is 3 ply hand towel) and just perfect for this page. When I paint, I have a paper napkin beside me and wipe it off onto it after I wash it in the water. Generally I have it folded in half so when I open it to dry I get the colour variation. 

Now you can't get more recycled than that!

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 Week 17

This week at Wanderlust we have Kasia Avery giving us a lesson with recycling old magazines to create a collage.

I normally do a double page layout, or 2 pages, but this week just the one page.

I used 4 pages from an old Elle Magazine with the added bonus being Edwina with baby Molly on the bottom half of the top page.  Funny how things turn out.

I have used some ribbon/lace for texture and oil pastels to complete.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 Week 16

I loved this week's class at Wanderlust 2021 by Dyan Reaveley.

I went with my 3 main colour combo I decided to use this year for Wanderlust, with the addition of Black. It makes it easier when you don't have to decide on colours to use.....lucky my are a warm combo.

I got to use my new Buddha 1 A4 stencil from ColourBlast that was designed by Michelle Grant.

Also used the Distorted Chess stencil by Visible Image and one from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps that I can't recall the name of. Another 2 stencils from my stash as well.

White and black gel pen for outlining and writing.

I found 2 great snarky quotes to use - the one in black you can read pretty well,

"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!"

The one in white says:

"I am practicing mindfulness, compassion and kindness, so don't piss me off!"

Loved them both.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 15

Wanderlust 2021 week 15 and Kate Crane has us using the Geli Plate again.

Now I'm not going to lie, I was pretty happy to be using the geli plate again and in reality, I really thought this would be way easier than it was! 

I won't say they are failures, but they aren't great either!

So the left is my first print, using an acrylic paint that was too light. The right is my second attempt and now I have gone too dark with the acrylic paint that the alcohol ink doesn't really show the stencil pattern. I have to say I do like the left print as a background though.

So with the silhouette stencils on, I like them a lot more now.

I used my new stencil from Bee Arty called The Owl and the Pussy Cat - designed by Michelle Grant.

I also like my book page that I used to clean my brayer and the stencil with.....all ready my another project down the track!

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 Week 13

Here we go with Wanderlust 2021 Week 13.

The last month was so busy that I didn't even realise I had not blogged this one.

We had Kasia Avery teaching us about Silhouette's and using our Geli Plate.

Not going to lie, it just didn't happen for me because I forgot to mirror my 2nd image print.

So I had a very hard time trying to line up and imagine where it would be - end result still gives the idea of the class and next time I will remember (let's hope).

I do love the right page though - my image and excess paint from my brayer rolled off on book pages and a bit of stenciling. I really like how the black and white photo pops off the page. 

This is a photo (photocopied) from my family pictures - my husband's side. No one actually knows who the bride is, as there is no writing on back, but she is glowing and I love her veil.

I love the idea of using our own photo's and must get to scanning the others as I have so many from the early 1900's.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 Week 14

What a fun class this week with Wanderlust. 

Week 14 we have Nicole Warrington as a teacher and she has us discovering our "Spirit Tree".

Now I am not that good at drawing and least of all at trees!

I found a tree on the internet site suggested - unsplash.com that you can get free images to use.

Got my water paints out and made a start.

This tree in it's picture form resonated with me and my family roots both current and childhood family.

When I drew it, that bottom branch on the left is meant to represent myself (in my family) and also my son in our family - well, what do you know, it looks like I was playing hangman!

Anyway, we are both happy in our skin and love the solitude of our own company at times away from all the chaos.

I love the gold and blue splashes and really enjoyed the process of this class.

In fact, the more I look at my spirit tree, the more I am learning and "seeing" through it.

Writing up this post, I realise that my last Wanderlust posting was for Week 10! 

I did last week (13) but the two before just didn't appeal to me - and that's ok, I may do them at a later date. I will post my Week 13 tomorrow.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust Week 10 - Serendipity

Serendipity time over at Wanderlust this week.

I had a heap of fun just letting this go where it wanted to go.

I got my Distress Paints out that I haven't used in at least 3 years, maybe longer, and played around, covered up with white gesso and played some more with stencils.

So much fun with no expectations.

The only thing I was sure of was to use my coloured image somewhere in the layout.

My image is by Polkadoodles and is from her ULA's Life file. This one is called Inner Beauty. I had previously coloured her up with Distress Inks a few months back. 

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 9

Serendipity is the next theme over at Wanderlust 2021.

I must say that I really enjoyed this lesson.

How cool is that magazine image with White Gel pen doodling over it!

There is a lot going on with this page - as well as the magazine image, I have used pieces of different papers from junk mail flyers and wrapping paper, tissue paper with stamped image, acrylic paint, water paint, black and white gel pen along with a normal HB pencil. 

The initial layer you can't see any of is two ink sprays I put down first....you can just see a hint of my journaling on the right hand side done in HB pencil.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 8

This week we had Renee Mueller as our teacher and another great lesson.

This is my take on her project.

I like it a lot, and I know I will have fond memories down the track looking back through the journal.

I must confess that in general, I flick through the video, so to speak. No disrespect to the teachers, but I find all the talking and hand waving quite annoying, so I fast forward in sections to get the gist of it.

LOL, then naturally I go off on my own tangent and do the bits I can remember or that appealed .... sometimes I do actually flick through it again.

Anyways, I know I have the basics of this class and am happy with my page all about #AINLIFE - I work in a Nursing Home and at times it is more than trying to say the least. 

I love my job, but some days, well it just gets me down. Which is why I craft everyday, even just a little bit.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 7

Week 7 already! 

I mean really, how fast is the year going already!

I really enjoyed Kate Cranes class this week over at Wanderlust 2021.

I used an old photo from my husbands family side - it would be 1915-1925 I am guessing.

No one is sure exactly who, etc, but it and some others were in among the photo's during a clean out when an Aunty passed a few years back. 

I had started the Family Tree so I got to keep them and sort all the photos out.

No real thread, meaning to my layout but I did stick to my colour combo I am using this year so the colouring will look familiar. 

I have to say it is good to grab those four colours and just start to create without having to debate different combos with myself...

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 6

So this week I was not that enthusiastic about the Wanderlust 2021 class lesson.

I mean we aren't going to like every class we come across are we! and that is no disrespect to the teacher at all. 

So I watched the videos of her showcasing three different ways, thought no not this time and then after sleeping on it, thought why not give it a go and see what comes of it.......

I didn't watch the videos again, but went ahead with what I recalled watching and hearing from the day before.

I do remember her saying that once the background is done, it can look like a Hot Mess.....yep, nailed that part 100%. Mine looked like a Hot Mess in mud!

Well, that's were the stenciling can take that and make some sense with it. 

I used two stencils by Darkroom Door.

After the stenciling, I added a saying from Michelle Grant Designs "Silent" kit and have to say that I smiled and I do like how it finally ended up.

SO, if you don't like the class, do it with an open mind, give it a go and put your take on it.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 5

So much fun doing week 5 of Wanderlust this week!

This month our theme is Ephemera and Kasia was our teacher this week.

Such a fun page that brought a smile to me face after a tough week.

My boy is from Tim Holtz Paperdolls, washi tapes from my stash, papers from a 6x6 pack in my stash, some old music sheets and some stamps from some happy mail.

I even got to play with my Neo II Crayons and black Aquarellable pencil along with white and clear Gesso.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 4

Wanderlust 2021 and Week 4 is with Shay Michelle.

Wow, what a great class and new techniques learnt!

The class is taught with Blue water paint, but as I am trying to use the same colour combination through out the year, I went with a soft pink by Elena Art Pages. 

I am so glad I did as it has turned out beautiful!

So as I don't have any paper bags, I bought two bottles of wine so I could use the wider paper bag they come in - LOL, I had to actually ask for the bag.

I also used just normal table salt and it still worked out ok.

I used some sequins from Uniquely Creative instead of glitter and white and black fluid paint in small plastic bottles instead of paint pens.

It gives slightly different effects, but it's all about the process and learning.

It's also great to use what you have instead of buying more just for one or two projects and adding to the already ever growing stash.

I used a Kaisercraft stencil and a double butterfly die from Indigo Blu.

Assorted washi tapes and papers from my stash.

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 3

Wanderlust 2021 Week 3 is with Kasia Avery and we are doing self portraits.

I did one of these last year with Lifebook 2020, and I have to say, I still struggled to put the paint over the drawing.....I think I drew it better this year, plus this year it's a bit easier as it's front on so that helped.

But let me tell you, those glasses do my head in!

It turned out a bit more cartoonist then it was meant to, but I LOVE it and wouldn't change a thing.

Yes, even those wonky glasses!

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 2

Week 2 Lesson over at Wanderlust 2021 is A Garden of Wishes with Laly Mille - still with the theme of Reflection.

If you know me, you know that sitting and watching video lesson's is not my thing ... my mind wanders, and I generally flick through them just to get the gist of it....LOL, and yes, often then go on my own tangent. I am trying this year to not do that......well, week 2, and yes I started so well, but bam! off to Wonderland I went and this is my interpretation.

I am not a flower person at the best of times, and struggled with the idea of having a page of flowers.

So in my own little world, I stuck to my colours using Jane Davenport's Silky Skin Colorsticks.

I then added some white gesso with a small brayer and then my palette knife and looked at how I was progressing.

Now my thoughts at this stage was to use 2 of the leaves from the Stampin Up French Foliage stamp set with the colorsticks as well. I did this and thought I best add some with just plain black ink.

Now it was starting to look like something I could add a flower or two too.

Flicking through a few magazines I have, I came across this large flower bud in just the right colours for my page - Perfect!

I then looked at my sentiments in my stash and found the right one from my Michelle Grant Designs, Silent set.

For me, it reflects the change of season, or in the present moment, the changes occurring in our world. The one single bud in the middle is the hope that we become one and bloom again!

I really love how it ended up.

And I manged to get it finished before tomorrow's Week 3 lesson arrives in my inbox!

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!

Wanderlust 2021 - Week 1

I have started this year with a very heavy heart as we had to say goodbye to our beloved Bee Jay - a rescued Greyhound we adopted over 9 years ago. 

I started Wanderlust last year for the first time and managed to get through the first 5 or so months and then life got in the way with all things Covid related and the problems it brought with it. 

I had thought I would just start it over again this year and do it, but decided 2 weeks out that I would sign up for 2021 and start from fresh. 

I will endeavor to do each week as it comes. 

I will admit that last year I had signed up to 3 other year long courses and it was a bit full on, and no I didn't get any further with those either - so this year, just Wanderlust as I think it's the right one for me.

So, this month our Topic Theme is "Reflection" and our first class is with Kasia Avery.

My page is dedicated to our Bee Jay who was white and fawn, so my colours I have tried to reflect that.

I love how this page has turned out and think I will use these colours for this year.

I used a digital image and sentiment by Michelle Grant Designs (a wonderful Australian designer) from the file # 17 Covid, and printed the girl on tissue paper.

My colour mediums are acrylic paints by Mont Marte, Creative Pl (Aldi) and Derivan Student, Neo II crayons and Bic Kids pencils. 

Until next time, keep chasing white unicorns!