Tuesday, January 10, 2012

What's on your workspace this 136th Wednesday?

I'm simply jumping for joy that I can once again join Julia at Stamping Ground and all my good friends who link up there. I have missed so many of you! This was a forced absence because my video card quit working and I spent a bit more than three weeks in the dark. Not dark like it is outside right now, but dark like without a computer and my link to the world.


So, on my worktable tonight is a new rocking horse I got as a Christmas gift, along with WOYWWendy and my monthly calendar. I must now make some new backgrounds for the book, since the book is quickly running out of pages that had backgrounds already created and ready to go.

After losing my first calendar, when I needed a replacement book back in April, 2011, I grabbed this one. The advantage was, every time I had extra paint, needed to scrape off a paint or gesso filled gift card,


needed to spritz/mist a flower or paper, or wipe my alcohol soaked stamps to remove staz-on ink, I would reach for this book. As a page filled with color, I would go to the next page. I got lots of depth in my pages this way, but most of that was lost when I began gluing the daily calendar "inchies" in place.


Most of the pages had backgrounds already filled in. But now, I need to work on a few backgrounds that need color since they are "next in the queue" (for those of you who live in the States and may not speak "British" or "computer programming," that means these are the next chronological pages in the book). This will not be the random colors that have appeared on my previous pages, so I'm not sure how these will look when completed. Probably more controlled and far less random.


But my friend Halle (who many of you will get to know because she has joined Darcy's postcard challenge) asked to see the pages from the side after I posted my completed 2011 calendar. Now I realize my camera doesn't do well with close-ups, so I hope these ripples will satisfy Halle's need to see these deformed pages before I deform a few more!

Have an awesome Wednesday and enjoy WOYWW. I've missed so many of you!

69 thoughtful remarks:

voodoo vixen said...

But don't you love the feel of paper that has been spritzed and painted and then hardened slightly when it has dried out? It's a very tactile looking side shot and I can almost here the crinkle as you turn the pages!!
So glad to have you back online... you have been sorely missed!!

jude said...

What fab idea and at the end your not wasting supplies inks ect and they become the base for your journal.Fab idea.Iwas wondering if youve received the wee gift i sent to you?it may be still some where in transit,do hope it arrives soon
Fab wednesday hugs judex8

VonnyK said...

Great to see you back online. I used to paint only on canvas but have discovered paper recently (mainly in journals and watercolour) but I love that feel of the paper when it gets all ripply and bumpy. What a great idea you had with the calendars.
Have a great week,
Von #19

sandra de said...

Welcome back!! That is a very clever idea and I think I am going to try it. Very pretty rocking horse in the background.

Cathy said...

YAY!! Wecome back, I have missed you and the little rocking horses! Fab journal pages, love the colours you have chosen. I need to be brave and have a go at a journal this year.
Happy WOYWW
Cathy xx (#24)

Leanne said...

WOW all your pics look fabulous!! Your pages look amazing!!

Happy WOYWW!
Hugs
Leanne #29

Tuire Flemming said...

Glad to have you and your rocking horses back! The way you are making the backgrounds is really a great idea!
Happy wednesday!
Tuire #33

Neil said...

Hi there; great creative space this week with lots to see! Thanks for sharing and welcome back. I like your idea of creating your pages using your daily creating leftovers!
Neil # 31

Helen said...

Welcome back, glad you are online again! Love the new rocking horse, and your crinkly pages look fab - bet they rustle beautifully when you ruffle them... and a great way to not waste left over paint etc.

Kirsty.A said...

WElcome back

Margaret said...

Fab to have you back! love your backgrounds and I will be keeping an eye on you, no getting out of this one, we will complete in December!! might even get you stamping on those backgrounds once in a while lol.... Mx

Cardarian said...

Your new hourse is just so lovely and I love your new pages! Glad you are back, this my first post since before Christmas!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

peggy aplSEEDS said...

welcome back, Elizabeth! i love this idea of having a book to wipe of extra paint. the one you chose is perfect because it lays open flat. hmm, now where will i find one like it? thanks for sharing!
hugs,
peggy aplSEEDS

Lunch Lady Jan said...

So lovely to see you again! Happy 2012 to you and Bleubeard xx
Love what you're doing with the pages, sounds like good ol' fashioned messy fun. We should all have more of that in our lives :D
Hugs, LLJ #26 xx

okienurse said...

Great to see you back in the virtual world again! I hate it when things I depend on don't work the way they should! Really rains on my parade! I like the look of the pages and I bet they are fun to look at too! I bet you can get some randomization going to blend them in. Thanks for sharing and have a great week! Vickie #50

Annie said...

Love the new rocking horse :-) That certainly looks like some fun messy play you've been having :-)
Hugs,
A x
PS Don't forget to pop over to my blog to make your guess and join in the celebration fun if you haven't already.....and good luck

PaperArtsy said...

Brilliant idea. I keep seeing people using a book in this way...why do I keep forgetting about it...I must do this, thanks for the reminder!

Leandra

Ann B said...

Love the new horse Elizabeth, you will be able to start a rocking-horse stable at this rate. Clever way of using up left-over paint and ink and isn't it pretty - love that coral red and blue combination.
Ann B
#38

CRAFTY WOMBLE said...

Hello *wave* thanks for your lovely couple of comments recently. Glad to have you back, do miss you when you are not around. Your idea of using excess stuff on blank journal pages is inspired. I might have to go and invest me in a blank journal at some point.
I do call myself indeterminate for good reason! I am looking on this period of my life as one to get together as many life skills as possible (in this case exploring many of the crafting ones and seeing which ones impact and stick!).
You comment about bed sheets was a good one. We don't have any useful ones preferring strange ikea coloured offerings. BUT the baby boy had cot sheets which have seen better and are now stained. Thinking cutting up some of them will be good idea. You will still have to wait until I can pick up some sensible fabric dying things though. (It looks like out flat could be sold real soon though and then pennies will be less scarce). Have a lovely week x

Sue said...

WOW i am in awe of anyone so creative and messy (please take this in a good way). Love your work,
Sue (68)

May said...

Love the rocking horse x Love the book and colours, must try one as I see lots on other blogs, Hugs May x x x x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi there Elizabeth, thanks so much for popping over, and for sharing. .. ah your wee little rocking horse think if your whenever I see them now...am glad you are back from the dark and so with us again! and having fun being inky in your diary with it multiple layers and many pages. Happy WOYWW! love, Shaz in Oz. x #30

Unknown said...

that is such a clever idea, i just thinks thats brill, well done

thanks for the snoop

Hugs
Judie xx xx

Glenda said...

Love the new rocking horse! Love your desk and the idea for the book! Happy WOYWW!

Inkypinkycraft said...

Super clever idea, must try putting all my Inky leftovers somewhere sensible, a fab idea!!love the mishandle of colours myself!!hugs trace x

Unknown said...

Hey ripply, deformed pages equals lots of creative love was applied! Looking forward to seeing more.
And, Welcome back- you were missed!
hugs,
Stephanie

KatzElbows said...

I love the ripple. It looks great and I'm sure you've had a blast.

MvM-design said...

Love the backgrounds!!
Thanks for sharing your desk.
Happy WOYWW!!
Hug Marleen ;-) #4

Elizabeth said...

Great to see you back Elizabeth and spot the new rocking-horse too - lovely. The ripple has photographed well enough I think. It seems you waste nothing :)) Elizabeth x #96

Katie said...

What an awesome idea for a calendar! Thank you for sharing your desk :)

Katie #10

505whimsygirl said...

Oh, I love that little rocking horse! So adorable. I love the idea of using what's leftover to prepare the pages in your journal. I actually signed up for an e-course that will start in March about journaling. Can't wait!!

Happy WOYWW

Kay #45

Terrie said...

A creative space for sure and thanks for the peek into your journal. I think it's about time I keep mine on my work desk so I can clean things off in it and make pretty pages like you!

Maria Moorhouse said...

Hiya, I love the book idea- i should do more altered stuff if i ever get time!

Maria x

Kim Dellow said...

Ooo now that is looking like lots of fun! Happy WOYWW from #57 Kim

Jingle said...

I love the rippled papers! They feel more artsy!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it amazing how dark the work is without a computer??? Glad you're back though. Love the journal pages, especially loved the story of how they became so random!

Hugs
Brenda 101

Sarah said...

A really fabulous idea - just loving those wild and free pages! Thanks for the peek in to your crafty space...Sarah at 6

Clare with paint in her hair said...

Love your book! cant wait to see more!

Twiglet said...

I love the new rocking horse and those pages look like fun! x Jo

Trish Latimer said...

Love the journal pages! I do the whole left over paint/ink thing too, but onto tags as i'm not a journaller (is that a word?!)
Fab colours!
Trish xx (66)

donnalouiserodgers said...

hmm, sorry the comments played you up, I knwo you always try to let me know you've been my way, I can't honetly say I always somment of all your blogs, I vist more often than I comment, mostly I'm glad you are visibly back, and that today you managed to leave me a comment, Wendy had problems last week too, I've had to ban a couple of IP addresses from commenting, I removed some code and, hopefully my issues are now resolved.

you did an excellent write up of what you think makes a good blog, and certainly giving and receiving comments deserves good etiquette rules, and I agree, one should not expect emails, however, if you appear to disappear again, be sure I'll try every means of contacting you.... including snail mail...

dx

Kyla said...

3 weeks without a computer.....Nooooo! Welcome back and you have some wonderful colourful pages there.

thanks for sharing
kyla

The Crafty Elf said...

Those pages are simply amazing! I've not tried that yet but it's on my list of things to do - it's a really long list! Glad you're back outta the dark, nothing worse! Thanks for the peek and see you next week!

Brenda said...

You inspired me to start my own monthly planner. I already had a Kraft blank journal so I think I'm going to use that. So enjoy visiting your blog and seeing the funky ideas you have. I mean that as a compliment as the word 'funky' is my overall word that expresses what I like to do.

SueH said...

Glad your back with us Elizabeth. Not having your computer is like losing an arm when it comes to crafting but at least you have it all sorted out now.

What a fab way to use up paints and other mediums that have been left over from a finished project. Using them to create a background on page in a journal most certainly saves any waste and as you say the background isn’t preconceived in any way.

Happy Crafting!

Sue
x

fairy thoughts said...

welcome back! What a great way to make background, I have sometimes done similar only on newspaper. have you thought about writing on the page the item you made on that page, it would be a great 'history'
happy woyww Ta for sharing
janet

Robin Panzer Art said...

Glad to have you back in virtual land! Lovely peek into your studio. What a clever calendar! ~Happy Paint Party Friday! #2 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

Robin Panzer Art said...

Whooops, I cut and paste my signature line and realized I grabbed the wrong copy line, let's try that again ..... oops just copied a pasted my final line and realize I grabbed the wrong clip…try again Happy WOYWW #17 ~Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

minnie_mac said...

Glad to see you back again. I have a similar book, but have not yet got beyond the semi created backgrounds !

Marilyn

Katie said...

Awesome! I'm really into altered books and journals right now :) They are just so relaxing to create! Thanks for sharing!

Katie (158)

~*~Patty S said...

brilliant use of your drips and drabs of paint and such...great waste not want not thing you have going E!
oxo

HeARTworks said...

That is such a great idea having a whole notebook to put all your excess paints, etc on! And it turned out really interesting! A wonderfully blessed new year to you and your family! Patsy from
HeARTworks

l00pyscraftcreations said...

I'm seeing how many I can get round this way.then when I have finished I'll come back again, that is if I can STOP reading all the posts first Happy WOYWW

LOu P

sarahp said...

Hi looks like a fab project , very creative..It all looks very organised.Thanks for sharing xxx

Julia Dunnit said...

Welcome welcome back...missed you! Must feel just like emerging, blinking, into the light!
I love the way you've arrived at the journal pages, so much more productive than just using scraps of paper to clean stuff off....hmmmmmmm...thinking on.......
Loving your translation of queue, I feel frightfully British! Now, I wonder how 'controlled' your next pages will really be...I suspect that we are working from different interpretations!

Halle said...

YES!! I love the deformed edges!! It's crazy but I love the wonky edges of altered books nearly as much as what is inside.

Halle said...

btw- your comment numbers have disappeared as well and the trash say delete like mine. HMMM.
I guess we'll have to look into that

Crafty Kitty said...

I've never seen anything quite like this before - very inspiring. Happy WOYWW

Bridget Larsen said...

Thats awful losing it all ( hee hee), sorry just saw the funny side to my comment. I am very lost without my computer or usb sticks or memory cards. I wondered where you were when I didnt see your name. Your book is coming a long really well, love the colours
Bridget #18

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I love looking at art journals with all their colored, spritzed and misted pages all crinkly and loved. That said I think it would make me nervous to do that to paper. I think I'll just sit back and admire from afar.

Hazel said...

Love the rocking horse and the fab pages - thanks for the peep at your workspace(Hazel, WOYWW 67) x

Neet said...

"Right arm cut off" springs to mind. Life is unbearable without a computer so can imagine how dark that place was for you.
Glad you got another rocking horse to add to your collection - have you ever told us how many? Think you have but would love to know again.
Love the look of your pages, imagine them all crinkly and stiff. They wilo look great when you work on them.
Hugs, Neet xx

Enfys said...

I love those papers, they are a work of art in themselves, and your rocking horse is adorable
hugs
Enfys

Claire Smillie said...

lOVE your page, so many layers!

Claire WOYWW#100

Canace said...

Ahhhh... I see the rocking horse!

Great idea.. Workspace Wednesday

Clever gal :O)

Jackie said...

Heck, I couldn't function without my lap top! How sad :)

bohemiannie! art said...

I know what you mean about being without your computer. Terrible isn't it?!? And I love the way you work!

DW Peot said...

Wow!! WOYWW fabulousness! I have wanted to try my hand at a calendar but I'm so afraid of going out of the lines for the background! I love it and can't wait to see the final one!
I'll go back and see if I can find your previous books too.
Hugs!
Debby

Anonymous said...

That's a cool idea -- using up your extra paints that way! I should remember to do that when my craft sheet is covered in leftover ink.