A challenge, some journaling and a whippet!

Nether by Daniel Torrente

Crown and heart cube by Jo Capper-Sandon

Bella by Josie Cirincione

All by Stampotique Originals

Hmmmmm, the challenge set for us this time over on the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog was set by Joanne. Joanne is the queen of all things clean and simple so of course her challenge to us all this time is to make something clean and simple. YIKES! As I usually have about 17 layers of messy, inky, grungy stuff on my creations this one took me right out of my comfort zone. Still, that's the point of a challenge, right?

I used the gorgeously gruesome Nether as my main feature stamp and I couldn't resist adding the word Bella right underneath her! If you fancy playing along with this challenge have a look here where you will find all the details and plenty of inspiration. As it is the first challenge of the month you can use any stamps although it's great if you choose to use Stampotique of course, and don't forget there's a $30 gift certificate up for grabs for one lucky winner.

Here's a couple of close-ups of the stitching with a bit of added text, I added to my CAS creation:

OK, back to the grungy stuff! A little while ago I taught a class on art journaling on a mini scale at Art from the Heart, to a full and wonderful class. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me as it is still being repaired ....grrrrr ..... however you can see some of the fantastic work created if you have a look here:

Ann

Poppitt

Ciara

Rosie

Pat

Liz

For some people on the class, art journaling was a first, infact some hadn't really used paints before so getting their hands messy was a bit of a shock! But they all did a brilliant job :-)

This is what I made during the day:

Paints and inks by Dylusions

Image by Lisa's Altered Arts

And here's a grungy background which I didn't quite get round to finishing on the day:

Paints and inks by Dylusions

Stamp by 7gypsies

But here are the pages, finished, side-by-side:

Thanks for all your lovely comments about Bailey, our re-homed whippet. She has settled in extremely well and has made herself at home. Here she is after a particularly exhausting run after a tennis ball :-)

And finally .... sorry if I haven't left you a comment recently but BAD BLOGGER is still not allowing me to leave comments on blogs. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't. Today it is repeatedly asking for my password so I cant get any further than that *sigh* I'll be round just as soon as I can.

Byeeeeeeee for now