Woweee! Available now .... !!

Ooooh I have been very excited about sharing 

this news with you all :-)

So many of you have e mailed and asked if I would offer on-line classes for art journaling, and I was thinking about it, I was ........ But then Traplet Publications (Craft Stamper Magazine UK) asked if I would be interested in making some art journaling DVDs. My first reaction was to run screaming from the room ... ha ha ha ... but then I got a grip and thought .... why not? 

So, now these DVDs are ready :-)  In DVD 1 - 'Art Journaling - Right from a blank page' - you see me discussing colour theory, demonstrating equipment, and then preparing several backgrounds in my journal in real time. Because this is in real time it means that you can play along at home, and then rewind and play along as many times as you want to! I show you several different ways to make backgrounds including finger painting (my fave!), blending colours with a brush, scraping colour with a credit card,  and spraying with ink sprays. You know how much I love colour and layers? Well, it's all here in this DVD.

In DVD 2 - 'Art Journaling - There are no mistakes in Art' -  I complete the pages that I prepared in DVD 1, again all in real time. I show you how to look for images on the internet, ideas for placing them on the page, how to use stamped images on your pages, and lots more!! I feature lots of fabulous collage artists and stamp manufacturers including Stampotique, Tumblefish Studios, Crowabout Studio B, Itkupilli, Rian Designs, Lisa's Altered Arts amongst others (links to all of these can be found in my sidebar). You see me painting with Dylusions, Golden Fluid Acrylics, and spraying with Dylusions ink sprays and Adirondack colorwash. You even see me journaling on the pages :-) Lots of ideas for journaling and all my background secrets revealed!!

You can buy DVD1 and DVD 2 singly, or as a box set. They run for aaaaages - and it's all delivered in my finest Yorkshire accent LOL!

If you want to know more or purchase the DVDs have a look at the Traplet shop here, and keep an eye out on my blog over the next few weeks as I'll be offering freebies. I'll also be setting up a Flickr group for anyone who would like to share art journal pages completed after watching the DVDs so watch this space...

Here's what Traplet has to say:

Whether you’re new to art journaling, or want to find new ways to let your imagination and creativity flourish, you’ll find Kate’s enthusiasm, skill and knowledge inspirational in this double-disc Art Journaling box set.

More information

In ‘Art Journaling – Right from a Blank Page’, discover the equipment you need to start mixed-media art journaling, with a guide to the journal itself, as well as paints, inks, pens, stencils, rubber stamps, useful ‘junk’, and anything else you may need. Learn how to prepare your journal pages for mixed media, and how to handle and blend acrylic paints. There’s also a handy guide to colour theory where you’ll learn which colours go together and which don’t. Lastly, Kate shows how to add depth to your backgrounds by adding layer upon layer, with more acrylic paint, colour washes, ink sprays, stencils and rubber stamps. 

In ‘Art Journaling – There are no Mistakes in Art’, discover techniques for adding focal images to pages, finding and using images on the internet, digital collages, rubber stamped images, collaged borders, grounding the images and unifying the page.

Learn how to journal on the page, what and how to write, places to look for inspiration and a gallery of Kate's work.

I am ALWAYS interested in any feedback, so if you do purchase my DVDs, then feel free to e-mail me (there's an e-mail button in my sidebar) and let me know what you think.

Hope you enjoy!

June at last!

Bold Birds by Maryse Carrier - Stampotique

Alphabitties by Jill Penney  and Daniel Torrente - Stampotique

Flourish from Artful Flight by Tim Holtz

Paints and inks by Dylusions

Did you think I hadn't managed to complete my calendar page for June? Tsk tsk, how could you think such a thing? Of course I did a page ... just running a little late that's all :-)

Love these random letters, or 'alphabitties':

And loving these 'Bold Birds' by Maryse Carrier. I think they look cute nestling amongst a flourish!

I created some grungy background effects by flicking water on my page (you have to be feeling quite brave to do this!)

And here's the page in progress ... it looks soooo messy! When I am teaching art journaling I always say that every page has a cr*p stage but you have to work through it! If my pages weren't all firmly attached inside my Moleskine I think quite a lot of them would hit the bin before I had chance to finish them! So here's the cr*p stage:

Here's the page with a few things balanced on top as I decide what to add next ....

I am still in the process of exchanging rooms with my son. He's going to get a bigger bedroom and I'm going to get a smaller craft room ..... hmmmm. However I am determined that it will be small but beautiful, and it will be mine all mine haha! In the meantime the plasterers have been so my art supplies are in our bedroom, my daughter's bedroom, the bathroom, the landing, the dining room and anywhere else you can think of! Its a little frustrating when I am trying to find something, but on the other hand I have discovered things I haven't seen for years! There may be a big e-bay clear out coming up soon .....

If you haven't added your June calendar pages yet, don't forget you can add them here. I think I have now managed to get round and visit all the calendar challengers but let me know if I missed you! Wonderful work as always everyone. I'm impressed that you are all keeping up - we're nearly half way through already!

Thanks for all your advice re: leaving comments on blogger; I have discovered that Safari works well, whereas Internet Explorer doesn't. I know that some of you are still struggling with blogger issues so maybe this will work for you too.

Byee for now.

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

Is it June already?!

Wow, the months are flying by aren't they? How did it get to June already?! Well, here's another month that has caught me by surprise ..... June's pages are not quite ready .... let's just say it's a work in progress and I'll blog it soon LOL! But I wanted to share May completed with you just to prove I'm not completely slacking ...

Well done to everyone who is still in the challenge, it has been a real pleasure visiting all your blogs and seeing the imaginative and different creations every month. There is a link at the bottom of this post so do link up and share what you have for the coming month :-)

If you have been keeping an eye on my sidebar you will know that it is Preview Day at Art from the Heart this Saturday and I'll be teaching a mini class, along with Dyan and Sandy. This class is now full but if you're visiting AFTH don't forget to stick your head round the corner and say 'hello'.

Full details of my up and coming art journaling classes at Sam Taylors (Embsay Crafts) in Skipton, North Yorkshire are now on the website here and on their blog here.

Class 1 is on 11th June and is a beginners' guide to art journaling.

If you have always wanted to have a go at Art Journaling but didn?t know where to start then this is the class for you. Kate will gently guide you through the basics from preparing your pages right through to completing a page or two. You will learn how to add colour to a page using acrylic paints, inks and pastels as well as which colours go with which and how to blend them on the page. Kate will give you some tips on how to add images successfully to your pages before you finally add some journaling and doodling. But be warned art journaling can become addictive and you may find that once you start you won't be able to stop!

Class 2 is on 25th June and takes you a bit further:

If you already have some experience as an art journaler, or if you attended the Beginners Guide to Art Journaling Class then this class is for you. In this class we will be looking at more advanced techniques for creating colourful and vibrant backgrounds using stencils, rubber stamps, junk and more. There will be hints and tips for how, where and what to write on the page with plenty of journal prompts. Art journaling is all about the journey and the process, so this is a time to let your creativity flow.

I think there are limited places left on these classes .... maybe I'll see you there?

Acetate challenge

Minkygirl by Daniel Torrente

Daisy Daisy and Big Bee by Jo Capper-Sandon

Whatever by Carol's Collection

for Stampotique Originals

Inks and paints by Dylusions

Over on the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog, Willy has challenged us all to make something using acetate. I think this is a fab challenge as acetate is so versatile and has soooo many uses. You can make your whole creation of acetate or just use a little piece of acetate in it… there are so many possibilities. Of course, you don't have to rush out an buy acetate if you don't already have some as it is used as packaging on so many things. A quick rummage in your cupboards should result in a bit of acetate!

Please remember, this week is a Stampotique Originals stamps only challenge so take out your Stampotique stamps and join in for a chance to win a $30 gift certificate to shop at Stampotique Originals.

I chose to make a tag which I cut with the Tim Holtz large tag die. I cut it again in acetate and then removed a portion of the card to reveal an acetate panel. I stamped on the panel with StazOn which works perfectly well on acetate, and then coloured the flower heads with a Sharpie poster paint pen (Posca pens are very similar to these). I stamped the Big Bee wings onto acetate and added these behind Minkygirl, before adding one of my favourite quotes 'whatever'! I think that I will eventualy add this tag to an art journal page ...... maybe....

Thank you all for your kind words and comments re: Bailey (see previous post). She is really settled and is a gorgeous pooch! Sorry that I haven't got back to anyone - been a busy busy girl this week and haven't had time for blog hopping :-(  Hope to catch up with you all soon.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee