Dem bones

 I am a bit house-bound this week (have decoraters in) hence the amount of stuff  I am producing! 

Today I got a new stencil.......the  rib bones/skeleton seen here........so decided to have a play with it.

 Used a skull stamped on seperate paper and cut out to go with "dem bones".

 

These pages are worked in one of my dearly loved Moleskine journals......I love the way they are now so fat and bent out of shape:)

 

I am so special!

Today I made a book.......I sometimes forget how much I like making books then I make one and it comes back to me!

 I used a new set of stamps, they are from KATZELKRAFT......I just LOVE that chimp image!

This is the front cover......

......back cover............

 

.......and pages

 I used another of ANDY SKINNERS TIMEWORN techniques......this one is chipped rusty iron.....for the covers and page edges.

 ......here it is closed.

I used the paper from the pad I work on to cover a small journal.

 

Under a midnight sun

Things must be bad if even I think I've lost the plot!! And I definately did think that for a while about this journal page!

That said I absolutely love it now!

 Yesterday I took this perfectly normal postcard of a puffin and wanted to make a copy of it.....it came out all pink and orange and quite weird looking......think I need a new ink cartridge.....first thought was "darn" or something similar:)

 But the more I looked at it the more I sort of liked it!

 So, I used the pic along with some text from an Icelandic newspaper to make these pages.

 I know its kinda weird looking and not the right colours etc etc but what the heck...

...I LIKE IT.......

..and that's what matters!

MIDNIGHT SUN PUFFIN.

Scary skull alert!

 I had another go at Andy Skinners AGED IVORY technique.........this is the before and after of my cheap and nasty plastic skull from Asda!

 I added some rub-on letters just for fun and to give a slightly mysterious touch!!!!!

 I used this stuff.....an acrylic wax .....as a final coat.....when dry you can buff to a shine and I think that adds to the ivory/old bone feel.

Gargowl

 I signed up for ANDY SKINNERS TIMEWORN online workshop......it started a couple of days ago..........this is my first attempt at one of the techniques......he calls it Aged Ivory.

 I started with this terracotta owl thingy.......forgot to take a pic of the front before I started but you can get an idea of the colour from the back.

 This is how it came out......not sure the surface was quite right, ivory needs to look more polished I think but I do like it nevertheless!

 Could have just left it like that but I had this book lying around so decided to cut a niche in it for Mr Gargowl

 here he is in place!

Something

 to crow about!!

Well, I'm not sure I have anything to crow about.....apart from finally getting back in the studio after several weeks break..........but I needed some words to go on this page and these fitted!

 I bought these serviettes in Iceland.......I used some of them on these pages.

 

It was fun getting inky and messy again.............I missed it!!

Home again, home again!

  I'm back from my latest travels!! 

Unfortunately we had to cut our trip a little short as my friend had a family issue to deal with and had to return home so we didn't get to Vienna........there is always another day! 

That said I had a good time!

gain

   We started in Bratislava....capital of Slovakia. 

It has severe Soviet apartment blocks seen here through the New Bridge....

 a city view from a church tower

 ....loved the churches with their cupolas....

 and there is some fun street art!

 We moved onto castles.........

 ......coal mines.......

loved the art in the entrance hall.....not so sure about the mine itself.....bit scary!

 ......old villages..........

 ....painted houses...............

 .....wine tasting in a traditional wine cellar......greeted by a couple in traditional costume......she confided that her costume was very uncomfortable......she couldn't sit in it or go to the loo!

 Traditional cakes cooked over an open fire........absolutely delicious!

Wine  cellar said to have been started by the Templar Knights!

  Lovely town views!

 

And finally.........this was my hotel room for the last 2 nights.....very pretty!

After my summer of travelling I'm looking forward to being at home and getting back in the studio......it's been so long!!