You Raise Me Up {Mixed Media Art Journal} @ STAMPlorations

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Happy Sunday everyone and a warm welcome to my new blog-follower-cum-new-friends Sue Reynolds and Payal Soni. It's been raining almost every day which is good for my plants nevertheless except the weeds grow faster of course. Later today I will make time pulling weeds and give the plants some store bought healthy food. I've been too busy to make compose fertilizer these days, soon I hope.

Today is another continuation of Sunday Stencil at STAMPlorations. Click here and check out the gorgeous tags my fellow teammates created.

I created a tribute art journal page of my late old man and in this picture was of him in his younger days in the navy. Speaking of navy one can't escape from discipline and that had always been his number one rule in the house {oh yes!!!}.

Once again I use part of song lyric. The first time I heard this song some years ago, I fell in love with it. At the time my heart didn't absorb the real meaning of it; it was just a song I loved listening to. Not until after the creator took my father to the other world when I realized this song is so powerful that my heart ache because not only I miss my old man but more than that; his lecture, his fried rice, his crafts, his guidance and the list goes on.

 I gave these pages lots of texture simply by gluing down tissue paper for the first layer followed by random drywall tape and mesh. Then I swipe heavy gesso all over them and let dry but unfortunately the cool air from drizzling rain took a moment to dry quicker so while waiting I checked emails and browse the internet, rather than using heat gun. There's a reason why I refuse to use heat gun which I will explain later.

 While the gesso was drying, I used some texture paste and swipe over a stencil for more textural surface and pattern. I love this diamond looking shape! Click here for details.

More up-close pictures..

 

Love the texture above? This was how it was done:

I didn't use heat gun to dry the gesso because I didn't want the drywall tape and mesh to stick hard and permanently on the pages so I can easily remove some of them slowly to obtain patterns. Don't pull too fast or you may rip off the page a bit but remember that I have already adhered the pages with pieces and layers of tissue papers in the first place for thickness so there won't be a big hole should 'accident' happens. If if does, no worries, be happy, just fill it up with gesso or paste and you can just glue the next page to these pages when they are completely dried. I think in art and mixed media work, if accident happy accident happens, there's always a way to cover it up. What d'ya think?

Notice the over access texture paste on the right (above). I think that's because the paste was thickly applied or wasn't semi-dry when I remove the mesh but that's okay. No big deal, chill out {smile}. I don't throw them yet as they will be used in my next mixed media project. In other word - recycle save money!

The wheel marine is a famous item in my parent's house. It's a symbol any navy man must have I suppose and because it is so significance to the Royal Navy around the globe, my father bought me a gold wheel marine pendant with an anchor in the center when I was young and still have it in my keepsake. I tied this wheel marine charm using one long string pull out from the drywall tape. Thank you Kak Long Lili for the charm.

~Update on August 29, 2016~

My wonderful friend Margaret Kieser asked me at Facebook: Just one question as you did not mention it in your blog post - why the inch ruler next to the photo?

Thanks Margy for noticing my lack of analysis on my write up,lol. So my answer is: His measure tape was his best buddy when he did carpentry or anything that needed measure. He measured zillion times before he cut. Also to signify him as meticulous.

 Now, if you ask me why I use shades of green, black and white is because my father's Ford cars as far as I remember had always been green. His Ford Anglia in the 70's was dark green and when he bought Ford Cortina in the 80's, firstly it was in brown until he spray painted by himself to metallic green. I'm not to sure with his Mini Cooper though; got to ask my Mother later {chuckle}. The car he bought for her was Mazda in white and later he spray painted to dark red, something different though,lol. Oh I heard you ask why many cars? Dad loved cars and he's passed that down to my only son who loves cars as well. Then Dad's home and its surroundings were all in white {similar to Navy's uniforms}, then off white, and then white again with bits of brown and grey {the same grey like Navy's ship} and black gate. Later he painted our rooms light pink and the kitchen light blue leaving the rest inside and outside WHITE! He also planted lots of green plants; he loved greens more than planting flower plants unlike Mom who adores orchids so that's why they match! 

Now you know why my hubby didn't approve the colors I chose for our own house wall because he prefers white the way Dad did...oh man!! Firstly it was white for so many years and I got bored. I end up painting the interior wall in moonshadow grey and light cream {amongst other favorite colors of him}. The girls chose pink for their room because they didn't want it white (and I was okay when we started painting it hate it! I call their room a cave room!! Plan to change color but not white they said. On that later). So, the exterior wall color of our house is you guess right - WHITE! So you see, after growing up for so many years with my Father, it's so hard to change what he had inspired and motivated me. I sort of keep his love in me hence this art journal is created to show my love for him will never die.

 Having said that, I am taking this artwork into these challenges:
1. Rubber Dance

2. ArtGrupa : Challenge 6

 Meanwhile, the Mixed Media Challenge at STAMplorations is still running until 31st August so get your entries in here and display this graphic below in your post to stand a chance of winning great prize.

That's it for now. Until I see you soon. Thank you for dropping by.

Hugs and smiles,

Enjoy Life's Moments

Hello there! Just to explain my silence in several hours to get this custom made card reach my client before time. I should have recorded her dance and happiness the minute she got this card that was ordered for her mother's birthday. 

I chose shabby and did some sewing at the edges.

I made the big rose with Sizzix die, punched some little flowers and leaves.

The banners were hand cut and distressed with blunt scissor.

Butterfly is often a must in my project {smile}. I also punched MS border punch for the hearts and tucked under the big rose. I would have added more elements but my brain told me to stop. I finished off my card by splattering white paint for additional interest.

I used this pretty sketch from Atlantic Hearts to kick start my card:

That's it for today. Till next time. Enjoy your day.

Hugs and smiles,

The Queen of My Heart @ Digistamps4Joy

Hi everyone! Wishing you lots of happiness. 
My project for Digistamps4Joy is here to remind you that the current challenge is lasting until the end of this month. Same theme Anything Goes with an optional twist of "add roses". My fabulous team-B-mates have created stunning projects for more inspirations. Click here to have a look. 

I have gone vintage this time {smile}. I've been meaning to scrap this vintage family photo long ago but never doable until recently. I needed the feel for it to make it right {chuckle} but I have a confession to make: I weep a bit and then a bit more during the making because I miss my father since his passing until now. Not easy being daddy's girl I guess {lol}.

If you are a fan of the Irish band boys that already split up couple years ago, you surely have heard their song 'Queen of My Heart'. Yes, I used to be a big fan of Westlife in the late 90's and up to now I still listen to their songs on You Tube while browsing the net or typing {like I'm doing now}. Pssst, and erm...still admiring their charming look while watching their old video clips and they still look hot in their 40's {teeheehee}. 

The chorus part from the song lyric used on my pages.

The background was adhered with paper strips, drywall tape and mesh randomly before I wiped gesso all over the page and let dry. Then I applied modeling paste through a stencil for more texture. Up next was adding some elements for interest. When satisfied, I started playing with watercolors. Yes I often use watercolors in my project. Love it!

I used digi image namely Rose Corner {click here to purchase if you wish}. I fuzzy cut the roses and glued them down with pva glue {love this glue so much}.

A little close up of my family photo but unfortunately my big brother is not in the picture. I have no idea where he was then; see I was just a baby in my mother's arm. Maybe he was the one who snapped this photo. We are a family of seven. My parents had two daughters between my siblings but they have been living in havens since babyhood. I have two elder sisters and two elder brothers but believe me, being the youngest child is not haven on earth no matter how great being a daddy's girl! {lol}.

Taking my art journal into these challenges:

1. The Artistic Stamper : ATG with stamping

2. Stamps and Stencils : Time to Take Flight

That's it for today. Until next time. Have a great week ahead and thank you for visiting me today.

Hugs and smiles,

Happy Happiness @ STAMPlorations

{My DT work for STAMPlorations}

Well, welcome to first Sunday of the month; a day I love to relax and read or should I say the other way round{chuckle}. If you think I am writing this post this minute, nope. I scheduled this post for Sunday on Friday night because I have agenda going on all Saturday at my eldest's boarding school. 

So, welcome to another episode of Stamplorations. That is correct. A new mixed media challenge starts today and as always it's anything goes except NO CARDS please.

I made a scrapbook page of my middle girl celebrating her 5th birthday in 2009. Time flies! 

I used crisscrossed ARTplorations stencil and texture paste to create diamond pattern.

I sprinkled glitters even though I am not a fan of glitters (lol).

The square frames are altered from library cards spread with texture paste and water colored.

I started off this layout by referring to this lovely sketch #130 from Scrap Club and flip it upside down.

Look forward to seeing your none cards mixed media creations by August 31 and please display this graphic below on your post to be eligible for the prize if you are the winner.

Until I see you again real soon. Take care.

Hugs and smiles,

LOVE brings you HOME @ Scrap Africa

{My DT work for Scrap Africa}

Hi everyone and here's wishing you a glorious August. I'm back again with newest layout. I can't exactly remember when was the last time I scrap; I think it was early June. Time pass by so quickly and we are living in August already?! So what did I do in July besides fasting in Ramadan and celebrating Eid afterwards that is coming to its end this week and also fighting eczema; yes, I did a lot of sewing and decorating the house. So I would say July was dedicated to spring cleaning and home decorating. It's a never ending process however. I keep changing things around the house. Do you?  Maybe I should do a blog post about home decorating. What d'ya think? Suggestions are welcome {smile}. 

Enough blab, lol. Here's another scrapbook page for my youngest child. She's always thrill every time I make her one even though she question, "Me again? Why not them?" referring to her big sisters and brother {chuckle}.

This month challenge at Scrap Africa is based on this mood board.

Pretty huh? I like the color combination between blue and purple. I simply focused on these two colors on my page. We would love to see your creativity here using this mood board before the month ends.

Here are some close- up pictures:

I used many scrap papers for layers from previous projects. Papers are so expensive and I can't bear throwing the tiny bits...

 My all time favorite Carla-Craft leaf punch used to punch some leaves and colored.

 The beads from my bead work and will soon sew beads and sequins on my eldest's dress that is in the making.

{hope to finish a.s.a.p because we will visit her at boarding school this Saturday being a meeting session between parents and teachers on report card day respectively to discuss about her academic progress and mid-year examination results she had recently...sounds no fun to any pupil I bet, lol}.

 I love distress ripping off the burlap for additional interest; something that drives me nuts if that happens while sewing {bahaha}.

 The more layers the merrier, think I've said that many times before.

Overall, I didn't use many elements to decorate my page this time; just some flowers and butterflies to adorn the page with some beads, gems and buttons. I wanted to highlight the layers more with watercolors and gesso afterwards.

I used this lovely sketch from Creative Club to kick start my page:

Until I see you again soon. Have a great time living life and take care.

Hugs and smiles,