Sall the Crafty Baker

It appears there is one reason or another for keeping me from my Thursday Adventures so this week I am sharing some photos of a foggy morning. 

I have collected a lot of stamps from  Hobby Art  because I love them, they are of images I feel passionate about, they are of superb quality and most importantly they are good value.  For this double art journal page I have used a combination of about 6 different sets of  Hobby Art  stamps and a couple from a set I had free on a magazine just before Christmas {It's probably best I don't discuss the magazines as they appear to be all adverts at the moment.}.  The text reads:  "Pause, Take a breath, let nature calm your soul" ⒸSallie Baker 2019 I've stamped with Archival ink and coloured with Derwent Procolour pencils and I'm afraid everything is fussy cut from the larger images to the fiddly caterpillars and ladybirds.  The background is using distress inks for the grass and gelatos for the sky.

I was inspired by a friend to make some hanging decorations, she hangs random things from her kitchen cupboard handles.  I knew I wanted to gift them so I tried hanging photo frames but they were large and clumsy and didn't really hang that well.  In the end I used what is described as baubles and inserted a photo before gluing them shut.  I then stuck individual gems around the seam. Gosh was that a challenge and half?  The darn things just wouldn't stay on unless they were only glued 2/3 at a time.  Then I had to wait for the glue to dry solid before I could do the next one.  They took far far longer than I could ever have imagined but I hope/think they went well and if not the bauble and photo can be recycled!

Due to funerals and an interesting start of the year there has yet to be a Thursday Adventure so today I am sharing some cakes with you.  I made an Orange Battenberg, my take on Lamingtons, and a moreish mincemeat bite. 

I said late last year I wanted to do more art journaling and so far that's working really well for me.  I have almost finished one of my art journals and I like to have more than one on the go so I can do something whilst one is drying.  That meant a new journal needed a cover.  I like to have something that encourages me to be free in my journals on the cover and I also wanted to address a difficult conversation I had on Christmas Day.  I wanted to remind myself I had the strength needed to overcome the negativity hidden somewhere in the depths of me yet as a cover I didn't want it to be negative or too revealing.  With those things in mind I decided I would use the theme  hidden depths, whether that be ocean depths, deep inside yourself, deep space or to be honest it can be interpreted in whatever way you wish.  Which is how I realised I had inadvertently covered another topic.  Lately I was made aware of how someone who isn't deaf and has...

Welcome to a new Challenge at  International Art and Soul  this fortnight is an easy one to get you started.  This one is Movies.  Unfortunately I am struggling with the incentive when it comes to cards and I just cannot face the stress, especially as I'm not a natural card maker.  I've made an art journal page. I have used: Brushos {for the grass} Distress oxides {for the sky} Dylusions paint pens and glitter {for the clouds} Wow copper embossing powder {for the quote } Bumbleberry Paper Crafts Wild About You  stamps, this is a new company for me and their service is exemplary.  I highly recommend them and the quality of their stamps. My quote reads "If you allow it you can be happy anywhere" ⒸSallie Baker 2018 I have chosen the film "We Bought a Zoo".  Or at least I think it was a film as well as a book.

Over at  Ikes World Challenges  the theme this month is Animals.  The challenge is open to everyone and if you prefer you can dip your toes in with anything goes. Ike always does a stunning a freebie and of course you can purchase her images at  Ikes Art . Keeping with the intention at the end of the last year to only make cards using methods I enjoy I have used brushos for the background.  I sprayed the watercolour card with water and various colours of burshos. I left it to dry naturally because that intensifies the colours.  Then I added a quote as if I was making an art journal page.  The quote is written by me and reads "An animals spirit shines as bright as a starburst". ⒸSallie Baker 2018

Yup another one and I should warn you there could be a fair few more as I am loving making these.  Yet again I have used an  Ikes Art image for the magnet

During the hassle with a broken fridge freezer some of my larger magnets were broken so I've been colouring up so to replace them.  This one is my favourite, I've used Derwent pencils to colour the lake image and quote.

Welcome to a new year at  International Art and Soul  the challenge this fortnight is an easy one to get you started.  This one is Cats and Dogs.  Unfortunately I am struggling with the incentive when it comes to cards and I just cannot face the stress, especially as I'm not a natural card maker.  I've made a friend some coasters for mugs/glasses or they can be hung to make decorations.

I am making fridge magnets again, I love how they brighten the kitchen and add a touch of home made individuality to the room.  I also want to take this opportunity it explain why I use so many of  Ikes Art Images .  It's not because I have to but mostly because they are what I need for what I am doing.  It's not just that though, if I'm stuck for inspiration at any point I flip over to the store and come away with far more ideas than I need or can deal with.  This library image not only inspired me but it really is me I could read constantly and not realise the time.