Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday!

Hope you are well and having a good start to the week. I am a little late in posting this today as I had not one but TWO pages to finish and photograph – yay!

today’s art . . .

Today’s art is an art journal page which is a bit of a combination, inspired by two current challenges.  Before I get into it, I just wanted to say that I am so happy to have had some time to work on something and feel creative again – finally.  So here is the first page which might have you scratching your head a little… but let me explain…

The current challenge over on Kraft+ is to be inspired by the artist Banksy, and as usual, to use a kraft background. I’ve seen quite a lot of Banksy and I also have a book about him, and always liked this image of the cat and the rat, as well as the stencilled “this is not a photo opportunity” which can be found in various places around London, so I used these as the basis for my design,

I made my stencil from some alphabet dies – actually I nearly forgot but the white brick design is also made using a cardboard stencil made from a die about four years ago and it’s still going strong.  Above is also the book I mentioned.  I really like the cover image of the maid sweeping everything underneath but that was a bit much for my first journal page in a while.

Here is an example of where you used to be able to find “this is not a photo opportunity” right next to Big Ben which obviously IS a photo opportunity lol.  Ah the irony…

Here is the flying rat image from the book, which I based my journal page on with some tweaks of course.

My page is made from an old A3 kraft envelope.  Here is a closer look at my flying rat in the crosshairs, and the link to the second challenge.  The theme this month on Art Journal Journey is Play it again, Sam, so I used some lines from a Boomtown Rats song from 1977 – It’s a Rat Trap.  This was not my intention but I found myself singing that song as I worked on my rat and cat, so I decided to incorporate it into the page.  I’m so pleased to be able to join in this fun theme this month, life has been getting in the way lately.

I drew my little black cat with it’s paw on a spoon which it’s using to launch the rat into the air, then I decided to add a bigger cat behind using another stencil. I made from one of my cat drawings last year. More lines from the Boomtown Rats song are written along the bottom of the page.

The name of the artist, album and date of the album are written along the side, along with the date I finished the page.

t stands for  . . .

Tea stands for finally getting things posted lol.  Seriously it’s been a bit of a challenge!  I may have mentioned that we no longer have a post office, but they replaced it with a mobile post office (a van) which turns up twice a week at a scheduled time.  However, the last two times I have gone to post these packages, it has been AWOL.  I’m thinking possibly the Easter holidays have disrupted the schedule, but who knows really?  So twice I have gone there, and twice I have come back home with the packages.  Finally yesterday I had to drive to another post office in another town just so I could finally tell you all that they are on the way!  This post office lady did not look happy having to process all of these overseas packages as all of the addresses now have to be manually typed into their system and I had to complete customs labels for each one.  A queue was forming behind me lol.   My ticket to tea is this mug I got at Christmas from a friend – no tea in it though as it contains a candle but once the candle is burned away, the mug could be well cleaned and probably used for tea.

Now that all the craft stuff is hidden behind my bookshelves, there is room for the dining table in the middle of the room and plenty of room for Miss Lily to catch some sun and observe her human typing away at the computer.

Not to be outdone, Mr G joined her on the table to see what he was missing out on!  BTW both of them feature on my second page for AJJ which you can see here.

Happy T Day!   As always, thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Ingredients
recycled A3 kraft envelope, homemade cardboard stencils, dies, watercolour, gesso, black pen, Pitt artists pens, acrylic paint pens, stazon jet black ink

Challenges

Altered Book Lover – T Stands for – 
Kraft+ Challenge –
Banksy inspired (link is to blog, challenge held in Facebook group)
Art Journal Journey – Play it again, Sam (favourite movies or songs)

 

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16 Awesome Comments (btw comment moderation is on)
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pearshapedchris
April 27, 2022 9:54 pm

Oooh! This is brilliant! I love your cup and flowers and a big smile for getting your post off too!
Your cats are real stars! Belated Happy T Day, hugs, Chrisx

Iris Flavia
April 27, 2022 5:50 pm

Miss Lily and her boy steal the show!

meggymay
meggymay
April 27, 2022 1:53 pm

A fabulous journal page and I loved the Kraft colour background for the images you used. Thank you got linking to the theme over at AJJ and for the inspiration.
Yvonne

Bleubeard and Elizabeth
April 27, 2022 8:56 am

I am so sad right now. I saw your gorgeous peonies and realized how much I miss the ones my neighbor destroyed when he put up his fence. Mine had belonged to my grandparents and I had moved them for 30 years until he destroyed them.

BUT, I am here to talk about your incredible Banksy and Art Journal Journey spread. I love your handmade stencils. They are superb. Sadly, I’ve never heard of the Boomtown Rats, but I love how you interpreted the song, while staying true to the Banksy concept, too. Thanks for sharing it with us at Art Journal Journey using Alison’s theme.

Wow, I am glad I live in a town that still has a post office. I feel for you. Sorry the forms were such a pain, too. That’s a lovely mug, even if it is still a candle. Thanks for sharing it with us for T this Tuesday, dear Elle.

Sharon Madson
Sharon Madson
April 27, 2022 3:35 am

Great artwork. Loving Mr. G and Miss Lilly! Happy T Day!

Nicole/DVArtist
April 27, 2022 1:47 am

So glad you are creating such fun and lovely art. Your black cats are pretty impressive too. Have a good day.

Divers and Sundry
April 26, 2022 11:12 pm

We hear complaints about the postal service here all the time, but at least we have a post office that’s open on a regular schedule. Your situation must be frustrating! The cup looks like it’d be the perfect size for a cuppa something once the candle burns away. Happy T Tuesday

Kate Yetter
April 26, 2022 9:27 pm

Your cat page is so fun. I loved seeing all the inspiration behind it. I really love the vintage hands that you use to hold your pages.
That certainly is a lot of packages.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate

C J
C J
April 26, 2022 9:07 pm

Your journal page is so fun. The kitty launching the rat into the air made me laugh. Miss Lily and Mr. G. are just so gorgeous. Happy T Day

Erika N
April 26, 2022 8:23 pm

I must start this comment with a question. Do we know Banksey is a male? Everything says its a he, but since he is such a mystery…anyhow, just what popped into my mind. I do really love your Banksey inspired page. I love how you included bits from various pieces of work. And I bet it feels good to be making art again. I also love seeing the kitties basking in the sun. It sounds like you’re starting to get some cleaning really done…maybe ? Have a great T day Elle, and thanks for sharing this great journal spread with us at AJJ for Alison’s challenge. Hugs-Erika

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