Crusades: braving the elements

Today I found time to join the Crusades once again. Michelle’s last Crusade is here. The challenge involved making some paper snowflakes. We all made them at primary school so how hard could it be. In my case, quite hard as it tuned out. I seem to be snowflake-challenged. Seriously! I ended up going to a kindy page on the net and following their instructions. That’s my rather embarrassed admission for the day out of the way…

I made 5 snowflakes, following the instructions for 6 year olds, and ironed them flat seeing I had the iron on already. I had gessoed my journal pages right at the start, as Michelle suggested.  I brushed color on let it dry a bit, misted with water and blotted to get a splotchy effect. I dry-brushed colour around and over the snowflakes, overlapping them to get partial images, and then wiped some gesso onto the flakes to mute the colours a bit. Once everything was dry I glued my flakes down on the page.

They’re not my favorite pages ever as they stand, but I want to leave them like this so I can journal over them later. They’re a great beginning though, and that’s very cool. And, as Michelle said it would be, this Crusade was a good reminder of skills we have learnt in the past. So some on, what have you got to lose? Get cutting!

Comments

24 responses to “Crusades: braving the elements”

  1. Shonna Bucaroff Avatar

    Great work! I love the colors you used!

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  2. Jan Jenitis Avatar
    Jan Jenitis

    Yes, you selected great colors (of course since mine are similar). Your pages are beautiful. I almost never like background pages until I complete them with the focal images. It really makes a huge difference. Glad you had fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog too!

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  3. Janet Avatar

    Don’t feel bad about your snowflakes. I couldn’t remember how to do them either and had to resort to google to give me instructions. I love the soft colors you used.

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  4. Maria Avatar
    Maria

    I think they turned out great! tho when i first say them, i saw wonderful hibiscus flowers, rather than snow flakes! maybe try it again in tropical colors! 😉

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  5. michelle ward Avatar

    Cath – I am cracking up at how many women have forgotten how to cut snowflakes 🙂 It’s a great lesson itself, to step back in time and recall the many things we used to be able to do….Thanks for sharing your pages. I think they are lovely as is….they represent part of a journey.

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  6. Lay Hoon Avatar

    Your journal page turned out very nice.
    I dunno know how the snowflakes looks alike 🙂 May be there are in many forms.

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  7. regina Avatar

    I think your pages are really sweet, esp. the bottom one.

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  8. Goudenregen Avatar

    Love your pages and yes I also had trouble with snowflakes, but I don’t remember we made them at school! I find it hard to start journaling on a page, always afraid to spoil it.

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  9. Dawn Avatar

    I am so glad that I’m not the only one who had to google how to cut snowflakes! I love your page…and your snowflakes turned out AWESOME

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  10. Susan Avatar

    You are brave!! I was too chicken to even try to make snowflakes!! I love the layered colors, very peaceful! thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my page! xoSusan

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  11. aztecmichelle Avatar

    Great colours and the snowflakes are just lovely.

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  12. Chris Avatar

    You didn’t like the pages? Those colors are GREAT. I love your 6 year old snowflake cutting.

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  13. Jane Avatar

    Hi Cath,
    Your pages look great! I’m glad to know I was not the only one who had to google “paper snowflakes” haha! Your colors are beautiful and I love the texture!

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  14. Mona Avatar

    Your page turned out beautiful and it will make a nice backgpound if you want to journal over it later. As for the snowflakes, truth is I did none of this stuff as a kid. Doodling is something else I am really bad at hah ….as long as it is fun it is ok. Take care! Mona

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  15. Kim Mailhot Avatar

    Always fun to act like a six year old whenever you can, I think ! I think these pages will make a great background and taking time to play is always a good thing too, right?
    Nice job, Crusader !;)

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  16. Babs Avatar
    Babs

    Hi Cath, I’m smiling, as I think these look great. If they aren’t suiting your fancy now,,,theycertainly will as a background.
    It’s strange,,,but often I do not follow instructions well, and do far better on my own. Maybe not so with snowflakes though!
    🙂

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  17. Babs Avatar
    Babs

    PS: I just noticed “Framework” below, and I ADORE it!
    Big thumbs up!

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  18. Julie Avatar

    I am really loving all of the color interpretations for this crusade…your pretty page is no exception. Really nice!

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  19. shootergirls Avatar

    This is indeed a perfect page for journaling! Your snowflakes remind me of butterflies – two of my favorite shapes!

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  20. carolanne Avatar

    These are beautiful. Love the colors. I know someone who just got back from your country. They were really happy it was warm there 🙂

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  21. Belinda Avatar

    Hi Cath

    Love the contrast of the blue and pink – may have to try that on a project in the future! Love your blog! B

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  22. Jane Avatar

    Hi Cath, your flakes turned out beautifully! I love the colors too.

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  23. fabricfan Avatar
    fabricfan

    I love the second one the most, I could sort of sink into it. I have been looking at several of your posts, you do lovely work.

    Like

  24. Becci Avatar
    Becci

    Thanks for visiting my blog! I think saving your snowflake project for a journal page is a gresat idea!

    Like

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