Pages

Thursday 31 December 2020

2020 Baker's Dozen

 Hello Creative Friends, 

The last day of the year has arrived which means 
I get to repost a handful of my favourite makes of 2020. 

As many of my personal favourites I've not shared this year I'm 
breaking tradition by starting with my favourite unshared piece 
which is also my last page as Guest Host @ Art Journal Journey 

The meaning of .. words. 

This journal page bares my outstretched hand resting on a painted 
foliage paper. Every day since creating this page I have placed a 
new word or affirmation in the hand to start my day.. words help. 
Today I'm placing Thank YOU a little word with a huge heart. 

Shared with gratitude to all those that have been supportive, 
shown kindness, strength and consideration. Been an ear or 
virtual shoulder to cry on or just believed in me... 

I thank YOU all.
 

Now time to share and revisit a tiny piece of my 2020








This little stamperia bird has been on quite 
a journey with me this year... 


I became very addicted to making these in 2020












Dr Maya Angelou


Thank you all so much for sharing your time with me

Let's hold on to hope that 2021 will 
keep all that is precious to us safe 
and a much happier one..

Creative wishes 
Tracey xx

Bringing in the New Year with: 

Wednesday 30 December 2020

WoywW 604

Hello everyone 
 
over @ Julia's Stamping Ground it's 
the last desk sharing Wednesday of 2020 


i'm happy to share that some things over the past year 
have stayed pretty much the same.. Happy little safe space...

WoywW #604

Creative New Year wishes 

Tracey xx

Monday 28 December 2020

Art Journal Journey ~ The meaning of.. Curiosity

 Hello Creative Friends

Did you take time out for you this Christmas?? 

This is my penultimate page as Guest Host @ 


I'm sure you've all guessed by now why my website is called 
Hotchpotch Creations, I find it hard to sit still with one 
medium, there's so much to learn, explore and mix together.

As a mixed media artist the importance of experimenting 
with things is vital, it explains what mediums can do with 
surprising results at times and helps me work out how to 
bring the vision I see in my head onto my page. 

Curiosity gives me confidence to create in my own eyes..

 
Starting with a stampendous owl's face he peeps through a torn page 
stained tea water & layers of modeling paste sprinkled with loose tea. 

Smudges of expanding foam heated and scraped using a fork, 
I revisited this page many times before I was happy with it's 
bark like effect. Painted with distress paint and a coating of 
clear gesso a stamperia bark stamp fills in any gaps. 

Making an impression in a piece of wet clay 
using a Tim Holtz red rubber stamp it reads.. 

*Replace Fear of the Unknown with Curiosity* 


Painted and attached to the tree bark page 
I used my finger like a paintbrush smudging green paint 
down the page, replicating tree moss and lichen.


Thank you all so much for joining me and sharing 
your wonderful creative talents @ Art Journal Journey.

Stay safe & ever creative 
Hugs 
Tracey xx

Sharing with: 

Thursday 24 December 2020

Art Journal Journey ~ The meaning of.. Christmas

Hello Creative Friends. 

I know Christmas starts on the eve for many of you 
so let me begin by wishing you Greetings of the Season... 

As Guest Host @ Art Journal Journey here's a journal page 
to share the love I have for those rich colours of the season. 

Upon a collage page there's a hand drawn and painted poinsettia, 
surrounded by die cut sprigs, with it's holly leaves and berries 
I finished with dots, dabs and snow white gesso splashes... 

*The meaning of..* Christmas: my gift to you


Christmas has a different meaning for us all, with gift giving and 
symbol of faith. The coming together of friends and family or just 
a time to wind down during the holiday before a new year begins. 

A time for reflection and to remember past loved ones,
it's certainly a different Christmas for us all this year.

Wishing everyone a safe 
and happy holiday. 

Creative wishes 
Tracey xx 

Sharing with: 
Paint Party Friday ~ Wk43 Yr10
Simon Says Stamp - Sparkle and Shine
Country View Challenges - December Anything Christmas

Wednesday 23 December 2020

Season's WoywW Greetings ~ 603

Hello everyone 

Gifts all wrapped and delivered knock door run style 😁 
at last I can see some space on my work desk for creative 
to do's come boxing day, I will have earnt the rest as 
I'm on Christmas Dinner delivery duties Christmas Day... 



Received this fabulous card from our Hostess Julia on Monday, 
this photo does not do it the justice it deserves it's a 
mighty pretty piece of festive mixed media. 

Thank YOU Julia 😘


and on the same day I received this, made me giggle!!
Hope it makes you all laugh too.. 

How ever you spend your day stay safe.. 

Happy WoywW Christmas 

Creative HUgs 
Tracey xx

Monday 21 December 2020

AJJ ~ The meaning of.. Winter

 Hello creative friends, 

So Winter begins.. frosty days and nights .. 

As a child every Christmas Eve i'd be taken to see 
the Christmas lights in the City and choose one present. 
Always a book or a set of felt tip pens.. 

 I used this napkin last December and remembered how taken 
Elizabeth was thinking I had drawn it, so thought i'd use it again. 

Can you see where the napkin finishes and where I begin..?? 


painting in a little toy shop there was always one on the high street full 
of dolls houses, the biggest of teddy bears and toys of children's dreams


Mesmerized by the twinkling lights, BIG show stopper star on the tree 
and the sweet cinnamon smells from the bakery filling the night air..


Wrapped up in my Winter coat, woolen mittens, scarf and hat 
I always hoped for a sprinkling of snow but it never came.. 

Warm winter wishes 
Tracey xx

Sharing todays creativity with: 

AJJ ~ My Theme .. *The meaning of.. * Winter
Try it on Tuesday ~ Christmas Sparkle
Country View Challenges ~ Anything Christmas

Sunday 20 December 2020

A little Tree Dressing...

 Hello everyone, 

How you all keeping ?? 

My Christmas Tree is taking a break this year, 
I just couldn't face decorating it alone, always 
something we do as a family but like most families 
they are all staying safe in their own homes in 2020.

A small potted Christmas Tree takes it's place with 
hope it will survive the move outdoors in the new year.

In need of a little decoration I thought i'd paint these 
stamperia paper clay baubles to brighten things up a little.


Dressed with Tim Holtz pine twine, wired beads, tinsel and berry bells..


they remind me so much of the mercury glass baubles 
from my childhood and bring some indoor vintage cheer.


Wishing you all a super, safe Sunday. 

Creative wishes 
Tracey xx 

Sharing with: 


Thursday 17 December 2020

AJJ ~ The meaning of .. creative confidence

 Hello creative friends 

don't be startled it's only me with my brave face on.. 


I really didn't intend sharing this today, the image came months 
before it's title. Never afraid to play and experiment with art 
prepared to make mistakes and be able to adapt along the way, 
I understand fully that it's how we artists learn and grow... 

BUT when it comes to self portraiture it's so much 
easier for me to share any face but my own..


Unfinished ready and waiting to be redesigned into a much 
bigger art journal vision here I am with the greatest things I've 
ever created my three children as silhouettes in the background. 

*I'll run and hide now 😊*

Brave creative Hugs 
Tracey xx

Sharing with 
and happy to be able to link up with 

Wednesday 16 December 2020

WoywW 602

 Is it Wednesday again already..? 

WoywW time 


No desk shot sharing from me today mines doubled up as 
a gift wrapping station this week, so here's a handful of 
Christmas cards, a small selection of 2020 makes..


Lot's of happy mail opened this week.. thought i'd share 
some extra special ones from my blogging buddies..

Beautiful glittery bauble creations from 
Jo (Lets Art Journal) and Angela (aka Felix the Cat)


Anne know's I have a soft spot for these Skates 
she brings them out every year and works her 
creative magic with them every time sigh 😊


and last but not least just look at this 
vintage wrapped beauty from dearest Dorthe


and the inside full of winter wishes, what a work of art.. 


how truly blessed am I... 
ALL take pride of place on the fireside mantel. 

Thank YOU lovely blog buddies xx 


Stay safe & creative 
Hugs Tracey xx

Monday 14 December 2020

AJJ ~ The meaning of ... Music

 
Hello everyone, 

a new week begins as I share another page for my 

Music has a magical way of evoking emotion and at times 
saying those things we find hard to convey with words.


underneath this display is a multitude of musicians, genres, 
bands and solo artists that have influenced me over the years. 

Sheet music, stencils, paint and stamps fill the background

The acoustic guitar is hand drawn with bakers twine 
strings holding a mother of pearl paper plectrum.


I'm sure we can all identify a song or soundtrack 
that triggers a memory or moment from our past.. 

Music Speaks..!! 

Wishing you all a super safe week 

Creative wishes
Tracey xx

Friday 11 December 2020

Paperbabe Stamps Challenge #134 ~ Anything Goes

 Hello Creative Friends, 

Time for the last Paperbabe Challenge of 2020 
the theme is anything goes.. come join us HERE

You caught me with my feet up again 😊 
sharing another collage journal page  
using the Jointed Paperbabe Art Doll with 


Fashioned in plush velvet pj's and cute pom pom slippers, 
she's seated in a comfy chair all cosy by the fireside. 
 
The homely collage scene is a magazine page painted and remodelled 
along with the little dog a replica of my own, I guarantee when I 
sit down in the evening it's not long before she joins me. 

There's really no place like home at the end of a busy day..
feeling safe and secure with the warmth of familiarity around me. 


Look forward to seeing your Paperbabe Stamps 

Creative wishes

Tracey xx 

Sharing today's creativity with: 

Wednesday 9 December 2020

WoywW 601

Hello everyone, 

it's desk sharing day at the stamping ground where every 
Wednesday crafty peeps show what's on their work desks.


Just a big old mess on my desk today, a dumping ground for 
odds and ends found last weekend whilst cleaning out old 
storage cabinet's now replaced with more practical ones. 

I'm sure you WoywWers had much more fun 
than me with your 600 celebratory zooming 😁

Those signs of Christmas are things that escaped post 
Christmas clean ups from years gone by, always wondered 
where that festive scrabble bag and pictionary timer went.. 



*Note to SELF* 
.. remember to take that lantern hanging on the 
pens to MIL tomorrow.. it's her Christmas card. 
It's HERE is you want to take a closer look..

Catch up with you all asap, 
Happy WoywW everyone 

Creative wishes 
Tracey xx

Monday 7 December 2020

AJJ ~ The meaning of... bird song

 Hello everyone, 

I hope you have all had a good weekend? 

Today I have another page for my 
Guest Host theme @ Art Journal Journey.. 

The meaning of ~ Bird song ~ natures alarm clock


Bird song takes me back to childhood sleepovers 
at my Grandparents. The excitement of that first 
morning tweet, no matter the weather I couldn't 
wait to get out into their garden to explore... 

The Robin was an all year round feathered friend..


Created using Tim Holtz and Stamperia stencils the little bird 
has been transformed into a Robin especially for the Season with 
die cut Holiday green ferns and snow white gesso splatters.. 

Really enjoying seeing your 
The meaning of creations 

Stay safe & creative 
Hugs Tracey xx

Sharing todays creativity with: 

Friday 4 December 2020

Creative Artiste Challenge #67 ~ Anything Mixed Media Goes

 Hello Creative Friends 

our theme is always *Anything Mixed Media Goes* 

For my December DT creation i'm sharing a mixed media card.
 

Here's how it all came to be.. 

Using the Rustic Lantern Bigz die from Tim Holtz 
I cut out the image from calico covered mount board.


Liner pen and a tickle of texture paste adds 
depth and dimension to the rustic lantern's frame. 

Painted with silver and black ink the inner globe is 
blended with vintage distress ink heat embossed using 
clear embossing powder to simulate it's shielding glass. 

A fashioned wire handle is attached to the frame


Bigz Tattered Poinsettia's are die cut and painted, teasing the leaves 
before gluing together adding those final dimensional central flowers.


A mini replica of an original once belonging to my late 
Father in Law, it helped guide his way down the mines as a boy. 

Created for my Mother in Law as a Christmas card 
I hope it shines a brighter light as 2021 approaches..


I look forward to seeing your 

Stay safe everyone 
Creative wishes 
Tracey xx

Sharing today's creativity with: