Collage ATC ****WINNER*****

ATC's (Artists Trading Cards) are not an item I make very often although my good friend Fiona at art of heart revells in them.  Dusty Attic run a monthly challenge and swap for these also, so after I had finished all my layouts for the months challenges I took a look and saw there weren't very many entries, so why no I thought.  Its quite different, doing such a little project as ATC's are only 2.5" x 3.5". 

Unfortunately I had to rush to get this finished so I could take photos before the natural daylight faded on me, so there are a few things I'm not quite happy with i.e. I would have liked to lighten the brown paint/mist a bit more, and even perhaps add a few more leaves??

Anyhow I created this by first glueing lots of 'texture' to the background - ripped text paper, chicken netting die cut, muslim - which was gesso'd then glimmer misted in places.  Next I hot glued the buttons, cogs, chain - which again were gesso'd then misted.  Leaves & flowers finished the bottom corner.  Lastly I added the lightbulb, crowns (which were stickled) and words.  I did want the word 'inspiration' to go with the light bulb idea, but time didn't let me.  Dusty Attic product used here are crowns#3 DA0157, Dusty in Bloom - cornsilk DA0806.

Challenges entered with this are:
dustyattic - monthly ATC challenge - collage   **** WINNER ****
lets craft & create - tags
southerngirlschallenge - leaves (I hope you can see the 2nd leaf hiding there)

Thanks for visiting, and sorry for the 'not quite my best' effort on this one.  Onwards and upwards as they say.

Altered CD

Here is another one of my 'altered' items.  This again was another partnered swap I did at Scrappers Obsessionz.  This was actually the first item I have ever altered in this way, so was way out of my comfort zone.  I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, and am very happy and proud of the end result

I started by covering both sides with paper, front side green with pink flowers, reverse blues.  I inked the edges then attached the crochet trim (which I crochetted myself).  The flower was handmade with layers of different fabrics, I added a TH birdcage die cut then fussy cut the bird and fairy, random leaves & buds and finished the front with some Kaisercraft bling.  I tied a few pearl beads in the tassles.

The back actually has a fantastic little verse on it:

Creativity

I have no name until you name me,

I have no form until you shape me,

I don't exist until you make me,

I am creativity.

I am waiting deep inside you,

Touch my spark and let me light you,

Give me life and I'll revive you,

I am creativity.

I thought this was a very fitting little verse, unfortunately no author was given. 

After sadly sending this away I received a quite different CD back in its place.  Tracey had used totally different techniques, so participating in these swaps is definitely a great place to learn new tricks and ideas.

Thanks for coming to look, I hope my work inspires you to try something a little bit different.

                                                    
   

My First DT Position

Yay, its been a wonderful 24 hours for me.  I have just been chosen to 'play' on the Design Team for Creative Craft Cottage,  This is my 1st time on a team, so I'm over the moon.  I hope I can fulfill their expectations, I'm sure I will.

Please follow my progress and play along with us as well.  It is a new site run by New Zealanders hosting a monthly challenge with some lovely little prizes to be won. 
See you there.

Dress Up

Here I have used more photos from my OE, these were taken on our last night aboard the cruise ship while on the Nile River, Egypt.  The whole tour thru Egypt (the whole 9 days of it) was an unforgettable experience.  I have lots of holiday photos so it was great to find a sketch requiring more than one photo for a change.  Here I have used the monthly sketch from dustyattic:



I started the page with G45 French Country papers, layered on muslim, and newsprint.  DA chippies used are Swirl Frame Set DA0329, Mini wire dress form DA0670, Dusty in Bloom - cornsilk DA0806 & champagne kisses 0801.  The page was finished off with Zva Creative bling and random flowers.  The chipboard frame was prepared with gesso, texture paste, painted black then buffed with gold.

Challenges entered:

dustyattic  - monthly sketch layout

artfullcrafts  - monthly sketch layout

This layout is also being used as my 1st project as DT member for creative craft cottage where the challenge this month is 'things that bling'.  Come along and play with us there.

Thank you for visiting, I hope you like my layout.

Let it Snow

What a terrible week of bad weather we are having here in New Zealand.  A southerly storm has brought rain, then snow, now howling gales to the south, and even up here in the north we are not escaping the colder temperatures.  So what better subject for my latest layout than winter. 

This photo was actually taken on my European tour, while crossing thru the Brenner Pass between Austria and Italy.  We left Austria on the cold, drizzly morning, and as we progressed thru the mountains our tour guide kept saying he could 'smell' snow - and sure enough it snowed.  By the time we got back down into Italy the weather had changed again into a perfect summers day.  Wow, just like Northland weather, four seasons all in one day.

Here I have used Kaisercraft paper Just believe collection, which I cut with patterned scissors, and inked all the edges with TH Brushed Corduroy distress ink.  I underlayed the paper with muslim, punched snowflakes with a EK punch which were inked then stickled.  I inked some snowflakes using the negative.  I also used Dusty in Bloom  DA 0801(champagne kisses), Kaisercraft pearl flourish (latte), flatback pearls from Louise (retail girl), the doily and trim from my stash. Random lettering was painted, texture pasted then stickled.

Challenged entered with this layout are:

artisticcreationz - monthly layout sketch

nzpaperchase - winter layout using quote  ***** WINNER *****

southerngirlschallenge - use die or punch

letscreatechallenges - shape (snowflake)

Thank you for looking, I hope you enjoy visiting here. Keep warm and keep safe.  Thank you (in advance) for your comments.

Cup & Saucer pincushion

Tonight I'm going to start sharing some old favourites with you.  I adore altering items, and have had the chance to join in on several partnered swaps at Scrappers Obsessionz (now Artists Creationz).  One of my favourites was this lovely cup & saucer pincushion I made for Faith.

I bought a pair of cup & saucers for $5 at a garage sale and went from there.  The colours on the cup dictated the colour scheme of  the decorating.  The cushion was made with very soft filling wrapped into a ball in soft aged calico, again wrapped in the lace fabric, then hot glued into the cup.  The doily is my own creation and all the flowers, pearls, beads, ribbons, laces are from my stash.  Everything is hot glued into place.

I particularly like the scissors and bobbins on the side.  They are complimented with  lace, pearls and matching thread.

I loved putting this together and was a bit sad to see it packed off to its new owner, but on the up side she sent me back an equally beautiful cup and saucer, which now sits proudly on my fridge full of stickpins.

Thank you for visiting,  I look forward to reading your comments.

Dress to Impress

Not too much crafting has been done this last week, so its now catch up time.  I've had fun making this canvas juggling ideas, so as to enter as many challenges as I can with this one entry.  I'm pretty happy with the end result.

My 8" x 8" canvas was primarily made for the southerngirlschallenge - tic tac toe theme

We had to choose a line of 3 techniques to use,  I think my canvas has actually used 3 lines of 3.  I have used  1. Sequins, ink & ribbon  2. Ink, stars, stripes  & 3. Ribbon, stripes, charms - do you think thats worth 3 entries???

Gabrielle at Such a pretty mess was the inspiration for the beautiful dress, she is truly a brilliant crafter, I love her work and learn a lot from her.

All challenges entered are:

southerngirlschallenge - tic tac toe

letscreatechallenges - wings

creativecraftcottage - autumn

sarahhurleychallenges - All that glitters is gold

Thank you for looking, I hope you enjoy what you see.