Art Journal 4

Another month is now well underway, so here I have completed my page in the latest journal in the Creative Dreams monthly Art Journal challenge.   Now being in the fourth month its great to see some of the other girls contributions as well.  This is Allies journal, and she was clever and created the book herself by including magazine pages, photocopy paper, odds and scraps of cardstock and manila folder....etc.  Its actually more of a junk journal or smash book, lots of options here to work with.

 

The theme of the journal is "What does home mean to you?", so I've gone along the lines more of scrapbooking than arty, and shown her what "home is ...." to me.  The two outside pages are actually magazine pages, which I gesso'd, leaving some of the words showing thru, then used templates (brick wall), paint, colouring pencils, distress inks & glimmermist, then lots of photos and even a favourite recipe.

 

Its always a pleasant surprise to see what secrets and expectations the next journal brings, a great learning curve.  I am really enjoying being part of this group.

Treats for Hospice

Didn't I say in my last post that I'm enjoying making these little gift boxes??? Well here is some more.  These were made as my contribution to a trading table to raise money for our local hospice.  Last weekend was the annual "House & Garden" ramble, with all proceeds going to Hospice, so when asked to help out on the trading table, how could I resist.

 

These are just little 3" square paper mache boxes which I painted on the inside and bottom, then covered with G45 papers.  To decorate I've used flowers, feathers, pearls, doily & string.  Inside the bottom is lined with muslim, then they have been filled with Roses chocolates. 

 

I asked $10 each for them, and believe it or not within an hour one lady came and actually bought the lot as she couldn't decide which one she liked the best.  

Woooo hoooo, didn't I do well.

Another Gift Box

I just can't help myself at the moment, as here is yet another gorgeous gift box.  This is my DT entry for the latest challenge at Creative Craft Cottage where the theme this time is 'Say it with Flowers'.

As the colours in this G45 paper are so rich I had to be very careful with my choice of flowers.  Here I have started with the burlap rose (which I've just learnt to make), then complimented it with more soft coloured flowers.  The buds I've used were actually blue, but everything can be painted can't it?  A small doily under everything was also painted to match.

 

 

I actually created the box primarily to send a journal back to its owner, then decided this person deserved a little bit more.  I've filled the box with all sorts of goodies I hope she can use, topped off with doilies and a few handmade xmas decorations.

 

 

 

I'm really pleased to have learnt to make these burlap roses, they are really very easy.  I followed instructions I found here on You Tube.  I actually received a few in a swap, and have always wanted to make them for myself.  I'll definitely be making more of these.

Thank you for visiting, and please join us with your entry at Creative Craft Cottage.  As always, if you don't have a blog, just email your entry thru.

Sweet Treats

Well its time for another new challenge at Southern Girls Challenge, how time is flying.  The girls have come up with the fabulous theme of 'Sweet Treats', gee that really could be anything couldn't it.  At this time of year its nice to create some small gift boxes containing small bits and pieces, and of course homemade sweets. 

This one I have here was given to the owner of a small curio shop, who gave me a fabulous deal on some old doilies and pearls (who doesn't like a little extra 'thank you' gift sometimes?).  She was completely gobsmacked and again gave me another great deal.

We have a 'garage sale' for the local hospice coming up in the next few weeks and if time permits I hope to make more of these to put on the sales table.  As long as the price is reasonable I'm sure they'll sell like hotcakes.

Thank you for visiting.  I hope I have inspired you into making some of your own gifts, afterall nothing tastes better than homemade does it?

Xmas Decorations

I am trying to hide my head in the sand about the fact that its nearly xmas, but I'll just have to accept the fact especially now lots of sites are putting up their xmas challenges.
Here I have found this photo of quilted xmas baubles I made for a swap last xmas.  I had never entered into such a challenge before so had to do a lot of research on You Tube.  Wow the ideas abound, but I really liked the idea of these little baubles basically made from fabric scraps pinned on polystyrene balls.  You'll find full instructions here

 

Next is this gorgeous little crochet xmas stocking, which I found on another challenge site.  Instructions for these cuties are here

 

 

Lastly I came across these interesting paper baubles, made from 20 circles of paper glued together.  Learn how to make these here

 

I love making these as pre xmas gifts.  All are made from scraps which is very thrifty. 

 

I am entering my quilted baubles in the latest challenge at Lets Craft & Create where their theme this time is 'Trim the Tree'.

 

I hope you like my creations, and you too can make these following the links I have left for you.  Please leave a comment.  Thank you for visiting.

Halloween Flowers

Today I'm sharing some flowers I've just made for a Halloween swap at Artistic Creationz.  These will be going to Sue, I hope she will be able to use them.  As they are layered up, I have actually made them so she can pull them apart if she wants and use each individual layer as a separate flower.

 

 

 

These yo-yo flowers are all made from satin fabric, with a black lace layer in the middle.  The orange one has one of my little crocheted flowers as its top layer, then they are all finished with a small black mini rose as the cherry on the top. 

 

The box is just a bit of cardstock with lovely Halloween paper attached.  I will tie it all together with black ribbon.

 

As I mentioned above each layer is attached with a glue dot, so if she wishes it won't be too hard to actually pull these apart and use each layer separately.  I hope she likes these as much as I've enjoyed making them.



Precious Moments

Isn't it lovely when you are spoiled with lovely photos to scrap.  This photo of my niece Zana was taken in a professional photo shoot when she and her mother visited my sister in Australia in 2011.  The pose is awesome and I adore the black and white finish of the photo

 

This layout has been made following the Dusty Attic monthly sketch.  I started with random paper from my stash, a lovely big doily, lace & trim, lots of  DA chippies, and luscious flowers (handmade and prize winnings).  I've finished the page with lots of bling, black rhinestones as the chain for the bird cage, red rhinestone flourish and clear rhinestones dotted throughout.

 

The Dusty Attic chippies I have used are:

DA0720 Birds Nest #1 - gesso'd then inked

DA0476 Mini words #2 - painted, glossy accents

DA0435 Decorative flourish set - gesso'd then stickled

DA0678 Bird cage #5 - painted

 

Challenges entered with this layout are:

Dusty Attic - monthly sketch layout

Artfull Crafts - pink

Art Journal 3

Wow how time flies.  Here we are already the middle of the month.  Definitely time to be getting on with things.  Here I've finished my page in the next art journal I'm doing with the ladies at Creative Dreams.  Being involved with this is really making me think outside the square in a real fun way.  Anyway here is my effort I've done in Jules' book.

She asked for spring colours, so whats better than these fluro Kaisercraft paints?  I spread the 3 colours across the pages with a credit card, then used random templates & stamps in black and white.  The background word stamp was stamped onto tissue before gluing on the page, then also painted.  Magazine cutouts were attached, then outlined with painty pens (black and white).  I finished the page with lots of spots and blotches, rhinestones & distress inks.

Inspiration for the background came from 'Mixed Media Jenn' on You Tube and I also used  techniques that I used on the previous page.  This was a real fun page to create and once I had the colours and ideas sorted in my brain this only took 2 evenings to actually create.

This is also being entered in the Lets Craft & Create challenge which is 'Ink Technique'.

Candy Station swap

I made this 'Candy Station' aka 'pretty box of lollies' in a swap for Paula at Artistic Creationz.  The brief was to decorate a box no bigger than 6" x 6" x 2", and to use a spring theme.

 

Sadly nothing I tried came out looking like spring, but I love how its turned out anyhow.  I've used lots of hand made flowers here again, with pearls, laces and trims to finish it all.

 

The goodies inside are all homemade:  Russian Fudge, Hokey Pokey and Candied Figs, yummy.  Now I can't wait to see what Paula has made for me.

 

 

Floral Fantasy winner

Yay my entries have just been chosen as September's Overall Challenge winner over at Artfullcrafts.  The theme was 'floral fantasy', so anything with flowers could be entered.  And as I love flowers .... it was a no brainer but to enter.   I was running out of time so entered 2 oldies, but favourites of mine, both with lots of handmade flowers.

 

 

This boot was made in a swap, so sadly now I don't have it any more.  I really enjoyed this challenge, which started by painting the dark grey boot with gesso before I covered it with several layers of satin, then lace fabrics.  I made the majority of the flowers, mostly the yoyo style, then added lots of pearls, pheasant feathers, ribbons, small doilies, mini roses and leaves.

I was sad to see it leave our shores, but love the shoe I got back in return.

 

This layout is a real favourite of mine, here I was trying out new ideas and I'm very happy with the result.  With such a pretty picture of 2 gorgeous girls, I had to make something special.  Here I've started with G45 paper, then used lots of lace, feathers and a Dusty Attic skeleton clock face.  I've used some of the same flowers as the boot, and added some of my crocheted ones as well. 

I particularly love all the stitching, a technique I will use again.

 

Thanks to all the crew at Artfull Crafts for my selection, and I hope to continue to contribute to your monthly challenges with more of my projects.