One Dragon's Dream

My hexagon day.....

2011-10-09T14:19:00.000+01:00

It has been far too long since I have had a chance to blog - life just happens to get in the way on occasion! But I just had to take the time to share my rather disastrous day yesterday - one of those days where nothing goes how you want it too....

A friend of mine once had a scrapbooking lesson which included cutting and placing hexagons into a design, instead of being a fun activity it ended up being a nightmare. One of those occasions where you want to throw it all out of the window and walk away - well my hexagon day came yesterday.

I was at an altered art class held by Scrapbook Sisters, creating an altered clock using a range of Tim Holtz products. Beautiful example to start us all off and lots of inspiration in the room. However, the colours on my clock just would not go right. I started by priming the base of the clock with Gesso, then added Distress Stains on the top - what a disaster, they all came out neon! Fired Brick looked a sugar pink, then thr Crushed Olive looked like radioactive nuclear waste! Really not my colours and everything I tried to change the colours just made it look worse.......

In the end I gave up on the clock, shoved it under the table and spent the rest of the afternoon making embellishments to use later on. Leaving with just a bag of bits rather than a complete project. Once I got home I had a break then decided to tackle the disaster head on - what a mess I made. Viva Deco Terra and Ferro pastes and metallic waxes, Distress Inks, Rock Candy crackle glaze, metal findings, pliers, metal punch, and glossy accents. Some hours later I finished, and am much happier with the outcome now:

Hope you like the end result. Xx

What's On Your Workdesk?

2011-04-06T21:16:00.000+01:00

What a great idea! It seems there are hundreds of us crafters out there who all share one thing in common - a bursting craft space! Head on over to Stamping Ground and take a look at all those fantastically creative spaces that have been linked for WOYWW. I love how we all seem to keep adding to our work spaces until there really isn't any room left to craft, that last inch has been taken up with the latest project or product to use, then - and only then - do we take the time to have a bit of a tidy up before starting all over again. I must confess that my space never seems to stay tidy for more than about 30mins before it all starts creeping back out again!

I really am at that point where I need to have a mass clear up! If nothing else, just so I can see what I actually have on there, and make room for a couple of larger projects I have to finish!

Pure Grunge.......

2011-04-05T22:19:00.000+01:00

Wow - two posts in one day! While blog hopping this evening I came across a site called Studio L3 with a great challenge - Grungy Monday - all things Tim Holtz. Fantastic - right up my alley. I have been looking for inspiration, and time to be able to be more creative on my own terms, and I just couldn't resist this. This weeks challenge is to use Distress Inks and take Tim Holtz's video demo of them as inspiration.

I created the following piece by covering a page in pages from an old book, then used his flourish masks and Stormy Sky, Bundled Sage and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks over the top to create patterned voids, and stamped on top with some of his word stamps. I then die cut the film strip and cogs dies in patterend paper and grunge paper, inked them up with the same coloured Distress Inks and then added metal embellishments to finish.

Vintage Text

2011-04-05T20:30:00.000+01:00

I was pleased to find that Make A Moo was back up and running with new challenges! A Moo is a little card sized 2.8 x 7cm, or approximately 1.1" x 2.8". Beside this fixed size it is what you make of it! I love these challenges and the small scale that the work is made to - it is a challenge to get everything you want to on such a small space, and another bonus is you don't need to have masses of time to create something fantastic. This week's theme is Vintage Text. I hope you like my Moo's below - have a go yourselves and get creative........

Framed.........

2011-03-30T21:31:00.000+01:00

It has been far too long since I posted! So much to do, so little time........

Anyway, below is a layout I created on the theme of Framed for the Scrapbook Sisters layout challenge. I love the background paper - old weathered wood, and it fit perfectly with the photograph I wanted to use. I cut the frame out and placed the image so it was part tucked behind the frame and then cut embellishments using Tim Holtz dies and Martha Stewart punches. I completed the page with a few gems and a title.

Here's hoping I get a bit more time to be creative for myself................

Music....

2010-10-20T22:27:00.001+01:00

I love listening to music, but have a terrible memory for who sang what and what the song is called! Music is the theme at CBH this week and I created an ATC using a music note stamp and some musical instrument peel offs. I stamped the background using distress inks first, then stamped the image again on paper and cut to smaller pieces to represent sheet music, I used distress ink to age the paper and then curled the edges to look like the leaves were blowing up. I finished by glueing this to the background and adding a few silhouette peel offs.

Dragons.....

2010-10-20T22:15:00.000+01:00

are a favourite of mine. My Chinese zodiac sign is a Fire Dragon, so the theme at TMTA this week to create art using dragons appealed greatly. I have used a range of shades of red to create my ATC, putting down a base coat of distress inks and then using clear embossing powder on the top to stamp my dragon image in. I then stamped some lettering over the top of this, and to finish added some darker red shades to make the embossed image stand out and added some gems.

The Tribe / Indigenous People.....

2010-10-12T22:43:00.000+01:00

is the theme over at CBH this week. So in the feel of the theme I have created an ATC using some Native American Indian stamps, stamping in stazon ink and using a masking technique to layer two different stamp images together. I then added colour using Copic markers and finished the edges with Memento ink. Having looked at other sites this also fits the TMTA theme of Red / Yellow this week too. I love the rich warm colours and how Native American Indians made the most of these vibrant colours.

A Chance To Play....

2010-10-09T14:41:00.000+01:00

It was so good to get a lie in this morning and a chance to have a play around with Photoshop. ACF this week have a background to be used to create a piece of art. I chose to use a photograph I took of myself recently with leopard print facepaint and combined it with the background using layering techniques and digital brushes.

I have also had a chance to photograph some of my scrapbooking and altered art pieces which I have created over the year and just not had the time to share, so hopefully I will get a few of these uploaded this weekend. I hope you all have a relaxing time.

Wet and Windy....

2010-10-05T21:36:00.000+01:00

is the weather of the week, so much for Autumn having crisp sunny days to watch the leaves turn golden! TMTA this week have the theme of Thanksgiving, looking for autumn in all its glory, so here is my ATC.

Dark Marie...

2010-10-03T20:18:00.000+01:00

Great take on Marie Antoinette over at SPA this week, taking her as a theme and turning her into something spooky...... I guess halloween is just around the corner!

Art Nouveau...

2010-10-02T15:18:00.000+01:00

is one of my favourite art movements, I love the detail artists got into their work and their fabulous portrayal of portraits and organic swirls. ACF this week have a great image of one of Mucha's portraits to create a piece of art with. I have created the following piece of digital art, using layers, opacity filters and brushes:

Odd Creatures....

2010-09-27T22:58:00.000+01:00

There are plenty of odd little creatures in the world, and I love the idea of using them in a piece of artwork. Such a great theme from TMTA this week. I have a stamp with a row of odd little creatures on from Prima and just had to make two ATC's for this one. I collaged a background for one and stamped the other, then added colour using copic pens and distress inks.

Autumn Glory

2010-09-26T21:51:00.000+01:00

It has definitely been more of a winter day today than an Autumn day - lots of wind and rain. I even had to put the heating on! So it was good to do a 6x4 postcard for SPA on Autumn. I chose to use a photo I took this time last year of the orange berries in my garden, added digital brushes and changed the opacity of the layers. Hope you like it.

Autumn...

2010-09-20T22:01:00.000+01:00

is a great time of year, I love it when the trees turn golden and the berries turn red. Autumn is hitting early this year with colder weather than this time a year ago. Autumn is a great theme for making some art and is the theme over at TMTA this week.

I used a distress inks to colour the background, then added torn pages from a book and punched leaves and a fence to add to the ATC. I then cut out and added the Autumn wording and finished with hand drawn lines and some Viva gold, to add the shine of Autumn colours.

1950's Pin Up's

2010-09-19T21:47:00.000+01:00

Is this weeks theme over at SPA this week. I have created a digital 6x4 postcard featuring a 50's Pin Up girl and some classic 1950's cars, layered it all together and added some filters and brushes to pull it all together. Hope you like it:

What A Week....

2010-09-17T23:51:00.000+01:00

Well I am very glad it is finally Friday, but there are just not enough hours in the day at present to do everything I would like to do! But I have a card to share with you I made for a friends birthday. Anyone who knows me understands that I am not a cardmaker, I get a mental block with them and just seem to struggle to get the image to work, but I think this one turned out OK.

Bingo!

2010-09-14T00:09:00.000+01:00

It has been a while since I have Blogged! Lots of other things have taken up my time, and inspiration had been a bit off. But here goes with some new work and things I have created over the last few months to follow.

So to start today is an ATC I have made for TMTA this week on the theme of Bingo!

I hope you are all having a good start to the week.

Snow Challenge...

2010-01-13T22:57:00.001Z

Well, this snowy winter certainly has caused disruption this winter, we still have a lot of snow where I live and without the sunshine to melt it, it is lingering. Scrapbook Sisters set a challenge for this winter whiteout to create either a scrapbook layout or a card and incorporate the word SNOW. Below are my two entries, please visit their site to see all the other wonderful creations entered.

Newspaper....

2010-01-11T22:31:00.000Z

is the theme over at TMTA this week. I created this ATC using strips of text on the background, adding chalk eye over the top. I then stamped the flower images onto the background and an extra one on a separate piece of text, this was cut out, chalked and applied to the background so the petals could be bent. I then added the hope ticket and butterflies punched out using a Martha Stewart punch.

Turquoise

2010-01-10T14:01:00.000Z

The challenge this week at Gothic Arches is to use the colour of your birthstone as the basis of your design. My birthday is in December, so my birthstone is Turquoise, which happens to be one of my favourite colours too. I created my arch using a clear embossing powder on a stamp for the background, and rubbed turquoise distress ink over the top. I then stamped the tree branches and birds over the top using Azure Stazon. To finish I added gems to the centres of the clocks, and used the new Martha Stewart stamp and punch butterfly punch to add a 3D element.

Longing for warmth.......

2010-01-09T22:47:00.000Z

Longing for summer warmth now, this icy chill and snow is seriously losing its' appeal! As much as I love the snow and enjoy the crisp white world it creates, a bit of warmth would now be great - so today I share some warmer days in these two layouts I finished using photos from last summer.

Vintage Mix

2010-01-08T14:37:00.000Z

It has been a long time since I have had the chance or the creative flair to complete a challenge. So it has been good to do this one to start the New Year. I have used the vintage photograph given at ACF and have created a digital picture with it. Enjoy.....

My Sister...

2010-01-06T23:06:00.001Z

Carrying on using the same papers, I also completed a layout using the words found on one of the papers. I drew around part of the letters with a pen and then added glossy accents to make them stand out more. They describe my sister to a T!

A Trip to the Zoo....

2010-01-05T23:51:00.003Z

Back in November 2009, I spent the day at Colchester Zoo with some great friends. It was a day filled with laughter and a few antics, playing around on the elephant sculptures there, and seeing some amazing animals. So here are a couple of layouts documenting my visit.

Let It Snow.....

2010-01-04T23:29:00.001Z

More layouts finished! Again using some of my many snow photos! These are layouts started at classes held at Scrapbook Sisters and have been sat in my UFO pile for a while now, so it was about time I started to dig these out and finish them, maybe the finished pile will start to win.....

2010-01-03T21:07:00.001Z

I finally got around to finishing some layouts of my last Christmas in the Algarve, Portugal. I have missed that warm sunshine this Christmas! Christmas Day on the beach and paddling in the sea - definitely not here in Kent, that would mean a case of frostbite I'm sure. Boxing Day spent in a great villa with views over the hills and down to the sea, with a great BBQ spread.

My Snow Cat

2010-01-02T18:48:00.001Z

As we seem to be in the middle of a really cold spell here, I think it is time that I got all those snow and Christmas photos and did something with them! So here is a layout I completed using the same papers as my snow book, but using recent photos of Hugo and I:

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-01T23:13:00.001Z

January 1st 2010 - it's been a while since I have blogged! Where does time go? I cannot believe it is 2010 already, just seems like yesterday there was all the hype about starting a new millenium and it turning the year 2000. I am quite glad to see the end of 2009 for many reasons, but there were great moments there too! So I am sharing the first snow day I had back in February 2009, I finally got around to finishing my Snow book:

Below are some detail images:

I do love snow when it is fresh, deep and white! We had a second heavy snow load just before Christmas, and to start of the New Year we had a dusting of snow! I have decided to start a photo blog this year, to try and record at least one item daily - well, we will see how well I manage that, but I aim to share my slant on the world around me as I see it through the lense of my camera, please take a look - day one, and I have photos to share: http://realmofvision.blogspot.com/

I hope to find myself again this year, and find time to be creative for myself........so, Happy New Year to you all, may 2010 bring you all you desire. x x x

Inchies

2009-07-07T22:56:00.004+01:00

I love creating small pieces of art, and what could be better than a challenge to produce inchies! I could have added them to another piece of art like an ATC, skinny, card or 4x4, but I think they are great just as they are! I am in the process of creating a big range of different inchies, twinchies and ATC size pieces of art, so that I can then collage them together into a big mosaic piece to show them all off. So I created these three inchies for CBH on Stampbord, which will be added to the collection.

I first inked the stampbord with chalk eyes then stamped my chosen images on top. The stamps are inchie size and are from a set by Inka-dinka-do. Once stamped I then used a scratching tool to bring out textures and highlights.

In The Garden.......

2009-07-06T23:50:00.002+01:00

is where I like to be on hot sunny days.......

But the weather finally broke today and it has rained! The hot sunny days lasted longer than I thought they would, with at least two thunderstorms occuring in the night to leave the days full of blue sky and sunshine!

In the garden is the theme for TMTA this week, and I have chosen to use a photograph I took of a visitor to my garden a few weeks ago. I have these beautiful pink pincushion flowers in the garden, which the bees loved - until the white crab spider took up residence in them! I got a great shot of nature in action, when the spider literally just pounced on this poor bee, turning it into lunch! I altered the photo by scratching areas out with a file, then chalking the edges and adding coloured metallic 'Smootch' inks over the top to highlight areas and finishing my mounting on an ATC, stamping a few flower sections and finishing with a hand-written title:

Hope you like it! Right, off to bed - or I won't be fit for much in the morning........

Summer Sun.....

2009-06-30T22:45:00.002+01:00

is definitely shining this week, here's hoping it lasts until the weekend! CBH this week have set the theme of summer, and when I think of that, holidays come to mind. So my interpretation is this skinny below:

I stamped the cute lion (from Magnolia) onto the background and again on a separate piece of card. I then coloured both with watercolour pencils. The leaves I punched from patterned paper and chalked the edges to define them. Then I placed the leaves around the edge of the lion, and cut the head out of the second image and layered on top with foam pads to raise it off the surface, and did the same with the top layer of leaves. I cut the grass and layered that at the front. Hope you like the end result.

Three weeks until my summer holiday starts, and counting........

Look Into A Face.....

2009-06-29T23:10:00.003+01:00

and what do you see?

This is the theme for TMTA this week, for which I created this ATC:

First I stamped the face and masked it to stamp the crackle effect. I then added colour with chalk eye and then the beads and flowers to complete.

Recently the hours are rapidly passing into days, and the days into weeks! Where does the time go when you wish you could spend more time doing the things you really want, but just don't seem to get the chance! At least the sun is shining and the birds are singing..................

As Mad As A.......

2009-06-22T23:31:00.004+01:00

Box Of Frogs!

What a great saying, a good friend of mine introduced me to that saying, it took me a while to really get it though. It must be a Northern thing! Frogs is the theme over at TMTA this week and I chose to illustrate another frog quote using a cute stamp by Rachelle Anne Miller. I stamped it with Stazon ink and then added colour using watercolour pencils. I then hand wrote the quote, used a fineline pen around each word, cut and adhered to the ATC. Finishing touches were added with Stickles. I love this quote, and sometimes wish we could all do this!

Blog Award

2009-06-20T18:52:00.006+01:00

What a nice message awaiting me on my return home today. Loretta left a blog award for me - thank you very much.

It is always lovely to know others like your work, I have been rather busy over the last few weeks, my mojo is slowly returning but I just have not had the time to do as much of my own work as I would like or post as frequently as I would like. Hopefully I will get the chance to do more of my own work soon.

So for the rules of this award:

1.Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted you the award, and include their blog link

2.Pass the award to 8 other blogs that you have newly discovered.

There are many wonderful blogs out there, but I have chosen the following that offer a world of inspiration. So, in appreciation of their wonderful blogs and the inspiration that they nurture in each of us, when we visit their blogs I give this to:

1. Nancy

2. Scrapbook Sisters

3. Jeannie

4. Kris

5. Taluula

6. Duda Daze

7. Frankie

8. Scrapperlicious

Click on each name to find some inspiration when you visit their wonderful blogs. Get ready for a mouth watering experience...............

Completed Layouts

2009-06-16T21:21:00.003+01:00

CBH this week have a free challenge, so I have chosen to share with you a few layouts that I have finally finished! They have been sitting half done in a large stack of UFO's, but having recently been to a shop crop at Scrapbook Sisters, I had the opportunity to put the finishing touches to them. The layouts involve cutting of patterned paper, stamping and adding embellishments and doodling to finish. I hope you like the end results.

Compelled by Circles

2009-06-02T21:39:00.004+01:00

Today I have chosen two layouts I completed a while ago of my mum and I, using a lot of cut and punched circles, and buttons as embellishments. I love these layouts, partly because of the shapes but also the colours of the papers, they worked well with the photos I had. I created these at a fortnightly class I attend at Scrapbook Sisters. They also fit the theme this week for Created by Hand of circles. I do tend to use a lot of circles in my work, there is something strangely appealing about the shape!

That Creative Thing.....

2009-06-01T22:19:00.004+01:00

It has been a while since I have had the flair or desire to create anything worth blogging about. Thanks to all of you who have queried my absence from here, it has been a rocky couple of months. A friend and colleague went missing and the resulting outcome was not a good one, we lost a good person (even if he could be stubborn and grouchy!) Needless to say, I lost my mojo and all flair to create anything inspiring! As Karyn kindly said - my mojo went to someone else who needed it more at the time (I like to think that we all share our mojo and inspire others to create when they need the encouragement to).

Then exam time hit us at school and I became inundated with sorting out students exam requirements and chasing them for coursework! Will they ever learn that a deadline is a deadline? But the sun is now shining, and things are starting to look good again, and I have started to create for pleasure, and want to do so! So here I share with you two ATC's I created for TMTA this week on the theme of Egypt.

For the left one I stamped hieroglyphics onto greaseproof paper and added a touch of colour, then tore the edges, crumpled it and added some chalk eyes to distress to look like an old parchment. The background is created using acrylic paint and chalk eye around the edge. The parchment was added using glossy accents.

The right ATC was created by stamping King Tutenkahmun once on the ATC and again on a separate piece of paper to use as a mask. The mask was laid over the top of the stamped image and the background colour added up to the edge of it using acrylic paint. Once this was dry the mask was taken away and detail added to the stamped image using blue pen and white and gold metallic inks. Chalk eyes were used to finish the edges.

I hope you like the end results, and thanks again for your messages. I hope you are all well and each have a share of that mojo!

Using Alcohol Inks...

2009-04-20T22:18:00.003+01:00

for the TMTA theme this week. I printed a pattern onto acetate, added alcohol inks to the backgroundm then created a crumpled foil background and applied the acetate on top. Then I stamped some butterfly wings, added alcohol inks to these and adhered to the surface, using a red gem for the centre of each.

It was definitely back to work with a bang today! That first sounding of the alarm at silly O'clock really shakes your bones! But up I got and got to work on time, after forgetting how bad the traffic can be if you hit it at the wrong time, only to find that I could not access any of the school work I had done over the break because I had filled the server disk and it would not synchronize with the school system! So I unplugged it from that and tried to access the files to move them to another area so I could use them, only for the computer to tell me that I could not access them unless I was synchronized with the system!!!!! Argghhhhh........

I eventually managed to move other files around and access what I needed in time for my lessons, then we had a fire drill to boot! What a welcome back, here's to the rest of the week.....

Home Is....

2009-04-17T23:16:00.003+01:00

Where The Heart Is.

Most definitely true! There is nothing like getting home after a hectic day and just being able to relax and do as the mood takes you! This is a great theme from Make A Moo this week, I created my pieces using Paper Artsy and Inkadinkado stamps, collaging a background and adding a punched heart, all coloured with chalk eyes.

Using An Old Postcard

2009-04-15T20:38:00.004+01:00

Weds Stamper this week have set the challenge to create artwork on the back of an old postcard. As I could not put my hands on one at home, I printed an image off the internet onto glossy paper to use. I then used my Tim Holtz masks with distress inks to add a pattern to the background, stamped a postage mark and flowers from Prima over the top, then punched some leaves and coloured them with chalk eyes and finally added a touch of Tattered Angels mists over the top. It was a little difficult to photograph as it was getting dark, so I will try and get a clearer shot tomorrow.

Nature

2009-04-15T20:27:00.003+01:00

Well, what a fantastic day it has been here today, the warmest of the year so far, a balmy 20 degrees! But thunderstorms are due for tomorrow....

I did manage to get the garden straight - lawn mown, dandelions banished to the recycle bin, and flowerbeds weeded. Which put me in the right frame of mind for the Crazy Amigo challenge of nature. I created this skinny by using collage techniques,distress inks, stamps from Prima and punched shapes.

My Cat.....

2009-04-14T21:40:00.002+01:00

is an angel....

well, sometimes maybe! As it is a free theme over at GA until next week, I decided to do an arch using on of my favourite cat quotes. I used my Cherry Pie Arts cat stamps, chalk eyes, and pages from an old book to compile this arch. Hope you like it.

Eyes...

2009-04-14T09:44:00.002+01:00

are powerful tools, and are generally a thing of beauty. Eyes is the theme for TMTA this week and I have created my ATC using a stamp from Paper Bag Studios, added colour using chalk eyes and created dimension by re-stamping the image and adding half of it raised on top, along with the wording.

Vintage Easter

2009-04-11T17:35:00.002+01:00

ACF this week have provided a great vintage image to use for their challenge. I was a bit stuck as to how to use or alter it, but after much faffing and playing with Photoshop, I finally achieved something I am happy to share! This is created by layering the given image with another vintage image of bird eggs, layering with photoshop brushes and a frame mask.

I hope you all have a great Easter break and that the sunshine holds!

Yellow & Easter....

2009-04-10T13:40:00.002+01:00

are two words that go nicely together at this time of year, and is the theme for Make A Moo. I have made my Moo's 3D by shaping the card into a daffodil and Easter chick. The backgrounds are colored using chalk eyes and then the shaped applied onto the surface, then finished with some Distress Stickles to add a bit of shine to the Easter sun!

Zettiology

2009-04-10T11:40:00.002+01:00

Is a strange but kind of alluring form of art, where all those odd elements are put alongside each other and they just seem to work! This is the theme for TGIF this week, and I have created my Zetti piece on Killer Heels. It is a mixture of collaged papers, images from magazines, newspaper, fineline pens and paint. Hope you like the end result, I am not too sure whether I actually like it or not, I think it might have needed some stronger black lines in there somewhere.....

Eggs....

2009-04-09T11:53:00.002+01:00

come in all shapes and sizes, and at this time of year I particularly like the chocolate ones! Eggs is the theme for Make A Moo, and I have hand drawn mine, coloured them with watercolour pencils and added some chalk eyes to finish.

Who Owns....

2009-04-09T09:46:00.006+01:00

a teddy bear?

I think that most of us have had at least one great teddy bear in our lives. My sister loved hers to death and he is the most handsome threadbare teddy bear of them all! He even has his own paisley pyjamas and a pair of gold rimmed glasses!

The bear image provided by ACF for their challenge was great, so I created this digital piece making her the focal point.

Inspired by Italy

2009-04-08T22:45:00.002+01:00

Italy is a great country and I have visited a few different parts. My last visit to Italy was to Venice, where I had a great holiday with my sister. I chose to use Venice as my inspiration for this weeks Weds Stamper. I coloured the background with distress inks, then stamped the gondola on top. I hand drew the buildings in and added colour to them with chalk eyes. I then stamped the tickets and wording separately and applied them on top.

Cats

2009-04-08T22:35:00.003+01:00

I have always loved cats and there has always been at least one in the household all my life. I think now it would feel strange to not have that little person bumping around your legs, jumping on your work, and chasing all manner of things around the garden. Cats is the theme for Inchy By Inch this week and I used a selection of cat stamps and chalk eyes to create mine.

Deco Page Swap

2009-04-07T10:00:00.000+01:00

I have signed up to take part in a deco page swap on the Scrapbook Sisters Forum. Where you create a 6"x6" page on a theme decided by the person you swap with. It is easy to sign up and join in, just join the forum, decide on a theme for your deco page and then look for someone who is free to swap. The idea is that we will each build up a book of deco pages from each person who signs up, swapping with everyone eventually!

My theme is bewitched - anything that your imagination sees as being 'bewitched'.......

My first swap was with Julie and her theme of 'Trees' (and their inhabitants). I decided to include some hand drawing / painting and I think this is something that I want to run through all the pages I do. I chose to do a tree frog using a variety of techniques including using Gesso, paper tearing and layering, acrylic paint, Glossy Accents, leaf punches, UTEE in the melt pot, and a charm from Tim Holtz.

I hope you like the end result, I would love to hear what you think.....

I eagerly await my first return from Julie on my theme of Bewitched. I have now managed to get Mazza to sign up and have a go too, so my next swap is to create a page on her theme of 'Love Ya!' Watch this space....

Together.....

2009-04-06T23:34:00.003+01:00

I cannot believe it is over a week since I last posted! The end of term was rather busy, and left little time to be creative - my mojo flew the coop!! I now need to spend some time gathering new thoughts and images to use to build up a new creative folio to inspire the imagination.....

To start I have created these ATC's for the TMTA challenge of Togetherness. They are created using stamped images and watercolour pencils, the edges finished with chalk eyes and a small gem added to each one.

Colours of the Rainbow....

2009-03-29T09:25:00.003+01:00

It has been a while since I have seen a rainbow - despite the mix of rain, hail and sun we had yesterday! But it is a great theme from Gothic Arches this week - pick two colours of the rainbow, two stamps, and inspirational words. This is the arch I ended up with after deliberating for ages as to which two colours and which stamps! The peacock is a Basic Grey stamp which I inked up in two colours and applied over a background of swirls created with a paper artsy stamp and yellow chalk eye. I added flowers with distress stickles for the centres to add a little dimension.

Yesterday

2009-03-28T23:05:00.002Z

The days seem to come and go so fast of late, with so much to do and not enough time to cram it all in! Yesterday is the theme for Make A Moo this week and I created these stamped Moos:

Hope you are all having a good weekend. I can't believe it is already halfway through!

Moulin Rouge

2009-03-27T17:36:00.002Z

Another hectic week is coming to a close, busy but good for the most part! I had the pleasure of going to the theatre with friends to see the 'Vagina Monologes' - what a great show! We all laughed, were shocked, and I think all learnt something new! If it comes your way, it is a great girlie show to go see!

I have now finally found the time to sit and do some crafting and have got around to making an ATC for TMTA this week on Moulin Rouge. I love the film, and wanted to capture the essence of the place, but not use the film as my source. My final interpretation is below, created using chalk eyes to add the colour, stamping, and hand drawing.

Transferring Images....

2009-03-25T18:02:00.003Z

Is a technique I love to use and have experimented with lots of different ways of doing so, and is the theme for Wednesday Stamper this week. I have chosen to share a page out of my art journal where I have used a combination of gesso, gel medium, acrylic paint, crackle paint, image transfers, doodling and stamping to create the overall effect.

Spring is arriving.....

2009-03-22T13:40:00.003Z

and what a beautiful day it is today - Happy Mothers Day Mum! I have gone to the seaside to visit my mum today and all the family are here for Sunday Lunch (which I must go to as I am being called!!) then a walk along the seafront and a hot chocolate in Morelli's!

The theme of 'Vernal Equinox' has been set for GA this week and this is my arch:

Altered Mannequin

2009-03-19T23:18:00.004Z

As part of the Design Team for Scrapbook Sisters I was given a mannequin which is about 3' tall and asked to alter it to fit the theme of 'weddings'. I chose to use the Graphic 45 range of papers Baby to Bride as my inspiration. I used the full range of papers and created a dress for the mannequin using paper folding techniques, cutting, punching, and layering. I added detail with punched flowers and butterflies, I created a laced back to the bodice and added a large bow with flowers on the train made from tulle.

To top it all off Graphic 45 have accepted it as an exemplar project on their website. Please visit the link to Graphic 45 and take a peek. I had a lot of fun creating this and cannot wait to start a new altered project.

Exotic Birds....

2009-03-17T23:56:00.001Z

is the theme for TGIF this week. I have not had the time to hand draw my entry for this! But instead opted for a stamped ATC with some hand colouring to bring a bit of colour and tone to the image. The peacock feathers were stamped onto the ATC and the whole peacock image was stamped onto a separate piece of card, cut out, chalked and applied to the background with foam pads to raise off the surface.

I hope you are all having a good start to the week, my day today has been quite nice, but this is the calm before the storm with three full days of teaching before the weekend descends! Here'shopingwe get the sunshine back by then, the day started off beautifully with sunshine, but turned bitterly cold and I drove home in drizzle and fog!

Comic?

2009-03-16T22:20:00.002Z

The theme over at TMTA this week is comic - this has always been an area of art which I find very difficult to translate to paper. Having been taught how to draw accurately, it then becomes hard to simplify and turn an image into a 'cartoony' style. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to put pencil to paper and produce my own comic image, I went for a cat character rather than a human figure. I drew the outline in pencil, then added colour with paint, finishing by chalking the edges of the ATC to darken it down. Hope you like my little alter ego side-kick!

Mother and Child

2009-03-15T22:55:00.002Z

An interesting theme set by Gothic Arches this week. I chose to hand draw my image on my arch using watercolour pencils and finishing the detail with a fineline pen. I hand wrote the wording, cut out and chalked the edges and applied to the background. Hope you like the end result, it took a while to get a good composition and the facial features working as I wanted them to!

Africa.....

2009-03-15T11:22:00.003Z

Is such a beautiful and amazing country, with so many different elements to it - the people, art, animals, and varying traditions and cultures from the Egyptian to the Masai and Zulu.....

This is the theme for SPA this week and I chose to focus on the animals, in particular the zebra. These have been stamped onto the background of my postcard and then hand coloured detail on top. All finished with the title of Africa.

Jigsaw Piece

2009-03-14T22:55:00.003Z

I love jigsaw puzzles, they have always been a fascination of mine, I love matching the pieces to create an image. I could pretty much guarantee that I would get at least one puzzle as a present every year, the harder the better!! So I love this weeks theme from Make A Moo of jigsaw piece. I created these by stamping the main images onto the Moo and hand colouring with markers. I then re-stamped the images onto another piece of card and punched out a section of the image with different jigsaw piece punches.

I hope you like the end result! I cannot believe that I have not been able to post anything since last Sunday! It has been a bit of a manic week, with very little free time to create art! Hopefully I can find some time this week to do more, and go surfing to see all your lovely work too.....

Fruit

2009-03-08T19:44:00.002Z

There are so many wonderful kinds of fruit available at our fingertips today, and because of modern shipping methods we can get most kinds at all times of the year. This is quite a shame as I remember having fruit in season and only in season! So strawberries were a summer fruit; apples, blackberries and pears an autumn fruit and oranges a winter fruit. They taste better at the right times of year, and especially when they are left on the plant to grow and ripen, being sold locally rather than flown halfway around the world!!

For Make A Moo this week I have hand drawn my fruit in black fineline pen and then added colour with watercolour pencils. I added hand written words in a sepia pen and finished the edges with chalk eye.

Fantasy.....

2009-03-08T09:39:00.003Z

Is this weeks theme for Gothic Arches. I love all things mystical, magical and with an element of fantasy. I covered a plain card arch with one of the papers from the Once Upon A Time range, then I hit a mental block! It took me a while to figure out which way I wanted to take the rest of the arch and finally settled on hand drawing and painting a fairy figure and adding wings by stamping onto acetate and attaching with glossy accents so they are raised off the surface. This arch also fits the theme for CBH this week of Believe, I stamped believe down the side using midnight blue Stazon, as fairies are something you definitely need to believe in to see them.....

Altered Time....

2009-03-05T23:01:00.004Z

Wouldn't it be great to alter time to fit the things you want to accomplish?!! There never seems to be enough time in the day to do all those things I plan to do. Time is the theme for MMM this week, and I have chosen to share a clock which I have altered. I created this piece at the last crop I attended, hosted by Scrapbook Sisters, this was the class that they held during the day.

We were provided with an MDF clock base, a selection of cardstock and patterened papers and the rest was up to your imagination! I chose to use cream cardstock as the backing for mine on which I stamped a selection of images in Timber Brown Stazon. On top this I created a smaller square of brown cardstock and patterned papers I cut and tore into a pattern, I extended the swirls onto the background by using watercolour pencils and fineline pen.

To complete I added some stamped birds from one of the new Prima ranges and hand drew the larger version. These were added with foam pads to raise off the surface - careful to still allow the clock hands to move around!

That Star Quality

2009-03-03T22:39:00.002Z

Audrey Hepburn is a film legend, and the centre of attention for TMTA this week. I created by ATC by hadn writing the names of films she starred in across the background in fineline pen. I then chalked the edges and printed an image of Audrey Hepburn on acetate to layer on top. It is held in place using a brad.

Time now to go finish prepping for tomorrow's work day, andto try and ignore the howling wind and lashing rain that is filling the skies around me. What a miserable day it has been, no sign of sun or that spring feeling today! Good job I 'pruned' the plants in my garden at the weekend! Here's to better, warmer weather soon...

Once Upon A Time....

2009-03-03T22:26:00.002Z

There was a little girl who loved to create Art.....

And she created this piece for SPA. The background is made by chalking blocks of colour and tearing out a circle of print. The start of a story was written on a piece of paper and added to the right hand side. An image was printed onto acetate and layered on top, held in place with Glossy Accents. The edges finished with dark brown chalk eyes.

Pink and Brown Silhouette

2009-03-01T22:15:00.003Z

I have chosen to combine the Gothic Arches theme of pink and brown with Weds Stamper's silhouette. I hand painted the pink background and dark brown silhouette of legs with a fantastic pair of heels! I completed by stamping the wording and swirl border and chalked all edges.

Passing of time....

2009-03-01T01:14:00.002Z

This last week has just gone by so fast, I cannot believe a week has already passed since I was away for my weekend retreat! It already feels like an eon since I had a holiday.......

The image provided by ACF this week seems appropriate then, of a sweet 'granny' figure. I created this digital piece using a sunset photograph, complete with wooden rocker I took while away, along with the horse image. I combined these with the photograph provided and used a number of layering techniques and Photoshop brushes to pull the whole look together, a respected figure remembering all those good times and younger days....

Butterflies and Stripes

2009-02-28T08:42:00.002Z

These are the themes for CBH and Arty Girlz this week. I made this ATC by using a textured piece of card as the background and rubbing chalk eye over the top to bring the stripes out. I then used my QuikKutz dies to create the toadstools and butterflies. I punched two butterflies out of differnt stripy papers and mixed them up to create the butterflies below. Hope you like the end result.

The Letter E....

2009-02-26T22:32:00.005Z

is for Elephant.

This is my interpretation of the theme set by TMTA this week. I created my ATC using a stamped image which was coloured with markers and then a chipboard letter added and hand written wording.

I have not been able to post for a while as I have been slightly busy and time has just run away with me! I spent the weekend away with friends and we were totally cut of from all the mod cons - no internet and no mobile phone service! It was great to get away and not have any interruptions, but instead have time to chill and have a laugh - boy did we laugh!! Then back to work and the week has just been one constant thing after another and shows no sign of letting up for the moment, but at least I managed half an hour of crafting this evening.....

Hands...

2009-02-20T01:18:00.004Z

I was invited by Sandy to be Guest Designer for TGIF this week on the theme of hands. It took me a while to find the right kind of inspiration and all of a sudden it just clicked as to how I wanted the piece to look. I created this mixd media 8x8 piece using a digital photograph of my hands and hand drew on top with fineline pens and markers to give is a handdrawn look. I then cut a line across the top of the hands and made a heart separately - stamping it and hand colouring, then slotted it into the photograph. I created the background using distress inks, Prima stamps and crackle paint and adhered the photograph on top, the hand prints in the top right corner were stamped and then had glossy accents added on top to give dimension. I completed with clusters of Prima Flowers. Ihope you like the end piece, the heart can be changed now to fit any hand drawn element, so I am considering using this as a page in a mini book and having different items I can change the heart for?......

Wings & Hearts

2009-02-16T21:39:00.002Z

This is the theme for MMM this week and I have made ths ATC using stamping, shading and drawing techniques. The wings were made separately and attached so that they appear as if she could jsut flap them and fly away.....

Mardis Gras...

2009-02-16T16:31:00.003Z

is the theme for Gothic Arches this week, what a great theme with loads of possibilities. I chose to create some mini masks using a mould and Makins clay in black. Once dry I coloured using metallic markers and decorated the edges of some with paper, fabric or feathers. The background was layered card, a page of an old book, crackle paint and distress inks. Hope you like the end result.

Marie Antoinette

2009-02-15T16:45:00.002Z

Was one of the most famous French Queen's, who at the height of the French Revolution incurred the wrath of her people and was sent to La Guillotine! These are my moos this week for Make A Moo. They are altered photographic images layered on top of a background.

Heartfelt

2009-02-15T15:21:00.003Z

Another Valentines has come and gone, and the end of another run of themed challenges. I have combined the background image provided by ACF this week and the theme of hearts for SPA to produce this digital postcard. I have used a range of layering, lighting, and brush effects to create this piece. I hope you all had a great Valentines.

Use Hearts....

2009-02-14T10:56:00.001Z

in a different way. This is the theme for Weds Stamper. I have created a skinny turning my hearts into dragonfly wings. The background was made using chalk eyes, watercolour pencils and pens to highlight detail, the body of the dragonfly was hand drawn and then the wings made of punched hearts and coloured with chalk eyes. Happy Valentines to all.

Friday 13th

2009-02-13T23:49:00.003Z

May be unlucky for some, but others find it a very lucky day. Many superstitions have sprung up over the years concerning Friday 13th, and many now fear the day. What a great theme to set by TGIF this week. I created an ATC using stamping and hand drawing, incorporating the number and a black cat that many associate with bad luck. I on the other hand find black cats lucky! Have a great start to the weekend.....

Chairs

2009-02-11T23:57:00.002Z

are the theme over at SPA this week and I have decided to create a digital piece. I used a variety of digital techniques in Photoshop to create my winged gent reading in his royal chair.....

Flowers in a Bed of Gold

2009-02-10T23:09:00.002Z

Flowers is the theme for Arty Girlz this week and Gold the theme for CBH. Both link together beautifully and I created this small 6x6 mixed media piece combining the two. I first collaged a strip from an old book down the left-hand side and added blue chalk eye to it. I then added gold paint to the right and dried with a heat gun so that it bubbled to add texture to the surface. I then used stamps from Tim Holtz, Stamps Away, Prima and Cherry Pie Arts to stamp the background and flowers on book pages. I then cut out and coloured the stamped flowers and attached to the background, filling the centres with gold paint. The petals are curled so they lift off the surface of the backgound. Detail shots are below. Hope you like the end result, it was hard to photograph the gold and get it to look gold!!

You've Got Mail....

2009-02-09T23:49:00.003Z

is the theme this week over at TMTA. I have used stamps from Crafty Individuals and added colour with markers, fine line pens, and chalk eyes, The top stamp image was stamped separately and attached with foam pads to raise off the surface.

Hearts Galore!

2009-02-08T18:36:00.003Z

Over the next week I have a feeling hearts are going to become ever more popular! It is the theme for Gothic Arches this week, and I have created this arch using stamps from Magnolia, Prima, & B Line, punches form Woodware, Distress inks, chalk eyes and markers to colour images. The hearts are cut out and curled to make them 3D then added with foam pads to raise them off the surface, black cotton being added as the balloon strings.

I would like the thank everyone for their thoughts of well wishes over the last few days, I have my house secure and am now waiting for the insurance to be finalised and quotes for new items. I am feeling more settled again, after having a great weekend - Saturday spent in the company of some great friends, and today spent chilling out and getting a bit of crafting in. Here's to a good week ahead!

Kiss Kiss

2009-02-08T00:41:00.002Z

I have combined the red & white challenge for Arty Girlz and Weds Stamper challenge Kiss Kiss into this skinny. I stamped the heart and cut it out, chalking the edges, I then layered it over the vintage image and cut to fit. I glued this to the background and added doodling around the edge in black and white pen to make it stand out and then finished by adding some epoxy flowers in red and white.

No.1

2009-02-08T00:05:00.002Z

is the theme over at Make A Moo this week. I created these using a variety of differnt stamps from Paper Artsy, Prima, Cherry Pie, and Fourth Dimension. They are completed by having chalk eye rubbed around the edges and adding glossy accents to the cats, number one and the wording. Hope you like the end result.

Tag of love...

2009-02-07T23:53:00.001Z

I have combined the love quote challenge of CBH and the tag sketch for TYI this week and created this piece below. I used a swirl template to draw the background tag and added water to bleed the colour, edging the tag in maroon chalk eye. I then layered the ribbon, punched hearts and the Love quote.

Dreaming of Better Days

2009-02-06T17:49:00.002Z

What a week! I am so glad that it is Friday, this has been a very long week. It started with our share of the snow and a snow day for me on Monday. Back to work on Tuesday, but the end got worse, with a break in to my house. Thankfully no one was hurt, my little black shadow - Hugo was unhurt, just scared, the duvet showing evidence of his hurry to hide from the intruders, and only a few possessions gone. Last night was spent contacting the police, waiting for their visit, then securing the door and property and today contacting insurance, getting quotes for repairs, etc.

So For ACF this week using the wonderful image provided I have chosen to direct my energies into believing in better days to come, and created this digital montage - Dreaming of Carefree Days........... Here's hoping! I wish you all a great happy weekend.

Bathing Beauty

2009-02-05T22:30:00.001Z

This is slightly late in the day, but I wanted to share this digital image I created using the image provided by ACF last Friday. The photograph of the lady just spoke to me of seaside, and in particular a Victorian bathing beauty with the rolling bathing huts! Hope you like the end result.

Green Circles

2009-02-03T22:17:00.002Z

Green is the theme for TGIF and Circles the theme for SPA - I have chosen to combine the two this week as I thought the two go well together. I have created to postcards as I was not totally happy with this first one. Both are created by using hand painted backgrounds of green circles, then layered with stamps, hand drawn circles and wording. Hope you like them.

Rock

2009-02-02T22:40:00.002Z

is music that I love, you can't beat a song with a good beat! This is the ATC I created for TMTA this week. I cannot choose just one rock star or rock band, so went for the things to do with rock!

SNOW DAY!!!!!

2009-02-02T17:42:00.004Z

Well what a day - I did get my snow day, but not before I got up, got ready and left for work - then on the way there got the message that the school had been shut for the day! So turned around and came home where the fun began.....

I could not get the car back up the driveway!! I had to enlist the help of friends to dig out the driveway enough to get a grip with the tyres and back up it! In doing so I lost my grip and slid down the drive on my rear - it was so funny, but thankfully there were no cameras out at that point! We managed clearing it eventually and I got the car safely back up, but by then it had started to snow again, and has not stopped all day! I went for a walk around my neighbourhood, as I am close to the woods and farmland, and got some great shots to share with you. My cat Hugo even ventured out for a spell, which is unheard of! He hates the feel of the snow clinging to his paws, but he managed it long enough for a couple of poses.

I hope those of you in the UK enjoyed your day and either got to and from work safely or enjoyed a snow day too. I bet those of you from the States, Netherlands or other climates used to all this snow are thinking - a little snow and you all go crazy!!! But we rarely get a decent amount of snow, so we make the most of it when we can, I am sure I will be fed up of it soon.... Enjoy the photos. x x

Fruit...

2009-02-02T17:35:00.001Z

is a great thing to eat to stay healthy! And it is the challenge over at MMM today. I have chosen to share some fruit studies I did using watercolour pain, fineline pen and builders scrim. The top one is a section of a slice of orange and the bottom tomatoes on a vine.

Tagging an Arch...

2009-02-01T22:15:00.002Z

I love the colour purple and the theme of 'Tag your Arch' for Gothic Arches combined so well with the theme of 'Purple' over at TYI that I combined both to create this piece. The background is created on purple card with a range of images stamped in purple and cherry Stazon. Then the stamped tag and wording was layered on top with mount pads to raise them off the surface.

I made sure I was all tucked up and cosy this evening to create this piece - the weather has turned arctic again, with the snow front from Russia finally hitting us!! There is an even layer of snow all around, and I am hoping that it either stops so that I can get to work tomorrow safely, or that it keeps snowing hard, lays thick and I get a snow day!!! Here's looking forward to a winter wonderland at 6.30am tomorrow morning....

Mixed Media Drawing

2009-01-31T23:55:00.001Z

I got the chance to sit down and have a play today. First I completed a great class held by Scrapbook Sisters, where I made a great altered mirror; then this evening I had a play with mixed media to create this portrait. I collaged pages form a book for the background and added Gesso on top. Once dry I marked the image out in pencil then added colour with watercolour pencils, a black waterproof fineline pen and then coloured markers. I am fairly happy with the end result, but think I need to leave it and come back at a later date.

Vintage Love

2009-01-30T23:39:00.003Z

I am so glad that it is Friday, what a busy week it has been, or rather a busy month! Definitely hit 2009 with a bang, and next week looks to be just as busy, if not more so....

Still I have a good weekend to look forward to, well on the most part anyway. Tomorrow I get to spend creating at a class held by Scrapbook Sisters, then hopefully will get some time in the evening to complete some of my projects. I will need to get some school work done on the Sunday though.

But for now I have managed to create these Moo's for Make A Moo this week by using pages from a book for the background and then added colour with chalk eyes. I then collaged the vintage images on top and punched the hearts, chalked the edges and added them to the background. I then finished them by adding Glossy Accents to the hearts.

Ice Blue

2009-01-28T23:19:00.001Z

This is the challenge over at TMTA this week. I decided to use some Paper Artsy stamps onto a background I created using differing shades of icy blue chalk eyes. The images are stamped in Stazon and I completed by adding ice blue stickles down the left-hand side.

Alley Cat

2009-01-28T22:59:00.001Z

I do love felines of all kinds, and am paticularly biased towards my own black shadow!! So I loved this weeks theme over at SPA of cats. This is my postcard, made by hand painting the copper background then stamping the paws and alley cat directly on top. The black cats are stamped separately and mounted using foam pads to raise them off the surface. It is finished with a hand doodled border and chalked edges.

It's All In The Numbers

2009-01-28T22:49:00.001Z

Numbers is the theme over at TYI this week and I created this tag using a stamp from Paper Artsy, Prima Flowers and some odds and ends of papers I had.

Books.....

2009-01-27T21:16:00.003Z

I love to buy them, read them, draw in them, alter them, and make them........

For TGIF this week I have chosen to share this book I made for my sister for Christmas. It is a desktop book I learnt how to make at a class held by Karen of Scrapbook Sisters, and this is another version of it. Hope you like the end result.