Thursday, March 28, 2013

Live, Love, Laugh..


I was inspired after Mixed Media Monday with Tracy to sit straight down and paint on my very first Canvas, it was best I think as everything was all fresh in my mind of what to do.  I tried to stamp on the canvas as Tracy had done but it did not work with the stamps I had, it just did not look right it just did not stamp at all.  So went for the flower stencils I had. So I got all my favourite bright colors out and just started dabbing away and popping layers of flowers for the background.  I painted the main flowers at the front and attempted the best I could with leaves they are tricky.  I used my bigshot and cut letters out for the words, then I used my new white pen and went around them so they look like they are embedded in the canvas and not just stuck on top.  I used left over paint and dabbed on some cardstock and stamped with a word stamp. Then I used the Tim Holtz butterfly movers and shapers die to cut it out.. I popped bows in the buttons with some colored string I had saved.  It was from a little parcel I had received, thought it was the perfect color, I only just had enough of it for the 3 of them.  I had a lot of fun getting paint everywhere, was lovely to use such bright happy colors. 

I would also like to say a big welcome a new follower to my blog, welcome to Gibby.  

I am going to enter this in the challenge at 
Simon Says Stamp  Quotable..

Have a great day
Happy Easter
Sandy :)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

WOYWW #199



Its Wednesday again and its that time of the week when Julia from WOYWW gets us all together to have a look at desks from all over the world.. 
My desk today has a canvas I am working on still got to stick those buttons on the flowers and work out what words I am going to put on it.. Was going to put the butterflies on it but think it is too busy with them on as well.. I will keep them and put them on a card they turned out so pretty. This is my very first canvas and told hubby not to worry it will go on the future craft room wall. (Daughter moves out in December and I have the room all planned). It was fun to do something different and really loved doing such bright happy colors.. This was a technique from Tracy at Mixed Media Monday, Tracy did it yesterday and I sat down and painted straight after the class.  I am learning so much and having lots of fun painting. Paint and bits everywhere didnt realise how messy it all is till I took the photo.  I love my new craft mat so easy to keep it all clean now.  
I just went to the Library and picked up that book it has 2 cute owls in it was excited when I saw them.. Title is Art and Life combined, its all about mixed media. I am still working on the washi tape book will finish it in the next few days then post it up for you all to see. 
My desk will be all different next week I have brought a new table its wooden and is very solid. My friend was selling it and I snapped it up.  The one I use now is one that folds in the middle and gets the shakes when I dab with the paint and I have things toppling off.. I pick the desk up this weekend so will have a reorganise of everything.  Its longer so that will give me more room yay....  

Have a great day 
Sandy :)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Earth laughs in flowers


I was reading an article today and they said to take time to encourage your creative self everyday. I have not done a thing on my desk for days so thought darn I better get to it.. So I did the little birds I am fond of at the moment and added some tulips, well my attempt at some tulips.. I looked at pictures of tulips on google images and its funny I had never even noticed the long leaves tulips have.. . Found this little quote as well and thought it was just so cute, so added it in the cloud.  "Earth laughs in flowers" Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 



So just a little practice in my journal but thought I would share just so you know I am doing some journaling.  Think I might try to put the birds on a canvas just to try it out.. Not everything I am doing is working out, but that's fine its all learning and I am having fun learning..
Have a great day.
Sandy :)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

WOYWW #198


Hi everyone, well its that time of the week when Julia from WOYWW gets us all together to have a look at desks from all over the world.. 
Today I am working on a little book to hold some home made washi tapes.. I am still doing the inside, the outside of the book itself is kind of done, still needs some decoration.  I made it out of the box my coffee comes in. I have pics of some of the steps, will do a post with links on all of it when I finish it..  The greaseproof paper still has to get cut into lengths and stuck on the black inside pages so the washi doesn't stick, will see how it all works but I am happy with it so far..  Still have to make the washi tape as well.  I would like to make some washi with paints so they will match with the colors I have, so then I can use these on my journal pages. Thought this also might be a fun gift for a friend, so can see me making a few of these.. You could also use this for ribbon storage which I think might be a good idea.. Great for maybe a little travel one to put a few of this and that in it.. Was even thinking it might be good with a few pages with pockets in it that can hold tags and tickets and things lots of ideas, will see what I can do with this its a great design.
I would also like to say a BIG welcome to 2 new followers to my blog Mary and Barbara.  I seem to find something every week I cant wait to try.  There is just so much still to learn, feel like I have just scratched the surface.. 

Have a great day..
Sandy :)

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Challenges 4 Everybody #16 DT


Hi everyone, this week at Challenges 4 Everybody I have a Journal page that I have been working on.  I purchased this lovely dress form stamp from Kaisercraft and just had to ink it up..  With this page I started with tearing up papers that had a dress pattern on it and sticking it down with mod podge.. I then sponged over it with a beige and white acrylic paint..  I put holes in the side on the left and got a bit of thread and did a bit of hand stitching.  Stapled the lace on the bottom of it as I just wanted a bit of texture.. The flowers where all white, I sponged them with pink and painted the buttons for the centres so they where the same color.  I stamped with a word stamp here and there just to add a little something, then got the hexagon stencil out and sponged in pink..  The sentiment, it so fitted my theme. I had never heard this before and just knew it was the perfect one for me.
'Chains do not hold a marriage together.  It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years' Quote from Simone Signoret. 
Isn't it just a lovely quote.  
Here are the pages individually..




So this week at Challenges 4 Everybody we are sponsored by Sassy Studio Designs They are giving away 4 free images to our randomly picked winner.  We would love to come and visit your blog and see your creation.  As always its everyone's favourite Anything goes.. 

I am entering this in the following challenges..
Make it Monday 
Art impressions   Anything goes
Simon says stamp and show
Our New Sponsors!

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Saturday, March 16, 2013

March Aussie tag swap

My partner in this months Aussie tag swap, Diane of cardenofelan has received her tag. So can reveal the tags from this months swap the theme for this month was 'Autumn'.

With my tag I used the Kaisercraft papers and one of the little rubons in the Tiny woods designer papers.. Can you see the little porcupine down on the very bottom of the tag he is so cute and tiny..  I fussy cut the 2 owls and covered them in glossy accents. I used 2 of the papers from the pack to make the background and used the Tim Holtz branch to poke out from the back of the leaves.  I have never stapled on anything either but this ribbon was so wide I didn't think tape would do the trick but really liked the look of it so out came my dads old trusty stapler. 
I have not used all my new paints on a tag before but used the technique I saw Tracy use from Mixed Media Monday on  this link to her blog with the video
My friend was horrified when she saw I was ripping pages out of a book to rumple and paint them.. It was so funny had to laugh at her told her she could have the book when I am finished with it if she likes.. Think I will do something really funky with it, mixed media style and give it to her for a gift.. hehe... Has a really nice hard cover..


I received a lovely tag from my partner this month Tanya and was delighted with it.  It just so sings Autumn with its pretty leaves..  We liked the same quote too isn't that such a coincidence, Tanya has put it on its own little tag.. It is such a pretty Autumn one though.. Really liked the embossed detail in the background and the tiny little leaves scattered over the top. 


I love the detailed little leaves that Tanya used at the top here that are so fine and delicate, so like some of the ones you do find under trees where they have decomposed but you see the lovely veins of the leaf.. 


I would also like to say a big welcome to 2 new followers to my blog Sue and Janene. 
To think that nearly 100 people now follow my little blog is just amazing.. I sure have changed with the things that I do from cards, tags, ATC's and now Mixed Media and Art journaling I just love all of it..  I seem to mix everything together too which I am finding so much fun to do. 
Have a great day 
Sandy :) 

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

WOYWW #197


I have been experimenting in my Art journal, thought I would do some more of the little birds that where on my page with the owl.  I am not sure if I am going to do more to this, or if it is finished.  I think maybe some splashes on it of a color, hmm still thinking. I found those cute little doilies that I will be able to use on cards and in my art journal. I have not seen these tiny ones like this before, pack of 100 it was a good find..  When hubby was in the hardware store I went to the paint section and picked up some paint chip cards. Have seen a few of these used on different things lately so picked up a few in coordinating colors. 

Veggie garden update, my other workdesk.. 
It is so nice today to have all the doors and windows open we have just had the hottest 7 days on record ever.  My poor vegetable garden is fizzled, the only thing growing is pumpkins (lots of pumpkins) and tomatoes. We did have a lovely yummy crop of corn, at least 55 cobs that was all in before this hot weather hit so that was lucky.. Climate change, yep everyone talking about it now.

Yummy corn from our garden
So hop on over to have a peek around desks at Julia's.  Make sure you have a cuppa ready before you venture into the wonderful world of Julia's Stamping Ground
Thanks for visiting my blog and all the lovely comments I enjoy reading every one.  

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Monday's...



I had a bit of fun over the last few days doing this page in my Art Journal.. I used my new masks and the 2 that I have made myself with punches..  It was good to experiment and see what they looked like with some paint. The 2 I made where the swirl with the dots and the long lines.  I am really enjoying Mondays with Tracy at Mixed Media Monday so this is my little tribute to Mondays the best messy day of the week.. 

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

WOYWW #196


I have been painting in my Art Journal, had a lovely time watching Tracy at Mixed Media Monday, you had to use buttons and your favourite song.Yesterday I went to Kaisercraft and brought lots of paint they had some lovely colors all reduced to clear, bonus for me, so I was all ready to get painting.Thanks Eliza for letting me know that they where on sale.. 
Close up so you don't have to squint..


I also had a lovely day with Eliza of  Queenartoypia at the scrapbooking and papercraft fair last Saturday we met up and had a wonderful day wondering around and admiring the lovely work on show and all the craft bargains.   I brought lots of nesting dies something I was sadly lacking in.. I also brought some stencils, did not see one Gelli plate which is something that I was wanting to get..  My Husband came too and went to the Museum next door, wandered around in there and watched an excellent video all about Pharlap the horse.. Handy that the craft fair was just next to the Museum.

So hop on over to have a peek around desks at Julia's.  Make sure you have a cuppa ready before you venture into the wonderful world of Julia's Stamping Ground
Thanks for visiting my blog and all the lovely comments I enjoy reading every one.  

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

March Challenge for Mixed Media Monday



Over at Tracy's at Mixed Media Monday we have just been told this months challenge. It is to use buttons and have your favourite song on a mixed media page.. Tracy did a beautiful colorful hot air balloon and filled it with buttons..  Me I am afraid of heights so a hot air balloon, though pretty, would not be my thing to do.  So thought about what are my favourite things?  Well it did not take long for the song. John Bon Jovi fan here so that was easy.  Have a nice day, is certainly my favourite song.. What is my favourite thing? Well anyone that knows me will know what my favourite thing is. Its owls of course so that's how I came up with my page.. 

Just in case you want to rock along, and really who wouldn't.. 



Have a great day
Sandy :)

Monday, March 4, 2013

First page in my new Art Journal


 Hi all just been playing in my new art journal the one that was supposed to be a gardening journal that I bought last week at the op shop.. I saw this You tube video  yesterday and was inspired to make this page.  I love the sentiment and it just had to go in here..  I had done a spotty background and was looking for some rainy inspiration.. I wanted to put a umbrella on a page, think its the lack of rain we have been having here, so have rain on my brain.. Anyway, So I paper pieced the umbrella and the ladies dress.  I wanted a lady looking like she was in a windy storm, that's why she is a bit sideways..  I was a bit scared of doing a face as I have never done a face or ever needed to be able to do one, but thought I would have a go.  I have put some water color crayons on my list of things I want to buy as it would have been nice to put a bit of color on her face..  I drew some swirls as well as wanted more of a windy effect but think they came out different than what I had in my mind but hey that's the way it goes and it was a lot of fun to do..  


Have a great day 
Sandy :)

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Challenges 4 Everybody

Well its time for a new challenge over at Challenges 4 Everybody We  have as our sponsor this week  Bugaboo stamps  If you link up with your entry and you are randomly picked, you get to pick 7 free digis of your choice. So come on and join in the fun as always, its Anything goes.. We also have some new Design Team members starting for the very first time this week so don't forget to pop into there blogs and say hi..
With this card I used the lovely Flower-Block-Names--Violet.  It is such a pretty image and I so love bugaboos flowers, they are just so much fun to work with..
So here is my card...

Well this was quite an eventful card. I was doing the embossing for the background of my card and popped the paper and the embossing folder in my bigshot. I then went to wind the handle and a HUGE huntsman spider crawled out of it.. Well you can imagine my reaction it was nearly on my hand.. So don't think the plastic slides where ever meant for catching spiders but the where very useful for scooping him up and chucking him outside.. I just wish I had of taken a photo..
Here is a video so you can see how big he was.. Mine was about 3 inches big so just scared me just a little...  Still a bit jittery when I used my bigshot today don't think I will ever just wind the handle and not think of the spider..



I would like to enter this card in the following challenges..
Sweet stampin challenge blog Embossing
My time to craft challenge Embossing
Make it Monday Anything goes
Catch the bug Anything goes

I would like to say a big welcome to my newest followers Tuire, and Gill.. 
Thanks also to everyone for the kind words about my very first blogaversary.  I so enjoy blogging about my cards and crafts and all of you in blog land are so amazing and so sharing with info and time.. I feel very lucky to be so accepted into the world of blogging..

Have a great day
Sandy :)