Love Grows Love

These images came on some advertising in my mailbox and I had originally thought they could fit with the last Craft Barn  challenge of what Dad might do over the long weekend - although he may have wanted darker green boots - gumboots where I come from. Well, when I went to post I had missed the date, but thought it could still fit with the new challenge of Around the House. I think they may want us to use some items from around the house to create with - that page is coming soon.

Tag - Clean & Simple

This is for Crafty Individuals Challenge - Clean and Simple & Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - also Clean & Simple

I was lucky enough to receive some stamps in the post last month. They came very quickly - thanks. I tried to choose something that I could use over and over again and went with Ferns and Grasses. I used a tag I had been trying out some ink techniques on and used some of the stamps for a simple but effective design.

O is for Opera House

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to to Sydney, with two of my children, for a concert in the Opera House. We had an amazing time there together and so I decided to create a page to remember it by.
I started with some notepad 'money' in the background, toned down with some gesso. I then used mope up baby wipes and patterned paper to create stylized harbour bridge and Opera House. Some ink drips, a bit of stamping and stenciling and panoramic views of the inside of the concert hall.

This is for The Craft Barn Alpha Challenge 'O'.

Making Your Mark

I while back I bought myself a Spirograph. I can pretend I bought it to use with my class at school but truthfully I always wanted one, and the kids will be lucky if they actually get their hands on it!
I must admit, I'm not that good at using it and my attempts are fairly average. I had used some paper with left over paint on it to make my spiral marks and even though they are not perfect, I liked the paper and the colours so I went ahead and used them.
The background is simple, with some spraying, a little Gelatos, and some thick black lines.
The quote from Barack Obama seemed apt. My handwriting is not the best, but it's done and I like the overall effect.
I have seen an activity where you spin actual children holding pens to make the marks - maybe I'll try that next!
This is an entry in Paper Artsy Challenge #17.

"Making Your Mark on the World is Hard.

If it were easy, everybody would do it.
But it's not.
It takes patience, it takes commitment,
and it comes with plenty of failure along the way.
The real test is not whether you avoid this failure,
because you wont,
it's whether you let it harden you or shame you into inaction,
or whether you learn from it;
whether you choose to persevere."

Barack Obama

Just Be Happy

I created this card for the Simon Say Stamp Monday Challenge - It's A Stitch Up.

The black cards seemed a good idea as I often seemed to be painting a black background on cards. The I realised that not everyone may have a pen to write on the black inside (I sometimes give blank cards to others as gifts for them to use) so I decided to insert some red paper that I had used as a background layer on the from. The front design was created using Liquitex Inks, an embossed stamp and machine stitching. I carried this design inside and onto the envelope.

Beads

I made these beads sometime ago and there are plenty of instructions out there. I think the site I originally looked at was into recycling and resuing. They are basically mushed up newspaper and I think PVA glue, as they are quite hard and I had to drill the threading holes.
I had thought I could use these for gifts bit then wasn't sure about them. I pulled them out when I saw this challenge and decided to string them and see what I thought.
I do quite like the rusticness of them and the colours I used - they almost look like little worlds/globes. I think I will need to search out the idea again and give them another go sometime.

This is for the Paper Artsy Challenge #16 Beads, Charms, Dangles.

 

Feather & Beads

This was inspired from something I watch on YouTube quite some time ago - don't think I saved it, but thought the idea was worth trying.
The paper used in this feather was the brayer roll off while Gelli printing. Loved the metallics and think they helped create a beautiful feather. I gifted the second one to a friend with the inspiration "The feather symbolises trust, honour, strength, wisdom, power, freedom".

This is for the Paper Artsy Challenge #16 Beads, Charms, Dangles.