Alpha Challenge - N for Nautical

My second 'N' word for this challenge at The Craft Barn.
And just found Simon Says Stamp has a nautical challenge - just a coincidence so might as well link there as well.
I had tried out a background using salt, with no success so used these pages with a sea/nautical themed napkin to create this page.

VLV Stamps July Challenge - Steampunk

Now I'm going to submit this even though I probably don't fill all the criteria - but created the page before I read them properly! I promise, I have an order in for some stamps from Viva Las Vegas Stamps. That's how I found the challenge.
I don't have a lot of steampunk - just self-made cogs stencil - but created some stamps (the goggles looked more like an owl!) and found some images. I quite liked that one of the images I found was of the Steampunk HQ in Oamaru, NZ. Who knew?!
The page had been started using a pack of 50's Diner Gelatos and the packaging they came in. I added my stamps, images and plenty of metallic paint.

Below: Steampunk HQ, Oamaru, New Zealand

Alpha Challenge - N for Nurture

Happy to find some more challenges to take part in. It helps me focus and have a purpose to my creating.

This one is for the Alpha Challenge at The Craft Barn - the letter for this challenge is N.

My immediate thoughts were for 'nurture' so found a stylised image of the Madonna and baby and went from there. The background of the page was created using the colours from a pack of Tropical Gelatos and the packaging they came in. I then used Derwent Inktense pencils and blocks for the main image.

Paper Piecing PA #13

It's amazing what you can think of that you have created, or can create, once a theme is suggested.
This one is a page I made using painted stickers. The whole sticker sheet was painted, stamped and stenciled and then pieced back together in this brick effect.

Paper Piecing PA #13

I was thinking about a rooster I created many years ago after reading some Eric Carle books and working on art in his style with some young children. It took a bit of hunting out but thankfully I found it on my hard drive, as I was always quite pleased with this rooster. When I looked at the date of the file it was Nov 2006 - so hope that still qualifies for this challenge!

Paper Piecing PA #13

I was just putting together a bundle of items to send off to the local art gallery for their school's display and I realised that one of the projects we has done this year fits with this Paper Artsy Challenge theme.
I usually need to have a practice before I present a task to the class (9 & 10 year olds) and was quite pleased with what I produced.
We were studying Matisse and had made a class wall and self portraits, then I found this egg activity - and was Easter coming up - so we gave that a go.
This is my egg:

And this is some of the kids' work:

Paper Piecing PA #13

This week's challenge #13 from Paper Artsy is Paper Piecing.
I have just completed this card by The Frugal Crafter, and while it is really made from one piece of paper, it is created to appear like patchwork. I took the advice of one of the commenters on the video and used my sewing machine to make the holes, which worked fine, but I might try if with a bigger needle next time.