A Splash Of Colour - CJS20

Janna Werner shared a fantastic Creative Jumpstart tutorial (no. 20) and I loved using her techniques to create the backgrounds seen on these tags.  I've added some simple collage to the tags, just to see how the backgrounds might look in artwork.

Here's another great stamp designed by Colette Copeland and produced by Stampington.  I really love this flower image!  It's fun to stitch too!

A scrap of silk and a few buttons add a simple point of interest to this tag.

It's all about Darkroom Door's Robot Collection on this tag!  Another very simple composition and a great tag for boys of all ages!

There's just a touch of stamping from Darkroom Door's Paris Collection.  The Eiffel Tower image is from Typo.

At Play - The Girls

'Thoughts on Why'

I have loved working with my stencils so much more after Julie's Creative Jumpstart tutorial.  It's great to once more put them to good use, my stencils have been very inactive, for like forever!

This time I added more collage layers:  stamping, textiles, buttons, stitching, scraps of paper

I'm also seeing more 'heartstrings' in my work - I'm wondering what that's all about!  I have been missing my mum, especially having been so unwell in recent times!  I can't help but wonder what kind of wisdom she would bestow upon her newly-wed daughter, but then again, deep down, I think I know the kinds of things she'd say.

'Girl At Home'

This one kind of looks like a house with the way the silk ribbon is sitting at the top of the tag.

I'm feeling more at home when working with stencils, which is fabulous.  But I'm also a girl that revels in lots of time spent at home - I just love it!

All stamped images are by Stampington (designed by Dina Wakley and Colette Copeland)!  I especially love the second girl image, designed by Colette Copeland.  Colette is one of my most favourite mixed media artists.  She's such an inspiration to me!

Half A Cup Of Playfulness...

Happy New Year to you one and all!

This is not the piece that I wanted to represent my new word, for the new year - 'playfulness'.  However, my year has also not really started in the way I would wish.  I'm unwell again and did not even think I would make it to the studio table today.  There is so much I could whinge about too - the pain that I'm in (and it's a public holiday so I can't see my doctor), the heatwave we're having (in a house that doesn't have any aircon) and to top it all off the ants have invaded us, and worse still they found my chocolate stash and raided it beyond rescuing!!!

When I did muster up the strength to sit at my desk, the first thought that came to mind was... 'when life gives you lemons'... you know how it goes!  So I thought I'd try and make some lemonade, so to speak, and I tried to create with a spirit of 'playfulness' in the midst of a little misery.  I knew it was going to need to be a piece that was quick to put together and so I just grabbed two key elements (the Stampington stamps and the Lemon Myrtle teabag and worked from there.

I found the process of putting this together very therapeutic, I was no longer focusing on the pain I'm in and I was turning a somewhat bad day into one that had at least half a cup of playfulness in it.  Through this process I've also discovered that I can in fact create, even when I'm not feeling 100%, I just had to push through the frustration and doubt.  I also needed to remind myself that playfulness is all about the process (having fun) and not the end product!

How has 2013 started for you?  I know in the big scheme of things I have nothing to whinge about really and I'm going to try to spend the rest of January 1st looking at life with a 'the cup is half full' kind of outlook.  Hmmmmm, a icy cold glass of lemonade could down quite nicely right now too!

Oh, I also stumbled upon the 'Just B' website today and Pip is running a 'Month of Moments' challenge.  I've decided to play along when I can.  Today's prompt is 'brand new'.  And as already mentioned, 'Playfulness' is my brand new word for the year!

Blessings to you and yours on this first day of a new year!

PDCC162 - Happy HAPPY New Year!

It's been so long since I've been able to have fun with everyone at The Play Date Cafe.  Challenge #162 is inspired by the picture below - the challenge was to create something using the following colours:  

Gold

Teal

Mint

 Lavender

As I didn't get to 'play' with this challenge until after Christmas, thoughts of the New Year were my inspiration and starting point.  The cute 'star of the show' is from Stampington and the words are a combination of Making Memories and Hero Arts.  I stitched and beaded some extra stars into the background and wanted to approach this piece in a playful way... playful may be my 'word' for 2013, especially with my creative work.  I can tend towards being too serious and I can find myself losing the sense of fun during the creative process.  So next year I'm going to aim to be more playful in the way I approach not just my art, but life in general.  

This piece is created on a seed packet, so there's a pocket to hide dreams/goals/secrets for the year too. Actually, I already have a big secret that I'm keeping and will be able to share it with you very soon!

Here's to a very Happy, HAPPY New Year to You!  Yes, I'm just a little early - makes a nice change, eh!

Peace On Earth

We all dream of this... peace on earth, yet it seems an impossible dream this side of heaven.  However, my prayer for you this Christmas is this, that there may be peace in you home and peace in your heart.

I've been playing in my 'studio' since the wee hours... first I made the Father Christmas inchie (as I thought I'd do something quick and easy!).  Well inchies can be rather addictive, as they usually come together in a relatively short amount of time.  Four inchies later and a torn up envelope for the background and I've made myself a lovely little Christmas hanging.  I'm keeping this one, it's my first Christmas with my beloved and this is a little keepsake in celebration of such a God-especially-blessed year!  I'm really excited to not be waking up to Christmas Day all on my own and having someone so dear to me to share it with.

All the sweet images are by ARTchix Studios and the background stamps are from Stampington.  The gorgeously, stunning laces were purchased on my recent trip to Melbourne... I just love them!!!

Moo-Mania - Christmas

I've been attempting to create off and on all day and I have to tell you it was a struggle.  Nothing was coming together.  I went off and had a little nap and when I came back to the 'studio' I remembered that I had stumbled upon a challenge site today, Moo- Mania.  I checked out their latest theme, which is 'Christmas' and had a little play (I'm on a time limit as we're heading out for dinner shortly).  I haven't made a 'moo' for quite some time - it was so much fun!  They're pretty small (1 1/8" x 2 3/4"), so generally they come together quickly!

How do you overcome artist block?  Any great tips would be greatly appreciated!

Shades of White - Collage Obsession

'Shades of White' is the challenge over at Collage Obsession this week.  I've spent quite a chunk of the day sorting through the studio and then I had a couple of appointments during the day... time was rapidly disappearing for a little creativity... 'Shades of White' was just the prompt to get me focused and since I've done absolutely no decorating, no creating, no gift wrapping for Christmas, I thought it might be time to start exploring some ideas!

A number of embellishments on this piece come from my recent travels to Melbourne and Tasmania.  The stamped images are all by Stampington and the words are ARTchix.  The beautiful beaded tulle are from some left over pieces from my wedding gown!

As we draw closer to the day, when we celebrate the birth of the Saviour, I can't help but reflect upon how much we need Peace on Earth, true peace, that only He can bring.

In Print - Shades of Colour

It's always a thrill to have artwork published.  I received my free contributor's copy of Take Ten Spring 2012, in the midst of wedding planning, so it's only just now that I'm really appreciating the thrill! These were very quick cards to make.  I used paint samples and simple stamping at the composition's foundation, next I added a beautiful collage image and then the most exciting part, finding just the right textiles/embellishments for the finishing touch!

I think I'll be making more of these!

And it's about time that I sat down to look at and appreciate the work of the other artists that contributed to this lovely issue of Take Ten!  What a lovely way to pass the time of day!

The Stampers' Sampler Cover Girl!!!

This was in the mail yesterday... that's my card on the front cover.  What a thrill!!!

and a two page spread inside!

I have so much news to share from the past month or so, and I'm nearly on holidays, so I shall catch you up on what's been happening in my little world really soon! 

I 'Love' To Play

'I Love To Play'

I love to play... well actually it would be more accurate to say that I'm learning to love play.  I nearly gave up on this piece and had to keep reminding myself that if it came to nothing it didn't matter... it seems I put too much pressure on myself to produce something even when my intention is to simply 'play to my hearts content'.  How do I get to the point of just enjoying creating for the fun of it???  Any suggestions???  Hmmmm, thinking about this, I think I could get some great advice from the 6 & 7 year olds I work with everyday.  I think I'd better ask them about my dilemma tomorrow!

See I can't help myself... I seem to need to find purpose in what I've made.  The piece I showed you a few days ago (which scanned way brighter than it is in real life back then), has become the cover of a creative journal I'm currently using.  It's kinda nice to have it on the cover because it's reminding me to approach my creative time in a new, fresh way.... well at least that's what I'm attempting to do!

I wonder how long it will take for me to find something to do with my newest piece, 'I love to play'?  Only time will tell I suppose.

Are you taking time to play?  If so, let me know what you've been up to, as I'd love to know what you've been experimenting with!

On a very exciting note, today I had an email from Stampington and I am going to be a cover girl in a couple of months!  So happy :)

Published - Copper Poppies

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 14 No11

A number of years ago, I was able to go to an Artistic Journey Retreat with my friend Jhodi in Fremantle and it was there that I met and made a new wonderful friend, Debbi.  All three of us shared a hotel room together at the retreat and had a fabulous creative time with some great classes and amazing tutors.  Jhodi, Debbi and I are having a little retreat of our own this weekend and we're making it an extra long weekend.  I'm so excited to be able to spend time with these two very talented, encouraging and generous women.  I think we're in for a fantastic and fun-filled time!

  At the Artistic Journey retreat in Fremantle, I was able to participate in a jewellery making class taught by Nina Bagley.  She is a fabulous tutor from the US and if you're ever able to do one of her classes I would highly recommend her!  Nina taught us some fabulous techniques, including a number of ways to make use of 'copper mesh'.  In our enthusiam to want to play further with copper mesh, Jhodi, Debbi and I all bought more!  Well mine sat around for quite a while until one day I thought about stitching and stamping on it!  That's how this project started... I even made a little handbag for this project!  And I've used it on the odd occasion too! 

Home For The Weekend - PDCC95

'Home For The Weekend'

Oh the bliss and sweet joy of a day spent at home on the weekend! 

This Saturday was a home day.  A stay in your pyjamas all day and play at home, kinda day.  So that meant I got to play along with the artists over at The Play Date Cafe Challenge #95.  See the inspirational photographs below.

It was a great feeling to finally put ink to this Stampington rubber that has been sitting on the shelf for a while.The Tim Holtz die was the starting point and then it grew like topsy.  I can hear my heart whispering (might even be shouting) to make sure I have time at home on the weekends!

Well I have yet to do my packing... and some of the planning I was talking about yesterday.  I now have a touch of European envy and am pondering if/when I may walk upon the streets of Paris?  I know my friend will have an amazing time and I can't wait to hear all about her travel adventures.

Anyway, I'm having myself a little adventure today.  I'm meeting up with a long time friend and her family - they have travelled right across the other side of the country to visit me.  We are all staying together in a accomodation unit near the beach.  I'm heading there straight after work today, which means I REALLY need to get packing!

Sing Out

'Sing Out'

So there's a little story behind this ATC...  My friend Amanda challenged me to make a card using this small piece of wood (that had somehow attached itself to my scarf) and her gum wrapper (that I rescued just before she tossed it in the bin)!  I was awake in the wee hours this morning and put this piece together just for her!  Not sure if she'll like it, but hopefully she'll be a little impressed with what you can do with 'junk'!

Spotlight - TMTA Circle

'Spotlight'

Over at Think Monday Think ATC the challenge for the week is 'Circle/Round'.  The focal image is from ARTchix Studios.  Circles were made from sequin waste, cardboard tube, sequins, gemstones and a Stampington postal stamp cube.

TPDCC #93 - Fleur

'Fleur'

The Play Date Cafe Challenge #93 (see photo below) is the inspiration for this ATC.  I've used some ARTchix collage papers, gesso, sequin waste (as a stencil) and Brilliance ink pads to create the background.  Stamped images:  Stitched trim (Oxford Impressions), Postal stamps (Stampington) and 'Four-Leaf Clover' (Stampington).

It's been wonderful to start the weekend with a touch of creativity!  I hope you get some time for creative and inky fun this weekend too - if that's what your heart would so desire :)

Published - A Touch of Whimsy

'10 Quick Cards'

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 1.

These lovely whimsical images are available at Stampington & Co.  It was a great doodling challenge to create all the frames for these wonderful characters! 

Published - 'Tulips'

'Tulips'

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 5.

A gorgeous stamp image by Stampington & Co.

Published - Fly Away

'Fly Away' as seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 3

I used some of my favourite Stampington stamps on this card :)

Special Delivery - Inspiration Emporium Challenge

'Special Delivery' by Sue Smith

Inspiration Emporium is challenging it's participants to use packaging in their creations this month.  Prima package their products beautifully and so I decided to use a section of a 'Say It In Crystals' packet as the background to this piece.  To this I've added gesso, stamping and some lovely ARTchix collage imagery.  To add at bit of glamour and bling there's some Prima crystals/lace and various ribbon to finish it off!

Solitude - Every Inchie Monday

'Silence and Solitude'  Inchie 

I haven't managed to join the Every Inchie Monday challenges very regularly so far this year, but I looked at the up-coming theme over the weekend and this weeks theme, 'Solitude' spoke to me.  It was a weekend full of solitude and some silence... quite blissful really... I managed finish some projects and catch up on a bit of sleep.

What do you like to do in solitude and silence... there's nothing much better than curling up on a comfy chair with a good book (and some chocolate) is there?!