Meet Joy!

'Joy'

She's a tangible piece of inspiration to 'Dream Big' which just happens to be the theme over at Wednesday Stamper this week.  This piece is quite symbolic - I'm dreaming big at the start of a new year.  Behind this banner I've stashed away a little envelope filled with a list of things that bring joy to my life... a gentle reminder that I'm surrounded with a life filled with many a thing to be joyful about.

There's a touch of influence from Kelly Rae Roberts and Rachel Emilie Jackson  - two great artists to draw inspiration from.

And some gorgeous Stampotique rubber too!  Which brings me to another challenge over at the Stampotique challenge blog the current theme is 'Punches and Die Cuts'.  You need to include at least one die cut shape and one punched shape.  I've used the tag die cut from Tim Holtz Alterations die cuts and the music note punch by Carl. 

Tag Tuesday - Mosaic

'Admit One'

Can you tell I've still got the Stampotique bee stamps designed by Jo Capper-Sandon sitting on my desk?  I just love them and it's been fun playing with them this week!

Mosaic is the theme over at Tag Tuesday, come on and join in the mosaic fun!  It's a great way to use up some of those little tiny scraps that you can't bear to throw out.

Every Inchie Monday - Eclectic

'No 1' Inchie

Here's a new challenge for a new year!

Every Inchie Monday... and the key word this week is 'Eclectic'

My inchie was created from some of the eclectic bits 'n bobs sitting on my art table.  

The bee is rubber designed by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique

Oxford Impressions - Dress Forms And Corsetry

'No. 2'

Whenever I look through my collection of buttons and other sewing treasures I find myself drifting back to times spent with Mum and both my Grandmothers as they stitched, knitted and created things for both the ordinary and extraordinary times in life.  Each of them talented, each of them passionate, each of them pursuing excellence in all that they made.  To my knowledge, I don't think any one of them had a mannequin to assist them whilst dressmaking, but I do wonder if they hoped for one. 

Perhaps those of us taking the undesirable role of  'mannequin' hoped all the more for one... oh, the irritation (and pain) of having to stand tall and remain still whilst the hem was being pinned...

'Rhinestones'

But oh the joy of being able to spin and twirl and twist around in a new outfit made the process all the more bearable!

'Paris'

Like my mother, my grandmothers or myself, you may not yet own a mannequin.  But you can dream and play with these gorgeous ones from Oxford Impressions latest plate 'Dress Forms and Corsetry'.

Dear Santa - Oxford Impressions

'Dear Santa'  All images from 'Sleigh Bells' rubber plate by Oxford Impressions.

Oh the excitement and anticipation, waiting for Santa to deliver his gift.

I don't think I ever wrote a letter to Santa when I was a child, but I can't help wondering what I might have hoped for?

This year Sean Alexander became one of Santa's little helpers.

 

It was amazing to watch him help Santa deliver gifts... he even put his own gift aside to continue handing out gifts 'til the job was done!

A gift for Grandpa!

Ho Ho Ho - Happy Christmas!!!



Joyeux Noel

'Joyeux Noel'

I don't know about you, but I'm still delighting in Christmas.  It is such a special time of the year as we celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus.  So it's been lovely to be able to put this card together today and reflect a little more about the true meaning of Christmas.  I've been pondering how extraordinary it must have been for those shepherds to see angels appear in the sky announcing the birth of this precious child.

"Glory to God in the highest,

 and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

Book of Luke

This sweet angel is from Oxford Impressions lastest Christmas rubber plate 'Sleigh Bells'.

Season of Delight

'Season of Delight'

I had a lovely time playing with Oxford Impressions new 'Sleigh Bells' plate today.  I've got grand plans to make some more tags and ATC's before Christmas, so I better get a move on!

Tim Holtz 4th Day of Christmas

Here's my first interpretation of this year's 12 Days of Christmas Tags by Tim Holtz for the 4th Day of Christmas.  I have not been able to find the time to make the tags for days 1-3 yet, but do hope to catch up when I can.  I really wanted to try the technique used to create the snowflake embellishment... which I did and the rest of the card just fell into place.  I'm planning to make miniture versions of Tim's tags as I didn't have any large tags at home.  I think it will be fun to display them together this Christmas - just hope I have more than one to display by Christmas!!!

The only 'Tim Holtz' product I had on hand was alcohol ink (and not the same colour), so I've adapted most of the tag as best I could, even down to creating my own 'wish ticket' with a scrap of paper and alphabet stamps.

I've really been enjoying visiting here and seeing how Shelley has been adapting things for her tags.  Thanks for the inspiration, Shelley!

7 Swans

'seven swans a-swimming' as seen in

Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft Vol 16 No8

I was delighted to be a part of the '12 Days of Christmas' special feature in CSP and loved putting this piece together with this gorgeous Oxford Impressions swan.  I love the way CSP have stylised my work here!

Vintage Postcards

'Vintage Postcards'

As seen in Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft Vol 16 No7

PBS - Hello

Here's a little 'hello' tag I've put together using Paperbag Studios 'Doodles and Daters ' rubber stamp sheet.  If you're anything like me, you've got a friend or two that you keep meaning to write to, to say 'hello'.  I'm thinking this tag should be going out to someone special in the mail this week, so I best make that happen!

Whale of a Time

Mummy and Sean

Ready for a great adventure! 

Trevlyn and I were going whale watching, but Sean was all set to go fishing!

Apparently he was going to catch a Pink Snapper.

We were thrilled to see whales leaping about and frolicking in the sea.

Aunty Susie and Sean

I got completely drenched, tried to protect my camera from the spray, but didn't want to miss the action!

WS - Steampunk

'Blue Print'

The theme at Wednesday Stamper is 'Steampunk', so I had to play along with my lovely Oxford Impressions Steampunk stamps.



Fanciful Things!

                   Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft

Here's a couple of quirky ladies - created some time ago for CS&P for a feature called, 'Fanciful Things'.

It's holiday time for me and I'm hoping to make a few more 'fanciful things' over the next two weeks!

Wired!

Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 16 No 1

I'm away from home, up in the 'big smoke', wishing I could be playing with paper and ink and gesso right now!  Instead I thought I'd post another CS&P stylised photo of a project I created using Paperbag Studios stamps, Basic Grey papers and WIRE!  I've twisted wire to create flowers, music notes and an '@' symbol. 

I'm heading home in an hour or so, with a four and a half hour journey ahead and I'm hoping for time to play with my new supplies when I get there!  There's new stamps and paper to play with - can't wait!



Feel Like A Cuppa?



HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY

Sean Alexander!

I'm looking forward to having a 'cuppa' with you very soon :)

XOXOX

Guess Who's Turning 3 Tomorrow!

Sean Alexander

I scarce can believe it! 

These pieces were published in Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft Vol 15, No 4 a while back.  I used some gorgeous October Afternoon papers and stamps to make these.  I love the way CS&P stylised the photo!

Sean has two pet rabbits - Peter and Flopsy.  I think this is a pic of Peter?

More pics of the birthday boy tomorrow - I'm far away from the birthday boy this weekend, but am looking forward to seeing him again soon.

SPA - Feelin' Blue

'Captured!'

Sunday Postcard Art's theme this week is 'Feelin Blue'.

This sea captain was looking a little 'blue' as I was putting this postcard together... he's longing for another oceanic journey, to travel to a distant world and make new discoveries! He's been 'captured' by the yearning to delve into the secrets of the deep.

All images are from Oxford Impressions 'The Deep' plate.

The Deep - Oxford Impressions

'Shells' ATC

This weeks theme at Wednesday Stampers Challenge is 'Shells'. I've used images from Oxford Impressions new plate 'The Deep'. There are two real shells included in this collage - one is so tiny. I'm often amazed at the intricacy of God's creation and I'm particularly spellbound by the most amazing use of patterning. The second shell has the sweetest zigzag patterning on it!

'The Deep'

This plate is choca-block full of lovely ocean themed stamps.

Nothing Like A Dream - OI

'Nothing Like A Dream'

Here's another Steampunk Works creation. I've had these copper wings in my stash for longer than I care to remember, so it's nice to make use of some of them.

There's 'nothing like a dream' to stretch your imagination to invent or create. I'm hoping for a creative weekend. How about you?