January Tag and Journal Journey

Hi There blogging friends. Here's what I've been up to this week. Firstly; a pretty tag swap with the girls on the Altered Paper Blog. The subject is January, so I chose to send my partner a sweet angel to bring in the New Year.

Secondly; I joined in on the 2012 Journal Journey group at my favourite place; 'Roses On My Table'. This is my first time I've ever put anything in a journal. Our journal is a 'Mixed Media' one so; anything goes....here are the stages of my pages for the first prompt 'New Beginnings';

First layer of Papers.....
Second layer of acrylic painting....

Third layer of stamping.....

Fourth layer of adding texture with 'found' objects e.g. bubble wrap....

Final layer with cut outs, white washes, stencilling and anything else you want to finish with...

I'm pretty pleased with my first go...here are some close ups;

First ATC's for 2012

Have you got your crafting program up and running yet? I'm pleased to say that I'm on target for my swap commitments...wonder if I will be able to say that in June! Here are some pics of my first ATC's to go off to my friends at 'Roses On My Table'. Our January theme is 'The Cowboy's Sweetheart'...

Hope six of my USA friends like my interpretation.

Home Again and.....Busy....Busy...!

Hi There Blogging Friends! I am back in my lovely home after travelling 20,000klms on an amazing trip through the Top End of Australia and, the entire state of Western Australia. It is a blessing to have covered so much territory safely and happily and I would recommend an "Aussie Outback Experience" to anyone.

Although we have been home for a few weeks; we haven't had a moment to sit idle. The fine red dust of the outback is like baby powder and settles in and on everything you have with you, while travelling so........it has been clean, clean, clean and there is still more to do.

However; I have taken a couple of breaks to finish off my swap commitments with my USA friends at 'Roses On My Table' and; to also finished my October challenge with my own local Papercraft Artist friends. Here are some pics.....

The final doll for the 'Le Papiere' Dolls swap at Roses was a Christmas doll to hang on a tree. I made the first one to send..... then; I made this second one "just for fun". See how you can play around with the arms and legs...I love doing that!

The tag swap group at Roses had a Christmas Tag for December; here is mine....

Then; the main theme was 'Statues' and............as I started this one while I was travelling, I had to mock up a statue so; I was inspired by the Helen Reddy song "I am Woman" to create a statue dedicated to Women.

The final swap for the year for the Roses ATC group was 'Holidays' and.......as most Australians head for the beach during the hot weather over the Christmas season, I made mine as 'Holiday by the Seaside'.

here is a close up of one....that is some Western Australia beach sand in the bottom left hand corner.

Finally, my local group had the theme 'Anything French' for their October challenge, so; I decided to create some Paris dresses and put them on cards.

It's time to get serious now and return to my textile design work....I've pulled out some gorgeous fabrics and am in full contemplation.....well......it's a start.....isn't it??

Paper Art Dolls are Fun to Make!

Oh yes Blogging Friends; I've discovered 'Paper Art Dolls' and have had a great time creating these two for a swap with some USA friends.

They are both about 10 inches tall. This is my 'Boo Witch'; she doesn't move but has a hanger on the back....

This is my 'Bat Witch' and she has moveable arms and legs, plus a hanger on the back...

If you want to get into making these little cuties; go here to the Roses on My Table site and join the 'Le Papier Doll Swap' group...you'll meet some nice people there.

On the travelling side; I came across these fabulous historical pictures, in a museum and they got me wondering "why don't all men wear hats like they used to"?????

I've experimenting with ART!

Hi There Blogging Friends! For some time now I've been wanting to do some creative work that has "no rules" and gives you the freedom to dab with a brush, sponge, splash, sew, cut out, glue or do whatever fun thing you want to do with whatever is at hand or; with whatever just "tickles your fancy".

I've come to realise that this is what is called 'MIXED MEDIA ART'. Now; I don't know about you; but as a long time CRAFTER the word ART seems to be quite daunting and something like a "no-go zone" for people who dabble in craft.

Well; let me tell you that the ART world is open to everyone and I've found the perfect place to get in there and have a go.

The "place" is a group run by the very talented USA Artist, Cristina 'Zinna' Galliher and is called 'ROSES ON MY TABLE'.

Zinnia offers a supportive environment where beginners can take up reasonably priced Mixed Media On-line Classes with step by step video's and also participate with a whole group of arty people, either by building friendships to share arty thoughts and achievements or by joining in on swaps of; Art Tags, Inchies, Artists Trading Cards, Papers Doll Exchanges and Dotee Doll Exchanges.

This pic above is the site logo of Roses On My Table and you will find it HERE.

I loved the quirky style of the 'Four of a Kind' 0n-line class which is a great start for beginners; so I signed up! Zinnia shows you how to begin a design in an Art Journal then; transfer the best aspects to Canvas. I am in practice mode already.....

This is my first attempt with 'Two of a Kind' on Watercolour paper . Didn't opened the journal to layout my Four of a Kind ....I wasn't that brave...lol. However; I think I can move onto it now that I have an idea of how to handle watercolours, coloured pencils, gluing old papers on backgrounds, cutting and shaping the dolls and also using stamps and gesso to soften or create interest in the background.

I also joined the 'Tag Art Swap Group' too. The group works with a bi-monthly subject where members are required to send three completed tags to the co-ordinator and; after the closing date you receive three different tags back, which were completed by other members.

The subject for this round was; Ancient Cities. I chose 'Jerusalem - The Holy City'.

So; if you've been wanting to spread your wings and have some fun with arty stuff; pop on over to Zinnia's site , join up as a Member and take a look at the possibilities.

7th Heaven!

Take me where the wildflowers grow

Fields of daisies white as snow;

Take me where the wildflowers grow

Secret wreaths where no-one knows;

Take me where the wildflowers grow

Carpets of pink and yellow glow;

Take me where the wildflowers grow

Then; Seventh Heaven I will know.

I'm there blogging friends !!!!

Nature's gift of these beautiful fields of wildflowers is a sight to behold and; the bonus of sweet colourful birdies just tops it all off.

This is just the start of my adventure into 'Wildflower Country - Western Australia' so I'm at the tip of the iceberg!

After this journey through the wildflowers; like my little poem says; "seventh heaven I will know"!

Anyone for Tea?

Hi There Blogging Friends! mmm....I love a cup of tea and; I also love to send my own design of Tea Pot cards, out to friends that like a drop of the liquid amber too.

The little pocket on the outside of the card holds one of my favourite tea's "Twinings - Prince of Wales". Do you have a favourite tea?...do tell if you do!

Here is a closer look at some of them....

And; this is the little verse on the inside....

I've also been busy working on projects for my 'Papercraft Artists' group challenges. The first one is for our August challenge; a project using "inchies". This is the first time I have ever made "inchies"... 1 inch x 1 inch works of art and; I must say they were very challenging.

I did the layout on the top of a blank CD tin and dedicated it to 'The Many Strengths of a Woman'.

My next project is for our September subject challenge 'Travel'. I forgot to take a photo of it when I finished it, so here's one when it was wrapped in cellophane, ready to send to my friend Jenny at home.

I used several stamps in the project but the main ones are a Stampin' Up set which are fabulous for travel or journey projects.

Papercraft Treasures

Hi There Blogging Friends. Thought you might like to see some papercraft items I made recently.

A set of note cards and a tag are a really nice gift to give. So; I make two cards and a tag which compliment each other. The cards have a blank insert inside which is also in a complimentary colour to the outside. Here is a pic of a set below;

Each card is placed in a cellophane or clear plastic bag, with all the bag edges wrapped tightly around the card. Then; the cards are placed back to back and wrapped with ribbon, and the tag tied to the top as pictured below.

Below is a back view of the wrapped cards....

Here is a pretty blue set....

Following are two single cards I made at the same time...

And only last week; I made my first ATC for a swap with my new Papercrafting Girlfriends.

The subject is "Flowers"....hope you like my interpretation.