PaperWhimsy Banner Project

The images show my contribution to the PaperWhimsy Banner Project. Let me explain; I am part of a trio - the other two are Carol and Lorraine - and we have to create a banner that we will share. Our word was FLY so Lorraine is doing the F, Carol the L and I am doing the Y. When these three elements come together we shall all have a hanging banner for our home/studio or wherever to display. We all have to do 4 of our chosen letter, this is my first Y.
The front is constructed with tissue paper and deep purple velvet down the edge with swarovski crystals. Flowers, and purple beading. The back is gold fabric, with part of the pattern highlighted with sakura pens and some more swarovski crystals and a couple of sequin butterflies.

Other words that other members are using are ART and JOY.
What a fun project it actually is, can't wait to see what Carol and Lorraine come up with, I just know there letters are going to be fantastic.
I may not do all of mine the same, there may be slight variations but the color scheme of purple, green and gold jewel tones shall remain the same.

If you want to check out Paper Whimsy group do so here. They are a great group of girls and do some amazing stuff.

Mixed Media Monday Challenge - GOLD

Here is my entry into the MMM challenge for this week, the theme is GOLD. I used crackle paints and stamps on this with a few embellishments, it is a present for a friend to encourage her to Journal, going in the post today!

Button Challenge

Another submission by me for the Mixed Media Monday Challenge, this challenge had a button theme. Here is my entry "Graduating Finishing School".

I have used fabric,transparency from Tuscan Rose, buttons, sticky lace and image.from

Enchanted Mercantile

Hope you enjoy it.

Got to get on now with my ongoing projects a Coffee Table Chunky Book and a Banner, more on these as they progress.

New Technique - Forever Friends

Well if you are a bit of a dummy like me and have never been to any art courses/classes what are you to do? Buy ARTIST TRADING CARD WORKSHOP by Bernie Berlin and then have fun - serious fun.

I created this little piece from his Gold leaf resist lesson and then added the Paper Whimsy image. I have other lessons in various stages dotted around my studio (not a study anymore) and have decided that I shall do a little book with all the lessons in them for future reference. This is the 1st page (oh my another 1st -my life is full of them at the moment lol)

I shall post each piece as I do it...

Another 1st - Charm Swap

So another 1st for me, I signed up for the Charm Swap on ARTCHIX and this is my contribution.

I so enjoy creating new and different things, I feel like I do at least one fulfilling thing for ME in a day now which is wonderful and stops me just doing housework, being a cab service,dog walker etc. This time is so valuable and I love that I can get inspiration from different groups to create....

NGS Square Challenge

Hi I did these spreads in my Journal for the NEXT GENERATION STAMPERS group as part of the November Square Challenge.

The background is actually deep purple with gold writing and scrolls and looks more striking in real life!

Mixed Media Monday Challenge NUMBERS

Hooked up to this site after reading about it on various other blogs. Anyway the Challenge for this week was to create a piece with NUMBERS so following on from my previous blog I decided to do one in homage to Remembrance Sunday .

I tried to change the flowers to look like poppies.

Look forward to the next one on buttons.

Remembrance Sunday

Today being Remembrance Sunday I spent time reflecting on those killed in past wars and those who are still being killed in present wars - and I had a deep sadness in my heart.

But this evening I started to watch "Saving Private Ryan" and I felt physically and emotionally drained at the start of the film. This is so graphic and it made me think of all those who lost their lives so brutally; I think the graphic nature of this made me realise what soldiers have to endure. How is it that one man can do this to a fellow man?

So for what it is worth, my admiration and prayers go out to those serving and I pray that they return safely to their families and live happy fulfilling lives, not blighted by memories that they will carry with them.

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.

There is a music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered:

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables at home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end they remain.

Laurence Binyon

ARTCHIX JOURNEY LOTTERY

Thought I would share with you the ATC I have made for the "JOURNEY" Lottery on the Artchix group.

Mine depicts a "Journey of the Soul" hope you like it.

I enjoy these lotteries as they stimulate the mind and give you a topic to work on and a deadline.

NGS Group challenges

The picture to the left is of my 2nd zentangle - I would say if anyone wants to do something to unwind then zentangles work brilliantly; well they do for me.
Adults and children can do them, ideal for us mums whilst sitting outside school waiting to pick up children.
This is from my journal, the images have been changed by rubbing brasso round the edges to lift the ink - really fantastic results can be achieved; I shall play with this some more because these are my first efforts and I am sure that I can improve on them.
Give it a go - but remember to do it in a well ventilated room.

Square Challenge

On Next Generation Stampers one of the November challenges was to create a piece using the image of the two girls, another part was to do something square, so I combined the two and created this piece called Window Shopping for mothers present - with the two little girls trying to decide what to get mum.

Hope you like it, it is pretty basic, but it was fun to do xxx

Gee it's good to be back home!!

Here I am back in England, left Spain 8 am Friday morning and got to the Eurotunnel at Calais at midnight, then on the 1.30 train back to England. After such a long journey the last thing we needed was the French customs debating whether or not to pull the car to pieces; luckily they decided against it [I was glad about that cos of all the art stuff I had in boxes and bags lol] and just had the drug dog run around the van and sniff it inside and out. No surprise that there was nothing to find - so heyho on our way.

Got back to find that I had some more ATCs delivered, namely from Peggy, Melissa and Carol for the Happiness Is Lottery on Artchix - just goes to show the delay due to the recent postal strikes - but better late than never.

The colours here at home are magnificent - the trees are all shades of red, gold and brown, a sight to behold. In stark contrast to the blue of the sea and the mountains in Spain.

Done my entry for the Tea Time Lottery when I got home and posted it to the artchix site, will have to get my stuff unpacked so that I can then get down to some serous work - so much to do and must find the time to do it!

That's it for this post

Take care