MMM – My Country January 28, 2009

This week’s challenge at Mixed Media Monday is most apt as this week we are celebrating Australia Day! And the challenge is to create something that represents our country.

I spent my Australia Day on the water, sailing my fathers 32′ yacht, up Port Phillip Bay with the tall ships. The weather was perfect, the breeze just right and my boys did really well and weren’t too bored! So my piece that represents my country is all about the sea – we are a large island, after all! “Girt by sea” as our anthem states and while we don’t have a lot of people here, most live around the coast and always doing things in and around the water. Swimming lessons are considered mandatory for all children (even as young as six months old). We are always on it or in it or flying over it, if we want to go anywhere else!

The Sea

The spread background is scrapbook paper, covered with Gesso to tone down the brightness, with some wave-like bruch strokes. Shell stamp by PSX. Triange stamp by me! Beach images from Collage Image group. Hand writing by me. Plus a Grungeboard heart.

Sorry about the short description – it is over 40 degrees C in Melbourne today and I think we are about to loose our electricity!

x Michelle

Gothic Arches – Gypsies January 25, 2009

Gypsies is the theme this week for the Gothic Arch challenge. This made me think of faded, rich velvets, gold coins and fortune tellers. So here is my gypsy, being watched over, daring to look into her own future.

Arch_Enchantment

The background was made with the credit card painting technique. Stamped in Brilliance Galaxy Gold was the harlequin stamp (Stylish Images) and the grunge lace (Boutique Grunge, by See-D). Stamped in Brilliance Graphite Black was the eyes (Sunday International) and “Enchantment” (Eclectic Images). The black paper lace border is by “Simply Borders”. The gold coins on the chain is a necklace I’ve had for a very long time and actually found it when I was looking for it. I was excited as I think it makes the piece.

Happy creating,

Michelle

Mixed Media Monday – Primary Colours January 19, 2009

My first Mixed Media Monday foray for the year is into Primary and Secondary Colours. I decided to stick to the primary ones.

I’m not really confident with colour mixing – I can tell when it’s not right, but I can’t always pull it together. I’m hoping, with practice and experience, it’s something that can be learnt. I am always in awe of those who can throw colour together, seemingly without effort, just as a good cook knows just what is needed to made a dish sing, or a wonderful singer who can throw in a harmony that is so beuatiful, it almost makes you weep. My intuition lies elsewhere; with numbers, reading and interpreting information, with an in-built sense of direction and exceptional time-keeping. So, I will continue to play with colours, learning as I go.

Here is my trio of primary coloured ATCs.

Primary Colours

Border stamp by Collections. Images by Rachel Greig (I think).

Smiles,
Michelle

GPP Street Team – Crusade No27 January 18, 2009

This month we are thinking about Shapes for the Green Pepper Press Street Team Crusade. While I don’t have Michelle’s collection of circle punches, I do have a two, as well as a Fiskars cutter with circle templates, so that seemed like a good place to start.

I covered a new spread with Gesso, let dry in the sun while I was pulling out all my circle things, then added a layer of red paint. Once this was dry, I used one circle as a mask and painted black around it, giving me a negative, red circle. Then I used an old bottle lid to “stamp” some circles. It was going to be some random circles but became more like a patterned border. The lid was from a medication bottle and had the “push down and turn” bit inside the lid, giving it two circles at once.

Work in Progress

I then did a rough lay out of the circles I had cut and punched. I took a photo of it, so I could remember where everything was, then ran the small circles through the Xyron so they were easy to stick on. I added the larger circles with glue stick, closed the book and left it to dry.

My plan was to then add some detail, as Michelle had done, but my white pen has dried up. I tried stamping a circle with white ink, but didn’t like it, so I rubbed it off (just as well I did that Gesso layer, it came of really easily). I was also going to add buttons but didn’t want to add too much bulk to the spread. After eliminating the possibilities, I decided it was finished.

Circles Layout

Here is some detail:

Detail 1

Detail 2 - Top Border

I’m planning to have some time this week to experiment with a more complex shape. I bought a Pazzles cutter last year and have barely used it. It will be able to do all sorts of shapes and sizes, I just need practice using it so it’s not so scary.

Thanks again to Michelle for another great crusade.

Happy creating,

Michelle

Gothic Arches – Grunge January 17, 2009

The year has started grunge, with Gothic Arches. My research for this topic took me to Wiki, where I was informed that Grunge music includes the likes of Pearl Jam and Nirvana (cool).  The look includes torn jeans and more of an attitude than look. And you can only be grunge by not being grunge – or something like that! So here is my (non) grunge piece:

Gothic_Arch_Grunge

Background painted with walnut ink, flourish stamps from Boutique Grunge set by See D’s (stamped in Adirondak Espresso), lettering and clock face by Collections. Wings from Grungeboard. French script stamp by Stamp Oasis, with Sepis ink. A little gold paint also added.

I had lots of fun making this. The arch size is a great format and my ideas seem to flow really well around the space.

Happy creating,

Michelle

Birthday Hanger January 10, 2009

It’s my Auntie’s birhtday next week, so while I had a lull between crafting projects, I decided to make her present. I’m pleased with the end result, using several of my cheap beads from Spotlight (my bargin of the year – an A4 size bag of bits and pieces for $2. Should have bought more than one, although I have 9 packets of “Spacers” that I don’t know what I’m going to do with! Any thoughts, appreciated!). I also used a paint chip from the hardware store and my new stamp set from SeeD’s – Boutique Grunge.

Purple Hanger

Smiles,

Michelle

Card Folder as Gift January 10, 2009

For my Grandma’s birthday, I wanted to give her something practical. As she loves my cards so much (she has kept everyone I have ever given her or Grandpa – she puts them into a folder) I thought that giving her a set of mixed cards, that she could give to her friends, was a great gift. I needed to re-stock my general greeting card stash, as I had used most of them and given the rest away to Mary Fenton, for her Farm Drought Relief hampers, so I was “making up a storm” anyways; a few more didn’t make a difference. I then made a folder to put them in. To get the folder to fit an A4 sheet, I couldn’t fit in the envelopes, so I left them separate.

The cover

The inside, with cards neatly in place

All the cards out

The cards include “Birthday”, “Get well”, “Thank-you” and “Thinking of You” – a good general, all-purpose sentiment. I have insisted that Grandma use them, promising a refill for Mothers’ Day.

Michelle

Shopping Lists January 10, 2009

This year I made some (last minute) shopping list for my Grandma’s, using my Zutter binder. I had a lot of fun with the covers.

Shopping Lists as Gifts

To make the covers, I took some chip board and painted with Gesso. Added some stamping with Staz-on (and heat set, just in case!). Then I collaged with some paper scraps and dress pattern tissue. When the glue was dry, I gave each one a coat of paint, then added Gesso over the top, to reduce the intensity of the colour. In some places, I wiped back the paint, to the first coat of Gesso. Added the label, which I attached with glue (the chipboard was too thick for the brads I had). Here is a close up:

Shopping List close-up

To bind it altogether, I had to split the sheets into several lots so they would fit into the Zutter. I also added some printed sheets for interest adn th break up the plain paper.

Printed sheet

They turned out great. I did think about adding magnets to the back, so they could be put onto the fridge, but they are quite thick, so I didn’t think the magnets would hold them up.

Happy crafting,

Michelle

Happy New Year January 4, 2009

Welcome to 2009! I have a feeling it is going to be an especially fantastic year!

I have managed to get my craft room / study tidy. This was in desperate need after the rush to finish Christmas presents and cards. So far I’ve made a few cards to restock  my general supply and have many grand plans. I will also be getting back on track with those weekly challenges that I had let slip while studying last year.

Resolutions?

a) JUST DO SOMETHING! Stop fussing, stop being overwhelmed by other fantastic work and just create my own stuff. Only with practice and experimenting can I improve.
b) USE UP ALL THE STUFF I HAVE! And I’ve got plenty of stuff hidden away.

Happy Crafting,

Michelle