Queen Of Toys

Funky Name Tags

2011-03-18T23:29:00.012+11:00

Life has been sort of crazy lately I have been doing so much and having heaps of fun in the process.

ON the Labour Day long weekend here in Melbourne I didn't have to work which was a miracle so I got to teach a lovely group of ladies how to make some really cool funky name tags. There were so many ladies at the workshop it was a little crazy but in the end, all had a great time and they left with some really pleasing results and big smiles on their faces.

These funky name tags have been made out of polymer clay and coloured in pearlex powders to give a shimmering effect and some even have a bit of bling, the girls went a little crazy I do have to say. Once they started there was no stopping them.

Sorry about the photography ended up having to take photos with my iphone, thank goodness for brilliant technology.

This is only a portion of what was made but for some reason the images will not face the correct way around when posting them on the blog, so I do apologise for this.

Thanks ladies for the fun day it was a blast also thanks Debbie from Heaven Scent.

Bird Cage with Filigree Stand

2011-03-07T11:33:00.005+11:00

Had this Twiddleybitz cage and stand around for a little while, I painted it with iron paints and slightly rusted it, assembled it, added some tin vine leaves. Popped a little bird inside on a few twigs from the garden. Added a lost and found hummingbird to the top.

More Flowers

2011-03-06T16:11:00.001+11:00

Yep you got it more flowers added to this card again using the Marianne design creatables die LR0142, I have used the matching paper to blend it all in together.

upcoming papercraft shows

2011-02-27T15:56:00.006+11:00

I have been helping out a friend Deb who owns a shop 'Heaven Scent Crafts in Croydon' well she has a few shows coming up and I have been making some really cute cards and no cute is not my style, but hey I am starting to like them just a little, but don't tell her that. Made these really cool flowers from a die that she will be selling at the Geelong & Burwood papercraft show, Geelong show is on next weekend in case you are in the area and want to stop bye. She will also be at Paperific the first weekend in April. These particular dies used, are by Marianne Design Creatables LR0145 & LR0108. I do have to say these dies are so versatile and awesome with unlimited possibilities. These flowers only took me a few minutes to make and can be dressed up or down by adding just a little stickles, distress crackle or even a little bling. It is amazing how many times you can add a little flower to you work. Again sorry about the photography really poor but best I can do considering I am at work and I took this photo with my Iphone.

Birthdays

2011-02-27T12:50:00.003+11:00

It is that time of year again when people seem to be having birthdays all around me. I usually start Boxing day and make all the cards for everyone for the whole year and get them out of the way but with working more and more these days and my schedule up in the air it just hasn't happened. Maybe soon I will be able to achieve this, but for now I am having to do them as I go.

Men are hard to make cards for, not many stamps around and I always go back to the vintage style.

Then my dear daughter said she needed a card for a male friend at school that morning and it was already well into the night without any sleep, so a quicky card happened. Sorry about the photography it is lousy.

Sweet 16

2011-01-27T03:31:00.003+11:00

My baby girl is now 16, where does the time go? It is hard to belive how grown up she is, it only seemed like yesterday that she was born. Like most girls she is into Gothic stuff and Vampires so keep with what she wants I have created this birthday card for her. The stamp is by Sweetpeastamps and is called 'Red Hearts' the paper is by Die Cuts With a View (Mariposa)I have used Copic Pens to colour the girl and rub-ons to the rear of the glitter paper.

TWINCHIES

2010-06-22T00:11:00.006+10:00

Creative Soul Retreat that was held in March of this year here in Melbourne as part of a swap some people made Twinchies in the Leonardo DaVinci Theme. I finally got around to painting a background and mounting some of the Twinchies that were made by the group. Pam Hicks, Nousie Nelson, Martina Hart, Roslyn McGechan, Svetlana Spajojevic, Kyla De Ruiter, Maidi Murphy, Glenda Laing, Mandy Herring, Margaret Weiss, Diana O'Cobhthaigh & Ruth Spitzer. Joan McAlpine also but something came off this one, nowhere to be found, so I added a photo corner. Thanks ladies beautiful work all mounted. Now I just have to catch up with other unfinished projects.

Beatles/Stones Blog Swap On Bockel24

2010-04-11T18:09:00.003+10:00

Got an email from Marion Bockelmann asking if I would join in her 4th Annual Blog Swap again this year. So for a bit of fun I have committed myself. I seem to be having a bit of a problem with that of late, so I decided on doing my own sure fail safe system, make the ATC's first then notify Marion that I have completed and committed. Haven't made ATC's for awhile and the theme was Beatles or Stones. I had to do the Beatles as my husband and his family have a big connection with the famous band when he was younger. Not my best work but definitely in the category of 'It's been a hard day’s night', in type on the ATC is the lyrics to the song.

Mosiac

2010-04-09T12:11:00.004+10:00

The lovely and amazingly talent Laurie Mika was in Australia teaching at the Creative Soul Retreat last month. Thank you Laurie for your abilities and patience, you really do amaze me with your calm manerisms. I had to step outside my comfort zone for this piece of art as this is something that I just would never have done on my own, but Laurie convinced me it was alright it will work, the vision I had was good. I so lack in confidence a majority of the time, most people don't know this about me. I had to leave the class at one stage and re-group, breathe, breathe and breathe some more then take a step back. Upon returning I was in the right frame of mind to get the job finished, whilst everyone was playing Trivia Pursuit I sat and fiddled, filled and finished the job. I do say that now it is finished I really like it and will make more, I especially like the centre where the face is actually raised up and it looks like it is floating. I did a transfer onto the polymer and it was so easy, I watched Laurie demonstrated this technique early in the day. This piece is quite large measuring 19cms squared plus the overhangs,the frame is quite deep and very solid.

Thanks Lady Di for getting me out and about by going down the mountain for Lady Di supplies, taking a drive has always made me feel better.

Family Wedding

2010-04-06T16:46:00.004+10:00

It seems so much to get married these days, things just are not the way they used to be, traditions are a thing of the past but not on this special day for my cousin. Stephen was married to a really beautiful girl Sarah in the most traditional way I have seen in many years and they are so happy together, kindered souls. Like all of my family I have to make a card to mark the occasion and this was the wedding card that I made for Sarah and Stephen, simple and sweet. Punched the flowers and shaped them myself, had a relaxing time making it too.

May all the years Sarah and Stephen spend toghether bring nothing but happiness and laughter. Awesome wedding, everything was perfect even the weather.

Altered Mask

2010-03-01T12:55:00.006+11:00

Never done one of these before "Altered Mask" so much fun and the brain was running rampant........ think I might have to make some more soon.

Doing Crazy Things

2010-02-28T23:25:00.003+11:00

Well today is a crazy day, I started out with a list of what had to be done in order of priority. That didn't last long, everything that could get in the way of achieving these goals did. So in memory of my crazy day I have created a little crazy ATC, not the norm for me today. Credits go to Rian at http://riandesign.eu

Vintage School Days ATC

2010-02-27T23:01:00.003+11:00

Vintage School Days is an ATC made in the Landscape format for a change. Background painted in Raw Umber & Yellow Ochre. Lettering Stamps are HeroArts and the dotty stamp is part of a Kaiser Craft Set, sorry don't know the name of it.

Eyelets you either love them or hate them.........

2010-02-25T01:51:00.004+11:00

Eyelets, I used to love them when I was scrapbooking but now I am not that keen on them the only thing that is good about them now is the fantastic 'crop-a-dile' tool to make using them easier, thank goodness for my sanity. Had to use 'Eyelets' in this swap on my group, the image used here is a freebie from http://riandesign.eu Rian has some amazing freebies and you should drop by and see what she has. Thank you Rian for being so generous and kind. I love your creative imagination.

Black & White With A Hint Of Colour

2010-02-24T12:06:00.002+11:00

Created these ATC's for a swap on my ATC & Mixed Media Yahoo Group next month. I didn't want to do the typical and colour a part of clothing or a hat so I added these metallic wings. The background is created with the brayer onto white cardstock, really simple, I hunted through paper for what seems like forever and finally came to the decision of just brayering my own. A dear friend of mine always says 'Less is better' I think she is correct in this instance.

Margaret Day In Melbourne

2010-02-12T16:25:00.005+11:00

A truly lovely lady friend of mine came to Melbounre from Sydney a day early from her family and invested some time playing with the gang, being Lucy, Glenda and myself. Margaret who has all the patience in the world was teaching us some techniques with solder and links etc. We set forth to make some Bezels and create a little bit from Stephanie's Lee's book which I have mentioned on here before. This time like always we decided to put our own little twist to it. We had fun cutting the Bezels 'oh my what a stressful time that was' there is a technique to it, I do have to say. LOL turn the gadget not the pipe.....LOL... we know Margaret, I can see her laughing now. Did I mention how great and patient she was, I am sure we put her through hell and she handled it with such grace. I am such a stress monger at times....LOL. Well we Bezeled, soldered, fluxed, no I am not swearing....LOL and we soldered some more. My twist is I wanted to fill my bezel with watch parts and resin, this is the finished result. We also made these little bird nests soldered into the metal and they are still on the table being worked on but not much longer and I will post a picture of them too.

Twinchie Tuesday

2010-02-09T23:51:00.005+11:00

Twinchie Tuesday that is what my dear friend Lucy and I called it. We had the mammoth task of creating what we believed to be a huge number (25) Twinchies for the Creative Soul Retreat 2010 Swap held here in Melbourne in about 5 weeks time. The theme for this Twinchie Swap was Leonardo Da Vinci, well this is my contribution and believe me when I say it took me the whole day. I am so over Twinchies that I never want to see another one again. LOL

Etched Metal Pin/Necklace

2010-01-23T09:58:00.006+11:00

My nearest and dearest friends and I got together for another day of play and this time we were working from a book by Stephanie Lee and this is our version of her pin, we made a few changes and one of the main ones was it was a necklace, I don't wear pins. I did the etching all by myself without the trusty friends lurking and making sure I did it correctly, gosh is that spelt right? LOL I have to admit the etching is deep and feels fantastic to run the finger over. I darkened it with patina this made it look so much better. Above you can see the metal just after the etching was done and before it was folded into shape.

Another Zetti

2010-01-21T02:54:00.002+11:00

I am on a really weird Zetti mode at the moment and I love it. Another few Zetti pages done for the house book that I am putting together. I was part of a Zetti swap last year on my Mixed Media Group and I hadn't put the book together. So with Zetti in mind and keeping up with the UFO's that need to be put to rest, I am finally getting there. I think this will be the last Zetti for awhile, but you never know.

Zetti Triptych

2010-01-18T00:33:00.006+11:00

Been having heaps of fun the last couple of days finishing off the UFO's Unfinised Objects around the craft room. This is one that has been outstanding for some time. Zetti, I love this style. My mind has been running rampant and I think it shows.

Calendar Slide Show

2010-01-17T15:36:00.002+11:00

This is the slide show that I promised - enjoy

Remaining Months

2010-01-17T12:10:00.005+11:00

July layout

August Layout

September layout

October

November

December

This is the last of the pages for the calendar is has been bound and now in use on the computer desk. I will upload a slide show with the rest.

More Calendar Pages

2010-01-16T01:24:00.003+11:00

April Page

May Page

June Page

Some more pages are to follow, I hope you have liked the ones posted here so far.

2010 Calendar January

2010-01-15T01:20:00.005+11:00

Gosh I have had this project on the back burner for awhile and finally it is starting to get sorted. Mind you it will nearly the end of the month before it is really finalized. This is January of my calendar for 2010.

Now onto February being this brown page, this is full of texture it is a pity you can't feel the page it feels awesome.

And last for today March 2010 'Dreamer'

More to follow tomorrow and hopefully it will be bound by then too.

This is a long one..........

2010-01-04T01:53:00.018+11:00

Grab a cuppa and settle in this is a long post.

Well I have to say that I am really a bad person, yes me, I am being truthful. I am bad for not updating my blog, fulfilling obligations to people and not doing near enough art. Where have I been? that is a good question, one that cannot be answered easily. First and foremost I have been quite ill, I was in hospital with Bronchial Phenomia and severe asthma, my breathing up til now has not been the best. To top things off I have also cracked a couple of ribs, "ouch" you say, not wrong, I did it coughing. Well the medication I have been on has not helped me, it gave me the shakes really bad, no artwork. I was fatigued and slept heaps, just had no energy or will to do anything. So a few months have managed to fly on past.

I gave up my day job or should I say my night job, to help get better. Still managed to do some charity work and was strong enough in my mind to delegate and run the show. Yes me, I know, I am a hands on person and I like to get in and get dirty with everyone else too.

Well the charity work had me co-ordinating the purchasing, packing and distribution of about 370 Christmas hampers and many, many toys. Wow was that a lot of hampers...... massive, massive project. I did say I delegated, I had a team of workers that were fantastic. I was also smart and got myself a personal assistant and a nag to stop me from doing stuff that I should not do, she failed day one, but was brilliant from there on.

I created about 90 Christmas Cards for all the Volunteers at the Charity Group as a thank you for all the work they have done for the people in need during the year. This is a task that I have done now for a few years. This year all my friends got one of these cards too. I do have to thank Debbie Bridgeman at Heaven Scent Crafts in Croydon Melbourne Australia for the use of the tree stamp. I created these cards back in June of last year and stamped the light bulb and applied stickles to the bulbs that have all been individually stamped and coloured on each branch. I just love this stamp you can add anything to the tree like candy canes, holly, presents, even nappy pins, the choice is unlimited. As you can see there was a production line happening.

I did have a get together with my best friends and did a little chatting and fiddling with some wire and bits. Total fun, with the girls and a great spirit lifter. We are working our way through a book called Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee. Mind you we are making a few alterations along the way. I have even managed to do some etching which was something that I had wanted to do for most of last year.

Now with trying to get past Christmas which by the way I did not work through Christmas at all, amazing for me, I usually do work even on Christmas day. Christmas with the family at my house was great, fantastic day, loved it all, every second of it. Shame my guests from overseas couldn't make it, but hopefully in the next few weeks they will arrive and I will do Christmas all over again just for them.

With my health on the up and up, I have started in the last 2 days too plough through some unfinished tasks and outstanding IOU's. House book pages that have been created for 2 people Andrea and Glenda, they are postal as I type. They have been warned not to look at my blog so I have uploaded them. Andrea's theme was "House Quotes" and Glenda was "Chairs in the house", both interesting, to say the least.

Finally whilst my daughter celebrated her 15th birthday with her friends, taking over the house and having total fun. Hang on a minute, back track there.....OMG my daughter is 15 years old, what does that make me???? careful now. Oh and yes I created a card for her special day.

Anyway, I snuck off into the art room and finished this project. It is hot off the camera, this is also for Glenda and it is an altered fan, she chose 'Perriot' as a theme. This I have to say has been different to create, I have enjoyed the journey.

Well that is it for me for now, sorry it is so long, should of written a book it would of been easier. One of my resolutions is to do more blogging on a regular basis. Oh and another resolution which I adopted last year and I am going to continue with this year is to throw something out everyday. LOL, I just love this challenge.......LOL. Bye for now and thanks for reading my very long update.

House Book Page

2009-12-05T13:41:00.006+11:00

On my Atc & Mixed Media Yahoo Group we are making House Pages. Everyone picks a
topic they want for their house and everyone contributes their page. This is what I have created for Lucy, her topic is Vintage Men.

BIG FIND FOR THE DAY

2009-11-18T18:34:00.004+11:00

Found these books the other day getting thrown away, they are fantastic, really fantastic and such a waste it was. Well I have earmarked them for a much better life that is for sure. Mind you they have already probably have had an interesting life due to the fact that they are very expensive law journals and are part of a massive set.

These big babies are going to be altered 2 of my nearest and dearest friends, they have a class coming up and this is the perfect class for the books to be used, I am sure they will be happy with my find. To make things better whilst I was waiting for my ride at the carpark, because i didn't want to carry these books up 5 flights of stairs, I ran across another art person that I know, well she recognised me....... sad when you thing about it. Well when she spotted what I had she wanted some too, off I ran to get her 2 books too, now she is also stoked. What a day and what a fantastic find.

SPOOKY ANCESTORS BOOK

2009-11-16T17:47:00.003+11:00

This is a book collaborative that has been initiated by a PaperArts Yahoo Group and there were 13 people in the swap that had to produce a page using the Itkupilli Collage Sheets.

We only have 12 pages as one page went missing on the way from the USA..... Again the 3 Fat Ladies + 1 got together at Glenda's new house and bound our pages together. Well the day was last Friday and the date was the 13th, would you of guessed? LOL. I have been rather sick in hospital and been confined to the house to rest, rest and more rest. I couldn't do any art and this annoyed me during this time and all I wanted to do was play. So first trip out in awhile on my own and off to Glenda's I go in the 35 degree heat.

The other 2 Fat Ladies decided to go AWOL on the way there, so we got a late start. Had to go and help them locate the new house as the GPS wouldn't turn on. Lesson #1 girls never give up your street directory. LOL Then we had a web link with the lovely talented Margaret Weiss in Sydney and the instructions were directed down the line by the 2nd Fat lady Bevlea LOL

It ended up being Bevlea stuck in the Laundry Ironing all day for us all, as I don't iron, hate it with a passion. Joining pages together with Vlisofix - heat n bond stuff you iron onto material to aid you in making clothes....... not sure on the spelling with this one..... LOL We had these lovely covers partly painted with Micaceous Iron Oxide (Golden Product) and then we stamped the covers with an embossing pad and some new spooky stamps, then silver embossed it. Well we didn't have a static mat and all the embossing powder went everywhere LOL and it really ended up being a big mess. Not a great combination Micaceous and embossing powder. So brainy me said oh to hell with it and painted over the whole cover again with Micaceous Iron Oxide and start again. Ha hhhhaaaaaaa haa you say good idea, NO NO NO it didn't work. As soon as the paint was dried and I re-embossed it all came through from the underneath as well. Ended up looking quite good and higgley piggeldy, but I liked it, so I stuck with it.

Amazing what you learn from mistakes and silliness. So we are on a roll at this stage and the book was being joined together thanks to the ironing lady LOL.... and loads of glue. So check out the pages in the book and let me know what you think, some great work there by some really talented ladies. Thanks to all the ladies whom contributed to this book it sure is an awesome memento.

Reliquary Book

2009-11-16T16:31:00.002+11:00

We have all created this book with loads of work and heaps of fun, the creation process has spanned over many weeks with the 3 Fat Ladies + 1 and I do have to say it has been a really great task. I created this book originally for my dad but I cannot bare to part with it, so I am keeping it. I might even make some more for the rest of the family, who knows.

In my book I have used personal things that belonged to my dear mother and I have found them around her house since her passing away 2 years ago. Went on the hunt to find some bits and it is amazing how much you can find that it interesting and at the same time important. Nice to know that these things will be kept to be handed down to my daughter etc....

ALTERED MATCHBOX - JUMBO

2009-10-13T17:38:00.007+11:00

Created with homemade papers again spritzed with all sorts of bright colours using Liquid Water Colours onto some papertowel and this is the sheet underneath that soaks up the excess ink. I have added some ribbon that I am totally in love with at the moment. I love the leaves on the ribbon, it is so cool it goes with all sorts of stuff.

I had to create something for the 'Aussie Dares How Dare You Design Team' the theme was 'Wish' go and check out the blog and see what the others have created.

Here is the link enjoy http://aussiedares.blogspot.com/2009/10/while-cats-away-mice-did-play.html

Old Products

2009-10-12T12:40:00.005+11:00

Sometimes you just have to have a look at what is in your stash and play with those products that have been sitting around for awhile. Well this is what I have done. I pulled out the Pearlex Powders and used the glue stamps pad from Tsukineko. Again another of my random painted old pages of scraps of paint that I can't waste. I have stamped with the Glue pad the image that I want and then dusted it off with the Pearlex Powders. The result is really beautiful it has shimmery, shine and really lifts that background. Of course add an image and a stamp here and there with some words and another few ATC's created. You can faintly see the swirls on the ATC to the right with the little girl.

The Bird ATC has had just a small amount of glue pad rubbed on it and the Pearlex Powders lightly dusted. It has given the whole ATC a shimmering effect.

ETCHED METAL

2009-09-22T03:25:00.003+10:00

I can honestly say now that I have finally etched metal. Hip hip hooray. This is something that I have wanted to do for such a long time. So with the 3 fat ladies + 1 being Glenda, coz she is to skinny to be a F/l and Barb who was visiting from the boon docks of Wagga Wagga. Boy did we get ourselves into a mess, our hands were not nice, they were really yukkie. We used some liver sulphur which stunk to high heaven, worse than that dead dog down the road. Well the liver sulphur was abandoned early because of smell and the black patina came out. This is why I think I have 2 different colours to my etched metal. Well I think that is the reason, maybe some etching expert out there can tell me some other reason. So the project is not finished, just etched, and the pieces have a purpose, I'm just not revealing it yet. There is also another piece a rather large piece that is not shown on here, that is for later on, for a project in the making. So I can say stay tuned as there will be a follow up to this update.

HOUSE ATC'S

2009-09-22T02:40:00.003+10:00

There is nothing better in my opinion than creating something from paper that is old. I love using old books that probably won't even be read again by anyone, and probably destined for the tip. So why not when painting or fiddling as I often do, use up the scraps of paint on an old book. I use the little bits that are left over on my paint palette, so I don't waste it and just paint randomly onto these pages. At some stage I will use the paper and in this case I have. I love the vibrant colours and I am leaning towards using more and more of these colours lately in my work. Don't get me wrong I love Vintage colours with a passion but for some reason I keep painting with bright colours.

These little houses are ATC size and for a swap on my group this month. I have used a bit of German Scrap for the roof and doodled the rest with rub-ons and bottle top stamps. I have chimneys on my house's because I have a chimney on mine IRL. LOL.................

SPOOKY ANCESTORS BOOK

2009-09-22T02:07:00.008+10:00

This is my contribution to a Spooky Ancestors Book that is a collabrative effort on the Yahoo Paperarts Group. I have to say that I am not usually into the 'Gothic' or the 'Halloween' look or style but I sure did have fun creating this page x 13. There are 13 of us taking part in the book and I can't wait to see what others have created. Barb Thomas has completed her page and you can view it on this link - http://somethingztocrowabout.blogspot.com/ good on you Barb, I love yours. I have also created the rear signature page with a fiddle on Photoshop and the help from a dear friend which is one of the FL's Fat Ladies group. And last but not least I have to mention that all these pages had to be created using the collage sheets from Itkupilli's collection. If you want some really good collage sheets then you really can't go past these.

10 Minute Card by Bevlea Challenge

2009-09-14T00:26:00.005+10:00

On the 2cre8art website Bevlea has put up this challenge using transperancies and alcohol inks. Well this is my contribution. I have not, I have to admit, really had time to do much lately, but this appealed to me, I love alcohol inks and transperancies together, the results are just so yummie. I could not resist doing more than one.

The link for the site is on the sidebar of my blog but here it is just incase.

http://2cre8art.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-ten-minute-card-by-bevlea.html

So why don't you give it a go? it is so easy and quick.

Carol Anne's Boutique - Giveaway

2009-09-13T18:58:00.003+10:00

You have to go and visit this site and sign up for the giveway that she has planned. This has got to be the best one I have ever seen. So kind, so generous and fabulous eyecandy.

The amount of goods that are in this is countless and you really don't have to do much. Even if you are not interested in the goods just check out the site.

http://carolannesboutique.blogspot.com/2009/09/give-away-at-carol-annes-boutique.html

Cute Cards

2009-09-04T02:04:00.005+10:00

Ok, Ok, I have done this because a dear friend of mine dare'd me too. I had to make something cute. She is selling this stamp in her shop and well she dare'd me to make a card with it. So this is the final efforts completed, don't laugh, I know it is not my style but at least I can say I have done what was asked. These things are sent to try us in life sometimes and well, it is all done in the good spirit. So if you like the stamp you can purchase it from

HeavenScent Crafts :: Stamps :: Animals: "Cup cake Mouse"

I did not even have pink cardstock so the best thing was to roughly brayer the background with some acrylic paints. This made me feel a little better getting my hands dirty with some paints. It also gave me the feeling that I was altering something. The image is stamped and watercoloured.

The background speckles are created using dots by Judith Stamps. The words I am not sure about they came from the shop too.

This is Definately not me....................

Giveaway

2009-08-30T07:40:00.003+10:00

Isn't she cute, for some that might be interested there is a fantastic giveaway happening. Jo James makes the most amazing art dolls and is celebrating her 200th blog post and is giving away an art doll and some patterns. So go and check it out. What a generous thing to do and you get to choose. Go to this link to find out more.

http://thecartbeforethehorse.blogspot.com/

good luck

CITYSCAPE PROJECT

2009-08-25T20:55:00.007+10:00

2009-08-25T16:55:00.013+10:00

Gosh the time is flying by and before we know it, it will be Christmas. Lots of things have been happening in the last couple of months for me. ART has been done in drib n drabs. We, being Lucy, Bevlea and Glenda started our Cityscape project together theirs has

been uploaded well before mine, yes I am slack but no time to scan

let alone play much. So here I am starting to show you the bits that I have created. I chose an 'Industrial Theme'. The images at the back are of an old rustic building that I found one day in my travels with a friend 'Glenda' . I quickly did a U-turn in the car and went back with the camera and got heaps of shots. At first she thought I was a nutter, soon after she saw what I was up to and took some photos as well. The walls of the building are fantastic and full of character, this character I have used as the basis for my 'Cityscape'

The page beside with the man standing next to the number 2 has a door that overlays the page as you can see the opened version and the closed version.

below the pages all run into a theme that describes the times and the industrial workplace.

FREE IMAGES

2009-08-13T17:59:00.004+10:00

I was on the hunt this afternoon after getting home from work to find a few things that were required for some artwork. Whilst in my travels I found an old box of photos and postcards, so I thought I would scan some and put them on here for others to use.

The first image is of Hogan Street in Tatura in Victoria's Northwest and the 2 is of the Pine Avenue Public Park in Wangaratta Victoria's Northeast. These postcards would have to be at least 50 years old, the date stamp isn't quite legible enough to be sure.

I felt that I have not been updating with artwork so for now these will have to do. Hope you can use the images and enjoy.

GIFTS FOR ME...........

2009-08-12T18:40:00.009+10:00

I have not been on here for a month now and boy does time fly. I have been trying to create things, but nothing finished, I seem to be going around in circles.

I do have to say that Monday was a special day for me. I had to reschedule my day due to appointments etc, I was meant to be having an arty day with my friends but because of me that had to get changed. I however still went over to the lovely Lucy's house for lunch and chat, boy did I need it, nothing like sitting the afternoon away chatting about all sorts of things. Well waiting for me there was a wonderful surprise this brilliant piece of artwork. Gosh am I the lucky one, Lucy created this for me..........and I love it so much, thanks Lucy.

The day gets better, can you believe it, well it didn't really for awhile the car was sick on the way home from Lucy's. I decided to pick up hubby from work in the city on my way home, instead of him catching the train. Then the car decided to get sick. So we sat around for awhile until the Honda roadside people came out and got me going again. When i finally did get home there was another surprise waiting for me and it was from the brilliant Annette Husband in Humpty Doo Northern Territory. She promised me a beautiful etched necklace a little while ago and well I not only got 1, but got 2 of them and they are so beautiful, really, really beautiful. I can't believe my day with such wonderful gifts from such special people with big kind hearts. These are Annette's necklaces, go on be jealous, you should be........

I have scanned both sides of the necklaces so you can see the reverse.

Annette has added some Angelina fibres to the etching in a most amazing way and the texture that it leaves is totally amazing. These can be worn with just about anything, with these colours you just flip them over. Thanks a bunch Annette I will treasure these for life.

Zetti Pages for book

2009-07-13T08:26:00.004+10:00

Zetti, I seem to be in the swing of things with Zetti lately, mind you I really like the free flowing of letting it all go and doodling, drawing and whatever happens next type of attitude. I have done these pages with the total relaxed and having fun mode, a little Kookie for me, but fun.

ZETTI SWAP OVERSEAS

2009-07-12T12:23:00.007+10:00

This is my first Zetti Swap overseas and I have to say that I am quite nervous, so I am just going to bite the bullet as they say, and send them on.

Marion here they come, these are for your Zetti Swap.

ALPHABET BOOK

2009-07-11T18:10:00.004+10:00

I have join a group with the push from a friend to do an Alphabet Book, something that I have wanted to do for a long time but never motivated enough to get it started. I am sure that most of us have been there. Well this is it, I have done it, joined a group in Yahoo called Alphabet Discovery Workshop here is the link

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Alphabet-Discovery-Workshop/

I have partly done my covers for my book and this is the first page created and it is F for Fashion. Fabulous Fashions that is..............

A GIFT FOR ME

2009-07-11T12:34:00.003+10:00

Have a look at this and drool, I am the lucky one here. I received yesterday a beautiful square pendant made by Barb Thomas.

I am not sure which is the back or which is the front as they are as beautiful as each other. She has even used real lace in these. Definatley love the wavy boarder on the inside of the frame.

I gave Barb some Square glass slides sometime ago and didn't want anything for them, that is me, always giving. Well this is a thank you and a beautiful one at that, thanks Barb it is really beautiful and I am the lucky one.

If you want to pop over and have a look at Barbs blog here is the link. http://somethingtocrowabout.blogspot.com

Sorry the images are not brilliant it is the glass causing the problem when it is being scanned, I think.

A few more ATC's

2009-07-10T23:16:00.003+10:00

This is an ATC for the Music swap on my group. I found this fantastic paper in a Japanese Paper Specialist shop in near the city of Melbourne, some street don't know the name. I drove past the shop and spotted it and drove around the block to get back to it. Wow what a shop it was amazing. Mind you they had one sheet of paper in there and it was nearly $100 Aus dollars, it was handpainted of course. Well I used the paper on the background and deceided to brayer some brighter colours onto it and then stencil some more music on it. Love the image of the girl, she is a real hoot don't you think?

More ATC's Created

2009-07-09T01:08:00.007+10:00

I am so far behind in things lately that it is really surprizing me, I just don't know where the time is going. I do try hard and keep onestep ahead of tasks but not this month, I think it might be the fact that we have school holidays here in Melbourne and I am not finding as much time on my hands. Bring on the return of school term I say.

I have a few ATC's that have been created as you can see, the words I have to say are not mine as I am a total blank in that department sometimes. This time it was a friend that came to the rescue with the words. I will have a few more atc's coming in the next day or so, but for now this will have to do.

THE RAVEN

2009-07-04T16:07:00.009+10:00

The Raven by Poe an atc that I made for a swap on Paperarts Group. Not usually something that I do sticking to the dark colours, definitely different for a change.

TRIPTYCH GOTHIC ARCH

2009-07-04T15:41:00.005+10:00

This was for a swap run on my group and the theme was Triptych Gothic Arches as a 1 to 1 swap with Daisy Cooper from Florida in the USA. She wanted vintage children, I added heaps of texture with products like glass beads, Micaceous Iron Oxide, fibre paste, Clear Granular Gel and I have even added sections of a real doilie.

A Few ATC,s

2009-06-12T00:39:00.002+10:00

Have not done much today been busy with work and life. Life really does tend to get in the way sometimes. I have managed to create a few atc's and that is it for me.

Enjoy

ALTERED TIN & BOOK

2009-06-11T00:20:00.000+10:00

Found this little tin that was being used for pins that deserved a better life. Originally it was one of those trade card tins for the children called YuGiOh. No way it was going to stay like that with me around. I sanded, painted it with the Modern Masters Iron Paint and then the rusting solution, gave it a final coat of the blocking primer, gosh these paints are fun, I love it. Then made this fold out book to go inside. Again I have used rubons in the background and to fill in spaces here and there.

FUNKY PAPER CHIC

2009-06-10T23:40:00.005+10:00

This image was originally from a magazine and then gezzo'd over and repainted. I then thought that all the skin areas could be covered with paper, except the face of course. I saw that somewhere and liked it but I don't know where. I wanted to use all these rubons for the "Aussie Dares Site" as this was the challenge for this month. Pop on over and have a look at some of the work that has been done by others on the design team, the link is here on my blog.

I really stepped outside my comfort zone on this little exercise and i do have to admit it, it was fun. I think she looks a little punky funky, and very different.

INCHIE CUBE SWAP

2009-06-02T19:43:00.004+10:00

These little things cubes are small, really small and was not easy for me to do. I can now say honestly that i didn't really enjoy making it at all, but I have done it, I can move on, mission accomplished. I made this cube for a swap on my group, but run by another person, thanks Elizabeth Mackie for the challenge.

A Huge Productivity Day

2009-05-24T18:15:00.006+10:00

Yesterday I spent the day with Bevlea Ross and Lucy Leatham and we were working on page 23 of Kelly Rae Roberts book called Taking Flight. If you don't have this book then I recommend you getting it, it is really worth the purchase. If you are a person that purchases books, flicks through them and that's it, then I really recommend you starting to work your way through them they are fun, heaps of fun. consider getting together with a few friends if you need the motivation and go for it.

We created not only the main page, but in total 6, front and back. We worked real hard to keep the memento going, and to complete. What a team, what a fantastic day, thanks Bevlea.

I have shown the front page here with the tags and without the tags, the tags are attached to the book with the ribbons and loosely move around.

ALTERED SPOONS

2009-05-16T22:47:00.006+10:00

I have seen some altered over time and always wanted to alter some. So the time came that i just had to do it myself. So why not do this as a swap on my ATC & Mixed Media Yahoo Group, I was on a roll and decided to make everyone that was contributing to the swap an extra spoon. I used heaps of buttons that I had in tins from not only my grandmother but my mother as well. I threaded the buttons with a combination of beads and wrapped this around the handles of the spoons. I used alcohol inks undiluted on the spoons and mixed the colours up to create a real intense colour. Added an image, placed some Microbeads and/or Golden Garnet Gels mixed with real gemstone chips at the bottom. Drilled some holes at the top of the spoon to thread some ribbon through to hang.

BLOG AWARDS

2009-05-13T00:50:00.006+10:00

Oh I must be a lucky girl because I have not received one but two Kreativ Blog Awards. The first one was from Diana O'Cobhthaigh and the other one from Martina Hart. Wow am I a lucky girl, I am not really sure if i really deserve these but now that I have them I will have to just do the right thing and pass them on to others.

Rules:

List 7 things that you LOVE

link to the person who has tagged you

Diana O'Cobhthaigh - http://docobhthaigh.blogspot.com/

Martina Hart - http://artymarty62.blogspot.com/

choose 7 more bloggers to give the Kreativ Blogger Award to

comment on those 7 blogs to let the recipients know you chose them.

7 THINGS THAT I LOVE

1. I love my family, my husband Ross, he is a great guy who puts up with my love of art and my random acts, of whatever peeks me at the time. I don't have a very big network of family around me but I do have 2 healthy big children, 1 boy 24 and 1 girl 14. My father he lives nearby and I see him everyday and that is a real blessing. I love that he just drops in when ever he wants and makes my day complete. This is the only family that I have and I am so lucky to have what I do.

2. I love doing Charity work, to help the less fortunate in the community. I am on a board of directors and do loads of voluntary work to help make life easier for others in need. I also hold an electrical ticket and i test appliances and repair them where needed. This is so cool and heaps of fun. Usually a male dominated job, but hey I get to work with some great blokes and chicks can do this stuff too. The best part is I can get dirty and it looks like I have been working hard. heehehehehe

3. My art or if you want to call it my salvation craft. Without this I would be climbing walls and screaming in fits of madness, so much that i would need to be locked in a padded cell for my own good. Thank goodness that my art/craft keeps me happy and sane. If I don't do art, then I am a cranky person and not nice to be around, trust me on that one. I think I have an obsessive compulsive disorder. ROFLOL

4. My nearest and dearest friends, without you, and you know who you are, coz I am not going to say names. Thank you for being you, i love you from the bottom of my heart, to the moon and back again. Friends are the relatives that you choose for yourself. How true.

5. My fury animals, their dedication and love for me and them is endless and they are always happy to see me come home or be in the same room with me where ever I am. Both my fury ones are ginger in colour, but I call that orange, I love that too.

6. My paid job, wow where do I start with that one, I don't tell many people what i do for work as it can be a bit daunting at times and strange. I do specialist security work and personal protection for celebrities/stars. I hang around broadcasting crews and events and make sure all is fine with them. It is so great sometimes to see a show before it is aired on TV and see the behind the scenes stuff. I get to go different places all the time, so being bored of going to work at the same place day after day just does not happen with me. I do have very, very long hours and heaps of travel.

7. Lucky last all things Royal, I don't know if it is the gold or the sparkle or the aristocracy of it. Anything royal at all will make me smile and give me that little twitch, I want it, I must have it.

Well that is it for that part of the award now onto the ones that i choose to tag.........

hhhhhmmmmmmm.........................

1. Aga Kasprzak - http://a-place-in-my-dreams.blogspot.com/

I just love her way of blogging and her easy way of putting a story together.

2. Sarah - http://saimba.blogspot.com/
What this girl can create is amazing. She makes the best vintage stuff I have seen in ages.

3. Hermine Koster - http://herminesplace.wordpress.com/

I am amazed at the lovely way Hermine puts together collages, her use of mediums is interesting and worth checking out.

4. Dawn Thomas - http://littledawnieno1.blogspot.com/

I met Dawn at the Creative Soul Retreat in Melbourne in march and I admired her strength and love of craft/art. Pity I didn't get to know you more but time was cut short.

I am not going to put anymore names up on the list I should have 7, well in actual fact 14 because I have two awards, but that just seems far to much for me, as this is so hard to do, I love anyone that has the creative urge to blog about it without the glory that enrages some people. I loved receiving this award from some very dear friends but I just can't decide whom it should go to anymore. So the ones that I have selected are it from me, the best of the bunch. I hope you girls love this award and if you don't feel like forwarding this award on, please don't feel obligated, I will not hold you to it.

So from me goodbye for now and off to find the photos to update my blog with art.

Hugs to all Elizabeth

How Dare You Challenge - Smile

2009-04-29T23:39:00.008+10:00

The last dare for the How Dare You Design Team I could not do for certain reasons, I had to say I am sorry I just can't do it. I just could not stop crying, the dare really effected me in a way that runs very deep in my heart. But this time this month the Dare is 'Smile' well that turned things around for me and I had some hope and some creative urge to get on with things again. I put some of my learned skills into action and did this canvas with no help from anyone at all. I didn't even run it by my nearest and dearest friend, for a look see to make sure all was alright. I have completely gone out on a wing here and created without incoming comments. I do hope you like the painting, because I really did try.

The saying on the canvas is

'Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart'

This canvas certainly fixed my heart and helped me get through another year.

Giveaway

2009-04-28T23:50:00.001+10:00

The Stamping Queen is having a giveaway you need to check it out, only a few days left to be in the draw, but well worth it.

Check it out with this link http://thestampingqueen.typepad.com/the_stamping_queen/2009/04/giveaway-and-a-boy.html

Enjoy

DJ Pettitt another sample of class work

2009-04-28T18:39:00.003+10:00

I have taken to long too upload this painting that was created in DJ Pettitts face painting class at the Creative Soul Retreat 2009. I fell it isn't quite good enough, I though no bite the bullet. I am learning this craft and how can I grow if you don't let go. It is amazing what tiny little things that you pick up that make the difference to your work. Anyway all talk, I need to play and upload more.

Fruit

2009-04-24T18:32:00.006+10:00

In the next few months I have set a theme for a swap on my atc groupand it is 'Fruit' this is my atc. At first I couldn't get around the thought of a piece of fruit but eventually it clicked and another atc is created.

Bird Journal

2009-04-24T16:57:00.008+10:00

Creating this Bird Journal in the way that DJ Pettitt taught us in class was so much fun. I created this one with the Bird theme for a lovely adopted niece whom is challenged and loves birds. She collects living budgies and wanted a book to put her photos of special birds into. Candice turned 21 last monday and was thrilled with her book. I love all the earth colours that I have used as these are her favourite colours too.

The inside pages of the journal are all in a bird theme. The binding and inside jackets are in red Candice loves this colour too.

Happy 21st Candice you now have what you wanted.

BLOG AWARDS

2009-04-08T23:37:00.005+10:00

My First Blog Award

One of my nearest and dearest friends Bevlea Ross has presented me with my first blog award.

I am to award this onto 5 other deserving people,so I shall do my best to do so.

For those of you that receive the award,these are the guidelines that came with the badge:"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.

Please give more attention to these kind writers."The following ladies are friends, some old, some fresh from the retreat, all talented artists..all ladies that I count myself lucky to have come across in my journey...

I present you all with this award for a number of reasons........

Elizabeth Mackie aka Miss Oddity - http://www.missoddityscrazycollection.blogspot.com/

Deb Raymer - http://debzhouse.blogspot.com/

Margaret Weiss - http://margaretweiss.blogspot.com/

Denise Litchfield - http://www.dneese.blogspot.com/

Annette Husband - http://goannafive.blogspot.com/

Hugs Eliza

Another Fabric Postcard

2009-04-06T17:03:00.003+10:00

This is the other fabric postcard that I made for a swap, somehow I don't think I will be venturing down this path again for a little while as it really stressed me out. I dont mind sewing or stitching with the machine from time to time but I did not handle this one very well at all.

Fabric Postcard

2009-03-27T16:01:00.002+11:00

Made 2 lovely fabric postcards this week for a swap on my group, hosted by the lovely Mary Strong in Brisbane. This was a task so, so outside my comfort zone, I really struggled with it to get it completed. This is one postcard that I sent off to a dear friend just because I felt like surprizing her. I know you have received it now so I am posting to my blog.

GEORGE

2009-03-26T23:16:00.003+11:00

I snapped this photo the other day of my dads cat, he is my dads best friend and his name is George. Mind you I call him Osama after the known terrorist because when he came here to visit he would be really nasty to my husbands cat and that wasn't nice at all. Well George has just had another visit with his other family (us) whilst dad was away camping and fishing. He sleeps in my dads room and only socializes with my cat and they are like kissing cousins. Gosh he really is a beautiful cat.

DJ Pettitt Journal Class On Saturday

2009-03-20T18:45:00.005+11:00

What an amazing class I have had with DJ Pettitt she is one truly fabulous lady that is so, so talented. At the Creative Soul Retreat I was in her class on the Saturday and we made a journal. Here are my efforts from her brilliant teaching. How on earth we managed to get as much of the journal as we all did that day is really beyond me. This class should have taken a few days to complete but we did it, well I did it. I do have a secret to share the binding and beads were done after the class was finished and it took a few drinks of the stiff kind to get me through to the end. I think DJ is going to be posting something to that effect on her blog, not sure if it has happened yet.

We used so many techniques and secrets of hers that I just can’t go through them now, but I do remember them all quite clearly.

Thank you DJ for being a great teacher these are techniques that I am going to be using for a long, long time.

These pages were made from Watercolour Paper and feel like leather when finished.

Signature Pages Inside the journal

BOOK CHALLENGE FOR THE 2009 RETREAT

2009-03-18T12:20:00.014+11:00

The Creative Soul Retreat was in Melbourne this last weekend. Run by the wonderful Bevlea Ross and this was the Book Challenge that was set.

PAGE 1 TITLE - BIRDS

PAGE 2 TITLE - THRONES N THINGS

PAGE 3 TITLE - MY FAVOURITE THINGS

PAGE 4 TITLE - ALL THINGS FRENCH

PAGE 5 TITLE - WORDS

PAGE 6 TITLE - INSPIRED BY SONG

How Dare You Challenge - White

2009-03-10T01:54:00.005+11:00

The How Dare You Design Team challenge this month is 'WHITE' you should go and check out the blog. http://aussiedares.blogspot.com/

My contribution to the White Dare was to alter an old oil bottle that I had in the Kitchen. I gave up cooking in the name of ART and thought that it was appropriate to use this bottle. I always wanted to do this and this was my chance. I thoroughly enjoyed making it so much that i have many more ideas to make another one.

Last Page

2009-03-03T22:29:00.003+11:00

I can't believe it; the last page has been made for the Gothic Arch Book. The theme for this page is 'Words' so fitting in I felt that the words on this layout are fitting. This is the first time that I have actually watercoloured a picture without help and advice from my trusty friends, just wanted to do it different this time. I know the lips are not quite correct and this is the first time I have put on eyelashes, but hey I am only a beginner at this face and drawing stuff and I am still having fun. I am now moving onto the assembly of the book and what a task that is. I have done some pages to be mounted but no photos or scans as of yet. Woo Hoo the Creative Soul Retreat is only next week our artists are flying into Australia mid week. I can't wait..

GOTHIC ARCH PAGE

2009-02-24T00:56:00.007+11:00

More Gothic Arch pages that have been done and yes they are for the book challenge on the Creative Soul Retreat in a few weeks time. One theme is ' Inspired by Song' and yes I had to do Hotel California by the Eagles my all time favourite band and song. The other theme is 'All things French' this includes the Eiffel Tower, poodle dogs, chambermaids and Moulin Rouge. The last theme I have to do is 'Words' I have that one planned out in my head and it is on the desk ready to do tomorrow, that is if it comes to fruition.

Little Houses 4 Retreat

2009-02-22T01:57:00.005+11:00

Hip hip horray I have finally finished the Little Houses for the Creative Soul Retreat in 3 weeks time. I needed to make something bright and arty for this swap and they are definatley bright no doubt about that. Now all I have to do is bag them in the morning.

2009-02-18T11:22:00.002+11:00

Pennants I love these things and they are so good to hang around the room. I have a swap happening on my group with these this month, this is my contribution. I have painted the backgrounds myself with golden paints and they have a simmering look to them, this does not show up too much on the scans. I have also used some masks on the background, Heidi Swap have some cute little masks that were just perfect for this task.

Back In Time

2009-02-17T00:52:00.002+11:00

That's the theme for this atc, Back In Time. The image is one that I had in my collection and I can't remember where it came from. Just a simple background with stamping and paper tearing.

Midnight Circus

2009-02-17T00:37:00.004+11:00

I just love the circus and everything magical about it. Clowns are always bright and cheerful, they make me smile. These have been sent off for a swap on the paperarts group that I belong too. I dont know to be honest what is going to happen to them but they are going to be made into something special by Barb and sent back. I can't wait to see what that is.......... oh swaps can be fun and I think I like the mystery surrounding this one.

Time has flown by

2009-02-16T19:17:00.003+11:00

Gosh where has this year gone? I can't believe we are half way through February already. I have been doing some creative work but nothing uploaded, yes I am a naughty girl and my dear friend has told me off. So many pieces of art are only partly finished and some are definitely finished, I just need to upload. So you will hopefully in the next few days see some work popping onto the blog to show you that I have been busy.

Aside from all of that I have been still working hard with my charity work, I was struggling with Christmas toys and hampers before Christmas, to move onto my normal paid job which took up massive amounts of time in January with filming etc. And with the bushfires happening here in Victoria I have been on the road doing charity work seeing some of the most horrific sights I have ever seen in my life. Yes there are houses that have been burnt to the ground but some of these, there was nothing left, nothing at all. Amongst all that has been lost, there has also been some places that just missed the fires completely and how this has happened goodness only knows. In some cases that I have seen, the fire was all the way around the houses not even 1-meter surrounding and the people inside the house have survived. I have been spending some time with the Chilburn CFA. There are many families stranded and isolated, they can’t go anywhere due to looting and no transportation, the wheels of the car are gone, the car is totally destroyed. These stranded, homeless families have nothing except themselves, this is some of the most heartache that I have seen in my life, some have lost their partners, family and everything. I was speaking to some CFA workers that were away fighting fires in Clonbinane near Whittlesea, a fair distance from their own homes only to find out their own homes and family were in jeopardy, some even lost their homes. I saw a letter added to the rear of the Chilburn fire trucks that was the letter 'T' changing it to Chilburnt and believe me Chilburnt it is. They have time for humour these people and that is good. Amazingly enough the Chilburn fire station is left untouched and the fires were all around it, right up to their doors. Whilst the CFA fire workers were off fighting fires in other areas their own station was in serious trouble with 1 staff member inside all on her own, she told me she didn't know if it was day or night when the fire was upon her, she just struggled on and stayed positive and communicated with the CFA fighters, and gave the orders that needed to be given, soldier on this woman did. Good on you all and many others that have been fighting for over a week to help others, putting your own lives at risk, you truly are the heroes amounst all this tragedy. I know as of Saturday you were stood down for 2 days to rest and a well-deserved rest you need. This is one base contact that I will always be in touch with. I am not going to show the photos that I have of places, there are just too many out there circulating around, I will keep them for myself to remind me of what was. There is so much work to do to repair lives and homes, this has only just begun.

So after the harrowing times of late I need to create and immerse myself in some good therapy to help heal the horrors that I have seen. So today I made some atc's for swaps and have started to create again. Keep posted for all the stuff coming through.

LEARNING IS A TREASURE

2009-01-08T15:40:00.003+11:00

I started this canvas at a good friend Bevleas house before christmas. I played hooky from work, so I had to down tools and have a day of total fun, it is good for the soul.

This is the first type of canvas that I had done with painting a person in full. Bevlea taught me so much about the eyes and face. I had to bring home the unfinished painting and add my own touch to it. I have named this girl Jacquelyn and the quote I feel is so fitting with the whole learning experience. Thanks Bevlea for what you have taught me, I hope you like the finished result.

Chain Bodice

2009-01-08T15:00:00.008+11:00

This is my submission for the 'wet' theme on the 'How Dare You Design Team. I have used tissue paper that was sprayed with water and then painted onto in rich golden paint colours that was then spritzed again with more water and then blotted with papertowel. Embossed with Burgandy, embellished with Golden Black Mica Flakes, Golden Garnet Gel Medium and antique gold rub on's. Embellished with some beads around the waist and the metal heart on both sides. This stand is used to hold altered mini projects that I have made. The stand was once a garish pink with scrolls stamped on it and was found at a thrifty market for 10 cents. Definitely now loved and used, former life destined for the rubbish dump.

CHAPTER 3

2008-12-17T01:56:00.003+11:00

Went off to Bevleas house yesterday and had a play day with the goal in mind that we are going to work on Chapter 3 of Taking Flight book by Kelly Rae Roberts. This chapter covers an area, which involves using polymer clay on a canvas. What a day, I played hooky from work. Mind you work is so full on that I was sort of glad for the relief and the therapy of art. The day was total fun playing with different textured products to apply paint with. Bevlea, Lucy & Glenda also produced a beautiful piece of artwork that they will be showing on their blogs soon, I hope. Of course we had Barb in Wagga doing hers by the internet and that looks so different to ours but I still love it anyway.

MATCHBOX SHRINE

2008-12-15T23:55:00.004+11:00

Matchbox Shrine created for the Paperarts group that I belong too. I have created this with silver metal tape and alcohol inks. I have used a black and white image with Paper Whimsy eyes, added some metal components, electrical wires, rusty bits and just about anything that would fit into this tiny space. The best part is sourcing some of the parts from old circut boards.

Creative Soul Retreat Arches

2008-12-15T22:46:00.003+11:00

I have had these little beauties sitting on my scanner for weeks and no time to upload them too my blog. Life is at a running pace due to work commitments and of course the silly season that is nearing the end. Can you believe it, it is nearly Christmas. I don’t know where this year has gone, but it has nearly gone. Early next year I am off to the Creative Soul Art Retreat that is being run by Bevlea Ross here in Melbourne and I just can’t wait to get there. These arches have been created for the retreat as part of a book challenge that is happening. The titles are Birds, My Favourite Things & Thrones n Things. It is about time I got around to posting and catching up with the jobs that are completed and sitting waiting.

Update

2008-11-08T23:41:00.004+11:00

The spring fever has really hit me hard this year. Hhhhmmmm where do I start with this entry, I have no pictures to show you of what I have been doing as of yet. I have not been that creative to be honest. I have been flat out sorting out the house and spring cleaning. I decided to containerize my dungeon, take out all of the baskets that housed my craft stuff and then put everything into containers that are labeled. Wow what an exercise it has been. Talk about rubbish that I have collected and poked in here and there. My goodness it is a nightmare and a job that I somewhat regret starting. Now I am totally committed and I have to finish what I started. Mind you when it is done it is going to be great. If I want butterflies the butterflies have their own container and I wont have to rifle my way through things to find them. Lettering is all together, chipboard etc. etc. what a job. I have used my spare bedroom as a dumping ground whilst I work and now I have to work on fixing that up too. When all is done and sorted I will upload some pictures for you to see.

In the meantime I have been looking at a book that my dear friend Glenda has just acquired and it is called Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts, this book is brilliant the details that she goes into to give the amazing results and the angles/techniques is truly a master effort and if you don't have the book, it is one that you really should put on that Christmas List it is a MUST HAVE book.

I have nearly finished making my Christmas Cards, all I have to do is the inside of the card and all can be finished and ready for posting. Mind you there are a lot of Chrissy Cards . I cant show you them either because it will spoil surprises for those on my Chrissy List.

That is about it for now I will post again soon.

Hugs to all

RUSTING

2008-10-30T00:35:00.003+11:00

This is something that I have been wanting to do for ages and it is rusting paper and metal bits. I purchased a heap of the star locking washers and other metal things and rusted them with a vinegar mix. What amazing effects, it really works. I then tried paper, wow what fun to be had. I am amazed at what has been achieved, even lace can be rusted. I can't stop rusting things now and yes I am using the rusty items on work. Here you can see all the ATC's are made out of rusted paper and rusted metal bits.

Niche Canvas for Wendy

2008-10-29T23:35:00.004+11:00

This is the Niche Canvas that I made for Wendy MacEachin in Tura Beach as part of a swap run on my ATC & Mixed Media Group. She loves nudes, pink and black together. Pink is not a colour that I tend to use much, definitely not my colour. I had to add texture, used some wonderful Golden Garnet Gels, lace and fibres and melted and blended the products together. The scroll in the corner is one that I had here and I used the Tim Holtz distress crackle on it. Now Wendy has received the Niche Canvas I can show you all, I didn't want to spoil her surprise.

Painted Faces & Pennants

2008-10-10T00:19:00.004+11:00

Sometimes I get this idea in my head and it just wont go away. No I am not crazy, that is what I keep telling myself. Well sometimes you just have to go with the idea and this is one of those times. I have been putting off trying to paint faces for ages now. I have tried one other face and it was on an old magazine picture that you gesso over and then build it up from there. I never ever finished the picture, I must go back one day and finish it. Well this time I started from scratch. Yes I got the watercolour paper and painted the background with the credit card and acrylic paints, then started with the face. I had this idea of just doing a half shot of the face and well this is what I ended up with. One funky looking girl with rosebud cheeks. I stamped the stampington scroll on with black brilliance and put the Lace Boarder that had also been blackened. Inked the edges and the Pennant is all finished. The eyes needed some more work but I forgot about that when I painted a layer of Polymer Varnish on to protect it, maybe next time I will do that.

Update on the blog

2008-10-09T17:39:00.005+11:00

It is about time that I actually updated this blog I have been a very bad girl and a little tardy. Things have been happening in this house, the Princess was on school holidays, I have had lots of work here and there. I managed to create a few things in spits n spurts and here they are. These were for a Vintage Circus ATC swap

A Bunch Of Stuff Completed

2008-09-22T23:56:00.010+10:00

The theme for these atc's is Nautical. The backgrounds have been done using Pearlex and PVA on the left ATC, The other is done with Impasto Medium and Lumiere, Pearlex combination. Along the bottom of the atc is some Golden Pearl Mica Flakes.

Another double layout for Deb's altered book. She wanted birds and it was based around her home, so I have used a birhouse as a letterbox with the family name and house number. The work has been created on Canvas which has been, stamped, inked, painted and collaged onto.

Deb actually received her book today in the post, I loved working in her book and now I am wanting to do another one like this. Maybe now it will have to wait until the new year as that is not so far away.

I have an altered book travelling around out there somewhere, I do wonder when it is coming home, hopefully soon. When it does arrive I will post some pictures.

Jumbo Card Altered Book

2008-09-22T23:11:00.005+10:00

Made this little book with some Jumbo Altered Playing Cards as the pages. Some of the pages are pieces of creative work that others have made. In the collection are works from Lucy Leatham-Australia, Daisy Cooper-USA, Deb Raymer-Australia, Franisse Pedersen-Australia,Wendy MacEachin Australia. The cover is all stamped and inked with the lovely rusty paperwhimsy tin ivy along both sides.

GREAT NEWS

2008-09-19T21:07:00.006+10:00

I have been sitting on this little bit of information for some time now and I have to finally share it with you all. I have been accepted to join some wonderful ladies on the "How Dare You Creative Team" yes I am now a Creative Team Member, woo hoo woo hoo. I am so excited that I can hardly believe myself that it is real. So now you will be seeing more work of mine popping over to the How Dare You Site. Here is the link to check it out for yourself - http://www.aussiedares.blogspot.com/

So this month the dare is "The Everyday" yep a tough one to do I have to agree but I have managed to kill 2 birds with 1 stone on this one. I have been working on an Altered Book for a very dear friend. Deb now has this double layout being my first official entry to Aussie Dares Blog in her Altered Book. I do hope you like it Deb, I am sure you will. It is the Everyday magical life of the faeries.

I have created the background using acrylic paints and pearlex and the rough texture is just right for this particular layout. The faeries pictures I have had in my collection for quite sometime, the original origin is unknown. I love creating backgrounds and had fantastic fun fiddling and playing. So check it out on the aussiedares site.

Hugs Eliza

Careful Barbara

2008-09-10T02:53:00.002+10:00

Made this Gothic Arch for a friend instead of giving her an ATC, I hope she likes it. The background is tissue paper painted in gold. With a serviete torn up and stuck down, then the image of the girl is one from many in my collection. I have added some Gold Mica Flakes just for effect.

A Really Simple Card

2008-09-05T14:57:00.004+10:00

I read somewhere the other day that a particular person (not to be mentioned) was fed up with Winter and come on Summer. Well I have to say that I am too definitely over Winter and the cold weather. I want Summer here, where I can warm up my bones and do some fun outside things like go to the beach. This inspired me to do a card for a friend for her birthday, although her birthday is in the middle of Winter, she will be tickled pink to get this bright coloured one. She is forever complaining that she cant have a BBQ with friends sitting out on the deck, over or even a Pool Party, or go to the beach. So my idea was to bring Summer to her, I have used real sand with a sprinkling of gold glitter and real shells . This is a shaker style card, bright and summery, the sand and shells move around. Happy Birthday Celeste.

Pendants Created

2008-09-04T22:01:00.004+10:00

I have decided to do something completely different for a change. I got this idea from a collection of works by the one and only Tim Holtz. I hunted around for bits n pieces for this, I found rusty keys, fuse's, washers, bent nails, I even got the little diodes from the bottom of my tool box, they haven't been used for years. It really is amazing when you start looking for strange things of what can be found out there. I cut some heavy duty chipboard and covered it with paper and inked it over. My hunting was fun and creating a blast. I made one of the pendants special for Lucy that is why one of the pendants has the letter L. I know she likes it because I gave it to her today at lunchtime. The smile was enough and said it all.

Little Book

2008-08-27T14:53:00.004+10:00

Went out today shopping with Lucy a really dear friend and checked out some shops for art supplies and had a great lunch and natter. I certainley felt like a child again that has been cooped up for months, it was great to get out and about. We sort of followed my nose with this outing as I left the address behind of a place that we wanted to check out. Fortunately enough I don't get lost, that we not only found a place that we needed for some supplies, but we also found another place we needed. You could say this was by sheer talent, ok fluke of a place that sells some Golden supplies. Walked out of there convinced that I need to get my supplies from another place and not them. Handy to know because you may need that particular colour or product and it is an option to say the least. Great day out nattering and relaxing thanks Lucy I really needed that.

Upon getting home and discussing more things I realised that I hadn't uploaded the images of my book covers that I did for a swap on my ATC & Mixed Media Group on the Yahoo Groups. I wanted the covers to be all about texture, texture, texture, I have achieved that for sure.

Altered Jumbo Playing Card Book

2008-08-25T16:58:00.008+10:00

I made a little book out of some Altered Jumbo Playing Cards that my daughter and I made. Myrene altered 6 cards and I altered 6 and put them into this cute little book and bound the book with the Zutter Machine, gosh I love this little machine I really have got value for my money with it.

I used Golden paints for the cover and also the yummie Micaceous Iron Oxide with Glass Beads from Golden over the top, I wish you could look, see and feel the texture on these covers because they are really, really awesome. If you dont have any of these products then you have to seriously consider in getting some they are fantastic.

Niche Canvas

2008-08-25T16:53:00.002+10:00

Over the last few weeks I have been fiddling with another Niche Canvas and I have had so much fun putting this together. When ever I have managed a few minutes here and there I have added something else to it and it has been fun. I found these little birdies a few months ago and wanted to do a niche with one and I love the outcome. Another time when I was out hunting for bits I found these tiny little wooden eggs, they had some easter type print on them but I just altered them slightly and they fit with the Niche perfectly.

GOTHIC ARCH BOOK

2008-08-23T14:49:00.005+10:00

I have been collecting some Gothic Arches through swaps from all over the world and I just love these little beauties that I have made a book out of them. I still have more left and more to come so I think I will at some stage in the future have to make another. I used the emboss resist technique for the background and then some of the Collections branches and bird. The wonderful gate is from Micro Art Handiprint. Enjoy

Cheryl Niche Canvas

2008-08-05T01:20:00.003+10:00

I decorated this Niche Canvas and sent it to Cheryl in New Zealand. Now that she has received it I can upload onto here and not spoil her surprise. Thanks Cheryl for scanning it for me, in the rush to post it, I forgot and was kicking myself. These Canvas are such fun to do and to use the back and not the front is such a challenge. I do have to say that I am totally in love with Golden Acrylic Paints they are so wonderful to work with and hold the colour perfectly.

Shift working household

2008-08-02T01:08:00.002+10:00

I quite often say to friends that I am actually nocturnal, I cope better working at night than at anytime of the day. I have to say that I love the night-time above all. For people that know me, they know that the house that I live in is literally upside down with the strange hours that my husband Ross and I keep. We are both shift workers and work some rather strange hours and massive amounts of hours in a 24 hour period. Actually it can go on for weeks like this and we just try and survive, sleep when we can and eat when we can. I don't know how we manage this chaos, but we do. We also do have some down times too that we can have a few days off in a row, that is when the body is saying 'yippee sleep time, rest time'. When we are sleeping during the day we have been putting this rather sad little piece of paper on the front door saying 'please don't ring bell night shift workers are sleeping' this could mean we are both asleep or just one of us. This little sign has survived the rain, hail and sunshine. I promised myself one day I would make a proper sign for the door. Something that is pleasant to look at rather than this crappy little note. Well with me being grounded at the moment and not being allowed to work because of surgery that I had a week ago, I have been ploughing through some of the UFOs and some of the jobs marked desperately needed. Well this is one of the need jobs that I have done, yep the door sign is finally made and good enough for the door. Lets just hope that people take notice of it and don't wake us up when they shouldn't. If you are a shift worker then you will understand the need for sleep to survive the different world we live in at night.

FROM WINDOWS TO HOUSES

2008-07-30T17:48:00.002+10:00

The last job uploaded on my blog was windows and now it is a row of little houses. These houses were made again as a collaborative effort with the ladies on my ATC & Mixed Media Site although I have added quite a few more. I wanted to frame these little beauties and of course the background had to be painted, again I have used golden paints and Windex to keep the windows clean. No seriously I used Windex on the paint for effects. This now means another UFO job to strike off the list that is getting shorter.

WINDOWS COLLABORATIVE

2008-07-30T00:40:00.007+10:00

It has been close to a year since this job has been put to the side and never completed. A shame really because all the work that has been done as a collaborative effort has been sitting idle. Well idle no longer I have finally painted the window frame with some Golden paints and mounted the windows within. I do have to say a huge thankyou to Glenda Laing, Liz Aitken, Martina Hart and Julian Buttenshaw for the lovely windows that they made. I really do love this piece of artwork and I am so happy to finally have finished it.