Morning inspiration 10.03.13

I've been posting my morning stroll pictures regularly on the facebook page, and I thought I might begin sharing them here too. It's been a really lovely way to start each day on a nice note. Enjoy!

Playing

I've been busy getting a few projects finished up, photographing, viddy-ing and all that other good stuff which goes hand in hand with my mess making. It's a funny thing having projects here, sitting, waiting, to be shown. Waiting for permission. It's a strange thing to have to hold back. I've never really been a hold back sort... I'm more of a "the glue isn't dry but look what I've made!" type.

I find myself playing sometimes so that I have something I don't have to wait to show off. Playing is underrated. It gets the real juices flowing. It keeps my brain fresh. It gives me practice. As an added bonus I have something to post.

Lately that playing has been layouts. Something I never worked on before and need much practice at. I've been working with 8" layouts. That small space is far more comfortable, more cozy, than those vast 12 inch sheets.

The girls in the photo above are my aunties, and that little one on the far right is my mum.

Where's the supply list? Erm, I'm under the weather so I'll post it later BUT you can find the list over on scrapbook.com

STICKERS!

The kid and hubby are sick and have passed along their germs to me! I don't have time to get sick! I've got things to make and tutorials to film! Grrrr.

Germs aside... since I have to get some video practice in, I slipped in this quick review while filming today.

In my last design team box from Graphic 45 I received a Xyron create-a-sticker. I love this thing. I love it so much that I went on and on about it until my granny gave me a funny look and suggested that I might need to get out more. Apparently I was not overreacting though, because I showed it to some crafty minded friends last week and they agreed that it is pretty darned cool.

Best of all? That wee thing retails for around $10!

More Spooky Bunting Goodness

It's Sunday, which means that Alpha Stamps is showing off new work! Today on the blog you can spy some loverly Halloween themed buntings made with the October Banner Kit by the AS design team members.  Here's the one that I created with all those goodies.

I adore buntings... but they sure are a pain to photograph!

Some of my favourite items in this kits include these super cute Mini Chipboard Scalloped Frames & Medallions and this Tinsel Cording - Moss Green (which comes in other colours too!).

Also lovin' the A Witchy Encore Collage Sheet. If you're a fan of vintage Halloween images they've got a great selection from sweet to creepy.

I think it's just about that time to pull out all of my decorations and get my spook on for the Haunting Season ;)

Other faeries

I'm so excited to be showing at Impresario Artisan Market in Cobourg in December. I have started created some new works for the exhibit. It's going to be all 'Sugar Plum and Other Faeries'.

These pieces measure 12" x 16", a fair bit larger than most of my work. They also combine my love of art and craft. Each uses scrapbook and other typical 'crafting' supplies (yay! Graphic 45 and Petaloo) and well as painting and collage. I'm pretty darned pleased with them :)

The Frog Prince 

12 x 16 • Mixed media on canvas

 

The Queen Bee

12 x 16 • Mixed media on canvas

The Sparrow

12 x 16 • Mixed media on canvas

Each of the pieces has a painted element on top of the collage work. It was challenging and fun to try and paint on the differently textured surfaces. Here are some 'in-progress' detail shots of a few of the painted elements in the pieces.

Graphic 45, Xyron, Petaloo Blog Hop Day 5 - A Harvest Shrine

Every time a design team box arrives I just want to jump in and play with everything all at once. That’s sort of what happened with this little ode to autumn. The new crafty gadgets, toys and goodies from Graphic 45 and their fabulous, generous partners Petaloo, and Xyron were so much fun to play with!

When asked to create a decor piece with the season in mind for this weeks blog hop, I did not think of pumpkins or Halloween. In our household autumn means “Harvest”. Turning leaves, migrating birds, fall flowers, chilly mornings and blue grey skies. I wanted to create an elegant homage to autumn, the most gorgeous time of year.

 

The base of this piece is an inexpensive wooden key cubby. I dismantled the box, removed the hardware and painted the wood then embellished with French Country papers. I chose the blue hued Provance and Abundance to act as a sort of subdued sky. To adhere the papers I used the Xyron Mega Runner which worked like a charm. (Seriously, I’m a total adhesive dork and this was soooo sticky.) AND to adhere the birdcage cut-out from Gina’s at the top I simply ran it through the Xyron sticker maker!

Adding an assortment of Petaloo flowers and leaves to my shrine, I chose a quiet pallet which compliments the sort of old world, natural feeling of this little hidey place. I really do love the Petaloo flowers and leaves, they look beautiful and are divine to work with.

 

A bit more mixing and matching, a few splotches of paint, some beautiful 12 Days of Christmas birds and my homage to the harvest season is complete.

If you haven't already, you absolutely need to get your bottom over to the Graphic 45 blog and check out all of the amazing projects made with Graphic 45,  Petaloo, and Xyron.

Supplies:

Graphic 45
• French Country > Provance

• French Country > Abundance

• French Country > A La Carte

• French Country > French Country Stickers

• French Country > French Country Chipboard 2

• 12 Days of Christmas > 12 Days of Christmas

• 12 Days of Christmas > Ladies Dancing
• 12 Days of Christmas > Calling Birds

• 12 Days of Christmas >Turtle Doves

Antique Metal Door Pull

Petaloo > Darjeeling Flowers & Leaves

Xyron Create-a-sticker
Xyron Mega Runner

Gina’s Designs

• Birdcage

• Wings

• Gate

Spellbinders > Oval Hatpin

Sheet Moss

Reindeer Moss

Plastic eggs

Pumpkin Pods

Small Wooden Finials
Raw Brass Box Feet

Acrylic Paint
Wooden Key Cubby

Terry Fox and small goals

We don't usually participate in school fundraising. It's not that we don't care or want to help out... it's because we don't have many relatives or people to approach and there is no way in heck we're going door to door to bug the neighbours. 

This year our kidlet was excited about doing the Terry Fox run and even did a bit of 'training'. Terry Fox is an amazing Canadian icon and inspiration so how could we possibly say 'no'? He set a reasonable goal of raising $50.

I posted a quick note on-line and our Pixie-kid raised $110. He was so excited that he actually had a hard time sleeping that night :)

The next day he told me that he had told his teachers about his bit-o-fundraising and they congratulated him on almost reaching the half way mark for the entire school. I was sure that they must have meant the class goal. 

Tonight we went to the school to meet his teacher and see his new classroom and I saw this in the school hallway...

Just a tiny goal of $250 for the whole school! I am SURE that surpassing that number is absolutely doable. That lovely little school has a boatload of heart and the kids are just the greatest. Their run is tomorrow so if you'd like to contribute there's still a slice of time to support them, and a great cause.

Click HERE to hand over your pennies (you can even Paypal!) and help kick cancers ass!

P.S. I pinky swear that I will do a big fat giveaway this weekend to even out the generosity karma.