Butterflies

Completed my butterfly ATC's for the July challenge on ArtTechniquesATCs. Here they are:

Soul Journal - Staking my claim

Day 2 of the Soul Journal adventure ....

This is the book I am altering to use as this journal - hopefully it will stand up to the test.

Below is todays excercise ... to name our journals as our own. You'd be surprised how difficult I found it to write my name over and over again ... as though I was being selfish or self centered ... but I got there in the end. Silly I know!

I used rub-ons, textas (thanks Princess), watercolour pencils, black sharpie and white gel pen.

I'm looking forward to the next task.

Soul Journal

Sarah Whitmire is posting on her blog http://sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com/ step by step details on how to create a mixed media journal and will be providing daily prompts to keep you going. I've wanted to alter a book for a long time and anything that helps me on my creative journey with baby steps is a bonus. Thanks Sarah! Here is part of my day one efforts ...

I think I need another holiday ...

I have just had the most hectic few weeks with my Princess due to the school holidays. During the first week we stayed at home and had lots of play dates with her friends. I had an art date with Holly, Julianne and Megan that was a lot of fun ... gossip, paint and a wonderful butter banana cake ... yum! During this date I finished some Jumbo Playing Cards for a swap. This one is called "6 Degrees of Seperation"

I have also been trying to do dry needle felting and failing due to the lack of having wool felt only the crappy synthetic stuff. After discussing my frustrations with those wiser than me I have taken the plunge and ordered some 100% wool felt off ebay so that I can give it another try.

Another swap I am playing in at the moment has been a Mini Album and I have been trying out a variety of techniques ... some more successfully than others and again those wiser than me have helped me to learn where I may have gone wrong. Here are the pictures of my front cover and one of the pages I have created to swap out.

During the second week the Princess and I travelled down to Melbourne to visit family (which was ace!) and also to spend some time at The Castle creating with My Queen, Princess Moo and the fabulous Lucy. I enjoyed meeting Lucy in person for the first time! They taught me a Misty Mawn technique. I found this interesting even though I'm not 100% happy with the outcome which means I'll just have to keep practicing (hahahaha). Here is my first effort ...

Princess Moo taught me how to create a background (above) using paints and Windex ... now that was fun. Lastly I had a try at using beeswax ... smells wonderful and I like the translucent quality it gives the images. These two ATC's are called "Be Original" and "Visitors Permit".

And finally the ATC below is called "Lizzie Loves to Bowl" and was created for a Postage Stamp People swap. Her legs slide back up inside the ATC. I had a lot of fun making her. Princess Ruby enjoyed making her dance.

Now I think I need another holiday

Colour My World

The yahoo group ArtTechniquesATCs is holding a monthly colour swap. I participated in the blue swap and should be receiving my trades soonish. Since then there has been a red and a yellow swap. I have made cards based on these colours but have not officially joined in the swaps. For each I have tried to only use the colour specified - which isn't always easy!

Broken Hearted was created for the red theme (obviously) and uses the nail polish technique to create the heart.

I think of yellow as being a very happy colour and thus Happiness in Bloom was created for this theme.

Lazy Long Weekend

Another lazy Sunday update. The Princess graded to her orange belt in Karate this morning so I'm making my next elephant ATC with orange in it to celebrate. Very proud of her we are. Received 2 more sets of elephant ATC's this week - one from Finland and one from Northern Ireland. Love both sets ... hosting a swap is so much fun.

I've moved out of the very messy Secret Room and taken over the kitchen table so I can create while having my foot up and still see the TV and be part of my little families hustle and bustle. Haven't really done a lot but having fun all the same.

No pictures this week.
Ciao

A pinch and a punch

First day of the month. First day of winter too. It has been an eventful few weeks here - on top of all the usual guff I have been making elephants, I sprained my ankle and we went to the Melbourne Zoo.

I don't know how I sprained my ankle but boy it hurts. The doctor tells me it will be at least a month before it feels better. I try to keep off it as much as possible but it aches at night and gets icy cold deep inside. aaarrrgghhhh

The Melbourne Zoo is a wonderful place and they are constantly upgrading the exhibits - such an amazing wonderland for two young princesses and their not so young escorts. I had a great time finding inspiration for my Elephant ATC's.

I'm hosting an Elephant ATC swap for the yahoo group artisttradingcards and am excited to say that there are 18 players made up of peple from Australia, the UK, the USA and Finland. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Below are some of the ATC's I have made for this swap:

Dust Storm; Ruby; Lucky; Lasting Love; Family Tree and Elephant Dancing @41