Huh?

Goodbye 2011 and Good Riddance!

I will be more than happy to see the end of 2011 and I know I'm not alone on this one!

What a chaotic year it has been for so many!

I wanted to make a bit of positive affirmation for all of us as we say farewell to 2011, so I've made this.

Its on of my favourite sayings and I know alot of us struggle with it.

We constantly battle again self doubt and give too much credit to those negative voices that live within us.

Let's try to let them go with the ending of this year.

Let's embrace those parts of us that we know are meant to shine and follow a future filled with discovery and acceptance of self.

Goodbye 2011!

You tried your best, but we made it.

Up yours!!

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours!!!

May your days be merry and bright!

 

A Handmade Christmas gift

Shhhh....don't tell my sister-in-law, but I've made her this for Christmas!

She's is an amazing woman and I adore her

She "gets" art

I've put some of my dad's old flying maps inside as well as some of my mother's old music sheets and some pages to journal on, so its got part of me in there too...but she'll see that anyway. 

I know she'll love it.

And I know she needs it at the moment.

Also, one of my 9yo's sat down and made on at the same time. 

ALL done by him!!!  Every single piece!!!

He is going to be an amazing artist one day!!!

Well, its Christmas Eve here now and we've got a busy day baking and getting the house ready for Santa's visit! 

 

Mixed Media Portrait

Its nice to be playing with art again I must say.

This is one I did the other day - its only 8" x 8" but that's the only canvas I had here so its better than nothing!

Titled "NO MORE", it is meant to be a woman who has just had enough, who has found her strength and just refuses to play the game any more. Sure of who she is, she will not be pushed around by others.  She is determined.

As usual, layers of "personal" stuff underneath.

Hope you like her!

 

Creating things

Our home has been a hive of activity (as are most homes this time of the year!).

School holidays are in full swing and keeping the boys busy (without sitting in front of a screen of some sort!) means we're doing a lot of walking, playing tennis, baking and art making.

I'm exhausted LOL!!!

Jonah's been helping with the Christmas baking...

and I've made this to put in with my niece's Christmas pressie (just for her to hang on her door)

and the other side...

I've also picked up a paint brush - not entirely happy with her, but I'll show you anyway..

and the obligatory close-up

Busy day today taking #1 son Christmas shopping. 

I think, maybe, cutting a limb off with a rusty spoon would be more pleasurable....

Wish me luck!

Last minute Christmas Cards - TUTORIAL

OK.  So I know I'm the Queen of Last Minute.

Just as while I like shabby/grungy looking art eh?!?

I stumbled across some paper bags the other day and was determined to make some cards out of them!

Here's what I come up with

Again, I've used the Darkroom Door Dear Santa Photochips.

See the full tutorial on the Darkroom Door blog right here!

Have a go at them - I'd love to see what you come up with!

 

Easy Christmas Tags

These, you can whip up in a minute - and you don't even need glue! 

Oh, well maybe just a wee bit - forgot about the buttons **snicker**

I'm very into pink and silver for Christmas this year!

They work beautifully with the Darkroom Door Dear Santa Photo Montages!!  Love 'em!

I'm lashing out tomorrow and will give you a little tutorial on making last minute Christmas Cards - they are super quick, super cheap and look super cool!!!

Hope you're enjoying (?!?!?!) the Silly Season so far.....

I Believe in Christmas

(because if I don't apparently Santa doesn't come!)

Playing with some more Darkroom Door Dear Santa photo montages.  Dang, I love these things!

A little image transfer on some vintage book pages (I love to see the text come through), a little hand-dyed muslin, some vintage buttons, some sparkly tinsel and some silk ribbon.

These make lovely gifts and are pretty easy to make!

Here's some of the detail!

 

Been doing a fair bit of crafting the last week with school holidays on! 

Nice to be working with paper again!

 

Christmas thingy!!!

In the spirit here the other day and made this using the gorgeous Darkroom Door Dear Santa Montage and Wordstrips.

Festive huh?

You can see the whole thing here!!

More soon!

 

Art Journalling

Wow!  She blogs!

No particular reason why the long haitus for me, just haven't felt like blogging of late.

I have been doing a little creating.

Mainly art journalling just for me.

Here's this morning's page.

Nothing flash.

But this was on my table while having my morning coffee and begged to be picked up.

So what's a girl to do, but this....

What I love most about art journalling is that is DOESN'T HAVE TO BE GOOD!!! 

Oh, and these were out this morning!

These ARE perfect!!

Hope you're all starting to get into the Christmas spirit!  In full swing here!!  Can't wait!!

Back with more soon!