Collections Shappy Chic Eye Candy

I am running a monthly ATC Swap on one of the groups I am in.  The next theme is "Collections" Shabby Chic.  A good friend asked me the definition of the theme and I thought the best way was to put up some photos taken at 2009 ACTSA Stamp Camp in Canberra.  The amazing work belongs to Julie from Collections and is part of her display.

To me, Shabby Chic means fabric, lace, buttons, soft blues, soft pinks, soft browns, ivory, cream and feminine.

Textured Mini Canvas

This is a little 4' x 4' flat canvas for another recent swap.  The swap theme was texture.  I have used impasto and lace together underneath, then gessoed both.  I then layered some ochre coloured paints to help give depth in colour.  The main image is from a serviette with lots of doors glued on with modge podge and worked into the texture.  I love the colours, the rustic Tuscany look of these.  I then angel mist sprayed to re-wet and make sure the serviettes contoured to the texture.   I then stamped the sentiment on a scrap part of the serviettes.  This was then mounted on a bit of rectangle chipboard.  Both the canvas and sentiment edges were then sanded and inked with Tim Holtz Distress Ink Frayed Burlap.  A painted "Collections" bracket, a photo turn and high mounting the sentiment and it's done.

3 Days is a Row!!!

This is another sample from a swap I ran recently.  The theme was Tim Holtz inspired tags.   Some of you will know his blog and his 12 Days of Christmas Tags he has run for the last few years.

 If you do not know who Tim Holtz is you must follow this link.  Make sure you do look at the Christmas Tags, down the left hand column is the link.

http://timholtz.typepad.com/

 In my opinion he is one of the most inspirational paper artists and creators of products around.   I was lucky enough to do some classes with him at the last SDU in Brisbane. 

New ATC's

Aren't I good - new posts 2 days in a row :)

Here are some recent ATC's I have done for some yahoo group swaps.  Top left is called "Free Spirit" and was done for the theme People of the Sea,,  I have used horse bandage and real sand on it.  Top right is called "Talking to the Raven Spirits" and was for the theme Gothic Silver and Black.  I have used air conditioning duct tape on this one.  I have 2 spare, so if you would like one please leave a comment.  Bottom left is called "Where is he?" and was for a Medieval Landscape themed swap.  I have one of these left over, so once again, leave me a comment and it can be yours.  Bottom right is called "London Gentleman".  It won't take too many guesses for the theme for this one - Vintage Male.

Ribbon

I have some beautiful grosgrain ribbon in stock in the colours shown - available in 10mm or 6mm widths.  Really nice quality.  This is what I always use now.  Both sizes are normally $1 a metre.  I also have a roll of cow print grosgrain 10mm wide.  Haven't scanned it as yet - but if you would like to see it just give me a yell.

Let's have a blog special of $0.75 per metre. Postage will be mostly $0.60 or for heaps of ribbon  it won't be any more than a large letter - $1.20

Email me at debramurray@bigpond.com as I mightn't remember to come back for comments.

Stamped Cards

Here are a few cards I have made over the last few months.   My lovely niece Maddison turned 6 earlier in the year and I had to go girly and pink - not my normal style!

The anniversary card is one of my favs.  How can you go wrong with basic grey papers, browns, stitching and the beautiful bird stamp?

The other 2 cards have been made as secret sister cards.  The theme for the first one was stitching and animals.  I have stitched the grass, hills and bush on the sewing machine.  This technique is something I would like to explore and play with some more.  The next one was using using a sketch layout.  Had to get stitching on there somewhere too!

Time for some more art

Here are some ATC's made in the last few months for a group I am. I have been running them trying to get some inspiration and swapping going. The themes in order of viewing are Christmas, Industria Technique, Fave Colour, Floral and Around the World. Please ask questions if you want to know what I used in making a particular one.

Remote Village Tree House, Vanuatu

And finally, last post for today. Here is the treehouse we actually slept in, in a remote village 2 hours from real civilisation on Tanna Island

Mt Yassur Volcano, Tanna Island, Vanuatu

What a once in a lifetime experience, to climb a real live active volcano.

Vanuatu Sunsets

Now if you have seen my previous photos, you know I like a good sunset!

People of Vanuatu

The people of Vanuatu are so friendly, warm and welcoming.

Beautiful Vanuatu

These photos are all taken around Port Vila. The first one is off the back lagoon and Erakor Island. The colours of the lagoons changed daily and just blew me away. The 2nd one is on Hideaway Island, a short 10 mins outside Port Vila. The 3rd one is of Irikiki Resort across the main harbour/lagoon from Port Vila esplanade.

TARSBC

And here are a couple of things I have done for TARSBC. TARSBC - The Advanced Rubber Stamp Book Club has members who make a cover and small book with 4 pages. The book then gets sent to four people in the group to contribute to the book based on the theme of the book. Hope you like them

About time for some updates, don't you think?

Here are a few cards I have made in the last couple of months all for a monthly Secret Sister Group I am in. Still not as much time as I would like for stamping and art, but you take what you can get. I did have an awesome time a couple of weeks ago at a scrapbooking retreat with my sister. We try to do it every year and it is a nice relaxing time well spent together. I will photograph some of the pages and get them up here at some time.