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.

Jo's New Tag Book

Well here is my 2nd attempt for Jo's art doll chipboard tag book. If you read post http://paperjourney.blogspot.com/2009/08/pictures-found-joannes-tag-book.html

you will hear the saga of the missing first book and see my 1st attempt.

Anyway I am much, much happier with the 2nd one. Thanks to JVO for the inspiration from her display at the ACTSA Canberra Stamp Camp.

The first 2 photos are close ups of each page and the bottom 2 photos are the entire pages.

Enjoy your new book Jo. I'm glad I could be part of you receiving some actual art work for all your efforts in everyone else's books and especially in mine

Collections Tiles for Jo

Surprise Jo!

Gail organised this wonderful surprise for our friend, Jo's 50th Birthday. A group of us made collection tiles. Then Gail put the huge canvas together with individual tiles. Here are my tiles and the final canvas. Doesn't it look fantastic!

Collections Shadow Boxes

I loved making these boxes at the ACTSA Canberra Stamp Camp with Julie Van Oosten. I had to throw a few little extra embellishments on them, but we basically all made the same. They will be displayed on a book holder or similar once I can find the right one. For someone that has been stamping for 12 years, I don't have much finished art of my own. That's the beauty of this craft - sending off your agonised over pieces to a perfect stranger or internet friend.

Collections Journal - inside pages

Here are some of the pages from inside the journal book.

Collections Journal Book Project

Here is another great project we did last week at the ACTSA Stamp Camp. Thanks Julie, I really enjoyed this one and have made a few books/journals before off my own bat. You have now given me new skills to make more books in the future. Loved the chipboard - it's got to be one of my favourite products. These photos are off the front cover and the tiles.

ACTSA Canberra Stamp Camp

I had the most wonderful relaxing time last weekend in Canberra. It wasn't even cold. Thanks so much to my very special friends Grace, Michelle and Cheryll for inviting me to attend, for organising me and putting me up (or is that putting up with me?). I also want to thank the lovely Helen Brown for rooming with us at camp. You are such a wonderful person and it was great to get to know you a little bit. Thanks to my buddy Dianne, Lorelle and Lorraine for making me feel welcome at your table at camp.

To all the other friends that visited and took time out to catch up with me, thankyou. I value your friendship Kaeren, Bron and Raewyn. It was also great to catch up with Jacki, Raewyn's family, Lana Murray, Lorraine Fletcher and so many others and to get to know Nola.

Thank you to the ACTSA Committee for such a well organised and inspiring weekend. Last but certainly not least thank you to the wonderful Julie Van Oosten. You have encouraged me to create once again. Your down to earth attitude, your generosity and creativity is truly inspiring.

The class kits that you organised were right up my alley and allowed be to really enjoy just creating. In this post are the three cards we created.