Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Friday, May 25, 2007

GPP Street Team - Crusade No. 8 - Cheap Tricks

The theme on Michelle Wards GPP Street Team is Cheap Tricks. This is my first time entering, so not really 100% sure what I should be writing about, but here goes anyway.

My first cheap trick is to pick up FREE oriental newspapers that are normally sitting outside (well here in Perth anyway) Oriental grocery stores. I love them and use them all the time as backgrounds. You can paint over them, stamp directly on to them, they just give the 'best' funky look.

Here is an example of something I've made using an oriental newspaper -



Next one is to keep the elastic that often comes when you purchase a new pair of shoes (often sneakers). It's that thin white stretchy elastic, that can also be coloured. I have used permanent marker and stazon to colour. This tip I was actually given by a fellow blooger friend France Chevalier, so I can't take all the credit for this clever cheap trick.

Here is something I've made using the elastic, coloured in black with permanent texta -



Back to newspapers, I also use the free local newspapers as backgrounds. Telphone books are another resource for great backgrounds, but I'm pretty sure most artists would know about these 'cheap tricks'.

Op shops again as most would know, are another great resource for cheap goodies for art.

Husbands sheds (LOL) have lots of cheap goodies hiding in there (bits of wire, nuts, bolts, tape and anything else he doesn't know of or didn't know he had!!)

And last but not least, rusty old bottle caps that are often left lying around (ie in car parks etc) and are beautifully flattened and rusted already.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers
Natalie Briney

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Wednesday Stamper - Games



This weeks theme for Wednesday Stamper is Games. The above card is my interpretation of that theme. The little girl is standing in front of a hoola hoop that is leaning against a wall. I know it's very hard to see that in my stamped image, but I kind of liked the way the OI stamp, came out a little dark. By her feet are some kittens and a toy elephant. Very cute image and it's the first time I've used it.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Fat Book Page - Nudes



The next theme for the ABC group's fat book pages is Nudes. So here is the front above and the back below


I've been tagged......

by Miss Dawn P..... As part of the tag we have to share a pic of our craft desk/space. Many would probably not believe, that I actually did a bit of a tidy up last night before I went to bed, as I wanted to lay out the current fat book pages I'm working on to dry, without them getting all squished/ruined. So this is a 'clean' version of my desk. Normally it's covered in bits of paper, glue, pens, just general rubbish.... but oh so important rubbish!!

So here it is -




Now I think I have to tag 4 other people, so join in the fun Jaimie, Dotee, Kelsey and last but not least France. Looking forward to seeing your creative spaces.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

More Soccer Photo's to Share



Here's my 4 yr old boy, looking very professional before his game today. But have to admit, he's more interested in talking to his mates and pretending to be Ninja Turtle, than the game. *big giggle* but gosh they are cute at this age!!




Emma was goalie today and did a fantastic job. Shame but they only had 4 players on their team today, so it was quite tiring for the team who weren't able to come off at any time during the game. They did really well, but lost to the other team.

So that's been our Sunday so far. John and I play this arvo, although I have a cold, so I dont know if I'll end up playing. We're becoming a weenie, teenie, bit addicted to Soccer!! Watched the FA cup last night with a group of friends and it was so much fun. Lots of shouting at the tv going on, but Manchester United (who we were barricking for, simply because that's my hubby's grandfathers team) lost.

Have a great weekend all.

Friday, May 18, 2007

Wednesday Stamper - Fleur De Lis




This weeks theme at Wednesday Stamper is Fleur De Lis. I have only a couple of FDL stamps, so for this canvas I used a GPP large FDL. Other stamps used are 2 lots of Hero arts stamps.

Ok so while making this I was having a stern talking to myself about my use of wings/crowns/butterflies/houses in just about everything I do lately. I started making this on Wednesday night and it took me two days of trying 'not' to use these things and finally I gave up last night and went with what I love using and haven't quite got 'out of my system' yet (if ever). So this is the end result, maybe a little bit busy for me, but I do like using the red and orange paint combination, which I haven't done before.

It's also great to see so many new people joining WS, so much eye candy to view each week. Normally they get up to 80 odd entries per week, which just blows me away. LOVE participating in these challenges whenever I can.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Wednesday Stamper - Turquoise



This weeks theme for Wednesday Stamper is the colour Turquoise. I dont actually have that colour paint, so I mixed Aqua with some dark green. Hopefully I got the mix pretty close to Turquoise, although there are lots of varied depths to this colour. It will be interesting to see the different work that comes from this colour. What I've seen already on WS, is stunning!!

There is some stamping (in white so very faint) on the arch background and I made this is a card for a friend.

Monday, May 07, 2007

An Amazing Gift that took my breath away!



I wish that I was more poetic with my writing, as I feel as if words fail me so often, especially when describing something beautiful. Today is one of those days. I received this absolutely amazing gift from my friend Julie Hetherington and feel at a loss to describe it's beauty. The love Julie has put into making this is obvious from the picture, but in the 'flesh' it is so intricately put together and all my favourite elements are included, it is just beautiful. And like I say, I wish I could describe it more poetically (sorry Julie) but believe me when I say, that this piece of amazing jewellery, has just blown me away!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Please visit Julie's blog if you haven't before, as her work is outstanding and so varied and I must admit that I wish I was able to turn my hand to as many art forms as Julie is able to. THANK YOU so much Julie for thinking of me and sending me this wonderful gift because you knew I was sad about not being able to go to camp. :-) Big hugs to you..... Natxx

Saturday, May 05, 2007

First Game of Soccer - Warning Proud Soccer Mum



Soccer is very big up here in Tom Price and my kids both decided they wanted to jump on board that wagon. Their first training was last week and their first 'official' game was today. Unfort I didn't get a pic of Luc in his uniform as we forgot to take camera this morning and we gave back his shirt to his coach. So next week I'll take a photo and put it up here.

Emma for some reason was able to take her uniform home, so we took this photo just now when we got home. My girl kicked the only 2 goals for her team today!! Whopeeeeeeee, proud soccer MUM here...

Have a great sunday.

Nat

Friday, May 04, 2007

It's a Zetti Kind of Egypt



This is my entry for this weeks Wednesday Stamper
theme - Egypt. I went for a Zetti kind of look. Bit crazy, but I dont have many Egyptian images. It's a bit hard to see in the background, but I did an image transfer with some hieroglyphics.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and creative weekend.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Beautiful Canvas from Debbi Baker



This stunning piece of art is from the very talented Debbi Baker. Debbi does the most amazing work and is featured in US publications regularly and is on the Oxford Impressions Design Team. Her work blows me away (and always has) and I have been a big fan for a long time (since I first started stamping 2 and a bit years ago). Recently she started a blog and I was over the moon, as now I can drool over her work more regularly.

I love love love beeswax (although dont play with it often enough) and Debbi has coated the top of this lovely collage with it. Love the smell, love the texture, just love it all Deb!! Thanks so much.

Recent Entry into a Puzzle Piece Comp


Now that the winners have been announced (check this blog out to see the fabulous entries that won!!), I'll post up my entry. It's a pretty simple design, but I must admit that I did it up and posted it off before finding out all the rules. After I'd posted it, I found out you could actually have gone over the puzzle piece, so I probably would have embellished it a bit more, if I'd not been in such a rush to get it off!! Anyway will teach me to be so impatient.

Are the winners just stunning!!

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Using up the last of my hand made flourish background


Wanted to use up the last of the background paper I'd made for a previous card (Wed Stamper - Frame). I have stamped 2 different flourish's randomly onto brown card stock and then used my new PB Studio stamp which has such a lovely saying on it - " May you love.... all the days of your life...."

Hope everyone is enjoying their week.