A Collection of Thoughts

Gallery Projects

I don't usually show my gallery work here other than in the album on the side but this month I have a couple of projects that I particularly want to share with you so will do a behind the scenes of a few things over the next couple of days.

This Faery Book Project idea came to me at 1.30am on Sunday morning.( the day the gallery was to be loaded )

I could not get it out of my head so sat up late editing the photos and printing ready to put it together first thing in the morning.

The rest of the designers give me grief each month as I am very well planned when it comes to project work- I sketch ideas and number or the papers and write myself notes- the best laid plans though..

I used the Darkroom Door  Accordion album - Love these tins -  5 x 7 in size so perfect for 6x 4  photos and a little embellishing - 10 pages in all.

A few weeks back we went to the park - complete with faery wings and pink fuzzy hats. The Faery photos weren't fabulous - lots of two faeries running away and plenty of look at me Mumma take a photo of me - cheesy grins tummys stuck out in an attempt at Next Top Model poses..

But I loved the pretty wings and the girls are so enamored of faeries - I'm holding on to this magic age as hard as I can. So using photoshop elements ( no tricky actions here LOL) You can click to get a closer look at these screenshots.

 
I desaturated the images - just until I liked the look ( sorry photography gurus )

I cropped the photos in tight leaving background for quotes where possible

added a vignette.

Then just using the type tool I added quotes over each photos. I googled fairy quotes and come up with plenty!

Fonts - Arial Narrow 100pt and P22Cezanne 140pt

Some quotes

Once upon a time, I thought faeries      lived only in books, old folktales, and the  past. That      was before they burst upon my life as vibrant, luminous beings, permeating my art and my everyday existence, causing glorious      havoc. ~Brian Froud

Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would                       ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains                       like a flame ~William Butler Yeats

If a child is to keep alive her inborn sense of wonder without any such gift from the       faeries, she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share       it, rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the       world we line in ~ Rachel Carson

 

Using just three sheets of patterned papers I cut into strips and lined the accordian album using the same formula over and over- added my photos -  Lined the tin front and back and added a photo. Each page is inked with Tim Holtz - Burlap. You can see more in the gallery

I love this project so much  - I have the photos saved I might just make some for gifts for family this year.

Digital Downloaders

Just a quick note to let you know if you have downloaded our digital files this month ( before 12.00pm on  Monday 9th .. Pop back to the site because I forgot to load a file - our Butterfly quote- can't miss out on that one!

Sorry for the inconvenience!  It's there for you now.

Inspire Journal

This month I decided to make a special Journal for my Featured Product item-
because I love the fresh colours of teal and green and I love those blossums but mostly because I have been wanting to make the ideas from the Inspire  Mag that comes online every month

The link is here ...

Each mag has a creativity journal idea which usually includes a download and then instructions on how to complete the task - with  a few bits - They are always quite quirky and different from anything I usually do and I want to play!

So I made this journal specifically for this in the hope it would get me doing...
and now blogging about it will keep me on track for sure! LOL

Here are some close ups..

Products Used -  Blank Journal, MME Patterned Papers,  Heidi Swapp Blossums, American Craft Velvet Thickers, Kaiser Craft Rhinestones, Pearls and Wooden Swirls, Stamps Darkroom Door (June inklination )

Friday Night Crafting

So I have to say I'm thankful for the end of the week it has been a bit trying I'm so keen to get back to routine but my head is saying its not ready.

Anyhow  orders are up to date and gone DT boxes are winging their way to the designers over the weekend and the house has returned to its normal status quo with May having left.

So tonight I am crafting and DVD watching - I have - Elizabeth, Cheating Fate and Atonement

The girls have informed me they are having a sleepover complete with sleeping bags marshmallows their little DVDS, (portable DVD screens) One dolly and two teddies - Suits me fine all I have to do is get the marshmallows (which I did!) and help them decide which room they want the sleepover in - this is one good thing about twins!

I have this bubbling in the crockpot... ( this is at 3 hrs to go stage)

I saw this on Jennifer Stewart's blog the other day and thought thats what I haven't done in ages - is a roast AND veges in the crockpot - I tend to do lamb and chicken alot and only occasionally throw the veges in too- when I first did it I thought no way cant work but it does and its yum. So this will be a nice change. Smells divine.

You should really go read her recipe she does it way better than me but for what its worth here is my version

Crock Pot Roast and Vegetables

1 Beef roast
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
1 onion, diced
1 bay leaf
Worcestershire sauce
3 stalks celery chopped
Red wine
1 can cream of mushroom (campbells)
½ can water

Throw it all in the crockpot put everything down the bottom and mix it around a bit - then add the meat on top -

and with 3 hrs before we want to eat I also put in  small potatoes  pumpkin and carrots- they fit around the edges

And on the stove top I do green beans. The girls love them - not - but I still do them.

and I also have this rice and apple pudding in the oven

Now to find the top of my desk and I am all set.

Enjoy your night

Tamar