More chunky pages

Nothing much to say. I'll just post some work done for trades and some pages I kept for myself:-) These pages have titles. I am experimenting on titles.

These two pages are made for a 1-1 swap.

                                           Wink

                                           Thinking...

The pages that I made to keep. I love how these five pages turned out. It is amazing how each creation turns out different with the beautiful colours.

                                           I´m not sure ...

                                           African woman

                                             Wink

25th December projects

Spending precious time with my daughters and we have lots of laughs. I enjoy this first Christmas day. The peking duck is in the oven, and there is still greens to cook. In the meanwhile I finished a canvas painting I made for my daughter, Michelle. I started this painting two months ago and I did not want to end this year without finishing it. The painting was nearly finished and there were just some little things to do, such as painting the shirt, the guitar and the finishing touch. Relief, that is how I feel right now!

I also made two birthday postcards for two ladies who will have their birthday in January. The cards are a mixed media product and are made with matt acrylic paints, modelling paste, markers, ink, rubber and acrylic stamps. I always make my postcards sturdy enough. One pc has one gem in the middle of the flower and the other pc has three gems. The back of my postcards is pretty much as a normal postcard with or without lines to write. These pc will be sent naked.

Merry Christmas

We all have our wishes. Wishes we would like to come true. It is known that most people have the same wish. The one wish only we, as human, can make real. This one, shared and biggest wish is the wish for peace. Peace is something we as human make by loving, caring, sharing, giving. So my wish for everyone is peace. Peace in whatever you do, peace to each other. Share your love every day and let us have peace.

Merry Christmas everyone, merry Christmas ....

Handmade cards I created lately

I have been art journaling quite a lot, but I also made some handmade (post) cards. I made a post card which I like so much that I decided to keep it and create another one for my swap partner, lol, I can't keep doing this! But I also liked the second post card a lot. But .... I had to sent it. My swap partner likes the card a lot. So we're both satisfied, lol.

We had to make an altered page postcard. In fact, an easy project, but I did not want to just glue a page on a  piece of cardstock, slap some paint or sticker on it. The page I used is from a very, very old German book. The butterfly is distressed with distress inks and then layered with UTEE embossing powder. It has quite some layers of UTEE on it!. The image is a kennyk digital stamp.

Another handmade card which I drew and is painted with acrylic paint. I sent this pc to my swap partner who lives in the USA. I love how she looks. I think she has a friendly and soft look on her face. What do you think?

Living and keeping a blog ....

Life is beautiful! And sometimes life wants to rule human. But we humans have to withstand, don't we? So here I am again, after some busy days and much more busy days to come. I enjoyed those days, each with its own difficulties. Those difficult moments are hard to imagine, but I embrace them every time I survive. With a smile and new experiences I continue living my life:-)

I joined a second Round Robin at milliande.ning.com. This RR is already making its big world tour. From The Netherlands to the United Kingdom to the United States of America (muliple times and multiple times) and to Australia. Can you imagine? Of course I like to share some pictures with you. Any questions about techniques and other questions are welcome. I will be a pleasure to answer (if possible) and it will be a pleasure to talk to you. We have a wonderful blog, where you can read about the journeys of the 16 art journals in this Round Robin and also read the messages of the 16 artist. Each of these artist are wonderful, supportive and lovely ladies. Just click the links and you'll find out more!

The cover

My art journal has a double cover. The picture, above, is the extended backcover. So the pic here under is in fact the front cover. As you see in the picture above, the front cover is covered by the backcover. Did I explained it clear enough?

The first page >> welcome word

The second page >> for the artists to enter their name, brief message or whatever they feel to express.
We are a group of 16 artist (yes, yes, was 17, but life showed us that 16 artist can be marvelous!). So there are labels for each artist to express themselves on this pages. I love to read what each artist expressed after my RR is back in my possession.

Third page

My fourth entry in this art journal.

The fifth page
An invitation to the artist to express themselves once again. This pages gives the artist more space to express themselves in messages or whatever they feel like.

The last page in my art journal saying it was a long journey, but smiling when thinking of the next journey to come. Life is beautiful, isn't it?

The inside of my back cover. So this is the inside of the extended backcover (see picture 1 a.k.a. the cover). When closed you'll see the cover (picture 1).

This post was also a journey. I enjoyed it! Now it is time to go to work. As all of you, I have a long day ahead. I will be back today with one or two post. There is so much to show you; projects I have worked on.
So see you later ♥

Living and keeping a blog ....

Life is beautiful! And sometimes life wants to rule human. But we humans have to withstand, don't we? So here I am again, after some busy days and much more busy days to come. I enjoyed those days, each with its own difficulties. Those difficult moments are hard to imagine, but I embrace them every time I survive. With a smile and new experiences I continue living my life:-)

I joined a second Round Robin at milliande.ning.com. This RR is already making its big world tour. From The Netherlands to the United Kingdom to the United States of America (muliple times and multiple times) and to Australia. Can you imagine? Of course I like to share some pictures with you. Any questions about techniques and other questions are welcome. I will be a pleasure to answer (if possible) and it will be a pleasure to talk to you. We have a wonderful blog, where you can read about the journeys of the 16 art journals in this Round Robin and also read the messages of the 16 artist. Each of these artist are wonderful, supportive and lovely ladies. Just click the links and you'll find out more!

The cover

My art journal has a double cover. The picture, above, is the extended backcover. So the pic here under is in fact the front cover. As you see in the picture above, the front cover is covered by the backcover. Did I explained it clear enough?

The first page >> welcome word

The second page >> for the artists to enter their name, brief message or whatever they feel to express.
We are a group of 16 artist (yes, yes, was 17, but life showed us that 16 artist can be marvelous!). So there are labels for each artist to express themselves on this pages. I love to read what each artist expressed after my RR is back in my possession.

Third page

My fourth entry in this art journal.

The fifth page
An invitation to the artist to express themselves once again. This pages gives the artist more space to express themselves in messages or whatever they feel like.

The last page in my art journal saying it was a long journey, but smiling when thinking of the next journey to come. Life is beautiful, isn't it?

The inside of my back cover. So this is the inside of the extended backcover (see picture 1 a.k.a. the cover). When closed you'll see the cover (picture 1).

This post was also a journey. I enjoyed it! Now it is time to go to work. As all of you, I have a long day ahead. I will be back today with one or two post. There is so much to show you; projects I have worked on.
So see you later ♥

Chunky pages

Another craft project I did for the first time: make chunky pages. I joined a swap on atcsforall. So we have to make chunky pages and there are themes for these pages. I joined two swaps: "Bright and colorful zetti chunky pages" and "Owl chunky page swap". These are small pages of 4x4 inches and some kind of embellishment, the chunky, can be added in the right corner above or anywhere at the bottom of the page. These pages will be bounded to a book, so a half inch margin from the left must be left free. I will join some swaps to collect some pages and bundle them in a chunky book. These pages are a real challenge, what I love and it is a lot of fun to make them.

Theme: Bright and colorful zetti chunky pages swap

Theme: Owl chunk page swap

My first chunky pages ever made. I like them so much, that I decided to keep them.
So these pages are my own contribution to my chunky book.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

La Calavera Catrina postcard swap 2

These Catrina postcards will be mailed on Monday. I made two postcards for the swap. These are beautiful postcards too and I nearly wanted to keep them again. But say, I can't go on making postcards for one swap and end up liking them so much. Today was such a sunny day and I enjoyed it very much. Not much happened today and I have not much to say. Oh, this morning I received my package with my atyou Spica gelpens, rubber stamps sayings from Viva Las Vegas rubber stamps (grab bag), some natural beeswax and a sheet Patterned Bugs of Inkadinkado clear stamps. All purchased at Viva Las Vegas. I am so happy with my new toys. What I am going to do with the beeswax? Keep on visiting and I'll keep you updated:-) I tried all the rubber stamps and I used the clear stamps on the Catrina postcards. Yay .....

La Calavera Catrina postcard swap

Let me start by saying that this is a whole new theme for me. Postcards are cards I already make, but the Day of the Death is something I only once heard of. Catrina is the feminine word for elegant and calavera means skull. These translations with the help of google. The theme is used to celebrate the Day of the Dead (Día del los muertos) The skull or face is decorated as elegant as possible. Taste differs, so that is not a point of discussion. I joined a swap for two or three postcards, but I will enter with two. No embellishment is allowed. One postcard is finished, but one problem occurs. My first calavera catrina is so beautiful, that I decided to keep it. It is still a doubt, but if I decide to keep it ..... I will have to make another one. Point is that now I am that crafty I try some projects in swaps. These projects come out so beautiful and then I have to send it away for a swap partner. I am talking about projects I do for the first time. In an older post I mentioned my first canvas painting I made for a swap, yes I did make another one for myself, but still I love the first painting. Nothing to cry about, but tell me: am I right?

Time for a picture of my "La Calavera Catrina postcard":

The second postcard is not finished yet. When finished it I will post a picture. I will also make a pic of the back of my postcard to give you an idea of how I send my handmade postcards:) I would like to know what you think of my postcard. Have a nice sunday:-)

Round Robin art journal

Yesterday was Saturday and the second Round Robin arrived all the way from Australia. Each of the Round Robins are from different swaps. I will not put the pictures here, but I could tell you they are full of inspiration; so creative of my partners. I am the first partner to journal in their RR... so it will be a month of art journaling. There is always a first time they say and aiaiai, I go for it! I will try to give you some sneek peeks, but as the RR have to go round and my website may be read by partners it will be better to keep things as a surprised. There are 7 partners in this swap and everyone has a month to do the pages. The RR swap of dolldreams.ning.com will go on for at least 8-10 months. Let us say a year as one can be delayed.

The second RR I participate in is the 17 Artist, 17 Journals, 17 Months Round Robin at milliande.ning.com. This one will last for at least 17 months. Every artist keeps a journal for a month, so with a little math I expect my RR to return in the year 2013. So, I will not see it for more than a year, since I have to mail it before the 1st of Novembre 2011!

Another mixed media painting on canvas

Art is a way of expression. A way one can create and put his thoughts, feelings and emotions in his work. Hahaha, that goes for the hers too, you know! I had a terrible week and I had no need to pick up anything to create a piece. A friend of my daughter is giving her birthday party and my daughter asked me what present she could give. Creative as I am I gave her some ideas and one of these ideas was that I could make her a canvas painting. Imagine her being very glad and surprised. Okay, yesterday I started AND the party was yesterday at night. You feel it coming! No haste, but my first drawing disappeared with the wind, I guess .... It was on the floor of my balcony and thoughtless of me, I did not put something of weight on it. It flew away (I think it did, since there was a strong wind) and it was no where to find. I even got on my bicycle and made some rounds around here to see if it was somewhere on the streets. So, not motivated I wondered if I should start all over again. No, I would not. But I did not want to disappoint my daughter and between us, I wanted to get my fingers dirty:) Here some pics of the mixed media painting, which the receiver loves very much.

This is the final piece. Her dress is cut out of patterned paper. I sprayed some home made glimmermist on her hair, which you can not see on the picture.

And though I had no feelings of being creative, it felt good. My odd thoughts were taken away and I felt happy with who I am at the moment and of course I felt good because I loved how my painting came out. Love it!

Round Robin art journal

It was a nice and sunny weekend. A lot of things to do, but I enjoyed those days. It is the first time I tried to make a book. It started with swaps. One at dolldreams.ning.com/ and one at milliande.ning.com/. There are seven participants and everyone has one month to journal. So this book may be travelling for seven to eight months. The dolldreams Round Robin had to be sent no later than the 12th of octobre. Sadly enough I could not mail the art journal before or on the 12th of this month. It was on Saturday (yesterday) that I was able to mail my Round Robin art journal. The front page, the first page and the last page is decorated. Very satisfied and so curious on all the arts, journal and techniques I'll see when I got my art journal back.

The second Round Robin did not start yet and this art journal is waiting to be sewn and decorated. It is called 17 Artists, 17 journals, 17 Months Round Robin. Everyone had to pick a theme for their art journal. So this Round Robin divers from the one I mentioned above. There is some speed needed on this art journal, because we have to mail them on the 1st of novembre. Speedy, speedy .... Here some pictures of the Round Robin made for the dolldreams swap. Picture of the second handmade art journal will be here:-)

These are not the best pictures, but gives you a good peek on the Round Robin art journal (handmade).

This is the front.

This is also a piece of the front, but it is hidden under the one above. and the flap you see is the inside of the front cover. There is a pocket for goodies incorporated. The round sign has the words thank you inside.

This is the inside of the front cover and the first page of my Round Robin art journal. Under the dolls legs you see a pocket. In this pocket I included some handmade cards I have received from swaps. These are presents for the participants.

The last page in the art journal.

The inside of the back cover and you see a piece of the side in the back.

At the spine of the art journal I wrote; you can see what I wrote, hahaha.

Are you ready for a new workweek? Enjoy it and make the best of it!!! Ciao...

Short post ...

It is late, but I just wanted to post this image. A postcard, drawn and colored with black acrylics. It is black and white and the cardstock is cardstock you find in boxes of boots. This dreamy lady is on her way to Australia. She has a long, long way to travel.

Art journal pages

A quick post. These are art journal pages to send out. They are heading for the USA. A lot of my swaps are going to the USA. but this is a swap I joined at milliande.ning.com. If you are a woman, feel free to join us and explore your artistic talents. So here are my second attempts to make art journal pages for some I personally don't know, but who I will reach through my art pages. Have a splendid day!

Theme: A moment in time

Theme: Mythical Gods &/or Goddesses