Mysteries of Me album completed! {picures}

I just took Liz Kartchner's
class "Mysteries of me" Fabulous class, I so enjoyed it! She took us step by step through this great project, altering a vintage book into a secret compartment to house a mini album all about yourself! Little secrets to journal about! I so loved making this and did not feel at all rushed, just did a bit each day or when I had time.

Here are my photos of my finished project!
This is the front of the little mini album that slots into the book.

A close up of all the pages together, I love my color scheme and all the ribbons showing.
Close up of the front, love the velvet floral ribbon and vintage lace.
One of the back pages that I added some bird detail, I drew the bird and leaves onto card stock and stuck in on and then went around it with pen.
I choose a picture of buttons for How do I nurture my soul, as one my reasons listed on my tag, because to me it symbolizes creating. And creating is one way I nurture my soul.
We also added felt pages in, love this idea as it really adds that extra touch of texture and warmth! Added some vintage lace and a little vintage birdie picture I found to the next tag. With some vintage sheet music I have.
I have so many quirks, its ridiculous! All my journaling was done on the back of the tags.
I also left some extra tickets and tags in for a later stage if I feel like adding more journaling.
This is the back cover, I added a piece of card stock to the back sheet music because it has a felt pattern on it, which just feel divine!
Anyway I just really wanted to share that today, will be back tomorrow with some nice pictures of my weekend, as we went away. TTFN (ta ta for now as Tigger from Pooh-bear says) {you tell I have kids?!!}

For purchases here on the blog

Just a quick note to let you know if you make any purchases between the 23-25th October, I will only get to the download links on the 26th October, will be unavailable this weekend.

Thanks!

Guinea Fowls and flowers

I took my kids to our local nature reserve. It was quite hot, but very windy. We spread a blanket under the shade of a big old oak tree and painted with water colors! It was so relaxing. We each painted guinea fowl that we saw walking around and then got some oak leaves, painted those and pressed them onto the paper.
Here is mine...hee hee, had fun doing this.
my daughters

My sonsSome guinea fowl with their chicks
You know it's spring when you see this happening everywhere!! Ha ha. My kids wanted to know what they were doing... *blush* the sounds emanating from the male were hilarious. My daughter thought it was "cute" and started coping the sounds!! I was almost in hysterics with the questions and remarks my kids were making! It was all just too much!!





So a lovely day spent outside...alas I had bad hay fever the rest of the day from all the wind and grasses!

Mysteries of Me

I am taking a online class with Liz.
It is brilliant and I am enjoying it so much! It is called Mysteries of me. basically you alter a vintage book-cut out the middle and it is your secret place for your mini album!
I wanted to share my book.



It's a beautiful day and I will be out with the kids today! Have a good day wherever you are!

The long-lost photos!

I had some photos that didn't come out on my discs when I got back from England in June this year, and finally about two weeks I got them from my friend. I wanted to share some of them because these two places where two of the best places (besides Paris!) I visited during my trip in May/June earlier this year.

The first one is Ashby Castle.










Isn't it beautiful? The other place we went to was
Coton Manor English Country Garden





I hope you enjoyed that! Don't forget that there is only 4 days left to get the ATC pre-made up pack if you want to sign up for the ATC class. If you don't want the pack, you still have until the 2 November to purchase the class.

Cupcakes and cherrys.

This past Saturday was my 11th Wedding anniversary. We celebrated in style and stayed at the Lanzerac Hotel.

We stayed over Friday night, had dinner there and breakfast the next morning and then walked around my favorite town and had some lunch before heading home.

As a surprise I got my family some cupcakes from the lovely TutaBella. Thanks Kim and Michelle, they all loved them! (yumyum!!)
This was my hubbys one....hearts and the black number 11

my one....
I had three made like this...one for each who babysat for me. (my inlaws and sister in law all helped out)
For my son...it had a checkered flag which unfortunately fell off!
my daughter's....
And I wanted to share the wall motif I hand painted on my wall...I love it....something new and different!


Don't forget about my ETSY sale...and also the ATC class sign up and registration.any questions about it, feel free to email me!

The cherry part comes now...I found this gorgeous vintage postcard while rummaging for supplies for a online class I am taking with Liz Kartchner...

Please feel free to right click and open large to save as to your pc. You are welcome to use her in any personal and commercial use work. enjoy!

Sign up for ATC online class

I am very excited to announce that I will be hosting my very own ATC (Artist trading card) online class!! I have been doing ATC's for 3 years now and have traded many, many cards. I have used a number of different techniques to create these cards.

ATC's are a wonderful way to express your creativity when you only have small amounts of time and limited resources. They are inexpensive, fun, quick and the wonderful part is that you get to trade with people from all over the world. I treasure each of my ATC's I have traded as they are each a miniature piece of artwork.

The great thing about ATC's is that there is no wrong or right way, each person creates them according to their tastes and personality and that is why they are so unique and special.

what you get in the class:
*You will receive a basic introduction to ATC's-history and explanation, sizing etc
*Techniques and methods include:
decoupage
drawing
painting
inking and stamping
wording
*Trading-an in depth look, such as how to trade, where to trade, etiquette on trading etc
*step by step projects on a ATC cards-including:
Classic Parisian ATC card
Decoupaged and hand painted card

Materials needed:
*old playing cards or card stock pieces measuring 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches (6cm x 9 cm or 64mm x 89mm)
*Glue, craft or clear glue
*scissors, ruler, craft knife, cutting mat, pencil
*Inks, chalks (whatever you have is fine)
*craft paints (whatever you have, if you don't have, go get two of your favorite colors)
*Vintage images you like (or get them from me)
*assorted pieces of paper, music sheeting, wording, (scraps are best)
*Paintbrushes (size 5, 3 and 2-(small heads) are best
*napkin podge
*various napkins you like
*Parisian images (if you don't have any vintage images, I will supply you with some)
*rubber or mounted wooden stamps (whatever you have)
*trimmings of ribbon, lace, little buttons, charms .
*free ATC backgrounds from me, ATC info sheet to paste on the back.

The online class will take place via a private blog which I will email you the address.



All you have to do is purchase the class below, make sure your email address is included.

Purchase the ATC class
$6.99

this is a self-paced, on-going available class.
Upon receipt of payment, you will receive an invitation to a private blog.