Happy New Year!!

Yawn!

Well actually it wasn't a big night for us here, as DH is away and we went to my nan's house for tea. But I found this old photo of my DD (now 7yrs) from when we were on the farm. One of her fav things was playing in the hay stacks. I think she's around 2 yrs old in this photo.

Thought it might reflect the mood of some, who managed to get out and party last night.

Anyway welcome to 2007 and after seeing lots of goal/dream lists by a lot of fellow stampers, I thought I'd do my own. Like they say, if you don't put it out there, you dont get. So here goes........................

Nat's Dream List for 2007

• to have a relatively smooth move to Tom Price
• for my kids to settle into school ok
• to have at least 5 hrs a week free time for me to play/create
• to eat healthier and feel fitter
• to give up my addiction to diet coke
• to buy less supplies and use what I have more
• once a month, reach into my stash of stamps, pull out the first thing I grab, and make something out of it
• to send out more RAK's (I think 06 would have been a sum total of about 12), so let's say I at least double that to 24 (more would be a bonus).
• to spend at least once a month, playing with canvas/paint
• to use my stamps more
• to submit more work for publication (I'm rather shy when it comes to doing stuff like this, so it's a biggy for me)
• to spend more time together as a family
• to go on a nice long holiday this year, dont care where really, just as long as we're together and preferably near water.
• to find a stamping "buddy" in Tom Price

Well I think that's it for now. Please share your list of goals/dreams whatever you want to call them. I'd love to hear yours.....

Have a wonderful start to the New Year.

Hugs

Natxx

Quiet around here

Old work re-visited, as I've just not had time to scratch myself. This background technique was shown to me by the lovely Dawn Thomas. Stamp is a Zetti one.

In preparation for the move in several weeks time, I thought I had better turn my craft room upside down and re-organise/get rid of stuff. I have to say it's turned into a larger job than I first thought. LOL

My blog is going to be quiet for a while I think, as after we move it will take me several weeks to get myself set up for my business, as well as for my craft. But hopefully by Feb, I'll be back into the swing of it again.

Wishing you all a safe and happy 07!

Boxing Day Art

Found a little time today to play with a canvas. It has been a very quiet day indoors, due to the heat. We have decided to venture outside after 6pm for a walk(hopefully it will have cooled off enough by then). Gotta walk off all the food consumed yesterday!!

This is for a non-stamping friend of ours, who we recently stayed with when in Margaret River. She says she likes my work, have sent her cards etc before, but never a canvas. So not sure how she'll take this one. Hope she likes it. A little belated Chrissy Pressie.

Hope everyone else has managed to have a relaxing day.

Merry Christmas One and All!!

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Xmas. Here in Western Australia, the maximum temperature is expected to get to 34 degrees, so it will be a warm day here. For those friends in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy your snowfilled cooler Xmas. It is hard to think of eating hot foods (Turkey etc etc) on Xmas day for us here. We normally have a cold seafood lunch, because it is just too hot to think of eating anything else.

Peace and love to one and all....

Elf yourself

http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=63d63402ac1f050485daebdG06122102

Check this out!

and this one too


http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=755ac4ef2b7390ce252ec96G06122104

THEN share if you DARE!!

A Christmas Gift from Dotee

A lovely bright gift from our dear friend Dotee! Please visit her blog, which you can see in my links to the side of this page.

Thanks so much Dot, for my sweet gift. It has lifted my spirit no end. Feeling very tired and drained today after a flight up and back to Tom Price yesterday. We also had a weekend away down south, so there's been lots of travelling.

Good news is, we've found a house that we like in Tom Price. So just waiting on confirmation back from Pilbara Iron on whether it's ours or not and the date we move. Hoping it will be early next year.

Yawn, yawn, is it bed time yet?? *sigh* no where near it...

Art Created today at Dawny's House

Today was a fabulous day spent at my very dear friend's Dawn Thomas. She currently doesn't have a blog :-( although we have tried to convince her. Carmel Trigwell was also there (see blog link on side of my page) . Our children got to play in the pool, while the mum's got to do some creating!! Dawny let me use her oil pastels, and Carmel gave me one of her canvas boards to play with. WELL I am in love with these oil pastels and also this stamp!!

Thanks Ms Prawny for sharing your home, food and your knowledge!!

Self Potrait - Wednesday Stamper

Ok this one was hard for me, as I'm not really too fussed on many of the pictures taken of me.

Hard to see from the scan what I've done here, but basically have coloured in with oil pastels and over stamped the background with a Hero Arts stamp.

Not the best at scanning in the world, especially if there's something 3d on an ATC.

Skinny Book Page

Well this page didn't really turn out how I pictured it to in my mind, but this is how my fingers wanted it to turn out. After lots of mucking around, we got there in the end. Only 14 more to go of the same page! I must admit to not being too excited about the process of making so many of one design, but then when I get the completed and finished book back, with all of the artists work in it, I'm so thankful I made the effort and I immediately forget the pain of making 15 or 20 of the same page.

I have been wanting to use this Krafty Lady mould (the key) for a long time, as there's nothing worse than having to have something and then getting it, putting in the drawer and forgetting about it!! I do that often! Only I hadn't forgotten about this key, I just wanted to find the right place for it to go on my work.

There is some stamping on the background, only it just looks a bit blurred on this photo. I have been trying to use my neglected stamps a lot more lately. The wings are Artchix Studio.

Emma's Scrapbook Page

Emma's scrapbook page, finished this morning. She only needed a little bit of assistance with the belt and buckle, but everything else she did herself. I think she did a fab job for a 7yr old. Considering I have done exactly 0 scrapbook pages and she's done I think 4 now, she's getting there.....if I had more time, I have to admit, I would like to start preserving some memories, via the old scrapbooks. Trouble is, just not enough hours in the day.

Medieval Theme

Not my best ATC in the world, but was challenged this week to make an ATC with a Medieval/Celtic theme. Yeah well, have to admit it's not a stamp that I carry in my stash, but recently I purchased a plate from Non Seq and this lady/faith stamp were on that plate. Thought it fit the theme (well as close as I could get) and wanted to play around some more with the soot stamping technique (thanks again Kelsey for showing us this tech), so combined the two.

I get carried away with the flames and like to burn a bit of extra card stock. LOL

I have overstamped the soot stamping, with Stazon black to give it that almost haunted look.

*sigh* hope the recipient likes the ATC and thinks it's some what Medieval???? She's big into calligraphy etc etc, so hmmmmmm may be I'm thinking too much on this one....

Night!

Santa's Little Helper

Here's Santa's little helper!! Ok I know he's mine, but is he cute or is he cute!!

Wednesday Stamper - Embellishment

This weeks theme is Embellishment. I have a few that I love, but at the moment, my current all time favourite, is pointy hats or crowns. Normally with a number in the middle or gems on the top. I can't help myself, I seem to pop them on top of everything at the moment.

In fact the skinny book pages that I'm currently working on, have a pointy hat on top of the image. See attached.

Hats can be made from sheet music, coloured card stock, text etc etc the list goes on. You can colour them with paint, H2O's, inks and I just love them!

A beautiful gift from a beautiful friend

Check this out! Thanks Carmel for such a wonderful gift. As you know this is my favourite of your paintings and your talent my dear blows me away.

Big hugs to you and *sob* *sob* now I know when we will be moving (our exact date), I am getting sad that i wont be able to catch up with you and the other girlies for our crazy art get togethers and drinks and chats and and and............... *sob*

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You (Johnny Depp)

Ok so this song is sung by the very scary Mariah Carey, but stick around for the eye candy during the video. Ahem I have to admit to only recently discovering what all the fuss was about with Johnny Depp. Me I loved him in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the best! So what does that say about my taste in men!! LOL

Do they know it's Christmas

Remember this song?? Some familiar faces and some that have disappeared from the "pop" scene.

Wednesday Stamper - Black & White

When I saw this week's Wednesday Stamper, I was excited. This is a colour combo I love to play with. See previous Wed Stamper Post.

Seeing as I'm a little time poor at the moment, I took the opportunity to make this birthday card for a very dear friend who turns 35 in a few days and use this colour combo. Hopefully she'll like it.

Big hugs
Natalie

Phew we made it!

Well today is the day that my 2 have their birthday. Yep 7 and 4. Yay for them. they are currently playing with their new goodies!

What a busy weekend, but we made it through without a hitch. Woke up at 6am on Sat morning (day of Emma's bday party) remembering that Emma had invited a little girl who is highly allergic to peanuts and I hadn't given a second thought to what was in the food until 6am that morning! After a talk with the mum, we sorted it out and so no children were injured during the making of jewellery! Yep Emma had a beading party with a few of her girly friends and they had a ball. They each made a bracelet, ring and necklace and could choose their own beads (within reason).

There are such great ideas for birthday parties these days or should I say, more ways to spend your money!! LOL

Luc spent the day with his best bud and respective dad's at a place called Tropical Twist. Basically for those that haven't heard of this before, it's like a great big fun park.

Anyway, better move, as taking 24 cup cakes to school to celebrate. Mentioned to DH last night (he helped me make them at 10pm at night - had visitors all day), you do realise next year it'll be 48 or more (Luc will start kindy!!).

I know it's Christmas but..............

Does anyone else think that this idea is just completely mad! Have a look here- http://www.kmart.com.au/catalogue/20061116/large.asp?Keyword=&PageNumber=3

Maybe I'm just old fashioned!

And another

Another ATC for Wednesday Stampers - Numbers Challenge.

Wednesday Stamper - Numbers

Here is my entry for the Wednesday Stampers newest Challenge. Check out the other entries here -

http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/

Mainly Collections images/stamps/papers used.

Wham - A blast from the past!

Hmmmmm, believe it or not, I had one of those shirts and I also seem to remember having a similar hair cut to Georgey boy.
Such a catchy tune really.
Hope you all enjoy this blast from the past as much as I do!

Some Goodies arrived in the mail today

What a wonderful mail day! First of all I received this great tag booklet from a bunch of gals that went to a camp in Busselton (Western Australia) which has been run by Sally Garrett for a few years now and each year up until this one, I've been able to go. So I thank the girls that took the time to make me an extra tag, and remembered me on such a fun weekend. I was feeling very sorry for myself on the weekend that they went, and had to do some on-line retail therapy to console myself.

Dont you just love these stamps on the cover! Wow Sall great cover and am dying to know who makes these stamps.

The next pic is of a slide mount swap I was in. Sally G was hosting this and turned the slides into a little booklet, which this photo just does not do it justice.

Sally is a very talented lady and at the moment has a lot of personal stuff going on in her family, so she has had to step back from art for now. But she has taken the time to do both of these things for me anddddddddddd to make me a super Chrissy Card... (see below). I love the way Sall uses her stamps to make "different" Chrissy Cards. Biggest hugs to you Sall.

My babies are growing up!

Well this time next week, we'll be celebrating not one, but 2 birthday's. Yes my 2 were born on the same day. 27/11 - *sigh* 7 and 4 yrs old. My girl is almost as tall as me and well my boy was complaining tonight again of growing pains, so although he's had a slow start, he might rapidly catch up to her. I have spent the night making their birthday cards. Involved colouring in cute images with H2o's. Gotta love those sparkly pots of paint. One of the best and most versatile things I've bought in a long time.

This picture was taken 2.5 yrs ago and I just love it. Both have such baby faces compared to now. *sigh* again.

It's a blog thing

Your Power Color Is Blue

Relationships and feelngs are the most important things to you. You are empathetic and accepting - and good at avoiding conflict. If someone close to you is in pain, it makes you hurt as well. You try to heal the ones you love with your kind and open heart.

What's" Your Power Color?

It's how many weeks?

Xmas is how many weeks away?? Where did this year go to? I'm pretty sure I say that every year, but wow this year just has ZOOMED by.

I have made some quick Chrissy cards (see left for an example - gotta love those Bazil Basics) for my family and non stamping friends. I know slack me, but I am hoping to make some more "arty-er" type cards for my stamping buddies.

I also say that I'm going to commence making my Chrissy Cards earlier in the year, to stop that last minute panic setting in. But well ahem, it's not happend yet. The best I could do this year was late Oct. Better than last years effort where I made none and my family got store bought cards....

Wednesday Stamper - Tags

I wanted to share this card made in a class with a dear friend of mine Sally Garrett. Sorry she doesn't have a blog, so can't post a link. When I looked at the new theme for Wed Stamper, I instantly thought of this card. Sally was the lady who gave me the idea to stamp on tags like this and she is an absolute inspiration! So I hope anyone from the Wed Stamper blog who reads this, will be inspired as I was. Colouring of tags done with Distress Inks (is there any other kind of ink!!LOL).

Cheers

Natalie

Skinny Book Page

So I've been working on a skinny page for a swap I'm in. Here are the 2 examples of the pages. I'm not sure if I like the one on the left better or the right, so any feedback would be helpful. The only difference between these 2, is that one has more constellations (??) than the other. Like I say, any feedback welcome.

I'm not sure what's going on with my art lately, but the the two times I've been working on a canvas, I have ended up with a red page and a theme of reach for the stars! Not intentionally done, this is just how this page flowed from me. Maybe I need to do it a couple of times more, to make sure that that theme is done with me and then I can move on to the next.

Hope you are all managing to have a great one.

Wednesday Stamper - Hand

Ok now this theme was a challenge!! And I love it when I'm challenged. Whether it's with a colour or a theme. I love going out of my normal comfort zone.

So on to the ATC - not having any hand stamps, I decided to go with a Zetti like ATC, using one of Teesha Moore's collage pics, which I've played around with and altered slightly (colouring in mainly) and have used a zetti stamp in the background and Cherry Pie (squares). The word Imagine is from a Collections sheet of words. Think that's about all.

Please check out the rest of the Wednesday Stamper work here - http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/ if you want to see some absolutely fantastic work.

A Dry Spell

I'm suffering from a dry spell at the moment. We currently have our home on the market to sell, so all of my tools/papers/stamps are packed away. The thought of dragging them out for an hour or so (I can only work at night, as have small children) put's me off. That's the laziness side coming out in me!!

I have 2 swaps I need to finish off and am hoping for some inspiration from Wednesday Stamper http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/. One of my fav blogs to visit for inspiration.

So in the meantime, I've posted an ATC I made a while back.

Gift from Belinda Schneider

Wow what a wonderful mail day! Today I received this fantastic canvas from Belinda Schneider! See Belinda's link here - http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/ to see more of her amazing work. This gal is Talented, with a capital T. I have been a long time admirer of Bel's work, so feel completely blessed to receive an original piece of her artwork.

But wait there's more...... I also received a fantastic ATC from her. See below canvas.

Love your layering Belinda!!

Big hugs Natxx

Wed Stamper - Man

I love love love this stamp. Hmmmmmmmmm wonder what he'd look like on the soot stamping. Might give that one a whirl also. Stay tuned!

Soot Stamping Cont.......

I have had fun with this technique and here is the other ATC I've made tonight. In my opinion I believe that it is best to leave the embellishments off the work and just let the stamps and soot stamping do the talking.

Love this technique! My new favourtist tech!

Hope everyone is having a good night!
Nat

Wednesday Stamper - Halloween

Here's my entry for the Wednesday Stamper theme - http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/ - Halloween.

Halloween is not normally a tradition that I personally follow, but I have been enjoying all of the entries so far on the Wed Stamper blog. And who can resist using the new GPP stamps!! Just perfect for this theme.

Thanks also to Kelsey for showing me the soot stamping technique and for Jen S for loaning me her GPP stamps.

I've been Tagged!

I have been tagged by Belinda Schneider - http://belindaschneider.wordpress.com/, so I decided to take up the challenge. You are supposed to add a baby pic and I was a bit lazy and just took a photo of a picture I have in a frame!

SO here goes..... answering the tag questions.............

HAVE YOU:taken a picture completely naked? no

danced in front of a mirror naked? no

had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back? yes

been arrested? no

seen someone die? yes

kissed a picture? yes

slept in until 5pm? yes

had sex at work? NO

fallen asleep at work? yes

held a snake? yes

ran a red light? no

been suspended from school? no

pole danced? no

been fired from a job? no

sang karaoke? yes

done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? yes, every day I think. Eat chocolate!

laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? yes

laughed until you peed? yes

caught a snowflake on your tongue? no

kissed in the rain? yes

had sex in the rain? no

sang in the shower? yes

gave your private parts a nickname? no

ever gone to work without underwear? no

sat on a rooftop? yes

played chicken? yes

broken a bone? no

flashed someone? no
mooned someone? no

skinny dipped? yes

shaved your head? no

slept naked? yes

blacked out from drinking? yes

played a prank on someone? yes

had a gym membership? yes

felt like killing someone? NO

truly hated someone?not really

felt like smacking someone in the face? yes

cried over someone you were in love with? yes

had Mexican jumping beans as pets? no

been in a band? no

shot a gun? yes

shot a bow and arrow? no

played strip poker? yes

donated blood? yes

ever jump out of an airplane? no

been to more than 10 countries? no, sob it's on my to do list though!

As you can see I'm pretty boring, but there you go. So now it's time to tag a few others, so here goes, you can take up the challenge or not, it's up to you. Carmel - http://celticmna.blogspot.com/, Dot C - http://dotslifeandart.blogspot.com/, Sulea - http://asceneryforafriend.blogspot.com/, Julie H -http://isthereashadow.blogspot.com/
Big hugs Nat xx

A beautiful Collage Gift from Sulea

Wow I was so lucky to receive this special collage from Sulea today. Please take a look at her blog (link over on right hand side of my blog), it is well worth the visit and the eye candy is spectacular!

Sulea is such a special girl and one of the most loving and giving people I’ve ever met!!

I love the way she has used paper she's once written on, as her dress. I love the colours (oh how I wish I had an eye for colour as she does), I love the tulips and the way it kind of looks they are sitting in a pond, I love how she has used the punched out clover as a stencil. I just love it all!Thank you again my friend. Big hugs Nat xx

A very exciting day for me!

OMG I've been published in a magazine and I'm so excited!

Just recently, Australia lost one of it's "arty" magazines - The Rubber Gazzette - for various reasons the publishing company decided to no longer produce it. A very sad day let me tell you. So thankfully the very talented Janine Anderson - http://www.janineanderson.com/ took up the challenge to start a new magazine -Auzzart Zine www.auzzart.com and in record time, she has put it together and it has just today been released.

A call for artwork was sent out by Janine soon after she announced that she was going to start this new mag and I sent in a few samples, not holding out much hope. BUT she immediately responded and said that she liked my Queen of Butterflies canvas (see attached pic) and asked me to do a write up on it (ie how I basically made it). Keeping in mind, that I'd never ever been in any type of magazine or publication, I was trying my best to remember every detail and step I did for this canvas, so it was a huge learning curve. The main point I learnt from this experience - write every step down as you do it. Not try and remember a few weeks later!!!

I have to say that this zine is fantastic, and full of all the things I love in a mag. Go Janine!

Creatively Quiet

Pretty quiet here creatively speaking. I am currently working on making a batch of "quick" christmas cards for family, so that's taking up my time at the moment. Hopefully I can finish off the last of them over the next few days and then I'm all caught up.

Our house is officially now on the market at the moment, with our home being open this weekend. So I have to now keep things contained and tidy. So I probably wont be producing all that much either over the next few weeks.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We did!

RAK from Dot C

Yay I received one of Dot's gorgeous birdie RAK's today. She also included some great bird clipart with the ATC. Thanks so much Dot, you are a generous soul. Big hugs Natxx

Time to send out some RAK's

Made a few of these ATC's tonight and am sending them out as RAK's tomorrow. I borrowed this stamp from my SIL (contemplating buying it myself!), so had a great play.

Thanks Ann G.

Wednesday Stamper

Here is my submission for Wednesday Stamper- http://wednesdaystamper.wordpress.com/ . For anyone that has not visited this site, take the time too! Every week, Belinda Schneider and Christine Baier (moderators) pick a theme and normally there are around 20-40 pieces of art work sent in to view. These girls are talented with a capital T. This weeks theme is crowns.

ATC RAK thanks to Julie Hetherington

Chook Girl is her name, and she's a beauty! Thanks to Julie Hetherington (her blog link on right hand side of my blog) for sending one of her girls my way!

Go the free range chooks! We say NO to caged eggs!

White Fat Book Page

When I think of white, I think of simplicity, so that's why I guess my page is pretty bare. But I kind of follow the KISS principle anyway.

So only 9 more of these pages to go and that's the last of our fat book! Only thing left to do, will be to put this beauty together and to create a front page for it. I have loved every page that I've received from these girls such variety and style. I have loved the challenge of going out of my comfort zone with colours. I have loved getting together once a month with a great bunch of gals, to share ideas, techniques, coffee and a general chit chat. I have loved the positive feedback given to one another. So in brief, I've loved being a part of this swap! LOL.

Prince Grumpy

I finally had a chance to play with a stamp I recently bought from Dot Christian (see her blog link on right side of my blog). I have wanted this stamp for so long, so I was over the moon that I was able to buy it from Dot. This RAK was made for a Round Robin Swap I'm in, with the theme Crowns. I hope the recipient likes it.

Gorgeous RAK received from Dot!

Thanks Dot for my lovely card made up of 1" squares. Love the pinks and the birdies. So gorgeous! Your card has certainly brightened up my day!! Big hugs
Nat

Wednesday Stamper - School Days

This image was taken out of a local newspaper and I did a transfer technique using packing tape and water to lift the paper off the back of the tape. I then laid the tape over some scrapbooking paper which had been lightly sponged with Sepia ink and used a dymo gun, to produce the word "School" and "days", which I then went over lightly with the Sepia ink. I love this theme. Thanks to the girls at Wed Stamper for another great one!

Emma's First Scrapbook Page

My DD went to her first scrapbooking class today and this is what she made! Pretty groovy if I do say so myself (proud mother fluffing up feathers!). I haven't even done 1 single page yet myself, let alone been to a class, but she has got me all inspired. Just need some more time and an album and I'll be right! LOL

Not much creating done

Have not managed to do much in the way of creating in the week and a bit since school hols started. Flat out! Buttttttttttt the kids are exhausted and so am I, so it beats sitting around being bored.

The pic attached is a slide mount I did for a swap a few months back. Not a very good scan, but I quite liked the end result. stamp pressed into texture paste, which had coated the slide. Copper Rub and buff then rubbed over the top. I have a white fat book page coming up and am thinking of doing something similar on the page. Good old texture paste, you can do so much with it!

Back on the Farm!

For anyone that doesn't know, we used to live on a Dairy Farm in Southwest Western Australia. This picture was taken 2 yrs ago of my boy feeding his grandma and grandpa's chickens. V cute, had to share!

The slime catchers!

Well another busy day of the school hols. Not sure about the kids, but I'm knackered. Today we went to Kings Park (large park located in the city of Perth) and met up with some friends who had brought along their grandchild - Mark (pictured left). Luc, Emma and Mark got along like a house on fire and here is a pic of them catching slime out of one of the duck ponds at KP. You can see the sheer joy on their faces. Funny out of all the things to play with or on at the park, they chose to get a long stick and collect slime out of the water. Yes they did get mucky, but they had fun and that's what it's all about.

Brilliant day!

Roller Skating and flash back's to the 80's

Today I took my DD (6.5yrs) roller skating. We had a fantastic day! I had major flash backs to the 80's and when I skated as a 15 yr old. I kept being thrown back to 2006, with "mummy you're skating too fast for me" and "mummy you're not listening". What a joy it was to enjoy the thing that I'd loved doing so much when I was younger (but had forgotten about) with my daughter today. Note to self, take DD more often. Skating was so big in the 80's! We had a roller skating rink right up the road from where we lived and my friends and I went there every weekend if not twice a weekend.

The laugh of the day. I got through skating without landing on my big behind once, but went grocery shopping afterwards and in my mad dash to unload groceries into car without getting saturated (a sudden downpour occured whilst trying to do this), I slipped and fell on my knee. Another note to self, wearing thongs in rainy weather, is a hazard!

Another pic (seems like so long ago) of my daughter when she was 4.5 yrs.

Collage finally finished from Sulea's Art Day

Yay finally finished my collage from Sulea's wonderful day. Comment from my husband. You love those pointy hats/crowns dont you! So might be time for me to start taking them off my work....LOL I do tend to get a "thing" for certain items and use them and use them, until I can't use them any more.

Thanks to Carmel, Ann and mostly to Sulea for such a wonderful day. Sulea has the best craft room!