I'm hopeless loading pics

So I'm going to load a few, then do a new post, or it gets all jumbled up.

This one is from Dawn Thomas or as I call her Dawny P (short for Prawn).

This beauty is from Debbi Baker who is an extremely talented and well known artist who lives in a rural town of WA called Kalgoorlie.

Fabulous Gift from Fabulous Friends

Today I received a 'care' package from my sister in law in Perth. For those that might be new visitors to my blog, I've recently moved to a remote country town in Western Australia, and my SIL - Ann Gerlach, is going to send me 'care' packages to keep me in touch with the "stamping/arty" world of Perth. In this care package, aside from lots of yummy goodies, was a surprise! A group of my friends got together and made some ATC's and put these together in the form of a calendar. So I can flip to Febrauary for example, and on the opposite page, is an amazing piece of artwork! So hopefully blogger will allow me to load all the pics of these ATC's below.

First one on left is from my SIL - Ann Gerlach

This one is from the very talented girl - Annie van Leeuwen

This absolutely gorgeous ATC, that I took a crap scan of (my scanner doesn't like lumpy bits), is from Carmel Trigwell.

A Canvas for a Friend

I made this canvas today for a friend who's having a bit of a rough time of late. I guess you could say it's ala Claudine Hellmuth style in a lot of ways, with the house and the sun and the flowers. But maybe with a twist of Natalie Briney added to it.

Hope she likes it! and most importantly, hope it cheers her up.

Last post for tonight

Another ATC made using the same colour combo's as the previous post. I've enjoyed challenging myself with this.

NIGHT!

One Colour Combo - 3 ATC's

Ok had a bit of fun tonight using 1 colour combo and made 3 different ATC's.

In my bid to use/aquaint myself with stamps and ephemera I haven't used/seen in a while, I thought I'd challenge myself by just grabbing whatever out of the cupboard and trying to make something (worthwhile) to look at.

So here's what I came up with. All quite different I think.

The flower ATC, you might say is even slightly "cute". Not my usual style, but had fun anyway.

Think Pink - Wednesday Stamper

Sheesh I wish I was better at taking photo's! This isn't a very good shot of my card contribution to Wed Stampers Think Pink theme. The word at the top says Embrace and the tiles down the bottom say PINK. I'm not really a pink kind of girl myself, so I thought I'd try and embrace this colour, rather than fight it!!

I'm going to send this card out as a RAK to another non pink kind of girl. Hehe

First Day of School 07

This pic was taken early this morning before we left in a mad rush to get to school on time. Up here in Tom Price, school starts at 8am and finishes at 2.15pm. So we were all a little slow to get moving this morning, after having so many sleep in's (which is one of my fav parts of the school hols!).... hence the mad rush to get to school on time.

This is my boy's very first day of school. *sob* no longer my baby... He was absolutely fine when I left him to come home this morning, so I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not.... although there was one little boy most upset that his mother was going, so I guess I'm kind of glad Luc wasn't like that. Emma seems happy also in her new class.

Hope all of you other school mum's had a smooth run this morning.

Another Quickie!

Feb/March is a busy month for us for bdays, so I've whipped up another for my Brother In Law, who is a manly man, with a bit of a cheeky sense of humour, so hopefully he "gets" this card.

I'm just glad to be getting a little time to create and forget about those awful boxes still sitting there waiting to be unpacked!! The trouble is, I've no room to put anything else. All available cupboard space is taken. Tempted to take all the rest of the boxes straight to the tip and forget about them.

Hoping the WA girls got some welcome relief weather wise today.

Big hugs
Nat

Quick Bday Card

Made this card tonight for my DH's grandmother's bday in a few days. It was quick because I'd already coloured this image (stamped up at Dawn T's house and her oil pastels used to colour also - thanks D!).

Such a beautiful stamp this one.

Some Time to Play - YAY!!

I had some time to play last night and have been working on a 4x4 fat book page for the ABC group that I'm involved in. This month's theme is text and I'm a little late, but hopefully will get to finish the 8 other pages before the end of the week. We have to do front and back this time, so I guess when you think about it, it's 16 more pages.... but my back is pretty plain really.

The mould is a Kraft Lady one, that I had acquired late last year and this is my first time using it :-)... I have said it a few times, but I'm endeavouring to use up things in my stash more as part of my NY resolutions. Not sure how long it'll last though...hehe. Especially with all these yummy tempting stamps/moulds/papers/bellies that keep being bought out...

What the?????????????

I saw this on Claudine Hellmuth's blog and had to share! And as she says, avert your eyes if your faint of heart!!

I could never imagine my DH in these and come to think of it, I dont think I'd ever want to imagine him in a pair of these...

Wednesday Stamper

This weeks theme for Wed Stamper is Mona Madness. Well I'm not sure if my Mona looks a little mad, but I guess seeing as I've given her an eye piece, she does look a little strange.

I should be feeling guilty as I haven't yet unpacked all my boxes and here I am taking time out to create. But it's been so long and my fingers were itching to do something. The good thing about not having unpacked all my stash, is that I had to use up the items I had on hand for this card. And that's one of my NY resolutions. To use up more of my stash and not just keep accumulating and accumulating. I was horrified when I packed up all my bellies when we moved, just how much stuff I had!!

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Toys have been packed away

Last night I finished off a swap (yippeee) and then packed away my toys (um stamping stuff) for hopefully only a few weeks. Hopefully it will be the little break that I need (creatively speaking), so I can get full on into it again and start putting up some more work here on the blog again. I have been feeling very flat and unable to create much lately, but I think that's due to the build up of moving. Although saying that, I'm starting to get a little excited now.

Take care everyone.

Shapes Wed Stamper

Theme for this week is shapes.

So this is where we'll be moving to!

http://www.tompricewa.com.au/ For those that don't know much about it, here's a little info.

And this is our view from the front door of our house. Yep, we have neighbours on either side, but not a house in sight in front of our place.

Only just over a week now and then we'll be making our way there, thanks to Qantas!

WOW! Put 8 talented artists together and what do you get?

A fabulous charm bracelet of course!!

And here it is...............

A big thanks to Julie Hetherington who organised and put together this fabulous bracelet.

Starting from the left with the charm with wings - Elaine Powell, wach parts - kelsey O'mullane, Cat Frame - Julie Hetherington, Face and swirled bead - Me, Soldered frame with bird - Sulea Lee, Face and trio of beads - Kelly Winstanley, Budda Head - France Chevalier, Square beaded assemblage - Carmel Trigwell.

WOW! Thanks ladies

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!