Get Ahead, Get A Hat or a Crown

Imagine that you have been invited to the wedding of Kate and William on the 29th of April this year. You will need a hat or a crown, a fab and funky hat/crown...something different, something to make you stand out in the crowd .... go on... go for it.. lets see yours. the wackier the better xxx

To join in with the swap make 5 ATC's on the above theme and swap 4 keeping one for your own collection.

However if you don't wish to join in with the swap but would like to create just one ATC on our monthly theme then please feel free to do so then leave a comment and link us back to you, we will visit you and look at your creation.

Above are 2 of my April creations.

We did hope to have Mr Linky set up however I havnt worked out how to just yet, I did go over to Chris's to do it but both her mum and dad were admitted to hospital and within 24hrs my mum was too.... Chris reckons we were seperated at birth as we have so much in common.. there is no show without punch. Time wasnt on our side it was hospital visits.

Look farward to seeing what you come up with.

Chriss x

Easel showcase plus TMTA Challenge 'Blue'

Think Monday, Think ATC such a VERY long time since I joined in with this challenge I thought I would have a go.

The challenge being 'Think Blue' and as I am into blue backgrounds at the moment this is my entry for this week.


If you feel like having a go why not pop over here.

http://tmta.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/think-blue/

It's good to see I am back being creative and having some fun with ATC's just look at this creative mess...

And this....

And my ironing just piling up on the chair 'cos I would rather play...well who could blame me.

Here we have the show case of the challenge set by Chris... Easel ATC's

Chris' were made from her own art work... All Pretty Maids in a Row

Thanks Chris for setting a great challenge x

Then we have Carolyn's

Love that stamp

Thank you x

Sheila sorry about your close up I wanted to show your fab backgrounds but the camera flash bounced back onto it.

So simple soooo effective

These are Joyces gorgeous ATC's for this challenge and A warm welcome from all of us as it's her first time with us.

Thank you Joyce x

Here are 2 of Debbie's

Thanks Debbie x

Mine... I used furry friend images from Lisa's altered Art...just couldnt help myself...lol

Back to my table now shall I clear and tidy it or should I push it to one side and carry on..being creative seeing as my MOJO is around.

POSTAGE

Thank you for those emaiing about the postage to have their swaps returned...

Chris pointed me in the direction of having the postage from international swappers put into my PAYPAL and it's so easy it's up and running.. email me for more info on it.

It's great to be back and I just want to thank everyone who has emailed me this last week to welcome me back. THANK YOU xxx

AN UPDATE plus My ATC's for March challenge and the bird showcase.

AN UPDATE....

Now then you all know how much I love Crafty Individual Stamps from Jean and Malcolm.
Jean, if you don't already know has opened her very own blog :) you can find her over here... http://craftyindividualsblog.blogspot.com/ I am just so excited that she has decided to run a monthly challenge for us so why not pop over and give her a great BIG warm welcome to blogland.


I have completed my finger painting on text paper for this months Artist Trading Cards.... the 3 below are mine for the swap my other two are further down on another post.



A bit scoooowy wifffffy as I failed to scan them straight...lol. TRY TILTING YOUR HEAD TO THE RIGHT as you look at them it just may help.


As you can see I have used an old map from a book which I started altering about 6 months ago and NO I never got to finish it .... but hope to one day.

Now for the start of the Bird challenge set for us by our talented artist and friend Godelieve the 2 below are hers, you may remember them.

The colours and embossing are gorgeous you will agree.

Crafty Individual stamp on the above and once again colour stands out.

Whoever receives them will love them.


Below are Debbies..

Using a fantastic stamp designed by Crafty Individuals she created a fun filled ATC well 5 of them to be exact and those feathers she she used she plucked from her feather duster leaving it almost bare and so now she is unable to get rid of the cobwebs in her house giving her more time to be creative.... girl after my own heart

Answers on a post card please 'which came first the chicken OR the egg????'

Thanks Debbie x

All the way from Alberta Canada we have Electa's oh I am just loving the colours

And hey that bird is wrapped up well as I know the winters in Canada can be rather cold, I was on holiday in Alberta about 11 years ago in July/august and one day the heavens opened and from out of the sky fell millions of golf balls.... I swear I thought they were as they were soooo big I had never seen hail stones like it before they were making dents in some cars.... AND I do remember strawberry's the size of apples and apples the size melons.... well nearly.

I just had to show you the back of these atc's too.

Thank you Electra x


Hi Vonny,

Thanks for entering your bird atc's I'm sorry but I dont recognise the stamps but I love them that nest is yummy could you tell me who's it is please.

Great backgrounds great colours. Thank you. x


Hi Sheila,

Sorry yours are a bit lopped sided too so if you could just tilt your head or maybe stand on it you may get a birds eye view of them

The one that catches my eye is the top left the 5 birds all cut from coordinating papers.

And a little bit of embossing too. Thank u x

Chris went crazy here with 2 of her birds

Then she went all regal and gold on the 2 below I got one of the gold ones in my swap.

the bottom one to be exact

Thank you x

Then comes mine...recognise the same stamp used on our designers ....a completely different look

Bird Head CI stamp.

The birds on a wire are from another of Crafty Individual plates... Can you tell I love their stamps

Thanks for looking and if you would like to join in with us please do email me.

Birds are flying their way to you.

I'm catching up and getting my head/act together...it wasnt easy but thanks to blogging friends I am getting there.

I have not yet changed my address for those who have asked but that will happen this year however I will keep you informed. xxx

March challenge ''finger painting backgrounds on an old book page.''

We have all at sometime or another done a bit of finger painting..... I just love getting my hands dirty with paint and so for the month of March I have chosen 'BACKGROUNDS' once again it's an open theme.

Here I took an old page from an old book I have been altering chose acrylic paints in pink, green, white and gold.
I rubbed white paint onto the page first but not covering all the words and then splodged on the other 3 colours as each colour dried so as not to end up with a pool of muddiness.



Once the page was dry I glued an Artist Trading Card blank to the page and cut round it.

All ready to create my ATC's, here I have so far completed 2 for this months challenge.

Many thanks to Chris for hosting February's challenge of 'Easel Artist Trading Cards' Once I have taken photos of the swaps I will upload them for you to see Thankyou for joining in.

From April it has been decided to add Mr Linky to the monthly challenge post allowing you to upload your ATC swaps to your blog then we can come and visit you.

Thankyou and welcome to our new people who have taken part in Chris' challenge also welcome to our new followers.

We have had alot of enquiries as to how swappers outside of the UK can cover the cost of postage for their returns and as our international swappers are growing it has been made so easy rather than send dollars etc...

On posting out your Artist Trading Card swaps you just pay the postage into my Paypal account please email me for more information....It's so simple to do It's already up and running thanks to those who have deposited your postage to cover the cost... I don't know why I didnt think of it before.

Thanks to Chris for pointing me in that direction. xxx

There will be a few changes to get the ATC swaps running as smooth as possible getting them out to you faster than they have in the past...thanks for hanging in there.

Hope that you all have a great month and look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Godelieve Tijskens is doing it for the BIRDS

Here we are again, another month another challenge this time from another very talented designer whom I met through Chris a little over 3 years ago when I first started blogging.

Godelieve is from Belguim and not only is she a busy mum and a creative artist she is also a talented photographer and has used one of her photos which she took yesterday morning of this gorgeous Robin in 2 of her Artist Trading Cards she has created for us this month.

Godelieve also sent us the picture of her Robin and gives all our lovely members and readers permission to use it in their art work or on their Christmas cards.
Thank You Godelieve. xxx


Her Bio

My name is Godelieve Tijskens.
I’m living in a small village in Belgium, with my husband. We have two grown sons. One of them needs special care, and is living with us. He takes a lot of our time.

After doing several other crafts, such as knitting, embroidery and sewing, I started making cards.
I love to use stamping, several styles and techniques but often my cards are quick and easy. Distress inks, Ecoline inks and heat embossing are some of my favorite things in card making these days.

I’m a design team member of Art Journey and Darkroom Door.
My work has been published in Craft Stamper Magazine and Art Specially Magazine.

I also like photography, sometimes I use my photos on cards.
I show my work on my stamping blog

http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.com

and my photography blog http://in-close-up.blogspot.com

******

Pop on over to Godelieve's blogs, you will be glad you did.... you will be so inspired and her work is top notch.


Someone else wanted to get in the picture today I wonder who that could be???

Her first time she met the snow.




If you are wondering why I have put a pic of Mimi right in the middle of Godelieve's Bio and challenge its because I uploaded it and tried to move it BUT couldn't and then tried to delete it BUT couldnt....lol.so your stuck with her... can anyone guess what she is thinking??? Photo taken by Jordie my GGD.


NOW
Back to the challenge.... here is Godleieve's lovely Robin pic for you plus her fab Artist Trading Cards that are up for grabs.




Here Godelive has used both Crafty Individual and Darkroom Door stamps plus one of the cuttlebug folders in her creations.

A huge thank you now for Heather our November guest desiger.

If any of you have not yet received all of your swaps I can only apologies yet again... I have just spent 1 month and 2 days in bed... knocked off my feet with not just one virus but 2 ....oh!!!!! I don't do anything by halves... lol.... I have never been sooooooo physically ill apart from the time I was 6mths pregnant and had bronchial pneumonia.... This is how bad it has been ......I have not even been well enough for my pals Chris and Debbie to visit me and be able do Crafty stuff with them....SORRY Chris and Deb.... I will make it up to you when I am out of my sick bed. I have lost some weight though so something good has come out of this hahaha.

I hope to get MY Nov ATC's made this weekend....so anyone who has not yet had time to complete Heathers Masculine challenge there still time to get them in and due to the bad weather and mail I am going to leave Novembers challenge open until the end of December along with Godelieve's BIRD challenge, please send them in together, no problems.

A HUGE thank you to my GGD Jordie who has been staying here with me to take care of US.....us... being Marley, Mimi and Me....all of this in between doing her college work too. THANK YOU.... you are and ANGEL xxx

Take care and happy crafting to you all, don't forget to wrap up well.

Chriss xxx