Christmas, OPAM, Salt dough

Hi, I'm very late with my OPAM this month!

I've been busy with my Mum here from interstate and finishing off a few projects, sorry for not getting around and visiting everyone in blog land.

This sweet "Brooch Cushion" is Kathryn's design from http://ourshabbycottage.blogspot.com/

who was a guest artist over at Kerryanne's from http://www.shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/ who is conducting "Simply Christmas" There are fabulous, inspiring projects and guest artists to get you into the  Christmas spirit and lots of ideas for hand made gifts.  

Have you seen this gorgeous Purple Iris?  Oops, probably not the best background to take this photo.

You may have been to visit Lee at http://artfulleedesigned.blogspot.com/

Lee kindly gave up her Sunday to give her expert advice for us to finish painting the design.

What do you think of these tags?

They are made of Salt dough, easy enough for children to make.

*2 cups plain flour

*1 cup salt

*3/4 to 1 cup warm water

Knead for ten minutes~you may add touch more water or flour if necessary!

Then you can start rolling, cutting, shaping and colouring your salt dough tags.

*Wrap unused portion in Cling Wrap so it doesn't dry out.

Roll out to about 2-3 mm thickness, use cookie cutters or glass for your shape and push {permanent inked stamp} into dough and let dry on baking paper on cake rack turning every few hours.

For the hole at the top of the tags, I pushed a straw into the dough.

Now, if you're inpatient like myself, you can quicken up the speed of drying your salt dough tags using your oven.

After a few burnt, puffy, tried and tested ways-The best way I found was heating moderate oven {170 degrees for twenty minutes} turn the over off, place cake rack with decorations flat in the oven and leave over night to dry. 

 I prefer to make my tags and when dry paint them using Jo Sonja acrylic paints to decorate and varnish.
Happy creating,
Hugs,
Anna

Latest Art

Hello friends,

Last week Lee and I had a art play day.  This is one of the backgrounds I achieved while playing.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day with Lee, we have heaps in common!

I was also lucky enough to receive a bunch of flowers, there were Jonquils and Gerbera's. 
One of the Gerbera flowers was so perfect, I had the urge to paint it.  I did this background with watery Jo Sonja acrylic paints in Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Scarlet and Burnt Umber.  While wet a poured Rock Salt over the top.  When this was nearly dry-I put Pale Gold into a small mist spray bottle and sprayed over the top of the Rock Salt and this is what I ended up with as a background for my Gerbera!
             

I had started the background of this canvas board using Copic pens.  I knew what verse I wanted and I had ideas of what I wanted the final piece to look like.
Lee helped me along with her collection of stamps, flourishes and ideas.  This is for a special friend!

So nice to get together with like minded people and let the creativeness flow! 
Do you have someone that has the same "PASSION" as you, that you can get together with and play?
Thank you for visiting, I'd love to hear about your Passion and play days!
Hugs,
Anna

Creative Artist, Simply Christmas

Hello my blogging friends,
Thanks for popping in and visiting* I have a bit of exciting news~recently through Blogging, I've got to know Suzana from Creative Therapies @ http://creativetherapies.wordpress.com/author/creativetherapies/ 
Suzana has done a profile on ME this week. 
Please pop over for a visit and check out my latest painting there as well as lots of other creative artists!

I also need to tell you about Kerryanne's latest news*

Shabby Art Boutique is running this great event with handmade Christmas goodies, treats, guest bloggers and giveaways.  Come along and join in the fun!
Hugs,
Anna