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

Facelift

 Hello, Thank you for popping in*

FACELIFT~Ah, not me, my kitchen has had a face lift!

From this-

 To this-

And this-

To this-

Roy from Superior Kitchens did a fantastic job and I'd highly recommend him for any Kitchen or Bathroom renovation!  Roy doesn't have an website, however I'd be happy to pass on his information if you'd like to email me.

Yesterday I attended a workshop at the Society of Folk & Decorative Artists.  The workshop was conducted by Robyn Sherer~A fabulous teacher, very creative and giving.

 The background and base coating was painted using Jo Sonja acrylics.  We then had fun mixing Papier Mache for the body of the Echidna.  Placed that on the canvas and start molding and Painted over the papier mache. We were lucky, most of the spikes were already painted.{Thanks for Robyn's parents}  These were pushed into the papier mache body.  We then glazed over the background, face, feet and foliage using Archival Oils and pencils.

I've taken this photo on an angle so you can see the height and depth of the "Echidna".

If you are free on 17th October and live in or around Melbourne/Geelong you may want to attend the "Portarlington Art & Garden Trail"

This will be 19 Studio's, Gallery's and Gardens open to the public from 11 am to 4pm

There isn't a website however I do have a phone number if anyone is interested, I'd be happy to email it to you!

Live Joyfully,

Hugs,

Anna

Pink Magnolia, OPAM

Hi, Thanks for popping in* I hope you're having a great, creative week!

This is my latest painting.  The background and under painting is painted in Jo Sonja, acrylics and then I've used Archival Oils to glaze over the top.

My blogging friend Anne from http://elmilagrostudio.blogspot.com/  kindly gave me permission to paint her photo. 

Anne is a great photographer and artist, always running around her property taking photos and painting up a storm in her studio. 

What a great view from Anne's window!

Creative Carmelina has different themes for the days of the week.  Tuesday is "Tag Tuesday".

Carmelina recently gave me inspiration/idea to create these Tea tags for my Mum who loves a great cuppa tea.

My latest OPAM is this pretty vintage style cushion for my bed.

Yippee, I'm getting better at inserting Zips.

As I continue to Journal and need more "stuff" my pencil case is overflowing, so I decided to make myself a new bright one. Ah, another zip.

 Jenny from http://elefantz.blogspot.com/ recently did a post or two on zippers.  Very informative if you want to check it out.

Hugs, Anna

My baby sister can Paint!

Hello and thanks for popping in*

My sister "Eddy" wanted a similar painting to fill a blank wall and couldn't find one anywhere.  I suggested she paint one. 

Ah, I have evidence that Eddy is creative!

This was Eddy's canvas that was purchased a few years ago and she wanted something similar.  Eddy adapted the design and came up with this!

Ah, Isn't my baby sister clever and she had soo much fun, she will paint all her art work for the new home!

Have a fabulous spring weekend,

Hugs, Anna

Weekend away

Hi Friends, thanks for popping in*

Last weekend I went on a painting conference held by True Blue Decorative Artists.

On the Friday afternoon I attended Vicky Phelps workshop "Beads, Bangles and Baubles".  We painted our piece onto Canvas using Atelier Interactive Paints then sewed on the beads.  Applied the canvas to the tin and used Glue and lots of coloured Textured Paste to finish off the edges.

On Saturday I attended Lee Clements workshop painting the "Purple Iris" also using Atelier Interactive Paints.  I haven't taken a photo as my piece isn't finished but you can pop over to Lee's blogspot and look at her gorgeous painting.

On Saturday night we great meal and danced the rest of the night away.

Up bright and early on Sunday to attend another great workshop with Robyn Sherer

"By The Old Dead Tree"

This was is a Multi Media piece using a tree branch.  We extended the branch with wire, clay and texture paste.  The painting is done using Acrylic and Oil paints.  Some used pencils over the top.

I recently participated in a ATC swap host by Janet and Lee.  My swap partner was Sophie and silly me forgot to take photo's before posting them. You can pop over to Sophie's blogspot to check out our ATC'S.

Live Joyfully,

Hugs, Anna

Farm & Painting

Hello friends, Thanks for stopping by*

Hubby and I have been spending a bit of time on our friends farm helping erect post and rail fencing.

I was lucky enough to have my camera and take this photo a few days after this foal was born.  Isn't he just gorgeous giving Mummy kisses.

This was the beautiful sunset over the back hill on Saturday evening as we were packing up for the day.

Last week I participated in a workshop run by True Blue Decorative Artists.  The teacher was Rachel Baker who instructed us on watercolour techniques and added some bling to our mermaid. Thank you Rachel, great relaxing workshop.

This weekend I'm taking off for a painting conference held by True Blue Decorative Artists.  You can check out the workshops on offer here: http://www.tbda.org/conference.html

I'm sure we'll have plenty of fun at the "Baubles, bangles and beads" conference.

Happy creating! Hugs, Anna

Paint, OPAM

Hello Friends, Thanks for popping in*
Remember a few posts ago I was telling you about demonstrating at the Craft Fair, Chroma Australia have added a post and pictures to their News page regarding the event!  Oh, what a buzz!

I've probably broken the rules here with Zentangles,{being on a purple background} so lets just call it doodling if your an expert!

Hm, can you tell I like the colour Purple?  This pencil case/make up bag is for a special friend of mine, who also likes Purple!

OK, another OPAM for this month, that makes three.  Oh, I think I'm ahead except if you look at Peg and Kris's blogspot. They are the two lovely ladies running OPAM.

Here is my first handmade Christmas decoration for this year.This design is one of Kerryanne's new designs from her Christmas range.
You can check out Woodberry Design website.
 http://woodberrydesigns.com.au/
See you around blogland,
Hugs,
Anna

Art, Art and a touch a sewing

Hello Friends,

OK, I'm late!  This is a pencil case I made for my July's OPAM. 

I finally decided I should decorate the front cover of art journal {it's nearly full} I've used Texture Paste, Lace, Impasto Gel, Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf and Opal Dust.

This is a Multi media piece using Texture paste, Opal dust, fabric and a piece of Paper towel.

This is the opposite page using different colours but similar techniques.

I'm happy to share any of these tips and techniques with you.  Just leave a comment or email me.

The next two pieces are designs by my creative, friend Lee. This piece was published in the latest Australian Fine Art, decorative painting magazine.

Lee's original piece is painted on three large canvas's and looks absolutely fantastic.

They were very relaxing, stunning pieces to paint.

If you have a chance, pop over and visit Lee @ http://artfulleedesigned.blogspot.com/

Lee has a post {Revitalized Paper Craft} on the Chroma website on how she has decorated three gorgeous pieces which you can get step by step instructions for.

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Creating,

Hugs Anna