The Summer of Colour #7 Purple

It's now ....

PURPLE

week over at

Kristin's 'Summer of Colour Challenge'

-oOo-

Now, I'm not usually a purple lover...

and really had no idea what to do with purple week,

until a comment left by The Wright Stuff

(Sorry don't know your real name?)

on my last weeks red challenge

inspired my piece for this weeks challenge.

I was reminded of the Jenny Joseph poem...

Warning...When I grow old I shall wear purple.

 So some more journal pages....

Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.

 You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

..and Wahoo, I've just found out that I've won last weeks (red) challenge via Karen, Jo and Netty's lovely comments - thank you ladies :)

and Thank you sooo much again Kristin for this amazing challenge, and your generosity .

Now next week is  ORANGE week

another huge challenge for me!

Thanks for Looking !

Jan x

Challenge # 27 - Anything by T!m! .....

Now when I found out that 

 Challenge #27 over at

 The Stampman

 is all things

 Tim Holtz

I just had to PLAY  !...

I've been meaning to do a layout of the fantastic time I had.

 when I was lucky enough to take one of... 

Tim's fabulous classes and see him in action earlier this year.

....so this challenge inspired me to raid through my crafty stash of Tim Stuff

and here are the results...

a 12x12 layout

I've used..Tim papers, various idealogy, embellishments, distress inks, glossy accents and sewing room die.(my favourite die )

I used the '25' plaquette because it was on the 25th February that I did my class with Tim.

The pics of Tim and I, and Tim and his sidekick Mario, I've printed in a sepia tone, to compliment the colours of my LO.

I've also added my own buttons, chipboard arrow, roses ribbon, trims, and the cute little nest of eggs was made and given to me a while back by a sweet blogging friend Patty (Magpie's nest)

...it's been sitting on my craft desk all this time, waiting for just the right craft project, which it's now found. Perfect  !

...A nice little reminder of an amazing day  !!

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

The Summer of Colour # 6 Red

 it's now ....

RED

week over at

Kristin's 'Summer of Colour Challenge'

I'm having so much fun filling up my journal with this challenge...

-oOo-
When I thought of red...
Little Red riding Hood sprung to mind

 So for my background I've copied some old book pages,

I drew my red girl

coloured her with pencils and pens..

(she needed some rosy red cheeks !!)

The flowers were cut from a cath kidston catalogue, and stuck over my pages.

...then I distressed with some acrylic paint and inks.

-oOo-

This weeks Bonus challenge is to incorporate something winged into your work.

...So I've stamped a little birdy (studio g stamp)

then added a little 'red' quote...

'When in doubt wear red'

(Bill Blass)

looking forward to next weeks

colour  .....PURPLE

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking !

Jan x

Steampunk Debutante and some Shabby Dancers - Canvas Swap

My dear bloggy friend

Martina

and I challenged each other to a canvas swap...

Now, I'm new to creating with a canvas

...so was a little nervous about this swap !

..and especially has Martina is soooo talented.

-oOo-

..and this is what Martina sent to me...

Steampunk Debutante

 I LOVE it !!

...beautifully designed with Graphic 45 papers

The frame has a gorgeous texture and colour...

more beautiful embellishments.... steampunk cogs

 ...and I love what martina has done with the rosette, cog and spinner :)

 ..a truly inspiring piece of art !!

Martina, you are definately are the

Queen of Steampunk !!

Thank you so much !

-oOo-

..and this is what I created for Martina...

Some...

 Shabby Dancers

'Dance like no one is watching'

 for my background I collaged some vintage papers, music sheets with some white gesso.

... the owl is cut from an old postcard

added some, lace, tickets, clip, dymo words, vintage buttons

and a optical lens for his monacle.

The girl images I received as part of an inspiration swap earlier this year.

The little vintage prima ballerina I painted black to compliment the other colours.

 I've been on a bit of a card making spree just lately, so also made a special one for Martina

-oOo-

Thank you again Martina for a fabulous Swap !

It's been FUN

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking !

Jan x

Remember these.....(5 Items swap #2)

These are the goodies that my lovely friend Linda

sent to me to play with...

...an Altoid tin, beaded trim, a large piece of netting, silky cream ribbon and roses...

-oOo-

We both have the same 5 foundation items

(the roses count has 1 item)

(we were also allowed to add anything from our own stash, but the main 5 items had to be used)

-oOo-

and this is what Linda did with her Challenge....

How totally gorgeous is this  !!

..and the inside is equally has stunning !

I adore the cute little quilt

and all the gorgeous embellies !!

(Oh, I do LOVE a sewing theme !!)

And we mustn't forget the back...

Thank you so much for everything Linda

you did a fabulous job with the tin...

and all of the other wonderful goodies that you sent to me..

-oOo-

Now, I guess you are wondering I did with the tin?

as soon as I saw the netting I thought of....

 Ballerina's Tutus

This is what I made for Linda....

 The outside I have decorated with...

papers, Tim  holtz tape, netting, Image (Landof Enchantment) ribbon roses, painted key, faux pearls, ticket, button and lace - distressed with inks and paints.

I pleated the cream ribbon to make a little curtain valance

the roses and the beaded trim (dissected !) were used to embellish inside the tin.

added some more faux pearls, ballerina images ( also from Landof Enchantment)  a plaster frame

...and stuck in a little inspirational quote

..and I've added the netting to make the tutus on both outside and inside the tin.

 I really enjoy these little swaps with my friend Linda

..and found it amazing how we have used the same items in totally different ways!

Thanks again linda for a fabby trade :)

-oOo-

Here are my 5 new items

( the buttons count as 1 item - Just incase you thought I couldn't count LOL !!)

 for Linda for our next swap

-mini canvas, lace, buttons, tag and some vintage music paper.

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking!

Jan x

The Summer of Colour # 5 BROWN

Can you believe it ?

We are half way through this wonderful challenge !

and it's now ....

BROWN

week over at

Kristin's 'Summer of Colour Challenge'

Now, after last weeks big struggle with Yellow...

 ...this is a good week for me,

 'cos I love creating with shades of  'Brown'

-oOo-

some Brown pages for my journal...

I've used, vintage music papers, paints, inks, Water-soluble wax pastels and pencils.

The  Bonus Challenge is to incorporate a bold shot of colour into your work,

Now, I'm not sure if this is going to be bold enough to count?
believe it or not...

 my girls lips are brighter pink in real life,

 but the lighting here is sooo dark and dull at the mo !!
I just couldn't capture the true colouring.
You wouldn't believe we were in the middle of Summer here !

-oOo-

...and it was also my lovely S-I-L's birthday last week,

so this challenge inspired me to make her birthday card with 'browns'

-oOo-

I am really enjoying this colour journey, so much beautiful colour inspiration out there in Blogland!
THANK YOU again Kristin for the challenge
....and to all my lovely commenters
your kind words are so encouraging :)
-oOo-
...and next weeks colour is RED

-oOo-

Thanks for Looking !

Jan x

'I look into your great brown eyes,

 Where love and loyal homage shine,

 And wonder where the difference lies

 Between your soul and mine!'

Josiah G 

Happy Birthday - Let's get Shabby Challenge # 25

Happy 2nd Birthday

Let's Get Shabby

....and for

 Challenge #25

you have to be inspired by the above pic

...You also have to use the NUMBER 2 on your project

 and use TWO THINGS from the list below.

Lace
Chipboard
Ribbon
Material/Fabric
Book/Music page
You are allowed to use other items on your project as long as you use only 2 from the list.

-oOo-

I decided to use

lace

 and a

vintage music sheet.

....and alter a Stryofoam torso...

I covered my torso in torn vintage music sheets

..and added lace

buttons, wings, handmade charm,trims...

Here is my number '2' (metal embellie)

netting, bird-cage charm, laundry pin,  the beads are a vintage earring.

So Hop over to the Let's Get Shabby Blog

for some fabby shabby challenges and lots of lovely Inspiration!

Thanks for Looking !
Jan x

The Summer of Colour # 4 YELLOW

I'm having so much fun with
 Kristin's 'Summer of Colour'

Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on all of my colour pieces.

Your kind words have really brightened my days..

-oOo-

It is  inspiring me to create with colours I wouldn't usually use ...

This week is
 YELLOW,
and as much as I love yellow, such a happy colour, but it one of the colours I wouldn't usually gravitate towards when I create something !!

 ..and what a coincidence ,  I also recieved this lovely bundle of ribbons and buttons from the lovely Ali from Crafty Ribbons

 to create two projects for...

 Challenge # 24 - Colour Create

...and has it happens there were lots of yellow goodies in my bundle

So I decided to combine the challenges..and created a 'Yellow' card...

I love this wired ribbon...I pleated it and made a bow with it.

I used lovely retro style papers from 'Cosmo Cricket' ODDS & ENDS collage kit
ribbons/buttons (Crafty Ribbons)

old book page

brown envelope

doily

bingo card and tickets

mini scrabble letters

stitching

distressed with inks and paints.
-oOo-
 It's not to late to join in and play along with Kristin's wonderful Summer of Colour Challenge.
...and next week is BROWN. I use brown a lot, so hopefully this should be a easier week for me ! :)
-oOo-
Phew, nearly forgot !!!

....this weeks Bonus Challenge is to incorporate metallics into your work
so I've just added some metal embellies to my card...
(press studs and a pin)

Thanks for Looking !

Jan x

“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”
~Pablo Picasso~