Mavis-sinner or sinned??

Now when I made this simple card I just couldn't work out if this vintage lady was a sweet gal next door or a vixen by the look on her face.She has dreamy eyes but saucy red lips.

I have a draw full of made backgrounds and while I can't sit too long I thought I'd make several easy cards for friends birthdays this year as I missed so many last year.The next week when I start my 2 weeks off I'll get stuck into some jewellery making and do my 24 pages for an international paper bag book swap I have been invited to participate in.Looking forward to having time off work I can tell you.
hugs
Annette In Oz

Mellow Yellow

I've finally been able to get creative again.My back and neck still ache but I'm finding I can alternate sitting and standing and get some work done in patches.I've got several pieces of stamped metal ready to etch when I have days off and I've made a collage card just for the heck of it LOL.The background has sprays pf Polished pigments in yellow,oranges and deep copper so its quite shimmery in real life.It was over stamped,vintage image transfer added and lastly a white flourish rub on added.
Grant gave me a Spotlight gift voucher for Christmas so I stocked up on Vilene,Vliesofix(Pellon or Wonder Under...fusible webbing) and got some more of the gorgeous floral trim I love which I have stained and added to the card at the bottom over some gauze.

The second Low weather system of the wet season is over Darwin and has brought some relief from the heat and humidity.All the plants are so green now and there has been a growth in fungus's growing in the bush on our block.I counted 12 different types just walking around the gardens edge in one trip.They are fascinating to me for some reason.Some lived a day and one has been steadily growing bigger for a week and is about 15cm in diameter.I'd take some photos but the mozzies are thick in the bush and seem to love me...maybe I'll get hairy legs Grant to go and take some LOL.We have seen more Frilled Neck Lizards this year then last too which is great.Grant got two good shots of one a few days ago and I'll upload them when I can get time to crop them a bit.

hugs

Annette in Oz

Merry Christmas Everyone

MERRY CHRISTMAS one and all and I hope 2010 brings you all a load of love,laughter and creativity.I have received some gorgeous Christmas cards this last week(and managed to make and send 60 of my own) and thanks to all of you who sent them.The hand made card is such a humble yet treasured thing.I love to feel the textures and rove my eyes over the whole card.This first one is by Sue Gregory who is from New South Wales.Its been embossed in the Cuttlebug and then lightly sanded.

This one is by Rikki Showell from Tasmania who does lovely folded and beaded/stitched cards.

Marilena Stanton from Queensland sent me this one below.Its stitched around the edges and has some gorgeous red stick on rhinestones in the centres of the flower forms.It gives the card some bling that does not scan well I'm afraid.

Louise Magetti also from Queensland sent me the utterly neat and arty Cuttlebug embossed background card below.Love the woven threads on the star and above the German scrap.

Next is one from Linda Aldred in...yep Queensland.How cute hey LOL

One even came from Jan Robertson in New Zealand...the purple and silver just rock on this card.

The fairies and elves got together to help create this cute one from The Creative Soul Retreat organizer and her helpers Bev Lea in Victoria.I'm so looking forward to that retreat in March next year I can tell you.

and from Western Australia came this festive coloured reindeer card made by Christina Blackburn

The next is from Barb Porritt who is a another Victorian.For some reason the scanner scanned the dark green as black...got to love the gorgeous serviettes out there for us paper crafters to use.

and lastly I got two amazing cards from Gail Hart who is also from Tasmania.One is a Christmas card of course

and this lovely vintage child card for a late birthday card

Hope Santa was good to you all.I have 24 tubes of new paint to explore and a new crafters tool set too plus other treasures...must have been a good girl this year hey LOL.Hope to get creative again soon as I've had an enforced break due to a sore back the last few weeks and I'm finding it painful to sit or stand too long.Take care everyone and hope you all have had wonderful Christmas days yourselves...must go and walk off lunch LOL.

hugs

Annette In Oz

"Woodlands Whimsy" painting

I was never sure what my redheaded lady was going to end up looking like.As I painted her she became less sad look and unlike my free spirited Seeking painting in the post below this one seems to me to be Earthy.I've called her woodlands whimsy...or perhaps just Flora.I have hand sewn on shimmery leaves and seed beads around her

She has a dyed trim flower in her hair,blush,eye lashes and her lippie painted on.

Her dress is shades of green with white swirls and its done up with another hand dyed flower trim and some vintage lace that was also hand dyed.

Grant looked at both and asked could he sell them on E-bay LOL....that always tells me he thinks what I have done is OK.I've no idea what to do with them myself.As they are only the second and third painting I have ever attempted I may just keep them as reference guides for future works.Anywho now I have them out of my system its into making Christmas cards en mass for me now.

hugs

Annette In Oz

Seeking...

We are all seeking...life...love...wealth...happiness...knowledge....the list is endless.I'm no different.I seek to be a good loving wife and mum and I seek to live a creative life ...sometimes I just seek completion of a project like my two canvas painted ladies.One is now done and I actually like how she turned out.I wonder what my blonde lady is seeking?.Since you saw her last she has had some "blush" ,eyelashes and lipstick painted on,

a metal vine headband added,

her shimmery wing created and now she is wearing her music dress.

What do you seek?

hugs

Annette In Oz

A Gorgeous Mail Surprise Came Today

Two weeks ago I was chatting to the lovely twins from Sissysparrows (they make yummy Vintage jewellery pieces) about transfer techs and I sent them some sheer heaven paper to play with.In return they have sent me a surprise gift.Its a Vintage style keyring though I think I shall make it into a necklace to wear.I was so surprised but delighted that Julie and Donna had sent me this gift at all as I did not expect them too.Here is the front side.

and the back.I love the wire wrapped beads at the bottom too.

Thank you Julie and Donna :o)

hugs

Annette In Oz

Canvas Ladies Hair and Brows Painted

Its nearly time to do the mad Christmas card make and send.I had one day off today and with the new air con running I was able to sit and paint some more aspects of my canvas ladies.I repainted the redheads hair as I didn't like my first try.I used some Pearl-ex to add shimmer that you can't see in the photos as highlights.My light source is from the right in this painting.

and closer

closer again.

My blonde lady also had her hair painted twice.The first time I went for a dark dirty looking blonde but it seemed to blend into the background too easily.Next I made her a yellowish tinged blonde and that worked better I think.The light source is from the left on this one.

Here she is closer

and closer again.

The eye brows are the hardest thing to paint I think.I keep trying to get them similar till I just leave them be.Our faces are not symmetrical anyway.I'll add depth and "make-up to the face and lips next.

hugs

Annette In Oz