Lazy Sunday afternoon

Just back from a couple of nights away and catching up with uploads for DACs for last week and emails etc. It takes so looong if you get behind with it all.

Wasn't a very inspired batch of cards last week as I was very busy but did manage to make a few collage styles ATCs using acrylic gel medium. I got this because I read it was the best for collage work but I'm not so sure I like the finished effect. Think I prefer my basic water and pva mix - dries rockhard with no brush marks. Will try again and may also try some image transfer with it as judging by how many images I didn't want transferred came off this week I can see how it might work very well lol!

I have also received some mica sheets - no idea what I'm going to do with this, have to say it doesn't look over inspiring at the moment. All suggestions gratefully received!!

Feeling quite tired so may just crash for the rest of the weekend, although a big pile of ironing is beckoning, and I don't mean the fun kind with wax.

Cold cold cold....

At a different library today, this is a good one but the gas is off to be fixed and it is COLD COLD COLD!!! Feel like I've been neglecting my blog this week but I've been very busy with all my other 'hats'. The good news is I seem to have found my mojo again for the garden design - I actually put something on the drawing board yesterday and will finish it later. Have had a real creative block in that area for weeks and weeks so it was a relief to start something. Have managed to do a few doodles to keep my DAC challenge up to date but have had no chance to upload anything for days so better keep this short as I expect peeps only really like to look at the pictures!! If I get everything done this afternoon have promised myself a quiet crafty evening in front of the tv and will try and put some new stuff up before I go to bed. However then I shall be off for a few days as we are going to a wedding in Doncaster. Don't know how I will cope!!

BORED BORED BORED!!

Am at work today (my part time job) as a relief librarian. It is Soooo boring here, and I have none of my work to do. What a waste of a day when I could be getting on with so much stuff. Can't even go shopping at lunch time as a) no shops for miles b) we don't have enough staff to cover the lunch breaks if I leave the site. I really, really, hate wasting my time when there are so many other things I want to do. Have done a couple of pencils sketches but that's all, wish I'd brought in some stash, even just some cutting out or something. Oh well, that wasted 5 minutes. I hope my boss never ever sends me here again!!

First things first...

Can't believe how quickly this year is going ... got three calls about gardens yesterday, starting to feel overworked already and haven't lifted a spade yet!! Managed to sit down and do three collage ATCs whilst I was watching telly last night. I have put them in my trading album for now but think I will make some more like this, it's quite easy as long as you've got a lots of bits in front of you - saves getting up and down all the time and missing the important bit!! My new Paper Artsy stamps arrived yesterday as well (at last) and have managed to christen most of them. But OH is home today and we have a few bits to get done so no crafting till tonight. Am also hosting the Friendly Plastic Challenge on DC this week and although I had already got a set made, did a few more yesterday so will probably have some spare to swap. Oh well, stop waffling woman and get on with your work.

The 7/30/365 project - Daily Art Cards

Just wanted to say a word about this. In a rash of enthusiasm I have joined a Flickr group which is aiming to produce a daily art card for a year - well the ones that started in January have already got to a 100 so I won't ever catch up but I thought it wouldn't be a bad discipline to get into - a sort of daily 'artcercise'. I will try and upload my image here every day but of course time means that won't always happen - I haven't posted for a week and have had some propblems with my camera so you all know how that goes ... best intentions and all that but it doesn't hurt to try. I think for speed it will encourage me to do more doodling and quick art work - someone on the group described it as smash and grab stuff - I think it will be a good discipline to get into as I tend to over egg most things and spend ages thinking (or gazing into space lol). Sometimes you just have to do it...

House Swap

Have been busy making a sort of tryptich ATC House swap for the NI group which I belong to. Was completely lost for ideas at first and there are some quality pieces in this swap but finally settled on a 'castle' theme. There were lots of reasons for this, don't want to get too deep but I had great fubn making this as each of the three ATCs has a little 'secret'. Have to admit the backs came off a few times because I hadn't got the fixings correct, but overall I'm quite pleased with the finished result. Have just found out I'm swapping with Margaret so hope she likes it.

Arte y pico Award

Wow what an evening it was last night. I was really chuffed (and also a little embarressed) to be given the Arte y pico Award, no less than three times yesterday (four if you count a late submission by Margaret ) and my deepest thanks go to Sian , Jinny and Paula for the award and for thinking so highly of my humble little blog!! It is an honour to be recognised by such talented ladies and I am really grateful. (However, Beverley if you look on here please follow the link and explain it all to me please!!)

Now I have to nominate 5 blogs who I think deserve this award too and my winners are then requested to do the following :

1) You have to pick 5 blogs who deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material and also contibutes to the blogging community no matter what language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to the blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and the link to the blog that has given her or him award itself.
4) Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "arte y pico" blog (linked in my title) so everyone will know the origin of this award. (Cut and paste the info into your blog to make things easier)


Well, I now have to nominate my five awards, and despite lengthy consideration I have included that they will have to be (mostly) for blogs that already have the award!! So my awards go to Margaret(

Jinny

Paula and Jan. The fifth award I shall reserve for award at a later date .. Sorry, alwys gotta be different.

Altered Matchbox

Tried altering matchboxes this week, made one for an ATC swap and this one as a 1:1 altered matchbox swap. Still have a matchbox shrine to make for the NI group but no ideas as yet, perhaps I should make a shrine to my computer its probably the most important 'thing' in my life I guess!! D on't know why I seem to be so behind with things for that group. Got myself a few sticks from the garden today as I have some ideas for the April Doll Swap which I hope to do this week. The whole weekend has almost gone and next week the kids are home so not sure what I'll get done. Despite the snow this morning, (Eldest was out making a miniscule snowman!!) the weather is also improving and I'm really going to have do some more work in the garden. hey ho this year is just going toooooo fast.

All work and no play.....

Well, not exactly true but that's what it feels like. Phone has started ringing for the gardening so I have to get out of my studio and do some work this week. Have been tidying things away and so have not done much crafting related stuff this week. Found time to make these little button Fairy ATCs for a DC swap. Also made another fairy in a bottle to send as a RAK - different technique, unfortunately just as ugly as the last one!! Might be time to move away from the whole fairy theme lol.....