Friday 19 December 2008

CHRISTMAS RECYCLING CHALLENGE!



This next challenge will also run for 2 weeks - we figure you might have one or two other things to keep you busy??

In this season of much goodwill and even more RUBBISH (all that wrapping paper and packaging etc) we challenge you to keep your eye out for packaging you can recycle into art! For example my silver topped wooden box was a Christmas gift from last year - it had a "Hotel Chocolat" logo right across the lid. Now this is safely covered up and the unfinished wood has several coats of varnish.

The other piece you've seen before as part of our "make a house" challenge, but it was also recycled from last Christmas - it's built on a gift box base which contained my new watch! This is an item that would definitely have been thrown away without a squirrel like me in the house ...

So keep your eyes open for packaging you can use, and you have until 2nd January to transform it into something else!! Looking forward to seeing what you can find .....

Friday 5 December 2008

WINDOWS



Here we go again with a new challenge for you! Because it's a busy time of year for everyone we've decided that this will run over the next 2 weeks to give you a bit longer, and then we'll set another challenge on 19th December to run into the New Year. After that it will be back to weekly as usual.

So this challenge is to make a window, and we hope this gives you plenty of scope to make something as simple as an ATC (which my Frida window is) if time is short, or something much larger if you want to. My vintage window is based around a wooden picture frame, into which I inserted some wooden struts to give a window-like appearance.

Don't forget that shrines can be windows too, as in the little photo - which is only about the size of a matchbox and was made with a kit from Retro Cafe Art. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!! Don't forget - no panic with this one because you have two weeks to do it.

Rosie

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Altered Tins Gallery

Here are your altered tins ..... thank you to everyone who sent pictures in (and there were a lot!!) Once again a great variety of ideas and materials. I recommend you visit the blogs and see all the extra pictures.
All very inspiring.........


Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/2008/11/abaa-week-10-altered-tin.html

Patty - http://bitze.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/alter-a-tin-dream

Rosie - http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/magic-and-a-big-adventure-tin/

Chriss - http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com/

Sherry - http://gotart4u.blogspot.com/2008/11/awfully-big-art-adventure.html

Sharon - http://magpiesarttreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/11/altered-tin.html

Lay Hoon - http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2008/11/awfully-big-art-adventure-altered-tin.html
If any of the links are incorrect, please let me know. It was a tough job this week!!!

Friday 28 November 2008

Art Angels

This week we are challenging you to make angels...they may come in handy for Christmas decorations! Feel free to use your imagination and make them out of whatever you like.....
Rosie used scrapbook papers for her Christmas decoration, and painted the face and wings herself - clever girl.
She used an Artchix dreambox for this one, plus Artchix collage sheet and wings. Very classy Rosie - love those blue wings!
I used Artchix images for all my pieces - this one is in a memory frame, with added metal halo and wings.
This one ended up quite bizarre - but I like her! The body is made of paperclay.

I stuck the famous Archix mascot onto a chunky block (covered in music and text) with a panel of Angelina fibre and a metal heart.

Better late than never - this is my altered tin. It was an M&S mint tin that I sanded and covered in alcohol ink. This is one of my favourite images.
It is now home for my sequin collection!
The 2 little angels were from a chocolate wrapper and I've mounted them onto Angelina.
Ok....now its your turn!

PS If you want to use an angel quote, I'll be putting lots on my blog later today.

Audrey's blog

We were very grateful to Audrey at http://smallcreations.blogspot.com/ for inspiring us to make chunky ATCs. She wasn't able to join in with our challenge that week, but has since made some more beautiful examples. I recommend you take a look at her work.

Monday 24 November 2008

Incredible Inchies!

I'm sorry this post is late, but I was away at Rosies last week (having fun).
Your artwork for the Inchie Challenge has been a joy to behold!
Such a variety of techniques, materials and lay-outs. Thank you very much for taking part and inspiring us all............

Suippa - http://www.flickr.com/photos/31270934@N06/
http://studiorose.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/inchie-mania/

Sharon - http://magpiesarttreasurechest.blogspot.com/2008/11/abaa-inchies.html

Ros - http://stampandscrape.blogspot.com/2008/11/grungeboard-sketchbook.html

Patty - http://bitze.wordpress.com/2008/11/16/inchies-cubed/

Lorraine - http://loveofcollage.blogspot.com/2008/11/art-adventure-inchie-set.html

Lay Hoon - http://mescrap.blogspot.com/2008/11/awfully-big-art-adventure-inchies.html

Karen - http://bloggingourartout.blogspot.com/

Jean - http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/2008/11/painted-bunting.html

http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2008/11/art-adventure-give-us-inch.html

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/2008/11/they-asked-for-inch-week-9-abaa.html

http://hurleymurley.blogspot.com/2008/11/make-set-of-inchies.html

Denise - http://denise-blessthismess.blogspot.com/2008/11/shoot.html

Dawne - http://dawne-abitofthisabitofthat.blogspot.com/2008/11/awfully-big-adventure_16.html

Crissi - http://random-ramblings-of-a-crafter.blogspot.com/2008/11/inchie-set-awfully-big-art-adventure.html

Chriss - http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com/2008/11/big-art-adventure-inchies.html


Round of applause!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Before I go I'd just like to thank Yvonne at http://boxoftrix.blogspot.com/ for allowing us to show her inchies on our original post. I recommend you take a look at her blog - you'll see lots more beautiful pieces of fabric art.

Like this......