Something To Crow About

Many of us like to use bird images in our artwork ..... especially black birds. I've been doing some research this week because I was a bit confused by all the different kinds. I've discovered that blackbirds belong to the thrush family, whereas crows, ravens, rooks and jackdaws all belong to the corvus group.

I chose to work with crows this week. They entertain me by jumping around on the roof of the house opposite ...I can often see them when I look out of my craft room window.

This is Crazy Crow! I found the instructions and inspiration in an old copy of 'Cloth, Paper, Scissors'. (The artist was Kelli Perkins.) Its made of black felt and fabric scraps.

This is a journal page I created after discovering the phrase A murder of crows. They can look rather sinister at times! (BTW a group of ravens is called an unkindness.)

I was inspired by the amazing work of Michelle Ward and her Street Team challenges where she gives loads of brilliant ideas and techniques. I recommend you take a look!

Finally - an ATC from me...and a glam pink one from Rosie!

So, we challenge you all this week to make art with crows! Or ravens....or rooks.....or blackbirds...........

Most of all.......have fun!

Charms

I'm sorry this showcase is rather late ..... I've been having a few problems with my laptop recently ...... but a new PC is arriving tomorrow, woohoo!
Your charms are absolutely wonderful; so much variety....... and loads of inspiration. Take a look..........

Sue: http://www.stampndaly.com/?p=1070

Rosie; http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/charm-ing

Patty: http://bitze.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/absolutely-charming/

Kimmie: http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/2009/01/charming-keys.html

Pattie: http://thejoyofnesting.blogspot.com/2009/01/ive-got-that-naked-kinda-feeling.html

Nicky: http://thealteredinker.blogspot.com/2009/01/just-charming.html

Sue: http://suesartstuff.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventure-absolutely.html

Jendy: http://jendypendy.blogspot.com/2009/01/charmed-im-sure.html

http://indybev.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-art-adventure-charms_06.html

Hilda: http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-adventure-charms.html

Chris: http://bling-kin-eck.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-art-adventure-challenge-charms.html

http://rileycoyotecreations.blogspot.com/2009/01/charms-for-challenge.html

Altered Canvas

Here's my altered canvas...its a little chunky one, 4"x6".
I'm going to give it away as part of the One World One Heart event. See my blog for more details.

All the images are from Artchix collage sheets.

ALTER A CANVAS

This week's Challenge is to alter a canvas - they're everywhere at the moment from art shops to pound shops (and dollar stores) and they come in all shapes and sizes. The larger one above is 8" square, and the small one is 2.5". What you can't see very well from these photos is that, inspired by Viola, I've turned them both around and used them as a kind of deep frame.

On each of them the central photo is raised up to give a 3D effect (which doesn't photograph very well). On the smaller one the reverse side of the canvas was a nice natural linen look, so I left it like that and painted the canvas edges with distress crackle paint in antique linen. I've always enjoyed Viola's use of lace too, so both canvases feature it, although I think I may age the lace on the larger one a bit, it seems to look too pristine. The metal plaque on the larger canvas is meant for a title when I can think of one!!

Look forward to seeing your creations and, as ever, I do want to say how much we enjoy sharing them!

A Word of Warning ...

Just a quickie to let you know that for Friday's challenge you'll need a framed canvas. You can use any size you like, the one I'm working on is TINY!!

BOTTLETOPS!!

This week we'd like to challenge you to use bottletops. As you can see here they're very versatile (although I confess to having only recently discovered them) ...

They make excellent frames - as in my assemblage where I used one on the back wall, and Linda used one to make this very pretty charm.

What I didn't realise at first is that they work better if you flatten them, so once I discovered I could do that in my Big Shot I was away! You can use alcohol inks to colour them, or metallic paints or permanent markers, there are endless possibilities. If you have a one inch circle punch this fits perfectly inside a bottletop!!
So over to you and can't wait to see the wonderful things you always come up with.

Give Me a Sign Showcase
Here are your fabulous signs - there was such a great response to this and it was very interesting to read your explanations. Thank you as always for joining in and providing such wonderful inspiration.

Sharon - http://magpiesarttreasurechest.blogspot.com/

Virginia - http://littlebookofme.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventurepeace.html

Sue - http://suesartstuff.blogspot.com/2009/01/awfully-big-art-adventure-give-me-sign.html
http://stampoasis.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_10.html

Sandy - http://stempelchaotin.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/awfully-big-art-adventure-give-me-a-sign/

Rosie - http://alteredartandstuff.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/give-me-a-sign

Nicky - http://thealteredinker.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-word.html

Nancy - http://neatcs.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/abaa/

Linda - http://lindavincent.blogspot.com/2009/01/word-challenge-and-soul-journal.html

Kimmie - http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-me-sign.html

Karen - http://karenscarryons.blogspot.com/2009/01/big-art-adventure-give-me-sign.html

Jendy - http://jendypendy.blogspot.com/2009/01/abaa-heres-your-sign.html

Jean - http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/

Gillian - http://scrappydoo-gillian.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-me-sign.html

Fiona - http://magickdiva.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-new-year.html

Denise - http://denise-blessthismess.blogspot.com/2009/01/l-r-challenge.html

Hilda - http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-adventure-make-sign.html

Sunday - http://scrapbooking-layout-inspiration.blogspot.com/2009/01/thank-you-layout.html

Sharon - http://sharon-ward.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-me-sign.html

Sue http://www.stampndaly.com/?p=1081

GIVE ME A SIGN!!

A New Year makes many of us look ahead and think about what we want for the months to come. I like to have a "word" for the year - and I make a sign and put it on my wall to remind me. My new word is "thanks", to remind me to be deeply grateful for all that I have ... rather than hankering after things out of reach! This is my sign (well it HAD to be pink didn't it?) and the challenge is to make one for yourself - a message to yourself for the year ahead, perhaps a goal for the year, or a saying you want to live by. Just remember that this is for YOU.

I made it out of mountboard with pink scrapbook paper, cutting the lettering with a Cricut machine, and added butterflies downloaded from the internet. The scroll at the bottom is a stamp. Couldn't resist adding pink sparkly stones either .....

The other sign I made for a dear friend (who has probably already guessed it's for her - and it's in the post to you!). I've used her favourite colours and a little wooden frame I bought from a dollar store.

Can't wait to see your signs - don't forget to share with us why the words are special to you!

Pretty Pink Recycling

A couple of weeks ago we challenged you to recycle - well the challenge was well and truly taken up by Jean. She did a fabulous job and we recommend you take a look at her blog http://bluebirdslivinginthemeadow.blogspot.com/

Window Challenge

Sorry this is a little late, but here are the wonderful windows you created for our challenge a few weeks ago. Thanks to everyone who took part - your artwork is inspiring and imaginative, as always!

Sandy - http://stempelchaotin.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/artsy-background-red-awfully-big-art-adventure-windows/

Chriss - http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com/2008/12/abaa-windows.html

Denise - http://denise-blessthismess.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post.html

Ilonka - http://kreativgeschwafel.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/big-art-adventure-window/

http://indybev.blogspot.com/2008/12/big-art-adventure-window.html

http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2008/12/friday-art-adventure-windows.html

Jaqi - http://jaqi-scrapbookinginmysleep.blogspot.com/2008/12/abaa-window-challange.html

Katie - http://ferrishyn-frontier.blogspot.com/2008/12/art-adventure.html

Kimmie - http://kimmiekrazykorner.blogspot.com/2008/12/window-challenge.html

Lisa - http://lafemmepapier.blogspot.com/2008/12/windows.html

Linda - http://lindavincent.blogspot.com/2008/12/big-art-adventure-challenge-windows.html

Rosie - http://bigartadventure.blogspot.com/2008/12/windows.html