Time waits for no one!!

Due for an Update!!

It has been a creative dry spell here the past couple of weeks. I have been doing research into a new project,
so far so good! I can't wait to reveal what I have been hatching!
And just to make my life busier, I have also taken on a night fill job to bring in some extra money for me!
So things are pretty hectic here untill I get myself into a better routine!

Life has been otherwise good and the family are all good which makes me happy!

Here are a couple of recent layouts, the first one was done for the colour room a couple of weeks ago, but I haven't really had a chance to get back to my computer to upload this, so this one is overdue...

TCR #59 - Sublime Peace
 
This is Don and my Mum and our dog Tilly taking an early morning walk along the beach. Nothing beats an early morning walk taking photos of the sun rise over the ocean!!! It is my most favourite thing in the world!!
I had a play with this photo in photoshop!

 
Materials: I have missplaced my materials list for this one but from memory I have used:
Cardstock, White Paint, Hambly Decorative tape, Prima - Stamp, Prima Flowers, Basic Grey - Rub Ons, Kaiser Craft Pearls, Basic Grey Doiley, Websters Pin, Handmade crochet flowers, Paper Towel, Chalkboard - Glimmer Mist.
Dusty Attic:
Scroll Border #1 - DA0219
Mini Dragonflies - DA0518
Mini Words - DA0476
Leafy Stems #2 - DA0566

The Dusty Attic pieces were painted white on this layout! To get the effect on the background I dry brushed some white paint on the background before spraying it with the chalkboard ink. The little pink flowers were made out of paper towel, I keep these when I use them to clean up paints and inks to make little flowers on them. When I can share the scrapping outback layout I will show you the flower tutorial!

This layout was just a fun layout for me to sit down and relax for a bit! It took a couple of weeks to finish this one by the time I got back to it!

I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat!
 
I found this birdcage at an op shop to put a plant in it and hang up! But before I did I could help but grab this photo opportunity with our cat Spiro! He was so little here, he definitely wouldn't fit in there now! LOL

 
Materials: Cardstock, Patterned papers - Basic Grey basics, Kaiser Craft, 7 Gypsies -gyspy market, Prima packaging, Basic Grey Doily, Prima Vine, Prima Flowers, Handmade babywipe flowers, Beads, Lace, Hessian, Muslin, Brads, Judi-kins Embossing Powder - Chocolate Twinkle, Perfect Pearls, Stickles - Platinum, Perfect Pearls Mist - perfect copper, American Crafts - Zing embossing powder - Green, Silver Versa Ink, kaiser craft bling, Adorn it letters - tiny black, feathers and natural grasses from our yard
Dusty Attic:
Bird cage #1 - DA0082
Leafy Stems - DA0447
Song Birds - DA0332
Ferns - DA0507
Wings #2 - DA0500

I have used a variety of embossing powders on these dusty pieces, the bird cage was embossed with the chocolate judikins embossing powder then added some Platinum stickles over the top of the bird cage. The wire of the bird cage was inks with the silver versa cube.
The leave were embossed with the green zing then sprayed with different spray inks.
As this one was just for the sake of playing I didn't really keep a track of what I have done with each peace! Although the large bird was giving me grief, and after painting I dont know how layers of inks and perfect pearls I was just about finally happy with it when, plop!!! It fell into my coffee!!! After all the laughter died down and I fished him out, it seemed it was just the finishing touch I was after!!! LOL
I really enjoyed creating this layout for no particular reason!

Tip: When I create my clusters I add 3D foam tape to some of the elements, and when I poke sprays and bits and pieces into the clusters I either just add a bit of glue to the end and poke back in or lift up the petals of over lapping pieces and just squirt some glue in there to hold all the loose bits and pieces!

I hope this finds you all well, and you have managed to avoid the winter flu's that are going around in our side of the world!
Take care! & Stay Warm!
Hugs
Michelle x

 

 

Scrapping Outback

Life has been crazy hectic for me for the past couple of weeks!! I am hoping to have a new direction by next week with some exciting things in the works!!!I

In the meantime I  am excited to share my sneak Peek for my Masterchef Class for the Scrapping Outbacks
"My Scraproom Rules Competition" tonight!!

I am looking forward to catching up with everyone in the class tonight!!
Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Hugs
Michelle xx

TCR #57 & Dusty Attic

Another week has flown by, I don't know where this week has gone!!
I can't believe how cold it has gotten so quickly! I am such a cold frog,
if this is the start of winter I am not looking forward to it!

I can't believe I have managed to get another colour room challenge done this week!! I love the colour palette this week!!

 

This is of my beautiful Grandparents!!! They were married for 64 years before my Grandad passed away 2 years ago! I love their wedding photo, it is very special to me!

 

Materails:
Cardstock, Script PP (brand unkwnown), Fiskers Punch, Prima Flowers, Petaloo Flowers,
Kaiser Craft Flowers, Prima Butterflies, Prima pearl bling, Beads, Lace, String, Brads,
Leaves from our silky oak tree and grasses from the yard, Gold Rub & Buff, Brown embossing powders, Walnut Stain Distress Ink.
Dusty Attic:
Doily #1 - DA0479
Hinges - DA0509
Leaves - DA0508

The Hinge was embossed with a coulpe of different embossing powders, I did these a while ago so I can't remember exactly the ones I used here. The hinges with the red brads were inked with old Paper Distress Ink. The leaves were painted with Gold Rub & Buff.
When adding a lot of different layers a tip to add more depth is to create as many corners as possible, always place your pieces off center from the last piece. Even an extra small square of PP poked in behind the corner of a photo can add so much more depth to a page and helps to frame a photo.
When I work with layers like this I stick from the top down, I will add a bit of tape to the front of the first piece going behind the photo and stick it to the photo!
I then stick each layer to the photo from the top down.
Another tip to adding clusters to your page is to balance them into triangles on your page. See how the 3 red flowers form a triangle, this helps to add visual balance to your page, as well as adding elements in odd numbers, eg in groups of 3 or 5 etc. (again see the 3 red flowers)
Also when you are adding clusters to your layout give them a purpose and connect them to something, like the edge of the page or photo or to balance a shape within your layout etc rather than have them floating in the middle of no where.

I hope these couple of tips have been able to help you, just yell out if you have any questions!

TFL!
Thanks for Stopping By!
Hugs
Michelle x

Dusty Attic Inspired By & TCR#56

Hi Back again!!! I am slowly getting better at this blogging game, it's only taken how many years!!! LOL!!

I have been reassessing my future again lately and what direction I will take, I think I am happy I have finally worked out what I am going to do that will work for me!!! You will be the first to know if and when something eventuates!! I am a bit excited about the possibilities of the future!!!

Anyway back to a another creation...

Jen has just released the New Dusty Attic April Release Products!!! They are absolutely stuning!!!

Maiko is also running her Dusty Attic Give Away at the moment too!! YOu can check it out here: http://maimaipiano.blogspot.com/2011/05/dusty-attic-giveaway.html 

Dusty Attic is also running a new Fortnightly Style Inspiration Challenge over at Dusty Central.
Each fortnight you can take inspiration from one of our featured Design Team Members.
First Up  Emeline is featured.  Here is my take on Emeline's style..... I have also incorporated the colour room into this challenge too! I did find it a challenge to do Em's style, I kept wanting to add more.........
Was so hard to pull up!

 

MAterials:
Papers: White CS, Fancy Pants Little Sprout, Sandylion Turquoise, Basic Grey Doily,
Doily, Ribbon, Matha Stewart Punch, Fiskers Punch, Lace, Prima butterfly,
The Birdcage sticker come from a sample pic from a wall decal.
Adorn It Milk Chocolate Letters
Dusty Attic:
Decorative Gate #1 - DA0289
Mini Words - DA0386 
 
This was an easy layout to put together, the DA pieces where just painted with white paint.
Lots of punching on this layout and fussy cutting.
Tip 1: To Sharpen your punches by punching out some Al Foil.
Tip 2: If you are punching delicate papers like mulberry paper etc place the paper between 2 sheet of plain white copy paper then punch out!  This helps to preventing getting all caught up in the punch all the time!

Thank you for looking!!
Have a Great Day!
Hugs
Michelle x

More Dusty with TCR #55

Back again!!! Here is this week's Colour Room Challenge #55!

This photo is of my Husbands family, I am lucky to have married into such a lovely family!

Materials:
White CS, Doily's, Petaloo Flowers, Prima Flowers, Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Die Cut, Buttons, Fabric, MM Foam Flourish Stamps, Buttons, Little Roses, Jenni Bowlin - Reverse Brown Stickers, Adorn It - Radiant Alpha's, KC - Pearls,
* Paints - Matisse - Aqua Light Green, KC - Raw Umber, Jo Sonja's - Turners Yellow & Rose Gold.
* Glimmer Mist - Mustard Seed, Tattered Leather & Brick
*I made up a teal glimmer spray with - (Alcohol Inks - Stonewashed, Sail Boat Blue, Lettuce & Pool, Perfect Pearls - Turquoise, Blue Patina & Mint)
*Masks - Tim Holtz - Borderline, Prima Masks
*Rub Ons - DCWV - Doodles with Flourish, Autumn Leaves - Paris in Spring, Three Bugs in a Rug - Inspiration, Sassafrass Lass - Rubons.

Dusty Attic:
* Long Stem Flower - DA0462
* Mini Words - DA0386
* Ornate Fence #1 - DA0440

 

* I started this layout by masking and spraying one piece of white cardstock, then stamped the flourish stamps around the border first with yellow paint, then going back over the same spot with the brown paint. After I have finished inking and stamping this piece I wasn't really happy with it, so I preceeded to tear the center out leaving the stamped edge border to use as a border on the layout.
I have also used a piece of this inked cardstock as the photo mat.

*I then got another white piece of cardstock and sprayed tattered leather over the floral prima mask in the top RH corner and lightly over the background. 
Then using the Aqua paint I stippled over the border mask along the bottom.

* before I stuck the outside border down, paint aqua along the back edge so that when you roll it in the hint of aqua adds another frame to the page. I then machine stitched around this border!!

*I have used my finger to paint the fence yellow and while it was still wet smudged some brown over the top! This was then sprayed with the Brick Glimmer Mist.

* The flower was painted yellow then the edge of the flower was painted with the red, this was also sprayed with the brick and Mustard seed Glimmer mists, I finished this off with lightly brushing another coat of yellow paint with my finger to blend the 2 shades. I added a little bit of Kindy glitz to the tips too!

* When ever I am working with a texture layout with lots of depth (3D foam tape is my best friend) LOL
I mat the photo with a piece of chipboard as well. It just gives the photos protection in your albums.

* I didn't have a teal spray ink when I created this layout, so I made my own using and empty Glimmer Mist bottle, Fill with water (not to the top though)  Then I just kept squirting in these Alcohol Ink Colours until I was happy with the shade - (Stonewashed, Sail Boat Blue, Lettuce & Pool). As well as adding little scoops of Perfect Pearls powders using the tip of a paddlepop stick for a scoop- (Turquoise, Blue Patina & Mint) I just kept blending and adding colours until I had the right shade of teal I was after!!

TFL!!!

Have a great Day!!
Hugs
Michelle x

Dusty Attic & TCR #54

OK Finally back again!!! I hope everyone had a safe and fabulous Easter!!!

My computer crashed over the weekend, I am so lucky my computer guy is a miracle worker and got everything back for me!! Just a word of warning if something comes up of your screen saying you have had a fatal error and a window comes up saying it has to run the windows recovery program!! Don't touch it!! Turn your computer straight off and get someone to look at it!! It deleted all my programs off the computer! :( It even got past my Anti Virus program!  This computer is over 5 years old now and I am ready for an upgrade!!! I soo can't wait!!! The poor old girl is just getting slower and slower!!!

Anyway back to some scrapping! Here is last weeks Colour Room Challenge, I didn't get a chance to upload this before my computer crashed!

 This photo was taken of my Gorgeous Daughter an myself as we celebrated our birthdays a couple of weeks ago. It was Leonii's 18th and my 40th! This photo was just taken on the Iphone so not the best quality. I am so proud of my beautiful girl!!

 
 Materials:
White CS, Zips, Lace & Braids, The heart and the flourishes are from a Fancy Pants embellishment box  I think (not 100% sure on that though), Prima Flowers, Adorn it - Tiny Christmas letters, Feather, Stuck on Craft - Pressed Flowers - Northpole lateral Orange, Bumble Bee Craft Pocket, Beads, Glimmer Mist - Mustard Seed, Jo Sonja Paint - Turners Yellow,
Dusty Attic :
* Mini Butterflies - DA0364
* Wings #2 - DA0500
* Words #3 - DA0477 (wings)
*Mini Sparrow - DA0020

 

 

 

All  the chipboard pieces were painted with the yellow paint just using my finger for a brush, then lightly sprayed with the glimmer mist. The butterflies were dampened to seperate the wing layers.
This was one of those rare quick easy ones that just come together in no time at all!!

TFL!!! Off to upload TCR #55 now!! :)

HAve a great Day!
Hugs
Michelle x 

The Dusty Attic Give Away Will Be Drawn Tomorrow :) & TCR #53

Back again, I am definitely getting better at this blogging game with more regular updates hey!!
I still have a lot of work to do upgrading this blog, hopefully I will get to it real soon! :)

Firstly just giving a shout out that I will be drawing the Dusty Attic Give Away Tomorrow, so last chance to leave a comment to be in the draw!! Good Luck Everyone!!! Thank you to everyone who has played along, and thank you to those who are following my blog! :)

I am on a roll at the moment, that and it helps to have a friend to give you a kick up to butt to get some challenges done!!!
Enjoying doing more regular scrapping too~!!
I have also embarked on another adventure in Christy Tomlinson 's The She Art Workshop, hoping to learn how to do Canvas art properly. I will have another canvas to share soon, it is almost finished! I am not a very good student though, went right off track in the first week, will share in the next few days! :) 

Back to scrapping here is another Colour Room Challenge, love the colours this week, although it took a while for this layout to come together. I was happy with it in the end! :)

This one is of my favourite subject... Sunrises & Sensets, I have so many of these photos and never get tired of looking at them!! These photos were taken out of the car window traveling home one weekend many years ago!
 
Materials:
I have used the Dusty Attic -
Ornate Corner #8 - DA0467 (I have used the corners as well as the off cuts for the journaling strips.)
Branches - DA0376 ( Used the branches to make a tree, left natural.)
Barb Wire - DA0154 (left natural)
Lace, Ribbon, Velvet Ribbon, Brads & Buttons & Clay Button.
Opals Embossing Powders.
Velum Flower sheet (brand unknown)
Jo Sonja paint -Turners Yellow 
Glimmer Glaze - Mellow Yellow
Perfect Pearls Mist - Perfect Copper
Glimmer Mist  - Moonlight
Distress Stickles - Rusty Hinge
Perfect Pearls - Biscotti
Creative Imaginations - Teal Scroll die cut paper.
Jenni Bowlin Studio - Reverse Navy Stickers
Lace Curtain
White Cardstock

 

This one is a pretty easy layout to do...

• I cut out the scroll and border from the CI Die Cut Paper.
• The yellow journaling strips were the off cuts from the Ornate Corner pieces, I painted them yellow, then added Yellow Glimmer Glaze then dusted with the Perfect pearls and finished of with a swich of Distress Stickles.
• The half tag on each side of the layout was one I had done many years ago. I added one colour to a piece of cardstock then heated that and while the opals was still hot sprinkled another colour over the top and heated again. While the melted opals is still hot I placed a rubber stamp into the hot opals and left to cool before removing. This gives you a nice embossed image in the opals.
• I finished this layout off with a bit of misting as well with the copper perfect pearls and moonlight Glimmer Mist.
• The fabric leaves on this page were cut out from an old lace curtain and sprayed with the copper perfect pearls! 

Thanks for Looking!!!
Good Luck tomorrow to everyone who has entered!!
I have some cards to share when I get a few more spare minutes too! :)

Have a great Day!
Hugs
Michelle x

TCR #52 *Dusty Attic* - (Edited)

Today is a special day for me! My baby girl Leonii turned 18 today!!! Happy Birthday Gorgeous Girl!! So proud of you Hun!! Where did the last 18 years go???

I like having a friend to challenge me to get these colour room challenges done each week!!! It has been fun getting together and experimenting!! Just the push I need!! Thanks Renee!

This colour palette was a tricky one to match up the mint colour.. It hasn't photographed very well!

 

Here is what I did with this one....

 
Materials for this Layout:
Cardstock, Basic Grey PP Eerie -(white washed), MME Wild Asparagus PP - (white washed), Prima Flowers, Martha Stewart Punch, Paints, Liquid Pearls - Mint Green, Prima - SIIP Swirls Cream,
Sculpey Clay, lace, ribbons, fibers & leather string. Kaiser Craft Pearls. I used a mixture of embossing powders and glimmermists as well. Lace and Feathers & Glossy Accents & Perfect Pearls - Blush & Mint
Dusty Attic:
Flower Layers #1 - DA0502
Ornate Corner #8 - DA0467
Mini Words 14pcs - DA0386
 
I will be back with more information on this layout and a tutorial for these lace flowers tomorrow night, it's already 1.30am here and this computer is on a go slow again! So stay tuned!!

EDITED TO ADD:
I have just added a tutorial to the Dusty Attic Ning for the Lace Chipboard flowers - HERE
Sorry I have to go again this morning, But I will be back tonight with a few more step by step details on doing this layout!

EDITED TO ADD #2- Tips for Creating this Layout:
OK I finally back again.. I sort of had my 40th Birthday celebrations over the weekend that interupted things! Here are a few more steps on creating this layout.
|I will be adding some clay tutorials at a later date also! :)

• First I punched the 2 rectangle borders around 2 different patterned papers, then threaded the fibers and ribbons around them.
• The paint splatters on the top RH and bottom LH corners were done with paint blown through a straw.
• The Dusty Attic Corners around the photo were painted, glimmer misted and embossed with a couple of different colours. I painted them first and while the paint was still wet I sprinkled on a some embossing powder then heated and sprayed over them with a little glimmer mist, heated again then sprinkled on a different coloured embossing powder.
  I pixed up the painted from a couple of different colours, I can't remember which ones I used there and used. I think I used Valentine and Aurora Opals embossing powders and Deep Plum and Cranberry Zing Glimmer Mists. I just keep heating and layering colours until I am happy with it! :)
• I have used the Mint Green Liquid Pearls to paint over a couple of things and just used my finger to spread it, I also used the liquid pearls to make the extra swirl patterns.
• The 2 thick swirls coming out from the flowers were made out of clay, simply roll into a thin sausage then shape into a swirl pattern, you could also use a printed template to work out a swirl design over before baking.
• The decorative buttons were created using a Krafty Lady Mould, then painted white and then I painted them with Perfect Pearls and a touch of the Mint Liquid Pearls
• The Title "Together" was embossed and glimmer misted like the corners then using my finger I added splotches of Pink paint over the top.
• The center flower in the large mint flower was made out of clay with flower Cookie Cutters
  I rolled the clay flat with a glass roller (or Jar) and cut out 2 different sized flowers. Slightly curl the edges up before joining them together then add a little rolled up ball to the center before baking.
• I find it best to work on a glass mat when working with clay.
  
  I hope that helps to give you a few more ideas to play with!!!
  Have a Great day!!!

 

My Fellow Dusty Attic Design Team Member Natasha Naranjo Aguirre – USA
 is also running her Dusty Attic give away on her blog and a little extra!
Be sure to check it out HERE for another chance on winning some more Dusty!!

Have a great weekend Everyone!!!!
Take Care!
Hugs
Michelle x
 

Dusty Attic Give Away!! CLOSED!! Winner Announced! Congratulations - Debbie Krevec!

Congratulations to Debbie Krevec -The Winner of this Dusty Attic Giveaway!!!
Thank you to everyone who left so many beautiful comments!!! 
I will definitely have to do this again soon! It has been so much fun!!!
Debbie can you email your address to me please at [email protected] Thanks!!!

  

If you  would like another chance to win more Dusty Goodies just head over to
Irene's Blog 
and 
Natasha Naranjo Aguirre Blog
 they are also running their Dusty Attic give away's at the moment too!!

Good Luck!!!!

 
Ok Finally it is here as promised!!!
You could win all these yummy Dusty Attic Products simply by leaving a comment here on this post!!!!
I would love you to follow my blog too, but it is ok if you can't!
As long as you leave a comment on this post here you will be in the running!!!!
I will be able to ship to anywhere in the world so everyone is in with a chance!!!

This Give Away will be drawn on the 15th of April 2011 (Australian Time)

 

Good Luck Everyone!!!!  

Angel Eyes!! *TCR #51 & Dusty*

I hope the weather has been kinder to everyone else out there, we have been flooded in again this morning, and have had a section of our bitumen road on the way out has been washed out. You can still get out over it but boy is it a mess!! Still looks like the rain hasn't all gone yet either!!
Wil had a mate over and they ended up surfing in the yard under lights last night, only in Queensland hey!!! LOL They can do some pretty impressive tricks on a skim board in a few inches of water too!

This is my gorgeous niece Miss Gracie!! She is the cutest thing with gorgeous eyes and white blonde hair!!
Another challenge here for the Colour Room and of course I couldn't help using some more Dusty on this one too!!! Love every Dusty Attic Piece, they are so versatile!!!
I also incorporated another challenge into this that friends gave me, it was definitely a challenge combining both challenges into the one! But lots of fun all the same!!!
I love it when friends challenge me to do these things, it's another layout that probably wouldn't have been done otherwise this week!~! Thanks Girls!!!

Materials:
I have used the Dusty Attic Skeleton Clock Faces - DA0430,
and new Leaves - DA0508 
along with a little bit of leftover Vine Border - DA0485
Cardstock, and Bo Bunny papers
Glimmer Mist - Electric Blue and Saphire and Dazzing Diamonds
Kindy Glitz & Distress Stickles - Broken China
Pink paint (on the arrows)
Blue Crayons and Turquoise Perfect Pearls on the clock face
Adorn it letters - Tiny Whoopsy Red
Beads, flower ribbon, lace & Buttons!
The Arrows were cut out with the cuttlebug.
White with a hint of green paint on the leaves.
Prima flowers, my own crochet flowers & the orange flowers come off a bunch of flowers that I have pulled apart to use.
I can't remember what the swirly pattern cut out paper is from. I quite often cut out pattern paper like this and put back in my stash to use later. It is a great job to do in front of the TV!!

* I used a combination of crayons and perfect pearls and glimmer mist on the clock face until I was happy with the colour, then added the Distress stickles over this.
* I stuck down the photo, clock and papers onto the page then covered the photo to add a touch of glimmer mist over the two corners.
 

Sorry if you have been back waiting for my Dusty Attic Give Away!! I will have it up shortly, just have to go and photograph it now!!! Should be up this afternoon!!

Have a lovely day!
Cheers
Michelle x