tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71716724830375827962024-03-14T06:41:02.145+02:00oti na'nai cornerUmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-83892453037495409112016-02-05T19:13:00.002+02:002016-02-05T19:13:33.644+02:00Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Year Planner Cover remake</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year, at the company I am working for, they provide us with the business year planner / daily agenda, to keep us organized. I do use it daily and every year, around December, I look forward in receiving the agenda for the new year to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year, for the first time, it wasn't a strictly professional single-colour look. It's light colour, with a heart and the new moto we have.... It wasn't boring but after a couple of days I realized that I am not a big fan of this either, and then I started thinking..... if it doesn't have to be single colour, boring, professional looking, I can might as well redo it my way!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am working in Research and Development after all, creativity is at least 50% of my job and being inspired is important. It is also <b>not</b> something you learn. No matter now well educated one might be, with strong technical knowledge and capable enough to understand the business strategy, these still are not enough to grand creativity and inspiration...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, as with most of my projects, it all started with a quote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainty.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by <a class="qa_151839" href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/erich_fromm.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0000aa; text-decoration: none;">Erich Fromm</a></span></div>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />(I do make searches on the internet with regards to quotes, i got this one from: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/erichfromm151839.html#RLDoElKLG4Tx4hxS.99 )</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also decided that this time i am not going to fight my love for purple. Besides it is my favourite colour!</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I started from this:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C1pYjyh8umI/VqymzjgRMlI/AAAAAAAAAO8/6n1X56R06I4/s1600/1-IMG_1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C1pYjyh8umI/VqymzjgRMlI/AAAAAAAAAO8/6n1X56R06I4/s320/1-IMG_1684.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and after layers of stamped tissue paper, mat medium, gesso, acrylics in neon pink and purple, removal of colour with baby wipes through stencil, black lava texturing, silver platters, collage, washi tapes, mesh tape, stamping and embellishing... I made this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ON0DQlx5xVA/VqymzxjtBaI/AAAAAAAAAPA/WnAAw1VFtRc/s1600/1-IMG_1685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ON0DQlx5xVA/VqymzxjtBaI/AAAAAAAAAPA/WnAAw1VFtRc/s640/1-IMG_1685.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, my quote is stamped and framed in wooden frame which i panted in teal, cause I love the combination of purple with teal. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdqBqjV1uCY/Vqyk6l__-fI/AAAAAAAAAOA/7utOyNZAIwY/s1600/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdqBqjV1uCY/Vqyk6l__-fI/AAAAAAAAAOA/7utOyNZAIwY/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, because "Creativity, requires the courage to let go of certainty" on the back cover, there is this manga girl ( i had to rip it off , of a manga comic that a friend brought me from Japan) who is moving forward leaving something (the "certainty") behind. She was glued on the cover, then covered in gesso and had to re-trace it on top of gesso in order to be able to colour her, using my Pitt markers.</span><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyPU7SIJsBs/VqylM-YoiAI/AAAAAAAAAOY/kDbfzP-2aVE/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyPU7SIJsBs/VqylM-YoiAI/AAAAAAAAAOY/kDbfzP-2aVE/s640/IMG_1688.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is looking behind her shoulder (at the "certainty" she is leaving behind) and there is a conversation that Alice had with the Cheshire cat:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Would you tell me which way i ought to go from here? <i>(cause she has left certainty and doesn't know where to go)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- I don't much care where...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Then it doesn't matter which way you go</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dh5ZSXAsFQ/VqylLy-lB9I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/yUgDs-Lz0Pg/s1600/IMG_1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dh5ZSXAsFQ/VqylLy-lB9I/AAAAAAAAAOQ/yUgDs-Lz0Pg/s320/IMG_1687.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> And there is the needle of the compass...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the spine of the book, it says :"Do what you love, love what you do", because, in the end of the day, this is my agenda for work. I feel privileged that I DO love my work! I do what I was dreaming to do while I was studying at the Uni and I have rejected careers that didn't interest me and focused on getting the job I love.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7EMtDXkI70/VqylOiFtpOI/AAAAAAAAAOg/l94sB1iKKhU/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7EMtDXkI70/VqylOiFtpOI/AAAAAAAAAOg/l94sB1iKKhU/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> At the frond, there is the framed quote, above the frame there is a butterfly flying away, the as she is flying further to the edge of the book, she is transformed into an idea (light-bulb with wings)</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9me-7sl7vzo/Vqysqptaf-I/AAAAAAAAAPU/TqejQT8qyHk/s1600/1-IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9me-7sl7vzo/Vqysqptaf-I/AAAAAAAAAPU/TqejQT8qyHk/s320/1-IMG_1691.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fMC52Jz-qw/VqylYacknSI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WtTMlXV4c2s/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fMC52Jz-qw/VqylYacknSI/AAAAAAAAAOk/WtTMlXV4c2s/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really enjoyed making this and the astonishing part (for me) is that i made it within a day, it took me 2 weeks planning it in my head, but only about 5 hours to execute. For me this is a huge success because normally I tend to spend 5 days or even 2 weeks on a project like that! </span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Needless to say, that many of my colleagues are now asking me to remake their cover... hehehe!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Supplies used:</span></span><br />
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-46687581199741706342015-05-16T22:26:00.003+03:002015-05-16T22:51:01.066+03:00My fairy...my mum!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love my mum! I really do! The older I get, the more I love her...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Maybe because I am now a mum myself and I realized what she went through raising me, I understand that she loves me infinitively, maybe because I already lost my dad, I miss him every day.....and I now know that one day I will lose her too. I hope this day won't come for many-many years, and before that day comes I am not going to miss any opportunity to let her know how much I love her, what an amazing person I think she is, and how thankful I am. If my dad was still here, I would do the same for him also. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">This year, for "mothers' day" I decided to make a card for her, with her as a fairy, through my eyes. The fairy she is to me. To show her what I see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">For the first time I had a quite clear idea of what I was making before I even started, so for the first time I have step-by-step footage. It's like my first official tutorial!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started with a piece of white cardstock 9''x9'', to fold it to a long rectangular card 4,5''x9''. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8wP2QZzCimQ/VVdZJgScxKI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SHGYjBp4avs/s1600/20150509_125121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8wP2QZzCimQ/VVdZJgScxKI/AAAAAAAAAJg/SHGYjBp4avs/s200/20150509_125121.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I chose the background colours and for the first time I applied this technique that I have seen numerous times : dots of acrylic on the surface </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">and then spread them vertically and horizontally using a plastic card.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ou1frmvo8cU/VVdZNBXkXpI/AAAAAAAAAJo/MiRgeQiU-wk/s1600/20150509_125911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ou1frmvo8cU/VVdZNBXkXpI/AAAAAAAAAJo/MiRgeQiU-wk/s200/20150509_125911.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I used a hearts stencil which I bough recently, and modeling paste with silver ink, and covered my background with silver hearts. My silver ink was far more vibrant and metallic than what I got after mixing it with the modeling paste. Therefore I decided to paint over some of the hearts with the silver ink for some interest.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6msMzX-SSVs/VVdaA-dWFiI/AAAAAAAAAKI/PZdclpcRUpw/s1600/20150509_130121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6msMzX-SSVs/VVdaA-dWFiI/AAAAAAAAAKI/PZdclpcRUpw/s200/20150509_130121.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFcM_PlfECI/VVdZzN1RcBI/AAAAAAAAAKA/3KbJ4EFFUYc/s1600/20150509_133230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qFcM_PlfECI/VVdZzN1RcBI/AAAAAAAAAKA/3KbJ4EFFUYc/s200/20150509_133230.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NvhJqUSk8A/VVdZrfSmZOI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/KWAgkbMG2gE/s1600/20150509_133721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NvhJqUSk8A/VVdZrfSmZOI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/KWAgkbMG2gE/s200/20150509_133721.jpg" width="150" /></a> <span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I wanted to make it leafy and used a dylusions stencil for this and some acrylic paint applied using a sponge.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7sY6PG2BmE/VVdaZZ2MA0I/AAAAAAAAAKY/kV9amGtYhv0/s1600/20150509_134222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w7sY6PG2BmE/VVdaZZ2MA0I/AAAAAAAAAKY/kV9amGtYhv0/s200/20150509_134222.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result was very disappointing</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hs9_jgwTNEo/VVdagTAV22I/AAAAAAAAAKg/ywJ9OEamLe8/s1600/20150509_141948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hs9_jgwTNEo/VVdagTAV22I/AAAAAAAAAKg/ywJ9OEamLe8/s200/20150509_141948.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I grabbed a baby-wipe to clean the green paint but because this smudged my background, I applied some gesso wash where I was planning to put all the leafs. I thought, maybe this wasn't too bad after all. Now my leaves will show better and since my fairy would go at the </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I used the leafy stencil again, but this time with my green markers, and after I traced each leaf, I painted over with green and metallic green paint.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To finish off the leafs, I used my pitt pen to make the details.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, time to make my mum. I used the Suzi Blue technique (surprise surprise!) to sketch the face and the body on a smooth white paper. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I gave her brown eyes and thick red lips, just like my mums' :-) </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRN9p71ezLc/VVdcVA61JdI/AAAAAAAAAL0/HYulP65vAZg/s1600/20150509_182614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRN9p71ezLc/VVdcVA61JdI/AAAAAAAAAL0/HYulP65vAZg/s200/20150509_182614.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Then, I cut a heart and painted a metallic red. She will be holding this heart in her hands, to represent mothers' unconditional love.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IN27VLKmwxo/VVddJSo0QKI/AAAAAAAAAME/p1LXFByaEnQ/s1600/20150509_192900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IN27VLKmwxo/VVddJSo0QKI/AAAAAAAAAME/p1LXFByaEnQ/s320/20150509_192900.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">My mother was born short-sighted and this was realized at the age of 4! For the first 4 years of her life she couldn't see like the rest of the people, and she still remembers the first time she put on glasses, to realize what the rest of people see. Her short sight is quite big (9 degrees) therefore she always wears glasses. So I had to give her glasses as well. That was a bit tricky, I used some metal string. It took some patience but I made it! I secured the glasses only at the back of the head, to keep the image clean and to let it have dimension.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Now, time for her wings. I drew 2 wings on a piece of white paper. Applied a layer of gesso and painted them gold. Also, I took a small piece of tulle and painted it purple with some distress paint, pulled it into small strings and glued them on the wings with mat medium. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Woo7SSy2ScQ/VVdbEjQfwXI/AAAAAAAAAKw/yuu3bpVMy_E/s1600/20150509_165054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Woo7SSy2ScQ/VVdbEjQfwXI/AAAAAAAAAKw/yuu3bpVMy_E/s200/20150509_165054.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gble4k3X8QU/VVdcSHys8EI/AAAAAAAAALo/UHizX_1ddhc/s1600/20150509_182848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gble4k3X8QU/VVdcSHys8EI/AAAAAAAAALo/UHizX_1ddhc/s200/20150509_182848.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBSBO952-k/VVddLnKFo5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/M9G-tkKhMlY/s1600/20150509_194842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgBSBO952-k/VVddLnKFo5I/AAAAAAAAAMM/M9G-tkKhMlY/s200/20150509_194842.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7MKvZmLMnY/VVddqP09AOI/AAAAAAAAAMU/f35ZbmCPMpA/s1600/20150509_201000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a7MKvZmLMnY/VVddqP09AOI/AAAAAAAAAMU/f35ZbmCPMpA/s320/20150509_201000.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I glued the wings at her back and glued the figure on the card, leaving the wings unglued, to let them curl and have dimension. Applied gesso to where her hair would be.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeET46FGkj8/VVdd02X6I2I/AAAAAAAAAMc/HtoMmvkNjfw/s1600/20150509_212338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FeET46FGkj8/VVdd02X6I2I/AAAAAAAAAMc/HtoMmvkNjfw/s320/20150509_212338.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Another thing about my mum is that she has short, fluffy, black, afro-like hair<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So, I really wanted to give some dimention there, therefore I mixed some modeling paste with black metallic paint and applied it with a spatula, trying to create some picks and curves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I had to hold myself from adding more sparkle! </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I am very pleased with the result but I think I should have made it into a canvas.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Oh well, maybe next year!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I will participate with this over at the <a href="http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">Getcreative Challenges</a> blog. They have a special challenge with theme "For the Ladies or Mothers' Day", sponsored by <a href="http://oddballartco.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">OddBall Art</a> (I can't even start talking about how much I love OddBall and the countless hours I have spent on their website just admiring their beautiful work... totally my cup of tea!). </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-48772003342355532632015-05-13T00:30:00.000+03:002015-05-13T00:30:00.081+03:00Dolls and girls and practice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I am still hooked up with drawing girls the <a href="http://www.goddessandthepoet.com/" target="_blank">Suzi Blu</a> style.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">As I said in my previous post, because I don't have the materials she is using I am trying to adjust the technique to what I have available.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">First, I sketched and sketched and sketched. Non-stop, everywhere, as much as I could. On the bus, at the doctors' waiting room, waiting for my son during his swimming lessons, on the car while my man is driving us to places, on the bed, on the plane, at he playground, everywhere I'm telling you!</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Then I coloured.... </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">For some reason, I am not sure why, I enjoy a lot using colouring pencils! I feel like a kid every time I use them, maybe that's why. I have some <a href="http://www.faber-castell.com/products/coloured-pencil/ColourPencilPolychromostinof12/110012" target="_blank">Polychromos</a> and <a href="http://www.faber-castell.com/products/coloured-pencil/WatercolourpencilAlbrechtD%c3%bcrerwoodcaseof120/117513" target="_blank">Watercolour</a> pencils. I l o v e my watercolour pencils, it's like magic, but I already used them to make a girl and this was not a success, (you might recall from my previous post). </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I enjoy colouring with my Polychromos as well, but I've never been pleased with the result and this time was no exception. I guess I have to learn on the techniques using colouring pencils, but this is another subject <em>(I shouldn't forget this "note to shelf" though).</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Here are some examples of the girls I created with Polychromos.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn7OfiBm6mo/VVJuCRthqdI/AAAAAAAAAIc/z56fMQpLYjk/s1600/20150513_000544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tn7OfiBm6mo/VVJuCRthqdI/AAAAAAAAAIc/z56fMQpLYjk/s320/20150513_000544.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NRaqfq4ROK4/VVJuULSk8lI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Br7E3dHFHwY/s1600/20150513_000736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NRaqfq4ROK4/VVJuULSk8lI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Br7E3dHFHwY/s320/20150513_000736.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gC7pcpC2WC4/VVJuB2ycIQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/zZLXyr2j5aA/s1600/20150513_000558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gC7pcpC2WC4/VVJuB2ycIQI/AAAAAAAAAIY/zZLXyr2j5aA/s320/20150513_000558.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Then I decided I would like to try my <a href="http://www.faber-castell.com/art-and-graphic/artist-products/pitt-artist-pens/IndiainkPITTartistpenBSkin6x/167162" target="_blank">India Ink PITT pens</a> and my fingers. For this technique I need non-porous surface, therefore I applied mat medium over some of my sketches before I start colouring them. I was a little bit more pleased with this technique. I guess the coloured pencils require great skill which I don't have at all (cause I have seen some amazing art created with coloured pencils), on the other hand, colouring with the marker and then moving the ink around with the fingers to create shadows etc. I feel it's much more safer and appropriate for my level. Anyway, here's some of my girls coloured with my Pitt markers. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7BOivFltxE/VVJuUVqsH9I/AAAAAAAAAI8/QR5XMbRrSM0/s1600/20150513_000639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7BOivFltxE/VVJuUVqsH9I/AAAAAAAAAI8/QR5XMbRrSM0/s320/20150513_000639.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgQOYTDEizA/VVJuBnvQVRI/AAAAAAAAAIg/JNJIj-gpw6Y/s1600/20150513_000616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgQOYTDEizA/VVJuBnvQVRI/AAAAAAAAAIg/JNJIj-gpw6Y/s320/20150513_000616.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">In her book, Suzi advices to practice a lot and only after practice you might end up sketching without measuring etc. She supports that anyone who wants to be an artist can be one, but practice is important. It makes sense. It's like everything else in life. Unless you are truly gifted with a talent, you need to practice to excel. Personally I love many things that require talent (drawing being one of them) but I don't have that much of it, so I figured, practicing a lot makes sense. I already see and feel the difference. My girls are much better now, I sketch them faster and I even personalize with things I am not that comfortable with, such as wearing hats, looking to other directions than straight ahead, holding things...</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_UhbAH1kQrc/VVJufng-1FI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_cUx7SRRie0/s1600/20150513_000749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_UhbAH1kQrc/VVJufng-1FI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/_cUx7SRRie0/s320/20150513_000749.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"></span> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LEDXHF-wBvQ/VVJuegD1s7I/AAAAAAAAAJI/4sOgxB4LwjY/s1600/20150513_000757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LEDXHF-wBvQ/VVJuegD1s7I/AAAAAAAAAJI/4sOgxB4LwjY/s320/20150513_000757.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I am fairly pleased with the PITT technique but I think I will also give a go to use acrylics in the near future. If I do, I will update this post in time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Stay tuned as my next post will be about making my mum into the fairy she is to me, as this years' mothers day gift.</span></div>
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-2509015569974081892015-04-14T00:59:00.000+03:002015-04-14T00:59:25.255+03:00I am entitled to be me!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here I am, playing for the April Challenge at the <a href="http://scrapsnpiecesgr.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">Scraps N Pieces Challenge Blog</a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The theme is "Be Me" and there is this lovely moodboard. Not only I really love the colors, but also the challenge instructed to use watercolors, mists... </span><br />
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1908454_10205641025411448_6836707095573295593_n.jpg?oh=4018717dcc876135ffa2646d3ebc8b6f&oe=55A155AE&__gda__=1436533758_8e9272e8a2d8526568a796640c1c2aa0" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1908454_10205641025411448_6836707095573295593_n.jpg?oh=4018717dcc876135ffa2646d3ebc8b6f&oe=55A155AE&__gda__=1436533758_8e9272e8a2d8526568a796640c1c2aa0" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">What a great excuse for me to use my Faber Castel watercolor pencils. I just love it when I go over them with the brush and watch the transformation of the color coming to life!</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQhfrR9--Wk/VSwRSxIW60I/AAAAAAAAAHY/OeVjEfqixJo/s1600/faber%2Bcastel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQhfrR9--Wk/VSwRSxIW60I/AAAAAAAAAHY/OeVjEfqixJo/s1600/faber%2Bcastel.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">A few days ago I finally got my hands on a book I wanted a long time ago, the Mixed Media Girls by the gifted and original (in my opinion) <a href="http://www.goddessandthepoet.com/" target="_blank">Suzi Blu</a></span>. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtm-Xud_cw8/VSwhdsACGLI/AAAAAAAAAHo/gV3dTd41FVU/s1600/mixed%2Bmedia%2Bgirls%2Bsizy%2Bblu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtm-Xud_cw8/VSwhdsACGLI/AAAAAAAAAHo/gV3dTd41FVU/s1600/mixed%2Bmedia%2Bgirls%2Bsizy%2Bblu.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I practiced a little bit the technique she teaches through this book but I couldn't wait to actually make something with it. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The "Be Me" challenge with the inspiring moodboard and my most favorite colors in the palate (purple and teal), the opportunity to use my watercolor pencils and my mists, along with my impatience to make a whimsical girl resulted to this page.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZUkUyU8zks/VSwOm9wjS-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NxhSrl3rdW8/s1600/1-20150413_192932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bZUkUyU8zks/VSwOm9wjS-I/AAAAAAAAAHE/NxhSrl3rdW8/s1600/1-20150413_192932.jpg" height="443" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'll talk you through it:</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">1. Glued 2 pages together from each side and then applied a layer of Gesso</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">2. I used <a href="http://rangerink.com/?product=dylusions-ink-sprays" target="_blank">Dylusions Ink Sprays</a> in Crushed Grape, Funky Fuchsia, Lemon Zest and Calypso Teal</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">3. I used my "hearts stencil" by <a href="http://teresacollins.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Teresa Collins</a> with purple, and teal by <a href="http://www.collageartist.com/claudine_hellmuth_studio.htm" target="_blank">Claudine Hellmuth Studio</a> and magenta by <a href="http://www.winsornewton.com/row/shop/acrylic-colour/professional-acrylic" target="_blank">Winsor Newton</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8EIONEqHjc/VSwmoZ2iu2I/AAAAAAAAAH4/ToRtXt2gHK4/s1600/hearts%2Bstencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8EIONEqHjc/VSwmoZ2iu2I/AAAAAAAAAH4/ToRtXt2gHK4/s1600/hearts%2Bstencil.jpg" /></a></div>
<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5McTsR6uCmU/VSwmuE7izJI/AAAAAAAAAIA/ghuIGTOIX50/s1600/imagesEDDH5R21.jpg" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GF0FdwSjOw/VSwmuISSAlI/AAAAAAAAAIE/kbnKCDIqZas/s1600/lilac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GF0FdwSjOw/VSwmuISSAlI/AAAAAAAAAIE/kbnKCDIqZas/s1600/lilac.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. I played a bit more with flowery stencil by Teresa Collins again and some blackboard paint and modeling paste, to add some dark accents on the background and some texture. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">5. I stamped a chandelier with some grayish acrylic randomly all over the pages. Then I added some white lines with Gesso and some dripping with the Dylusions.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">At this point my background was done!</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Time for my "whimsical" girl. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">6. I used a 2B pencil and a standard photocopying paper to make the face. For coloring Suzi Blu uses prismacolor pencils, apparently these have beeswax and allow you to make these smooth smoky eyes. I dint have these kind of pencils, and I decided to try her technique using my water pencils instead. I used all the flesh tone colors. I played a lot around the eyes. My doll is not half as pretty but I think it's good enough for a first attempt. Actually I am pretty proud of it because it's not a copy, but my own design, using the principles described in the book with different equipment. I cut the face, glued it on my page using matt medium underneath and over it. Then I added more layers of colour. I tried to make it darker on the right, under the nose, the lips and the eyes. The eyes.... I have miles to go before I achieve this smoky look </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiH9nTmEfCM/VSwOlONaPNI/AAAAAAAAAGs/4MLHNAWoqtA/s1600/1-20150413_192034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiH9nTmEfCM/VSwOlONaPNI/AAAAAAAAAGs/4MLHNAWoqtA/s1600/1-20150413_192034.jpg" height="640" width="552" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, I had so many back and forths with the eyes... My watercolour pencils was not ht ebest choise for the eye-lines and I had problems with the iris as well. It started in hazel, then made it a dark blue using acrylics and in the end I used the <a href="http://www.colourarte.com/silks-acrylic-glaze.html" target="_blank">Silks Acrylic Glaze</a> in Emperos Gold (the one I fell in love with and used on the sun on my <a href="http://otinanaicorner.blogspot.gr/2015/04/enjoy-little-things.html" target="_blank">Enjoy The Little Things</a> page!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">7. Then I drew the rest of the body and the hair. For the hair I used a water colour pencil. For the body I used several things. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">8. The top is a washi tape, kids quality, I bought it from Imaginarium last week when I bought an Easter present for my son (lol).</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">9. The skirt is a wide pink ribbon. Under the skirt I put some tulle that I painted purple using my acrylics and on top I put some constructors tape bought from the neighborhoods hardware store. Then I added some purple satin ribbon at the bottom and purple paper ribbon around the waste. On purpose I added many different and contradicting textures. At this point I felt like a fashion designer! LOL</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">10. She is holding a banner made by purple thread, I painted 4 triangles in silver and wrote "TRUE" in purple <a href="http://rangerink.com/?product=stickles%e2%84%a2-glitter-glue" target="_blank">Stickles</a>. Again used matt medium to glue it but made sure the curl the corners, just to give it a bit of dimension.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">11. I stamped the quote. I decided to use the exact quote provided on the moodboard. Again used matt medium and then I traced around the boarders with my purple <a href="http://www.fabercastell.com/art-and-graphic/artist-products/pitt-artist-pens/IndiainkPITTartistpenbigbrushstudiobox12x/167125" target="_blank">Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens</a> and smudged it with my finger.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">12. Finally, I created a frame around the page using silver pen, purple glitter and a black marker.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I think by now you know that Purple is my favorite color. It's true. I can't hide it. :-)</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I guess, I am entitled to love the color purple! </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">At this point I thought that it would be cool to have written all the things that I like, all the things that I am and believe in, but I would prefer these to be in the background, behind all the layers off water sprays, acrylic stencils, modeling paste etc. This would represent all the base, the foundation of the page.... Never mind. I log the thought here so that I won't forget and will do it in the future, once I have mastered my technique of making whimsical girls with smoky, tranquil and wise eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Till next time..... remember to be you!</span></div>
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-21998734984751142712015-04-07T23:13:00.000+03:002015-04-07T23:13:23.163+03:00Enjoy The Little Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Oh well, where should I start from? I was lucky enough to be the winner of the random draw at the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> <a href="http://scrapsnpiecesgr.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">Scraps N Pieces Challenge Blog</a></span><span style="color: purple;">. I was over the moon when I read my entry was the lucky winner. My birthday was coming up as well (it was actually yesterday) :-) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">The present I received, as you can see at the picture bellow, is absolutely wonderful!! A stencil, a stamp, a watercolor journal, a glue, an acrylic at a color I didn't have up to now and an amazing card, with nice wishes at the back and I loved so much the artwork at the front (it reads BEWARE creative brain AT WORK). I have already made 2 copies of it, an A5 size and I have placed it at the wall behind me at work and an A4 size that's going on the door of my creativity room at home.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I can't thank the girls over at <a href="http://scrapsnpiecesgr.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">Scraps N Pieces Challenge Blog</a> enough, and I will definitely be taking part at the next, and future challenges.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7XWQBZmaKw/VSGNxycZacI/AAAAAAAAAEY/O2Ffd6XTYwg/s1600/scraps'n'pieces%2Bpresent.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S7XWQBZmaKw/VSGNxycZacI/AAAAAAAAAEY/O2Ffd6XTYwg/s1600/scraps'n'pieces%2Bpresent.41.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Now, as I mentioned, my birthday was coming up and my man's present was to chose a range of art supplies. I had to do it last weekend in order to have everything available for my birthday. I went online and felt like a kid at a candy-shop! I was working on my list for hours! I made lists on several different shops and in the end I chose the list that I preferred the best LOL.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I don't mean to brag about it, but I can't hide my excitement either! This is my present and I am presenting it because today I will show you what I made with some of it:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fzx5_ty9-g/VSQpZeCpmOI/AAAAAAAAAFY/DPfWCuFvttw/s1600/1-DSCN3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3fzx5_ty9-g/VSQpZeCpmOI/AAAAAAAAAFY/DPfWCuFvttw/s1600/1-DSCN3083.JPG" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: purple;">There were stamps, stencils, mists.... I also threw in there the set of Silks Acrylic Glaze shown bellow (called Goodnight Kiss). I had no idea what this was exactly, apart from the fact that these are good to paint on silk , I guess. Oh well, I won't be doing any painting on silk but I couldn't wait to use this product. These are very shimmery!</span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xoNR6ynqDw/VSQpPaDHDgI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/w1P6RZWG0ug/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0xoNR6ynqDw/VSQpPaDHDgI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/w1P6RZWG0ug/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the following Art Journal page, was created because I HAD to use these paints. They are so shimmery, that I could only think of the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Before I start describing it, let me tell you that this page is miles away from perfection. It's full of imperfections. But in order to learn from my mistakes, I have added at the end the list of the "learning/ what didn't work / what to try next time". It's ok to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them, in order to improve, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><u>Step 1: The background:</u></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">First, (after gluing 2 pages together from each side to make them sturdier and a layer of gesso), for the background I applied </span><a href="http://rangerink.com/?product=tim-holtz-distress-paint" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Tim Holtz Distress paint - Salty Ocean</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> with a baby wipe. Then, some random stamping using a harlequin stamp (that was also included in my present) with Tim Holts Distress paint - Chipped Sapphire, and some random stenciling with </span><a href="http://www.thecraftersworkshop.com/The_Crafters_Workshop/All_Templates_8.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">TCW384 Well Rounded</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> stencil and Tim Holts Distress paint - Picket Fence. Finally I used some <a href="http://www.winsornewton.com/uk/shop/oils-solvents-mediums-and-varnishes/acrylic-colour/mediums/galeria-flexible-modelling-paste-8-45-us-fl-oz-250ml-pot-3040815?lang=gb" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">Modeling paste</span></a> with my favorite Purple Acrylic paint and the "Burlap" stencil shown below and applied randomly all over the pages.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_7lcw4Plyg/VSQwFdAztVI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/M1mfhAKnMK0/s1600/modeling%2Bpaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_7lcw4Plyg/VSQwFdAztVI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/M1mfhAKnMK0/s1600/modeling%2Bpaste.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BhVB2T7rVPc/VSQuxouhxII/AAAAAAAAAGA/k90lkNh2JEU/s1600/lilac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BhVB2T7rVPc/VSQuxouhxII/AAAAAAAAAGA/k90lkNh2JEU/s1600/lilac.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNr5gfijQQg/VSQvsHJAbLI/AAAAAAAAAGI/aYggP8LaVM4/s1600/bulrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JNr5gfijQQg/VSQvsHJAbLI/AAAAAAAAAGI/aYggP8LaVM4/s1600/bulrap.jpg" height="200" width="100" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Step 2: The sun</u></span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">I colored a page of aquarelle paper with <a href="http://www.scrapsnpieces.gr/gr/dylusions" target="_blank">Dylusions</a></span><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Lemon Zest, Tangerine Dream & Cherry Pie), Then, I</span> drew a sun with thick rays and cut it. I glued it on the page using </span><a href="http://www.winsornewton.com/uk/shop/oils-solvents-mediums-and-varnishes/acrylic-colour/mediums/galeria-matt-medium-8-45-us-fl-oz-250ml-pot-3040821?lang=gb" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Winsor Newton-Matt Medium</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> .... big mistake! Not a problem with the particular medium, not at all, I have used in most of my creations, but very difficult to glue such a thick paper on acrylic with this type. It took me a lot of effort to make it stay, some of it also got dissolved adding too much medium, I became ugly (Learning #1). Also, because Dylusions are activated with water, when covering the sun with the gel medium (cause I wanted to make it a non-porous surface) it was bleeding out and I had to wipe it constantly (Learning #2). Then it was time to use my Silks Acrylics Glaze, Emperor's Gold on the rays and Love Struck on the sun. I am really happy with the result! It doesn't show much on the picture, but it's really shimmery and pretty.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;"><u>Step 3: the little monster and putting it all together</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Also, in my present, I chose the stamp bellow. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa8Ux-C870c/VSQzPImCYoI/AAAAAAAAAGc/1ihX9-BRYOY/s1600/1-1-DSCN3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qa8Ux-C870c/VSQzPImCYoI/AAAAAAAAAGc/1ihX9-BRYOY/s1600/1-1-DSCN3083.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">I have to admit, I love all the </span><a href="http://www.stampotique.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Stampotique</span></a><span style="color: purple;"> stamps and I find it hard to get them in Greece. At this point I own my first stampotique stamp, this lovely little monster and therefore I HAD to use this as well. I couldn't wait!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I colored it with my <a href="http://www.fabercastell.com/products/more-products/sets/WatercolorpencilAlbrechtD%C3%BCrerstudioboxof36/117538" target="_blank">Faber Castell Watercolor Pencils</a> (I LOVE working with them and the next Scraps N Pieces challenge is about watercoloring so I know I will be making something) and cut it. Then stamped it on the page and glued the colored image on top of the stamped image, This technique helped me keep the small details such as the legs of the birds and the hair of the monster.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">The I wrote my quote on the sun rays. Again, here I am not very happy with the writing of the positioning of the words but at this point I had decided to just enjoy the process. I like the curly letters but I don't know what I was thinking when I made this calligraphy attempt on the word "little".</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Anyway, I did some "false stitching" on the sun and the rays and tried to put some white highlights on my letters (very poor result. My Homework task is to read and practice this white highlights on the letters). Oh and I did some shading around the sun a nd the monster using my <a href="http://www.fabercastell.com/art-and-graphic/artist-products/pitt-artist-pens/IndiainkPITTartistpenbigbrushstudiobox12x/167125" target="_blank">FaberCastell Big Brush markers.</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">So, here's the outcome:</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Learning #1: don't try to glue thick aquarelle paper with gel medium.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Learning #2: next time try to seal down Dylusions with a medium in spray form. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Homework: successfully highlight letters</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until the next time remember to Enjoy The Little Things!!!</span><br />
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-51785581192669197042015-03-25T17:03:00.002+02:002015-05-13T00:55:21.640+03:00No one is too old for fairytales<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been exactly 2 years since my last (and only) post, but it's not like I have been doing nothing all this time...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">Thought it's about time to get my hands on here, oh well, i'll try.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">It's been over a year since when I started keeping an art-journal, and I have spent most of my creative time in there. Mostly practicing techniques and trying to express with pictures favorite sayings (music lyrics, quotes or personal thoughts) that keep me going.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">I got interested in art journaling by watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOihCLI8Y7A" target="_blank">this video</a> by the amazing <a href="http://www.clips-n-cuts.com/" target="_blank">Vicky Papaioannou</a> who has been a big inspiration ever since. After watching a few or her art journal pages, I went out and bought a <a href="https://urbanful.org/2014/06/17/enter-pantone-universe/" target="_blank">Pantone Notebook in Flame Orange</a>, some glue and some gesso and got to work. I will make posts of some of my entries in time (we'll see how it goes).</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">At this point, I have to admit that Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carol has been my inspiration since when I was a kid. This story amazes me every time I read, watch or think about it. It is filled with learnings, makes me think and realize things. I am pretty certain that this story will always be a part of me till the day I die.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">So, I made the page bellow (though i am pretty sure it will not be the only page around Alice). I love this conversation between Alice and the doorknob: </span><br />
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<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064607/">Alice</a></i>: I simply must get through! <br />
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0444012/">Doorknob</a></i>: Sorry, you're much too big. Simply impassible. <br />
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0064607/">Alice</a></i>: You mean impossible? <br />
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0444012/">Doorknob</a></i>: No, impassible. Nothing's impossible. <br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used stencils and mists that I created myself by watering down acrylics, also droplets of ink that i blew through a straw to create these blue creature spots on the background. I sketched my doorknob based on the Disney one and used a metallic keyhole that i painted with <a href="http://rangerink.com/?product=tim-holtz-distress-paint" target="_blank">Picket Fence Distress Paint </a>, and to make Alice I used a technique that I haven't seen before, I can't say I invented it but I honestly haven't seen it yet. Here's how it goes: I have the stamp set of Alice tea-party that shows bellow, which I bought last year on my birthday . To ink the stamp I used the <a href="http://www.fabercastell.com/art-and-graphic/artist-products/pitt-artist-pens/IndiainkPITTartistpenbigbrushstudiobox12x/167125" target="_blank">Faber Castell Pitt artist big brush</a> pens. Basically I ink-colored the stamp, before stamping i.e. put yellow ink on the hair, blue on the dress, black on the socks, peach for the hand and face and I stamped in on heavy paper. So when I stamped it, it was already colored.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iugCQ2wiFUw/VRLKSazIkaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/Jsl_JA_pOk0/s1600/Alice%2Btea%2Bparty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iugCQ2wiFUw/VRLKSazIkaI/AAAAAAAAAD4/Jsl_JA_pOk0/s1600/Alice%2Btea%2Bparty.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I inked some lace and doilies and made a frame in black and white to match Alices' socks. I also added a paper key which I cut form a patterned paper and used some Tim Holtz word tickets.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdAhzLi4PaU/VRLR8kJZ5JI/AAAAAAAAAEI/ETniFZQUIN4/s1600/1-20150325_132322r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdAhzLi4PaU/VRLR8kJZ5JI/AAAAAAAAAEI/ETniFZQUIN4/s640/1-20150325_132322r.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I am ready to submit this for March challenge on </span><a href="http://scrapsnpiecesgr.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">Scraps n Pieces</a> <span style="color: purple; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a Greek blog that i follow. This will be the first time I participate on a challenge and I am very happy i do it with a creation about Alice and for this BlogSpot, which has also been an inspiration for me.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">And I couldn't agree more..... "No one is too old for fairytales" !!</span></div>
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7171672483037582796.post-24398898978754394662013-03-25T09:47:00.000+02:002015-03-25T15:11:20.539+02:00What it means and up-to-now summary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"Oti na'nai" stands for "whatever", "anything goes", "all shorts of random things" and that is exactly what this blog will be about.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's a corner to post all the random things that i make (oh i love making things!).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to warn you though, I don't tend to stick to the same craft for too long...there are so many crafts to try out and it seems i want to try them all (or I give up once i realise that I cannot be perfect at it x-). Oh well, it's true, I'm not perfect at anything. I do a little bit of everything (or a little bit of many different things), but nowhere near perfection. I don't really mind. I like imperfections. Imperfections make things (and people) unique... </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, recently i got engaged with the craft of scrapbooking. Even though i gathered all the necessary tools to get me going, i realised all i ever made up to now is cards! It's been 6 months i am doing it and all I've made is cards. Anyway, I am pleased with what I've done so far and i will share with you in a while. Once i gather here all my creations, then i will start taking up challenges from other blogs. At least his is my plan right now. Let's see if i stick to that...lol</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Let's see what I've done up to now...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--gEAcHVVKJg/UU_-1JzfkYI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/ZBgA7vPd734/s1600/IMG_0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--gEAcHVVKJg/UU_-1JzfkYI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/ZBgA7vPd734/s320/IMG_0778.JPG" height="320" title="cupcake birthday card 1" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--z1qP9jiK3M/UU_-7k0UxeI/AAAAAAAAAAY/F_mZB5so-rE/s1600/IMG_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--z1qP9jiK3M/UU_-7k0UxeI/AAAAAAAAAAY/F_mZB5so-rE/s320/IMG_0716.JPG" height="320" title="cupcake birthday card 2" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This concept was totally inspired by <a href="http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/image/card/3206873.html" target="_blank">this picture</a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have to go for now, wake up my boys (the baby and the big one) and go celebrate our National Revolution for Independence day with the rest of the family. :-)</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">a few hours later....</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUgK83cRZYo/UVBTnHh40BI/AAAAAAAAAAo/iEVrYU-O_Lg/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dUgK83cRZYo/UVBTnHh40BI/AAAAAAAAAAo/iEVrYU-O_Lg/s400/IMG_0720.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">one of my favourites is the one on the left, and i am proud to say it was all my idea :-) the inspiration came from the beautiful cherry background paper. In Greece we celebrate name-days as well as birthdays, and this one was made for my friend Stella on her name-day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Same goes for the one just bellow, that i made for my brother-in-law Andreas on his name day. Being a male, i tried to hold back in bright colours but the colour is still there.</span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZzPUmfhgqM/UVBVqywhobI/AAAAAAAAABA/Xs8ULilyCGk/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZzPUmfhgqM/UVBVqywhobI/AAAAAAAAABA/Xs8ULilyCGk/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" height="320" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="240" /></a><br />
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<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZzPUmfhgqM/UVBVqywhobI/AAAAAAAAABA/Xs8ULilyCGk/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" height="96" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 509px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1234px;" width="72" /><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have also made some birthday cards with candles. Really easy to make but do make an impression. Easy to suit for boys or girls, men or women. The paper-straw candles were inspired by a picture i came across on Pinterest which comes originally from <a href="http://alydosdall.blogspot.gr/" target="_blank">this lovely blogspot</a> .</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UxFVibSCcrE/UVBdIATZi9I/AAAAAAAAABQ/aYC8x2gY7hU/s1600/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UxFVibSCcrE/UVBdIATZi9I/AAAAAAAAABQ/aYC8x2gY7hU/s320/IMG_0713.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixeq_eFPaNo/UVBeTg3VQZI/AAAAAAAAABY/SPeJAH7pD54/s1600/IMG_0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ixeq_eFPaNo/UVBeTg3VQZI/AAAAAAAAABY/SPeJAH7pD54/s320/IMG_0779.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And now the cards i made for my beautiful baby niece who came to the world a couple of months ago.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For the baby-girl-dress card i used a template from </span><a href="http://stampington.com/the-studio/tempting-templates?page=4" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">this site</span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. The card on the right is just mine :-) I just wanted to use the metal baby onesie embellishment that i had ordered once i knew my sister is pregnant , which i dressed with a piece of the mushroom paper that i love but never got the chance to use. I also just wanted to place some buttons and used my little butterfly punch to create butterflies that fly around the flowers, as i used the punch, i realised that the paper strip i was left with is also perfect to use. Apparently this is a commonly used technique with pouches but i didn't know yet back then x-).</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSeOiofUAJs/UVBe31xwL7I/AAAAAAAAABg/9yWBjUWmBLc/s1600/IMG_0892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rSeOiofUAJs/UVBe31xwL7I/AAAAAAAAABg/9yWBjUWmBLc/s320/IMG_0892.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FOrQYInEaJI/UVBfL0_H9tI/AAAAAAAAABw/Aa_iFx71U0Y/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FOrQYInEaJI/UVBfL0_H9tI/AAAAAAAAABw/Aa_iFx71U0Y/s320/IMG_0881.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The rounding-corner punch is one of the first tools i got my hands on when i decided to craft paper, but i didn't use it as much in the beginning. After this card, i used it more and more...</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I now realised i have made just as many cards that i didn't take pictures of ... i made a pretty owl card for my owl-loving friend Eubie that i am very proud of and a twin-baby card for my cousin's twins (i just gave this card yesterday), a three-fold birthdays card for my mum and a couple of male cards (these are the ones i find most challenging as i have to hold back on my purple loving nature and all the lovely-too-girly embellishments).</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Nevermind.... next is a flower pot card for mothers' day and after that i will start taking on the challenges!!! Let's see....</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I'll back soon. Until then..Take Care :-)</span></div>
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UmaTechttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02591301566495707949noreply@blogger.com0Kifisia, Greece38.086810538210337 23.80900382995605538.080562038210338 23.798918829956055 38.093059038210335 23.819088829956055