PDCC 51: autumn leaves

We've finally got the crispness to the air that signals autumn - I just love the blue skies we've been having, and the sun shining on the leaves that are just starting to turn :)

It was my turn to choose the inspiration photo this week in the 'cafe'.  I  love leaves that are becoming skeleton leaves but aren't there yet so still retain some colour.  This leaf has such unusual hint of a greenish colour remaining, 'ish' being a key part of the colour description this week!  Brown and blue are one of my favourite colour combos so this beige and soft blue are perfect for me.

We're sponsored this week by 'Creative Cuts and More' and I chose to use the scalloped edged card.  The patterning on the card is from one of my newest stamps, an enormous Impression Obsession flourish stamp that is designed to cover your whole card :)  The leaves are from a sheet of Bo Bunny DP - it was the green that caught my eye and seemed to be the correct shade.  Some checked paper by g.c.d studios and some texture added with a Lost Coast ledger stamp and I was done :)

Don't forget to check out the work of all our other designers this week, there's some yummy stuff out there :)

Suzanne Czosek

Andrea Ewen
Savannah O'Gwynn
Lisa Somerville
Ruby 2 Shoes

It's the Play Date Birthday party next week - can't believe we've been challenging you all for nearly a year now!  Look out for a special post on Thursday 21st October 2010. :)

And don't forget we have a

Design Team Call

Check the Play Date Cafe blog for all the details :)

I've NeVeR made Christmas Cards THiS early:)

I know, I know, Autumn's only just in the air and I'm mentioning THaT word again!

  

I'll let you into a secret, I normally make a batch of quick cards the week before Christmas, and it's always a massive rush, but having to prep for a workshop means I have cards made already and I sooooooooo enjoyed making them!  Without the pressure of time, and with the relaxed, journaling techniques I used, I had a very relaxing time making these :)

So if you'd like to spend the morning making some quick cards, and the afternoon making a couple of special ones, join me at The Stamp Attic on Saturday 23rd October 2010,  

ExperienceArt

The art exhibition on Friday night was a wonderful mixture of professional and amateur artists.  Alan's oil paintings are exquisite in their detail, although I can't say some of the subject matter is to my taste!

Now these, by Kaz Markham were very me.  I bought the one in the bottom left of this image :)  How cute are those houses :)  My sister bought the circular one!

I love the idea of this metal clock, going to have a play around that idea!

Sad I know but it was great having proper titles (and prices) under my canvases!

I sold my favourite painting on the night - the green one above.  

The 'joy' canvas above is one of my new favourites :)  The exhibition stayed up all weekend so I don't yet know if I made anymore sales.  The Mustard Tree charity is based in a large warehouse and when I was setting up, I decided that the stains on the floor would benefit from the artistic touch :)

Such  fun!!!  So if you have stains on your carpet, don't get out the Vanish, turn them into monsters instead LOL

What a great show!

LOL, not me, Happy Stampers North West festival at Port Sunny ;)

OK, we have had lots of laughs about this photo that the lovely Jennie Boxall took of me early today and iNSTaNTLY put on Facebook, and I mean instantly!!  Mind you, I don't think I could have resisted if roles had been reversed ;)  So yes, I am still speaking to her lol

My phone battery died fairly early on so my plan to take photos of the event didn't go ahead.  I just managed to get Tracey to take a photo of me with the gorgeous Paul B, who was on pain of death not to come and say hi

I had an absolute ball demonstrating this morning for Paddy at Paddy's Stamping Place, then catching up with friends and doing a touch of shopping this afternoon.  I'll share my goodies with you tomorrow, and some pics from the the art exhibition last night :)

my first exhibition - yikes!!

ExperienceArt

The Mustard Tree, Oldham Road, Ancoats, Manchester

7.30pm

The Mustard Tree do a fabulous job working with people in Manchester who are homeless.  Ten artists are exhibiting there tonight, including professional, established artists and those just starting on the journey.  We are each donating a piece to be auctioned to raise money for the charity.  

I was asked to contribute to the exhibition back in May/June but found the transition from art journal to canvas very, very difficult - my mind kept interfering!  Happily I settled into my 'art journaling' mood this week and just enjoyed putting paper, paint and ink onto canvases, not thinking about what others would think about it or whether they'd like it on their wall!  I'd happily put them all on my wall so ....:)

Christmas in the Play Date Cafe

Don't say I didn't warn you!!!  This week we are sponsored by the fabulous Elusive Images by Glenda Waterworth.  I have many of Glenda's stamps and am so pleased that we have another great British stamp company sponsoring the Play Date Cafe.

I received the GoRGeouS Frosty Trees set to play with and decided to go green with just a hint of watermelon using Julie's fabulous colour inspiration

Glenda is offering a tremendous prize this week.  The winner of the Cup of the Week will receive FouR sets of stamps, and each of our Fab Four will win one set of stamps each.  How cool is that!!!  Head over to The Play Date Cafe for more information on how to play along, and to see what you can win,  and don't forget to check out the inspiration from our regular designers, the Elusive Images design team, and Glenda Waterworth, our guest designer this week.

Julie Ranae

Suzanne Czosek

Andrea Ewen
Savannah O'Gwynn
Lisa Somerville
Ruby 2 Shoes

Glenda Waterworth
Elusive Images Design Team

WOYWW 70

I'm rubbish at getting round to see everyone who joins in 'what's on your workdesk Wednesday', but truly appreciate those of you who visit me!

I've been prepping for our local rubber stamp show at Port Sunlight on The Wirral today.  The show is run by the Happy Stampers stamp group and is the BeST show ever.  I'm demoing for Paddy and this is one of my samples :)