Getting to Grips with a Camera!

I have had a digital SLR camera for several years and I absolutely LOVE it.  But ... and it's a Big But ... I have spent almost all the time I have owned it shooting on automatic.

My photos have been OK but I've always known there was much more I could do.  I have had attempts at understanding the settings using magazines, websites, the manual it came with an even done a time-swap with a professional photographer who is a friend of mine.  All to no avail - the workings of shutter speed, aperture and depth of field have completely alluded me ... until now!!

We have one of the leading Arts University Colleges locally (very lucky!) so I enrolled on an evening photographic class.  We have a very patient tutor, Mark, who has de-mystified the workings of our cameras and I am finally getting the hang of it. (Thanks Mark!)

We have a competition at the end of our first term entitled 'After Dark'  so I headed off to a local wood which was being specially lit for one week.  It was spectacular and these are the images I captured.  It was my first attempt without Mark around to advise me and I'm really happy with my progress - let's hope he agrees as he's the judge for the competition!!

 

Enjoy your art. 

x

Dreaming

Everybody loves to dream don't they?  

This week at Gingersnap Creations the challenge is GCSP11: Once in a Blue Moon Challenge - Things The Leap.  

I started off with frogs ... and then quickly got stuck! Having got no frog stamps or anything else really froggy or leapy I was fast running out of ideas until I realised that 2012 was a leap year!!  

Ta Dah!  Jasmin (Stampotique) popped into my mind as a dreamy kinda girl who may well be thinking of popping the question on February 29.  I inked my background with Dylusions sprays and them spattered white calligraphy ink randomly across the tag.

I used a Crafters Workshop meadow template with Stuart Gill Byzantia paints to create a very muted meadow for Jasmin to lay in.

The date was stamped using original printers letters which I then cut out and I created the ring with a jewellery jump ring and silver stickles.

I think this week's challenge will definitely get you all thinking.  Check out the other DT's take on it and get hopping into your stash!

Have a great crafty week ... xx

Butterfly Wishes

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Our challenge this week at Gingersnap Creations is all about colour and GC140 challenge is Two Colors Only.

I love this plate by Art Journey and I decided to stamp it in Versafine Vintage Sepia.  It was a toss-up between coupling the brown with turquoise or with pink but you can see which one won!!

The smaller butterflies are also by Art Journey and the larger ones are by Lost Coast Designs.  I stamped them and then dipped them in beeswax which gives them a translucent finish which is lovely for fluttery things!

I added a little bit of glitter on my blue butterfly wings and also to highlight the spikes of the teasel head.

Have you got two favourite colours you fancy using for this challenge?  Why not try a combination you haven't thought of before?

Whatever else happens ... keep crafty! x

Fly

This month it's all about faux techniques at Gingersnap Creations.

This week, the challenge is GC139: Random Redhead Challenge - Use a Faux Technique.  My technique focus for this card was faux bleach which I used to create my butterfly (Indigo Blu) but I have also mounted it onto a background which has a Spanish leather effect applied to it. 





I will be putting a tutorial onto the Gingersnaps site on Saturday to show you how to create this dimensional element so be sure to check that out if you like the effect.

The sentiment is by Stampotique and I added a small bead to bring the card together.

Hope you get time to join in this week's fun but whatever else you get up to ... stay crafty!  x

Birthday Wishes

I've had a great time making this card for a good friend of mine.  It's her birthday and I wanted to make a card more along the lines of art journalling.

I can't take the credit for the design as it was inspired by a photo of a canvas created by Donna Downey (wish I could dream up such fab ideas!) 

I started with a page torn from Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book which has great script and I added the photo of the girls which is one I have on my computer is one of my favourite images. 

I used gesso either 'neat' or diluted across my page in a very random way and them did the same with a turquiose acrylic paint (I used Lagoon by Dyan Reavely but any other would be fine).

I cut my bunting from a sheet of type canvas and punched eyelets into it with a Crop-o-Dile.  I then painted the flags a bit with white acrylic before threading them onto the string.

My flower is by Prima and I used white acrylic to give it a bit more punch and blend it into my layout.  The stalk is also string which I painted with Lime acrylic paint.

I'm really pleased with the end result and hope it is well received ...

Thanks Donna for inspiring me!  x

Words of Wisdom

I decided to go vintage this week with my DT entry for Gingersnap Creations.  We are concentrating on telling it like it is and this week we are concentrating on Words of Wisdom ... and there are certainly loads of them to choose from!

I had the picture of this cute little girl in my stash and decided she would lend herself beautifully to my words of wisdom.  I used Prima botanical collection paper for my background and them layered my other items to make a vintage collage.  The tag was made by first screwing it up and then ironing it back flat again before inking it with distress ink and spritzing it. 

Maybe you have some pearls of wisdom you could share with us all by joining in this week's challenge?  I hope so as it's great to see everyone's work.

Have a crafty time whatever you do ...  x