Beach fantasy

I don't seem to be doing much right now, but I managed to make quite a progress in the past months: I'm far from where I've been in March and amazed at what I can accomplish already thanks to medicine (the evidence-based one!) and a number of wonderful healthcare staff. While some let me down in a way I never thought was possible, others have gone far beyond their time and obligation to guide and guard me. And during an absolutely fantastic rehabilitation stay, which turned out to be the best thing that happened in this crazy year, I used the crafting hours to create this beach scene. Because it seems that all the sea I'll get this year fits on a 20x20 cm canvas. 

I cut the golden shells from a napkin and originally planned a circular arrangement of shellfish in the middle of the picture, but as soon as I started crafting my fantasy took over and decided to create something completely different. 

Before I glued the napkins onto the base however, I gave it a white undercoat with acrylic paint. Then, I sealed the entire surface with napkin varnish as I figured out it would be much easier to protect the canvas this way rather than navigating around all the additions that will come afterwards.

After that, I dedicated my attention to the remaining emptiness: after much consideration, I came up with a swirly paper cord and a blue wooden anchor that got entangled in shells and seaweed. Looking back, I could have turned the smaller shell just a tiny bit to make sure both shells don't face in the same directon, but then again it's a beach and the shells align as they please ;) 

To balance out the prominent napkin border on the one side, I placed a bit of dry grass on the other side of the beach scene. To finish off the scenery, I added a few pieces of gravel here and there.

Gluing everything on the canvas turned out to be quite a challenge. While the clear varnish worked fine for the napkins, I just couldn't find a proper crafting glue for everything else. I tried mosaic glue, but everything came off once it dried, and no other adhesive was in sight. 

In the end, I used a hot glue gun and even that only worked after many attempts. Who knew you have to handle it so fast in order to make it stick properly, and then re-glue things all over as they fall off again and again? And then hold everything for ages hoping it will stick this time? 

Finally, I think I can still be pleased with the result, especially given it was my first try with the hot glue gun and the pieces are still on after a month :) 

Since everything still looked a bit empty, I decided to splatter a bit of diluted golden acrylic paint all over my project with an old toothbrush. 

To sum it up, I don't think any of this (canvas, materials, techniques) would be my first choice if I was in my own crafting corner, but on the other hand, I'm quite used to a change of plans when it comes to crafting. Also, in a foreign space with limited materials, you just take what is there and make the best of it. 

And maybe, now that I'm back home and literally back on my feet again (I hope!), maybe I'll be able to get back to my old crafting self?

challenges: 

- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- allsorts challengeblog: summer fun
- crafty gals corner: summer fun
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- creative inspirations: summer fun
- creative moments: ATG
- everybody art: ATG
- kreativtanten: ATG
- love to craft: ATG 
- morgans artworld: ATG
- path of positivity: explore the fantastical (Not quite a fantasy per se, but I guess I'll be dreaming about the sea for some time instead of actually going. I might be fit enough to try and go see the Big Blue, but I find it challenging enough to avoid a potential infection while navigating through everyday life i.e. shopping and city walks, and I cannot imagine taking any more risks than that as most people just don't seem to care about simple measures like keeping a distance or wearing masks properly. I know it can be tiring, but we're 6 months into the pandemic and these things should go without saying by now, no excuses. Also, as beautiful as they can be, I cannot consider holidays an essential thing while there's a deadly virus around the corner. My sea therefore is my fantasy for the moment, a mix of memories and plans I'll carry out once the time comes.)

- scrapping4fun: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- tuesday throwdown: ink splatters (not sure if it counts as the splatters are diluted acrylic paint, feel free to remove me if it doesn't follow the theme)
- use your stuff: mood board (beach, sandy/beige colours)
- vesela hiska: holidays
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

Peace & joy

It's summer already in this very unusual year, and time again for a new task at the Fadengrafik Challenge. This month, our theme calls for "Christmas in July", meaning we'd like to see your Christmas-inspired crafting as long as it includes some kind of stitching/embroidery. 
I decided to stitch something new for a little inspiration, a traditional Christmas scene with a candle and some winter greenery. I've chosen to work with traditional colours, too, using mainly red and green shimmering yarn alongside with gold (and a tiny bit of black, to be precise). The time to make Christmas cards is probably not *that* traditional right now (at least not for me, I know many of you stock up on time), but then again an extra card here and there might save quite a few nerves in November/December - especially when it comes to cards that are suitable for a male recipient.

Once the stitching was done, I began to wonder about the background. In my stash, I discovered a card base with a layer of shimmering paper already glued onto it. I've no idea what I planned to do with it, but it must have been something more than one of those come-and-go ideas, as I've even used a border punch to decorate the edges. Turns out, the size of the stitched image fits perfectly as if the card base had been waiting for this moment all those years, and even the punched borders seem like icicles to me! 

In the end, I decided to add an extra layer of red shimmering paper to raise the stitching from the background. However, I managed to restrain myself from adding pearls or gemstones :)

A little contribution to the July collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.
A little contribution to the collection of hand-stitching at made with Blümchen.

challenges: 
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- alphabet challengeblog: G for glitter & gems
- craft-alnica: for boys/men
- crafty catz: ATG
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas (optional twist "for a man/boy")
- creative moments: ATG
- cute card thursday: ATG
- double D challenges: stitches
- love to craft: ATG 
- morgans artworld: ATG
- pennys papertake: ATG
- sketchy challenges: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- tuesday throwdown: ATG
- use your stuff: free week
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

Summer colours

New month, new task over at the Fadengrafik Challenge! In June, we'd like to see your "Summer colours" themed projects, and for some inspiration, I decided to create a card using this wonderful Flower Fairy by Cicely Mary Baker.  
The pink and green might not be a typical summer combination for everyone, but to me, there's no summer until clover flowers are shining in the unmowed grass.

Matching the picture, I picked shades of green and pink yarn for my stitching. Once the frame was done, I placed the fairy on a light green background paper and glued it onto the surface. For the other background paper, I've chosen a bold pink one, and I nearly ruined hours of work by using the extra-strong adhesive tape. Not that there would be something wrong with it, but I somehow managed to misplace the fairy scene and almost couldn't get it off the paper without tearing everything apart.
A while later, another piece of pink paper did the job perfectly, and as if I didn't have enough gluing for the day, I thought I'd add a layer of green grass on the card base itself. I'm not sure whether it was necessary or not, but I didn't want to leave too much white in the background and thought the "clovers in the grass" combination would become even more visible this way. 

Of course, I couldn't finish my card without adding a couple of pearls in different shades of pink and green :)

In the end, I'm not 100% happy with the outcome even though I can't really point out why. I assume it's the overload of pink and green, but then again, this is just how early summer meadows look to me. 

A little contribution to the June collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.
A little contribution to the collection of hand-stitching at made with Blümchen.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- as you like it: scenes or not (I usually incorporate a picture/digi in my creations, but I will not create scenes myself  - partly because I prefer colouring, and partly because I feel like creating scenes is much easier with stamps, die-cuts and distress inks, all of which I don't own and therefore don't use.)
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- crafty catz: ATG
- crafty gals corner: ladies
- crafty sentiments: ATG
- creative moments: ATG with optional twist "birds/bees"
- cute card thursday: ATG
- friendship challenge: animals
- love to craft: ATG 
- morgans artworld: ATG
- moving along with the times: things with wings
- pennys papertake: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

Lucky 7

Just a stroll down the street to get some fresh air. And suddenly, almost hiding in the bushes, a bunch of leafs catches my eyes.

Me: "Wait a bit, could that be..."

Mom: "You think you'll find it just like that?"

Me:"... a four-leaf clover?"

Fun fact: Well, I actually DO find them just like that. Not on everyday's basis, of course, but it does happen that I'd just stop and pluck one or two of the alleged lucky charms here and there – on my way from the supermarket, during a walk, while sitting in the sun, or literally in front of my apartment building. 
I'm not superstitious and don't believe that an additional spout means anything, but what I consider a mix of observation and coincidence often leads to funny interaction like this with friends and family.
Once home, the shamrock in question ended up in a tiny blue vase on the kitchen table. Because mom thought it would be prettier to have it on display  for a while.

Fast forward to another day and another short spring/summer walk:

Me: "Just a moment."

Mom: "You must be kidding, right? Well, I'm certainly not going anywhere until I find one myself!"

Turns out, a short while later mom, my little sister and I have found two four-leavers each. And of course it didn't look funny at all – three girls along the roadside just digging through the grass :)

And even though they were all withered before we brought them home, they quickly recovered once they were put into water. Plenty of new neighbours for the lone cloverleaf - and I certainly hope they'll get along just fine. 

A contribution to the Friday Flowerday at Holunderbluetchen.

May flowers

Lily of the valley, because nothing says "May" like the scent of those tiny white bells.
I've seen them at the flower market recently, but since we had plenty of them growing in front of our apartment building, I decided to sneak downstairs and get myself one of those. Oops :) 

Knowing that their scent can be quite strong and easily gets too heavy during the night, I only took a few stems, just enough to fill my little bubble vase. 

And since they were still going strong after days, I added a little marguerite which I found along the way on my morning walk. 

A contribution to the Friday Flowerday at Holunderbluetchen.

Rusalka inspired

After quite some time, here's a new project of mine, and by new I mean no recycling this time :)
Also, I decided to make a rather time consuming card, which I haven't done in a while. I'm not sure yet where it will end up eventually, but I can easily imagine it to be a birthday gift, an elegant masculine card, or maybe the crowning of a happy love story?

The prominent swirl is to introduce May's ATG theme at the Fadengrafik Challenge, I created it by using a pattern that I've pricked ages ago (ok, a little bit of recycling after all), sewing it with a metallic yarn and adding a couple of pearls in the end.

For the background, I used a shimmering paper with an irregular swirly pattern that came in a set of autumn/butterfly themed prints. 
However, this particular one reminds me of reflections on the water and as soon as I've seen it I thought I might use it in some Rusalka themed creation, but I never got to work. I actually glued the paper on the card base already (ok, more recycling here), but I lacked time, proper inspiration and else. 

Now, I thought about using it in combination with the shimmering swirl. What seems quite a contrast at first, to me looks like the spirit of Dvořák's cursed water nymph lamenting her faith by a secluded water source somewhere in the wild...

... Or maybe by a calm riverside with swans gently floating by?

A little contribution to the May collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.
A little contribution to the collection of hand-stitching at made with Blümchen.

challenges: 
- krafty chicks: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- crafty catz: ATG
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- creative moments: ATG
- kreativtanten: wedding with pearls/rhinestones
- love to craft: ATG 
- morgans artworld: ATG
- path of positivity: style (I'd pick paper embroidery this time as I really like the technique a lot - it takes ages to get a card done, but it's like some kind of meditation to me and I think it also makes me think about the recipient b/c I'd only give a card like this out of my hands if I know they'll appreciate the work I put into it. On the other hand, having a plot behind what I create might be part of my style, too - sometimes my inspiration is obvious while it's very subtle at other times, but I'll always try to connect the details I use into a wholesome story)
- pennys papertake: ATG
- sketchy challenges: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- pinspirational ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

Little bird

A rather quick post this time, with a rather empty spring-inspired card. 
Trying to catch the deadline over at craft-alnica with their "hand cut" challenge, I remembered some Nina Štajner motifs which I've pre-cut quite some time ago. They were actually featured on the cover of a Nina Štajner paper collection, but it would be almost a sin to not use the cover as well, when it looks like this!

Among the different critters, I have chosen this little bird to work with. In order to not interfere with the chosen motif, I decided to use a very soft background paper, which I found in a romance/wedding package. I'm not sure whether this is going to be a wedding card after all, but the words are subtle enough to go with any occasion. 

As the card still looked a little empty, I placed a little flower-shaped button in one of the lower corners. For a little *extra*, I decorated it with a strip of raffia. I thought about adding pearls as well, but decided to stay on the CAS side of crafting this time ;)

And a rather empty central market in Ljubljana, a view I wanted to capture for ages and now managed to get due to *the circumstances*. 

challenges: 
- krafty chicks: CAS
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- alphabet challengeblog: A for ATG
- as you like it: animals or people (I'll stay with what I've already stated and remain focused on animals, for the simple reason that I find it easier to incorporate critters in my projects than people)
- craft-alnica: fussy cut
- crafty catz: ATG
- crafty gals corner: Easter/spring
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- cute card thursday: wings
- cutie pie challengeblog: bunnies, bears & other b's (bird)
- little red wagon: mama
- love to craft: ATG 
- modsquad: birds
- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: Easter/spring
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- use your stuff: mood board (pastels, kraft, blooms, eggs)
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG