tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64190753360481968112024-03-13T09:51:21.757+11:00Black Cat's Miaow... a cabinet of curiositiesChat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-73114371608187380722016-03-02T14:35:00.000+11:002016-03-02T14:35:47.577+11:00Photo Inspiration this week.....OG 222<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQwe1vMlhWY/VtZc9lEop7I/AAAAAAAACSI/oe2o3Z6pwvs/s1600/OG%2B222%2Bphoto%2Binspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQwe1vMlhWY/VtZc9lEop7I/AAAAAAAACSI/oe2o3Z6pwvs/s640/OG%2B222%2Bphoto%2Binspiration.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This lovely calming photo is the inspiration for two cards I made this week. I had thought to go off into a dreamy haze of greys and blacks, maybe with a hint of bling, but instead I went to the golden end of the spectrum for both.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one uses up a piece of Stampin Up paper that I have always loved for its shadowy images and muted colours. A little bit of black matte sequins in a spray complete the picture, and its a rusty coloured card for a change.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KHACCcyqIA/VtZc_8Q1tnI/AAAAAAAACSM/yZLa28AHn9E/s1600/OG%2B222%2Bfirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KHACCcyqIA/VtZc_8Q1tnI/AAAAAAAACSM/yZLa28AHn9E/s400/OG%2B222%2Bfirst.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second card goes right down the autumn spectrum and uses an oriental paper as its background. The tag and flowers are from my box of "come in handy" things. As always, I am seduced by the paper and want to show it off.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywQMKTQkgTc/VtZdBeS7OpI/AAAAAAAACSU/btD5pmEN2iY/s1600/OG%2B222%2Bsecond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywQMKTQkgTc/VtZdBeS7OpI/AAAAAAAACSU/btD5pmEN2iY/s400/OG%2B222%2Bsecond.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The biggest flowers are another Stamin Up product, from right back when I first made cards. One day I embossed lots and lots and tried out all my embossing powders just to see what they did.....these are some of the last.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wonder what other people created this week? </span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-48659495313210858412016-02-14T12:00:00.000+11:002016-03-02T14:23:52.372+11:00Love is all you need.....<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">....and a little bit of money doesn't hurt!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Got just a little bit carried away with the heart-shaped punches, but, its all in a good cause if it makes a pretty picture.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXf39wgiydw/VrAbqjr3HbI/AAAAAAAACQk/w6VtyjxRLdU/s1600/OG%2B221%2BValentine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AXf39wgiydw/VrAbqjr3HbI/AAAAAAAACQk/w6VtyjxRLdU/s400/OG%2B221%2BValentine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My favourite colours just ARE black and white, no matter how many times I use anything else, so to make something from the heart, I went back to my first love. The card background is black so, inside I put a square of paler DP to save looking for a silver pen that works (why do they always run out when you need them?).....and on the front is a roughly torn piece of soft fluffy handmade paper. I added a random collection of red and white hearts, and a sentiment I wrote myself. The only bling is a t<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">i</span>ny red sparkler on one of the hearts.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like it, and Peter would have too, since it uses his favourite colours too....RED, white and black.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This card answers the Challenge at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> to show us if love is all YOU need; is it? </span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-69056810344719386372016-01-31T15:46:00.002+11:002016-01-31T15:58:57.000+11:00Favourites.....OG #220<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Loving the opportunity to use my very favourite colour combination has made me go a little overboard. Its no surprise that my favourite background colour is black because it makes everything else seem so much clearer and brighter, but its also no surprise that, given my head, black and white are my "go to" combination for every event.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqJH1pl7Vyg/Vq2NgW4BubI/AAAAAAAACPM/gbTadc53ubg/s1600/B%2526W%2B3%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qqJH1pl7Vyg/Vq2NgW4BubI/AAAAAAAACPM/gbTadc53ubg/s200/B%2526W%2B3%2Bscrap.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So......planning to make one card, I made four, each using black and white. My favourite uses a piece of recycled paper made into an accordion pleated flower. Once it was tied in the centre with a couple of pieces of coloured string, the rest was easy. I'm obsessed with packs of vinyl flourishes at the moment, but they'll be finished soon. There are silver and black pieces here, as well as the last of a piece of spotted ribbon and a scrap of old Stampin' Up DP.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHtM8Oj2xQM/Vq2OQQYRXgI/AAAAAAAACPU/IeZFK5rnY7U/s1600/B%2526W%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gHtM8Oj2xQM/Vq2OQQYRXgI/AAAAAAAACPU/IeZFK5rnY7U/s400/B%2526W%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now on a roll, and with a pack of black cards in hand, the next card came together from sc<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ra</span>ps on the desk. Its busy, but I think it works.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TR9yJXl_Gng/Vq2Onq6R3QI/AAAAAAAACPc/Eg6ccXFOpQ4/s1600/B%2526W%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TR9yJXl_Gng/Vq2Onq6R3QI/AAAAAAAACPc/Eg6ccXFOpQ4/s400/B%2526W%2B4.jpg" width="397" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the hunt through the boxes of bits, I came across the last few tri-fold window cards which I find hard to use....but they are black, so that's at least one point in their favour. The third card came together by accident (yes, well maybe it looks like that too) and has a few more of those vinyl flourishes and dots.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8U_3pyM1tU/Vq2PVZswJgI/AAAAAAAACPk/Ov2niUS3GWs/s1600/B%2526W%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l8U_3pyM1tU/Vq2PVZswJgI/AAAAAAAACPk/Ov2niUS3GWs/s400/B%2526W%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last card uses another of the tri-fold cards and some kaiser-craft cut-outs, along with a star I stamped rather imperfectly, but I think that's okay today when shabby is <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">still chic</span>! The white embossed paper in the window is almost the last of a piece of wrapping paper I have been hoarding and using sparingly for too long (thank you Beth).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXWjy_07538/Vq2QsI2UbzI/AAAAAAAACPw/wAV72Q3bAMc/s1600/B%2526W%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXWjy_07538/Vq2QsI2UbzI/AAAAAAAACPw/wAV72Q3bAMc/s400/B%2526W%2B1.jpg" width="301" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have far too many boxes of bits and pieces, and pieces of DP, and I love them all, so rather than buy more, my resolution for the year is to USE THEM. I know they'll work because when I look through them, I never say "Where did THAT come from?". Maybe this year my crafting hobby will cost less??</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you too have a favourite colour combination, make something wonderful,and show us at Opus Gluei this week. We'd love to see your work. </span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-61907262531445353912016-01-17T19:37:00.001+11:002016-01-31T15:22:23.992+11:00Happy Birthday Mum<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year my Mum turns 85,but you'd never know it from anything about her. She loves to dress up and go out for lunch, so this year we headed into the <a href="http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/">National Gallery</a> to <a href="https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/visit/dining/">Persimmon</a>, their beautiful restaurant, to do just that.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made her a card that makes a feature of her favourite muted silver, and added some pearls as well. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ihDMnyzZY/VptR4zuztzI/AAAAAAAACOY/TbGUmF6zUX8/s1600/OG%2B219%2BSparkle%2B%2526%2BGlitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a6ihDMnyzZY/VptR4zuztzI/AAAAAAAACOY/TbGUmF6zUX8/s320/OG%2B219%2BSparkle%2B%2526%2BGlitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a>, we're celebrating the New Year with a sparkly shimmery Challenge, so why not make something like this for someone special in your life, and share it with us.</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-22016238386661413252015-12-01T18:42:00.000+11:002015-12-01T18:42:07.654+11:00Made from books<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First I have to say that I'm a reader, and a hoarder, and I hoard books before almost anything else. Finding a new bookshop, the small quirky local ones, makes a day super special. I always like to buy something from the small bookshops, but it takes a while to figure out what sort of things are their specialty, and does this sit well with the things I like too? If not, then I have to find something for someone else, and I know there WILL be something if I keep looking.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So having said all that, and owning up to having many many linear metres of book shelves, and a few piles in odd places (beside my favourite chair, on a side table, under a side table, on the seat in the hallway)...........I also know there are lots of books which are a waste of paper. Sorry to those authors, but its true. Combine this with me hating to waste anything that just might come in handy (see hoarder note above), and you'll understand why this post is about re-purposing pages......</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUVWzXQKReA/Vl1EtDYdu0I/AAAAAAAACKw/iA5ehkYAfR4/s1600/IMG_6476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IUVWzXQKReA/Vl1EtDYdu0I/AAAAAAAACKw/iA5ehkYAfR4/s400/IMG_6476.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The quickest things to make are flowers, and they can be as neat or as random as you like. There are 3x in the photograph, and all are made by drawing a spiral on a page torn from a paperback. All you have to do is cut along the line you drew, right into the centre which you leave as a vaguely round shape. Starting from the outside edge of the spiral, curl it in on itself, as if you were quilling. It might help to roll it around a toothpick to begin, but then you'll be able to finish it fwithout. It wont be neat. Using a hot glue gun, put a blob of glue on the centre of the spiral while you hold the rest that you've rolled up. Carefully letting go of the roll will uncurl it a little and if you quickly push the cut edges down into the glue, it will become a flower like the ones above. There are kaisercraft dies which will cut the spiral for you if you like things very tidy. Cutting a spiral freehand (no lines to follow) will give you an even more random finish to your flower. And some will turn out better than others.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Try using pages with illustrations or chapter headings to give your curls some extra interest.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIQM6CXhGa0/Vl1Hk860aMI/AAAAAAAACK8/kKdTHBOiPT8/s1600/IMG_6466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mIQM6CXhGa0/Vl1Hk860aMI/AAAAAAAACK8/kKdTHBOiPT8/s320/IMG_6466.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also easy to make are birds to hang, and they use the simplest method of two shapes (body and wings) which are threaded together by aligning a scissor cut in each shape. You can see the pieces above, and the finished bird is in the foreground of the first photograph. These birds are very flimsy and if you REALLY want to make them from book pages, glue two together first to give you a material with more strength. Card stock is perfect, and being double-sided, you get two birds for the price of one.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My favourite recycled book product is a piece of fruit cut from the pages and using the original spine of the book to form the core. Each piece takes about an hour of cutting, using a template and a utility knife. If the paper is cheap and soft, it can be hard to get a crisp edge, so that's where your scalpel and lots of patience comes in handy. That's a pear coming to life in this photograph.....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OtabOLDfHy4/Vl1JvEPOpKI/AAAAAAAACLI/ST6qHDVA8a4/s1600/IMG_6492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OtabOLDfHy4/Vl1JvEPOpKI/AAAAAAAACLI/ST6qHDVA8a4/s320/IMG_6492.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once the shape is good, you need to bend the spine back on itself, like those old-fashioned paper decorations, and glue it. Strengthen the spine by gluing a drinking straw wrapped in paper into the centre before gluing the first and last pages together, and holding them fast with clothes pegs until the glue dries. I like to add a twig and sometimes a paper leaf.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ED-RehT6bzU/Vl1Li_1AUiI/AAAAAAAACLU/bProv4iAl_s/s1600/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ED-RehT6bzU/Vl1Li_1AUiI/AAAAAAAACLU/bProv4iAl_s/s400/IMG_1066.JPG" width="322" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last of all are Christmas baubles...........all you need are large paper punches of symmetrical shapes (circle, square etc). Cut out 6x whatever shape you choose, for each bauble. Fold each in half (that's why the shape must be symmetrical). Glue each half shape to the one before it, enclosing a loop of thread so you can hang the bauble when its dry. I used my biggest circle punch (3 inch) for the round ones, and then tried a square (2 inch) folded on the diagonal for the other.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PR0kr6rdLow/Vl1OJmGT0ZI/AAAAAAAACLo/Pq1OxBKBLh8/s1600/IMG_6494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PR0kr6rdLow/Vl1OJmGT0ZI/AAAAAAAACLo/Pq1OxBKBLh8/s320/IMG_6494.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJvsCbLbreA/Vl1NYonn4mI/AAAAAAAACLg/9HnxCNkqQGg/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cJvsCbLbreA/Vl1NYonn4mI/AAAAAAAACLg/9HnxCNkqQGg/s400/IMG_6496.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">....and now I have two less books, and lots of vintage paper crafts around the house this Christmas.</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-75244149460075202272015-11-01T18:12:00.002+11:002015-11-05T11:27:17.263+11:00Coffee time..........<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzOI3fxZ-Ww/VjW5EoVQmaI/AAAAAAAACIk/qX99GSCTb98/s1600/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25281%2529%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wzOI3fxZ-Ww/VjW5EoVQmaI/AAAAAAAACIk/qX99GSCTb98/s400/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25281%2529%2Bscrap.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sharing a coffee with friends is my favourite <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">past-time</span>, apart from sharing a pot of tea of course. In my life there's instant coffee, brewed Turkish coffee, and the delights of whatever cafe I happen to be in, and the skills of the barista. Coffee, whatever your favourite, is the theme of the latest challenge from Opus Gluei and I have added to my ATC collection to provide inspiration........</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nu3G3koIFko/VjW6CVrBf-I/AAAAAAAACIs/ibxTpbF46lI/s1600/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nu3G3koIFko/VjW6CVrBf-I/AAAAAAAACIs/ibxTpbF46lI/s320/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="244" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vllA5g4YAk4/VjW6GYBbopI/AAAAAAAACI0/QrmgBqNQNHM/s1600/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vllA5g4YAk4/VjW6GYBbopI/AAAAAAAACI0/QrmgBqNQNHM/s320/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25284%2529.JPG" width="230" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLh7oIhGqHM/VjW6JJwcQNI/AAAAAAAACI8/nQP-8ZlZyp8/s1600/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tLh7oIhGqHM/VjW6JJwcQNI/AAAAAAAACI8/nQP-8ZlZyp8/s320/OG%2B214%2BCoffee%2Brelated%2B%25285%2529.JPG" width="232" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each one uses a handy little stamp from Kaiser called "Friends", with a variety of papers and bits and pieces from the busy room drawers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Click here</a> to see what Deena has created at OG, and then see what our followers create too.......</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-13200885235287350532015-10-20T11:51:00.001+11:002015-10-20T11:51:16.991+11:00Halloween is approaching.............<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCmwsd83_Hc/ViWORj_-UfI/AAAAAAAACHo/1fXPBkJh3CE/s1600/IMG_6234.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/-PCmwsd83_Hc/ViWORj_-UfI/AAAAAAAACHo/1fXPBkJh3CE/s320/IMG_6234.JPG" width="240" /></a>I always thought the best thing to do with a pumpkin was to roast it and eat it, and I thought witches were good at luring children into the woods then tossing them into the oven, and I thought they came in threes, lived with a black cat, and rode broomsticks............ and then there's Halloween, which is growing in acceptance in Australia, but mostly in the $2 shops which are over-run with plastic pumpkins and spiders, and witches hats. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, I do have an affinity for things witchy...having been once given a fabulous broomstick by a dear friend with a suitably wicked sense of humour. The gift has blossomed into a small collection of witches who live in my house, along with my favourite real life black cats. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Challenged to contribute to the Halloween theme at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a>, this is my small contribution..........a tag to hang off a broomstick. I love the paper, and I keep it for special things just like this.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fgHUJ935f0/ViWPIPAX-_I/AAAAAAAACHw/K3j4tN9wOA8/s1600/IMG_6229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0fgHUJ935f0/ViWPIPAX-_I/AAAAAAAACHw/K3j4tN9wOA8/s400/IMG_6229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And here is a glimpse of my favourite Hocus Pocus witches.......</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILbqwEXB6bo/ViWPZ4WdBLI/AAAAAAAACH4/zslMA0CFwv0/s1600/anigif_enhanced-32339-1441389347-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ILbqwEXB6bo/ViWPZ4WdBLI/AAAAAAAACH4/zslMA0CFwv0/s640/anigif_enhanced-32339-1441389347-2.gif" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't forget to look at the <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">OG page</a> where you'll see Deena's very spooky candles, as well as the work of other clever people who REALLY understand Halloween!</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-50259991235563702852015-10-04T12:00:00.000+11:002015-10-04T12:00:00.489+11:00Opus Gluei 212..... red & white<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over at Opus Gluei, the latest theme celebrates Thanksgiving Day in Canada, because some of our Poobahs hail from there.....but over here in Australia, we're up to our eyebrows in football Grand Finals (pick a code, any code), and I personally am giving thanks that it will soon be all over, but only because my team didn't make it that far.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.It will be Monday 12th next week, so in honour of my Canadian friends. I've gone red and white for my cards and ATCs this week, and now I see them in 2D, its clear I've gone minimalist.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HIIhGwSa-IE/VgkMc8r74zI/AAAAAAAACGE/_HVz-d7R-3U/s1600/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="606" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HIIhGwSa-IE/VgkMc8r74zI/AAAAAAAACGE/_HVz-d7R-3U/s640/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSnxXufkTKk/VgkMiJNFBXI/AAAAAAAACGU/Us8o8GqsM6Q/s1600/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSnxXufkTKk/VgkMiJNFBXI/AAAAAAAACGU/Us8o8GqsM6Q/s640/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B3.jpg" width="640" /> </a></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnDOMZA0i9M/VgkMfppXSPI/AAAAAAAACGM/0iQx6OxjP_U/s1600/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fnDOMZA0i9M/VgkMfppXSPI/AAAAAAAACGM/0iQx6OxjP_U/s640/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and finally, two new ATCs using some papers from my decoupage stash which is not getting any smaller.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bN9GVBbUaIg/VgkMvVFLbNI/AAAAAAAACGY/WzXIlykUj-8/s1600/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bN9GVBbUaIg/VgkMvVFLbNI/AAAAAAAACGY/WzXIlykUj-8/s640/OG%2B212%2BCanada%2Bthanksgiving%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-11717414143819181592015-09-20T12:00:00.000+10:002015-09-30T23:15:54.030+10:00Happy Birthday to you<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I make more birthday cards than anything else, and to open the newest OG era, we're beginning with birthdays. It just happens to be the birthday of one of the Grand Poobahs on the day this post goes live, so what better way to say Happy Birthday?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I made a couple of cards for forthcoming events, trying to use different colours for each. I found the black cards, a version of a gatefold, at my local big craft supply warehouse, and turned one on its side for a change. The colours are not so bright AND, there's not a flower in sight.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dICIFa8VUM/Vf0Wp2qCQsI/AAAAAAAACFQ/WN5AJjIz4rE/s1600/Sept%2B20%2B-Birthday%2Bpost%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dICIFa8VUM/Vf0Wp2qCQsI/AAAAAAAACFQ/WN5AJjIz4rE/s640/Sept%2B20%2B-Birthday%2Bpost%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="508" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then because I found the garland on my work table, I made this one too.... The hologram centres in the flowers seem to have taken on the colours of the papers. How did THAT happen?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGKCVku6ZeA/Vf0YX-Zs6VI/AAAAAAAACFc/RfbsNmb2y4Y/s1600/Sept%2B20%2B-Birthday%2Bpost%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGKCVku6ZeA/Vf0YX-Zs6VI/AAAAAAAACFc/RfbsNmb2y4Y/s640/Sept%2B20%2B-Birthday%2Bpost%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="630" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There'll be more birthday goodness over at the <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei </a>workshop. Drop in and see what them all.</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-50338427881818395362015-09-06T16:51:00.004+10:002015-09-06T16:53:35.471+10:00Its been a while...........<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">....in fact its been 4 months since my last post. Since its been winter in Australia, you could be forgiven for thinking I've been in hibernation, but I have not been sleeping.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The precious lemon tree that we planted and nurtured has had a bumper crop, and the possums didn't discover it like last year when they chewed the skins off a dozen or so. I was pleased not to have to juggle the netting and poles this year, but instead of possums there were gall wasps. One fine cold morning, I took all the lemons off the tree, pruned it back to a stick, and burnt all the infected branches in the fire pit. What to do with many kilos of lemons? Preserve them.........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2K8PLMiRIAg/VevfYOpGbzI/AAAAAAAACEY/xO20xJuO2O8/s1600/Preserving%2Blemons%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2K8PLMiRIAg/VevfYOpGbzI/AAAAAAAACEY/xO20xJuO2O8/s640/Preserving%2Blemons%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The recipe is Emmy's and involves coarse salt, lots of muscle-power, and some big jars. This is the result of the first batch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0620F0QoC4U/Vevf10Z1NsI/AAAAAAAACEk/gs3TwXOYJAg/s1600/Preserving%2Blemons%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0620F0QoC4U/Vevf10Z1NsI/AAAAAAAACEk/gs3TwXOYJAg/s640/Preserving%2Blemons%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've added some to the onions steaming under a slow-cooked lamb shoulder, and rubbed the meat with them too. My friend Emmy, a culinary mastermind with a Turkish heritage, advises turning each jar upside down a few times through the first month they're stored, and topping up with extra lemon juice if the level settles too much. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next challenge was to turn the last of the quinces into something useful...........and I didn't have the heart to try jelly (all that straining was off-putting), so hunted out a recipe for quince paste.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jO596uc3U8g/VevhahGHSbI/AAAAAAAACEw/YuZoVUbRdAM/s1600/Quince%2Bpaste%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jO596uc3U8g/VevhahGHSbI/AAAAAAAACEw/YuZoVUbRdAM/s640/Quince%2Bpaste%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should have taken a photograph of the finished product because once we tasted it, everyone took a piece home, and its all gone! Definitely worth repeating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> Poobahs have also returned this month, and we'd love to see what YOU've been up to over the winter (or summer). Share your holidays exploits with us all.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-60542631796563068392015-05-03T14:53:00.002+10:002015-05-03T14:53:18.702+10:00Feathers.....<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Of all the techniques I like to use, decoupage would have to be the one I like the most. It takes weeks to finish and everything about it is hard on the hands, but I like being able to use something as temporary as paper and make something much more long-lasting. It also appeals to the hoarder in me, and its hard to use that special image.....that last scrap of precious something.....until its gone, and then I just have to hope I like the way I used it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is one of the eggs I finished (there are quite a few awaiting yet another coat of varnish) and its an example of using feathers as decoration. I think I still have the callouses from cutting these ones out.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-invmjcfJOtQ/VUWoM4Zor6I/AAAAAAAAB_M/1jh_wnw_FdQ/s1600/Feather%2Begg%2B(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-invmjcfJOtQ/VUWoM4Zor6I/AAAAAAAAB_M/1jh_wnw_FdQ/s1600/Feather%2Begg%2B(6).JPG" height="400" width="293" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The base egg shape is a cardboard one, painted gold and overlaid with paper feathers. The varnish is oil-based so that it gets deeper with age, and makes the gold glow. Here's another side of the same egg, with the eye of a peacock feather as the central image.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-oqklIuhgc/VUWo1u5bOsI/AAAAAAAAB_U/QgSwuAwDP1o/s1600/Feather%2Begg%2B(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c-oqklIuhgc/VUWo1u5bOsI/AAAAAAAAB_U/QgSwuAwDP1o/s1600/Feather%2Begg%2B(4).JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Its hard to display eggs, and I don't like them sitting up like trophies, so it usually lives in a bowl with a collection of others, not sitting on the mantelpiece in a napkin ring like it is here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Trip over to <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei </a>and see what other ways to use the feather image in your work....its out latest challenge. Please join in.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-65494516975405849882015-04-05T01:00:00.000+11:002015-04-06T08:36:36.520+10:00Tiny thngs for Easter....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtVFq7nwcvo/VRT9aiNIRrI/AAAAAAAAB9g/SsYRaT8DszU/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtVFq7nwcvo/VRT9aiNIRrI/AAAAAAAAB9g/SsYRaT8DszU/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(3).JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RE8w3hESy5w/VRT9cYmCN3I/AAAAAAAAB9o/VsZ1StbrQps/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RE8w3hESy5w/VRT9cYmCN3I/AAAAAAAAB9o/VsZ1StbrQps/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(4).JPG" height="147" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While my childhood was marked by religious ceremonies and the significance of Easter means more than rabbits and chocolate, our multi-cultural world finds new ways to connect people and let them find joy together. I think everything can rest alongside everything else, in an "everything in moderation" sense....so this is a celebration of the secular side of Easter, the bright colours of silverfoil and exuberant decorations just because you can..........</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXD5isFCnNk/VRT9Yr7DsnI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/ijV2JQEnBvI/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xXD5isFCnNk/VRT9Yr7DsnI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/ijV2JQEnBvI/s1600/OG%2B206%2BEaster%2B(1).JPG" height="146" width="200" /></a>I've added to my collection of ATCs and used a set of wooden egg shapes from Kaisercraft as my beginning. There are bows and glitter and lots of colours.... and if you look very carefully, there is in fact one rabbit, albeit a very tiny one. And the chocolate? That's lying in wait in the bowl.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Come over to Opus Gluei and see what the other Poobahs have made too.... </span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-48456686023765975092015-03-22T01:00:00.000+11:002015-03-23T16:54:12.342+11:00Black is back<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Its so easy to make something eye-catching if you choose black, so the challenge I'm hosting at Opus Gluei (starts Sunday March 22) is all about using my favourite colour and another of your choice. I refuse to enter into conversations about how black isn't a colour, I KNOW that, but humour me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inspired by an artwork given to me last year, I played around with a butterfly punch and used up lots of tiny pieces of "just big enough to keep" paper scraps lurking in corners of my work bench. Once I started, the project assumed a life of its own and I made several cards in different shades. Inside each one is a lighter piece of paper on which to write, and another butterfly. Here's what my work bench looked like...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaAUXShy2Hk/VQUS-b7itlI/AAAAAAAAB8I/bp8RpdM5pfE/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaAUXShy2Hk/VQUS-b7itlI/AAAAAAAAB8I/bp8RpdM5pfE/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(2).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and here's one all by itself....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meloO_qX5Tc/VQUTO5XSNCI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/Kz8wmFgYpVY/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meloO_qX5Tc/VQUTO5XSNCI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/Kz8wmFgYpVY/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(5).JPG" height="397" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and this is the inside of one...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPSoBBTjut4/VQUTZ6bOxPI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/eFOD4pxL2Hw/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(7).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xPSoBBTjut4/VQUTZ6bOxPI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/eFOD4pxL2Hw/s1600/OG%2B205%2BBlack%2Bplus%2Bone%2B(7).jpg" height="320" width="185" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like the look of the raised wings, despite that meaning applying many many tiny pieces of double-sided tape. I'm thinking this could be adapted to be framed, so I'm off to Ikea to buy a box frame or two and experiment. Is it too early for Christmas?</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-2242350493377233722015-03-08T01:00:00.000+11:002015-03-15T15:57:21.506+11:00Inspired by Irish....<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...which is all green to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a very empty store of cards in my come-in-handy folder so I have been inspired to make a collection of green ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are so many different shades of green, and my very favorite has a hint of blue, hence this first card which uses some patterned and some embossed card stock and some cut-outs from Kaisercraft.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kRm4qXHo3I/VPqffNBnaiI/AAAAAAAAB68/dNfdwK3G_rk/s1600/OG%2B204%2BGreen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kRm4qXHo3I/VPqffNBnaiI/AAAAAAAAB68/dNfdwK3G_rk/s1600/OG%2B204%2BGreen1.jpg" height="400" width="398" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The next one is for a friend who just loves to move her furniture around and redecorate. I have lots of twine left over from some Christmas crafting and I think it goes quite well with the tracery on the green paper. The vase is from a TE stamp set, embossed with glossy black, and the flower and chest of drawers were lying in the scraps tray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKnSP65uh6U/VPqgY2Vu8aI/AAAAAAAAB7E/PXq_OueXiMA/s1600/OG%2BGreen%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKnSP65uh6U/VPqgY2Vu8aI/AAAAAAAAB7E/PXq_OueXiMA/s1600/OG%2BGreen%2B4.jpg" height="398" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">....and finally a salute to St Patrick's Day which falls on March 17th, the birthday of one of my grandmothers. The clover is made from 4 heart shaped scraps, and it DOES say <i>Good Luck</i> too, but I should have used the glittery gold embossing dust instead of this one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCX_atXpPh0/VPqhDXWsgDI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hsCY3YzT16E/s1600/OG%2BGreen%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCX_atXpPh0/VPqhDXWsgDI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hsCY3YzT16E/s1600/OG%2BGreen%2B5.jpg" height="400" width="397" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There's an Irish challenge over at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> this week....these will be featured there, and I wonder what the others have created?</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-78789365919255820812015-02-22T16:38:00.002+11:002015-02-22T16:38:42.896+11:00Winter Vacation.......<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">....which in Melbourne is still 6 months away. One of the <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> ladies is off on a cruise to avoid all the cold weather in the US at the moment, and here we are in Victoria, sweltering in yet another heat wave. I hope the leaden skies overhead will drop some of their watery content right over my roses, but right now its just humid. This is the day my air-conditioner has been waiting for - to convince me it was a necessary purchase.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So in spite of Deena reveling in summery warmth, I am dreaming of a cooler holiday, hence my ATCs to celebrate winter. The first uses a new embossing folder and my almost forgotten Cuttlebug.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0q-KKjhTzyc/VOlpw8KkiaI/AAAAAAAAB5k/BgdliJjDVEE/s1600/OG%2B203%2BWinter%2BVacation%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0q-KKjhTzyc/VOlpw8KkiaI/AAAAAAAAB5k/BgdliJjDVEE/s1600/OG%2B203%2BWinter%2BVacation%2B1.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The image was a Christmas one I was going to use for decoupage, but seems to have been overlooked, and under the pearls are the embossed dots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then I got a little carried away, thinking I might crochet an ATC, but sanity re-surfaced and I compromised by crocheting a scarf instead. Hate to think how long this little boy has sat waiting to be used.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSgsC4jYW_Q/VOlqpKp42ZI/AAAAAAAAB5s/JJi7qJKZJY4/s1600/OG%2B203%2BWinter%2BVacation%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSgsC4jYW_Q/VOlqpKp42ZI/AAAAAAAAB5s/JJi7qJKZJY4/s1600/OG%2B203%2BWinter%2BVacation%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="295" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now lets see what the other ladies have come up with for this challenge.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-3534696144781327392015-02-08T17:56:00.000+11:002015-02-08T17:56:06.704+11:00Love is in the air....<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and as Valentine's Day looms again, and the shops are full of red satin hearts and teddy bears with boxes of chocolates under their paws....its time for some romance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Adding to my collection of ATCs are these two: </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJzJnctfCqo/VNcHiEIw7yI/AAAAAAAAB4U/ZF_bgai0dxc/s1600/OG%2B202%2BValentine%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJzJnctfCqo/VNcHiEIw7yI/AAAAAAAAB4U/ZF_bgai0dxc/s1600/OG%2B202%2BValentine%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="291" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pE3Bgry7j3s/VNcHmdAUR6I/AAAAAAAAB4c/tBx_UZd84JA/s1600/OG%2B202%2BValentine%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pE3Bgry7j3s/VNcHmdAUR6I/AAAAAAAAB4c/tBx_UZd84JA/s1600/OG%2B202%2BValentine%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">made with a collection of oddments from the desktop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're feeling romantic, join in the 202nd challenge of the <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> team and show us how you feel.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-72740628628271196112015-01-24T19:41:00.002+11:002015-01-24T19:43:45.023+11:00Australia Day 2015<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When asked to illustrate Australia, my country, I have to stop to think which part of this island to show.... Is it the wild and largely uninhabited west coast where crocodiles roam the waters, pearl farms dot the inlets and on land the colours are dusty shades of grey green red and orange but the skies are a burning clear blue? Is it my home state's capital city with its jigsaw of old and new buildings, its maze of theatres, shops and cafes, and home to so many stylish black-clad women? Is it the wide pale inland spaces between country towns where fields stretch into the distance, cattle rest under the trees and farm buildings cluster in shades of weathered grey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I learned the art of decoupage and love the challenge of recreating something from scraps of paper. A teacher introduced me to the idea of filling some of the spaces with paint rather than paper, and then challenged me to start with a picture but then to extend it myself, using the original artists colours and shapes as a guide; make the picture a different shape, take a small part of a larger one and make this scrap into a work of art all its own....and this is what I like doing best of all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pA2WCrA5SBM/VMNaMZJqbNI/AAAAAAAAB2w/q4-kl7PDkB0/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015%2Bstimulus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pA2WCrA5SBM/VMNaMZJqbNI/AAAAAAAAB2w/q4-kl7PDkB0/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015%2Bstimulus.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This box begins with a piece of a Fred Williams painting, <i>The Nattai River</i> painted in 1958. Its colours instantly bring the bush to mind, the vast spaces where it seems no-one moves except birds high above you. The piece I used is from the right hand corner and is on most of the lid, and then I extended the painting down the sides, creating a sky and ground and horizon where there had not been one before. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J2yYGpeNWFA/VMNag3G8ilI/AAAAAAAAB24/asHbLpksq28/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J2yYGpeNWFA/VMNag3G8ilI/AAAAAAAAB24/asHbLpksq28/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015a.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It might not say "Australia" to you, but it does to me.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLDXGGdtcC4/VMNasBMzYVI/AAAAAAAAB3A/6bO7C26aulA/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LLDXGGdtcC4/VMNasBMzYVI/AAAAAAAAB3A/6bO7C26aulA/s1600/OG201%2BAustralia%2BDay%2B2015.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This post celebrates the 201st challenge at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> and I wonder what other people will create?</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-27286294368836867202014-11-30T14:26:00.001+11:002014-11-30T14:26:28.436+11:00Let it snow....are you serious??<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You have to smile at the complications of a design team spread across the globe when it comes to a seasonal challenge....witness the latest (number 197!!) excitement at Opus Gluei where the theme is snow. SNOW? Its a warm 34C here in Australia today, well, in my little part of it, and I don't think its ever snowed in my street. Now THAT would be an example of climate change, but I'm not advocating for it........</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2BD5-8UZBc/VHqM1ABdvcI/AAAAAAAAB1o/g-5AJmXY1JI/s1600/OG%2B197%2BLet%2Bit%2Bsnow%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N2BD5-8UZBc/VHqM1ABdvcI/AAAAAAAAB1o/g-5AJmXY1JI/s1600/OG%2B197%2BLet%2Bit%2Bsnow%2B3.jpg" height="53" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So channeling my inner winter, I attempted a scattering of snowflakes, and then I hung them from a bar and they move in the wind. Before anyone complains about a distinct lack of white, let me hasten to explain I was thinking snow in the evening....glistening against the night sky. What would I know? I've never seen it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18ziZIa1WaI/VHqNhtiwsTI/AAAAAAAAB1w/-8UdR5BJVSQ/s1600/OG%2B197%2BLet%2Bit%2Bsnow%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-18ziZIa1WaI/VHqNhtiwsTI/AAAAAAAAB1w/-8UdR5BJVSQ/s1600/OG%2B197%2BLet%2Bit%2Bsnow%2B1.jpg" height="400" width="166" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I embossed a snowflake stamp and added a glittery centre, then glued them to grey gauze ribbon. They're double-sided, but you can only see that if I upload a movie....so you'll have to take my word for it.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-30381093862651172852014-11-02T16:26:00.000+11:002014-11-02T16:27:01.312+11:00Treating myself........<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMgDbq03FQk/VFW_23SFriI/AAAAAAAAB0I/FezblFMhdAA/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMgDbq03FQk/VFW_23SFriI/AAAAAAAAB0I/FezblFMhdAA/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself%2Bscrap.jpg" height="196" width="200" /></a>The inspiration for this little bit of recycling came from a roll of paper that has been lying on the bench for a while, and a nice solid box that was too good to throw away. Years ago I found an old broken letter rack and covered it with paper so it could live again in my then new tiny space that was just for me, and as I've just expanded into a big bright sunny room, it was time for something new for there too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbtRB33c3Ak/VFW_yZo3iXI/AAAAAAAAB0A/xZvY2x4Ld9I/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qbtRB33c3Ak/VFW_yZo3iXI/AAAAAAAAB0A/xZvY2x4Ld9I/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself.jpg" height="200" width="173" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a soft spot for alphabets and lettering and calligraphy.........hence the paper. The hardest thing to do was decide which part of the paper to cut into. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I have a place to put all the rulers and pieces of dowel and random tools instead of putting them in a drawer and never finding them again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qD6qeKHOBoA/VFXAZ99tQGI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/qNZpoCep4pw/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qD6qeKHOBoA/VFXAZ99tQGI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/qNZpoCep4pw/s1600/OG%2B195%2BTreat%2Byourself%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-90882670211022659732014-10-18T22:23:00.000+11:002014-10-18T22:23:13.520+11:00Halloween<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Its a good thing that I have friends across the world, they celebrate different things and different days.......and Halloween is just one. Once upon a time I would have muttered about how Australia is being swallowed by other countries and their customs, but now I have to admit to liking the richer tapestry it all makes...................and that's my philosophical musing for today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxPsxrt3dgs/VEJMf0hLYyI/AAAAAAAAByg/kLYoieH2yb4/s1600/OG%2B194%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hxPsxrt3dgs/VEJMf0hLYyI/AAAAAAAAByg/kLYoieH2yb4/s1600/OG%2B194%2Bscrap.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The lovely Poobahs at Opus Gluei are mostly from the American continent, so they know all about Halloween and they're slowly teaching me. The challenge this week has a Halloween theme so I incorporated a digi from <a href="http://www.makeitcrafty.com/">Make it Crafty</a>. I like how he unravels, and I like to think he's a little zombie-like, which ties him to my group of Zombie Outbreak Response Unit friends. Simon, see what you've done!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOoMAty2ykk/VEJM3bthYWI/AAAAAAAAByo/qtRvcwnQJo4/s1600/OG%2B194%2BHalloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOoMAty2ykk/VEJM3bthYWI/AAAAAAAAByo/qtRvcwnQJo4/s1600/OG%2B194%2BHalloween.jpg" height="380" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I like the shiny bat, made with the help of some Stampin' Up Crystal Effects, and to emphasise the link to my favourite ZORU, I had to use the orange spooky cobweb paper.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-17133455394807365262014-10-05T16:51:00.002+11:002014-10-05T16:51:51.186+11:00...and while I'm here<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is no secret that I love making ATC; they're tiny little snapshots of an idea, they dont need to have sentiments carefully positioned, they can have all sorts of things in juxtaposition and not look out of place.....because they're so small.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are three I made for a Purple Challenge set up by some friends here in Australia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cRcwBTnQ7g/VDDaJryKkEI/AAAAAAAABxc/ihoq-zCkCXI/s1600/purple%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cRcwBTnQ7g/VDDaJryKkEI/AAAAAAAABxc/ihoq-zCkCXI/s1600/purple%2B1.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have just realised that they all glitter, which combined with purple makes them most unusual for me. I freely admit that some challenges are a bit like the books chosen at my Book Club, forcing me to do things I would not ordinarily do/read/combine/bother with at all!! Just goes to show that it didn't hurt at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">....and for the most recent challenge at Opus Gluei, we had to use clocks or time or something related to time....and I made these two. I think inspiration deserted me, but the clocks are there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SRkTzYSnwi4/VDDbTylfRnI/AAAAAAAABxk/EEKT2npoosw/s1600/OG%2B193%2BTime%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SRkTzYSnwi4/VDDbTylfRnI/AAAAAAAABxk/EEKT2npoosw/s1600/OG%2B193%2BTime%2B2.jpg" height="400" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xWNoMe1N6ds/VDDbXOifpTI/AAAAAAAABxs/AiohqwJSoj8/s1600/OG%2B193%2BTime%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xWNoMe1N6ds/VDDbXOifpTI/AAAAAAAABxs/AiohqwJSoj8/s1600/OG%2B193%2BTime%2B1.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sentiment says "An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth", and I like that thought. These stamps are an old Stampin' Up set, as are the embossed cogs in the top picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other people's time related work can be found <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/challenge-193-time.html">here</a>. </span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-18966358636076822012014-10-05T16:32:00.001+11:002014-10-05T16:52:03.837+11:00Catching Up<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The trouble with being on holidays is that I'm so busy doing new things that I forget to do usual things.....one of those is the ironing, but I'm not hurrying to do that any time soon. So this is catch-up post to keep track of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First some birthday cards I made for dear friends and just in time for the Birthday Challenge at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei.</a> The first one was for my friend Ann and is a long way outside my comfort-zone, but right in hers. We've been friends for so long that I have to make sure I dont ever make two cards the same for her....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LunFgU-ut_Q/VDDWS8emZLI/AAAAAAAABxI/zezcBZDjJQQ/s1600/Ann%2B2014%2B(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LunFgU-ut_Q/VDDWS8emZLI/AAAAAAAABxI/zezcBZDjJQQ/s1600/Ann%2B2014%2B(1).JPG" height="282" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wanted it to be bright and cheerful, and to have nothing pink (but that's just because she and I have an understanding about that)....so it has ribbon and bling and fluffy flowers, and its a beautiful gentle orange instead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The second card is for Emmy, my walking buddy, my recipe-sharing buddy, my dear friend. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkmZ9ZwDA3o/VDDXJlY3j3I/AAAAAAAABxQ/6OXmFBPJD8k/s1600/Emmy%2B2014%2B(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkmZ9ZwDA3o/VDDXJlY3j3I/AAAAAAAABxQ/6OXmFBPJD8k/s1600/Emmy%2B2014%2B(3).JPG" height="277" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It grew from the tiny piece of blue and black embossed paper. The photograph makes it look more sombre than it is in real life. Can't believe I still have some of this ribbon left - a gift from Lisa several years ago, and carefully hoarded ever since!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you missed the birthday challenge, you can see what everyone else did <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/challenge-192-happy-birthday.html">here</a>.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-85932945493055067372014-09-06T23:34:00.002+10:002014-09-06T23:34:29.349+10:00Playing favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIsUlcPqMqI/VAsKPbXenxI/AAAAAAAABu8/FZGc0h-8e8s/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIsUlcPqMqI/VAsKPbXenxI/AAAAAAAABu8/FZGc0h-8e8s/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bscrap.jpg" height="125" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over at <a href="http://opus-gluei.blogspot.com.au/">Opus Gluei</a> this week , there's request to show off some of the things you love to do, but use an ATC to do it. Think of an ATC as your artistic business card...its about that size after all (three and half inches by two and a half inches)(I have NO IDEA what that is in metrics, and I don't care to know either. Inches are so much more do-able)...........</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I went back to what I love the most, which is the muted palette of black, grey, brown..........and came up with these two.... The first makes use of grey gauze ribbon to make both a background and an accent, plus a little piece of wood grained Kaisercraft paper, and my very favourite Scrabble-letters paper too. The second one had to have a touch of orange to lift the black and cream. There's a scrap of handmade silky paper and a matching butterfly about to land on the spidery leaves.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9S-aOWUDTX0/VAsLp3DCOAI/AAAAAAAABvE/gX0DYplT64o/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bfirst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9S-aOWUDTX0/VAsLp3DCOAI/AAAAAAAABvE/gX0DYplT64o/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bfirst.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpJZjMkdcZs/VAsLvhE_1KI/AAAAAAAABvM/k0a-k9Bk0AU/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bsecond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kpJZjMkdcZs/VAsLvhE_1KI/AAAAAAAABvM/k0a-k9Bk0AU/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bsecond.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then, just because it was there, I used up the last of a lovely paper square from a<a href="https://www.tayloredexpressions.com/"> Taylored Expressions kit </a>from several years ago. It reminded of me of the garden today - the beginning of Spring and the first tiny blossoms attracting bees. In my garden there is an old willow tree that has seen better days, but in Spring, all the straggly branches throw out new shoots and the bees come and fill the air with buzzing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LSXHqOOFAo/VAsL0Ec_bdI/AAAAAAAABvU/FzQPJYOPF5g/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bthird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LSXHqOOFAo/VAsL0Ec_bdI/AAAAAAAABvU/FzQPJYOPF5g/s1600/OG%2B191%2Bthird.jpg" height="200" width="153" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ATCs can be like windows into your craft - what do your windows show?</span></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-60893499741562938922014-08-24T18:18:00.001+10:002014-08-24T18:33:47.848+10:00Taking a break..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sEDJCM8yxU/U_mgN5tI8eI/AAAAAAAABs4/nqVnstRkY_Y/s1600/Cliffs05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4sEDJCM8yxU/U_mgN5tI8eI/AAAAAAAABs4/nqVnstRkY_Y/s1600/Cliffs05.jpg" height="227" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once upon a time four friends traveled between the islands of the Cyclades, stopping to sample fresh fish, cocktails in the evening sun, and the warm Mediterranean breezes. It was unforgettable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The OG challenge to capture something of the essence of a vacation, real or imagined, lead me to revisit that memorable time and create some ATCs with a tiny bit of the flavour of the time.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CP9bmPnRQ0I/U_mh0d2tBnI/AAAAAAAABtE/Y905upBlo6M/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CP9bmPnRQ0I/U_mh0d2tBnI/AAAAAAAABtE/Y905upBlo6M/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap.jpg" height="122" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> First a little of the stark beauty that is Thira.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NMMeT3K40Ws/U_miHlFhUjI/AAAAAAAABtM/cmUQCLl70Qo/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NMMeT3K40Ws/U_miHlFhUjI/AAAAAAAABtM/cmUQCLl70Qo/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap2.jpg" height="117" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ...antiquities around every corner......</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zml9z_QmwWE/U_midPdbntI/AAAAAAAABtU/7_djiRoCDZ4/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zml9z_QmwWE/U_midPdbntI/AAAAAAAABtU/7_djiRoCDZ4/s1600/OG190%2Bscrap3.jpg" height="127" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">....and walking under strings of octopus drying in the sun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CjweSzkjBiI/U_miveWPXqI/AAAAAAAABtc/aosd4qHNH_U/s1600/OG190%2BVacations%2Bgroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CjweSzkjBiI/U_miveWPXqI/AAAAAAAABtc/aosd4qHNH_U/s1600/OG190%2BVacations%2Bgroup.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Proves that I wasn't silly to save those little bits of ephemera afterall.</span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419075336048196811.post-67513021526998278752014-08-09T23:50:00.001+10:002014-08-09T23:50:26.555+10:00Summer Harvest<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love being part of a team that is spread across the ocean....over on the other side of the world its nothing like the winter weather we have here in Melbourne, but I can dream.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So for a challenge that's all about the bountiful harvest of summer I had to put my nose outside my blankets. This little ATC makes me think it might be summer soon....and when it rolls around, I'll sit on a rug in the sun and eat strawberries..........</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGXbrPyzo2A/U-YmVDC3YTI/AAAAAAAABsI/Gqu2C-2hHTc/s1600/OG+189+Summer+harvest+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGXbrPyzo2A/U-YmVDC3YTI/AAAAAAAABsI/Gqu2C-2hHTc/s1600/OG+189+Summer+harvest+1.jpg" height="272" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I discovered a strip of bunting from kaisercraft and it was just the right colour for these little circles. The string and papers are all from TE kits and FINALLY the busy room shelves are little emptier!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chat Noirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04962361595354987431noreply@blogger.com0