Lots of packing which I hate. One more needle to get. Still waiting for our visas, sure hope they come soon. It is so hard to know what to take and what to leave behind. I've packed my suitcase, then changed my mind and repacked. Giving lots of clothes to the Salvation Army because I know I won't want the stuff when I get home. Lots of rain in Scotland and Ireland and I can't find an all weather coat with a zipped in liner and hood. Hope to find one over there. Just a couple more weeks before we leave. I guess I will turn this blog into my travel blog or maybe I will use the card blog. We shall see when the time comes. Hope every one has a very Merry Christmas.

Well we are into December already. This year has flown by. January 2nd 2013 my hubby and I are leaving for 18 months on a church mission to Scotland/Ireland. It is something we have wanted to do for along time. We have been in the planning stages since April. Doctors, dentists, house to rent out, belongings to pack up, visas to apply for, driver's license, health insurance...oh...so many things to arrange for. I am hoping once we get settled I will again start posting about our assignments and pictures of the scenery. We are not sure what country we will be in first. We will be moving around some to different congregations between Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Scotland and Northern Ireland they use Pounds and southern Ireland they use Euros. I've never been to Ireland so it will be a great opportunity to see the countryside. I am taking basic art supplies with me. I will try to do an art journal of my experiences. Thanks to everyone who follows me. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I'm sorry bloggers for not being able to keep up with this blog. It's not that I haven't been creating, it just I can't seem to keep up with all these socials medias. Here is a 4x4 I completed yesterday. The swap was called Steampunk Halloween. The other pictures are other things I've worked on recently.

This is a little round theatre I made for a swap. The theme was Edgar Allan Poe. It was fun to build.

All my pictures are sideways these days. No matter how I turn them around in my photo album they get turned on here and facebook. Driving me crazy. Anyway this is a little Halloween for you. I am having trouble keeping up with the blogs, facebook and other places. I need to stop one, not sure which one yet.

Making cards

I've been making a few cards, but for some reason blogger won't let me post them. They come out sideways. They are fine in my picture program. I've not had this trouble before.

I'm still here

I'm having a hard time getting around to blogging these past few months. With Facebook, Pinterest and the Yahoo Group, I end up spending too much time on the computer. I have been doing some artwork. Here is another 2 tags I made.

Grunge tags

These are some tags I made for a swap. One is also for a friend. I love playing with Glimmer Mist. When I'm in the mood everything in sight gets a squirt. I also love to embellish. I never know when to stop.

Flash from the Past

Recently I scanned my mother's photo albums. What fun it was to look back and try to remember 'when'.

Silhouette ATC

I'm trying to figure out what words I can use on it to describe it. Anyone know a small quote about shadows? I don't know the brand of this stamp now that the packaging is gone.

Playing with crayons

I found this on someone's blog. Sorry I forget who it was, so all the credit for this idea goes to her. It was fun to do. Not sure if I will add something else to it or not. It's kind of abstract the way it is.

Art For The Creative Mind Yahoo Group

I just have to promote this group. It is a small group but very chatty. The main focus is on swaps. This past couple of months we have completed several wonderful swaps.
Here is a sample of them. Memory Glass pendents 1"x3"; Memories of the Titanic ATCs; African Inspired Greeting cards; Mandala on 4" round; Gothic Arch "Casa Blanca; Cigar Box "Memories of the Past"; Dorothy, Where are you" shadow box in an old book; an on going Rolodex Card swap; Altered Tins; Altered Jars; Mouse Traps and a house shaped book. We also have just completed a Round Robin Altered Book. It's been a wonderful couple of months.

If you like to be inspired and busy..check out this group.

Altering tins can be fun. Using Graphic 45 "Once Upon a Springtime" collection, this tin just created itself. It's easy to create when Graphic 45 does all the work with their wonderful collections. This is another swap for the west coast.

Rat Trap

I thought I would make this rat trap all about Halloween. Using Graphic 45 papers and embellishments from stash. The rosette is made using Graphic 45 as well. I hope my partner likes it.

Memories of the Titanic

This was the name of the ATC swap on Art for the Creative Mind Yahoo Group. There was so many ideas that could be used for this swap. 100 years since the disaster.

Just a little thing

Playing with Memory Glass and collage sheets. This is a pendent sent to my partner on a swap.
Art For the Creative Mind Yahoo Group is a great place to have fun with many different swaps and where great friends meet. Become a friend too.

I'm back

Been away on a mini dental mission in Peru, helping a group of dentists in an orphanage. 900 children waiting to have their teeth fixed. So many children so little time. They made us laugh and cry. Their innocent faces smiling up at us, then to be put on a table and have their teeth pulled out. It broke our hearts, but it was so needed. Dental care is so needed in these places. We were humbled by their surroundings, by their lack of necessities that we take for granted, but, we were so blessed by their sweet spirits. If anyone wants a chance to serve others less fortunate, contact Hope For Peru.

What's inside?

I hope you enjoy the cigar box as much as I enjoyed making it. Thanks for visiting my blog. I love comments, so don't be shy, leave a comment and inspire me to keep up with my art.

Cigar Box Transformation

Here is the lid and inside the lid. Quite a different from when it started out. Graphic 45 papers and the rest of the embellishments are from my stash.

Fragments from the Past Cigar Box

This is what I started with. I love old cigar boxes. I have several and thought it was time to start using them. Next you will see the finished product. Hope you like it. I hope my partner will like it as well.

Old blogger

Well I tried clicking on the option to get the old set up back, ahhh with no avail. I guess I will have to live with it. Thanks for visiting my blog and hanging with me. I try to do as much art as I can. Your comments are important to me. Thanks to those who are followers. I hope to never disappoint you.

hugs

I want my old blogger back. I can't even change the header or background anymore. I'm so frustrated with the whole thing.

Now for something totally different from the last project. It's a shadow box made from an old hard covered book, that I glued together. The edges were painted gold. The book is then covered with papers from Graphic 45. Features were layered for a 3-d look. Enjoy.

This book was fun to make. Enjoy the tour in my garden.

Continued journey through my garden book.

I have several things I want to show you today. First is the garden book for a swap I'm in. Every page is full of flowers. The book itself is in the shape of a house from Alpha Stamps. Used various papers, flowers, stickers and other embellishments.

4x4 inchie quilts

Bookmarked today

Been playing with these little corner bookmarks. Boy they took along time to do. Lots of cutting. All paper and cardstock is by Stampin'Up.

A blog to check out

http://artfullymusing.blogspot.ca/ check out Laura's art work and give away. It's so wonderful.

Tussie Mussie for someone...

I took some printed paper, some pearls, old lace, an old brooch, feathers and some hot glue and this is what I came up with. Another swap finished and ready to be mailed. I hope you enjoy this one. It's been awhile since I posted.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

Art For the Creative Mind

On the group Art For the Creative Mind we had an altered egg swap. Here is on entry. Isn't it fantastic? Beth W...this egg is awesome.

St Patrick's Day

Happy St. Paddy's day to everyone even if you're not Irish. Enjoy the green.

more scarves

Here is another scarf using Frill Seekers yarn.

Altered BoxThe Year of the Dragon

I took a round gift box and cut Japanese made papers and covered the box. I painted the rim gold. I used images from Altered Pages. www.alteredpages.com I glued on some Chinese paper money and coins; flowers and a name plate. Once I got started it was fun to do. It's for a swap, so I hope my partner likes it.

Another curly scarf

I've finished 3 in the last day. They are all different. Here is one bright and cheery one. I believe the yarn is from Barnet or Bernet Yarns. Enjoy.

12x12 Steampunk Canvas

I love doing these types of pictures using canvas and wonderful papers from Graphic 45. I have so much paper that I am trying to use them up to make room for the new collections. The flowers are from stash. I love to use Glimmer Mist on them to make them whatever colour I need for the design. Lots of elements are added here and there. Enjoy

My cards are now in my card blog. Take a look and see more of what I've been up to.
I love comments, so please leave a comment and maybe even be a follower. Comments inspire me. Thanks for visiting.

http://www.tolegranny.blogspot.com/

Atcs I received in a swap

These atcs were from Michelle H. The theme was "I Dream In Colour". I love the composition and how Michelle interpreted the theme. The images are from Altered Pages. Thanks Michelle.

My charm bracelet and necklace

This is from a charm swap we did last year. I finally got the bracelet together and had enough charms for a necklace. This was a fun project.