Saturday, April 25, 2015

A Creative Holiday

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  Warning this is a much longer than normal post !

I haven't been visiting at your blogs much lately as I've been away in the Netherlands and also busy with family and other activities. 

During my vacation I was able to get together again with creative family members and friends.  We had a great day talking, eating and working with stamps and mixed media.

We started the day with stamping and painting on small wood tags, and below is the one I created.   I used stamps designed by Marja for Kico Stamps along with Gesso, Acrylic paints, stencils and a white pen and glitter.  I managed to purchase a set of her whimsical faces before they sold out at the Kico booth during the Event. 

You can see all six tags in the collage below.




We also created a tag using face images and below is mine.    I think the pretty face image is by Sweet Pea stamps.  I used a couple of stencils and also doodled some of the flowers to match the ones around her hair.



We also created a lot of backgrounds with mixed media, Miranda gave us a demo on using Ecoline inks, it was very much fun.   You'll see the backgrounds pop up later in designs.

And below is a collage from the creative day with talented friends and family.    Marja creates beautiful pendants and necklaces using her stamps and below you can see that she 'gifted' me with one.





I timed my vacation to attend the large Art Specially Event (art stamps and media).   I had a great time there with family and also seeing blog friends again and meeting some of my Design Teamies for the first time.  I also managed to buy more beautiful stamps and stencils to add to my growing collection :)  The selection was amazing.

I didn't make an announcement that I would be at the Event, so I missed seeing some of my Blog friends.   I actually thought it would be easy to bump into people there it was not, it's a huge show (paradise really) but very crowded at times.  

Below is a photo collage from the weekend.  My sister & I were lucky to take a workshop with Maria using shaving foam and ink re fillers. I was happy to meet up DT Teamies, Maria, Alie, Karin and  Miranda and also Marja at the Event.

Going clockwise, starting from the top left ... Maria & I, Alie & I , Karin & I , My Tante, cousins & I (along with a friend) my cousins & I, dutch windmill, Marja & I, and Miranda & I.



That's all for today, thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Shirleyx

26 comments:

Crafting Queen said...

What a wonderful tag. Sounds like you had a amazing time. I love the Art Specially Event. The house in the first set of photos looks like one we lived in Holland! Have a great day. :) Hugs to Archie.

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Glad you had such a good time. Thanks for sharing your photos. I love your cute tag. It's nice to see a variety of stamps one wouldn't normally find her in North America.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

What a lovely creations you've made on THE creative Dutch day Shirley :-). And yeah the ASE was special...
The collage looks great, all those smiling faces...it was so nice meeting you (you already know)
Wish you a beautiful weekend, Alie :-)

Anneke said...

Beautiful tags. And as I can see you had a great time with family and friends.
Hope to meet you the next time at the event. Have a happy Sunday. Anneke

said...

Me gustan mucho las flores en el pelo de la segunda etiqueta.
Yo también tengo un gato, los adoro :)
Besos para tu princesa, allá donde esté <3
Y abrazos para ti.

Wendy said...

Love that little face! Beautiful tags and from the photos I would say you had a really fabulous holiday! xxxx

Enny said...

Beautiful tags and lovely pictures. Looks like you had a wonderful time in Holland ! And I was fortunate to meet you at the AS Event ! Have a lovely Sunday ! Enny

Donna Ellis said...

Hi, Shirley! Fantastic tags! Thanks for enjoying your photos, too! I hope you are enjoying every moment of your NL visit! hugs, de

Sue said...

Sounds like you had an incredible time Shirley absolutely love the tags and thanks for sharing you photos..lots of huggles Sue xxx I was waving across the channel but I think you were too busy LOL!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxx

Valerie-Jael said...

Looks like you had a great , fun time! Hugs, Valerie

Margik said...

Wonderful tags and beautiful face images, Shirley! Thanks for sharing your photos. Seems it was a great event!
Hugs, Mar

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Dear Shirley, thanks for sharing the beautiful photos, I think you and zhe others had a lot of fun. I love your tag creations too.
Big hugs Anja

Darnell said...

I'm so thrilled for you, Shirley, that you got to see your sister and your aunt and enjoy the camaraderie of all your crafty friends! Thank you for sharing the amazing tags and the fun photos of the event! You are adorable!! Hugs, Darnell

Greta said...

How wonderful, Shirley! Must have been a great trip! The tags are gorgeous!

chrissie said...

Wonderful tags Shirley and great to see you with your friends and everyone looking so happy

Love Chrissie cx

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a happy post, all of you smiling and having fun , I was very happy to meet you in real!!!and even more happy that you followed my workshop, I think your sister and you are both very nice and talented women, and you are always welcome to do a workshop with me in Belgium too!!!
Your creations with Marja en Miranda are really stunning!!! It was good to come to visit us !!!

Greetings
Maria

Ellen Taylor said...

Look at you, just as cute as a button! So glad you got a creative vacay! Thosse tags are most fabulous!!
Hugs

Shirley said...

A fabulous post Shirley and the tags are amazing. Another thing you should do more often as they are simply gorgeous.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

froebelsternchen said...

I am happy to hear that you had so much fun there!
Beautiful art!
Thank you for sharing the fab photos with us!

xxx
Susi

weim house said...

Looks like you had a great time! :) Your Tags are awesome, as always! Thanks for sharing with us! Have a great week!

Gerrina said...

I am so sorry that we didn't meet! I was working at the boot from "De Duif"on saterday and sunday I was doing the workshops from the Art Specially event, try to meet with every one (and missed a lot of my blogfriends...) and enjoying all the stamps and tools for stamping that were there. It is so great that once a year you can be surrounded just by people that have the same interest as you and are totally into stamping... And there were so many of them those two days!!
Glad to see that you had a great time and found time to get crafty with friends and family! Your tags look great and the neckles is a beauttiful one! Enjoy your week (we have "Kingsday"this monday, so a long weekend here... Hugs, Gerrina

Pat said...

These tags are beautiful Shirley and love the photos of your trip and how wonderful to meet up with everyone, family and fellow crafters. You obviously had a great time! x

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Your tags are beautiful Shirley and the stamps you used for them are super. It looks like you had a great vacation, it must be great to go away and meet so many blog friends too, as well as spend time with family. Hope you've recovered from the time difference now your back home.

Sue xx

Peanut said...

Ooooh Shirley! Sounds like a dream holiday. The pictures prove that you had an awesome time. Love the tags you made - such bold vibrant colours... breathtaking.
hugs, Asha

Karin said...

Beautiful photo's, It was great meeting you!
Groetjes Karin x

~*~Patty S said...

Oh lucky you Shirley.
What a fabulous time (the photos all make me smile!!!) and to get to meet and play with talented friends too.
Some great memories you made I'm sure.
btw if you're calling this a "long" post than oh dear I must be terribly guilty :-)
oxo