From the heart

I have had a couple of blog awards lately and in the past, but never keep the rules - I can be very rebellious with rules.. I have never repaid the compliment but thought probably I should do.. from the heart so here are five people whose presence I really appreciate in the blogging and Internet creative world.

- Most expressive personality - that would have to be Andi (RrlScrapGal). I am a fan of her journalism, she has a way with words and expression of speech that is unbeatable! Very often she makes my day just by dropping by my blog! I love her unique creative style too.

- Most consistant blogger - that would have to be Louise. I never click on her blog to find it missing something new, original and vintagy! She is always there with a new creation that is lovely to look at and she makes me 'feel at home'.

- Most detailed creative blogger - that would have to be Suzanne who I met via the Hero Arts website Flikr gallery. Her cards have so many stunning details! I love visiting her blog!

- Most inspiring blogger - that would have to be Shari Caroll. Everytime I look at her work I get inspired to create! Her colour choices, techniques, embellishments, style and layouts are just so inspirational!

- Most newly found blogger - I recently discovered Kiara's work, she has a blog called the Stamping Cafe and I felt drawn to her cards. She must have a continual fresh supply of inks, papers, string and embellishments to produce such lovely cards each and every time!!

I don't have an award with rules to give to you - just to say THANK YOU for being there and helping me be part of a world I just love to express myself in!



Just finishing this post with a vintage card. At times vintage is the only style that attracts me, and I think the colours will always be part of the art I love.
Thanks for those that still visit me - Myriame in Belgium, Paula in the U.K., Paula in Florida, Tania in Belgium; Sylvie in France, Pam, Michelle, Kim and Nancy in the US and the many others who have left me a little word of encouragement - so appreciate it!!

Staying with the techniques week at Hero Art

Another card made for the techniques challenge. I used real flowers from my Hortensia plant, which were quite dry already but will probably get a bit wrinkled and browner on the card! I love the technique of resist embossing, but it would have taken it a stage further if I had ironed off the embossing powder to create the Batik effect, which I think would have been more effective.



Another card using a stamp from tin can mail - haven't used this stamp very much but here I had an opportunity.



Just including another photo of a shot taken here in our little village. Most of the windows have shutters which protect against sun but also close at night. I can't imagine living in a house without them now. The walls of houses are also extremely thick to preserve a cool interior in the summer.


(photo made by Margreet van Straalen 2007)

Techniques week at Hero Arts

I didn't know how pretty this blog template was until I tumbled across this blog - please check it out! Louise has a little shoppe!

This is another card I made following the tecniques this week at the Hero Arts blogsite. It is so inspiring to see what the other ladies make too!

Hero arts - techniques week

Shari Caroll is a very inspiring artist from Hero Arts. She is sharing this week on techniques. You can find it here.



This week's challenge at the Hero arts blog is working different techniques into your cards. This card is made with distress inks on acetate, spray water and place your card over the top, heat dry and continue until all the ink is on the cardstock. Then stamp over the top to make your card.



This is done by using versamark on glossy paper, dry ink first, then sponge over the image with distress inks to reveal the pattern. I like this technique alot!

I have changed my blog again - I wanted a lighter blog and just couldn't find something I was at peace with. Now I have a very simple model but it suits me for the moment.

FALL IN FRANCE!

It is so beautiful at the moment to be outside among the vineyards - I had to share! Please click on the photos to see them larger.

Inspired by Julie

The challenge at Hero Arts this week was to make a card inspired by one of the chosen artists of each day. Julie is an artist who always inspires me but to copy her style is very, very difficult! I gave it a go.

It seems a long time ago...

... that I shared on my blog. Got back from Holland yesterday evening where DH and I had a super time! Well, happy we even landed in the Netherlands last friday after a very BUMPY flight. We were warned that there were heavy head winds but I didn't expect to hold on to my seat for twenty minutes while the plane shook like crazy!
We had rain and cold weather the whole time we were there!





Our son was baptized on sunday and it was a great day, also seeing a lot of our dear friends who we haven't seen for such a long time.
It was René, his dad who is here on the left, before and after Joel is immersed in water. God has done a wonderful work in our family.


(Photo made by Margreet van Straalen 2007)

I have received three lovely photos of places in our village which were taken by friends of ours when they visited us in the summer. This is in the garden of a small bed and breakfast. Why I love it is because it is so typical French! I will be sharing the other two later on.


I tried a card with versamark and chalks today. It's the HA design block. I've been feeling totally out of inspiration for a while now, I think it's because I'm just too busy with other exiting things!

I received a lovely e-mail which I am quoting here about the bird picture I posted on my last blog entry. Andi thought it was a fancy woodpecker (alot of people thought the same) but this is what it is:

Hi, I just LOVE your blog...I read it every day! I loved the bird picture...I love to go "birding" but have never seen anything like this in the USA!! It is a Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) an old world woodland bird! I had to look it up. Thanks for sharing, and keep making your lovely cards!!! Kathie from California