Monday 23 November 2015

A new Challenge at TIOT and much, much more.

Hi Everybody!

Lots going on again today, so I'll jump straight in and get started.

We have a new challenge at TIOT starting today -

Gift bags or boxes.

As always, you have 2 weeks to make something special, and I am sure nicely decorated bags or boxes do come in handy at this time of year,
so please show what you can do!

My project is a recycled bag from last year. I cut and trimmed a panel of gold card to fit the centre front, and disguise the old writing on it. Then I made a Christmas card, decorated with various papers from DCWV, some German scrap and a TH die cut reindeer. Only the back of the card is fixed to the bag, so it can be opened to write a message. I added some seasonal stickers. This will hold a little present for my neighbour.




 Today is time for dear Elisabeth's T stands for Tuesday meeting, so I want to give a big welcome to all of the T gang.

I have made a hybrid page, combining drawing and photos for the occasion. I used 5 different photos, I am sure you can find them for yourself.



I had great fun making this wild face for our private challenge 99 faces from a piece of underlay paper onto which I had already painted, stamped and scribbled. After drawing and painting the face with water colours I added more scribbles and stamps just for the fun of it, things like this are very liberating.

Both journal pages are also meant for Art Journal Journey, inspired by the colours of Autumn.







On Sunday they had an open day - or better, open meadow - at the Alpaca farm in Kalkum, opposite the castle. I couldn't resist taking a peek at these gorgeous creatures, they are so cuddly and pretty:




Love this photo, looks like they are having a gossip:






There was also a booth where they were selling beautiful items made from alpaca wool, unfortunately all way beyond my price range, but I did enjoy looking at them. You can see more pics of the place here

That's all for today, have a good one, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

35 comments:

  1. Wonderful post today, love all the art, crafts and photos of those gorgeous alpacas. Can't pick a fave, they are all great. Hope the pains are less now. Take care, good night and sleep well, hugs, Sarah

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  2. Beautiful art and photos today, Valerie. The gift bag is a wonderful idea and it looks like you recycled a bag quite well. I will have to check out the rest of TioT members, but this one is simply wonderful. You put as much into the bag as you do your tags. And it's so festive, too.

    You blog post is busting out in faces today. Gotta love the cherub admiring the coffee and coffee beans, and of course, the face you drew for T.

    Love the alpaca. They have such cute faces and lots of wool, too. You know each one has such cute expressions, my heart melted when I saw them. I'm SO glad you shared them with us because they are simply adorable.

    Thanks for sharing your recycled TioT bag, your AJJ face, the adorable alpaca, and of course, your T post with us for T this week. Love that angelic cherub!

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  3. The alpacas are so cute looking! Lovely work for the challenges as well! It's neat to make gift bags and what pretty green eyes in that last one!

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  4. Thanks for sharing all your art in this post. My favorite is the autumn lady. I like the subtle leaf stamps on and around her face. Happy T Day to you and the alpacas! :)

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  5. All kinds of fun things today. Someone is going to love getting that Christmas bag.
    And those alpacas are soooo sweet.
    Hugs, young one:)

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  6. Whoa -- I'm a city girl so seeing those cute alpacas was fun! And I loved the collages too. Happy Tuesday.

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  7. So much to drool over today, Valerie. Your gift bag is a keeper and your neighbor will enjoy it. I love the German scrap you used on it and the reindeer. Your FACE page always delights me with those large green eyes and the scribbles. AND, how fun that you used several of your photos on one page, it is such a great way to create a collage and really include some of YOU in your creations.
    The alpacas are growing their new wool coat after being shaved and I could really snuggle up to one but I don't think they are that friendly if you get too close. Continue on for a terrific week.
    Hugs,
    C

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  8. Beautiful creations and the colours and designs are just fabulous..xx
    { aNNie}

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  9. You are amazing Valerie, Another gorgeous work of art. Love the gift bag.
    Such a wonderful variety of walking photos and the alpacas are gorgeous animals. Those two do looj like they are talking to each other about something. Have a great week. xo

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  10. Lots of fantastic artwork and the wonderful idea to add a card to your bag.

    The photographs have to be the star of the show in today's post. How beautiful are these fluffy creatures. Thank you for sharing them Valerie

    Have a great day

    Love Chrissie xx

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  11. Meine Güte.. Deine Seiten sind so schön - beide! Die Geschenktasche ist ein echter Hingucker, da wird sich jemand freuen, da bin ich mir sicher! Diese Alpakas sind herzallerliebst .. so süß! Zum Knuddeln!
    Ich hab mal in Niederösterreich eine geführte Lama - Wanderung mit Julia bei einem Schulausflug gemacht ... das war ein wundervolles Erlebnis.
    Danke für die schönen Fotos ! Ich wünsche Dir einen schönen Dienstag Liebes! Happy T-DAY !
    oxo
    Susi

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  12. That bag is so gorgeous! Whoever receives it will be delighted!
    I love your hybrid page. And also the other face with the beautiful eyes. Well done.
    The alpacas are so cute. I have once owned (it was a present) an item made of Alpaca wool. It is soooo soft and warm! Well worth the money (if you have it). But I agree, it is too expensive for me too.
    Have a great T-day!
    Lisca

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  13. Beautiful pieces today Valerie, I just love your bag! Alpacas look so beautiful and soft, never seen one myself, how wonderful you got so close! hugs :)

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  14. gorgeous art projects Valerie!! Love that deer with the bells wrapped around him-wonderful touch to your bag. In the second piece I love the bird sharing a cuppa with the cherub. The third one is so lovely with all the stamping in the background. And well, those alpacas look SO sweet-I could just hug em! Were you able to pet them? Happy T day!

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  15. Your collage is perfect for T Day today! Of course, I love all your art. It was such a cool idea to put the card right on the bag...your neighbor is going to love it!

    There are a few alpacas on a farm that we pass everyday on the way to and from the train station. It is so adorable to see them prancing around--they make me giggle. Thanks for sharing the close ups as I am always driving and rarely get that good a look at them.

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  16. I want to pet alpacas! They look soooo soft, and I'm wondering if they'd be friendly :) Happy T Tuesday!

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  17. I love this recycled bag, the alpacas photographs are great hugs Bee.

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  18. Gosh they are so cute! Don't you just want to go up and give them a big hug??? Happpy Tday! Hugs! deb

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  19. So much eye candy today I don't know where to begin :) All of the art is fantastic and the llamas are so adorable. I did click over to see more photos and I love the one where the one llama is rolling over on the ground. It looks so happy :) Thanks for sharing everything ♥

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  20. Your Christmas bag is so sweet. I love the idea of affixing the card to the bag.
    Your coffee face is the best one ever - so realistic.
    Lovely, playful page on the 2nd one.
    Our friends have alpacas. I haven't had much to do with them. A Llama once spit in my face (a horrible experience) and I must admit to be a little prejudice toward even their cousins.

    Hugs,
    Teresa

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  21. great photos and lovely art too ...like that bag

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  22. Coffee - what else....kann ich nur unterstreichen! Bei mir geht auch nichts ohne.
    Die Alpaka sind ja zum Knutschen knuffig!!!! Lieben Gruß von Ulrike

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  23. Love the festive gift bag Valerie and a great idea to attach the card to the bag so you can writ a message.
    Loved the faces today and those photos of the Alpaca are fabulous - I agree there was certainly some gossip/secrets being shared.
    Avril xx

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  24. Such a stylish, elegant bag Valerie!
    Totally in love with your photos too.
    Warm hugs!
    Lula

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  25. Such a stylish, elegant bag Valerie!
    Totally in love with your photos too.
    Warm hugs!
    Lula

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  26. Your gift bag is very beautiful, and so clever to put a card as decoration. I also love the fabulous pages. Super photos today!
    Hugs, Mar

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  27. An awesome selection of fantastic art. Love the gift bag with the card attached and the faces are beautiful. Those alpacas did look like they were having a long conversation.
    Yvonne xx

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  28. Wow, that bag certainly looks so festive and elegant! The other pieces look amazing too and those llamas are so cute!

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  29. The alpacas are so cute. And your faces are beautiful today. The green eyes lady is so beautiful. What a sweet expression she has.

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  30. Nicely done hybrids. Those alpaca are so cute!

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  31. I love your altered bag - what a great idea! I must say the Alpacas are beautiful - we have visited an Alpaca farm up in the Lake District - they are funny animals! I didn't buy any of the beautiful products either - they are very expensive! Chrisx

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  32. Beautiful art work, and wonderful pictures of the charming alpacas! have a lovely week!

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  33. So cute is that cherub with his cup and saucer- how fun! Great artwork you share today all of the pieces! And once again your photos make me smile- don't you just want to hug one of those woolly critters? I do! hugs

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  34. So the recycled Christmas bag is to take to the Christmas market? All I want is some sausages and hot wine. Gorgeous little Alpacas. They take good care of them.
    Sandy xx

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