INTRODUCING OLIVER

I'm back again today for day 2 of THE GREETING FARM august previews, and i would like you to meet OLIVER from the new Oliver and Amelia Birthday Set.

 

 

Isn't he handsome in his cute little vest, with his gorgeous red hair. As you may know, i don't very often make boys cards, so i had to sit on my hands so as not to add any more embellishments! 

 

Here are the copic colors that i used.....

 

 

That's all for me for today. Make sure you check out all the other DT blogs, and you may just find Oliver's little friend Amelia.

 

jess

denice

kim

carisa

becca

 

And don't forget to pop back on Monday. Our Third Birthday Blog Hop will be kicking off at 12.01am CST, (or for those of you in Australia, 3.01 pm Monday), for more previews, more fun, and of course, giveaways. See you then.

 

Tracey.

YOU'RE INVITED......

Hey, everyone!

We are SUPER excited to cordially invite you to TGF's THIRD Birthday bash/Blog Hop!  Can you BELIEVE the Farm is turning three?  We can't, and it wouldn't be a party without you, so please join us for a CELEBRATORY release!

When: Monday, AUGUST 1st, 2011 

          12:01 am CST-11:59 am CST

Where: TGF Blog

 

You definitely WON'T WANT to miss this.  WHY?   Well, here's ONE reason...introducing...

BIRTHDAY ANYA 2 AND BIRTHDAY IAN

Aren't they so amazingly CUTE! They look so perfect together that i had to put them BOTH on the one card. I've made a "step" card for the first time, and they suited the card perfectly.

Here's a close-up of Anya, and her scrumptious chocolate cupcake. Yum!

 

 

Isn't she just adorable.

I have also included a pic of all the copic colors i used in my card.....

 

 

These little cuties are two of THREE new releases, to celebrate THREE years!   And what's more?  There will be THREE grand prize winners!

That is right!  Just for hoppin' with the Farm on our THIRD birthday, THREE lucky commenters will be chosen to win the ENTIRE RELEASE!   We are SO excited!

Be sure to check out the blogs of the rest of the TGF Farmers here to see what else the two little party- goers are up to.....

jess

denice

kim

carisa

becca

That's it for me today, but I'll be back tomorrow with another birthday SURPRISE!  Save the date and see ya tomorrow!

Tracey.

 

THINKING OF YOU

Although previews for The Greeting Farm's new August stamps are only days away, i wanted to share a card i made with  Blush Society Bonnie today. I made it to send to my eldest DD who has survived week one of nine living on King Island. We had a wonderful phone call with her (one per week for half an hour is all we're allowed!) on Sunday evening. She sounds really happy,but we all miss her so much nonetheless. So here's her card.......

 

 

I have tried a few different things this time. I airbrushed red onto my pink scalloped cardstock rectangle, and was really pleased with the effect. I paperpieced her dress with a scrap of patterned paper, and i have started photographing the copic colors i have used as i photograph each card. I'm not very computer savvy so this saves me LOTS of time. Could you imagine me sitting here typing every color with only my index finger? LOL.

 

 

Having said that, i can't remember the last time i only used 15 colors on an image. My average would be closer to 25 per card. You know, that's what paper piecing does. Less coloring time...Quicker cards.

 

Well, that's all for today. I can hear work calling.

Tracey.

THURSDAY THROWBACK AT TGF

Today is Thursday Throwback day over at The Greeting Farm. It's my turn to showcase an older TGF stamp, and i chose Wild Sprout Dahlia.

 

 

Isn't she just adorable. For my full post pop on over to the TGF BLOG  and check it out.

that's all for today.

tracey

ANNABEL'S JOURNAL

Well, we had a family gathering yesterday to farewell Annabel.She leaves tomorrow morning to live on a remote island (called King Island) in the middle of Bass Strait for the whole of term 3. I think i mentioned that i made her a journal to take with her. They're not allowed to take anything electronic, including phones, ipods, laptops, ipads, hairdriers, hairstraighteners, etc, etc. So hopefully she'll write us lots of letters.

So here's the journal.

FRONT COVER

 

INSIDE FRONT COVER

 

BACK COVER

 

 

Once again, thank you to my friend Eb for the inspiration.

Wish me luck for tomorrow's goodbye.

tracey

GETTING ARTY

I'm new to all this arty/journal/she-art stuff, so i'm not really sure what to call it. i think a mixed media canvas will cover all bases. Everyone seems to be trying it out at the moment, so i thought, why not? I recently attended a retreat with my dear friend ebony ven der starre, and picked up lots of little tips on how to get started, so i had a little play and this is what i came up with.........

 

.....what do you think?

I'm thinking, seeing as i used all my greeting farm background stamps, cloud stamp, piper, and washi tape from TGF, that maybe i should put a little sign on the door that says "the greeting farm" or maybe just the initials TGF. I think i'm meant to sign it as well. oops!

Here's a closeup of piper as well.....

 

 

I decided to try mod podging over the top of piper and thank goodness all was good. I had visions of all my copic coloring mixing into one ugly mess but luckily that didn't happen.

 

So, i hope you like my creation. I have since made the covers of a journal for DD#1 to take with her to King Island for ALL OF NEXT TERM. She is only 15 and spends the entire school term on a tiny island in Bass Strait.....in the middle of Winter!!! Can't show the journal yet though, as she may read my blog. 

Off to bake and decorate a cake for Annabel's farewell party on Sunday.

tracey XO

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT WITH FARMER TRACEY

A big Aussie G'DAY today from FARMER TRACEY. That's the only time you'll ever hear me say that though, as it's kind of slang, and not really part of my vocabulary.

Firstly, i'd like to say a great big thank-you to all of you lovely ladies for such a warm welcome to THE GREETING FARM. I've thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of my first two weeks at the farm, especially all the kind comments on both my own blog and also right here on The Greeting Farm blog.

Don't you just love all the new stamps for July. They are all so divine, I couldn't possibly choose one favorite.

 

As it is my turn in the spotlight this week, and the fact that i'm a new farmer, I thought I would start by sharing a little about myself. I am a Mum to 4 gorgeous daughters ranging in age from 9 to 15, and have the most awesome husband in the world.

I retired from work as a medical doctor 9 years ago in order to concentrate on raising our family, and went on to discover scrapbooking 5 years ago, which led to me opening my very own scrapbooking and cardmaking store a little over 3 years ago. I was a serious scrapbooker to begin with, and didn't even like stamping  until I discovered copic markers 12 months ago.

Now i am totally addicted to rubber, ink and copics. Rarely does a day pass without a marker in my hand, and i can say i truly am blessed to be able to combine my hobby with my job.

 

One of my favorite tools at the moment is my airbrush and air compressor. I use it on most cards, even if just for a little edging. So, i thought i would show you step by step how i make the background that i then use to put a colored TGF image on for my cards.

 

For this card I have used BLUSH SOCIETY BONNIE, with all of my favorite background stamps, splotchy, hello and hearts.

 

 

I started by coloring in Bonnie, and cutting her out using my cutterbee scissors. I then took a plain piece of cryogen white cardstock, ready to design my custom background.

 

First i stamped my background stamps randomly over the entire card. I used old paper distress ink.

 

 

Then, I used my airbrush, with BG70, BG72, G82 and G94,(in that order),  to add sky and grass to the background.

 

 

As a final touch, I hand drew some blades of grass using a flicking motion in G82 and G94. Then I decided that I would have to add an extra "bunch" of grass for Bonnie to stand on so that she looked grounded. I also ran around the edge on the sewing machine to border the background scene.

 

 

So there you have it. Some flowers, leaves, flourishes and ribbons and you're done. I hope you liked my first Greeting Farm post. 

 

See you soon with another Greeting Farm project.

 

Tracey. XO.