Wednesday 10 March 2021

#614: Skeleton leaves, a mini bookcase and foam play

Wednesdays do seem to come around more frequently than other days! It's Wednesday again, so time to join in WOYWW over on Julia's Stamping Ground. Another photo-heavy post from me, but will try to compensate by cutting to the chase. So, here's my desk at some point in the last week - I can't remember when exactly. It has since went through many transformations and it is getting progressively messier. 


I was working on a journal page with skeleton leaves leftover from my 100-day tea bag project. I coloured the leaves with distress oxides. which gave them an interesting effect, accentuating the veins (click on the photo for a closer view):



The teabag on the page was my trial-run for my new batch of teabags, that I posted on Instagram on Saturday for #the100dayproject - we're over a third way through now! Here's the full lot, with a close-up of my favourite #29:



For the next lot, I'm thinking little houses! I have a prototype here:


I've also been very brave and cut up one of my precious Stamperia papers to decorate this mini bookshelf. I bought the kit before Christmas, if you remember. I've had it assembled for a while but wasn't sure what to do with it. I have four matching mini books to fill it with but that will take longer. 



In the Mixed Media Emporium Facebook Group we were playing with shaving foam this week. I didn't get good results with the marbling task, but I did some experiments with a stencil over the foam which resulted in this pretty cool effects on deli paper:


It was my birthday on Saturday - I know some of us share a March birthday, so many happy returns to those who do! My dad sent me this photo of my bother and I to mark the occasion - it must have been some time around '72/73 judging from our age. It was taken at my grandmother's house - I wonder what we're all looking at so intently? 



Thank you for visiting -  I'll be popping in soon if I haven't been around yet.

Wishing you all a creative week! xx

27 comments:

  1. What a great photo! Adorable. And the bookshelf is going to be beautiful. Funny how we all have our favourite precious papers we save for projects! I am in danger of dying before I get around to using them even it that is (hopefully) 20+ years from now LOL! And savng the best for last - those teabags! I LOVE the new set, Just stunning. As is the journal page. Always love my visits to your blog. You inspire me a lot.

    Have a great desk hop!
    Mary Anne (2)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That photo is fantastic! Whatever it was you’re all looking at (the cats made me laugh!) it must have been good, lol! I love your leaves tea bags but the little house, oh my, it’s gorgeous. I really do have a thing about little cottages which is unusual for me, as long as they’re not twee, which yours definitely isn’t!
    Hugs LLJ 9 xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy belated birthday. I love the old photo...so special. I always love the art you’re working on...you have a way with colours.
    Hugs,
    Annie x #11

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just absolutely adore all of your teabag creations. They have so much yummy texture and interest and I keep trying to count the layers of art. The little houses are going to be adorable. Happy birthday for last week! As always, stay safe and keep smiling, Lisa-Jane #8

    ReplyDelete
  5. A great post, Zsuzsa. I absolutely love your skeleton leaves, and the journal page and teabags, and the beautiful soft colour scheme you have chosen. That photo of you and your brother is adorable - and so sweet that you are cuddling a black and white kitty - an Oreo predecessor? All of you, including the 2 cats, do seem to be looking at something very intently! Watch the dicky bird?

    Your decorated book shelf is a dream. I have 2 rather beaten up cabinets and an unpainted wooden box on the landing for storage and none of them match and they look pretty awful together. I'd love to paint or decorate them somehow and can't really decide what to do - what you have done is really beautiful.

    Thank you for your lovely comment. I think my hubby thinks I've already set up a juice bar!! We had the rest of the celery juice at lunch today and it was delicious. Can't wait to make more juice and try some new recipes. I'm glad you enjoyed the video - it's so adorable, isn't it! I loved the baby owl. Also, the grey tabby with the rabbit made me smile because it looked like our old Beatrice, who had a real penchant for rabbits - for eating them!! She'd never have cuddled up with one! She used to bring in a constant stream of them and we had to deal with some pretty gross experiences with them, I can tell you. I have a feeling you are right about the kitties and the kitty throw. I can see my hubby ending up sitting on the floor again...

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi x #12

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Zsuzsa, I always love your style and these are no different. The box is looking good too. The shaving foam technique is another of my favourite playtime's as I can get background effects really quickly but I love how you've used the stencil too. The photograph is interesting of you and your brother and even the cat is interested what ever it is you're looking at. Have a lovely creative woyww and a good week too. Angela x19x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Zsuzsa, first off...HAPPY BIRTHDAY my far away friend!!! Ugggghhh, I hate I didn't wish you that on Saturday!!! I don't get on social media much on the weekends, if ever really anymore, but I'm sure I would have seen it on FB had I! Hope you had a fantastic day and hubby and your sweet boy treated you like a queen for you day!! Blessings for a new creative and healthy year for you!!! I continue to LOVE your tea bag projects. Uggghh, they are so, stinking cute!!! I really like that journal page as well. And how about that mini book case - IT'S GORGE!!! It's a true "Zsuzsa style!" Love your shaving cream play as well. I haven't tried that technique although I have seen others do so. I'd probably have the biggest mess you'd ever seen if I tried that little technique! I love yours just how it came out, intended or not? LOL On to the pix...sooooooo stinking cute of you guys!!! Goodness!!! And the kitties are also looking at whatever you guys are looking at!! So glad you have some treasured photos like that. People haven't gotten away from taking photos anymore...unless you count ENDLESS selfies on their phones!! Lord!!! I have a few and the girls like to pull them out every once in awhile!! Well have a great week my friend and again Happy Birthday!!! Bless, bless you! Felicia #31

    ReplyDelete
  8. what a great photo! I love all your teabags, that is a great project. the leaves look fantastic. I have loads of skeleton leaves somewhere that haven't seen the light of day for .... ahem!! a while! Happy WOYWW Helen #3

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy WOYWW! That’s a lovely photograph. You have some lovely projects there. Loving the leaves. I like the house idea. My husband doesn’t use shaving foam so I haven’t done that prompt yet. The effect with stencil is fabulous. By the way No one is saying anything about my painting. Do you think it reads as if I didn’t paint her? Angela #21

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happy belated Birthday Zsuzsa, I hope you got everything you hoped for and maybe a little bit more. Love the page, teabag and skeleton leaves never thought of giving them a tickle of distress ink, must try when a leaf comes to fall, they often do amongst the mess. I like the idea of the little houses for the next batch. Can't believe you are a 1/3 the way through that challenge wow. Your a brave girl cutting up those stamperia papers :))
    Hugs Tracey xx
    P.S Yes the QDS was in 2019 after a year of lockdown it somehow feels longer ago hee hee.. take care x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great photo of you and your brother! I love looking at old photos. I do love peeking into your journal. They are so bright and beautiful. Have a great week. Dorlene #34

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love love love your box! You must do the mini books/albums, there's no measuring, just folding into 16 squres and cutting and then sticking...which I think is the hardest! It's my birthday on Friday so we're both Pisces! The Dreamer! and Artistic! Thank you for your eariler visit! Stay safe, Keep crafting, Happy WOYWW?!((Lyn))#25

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cool idea colouring the leaves. Happy Birthday ♥

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh how sweet is that photo...you haven’t changed a bit! Many happy returns!
    The leaf colouring is fab, I do not know how you manage to pick a favourite I’m sure! I was looking at the Stamperia site yesterday (not my natural habitat,) I can totally see why you were attracted to that paper, goodness, if you said you’d made it I wouldn’t have been surprised. Perfect for the little bookcase!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fabulous photo and it would be lovely to know what has captured your and the kitties attention. Love, love, love what you have done with the leaves, teabags and your soon to be amazing bookcase. have a lovely and creative week.
    Sandra de @20

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy belated birthday Zsuzsa - I see cats have long been part of your family. Loving the latest 100 day projects and journal page. The bookcase is gorgeous too - very inspirong. Meow to Oreo. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #4

    ReplyDelete
  17. Morning!! Wow, what a great desk! I'm always so inspired by your work I'm going to have to sit and go right through the blog one day. I love the photo - yes, I wonder what it was? Even the cat is looking!! Happy belated birthday - half my family has birthdays this month what IS so popular about March??? The island desk is a try out - as it is no longer attached to anything else I can't keep pushing things to the back. Kind of working so far. And I'm not really cross with my mum, just will never understand old people (me in 20 years....) But then, my kids say they don't understand me now...Have a great week, stay well, stay safe, love n hugs Cindy xx #23

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful tea bag pieces!!
    Love the mini bookcase too.
    A belated happy Birthday! Lovely pic with your brother.
    Stay safe and keep well.
    Happy WOYWW!
    Susan #6

    ReplyDelete
  19. What a fun post, Zsuzsa - from gel prints, to luscious leaves, to tea bags, mini houses and that wonderful photo of you and your brother. You ALWAYS brighten my day!

    ReplyDelete
  20. First of all, happy birthday and many returns of the day! Looking at the expression on your faces and those of your cats, I think a huge black dog must have been there ;-) Those tea bags and mini houses are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh what a precious photo of you both, would scrapbook perfectly with the title, I wonder... Oops getting carried away in scrapbook mode.
    Love your leaves and have to say 32/35 are my favs, love those colours. The little houses are adorable too, yes go for it for next week. Oh and lastly the stencil/foam piece is magical, love it. What a super post.
    Hubby is having a rather bad reaction to his jab, knocked him for six from about 5 hours after it and the following 24 hours. He's been taking lots of pain meds but nothing stops him eating though - LOL. I'm still pondering it all as I can get nauseous even after a dental injection.
    Thanks for the visit BJ#16

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your artistic work, its energy and its beauty. You are a true plastic artist, talented and generous. I am happy to have been able to know you thanks to win.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Sorry I am so late this week - birthday got in the way of blog comments - happy birthday to you for earlier in the week too. So you are a Piscean as well?
    I love the photo of you and your brother, did he retain that beautiful blonde hair? What a lovely photograph it is of you both, so intent on something, and so much alike. That is one to be treasured.
    Love the Stamperia decorated box, that will look lovely when you have the mini books inside it - it looks great now but with the books it will be something special.
    Also like the experiment you did with the shaving foam and the stencil - great result and what a lovely colour. As nice as any paper you can buy.
    Love the leaf tea bags and I can see why that is your favourite, what gorgeous colours on the actual leaf. mSo houses is to e your next move, Kate Crane had some paper she once gave us with lots of little houses on, now whether they were her own design or not I cannot remember but am sure you will be able to find lots of different houses to help you get a good collection via the internet.
    Must check you out on Instagram, have just gone back on it but keep forgetting to use it still.
    Anyway, all of you stay safe and well.
    Hugs, Neet 5 xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Birthday! Your desk looks wonderfully messy and creative. I love the journal page - are those real skeleton leaves? You have done wonders with them! I love the idea of the houses, they will be a wonderful series I think! And the bookcase is awesome - so beautiful! Lots of fun experimenting, especially when you get such lovely results! Have a wonderful week, Lindart #35

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello Zsuzsa,
    Many thanks for your visits and sweet comments.
    Of course you can take what you want or need on the paintings blog; it's there exactely for this reason...The 'good time', when we could have want we wanted on the WWW, is over. So, I, few step by few step, will post all my collection ( which is huge :).
    Stay safe and creating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's very generous of you, Sim! Thanks very much!

      Delete
  26. I so love your teabag project - they are all looking so good. That photo of you and your brother is adorable. Happy belated WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#18)

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.