What a FABULOUS DAY!!

Hello my friends and HAPPY FRIDAY!!

I'm back from my trip to Indiana ... all rested up and ready to get busy catching up on my DT work.  BUT, before I do, I wanted to share some photos with you.  It was so wonderful to see some of my friends from Michigan, Indiana & Illinois!  (warning:  photo heavy post)

Take note of what my 'friend' Diane (Nellie's Nest) decided to do for this photo (in the pink behind me).  YEP ... she gave me the ole 'rabbit ears' or as she said 'she was just giving the PEACE sign' ... LOL!  WHAT A FUN GROUP and thank goodness Joan's husband, Jon took TWO photos ... LOL!

Diane was telling me about these fabulous doll stamps by Julie Nutting (can now be purchased through Joan's Gardens) and I couldn't wait to see them and create something ... that is when the idea of doing an Altered Canvas came into  mind for our get together.  Some of the other ladies had never done a canvas before so it was AWESOME FUN and each one really shows the creators character.  Luckily I took a photo of each canvas since I found inspiration from each one ... want to see??

Here is Diane Hover's.

She was going to add a few more things once she got home.  You can see her finished canvas on her blog Nellie's Nest.   Thanks so much for this fabulously fun get together idea!

I love the colors Judy Studer (Back Porch Crafts by Judy) used on her canvas.  It is gorgeous!   Though difficult to see in the photo, the chandelier was actually die cut & popped up and the black & white flower was created by die cutting the Memory Box Quinn Flourish three times and conditioning it ... it is beautiful!

 Gretchen Wilson (Gretchen's Closet) will also be finishing her creation at home.  She plans on adding several of the Judy Nutting dolls to this canvas along with other embellishments.  I can't wait to see the finished product!!

 Joan used papers from the Graphic45 'Ladies Diary' to make this beautiful gift for a family member.  Isn't it just STUNNING!!!  What a work of art and a true treasure for the recipient.

 

Bette Henson has a great start to this canvas.  She too will be completing it at home.  LOVE the bird on a branch element and those clouds ... BEAUTIFUL!  Can't wait to see this finished project too!

And, last but not least, here is my finished canvas.  LOVE how these colors came together and this doll in her paper pieced dress was so much fun to work with!  I wish you all could see these in real life ... they are each amazing & beautiful!  Photos just don't do them justice!!

Here are a couple of closeups to show you some detail.  You can click on any of the photos for an even larger view.

For the flower I used the Spellbinder Anemone Flower Topper dies with the same design paper that's on the canvas.  The flourishes were created with the Cheery Lynn Designs B117S Fanciful Flourish Small and they were also cut from some of the scraps of the dp used on the canvas.  Teal Stickles added a little sparkle to my creation (thanks Diane) and the accent painting was done with both a foam brush and bubble wrap.   The words on my canvas are White Rub-Ons ... so quick & easy!

Thanks to all the ladies for sharing their papers, embellishments, ideas & friendship on this MEMORABLE get together!  I am truly blessed to call these ladies my friends.

A few other challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs - Back to Nature (butterflies)
 Cute Card Thursday - Something Borrowed (stamps/papers/rub-ons)
Forever Friends April Challenge - Paper Piecing
Little Miss Muffet - Anything Goes
Sarah Hurley Challenge - Projects with Character
Creative Moments - Things with Wings (butterflies)

NOW DON'T FORGET ... this did take place at Joan's Gardens so of course I had to SHOP!!!

I hadn't been out to Joan's since last fall so I've been saving up and waiting to have a HUGE SHOPPING SPREE ... and I did!  (ssshhh don't tell hubby ... LOL ... he already thinks I have more than enough stuff to play with!)  Want to see what I bought???

 Yep ... I 'bought the farm' on this trip!  LOL!  And CAN'T WAIT to start playing with all my new toys!  I tell you ... I was like a kid in a candy store!  I'm sure you understand completely!!!

NOW it's time to play work!  Joan has a new challenge posted that I want to join in on and as I said at the beginning of this long post ... I do have DT work to get caught up on!  So, enough jibber-jabber ... time to craft!  Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you have a fabulous weekend ahead!

As always . . .