Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Anything But Cute - April Challenge - Earth Day

Hello Everyone!

It's time for another mixed media challenge over at Anything But Cute. Samra is our hostess with the mostest this month and she has chosen the theme "EARTH DAY" with a fabulous mood board for inspiration! More about that in a minute, but first here is my project.


This month Samra would like you to create a mixed media project inspired by this mood board and the beauty of our planet. Please tell us what inspired you. Entries for this challenge can be echo friendly, or even recycled/upcycled items; or depiction of the sea, mountain, river, forest, flowery meadow…let’s celebrate our planet!


I decided to make a canvas that I can hang in my spare bedroom beside the window that has now turned into my bird-watching window.  I just love the colours in this mood board, don't you!! Tell me "Bold Angel" didn't have a little fun with this one! I was inspired by the flowers, the foliage and of course, that gorgeous bird!! I also thank Samra for some inspiration from her project. 





The flowers are handmade from a strip of ribbon. If you haven't seen the video tutorial on how I make those, you can find it here: Technique Series 103 - Handmade Ribbon Flowers Style 01

The leaves are Joy Crafts, the microbeads are Prima, the stencil is Crafter's Workshop, the bird is Sizzix, the chipboard sentiment is from Michaels and everything else is from my stash and the DecoArt products are listed in the tutorial below.



HOW DID I DO THAT?

- a coat of DecoArt Black Gesso in a swirl pattern to create a sky texture, then some diluted Americana Baby Blue paint to make a base.



- a Crafter's Acrylic stencil and some DecoArt Crackle Paste to create a foliage design, then some DecoArt Media Mister in Yellow-Green.



- my favourite part is this step...adding some Dylusions sprays in Dirty Martini and After Midnight. The blue paint and green mist from DecoArt created a base so the true beauty and of these vibrant colours would show against the black base. I almost didn't want to add anything else!!






I am entering the following wonderful challenges:


***

There was this odd thing that happened on Saturday...Mother Nature lost her marbles and dumped a foot of snow on us! As much as I love winter, I have chosen to ignore the snow and continue my photos of the lovely spring walk I had on Friday. So today I share the story of... MY TEENY TINY STALKER!!

I think you all remember Crazy Karen right?


Well here is what she looks like nowadays...the winter fur loss (completely normal, no worries) has given her a very distinctive appearance, so it's easy to pick her out of a crowd.



So when I was out for my after-dinner walk on Friday, lo and behold but who do I find on the trail at the end of the lake...Karen! 

"Good grief Karen, what are you eating, is that a candy bar wrapper! YUCK, spit that out!"


So I made my little squirrel squeaking noise, and she knew immediately that it was me and she ran right over to grab a peanut. She was pretty excited to see me and she even let me pet her a couple of times. So I played with her for a while, met some other squirrels, took some pictures, fed them some peanuts and then I headed home.


So I'm about half way home and I hear a lady say, "Is that your pet squirrel?". I looked down and right behind me was Karen...looking up at me with those eyes that are saying...

"Can you see me? I can explain. I'm hungry and you have the good stuff!"
"Gimme the good stuff!"


So I continued to walk and throw her some peanuts, and people were pointing and giggling as she followed me all the way home! At one point I turned around and a bird was trying to take her peanut from her...

MY TEENY TINY STALKER HAS A TEEN TINY STALKER...WHAT A HOOT!


As the sun started to set, Karen took off to tuck in for the night, and I sat at the lake and watched the sun go down in a glorious blaze of colour!




24 HOURS LATER...BLAM!!


That's it for today. More updates on the weather report tomorrow at the same time!

Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. I read and appreciate every single one! If you have any questions, please let me know.


64 comments:

  1. Awesome Pamellia, such a great color combo. Love it.
    Hugs Veerle

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  2. WOW this is stunning...so in love with your art...yes it is indeed a work of art
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia

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  3. Wonderful canvas, love the colours, and the photos are stunning, love that squirrel. Here we are told never to touch squirrels because a lot of them have rabies. Hugs, Valerie

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  4. Oh my! from spring to winter in 24 hours! yikes! We went from typical June type weather to lovely Spring time weather for the week. It's so nice having the doors open so that the fresh air can come in - although the pollen count is quite high. On to your masterpiece - the canvas artwork is gorgeous! Are you going to gift it or hang it! I enjoy sharing your "big world" on your blog, Pamellia, and it just seems that our world is what we make it, regardless of the other issues we face and work around, there is Beauty in places where we want to create it, and especially, where we choose to see it!

    Samra selected the most vibrant, brilliant colors, didn't she? An you have showcased them in your typical magical way - but without any pastels! LOVE seeing your style incorporated with these textures and colors.

    I hope you are having a good week, Pamellia! xo

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  5. Gorgeous canvas Pamellia!!! What a wonderful design and such fabulous choice of embellishments to put together this work of art!
    Thank you for the inspiration and tutorial!
    Hugs
    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  6. What very striking colours Pamellia, the vivid blue looks fab against the white.

    B x

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  7. Pamellia, You nailed Samra's mood board with your colors and that amazing bird, foliage and stunning flowers! I'm with you...it would have been hard to cover that gorgeous and ethereal background! Lovely canvas, and one of my many favorites of yours!

    Karen is a faithful bundle of fur, and it's funny to see her follow you home. I cannot believe your fickle weather, but I hope it gets crazy again, and changes back to spring in a hurry! Love you photos, my friend! They, along with your art are two things I look forward to! big hugs!

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  8. Stunning Pamellia! Love those fabulous vibrant colours and your amazing ribbon flowers. Love to see how you build up those layers too achieve the texture and dimension!
    What weird tricks the weather is playing on you lately! Your little stalker is adorable, what a lovely experience!
    Chris
    x

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  9. Oh I am just so happy that you moved, because you just seem right at home in the natural wonderland you now live. Your friends are as sweet as they can be. Your canvas is just beautiful, this may be one of my favorite projects of yours. The color is jaw dropping and the beautiful layers are so well thought out and perfect. Great contrast and drama too! Great take on Samra's challenge, what a good one! Hugs, Autumn

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  10. I love this canvas .. glorious vibrant colours and such amazing textures too. Stunning!! I must say, I'm not sure if I love to visit here because of the gorgeous things you make or because of the lovely friends you have. I so adore the stories and pics of your cute little squirrels. Always guaranteed to raise a smile. Thank you so much for sharing them!! hugs xx

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  11. Oh this is terrific! Your are amazing with colours ... this has such a mystical feel to it. Wonderful photos and lovely story ... you and I would get on well with all the wildlife!

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  12. I am AWESTRUCK !! The background is magical ..n loved the use of bold colors on it ..specially the bird !

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  13. Your weather is more crazy then ours, and belive me that's saying something!!! lol
    Fabulous canvas, stunning colours, detail and textures, hugs Liz xx

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  14. Awesome take on Samra's challenge, Pamellia, with your beautiful vibrant colours and fantastic details! I love your pretty bird and those fabulous ribbon flowers! What an amazing dimension you have created! Stunning work, as usual!
    Big hugs to you! Branka xx

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  15. Beautiful colours .. lovely work and u kove krazy karen x

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  16. Your canvas is amazing Pamellia. LOVE the colours of those Dyluson sprays .. so vibrant and saturated. Gorgeous embellishments.

    Funny about Karen following you home. :) And just crazy that Mother Nature keeps dumping snow. Hopefully this will be the last of that! Have a great week. xx

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  17. What an incredible piece of artwork!! Your next is the perfect backdrop for that big, artsy sentiment. Squirrels are so fun and it sounds like Karen is a great walking companion. I visited New York the year I graduated high school and one of the highlights of my trip was feeding squirrels that had been trained by a squirrel whisperer to come up into your hands.

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  18. That bold angel is getting bolder Pamellia, gorgeous colours today and I agree it was a shame to cover up the brilliant backing. Lovely card. How funny to read about Karen, she knows a good thing obviously. Brr not sure about the snow at all.....we seem to be getting good sunshine and temps here and I hate to chance it but I think spring has sprung xx

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  19. Ooooh...love what you did with the mood board inspiration, Pamellia! Your handmade flowers are amazing! What a fun story about Karen...love how you are connecting :) My uncle used to get the squirrels to eat right out of his hands...he had such a way with animals and obviously so do you! Hugs!

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  20. Wow this is a gorgeous piece of Art love the vibrant Colors on the black . Cute story of your pet squirrel

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  21. Oh my gosh, Bold Angel rocks!! This is spectacular, Pamellia!! The colors are amazing!! I love the beautiful bird and those amazing flowers!! The texture is fabulous!! What a gorgeous piece of art this is!! It's a perfect take on the beautiful mood board!! I love, love it my friend!!

    Your little stalker is too darn cute!! How fun she followed you home!! And let you pet her!! And heehee, her stalker is adorable!! What fun pictures!! I hope mother nature gets her act together soon. That snow is depressing!! Have a great day my friend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  22. This BEAUTIFULLY STUNNING canvas must just look so fabulous hanging on your wall Pamellia. Soooo GORGEOUSLY Bright and Happy and completely matching the mood board of earth day for your challenge. WOW. Both the paste flowers and your hand-crafted ones are lovely and look so perfect together. Really enjoyed seeing how you did this canvas artwork.

    And your story about Karen is tooo precious plus adding your amazing pictures - priceless. I would have loved to have been one of the folks watching your little procession walk by! So cute that Karen had a stalker of her own - ehehehehe!!! I can't believe you found her so far away and eating that candy wrapper - wonder if there was something left on it!!!! And that picture of her looking up at you so expectantly is AWARD WINNING!!! Well - dear me - the entire story and photos are AWARD WINNING. Thanks so much for sharing it and your beautiful sunset too. XXj.

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  23. A stunning canvas Pamellia..love the deep rich colours and your ribbon flowers are gorgeous.I love the beautiful bird and the stencilled flowers too..FABULOUS work. And then there is little Karen..she is very cute and your photos are wonderful.

    luv CHRISSYxx

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  24. So bold and bright and a perfect match to the mood board. Love the background - kind of looks like a stormy sky. The bird is exquisite and so colourful.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  25. Oh Crazy Karen... you are quite the entertainer!!! Hehe! I was smiling throughout the entire story... oh how I love her and her teeny tiny stalker! Thank you for sharing your nature adventures with us, Pamellia! I love reading them and seeing your gorgeous pictures.

    And now I must gush about your newest masterpiece! This is the most striking canvas! The colors are electric and you couldn't have made them more stunning. I am enamored with the bird, your awe-inspiring floral arrangements, and of course the entire background. Not only do you have the most inspiring eye for detail, but I continue to marvel at the ideas your crafty heart dreams up. What a gift you have! Stunning take on Samra's photo inspiration, my dear friend. I hope you have a beautiful day. :o)

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  26. A stunning canvas Pamellia and the perfect match to that mood board. Amazing photos too once more!

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  27. What a fun/funny story about little Karen! how cute are these squirrels! LOVE the colors on your earth day project - they match the inspiration perfectly - wonderful smokey background you created for it!!! Julia xx

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  28. A gorgeous canvas Pamellia, you've certainly embraced the inspiration board - a brilliant background and lots of fabulous details.
    Pauline
    x

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  29. The step by step is fabulous, thank you and yes loving the background before you popped on the flowers etc but wow when you did....stunning colours and you really nailed the inspiration photo. Ohhhh fabulous story about you and Karen, it really must make your day to have a little friend follow you home and you do so spoil your gorgeous squirrels and long may that continue. I love reading your blog x

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  30. Hi Pamellia your post today is quite magical, I have just watched the tutorial on how you made the flowers, awesome, this canvas is full of so many beautiful things to see, the blend of colours the images it is quite simply breathtaking.

    I so enjoyed seeing your pictures and the ones of Karen she is obviously in love with you and trusts you implicitly, my heart feels so warmed, thank you
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  31. A big wow for your gorgeous canvas and the bolder colours you used.
    Karen is a gem, she obviously knows and trusts you. I hope all your furry friends will be okay during your ''spring!!'' weather.
    Yvonne xx

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  32. Wow Pamellia what fantastic colours . This will look perfect next to your bird watching window . I love the texture and the design is fantastic . Love seeing your pictures each week. Tracy x

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  33. Beautiful canvas, Pamellia! Love the bold shade of green and blue together. How sweet you ran into little Karen and she followed you home! The seasons are crazy here as well--we had snow showers this morning.

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  34. Wow Pamellia, fabulous canvas, I love everything about it!! great photo's too
    Kevin xx

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  35. Wow Pamellia, what a gorgeous canvas! The background is fantastic~the mix of colors are wonderful! I need to spend more time playing around with products like this~thanks for the tutorial~so helpful! I just need some good quality time in my craft room. These Granddaughters of mine are keeping me on my toes lately! This will look so beautiful in your spare bedroom~Great Home decor project! TFS!

    Your posts are always so entertaining when it comes to the sweet little critters! Oh my gosh, crazy Karen is crazy, ha? I love the picture where Karen is just staring at you for food~come on feed that girl, lol! What a pic~love it!
    Sorry to hear you got so much snow :) We are having freezing rain and only about 2 inches of snow today! I am so ready for spring...come on Mother Nature~get your act together, hehe?!
    Have a great evening!
    Sherrie K

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  36. Your stalker is the most adorable stalker ever to become a stalker! Haha! That is hilariously heartwarming and touching. Your design is gorgeous and full of technique but subtle. Loves it! Is the flower design the TCW stencil? I sure do like it! Fantabulous use of the wonderful mood board elements! This will look AMAZEBALLS in your bird watching room! Hugz to you muffin! ~Doc

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  37. Stunning canvas and details and delightful photos and story of Karen, hope the snow goes soon xx

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  38. Love that canvas Pamellia - your colours and background are wonderful.
    Your story about Karen had me smiling - they are knowing wee creatures aren't they!!
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  39. Karen's got you sussed I think Pamellia! She really does know who's the best person to follow. And your canvas is absolutely gorgeous. I particularly love that you've continued the design even onto the edges of the canvas and those bold blues and greens are stunning x

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  40. I just want to write the word STUNNING a million times Pamellia but I would be here all day.... You have picked up the colours of the mood board spectacularly well, the stencilling on the black background is beautiful, the flowers are quite simply gorgeous and that bird - it really does have the wow factor!! Your whole canvas is exquisite!!!

    I think I may have to call you the Pied Piper from now on (PP for short) - you are so like my David (only in that animals follow him everywhere - tee hee). Karen clearly loves you, to allow you to stroke her - wow!! You are like a Squirrel Whisperer! I just have this vision of her following you - she really is adorable.

    Hugs, Anne xx

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  41. I LOVE your canvas and as they are colours that appeal to me, I would hang it in my room too. It really is very beautiful. I HAVE to try your flowers they are just gorgeous.

    Love your story about Karen and the bird, would love to have seen you walking with her. Oh! no SNOW in April! Hope you don't send it over here!

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  42. Love your rich colours Pamellia - just perfect for the mood board. Especially like your bird diecut and the flower stencil - dont think Ive seen these before. Stunning piece! Nicola x

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  43. LOVE IT!! That moodboard is sooooo pretty and your project totally rocks it! So bright and colorful. Amazing! Love the photos of the squirrel and nature at your home...

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  44. Gorgeous canvas!! No words to express it's beauty! Love every detail of it, fabulous colours and textures!! and how beautifully you narrated about your cute little friend, Karen :) Lovely pics! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  45. Beautiful, and yippee - a video to catch up on!! I also love those delusions sprays - so vivid, and they are perfect for this!! Love, love, love this - and such a great theme! And Karen..... with her little redwing blackbird fan! xxx Lynn

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  46. Wow Pamellia, these colours are amazing and so striking. Beautiful canvas. Love seeing your photos of your little squirrel friends, a truly beautiful place to live.
    Julie x

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  47. WOW this canvas is awesome Pamellia! I love the bold colors and fabulous textures, so beautiful!
    Hugs, Tammy

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  48. Great tutorail, I love the colour combos. It looks stunning
    thanks for joining our challenge over at
    http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com.au/
    Debbie Dt

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  49. Wow fabulous tutorial Pamellia, you have created a stunning creation, the detail is amazing.
    Fabulous photos as always and a lovely story to go with them,
    Hugs Julie xxx

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  50. OMgosh! You have them following you now!! Ms. Doolittle!! Wait till I read this post to my hubby!! He always gets a kick out of you! ")
    By the way, that canvas is POW Gorgeous!
    hugs,Jackie xx

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  51. A stunning canvas Pamellia. The vibrant colours are awesome against the dark background. The stencilled flowers are so pretty and the bird, sentiment and flowers look divine. I love the effect of the bird's nest.
    Your photo story of Crazy Karen's adventure is wonderful, she deserves every peanut xx

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  52. A brilliant and dimensional arty creation ! Loving those squirrels !

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  53. Absolutely love this beauty...So vibrant colors ...Love it!!!

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  54. Hi Pamellia
    What a gorgeous canvas. The colours are just stunning and vibrant.
    Ah, the story of The Pied Pamellia of Ontario........she played her peanut pipe and had all the squirrels follow her lol!
    Best wishes.
    Ang x

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  55. WOW Pamellia your canvas is truly INSPIRATIONAL!!! The colours are so rich and lovely...it's like looking at our planet from a satellite! GORGEOUS work!!!! Now onto your pics and commentary...well it did keep me chuckling and I forgot how truly depressing our weather is right now...UGHHH!!! Tell me your secret for getting these sweet little squirrels to approach you...we have many in our yard as we feed the birds and squirrels alike but none want us close...that being said it could be because we usually have two crazy dogs by our sides!! Anyway have a wonderful day Pamellia!
    Take care,
    Beth

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  56. I was so enthralled by your tale of Karen the Stalker and how she followed you how, I totally lost sight of the beautiful canvass at the top of the page. What a stunner Pamellia, you have done a fantastic job of reproducing those stunning colours and I love your little bird and the flowers. A thing of beauty.

    Dionne xx

    PS I love Mrs Ducks description of you - The Pies Pamellia of Ontario, so funny!

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  57. Gorgeous canvas and love the vibrant colours -love the beautiful pics
    Carol x

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  58. Gorgeous work as always!
    And belated sympathies on the loss of Dianna. She was a real beauty, and that lovely house Sara made for her is such a perfect way to remember her.

    With DT cap on: Thank you for entering your project at Rhedd’s Creative Spirit. Sammy-x

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  59. Your canvas is WOW Pamelia...if only we could get every human to see the beauty there is in our world. Loved it and then the bonus....your squirrel pictures and story is heartwarming!
    Thanks for joining in with Rhedd's Creative Spirit this month.

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  60. Wow, Pamellia! Your canvas is fantastic! I love the colours you have chosen and how you have created the background! I also love your squirrel! She is so cute!!!

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  61. this is beautiful and great how to aswell .... love your squirrell photos - amazing. Thanks for joining us at CVC this month and good luck! Hugs Rachel x

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  62. Beautiful canvas! The colors are so vibrant and pick up the vibe from the mood board perfectly. How funny that your squirrel friend knew who you were on your walk.

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  63. WHat a beautiful art work here! And brilliantly embellished! Squirrels and birds make my day! Thanks so much for joining us at Craft for the craic challenge this month! :)
    Suchi - DT xx

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  64. OMgee I'm so glad I just put my glass down and had swallowed my mouth full of water lol!

    I was drooling over the canvas and all those lush details and checking the tutorial too when I page down and there is that superb shot of a squirrel licking the chocolate off the foil lol! Krazy Karen may be a relative of mine or my animal soul!

    Love, love, love that canvas, the lush details, the black that makes the colours zing - just brilliant, beautiful, awesome art! I have added a couple more products to the wish list too now, love what you did with the Dylusion sprays xx

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