My Canvas Photo Art, Linky Party Fun, Mini Albums, Vacation Photos, Blog Giveaway & More!

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe it's started snowing today so it made it hard to take great photos but I wanted to show you how my photo canvas art project turned out and how easy and inexpensive it was.  Click it on to see it larger.

I also want to tell you about linky parties and I entered my first project (my printed canvas photo) at the Shabby Nest that Wendy is hosting plus I have the vacation photos I promised below and I found more of our cute accordion albums and marked them down to $3.95!  And - a reminder about our Blog Giveaway, upcoming Shows, transfer & canvas links & more!

We just got back from a week on a friends catamaran floating around Isla Mujeres Mexico (yep, I know - lucky us!) Last year when I found this funky painted building I took a photo of Scott and got him to take one of me sitting on a scooter in front.  We went back this year it was too bad half the paint has peeled off the tree and there were cars parked in front but I did get a cute photo when this cat stopped to check out the painted cat!

NOTE _ I will be back and finish my post this afternoon but my husband and I are taking our youngest daughter Chelsea out for lunch (spicy Pho Noodle Soup -yum) to celebrate her big 25 birthday!  Okay, I'm back and it was so good!  Asian Noodle Island on Fraser Hwy in Surrey, BC if you ever come by this way.

Here is a cropped section from the canvas I showed above so you can see how I stamped onto the canvas after I printed it on my new Canon large format printer I recently bought.  I just ran the canvas 8 x 11 sheet through the printer and was amazed at how much detail you can see. I sprayed it this morning with Krylon Matt Spray and you can see how vibrant the image became.  Now I want to do a 12" x 12"!

After I printed my photo on the canvas sheet I used our Flourish Stamp set and red ink to stamp the flourish designs to match the building's red door, #13 and Esperanza lettering.  Then I got Scott to use his staple gun to attach it to a canvas frame I bought at the Dollar Store.  Oops, don't look at my dirty stamps as I never clean them.

I just found some random canvas sheets here in my stash so looked to find a good source and I'm happy to say that Canvas Corp has an amazing array of canvas goodies and they are have pillows, yardage for big projects (I saw a headboard) and they are coming out with purses, pendant packets and more!

  If you wanted to decorate a pre-made fabric piece you could use fabric transfer sheets like I used here to make this cute valentine onesie for a friend's grandaughter. I ordered a package of SuperSoft Inkjet Transfer Paper from Dharma Trading  and also bought some dyes from them as I plan to try dying 2 antique chairs we inherited from Scott’s grandmother.  The green and brown dyes may work over the dated pale gray and peach velvet chairs but if not I will use a printable 40% off coupon you can print at retailmenot.com at JoAnn’sStore to buy some home décor fabric.  

Look at this beautiful canvas project below that arrived in the mail today DT Leader Vicki Chrisman made using CD # 2 and also you have to SEE this NEW canvas she just created using a sheet from Canvas Corp she Gimmer Misted and added a birdie from our Fairy Scraps. 

 Here is a sample made with our old Accordion Albums as we recently found a bunch more of the Natural Albums and marked them down to $3.95.  I made this album back in 2005 after a family trip.  I used our Seaside Stickers and the netting was off fruit and I glued down a paper umbrella from a drink. If you click on the Album link you can see 2 other projects.

Okay, time for vacation photos, I'm just worried you are all going to get sad & jealous. (did I mention it snowed here today).  I'm in love with Isla Mujeres, (Island of Women) a small island across from Cancun - but more laid back and natural.  This is the marina we docked at the nights we didn't stay out on the ocean.

The pool at the marina we laid around a few times when we weren't on the boat

 Look who we ran into by the pool lazing on the hot cement. There were 4 of them and harmless but he was about 2' long!

Here we are on the catamaran with Captain Dave directing our way and friends Mike & Lucy who went last year and talked us into it.  It didn't take much talking. 

 I could not stop looking at the ocean all week it, the water was so beautiful and clear but I learned you have to hang on to ride the waves.

Mike caught a little fish but it put it back

 A day we dropped anchor and went to the beach

When you walk down the beach towards the Avalon resort there was a fun bar with swings

I took a bunch of photos in town as it's so colorful and quaint

There was a big festival during our stay and I was so upset I forgot my camera but you can see some of the carnival costumes HERE residents of every age wore.  Loved this bar down on the parade strip by the ferry terminal.

The cemetery in town is all above ground and has so many beautiful statues and colorful decor honoring their  loved ones.

We did BB Q's on the boat and went into town for dinner a few nights. We loved Penny's restaurant CoMoNo and ate there twice and had fun at her rooftop bar upstairs afterwards. Great grilled fish and salads! 

When we walked along the seawall we came across an area hit by a hurricane in 2005 and this hotel that just had a spearart.be project done. It was amazing!

Lastly, back on the boat at sunset. It was an amazing vacation but it was a little sad to see that their tourism is hurting so much.  We saw places to rent from $60.00 a night, the food was great everywhere and we felt safe - not to mention it was like paradise!

 I'm learning about these Linky Parties (where people share creative projects) and I will be sharing more links and details to blogs like Lucy from Craftberry Bush who has amazing ideas and tutorials.  She is going to be showing a cool project next week she created with one of our CD's that I'm excited to see and will post a link!


Don't forget to leave a comment here to be entered to WIN 2 Large Clear Art Stamp Sets, a package of Fancy Chipboard Frames and Mixed Bottle Caps. I will announce a winner this Monday.

Wishing you joy & creativity

Sandy Redburn

Crafty Secrets

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