So You Think You're an Artist

 

After a super busy start  to Spring, I am finally able to catch my breath and create something new, This piece is a collage I created with mixed media from my water color journal. The background was water colored with a cheap box of water color tubes which, after finishing it, I promptly threw away. Most were dried up, but it only cost me a dollar at a garage sale.

After drying I tore (literally) threw a few magazines that my sister gives me when she and her neighbor read first (because I cut and tear whatever I want from them when they're done with them). I found the most delicious words to flavor my collage that pertained to being or becoming an artist, as you can see.

Some words were given dimension with dimensional tape, while others were glues directly onto the page. I found the very colorful woman's face in another magazine for my canvas' centerpiece. After choosing the right words to their most descriptive matches, I highlighted their importance by using arrow-shaped sticky notes and outlining them with white a Posca marker. 

For a little extra oomph, I cut out a penned Zen drawing, drawing in the shadowed edges with colored pencils to match the water-colored background. All that was left was to fill up a few empty spots with colorful items from other mags. I did use the white marker to create musical notes, my copyrighted logo under the woman's face, as well as a few tiny flowers above the paper vase on the left. The circle on her hat is a button I inherited and the butterfly is a leftover die-cut  I created at a scrap meet (a long time ago in another galaxy...)

There you have it. Enough media for the pickiest of artists. I think my message conveys what all artists need to be and do, don't you?

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING:

AAA Colourful - Colourboard #17

 CSI: Color, Stories Inspiration - Case File #458

Mix It Up- AG/optional  Mixed Media

Morgan's Art World - AG

We Love 2 Create - Anything Mixed Media Goes

24 Days of Chrustmas - Day 9 - Mini Lace Tree

 

I was digging in my holiday craft supplies and a styrofoam tree form rolled out. Just the one - I have no idea when I got it! But it sang to me, so I pulled out my glue gun, some pine cones and my box of lace.

I decided to go with a cream color theme and separated them from the whites and colored laces. Using sewing pins, I attached my rows of lace onto my tree. I liked the elegant look of the creamy lace, and considered what to used to decorate the tree. I had colored ornaments, strings of pearls and beads. I decided on a string of very tiny peals and adhered it onto my tree as I would a garland. It barely showed against the lace, but when I put it under a light, it sparkled!

Colored ornaments or metallic? ef metallic! I cut a string of cheap Mardis Gras beads that were silver, and one by one glued them onto my tiny tree. I found a cardboard tube that had held some lace. I was just the right size to use for a tree stand. Covering it with some pretty burlap ribbon, I finished my make for today. Oops, forgot that i put a glittered pinecone on top of the tree instead of a star. I used leftover beads from the necklace and glued them onto several levels of the pinecone...

On the Christmas gift list front, I just finished my daughter and my cousin, and am hunting down some special items for my granddaughter and a few good friends. I have 2 weeks left--I better hurry up!!

24 Days of Christmas - Day 8 - Holiday Greetings for My Neighbors

 Here's another one of my holiday gifts for neighbors. It's called a mussie tussie, and was popular several years ago. I think it's a perfect gift for those neighbors who mean a lot to me. They know I'm a crafter and expect something homemade.

I started with a toilet paper roll (any cardboard tube will do) and wrapped it with designer paper. Then I added some frills around it - lace, button, bow, etc. From there I chose trinkets to put inside. I have a wooden nutcracker ornament, candy cane, snowflake buttons and a string of crafting pearls.

I already dropped off my first mussie tussie and now I'm ready to deliver this one. Since I have quite a few yet to craft, I think I'll show off the rest (once they're made) in one post. I have a lot more crafting ideas bubbling in my brain. time waits for no crafter!

Ike's World Challenge Blog Springs Forward with a Photo Inspiration Theme

This month Ike's World Challenge blog is offering a photo inspiration theme. It is beautifully Springtime colored, which, after over another three inches of snow a few weeks ago in Chicago, is a sight for sore eyes.

I have pulled those welcoming colors from the photo into my own card, using one of Ike's FREEBIES on her cat-themed "Show Us Your Pussies" challenge blog. It's called "Smiling Cat", and I think it's adorable.

I colored her with Copics, then used a gel pen to draw some designs on her body. The background paper is from my stash, which means I have no idea where it came from, but it seems the perfect embodiment of Spring. A few well-placed embellishments and a bow finishes off my Springtime birthday card.

Now that I have a nice stash of get well cards, thanks to my card-swapping club, I'm trying to build up my birthday card pile. The next theme for the club is shaker cards. Don't be surprised if you see them on the blog soon...

Meanwhile, you have the whole month to create a Springtime card inspired by the photo above. Don't forget to link up what you created with Ike's World Challenge Blog. One lucky winner will receive a gift certificate to Ike's Art Shop. Good luck and happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Always Fun Challenges - Happy Birthday

Angie's Digital Stamps -Optional Buttons and/or Bows (I used both)

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge - Female Birthday

Show Us Your Pussies - Anything CAT Goes

Craft Your Passion with Sasayuki Glitter This Week

When this post publishes, I will be sipping MaiTais on the beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the waves lap gently at the shore. You can call it a late Spring Break or an early summer vacation, but my family is on it!
I worked ahead and played with an image from Sasayaki Glitter, this week's sponsor over at Craft Your Passion challenge blog. It's called "Smile" and I can see why she's smiling. After a long, cold winter and a bipolar Spring, we finally entered Spring with a capital S. LOL
After coloring her with Copics, I colored a bit of a scene to let her sit in the grass. Patterned papers, flowers, stick pins, ribbon and a button embellish my card. I finished off my card with some faux stitches.
For lots more inspiration, visit Sasayaki Glitter on Etsy, and join us at Craft Your Passion challenge blog for your chance to win free digis! Happy crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:
Sasayaki Glitter Challenge Blog - Mother's Day (I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my mom, so I gave this card is to her on Mother's Day)

Coffee,Coffee, Coffee...

Here's my second GDT make for the month of January for Scribbles Designs challenge blog. Have you ever felt a tad fuzzy-headed before your first cup of coffee (or however you inhale caffeine)? It's like an elixir that brings a body back to life!
This thought inspired my card today. The Scribbles Design's image is called Coffin Break. I framed my Copic-colored image with leftover patterned paper and paint strips before adding my sentiment and embellishments. Since the theme this month is Hearts, I punched out a heart to show my love for caffeine.
Did you know that you can use any image in Scribbles Designs challenges? Although it's hard not to use their images, as every Friday there's a freebie offered on the blog! I hope I have inspired you to create this week, Don't forget to link your card/project up for your chance to win free images at Scribbles Designs challenge blog.

Challenges I am Entering:

Simply Papercraft challenges - Anything Goes
Crafting with Friends - Anything Goes
Through the Purple Haze - Anything goes
Inspiration Destination - Always Anything Goes

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, there were three bears-papa bear, mama bear and baby bear. They wanted a larger family, but mama bear couldn't have any more babies. They decided to adopt a little blond-haired, blue-eyed girl. They loved her and she was very happy with her new family, but there were many who didn't think it was proper to adopt outside of one's own species. Luckily, the Bear family, as well as their newest member, Goldilocks Bear, were thankful for the chance to be a happy family, which is all that mattered. The world needs more love and happiness, after all, don't you think?

I was inspired today to create another page in my acrylic album. This time I used a digital image from Ike's Art called Goldilocks. I used it for my DT project over at Ike's World Challenge blog, where the theme is Childhood.
I colored and fussy-cut my image, then framed it onto my page, ever mindful that the pages are clear. Whatever I place on this page will be seen from the back on the next page. Besides all my  lovely embellishments, my sentiment reads: "There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." It's a quote by Walt Streightiff.
You have another week to join in the Childhood challenge at Ike's World challenge blog. Remember, you don't have to use an Ike's Art image, but you'll get double the chances if you do, and there are always freebies on the blog as well as on the Ike's Art Fan Page. See you there, and have fun crafting!

Challenges I am Entering:

Daring Cardmakers - Anything but a Card (acrylic album page)

Fussy & Fancy - Thankful (for Family)