Stray Flower

I discovered this gem in my backyard. It's a single red tulip, standing tall against my fence and rooted in the grass . I did not plant her. She just wandered into my yard and woke up this week. I snapped a photo and then played around in Photoshop. I used a watercolor filter on the background, leaving the tulip as it is. 

I'm thinking of framing this and hanging it in my trailer. It caught my eye and it makes me smile whenever I glance at the photo. Spring is shyly waking things up, even with the unexpected snow we had a week ago! I can't wait for my lilacs and cone flowers to bloom in the front yard. It will be a nice change from the dandelions that my neighbor so generously shared as he doesn't believe in getting rid of them. I can't complain too much because he is such a help when it comes to house and car maintenance that I can't tackle by myself...

Mad Tea Party

 

I have two pages left in my newest Art Journal!! I've been doodling away and have finally completed the journal. Lucky me, I have a brand new one red-hot and ready for me. Meanwhile, I wanted to feature this Zen Doodle which was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I saw something like this on Pinterest and wanted to try my hand at my own magical teapot.

I freehand drew the whole pge before coloring it with Copics markers. Doesn't it look sweet?! Makes me want a cuppa...

The Girls' Night Out Invitation

 

Yesterday I posted a card for my sister's birthday. My other sister and I have been prepping her for a surprise overnight...somewhere where we've never been to. Kathy sent her a card she made with a 2-verse poem about the overnight, without adding a lot of detail.

Mine is going out next week and I took photos of the cover and the inside. I used more of the same paper from yesterday's birthday card along with the butterfly stickers. The font I used was Comic Sans Regular.

While the front of the card says, "On your mark, Get set..." you won't find the word GO anywhere. That's because our birthday girl wants to be completely surprised by our surprise, so she won't get into the GO portion of the trip until we arrive at our hotel! And don't worry, she doesn't use Blogger (her loss) so she won't get a sneak peek from me and mine!!

Another Trip Around the Sun

 

This is my birthday card for my youngest sister. Her birthday is early in May, and I wanted a playful tone to it. It's a milestone birthday so I think she'll love the humor. The actual greeting is one I found on Pinterest. I put it into my "Words" board, where I save the funniest, punniest, most affirmative, positive sayings, quotes and greetings.

This is a 6x6 inch easel card. I love making these because it gives impact when there is an opening line and a closing line. The first photo is with the card closed-what would be pulled out of the envelope. The 2nd photo is open and standing up. That's why you see the words "Did you know that" twice. I pulled out butterfly stickers from my folder to decorate the card and some designer paper I had left over from a previous project for the base. I used a Posca marker for the words. I have a stash of letter tiles and Scrabble tiles that I was able to use on the inside.  

I remember when my mom came home from the hospital with my new baby sister. I ran home once the dismissal bell rang. There she was, in my mom's arms, a little blondie. It's great that she and I have a supportive, meaningful relationship. We live in the same town and often get together for weekend grocery shopping.

My other sister lives in Germany. She's coming in to visit during the birthday weekend and we're surprising my youngest sister with an overnight to a location we've all never been to. I made homemade strawberry schnapps for us to toast to. It's going to be awesome...

Challenges I am Entering:

Beyond the Blue - Birthday card 

Crafty Catz - Anything Goes w/optional twist: Celebration

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes w/option: Alcohol (markers or liquid)

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes

I Find This Piece of Art Very Mooo-ving

It was a good day at my local thrift store. First, everything in the store was half-priced. Second, I kept finding items I wanted to paint or change in some way. Third, they even gave me my veteran's discount on top of the half-off price!

One of the treasures I found that tickled my Muse was this ceramic cookie jar. It was just your standard white and black calf, with various scuffs and dirty as all get-out. So I took her home with me and we've become very good friends. Her name is Elsie, after a (very) old ad gimmick for Borden Milk products. According to Wikipedia, "Elsie the Cow is a cartoon cow developed as a mascot for the Borden Dairy Company in 1936 to symbolize the perfect dairy product...the character has continued to be used in the same capacity for the company's partial successors, Eagle Family Foods (owned by J.M. Smucker) and Borden Dairy.

I cleaned her up before pulling out my acrylic paints. After several coats of different colors, I decided to make her a purple cow. Have you ever heard of the Purple Cow? It's a short little poem written in 1895 by  Gelett Burgess: 

"I never saw a Purple Cow,

I never hope to see one;

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see than be one.^["

⁽ "The Purple Cow". Poetry Archive. Retrieved 26 March 2013.)

I added patches of different colors and gave each patch "stitches" to give her a country vibe. I covered her with gloss varnish so her new paint job won't get scuffed. Her back end comes off so you can stash cookies inside. I hope you enjoyed the history and poetry lesson for today. LOL

Challenges I am Entering:

Dream Valley - Four-legged friends

Challenge Up your Life - Cute ANimals

Crafty Animals - AG w/an animal

Critter Crazy - AG w/a featured animal

Path of Positivity - AG or twist: Inspired by literature (purple cow poem)

Here Comes the Sun (sing it with me)

I found a terracotta smiling sun the other day at Goodwill that needed a redo badly. It took me a while just to clean the thing, and then discovered that it just needed a paint job. I think I painted this piece three times, using different colors and combos of colors, but i didn't like any of them!

Then I remembered I had some acrylic paint that was "ready to pour". I decided to try my hand at fluid acrylic painting with this sun instead of a canvas, and I like the way it turned out. I added a border of tiny shaped sequins in a subtle color. Now all I have to do is put a final coat of varnish on him to seal the sequins and I'm satisfied with the outcome.

I paid almost a whole dollar for him and can't wait to hang him up in my house. I find some amazing items at thrift stores. In fact, I'm meeting my girlfriend next week to one that offers 50% off the whole store on Mondays. Wish me luck!

Challenges I am Entering:

Meow's It Going?!

 Last time a attended thrift therapy, I picked up a lightweight, carved wooden cat. She was pretty beat up, but I saw her inner beauty so I paid the dollar and took her home with me. After several color changes, I ended up with a medium pink. I used cotton swabs dipped in various colors of paint to give it a general flowery coat. I recolored the eyes and tail as well. She now poses gracefully in my living room window. I used both acrylic paint as well as Posca paint markers.

Thrift therapy is what I call it when I have the urge to roam a thrift store. I may not have something particular in mind while shopping. I may not even buy anything. But it is perfect for destressing. I just need to remember that when I do find something to upcycle or paint, that I take a photo of the item BEFORE I change it! LOL