Before I reveal a new creation……

I’m elated to announce my “No Joke: I’m Queen” ATC was chosen as a favorite

over on the Stampotique Challenge Site by Maria.

 You can follow the link below to see for yourself!

Thanks Maria for including my art in your top picks.

http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/sdc54-family.html

 Now Showing: {Nine} Lives

The alphabet themed Artist Trading Card Swap continues in my local art club with the letter “N” as my assignment.  This letter made with 3 straight lines gave me a rough time.  My brainstorming began with making a list of “N” things until something caught my fancy.  Whew!  After quite a long list and a few false starts, I finally gave the stamp of approval to the cat with {Nine} lives.

The rubber stamps used for this ATC are from Stamps by Judith & Heather.  All images were colored with Copic Markers.

Choosing {Nine} lives as my letter “N” representative was a great way to use this Halloween Cat image and give her a whole new life wearing a very fancy hat.  Her hat is adorned with a #9 using a retro label maker, a flower, (colored with the same Copic red as the hat), a tiny yellow brad for the flower middle and some shimmery green ribbon.  Now this cat regardless of how many lives she has left will be in style for more than just Halloween.  So tell me, it makes you want to buy a red hat, doesn’t it?

All stamped images were cut out using fine detail scissors.  The sentiment was created by stringing beads on silver wire and wrapping the ends to secure the beads in position.  Even though I had a rough start with this task, I am thrilled at the result.  It was also fun to create something in a little more “clean” style as opposed to my traditional “messy grunge” style.  Hooray for letter “N”.

Playing Along:

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/winners-of-sweet-tooth-challenge.html

http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2012/05/may-flowers.html

http://trulyscrumptiouschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-80anything-goes.html

http://wishcraftcards.blogspot.com/2012/05/waste-not-wednesdays-wk19.html

http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/challenge-45-all-creatures-great-and.html

http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-39-anything-goes.html

http://www.ibrakeforchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-brake-for-florals.html

http://blog.oozak.com/2012/04/challenge-2-spring-colors.html

http://www.scrapitgirl.net/index.php/2012/05/01/april-showers-bring-the-may-flowers-challenge/

http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/

http://funwithatcs.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-61-huthute.html

An Artist Trading Card created to celebrate Moth Fab becoming Queen.  People thought she was wasting her time pursuing royalty, but it appears she is getting the last laugh!  Never give up on your dreams regardless of how absurd they appear to other people.

The background of laughing people was collaged and sprayed with Copic color, using the Copic Airbrushing System.  The spraying of color allows for a beautiful transition from one color hue to another, making this Artist Trading Card pleasing to the eye.

 The Stampotique image “Moth Fab,” found here:  http://www.stampotique.com/stamp/penney-torrente/6048.html, was stamped and cut out using fine detail scissors.  Her dress and a portion of her hair was also detail cut and paper pieced using designer pattern paper.  Moth Fab’s skin tone was applied with a paint brush using sparkling watercolors.

The Queen was completed with the perfect crown adorned with yellow stickles and pink rhinestones.  The rhinestones were colored with Copic Marker R85.  The crown was enhanced by popping it off the card using foam squares.  The sentiment was cut from various children’s books collected from a thrift store, and sprayed with Copic color.

I am thrilled with the Goth-Like royalty displayed on this ATC.  I was going to give it away to someone who left a comment……but instead it will be used quite possible in my art journal! 

Playing Along:

http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/04/sdc53-atc-artist-trading-cards.html

http://poisonedpeas.blogspot.com/

http://www.scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/2012/05/card-challenge-82.html

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/challenge-130-anything-goes.html

http://wishcraftcards.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/waste-not-wednesdays-wk17.html

http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/anything-goes-may-1st.html

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/05/challenge-82-favourite-colour-combo.html

http://funwithatcs.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-60-diva.html

http://lejdesignschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/challenge-1-anything-goes.html

http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2012/05/anything-goes.html

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2012/05/shopping-our-stash-challenge-50-mothers.html

http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-75-anything-but-card.html

http://sassycheryls.blogspot.com/2012/05/show-me-74.html

Creating a mixed media art journal is rewarding because it allows your spirit to be completely set free to try new techniques, your mind to include those beloved hoarded embellishments (because you get to keep them forever in your journal), and your mind continues to art journal, even if your hands aren’t working, because your eyes see everything in a new light, sources of great texture, inspiring quotes, or that must do color combination.

Art journaling requires no special supplies or expensive equipment.  It can begin with just a hardcover book purchased from the thrift store.  Paint the pages with White Gesso.  White Gesso works like a primer and creates a smooth base for any type of art medium.  Once your page is primed it’s ready to roll.

This week I enjoyed using stamped images which include the hanging lanterns and bicycle.  You can purchase these images from Stamping Bella.

The images were painted with watercolor crayons and a water brush.  Stickles added a subtle touch of sparkle to the lanterns.

Can you spot one of my favorite embellishments on the bike?  So happy that I can use it in a project, and yet it’s still mine.  (I know, I have issues)  The chipboard arrows were painted with acrylic paint.

The acrylic painted flowers were done free hand and texture was added by swirling the wrong end of the paint brush around in the freshly painted color.  The color of these flowers just snap on that green background and certainly are a roadside attraction to all who pass by.

The sayings “ride into the sunset” and “roadside attraction” were cut out of the new and improved JC Penny Catalog.  If you still have one of those lying around or receive one in the mail soon, read through the sayings in there!  They are delish!  I never mind sharing my stash with others…..but now that I have fallen in love with this catalog, I have a hard time letting this one go!  Right, Sue?    This baby is ALL MINE!!!

 Hope you are able to get a bike ride in today…

And don’t forget to notice the lovely roadside attractions…

Playing Along:

http://artwithnoboundaries.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-6-anything-goes.html

http://www.houseofgilli.blogspot.com/

http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2012/04/make-it-monday-85-with-meljens-designs.html

http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-103.html

http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge157-lieblingsfarben.html

http://trulymadlycraftychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-challenge.html

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/2012/04/lets-make-it-free-and-easy.html

http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/2012/04/ci-paints-inspired-by-spring.html

http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/challenge-22.html

http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/2012/04/paper-sundaes-challenge-116-anything.html

http://stamptacularsundaychallenge.blogspot.com/2012/04/challenge-159-freebie-week.html

http://www.thehybridchick.com/2012/04/card-caravan-challenge-17-spring/

http://sassycheryls.blogspot.com/2012/04/show-me-71.html

http://www.doodleartifacts.blogspot.com/

The winner of the handmade pink paper is:

 Comment #3:  Holly Young.

Holly’s Comment:  These are so cute!  I absolutely love the background you created for your cute pigs!  Thanks for playing in Squigglefly’s challenge!

Congrats, Holly!  Please use the contact form on this blog to send me your address and these beautiful papers will arrive quickly in your mailbox.  Thanks for leaving a comment and I hope you enjoy using these papers for a special project! 

If you follow this blog you already know about my participation in an Artist Trading Card Swap with my local monthly art club.  We are currently making cards to represent each letter of the alphabet.  This will be a beautiful collection when complete not only because of the amazing talented artists, but because we are friends who happen to be artists.  Make sense? 

My task was to create something perfect for letter “P.”  The task began with creating handmade altered paper for the background, and of course having the letter “P” it just had to be……Pink!

Beginning with a piece of solid pink cardstock I adhered strips of phone book paper with a light coat of glue.  One the strips were all in place my sewing machine hummed along used my favorite zig-zag stitch.  The black thread was a crispy detail and offered some great texture.  Now the cardstock was ready for the final touch.  Using a heat tool and various shades of pink crayons, I began dripping the melting color all over the page.  Following on the heels of the shades of pink, drops of white melted crayon were added for depth and added texture.  Melting crayons for the use in art has become a popular technique, not to mention a great way to use those tossed aside crayons from your children.

A few lessons learned during this technique:

* Point the heat tool down toward the cardstock to avoid blowing the wax across your workspace.

* Use thin layers of melted wax.  Thicker layers, when dry, will crack and flake off your cardstock.  You can tilt your cardstock around to allow the liquid wax to run and keeping the layer thinned out.

*When using this technique on cardstock you wish you adhere to something else, adhere with a gel medium.  Tape runners will not stick to the slippery, greasy crayon, so applying adhesive with a paint brush will be necessary.

Creating the paper was incredibly fun and I was pleased with the beginning of my letter “P” art.  To finish up the ATC, several pig images were stamped twice on designer pattern paper with embossing ink, embossed with fine detail black embossing powder, and cut out using fine detail scissors.

After the pig images were cut out they were layered with foam squares to make the pig images pop out from the textured background.  I think pink pigs are the most adorable creatures in the whole wide world.

(Remember this post:  http://www.retrodolly.net/archives/834)

The perfect {Pile ’O Pigs} title made this tribute to the letter “P” absolutely perfect!

 Lots of “P” visual representations on this tiny piece of art.  I spy….a pile, adorable pigs, delicious pink, and perfect polka-dots.  Do you see any more?

Guess what?  I have 4 blank ATC sized pieces of this specially made paper left over.  If you leave a comment on this post, you could be the proud new owner of this pink canvas ready for your special creation.  These of course would make the perfect ATC base, background for a stamped image on a card, a tag for that special summer birthday, oran embellishment  to your art journal.  To be included in this drawing your comment must be dated prior to April 1st!

Playing Along:

http://cheerfulstamppad.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-39-anything-goes.html

http://daisydoodlescreativechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-56.html

http://www.scrapitgirl.net/index.php/2012/03/01/march-challenge-go-green-recycle/

http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.com/2012/03/winner-winner-chicken-dinner.html

http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/2012/03/lets-use-our-stash.html

http://squigglefly.blogspot.com/2012/03/squigglefly-challenge-12-sfc1212.html

I am currently participating in an online workshop, Art of Wild Abandonment, hosted by Christy Tomlinson and taught by Junelle Jacobson.  Junelle is an outrageously talented artist.  You can see her work, soak in some fresh inspiration, and read about her love of sheep and her family over on her blog {Yes, and Amen}.

 http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/

So….the instruction from Art of Wild Abandonment is pushing my artistic abilities as Junelle is encouraging me to try my hand at sketching.  Yes, you read that correctly…..sketching.  Wow!  This has been tough!  And trust me, there are many of my sketches you will never see.

I began sketching with a mechanical pencil and a white artist eraser.  I finished with a mechanical pencil and a much, much, much smaller white artist eraser!  I’m super nervous to show you the results, but without further delay here is some sketched art created from my soul:

The base of the sketch began on a layer of gesso atop the pages in my art journal.  The main coloring consists mostly of water color crayons and water brush.  The tree leaves were stamped using various “leaf-like” images and varying shades of green ink.

“Get Ready for a Sunny Day” was a saying I clipped from a magazine several months ago.  It was layered on designer paper and finished up with an adorable zig-zag stitch.  Do you see that spunky little Dorky Bird?  He is so fluffy and cute!

You can find this image over here:

http://www.stampsbyjudith.com/Stamp%20Numbers/D/stamp_numbers_D.htm

The tire swing is a happy memory of playing in the sunshine and was sketched perfectly under the tree.  Vintage sheet music dressed up the corner of the page and topped with a flower image from Stamps By Judith and Heather.  Judith and Heather also have a line of stubby stamps, and those sweet little stubbies were used throughout the background for texture.

You can check out the Stubby Stamps here:

http://www.stampsbyjudith.com/Sticks%20and%20Stubbies/stubbies.htm

Fresh thinking was also a clipping from a magazine.  The glittery red bird is perched to the top of the quote with E6000 Glue.  This is a heavy adhesive perfect for those 3D embellies in an art journal.

Some layered designer papers and more of my favorite zig-zag stitch made this a perfect embellishment for the treetop.  I have been so blessed to be given the honor of Top Chef Award from Linda over on Catered Crop.  My heart did the biggest pitter-patter when she notified me of this recognition.

You can read all about this news at:

http://cateredcrop.com/2012/03/18/recipe-swap-in-stitches/

 Being chosen for the Top Chef Award has given me the opportunity to showcase my art for the current Catered Crop Recipe Swap using stitching.  So that means, I got to create something fun, following the recipe of stitching, which will be featured this week over at Catered Crop.  Isn’t that awesome?  Wow, still can’t believe it!  It’s not too late to join the stitching recipe fun, so hop over to Catered Crop and link up your stitching project. 

www.cateredcrop.com

It will be fun to see what you create, and you just might win a prize!

So there you have it.  I was super nervous to share this with you.  But may this inspire you to grab a pencil and sketch something that has meaning for you.  You just might be surprised what your hand will create when given the chance.

Playing Along Here:

http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-76-light-airy-spring-colours.html

http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-27-distressing.html

http://littledarlingschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-is-in-air-blog-hop-and-challenge.html

http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-125-clean-simple.html

http://www.papercraftstar.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-89-spring.html

http://www.thepixiecottage.blogspot.com/2012/03/pixie-cottage-challenge-113-easter-or.html

http://rubberredneck.typepad.com/rubber-redneck/2012/03/color-round-up-66-using-fabulous-florets.html

http://www.scrapbooksisters.blogspot.com/2012/03/card-challenge-no-76.html

http://wishcraftcards.blogspot.com/2012/03/waste-not-wednesdays-wk12.html

http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-31-anything-goes-shape-ez.html

Purple, Black and Pink made the perfect color combination for my art journal page using the Stampotique image “Sheer.”

The background was created using layers of paint, stencils, and oil pastels.  The oil pastels were used in graduated colors beginning in the top left with the lightest shade of purple and ending down by the deflated balloon in black.  I wanted color to be used this way to symbolize the process of a balloon losing it’s air.  Or in this case…..hope.

Sheer was stamped with embossing ink and coated with fine detail black embossing powder.  This made her stand out with crispness on the old piece of torn sheet music.

Chipboard arrows were altered with black cardstock.  I used the arrow and it’s negative.  The negative chipboard was adhered to a piece of embossed aluminum foil.  This little bit of shiny material gave the layout some great detail without overpowering the grunge look.

Balloons were tied with black embroidery floss.  The black embroidery floss was altered with tiny bits of pink frayed ribbon.

Letters were cut out and positioned along the top.  The word float was perfectly strung along as if it were floating right along with the balloons.  I plan on doing some journaling on this page.  Here are a few of my thoughts!

Hope is a funny thing!  Some days you have it…..and other days you don’t.

For me lately, it’s been one minute I have it……and the next minute I don’t.  After some time analyzing the circumstances in my life that are incredibly hopeful and comparing them to the circumstances that aren’t so hopeful in my life, I realized it doesn’t take much to lose hope!  And it doesn’t take many un-hopeful circumstances to bring about complete hopeless.  Make sense?

Let me try saying it a new way……there could be several balloons flying so freely through the air representing situations full of hope, but that one balloon at the bottom, the one totally deflated from all hope can elicit total hopelessness and unhappiness.  Right or Wrong—Good or Bad that’s just how I roll.  For this minute though, I am going to choose to look at the balloons that are floating in the air.  What about you?

Got Hope?

Playing Along:

http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/02/sdc49-purplepink-with-black.html

http://www.alwayscrafting.blogspot.com/2012/03/creative-mondays-ch3-anything-goes.html

http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/cupcake-183-going-dotty.html

http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/2012/03/simon-says-stamp-and-show-anything-goes.html

http://theribbonreelchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-23-newsprint.html

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2012/03/week-105-spring-is-near.html

This mixed media page from my art journal was created with the following thoughts running through my head.

Have you ever visited Disney World? If so, you have undoubtedly observed the family with a double stroller. The stroller is packed and usually not with children. Instead it’s loaded down and organized as if an official moving company measured the space applied a mathematical equation resulting in each item fitting precisely. You can spot this family from a distance as brightly colored balloons dance in the air while anchored to the stroller. The mother is looking tired from miles of walking and pushing this temporary house on wheels through crowds of people. Her hair is sloppy as strands of hair are behaving uncooperatively with the pony tail holder. Her skin is sunburned because her mind was more focused on the protection of her children. Her motivation was love and her spirit was happy to share this adventure with her children.

Not far away, you spot the father. He’s the one wearing the hat with Goofy ears. If his co-workers ever spotted him wearing this vacation souvenir it would be the hot topic at the next executive meeting. But for now, this father wears the Goofy hat proudly because it was handpicked by the little one who calls him daddy.  Take him out of this crowd and he would be a silly sight, but in this moment and in this crowd, he fits. He just fits. After smiling over the idea of a grown man wearing a hat with long Goofy ears, your eye catches a glimpse of the one he’s carrying.

There she is, completely exhausted. Her weariness began with cries of discomfort transforming quickly to peaceful dreaming.

Her dreams were probably full of glitter, a fancy princess, and of course the Mouse himself. But nonetheless, after countless steps and hours on her feet, there she lay with her eyes closed tightly.

Her head gently positioned on the shoulder of the one who made all her dreams come true that day. There is no doubt that he is tired too, but in this moment he was determined to carry his princess home, for she was much too tired to take another step. Don’t you wonder why he didn’t put her in the stroller? Made me wonder too! And that is when it clicked. The father carried his little girl because that is what she needed. When exhaustion kicks in, nothing calms the weary like being carried.

Can you relate to the little girl? Are you tired and crying for someone to carry you? Is living life taking the life right out of you? Life’s warning label adds to the burden of weariness. The label cautions: don’t let “just anybody” carry you, for “just anybody” won’t understand the depth of your need. You don’t need a judge, a lawyer, or even a doctor, but instead a compassionate someone who will love you enough, right where you are, to pick you up.

Isaiah 46:4

 ”I have made you. And I will carry you.

I will take care of you. And I will save you. I am the Lord.”

Playing Along:

 http://cateredcrop.com/2012/03/11/ravenous-for-ribbon-quickfire/

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-27-mothers-day.html

http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-9-girlymothers-day.html

http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/03/seeing-spots.html

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/we-are-relaunchingearly-come-and-meet.html

http://sassycheryls.blogspot.com/2012/03/show-me-66.html

http://theribbonreelchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-23-newsprint.html

http://trulymadlycraftychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/03/welcome-to-our-march-challenge-huge.html

***************************************************************

***************************************************************

***************************************************************

Sharing this idea with:

http://www.4craftychicks.blogspot.com/2012/03/challenge-79-anything-but-card.html 

http://sassycheryls.blogspot.com/2012/03/show-me-65.html

http://sjpapercrafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/monthly-challenge-2-february.html

http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/2012/03/pcj-challenge-4-anything-goes.html

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/03/show-us-secret.html

My art work was chosen and now displayed as a Ginger Gem.

You will find my work displayed here: 

http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/wrap-up-gc136-glorious-greens.html