ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (12-20-15)

The Sunday Postcard Art challenge has been posted and Constance has chosen the holiday theme of nutcracker.  This was indeed a challenge for me, but Google images saved the day with a perfect nutcracker image for an artist!

I cut a scrap of patterned paper to 4x6" for my postcard.  I "altered" the image somewhat by using PSE, but remained true to the basic image.  The wording at the top was created using fonts available in Word; the bottom wording was leftover from a Christmas kit long ago dismantled.

Glad you took a moment to stop by today.  If you have not already done so, I hope you will join as a follower and then follow by e-mail so that you don't miss an update!

I hope you can find some time this busy week to get crafty and create a postcard for this challenge.  

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (12-13-15)

Hazel is the host this week at Sunday Postcard Art, and she has chosen the theme of Holly and/or Ivy for our challenge. The submissions for this challenge are amazing, and you can find them here.  

For my postcard, I began with a scrap of patterned paper cut to 4x6" for my background.  I used one of Dyan Reaveley's stamps for my ivy element and used Copic Markers to color it.  Copics were also used to add color to one of my favorite Stampotique stamps, Moth Fab!  The text stamp is from Tim Holtz.

I hope you will take some time this week to create a bit of postcard  art (4x6") for Hazel's challenge.  Anything goes as long as it has to do with holly and/or ivy!  

Thanks for stopping by for a visit and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  Both are important to me!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (12-06-15)

Running a bit late this week for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge, but it's only Friday so am in time!  Our host this week is Marion, an avid reader, who is challenging us to use Books/Reading in our postcard art.  

I just received a new stamp from the NAYS WORLD collection called "Funky Girl."  This gem is named Nikki and she has been designed by the up-and-coming artist and stamp designer Carol Porter! You can find Nikki and her funky sisters in Carol Porters Etsy Shop.  You can also visit Carol and watch her inspiring videos on her blog, Daily Art Tantrums.  

I purchased and downloaded the background photo of the books from FotoSearch. It was printed on my computer printer onto 4x6 glossy photo paper.  My focal image was colored with Copic markers, then adhered on top of the photo. The title was created using Mrs. Grossman's alpha stickers and is inspired by my husband's daily commute into Boston--a long one that allows plenty of time for him to listen to his BOOKS on  TAPE!

Thanks for visiting today and for taking a moment to leave a comment. Please take a moment also to join as a follower if you have not already done so. You can then "follow by e-mail" so that you get a notice when I have published a new blog post.

Cheers!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (11-29-15)

The Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week is hosted by Linda, who has chosen "trees" as our theme. Other than palm trees, of course, I am thinking that pine trees are my favorite at this time of year.

I used my Cricut to cut out different sizes and shapes of trees, then adhered them to my Kraft postcard (4"x6") after stenciling on some watered-down gesso for some background interest. At the bottom, I used full-strength gesso to add the appearance of a bit of snow. The sentiment was created with a Stampin' Up! stamp that I have had for years!  Hope you like it...

I hope you will find some time this week to join in on the fun and create a postcard for this challenge.  Thanks for visiting today and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  Both are important to me!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (11-22-15)

Hazel is our host this week at the Sunday Postcard Art site and the challenge is to use fruit in the creation of our postcards. Her inspirational art for this week is wonderful and I would encourage you to visit her site to check it out.

My postcard for this week is a bit "off season" if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, but I had fun making it just the same. One of the items on my Bucket List is to visit the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. That was the inspiration for this piece.  

Both the background and quote are from an internet search. The image is called "Friends" and is by Stampotique Originals.

I hope you will find some time this week to play along with this challenge.  You can find the rules here.

I appreciate both your visit and your comment today.

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: "Take It Make It" November Challenge

Craft Stamper Magazine's "Take It Make It" challenge for November is to use a stamp and the theme is Anything Goes. It is possible to submit three pieces of art (each entered separately), so decided to make my third submission today.  

I recently found a new stamp designer by the name of Carol Porter.  I am lucky to have two of her stamps; the one I am using today being my favorite! You can see everything that Carol sells (including cards) at NAYS WORLD in her Etsy Shop. You can also follow her blog here.  

I made this journal page today using a scrap of patterned paper. I added some interest in the background before adhering my focal image (stamped on book text) and stamping my sentiment onto the paper. I think the two pair nicely!

Thanks for stopping by today and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  That way I'll know you were here.  I would love it if you also joined as a "follower" if you have not already done so.  Once you have done that, you can subscribe by e-mail and get notified each time I update my blog.

Cheers!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: "Take It Make It" November Challenge

Craft Stamper Magazine's "Take It Make It" challenge for November is to use a stamp and the theme is Anything Goes. With such freedom, it was fun to create this fall-flavored tag:

Thanks for coming by today and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  Both are important to me!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge (11-07-15)

Deann is the host for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week, and she has sent us back to dig up our favorite fairy tale!  Few things last past childhood, but Snow White and those seven delightful dwarfs have endured the past seven decades for me!  Dopey was always my favorite dwarf.  Amazingly, he never spoke, yet one could always imagine what he was thinking!

For my background, I cut two pieces of heavy cardstock to 4" x 6".  I applied gesso to the surface of one, then pressed the two together and "massaged" the outside a bit to push around the gesso between the two.  When I pulled them apart, there was texture and pattern everywhere!  I allowed the cardstock to dry and then, using a citrus color palette, applied Dylusions spray inks and spritzes of water to blend them.

The pre-colored image of Dopey was from an internet search, and the text stamp is from Stampotique Originals.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today and for taking a moment to leave a comment!  Both are appreciated.

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

Linda is our host at Sunday Postcard Art this week, and she is sending us off to Paris to create art!  I hope you will take some time this week to join us in creating something for this challenge.

My postcard this week was a simple one to create as I used a Sizzix "texture fade" die folder to create dry embossing on my paper (cut to 6" x 4").  I then used a sanding block to rub off most of the raised surfaces, revealing the white core of the paper.

Thanks for stopping by today and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  I appreciate both!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: Sunday Postcard Art Challenge

The Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week is following the Halloween theme.  I created this postcard by dabbing Tim Holtz' Mini Distress Ink pads (various fall colors) on my craft mat, then spritzing with water.  I then continued to drag my postcard through that yummy color until I was happy with the result.  After drying with my heat tool, I stamped Stampendous' Crowscape using archival ink, then edged the postcard with TH's Rusty Hinge.  For the sentiment, I used a stamp from Stampers Anonymous called Crazy Talk, and done!

Come play with us at Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week!

Thanks for stopping by for a look and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  I value both!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: a sympathy card

A couple of people have asked me about my entitling my last post (and this one) as "Art from the Main House."  The house we have rented for the winter is only feet from the Atlantic Ocean in Rye, New Hampshire.  We are in the "main house," hence the title, in a group of homes and cottages called Salty Breeze Cottages.  Ours is the largest and so has always been called the main house.  The art I create from this venue may/may not be different from any other works I have created, but I always want to remember that I created these works during this period of my life.

Earlier this month, a friend of mine unexpectedly lost her husband. It has been a most difficult time for her, as you can image, and I have taken a long while to digest it myself.  Only today, have I been able to create a sympathy card for her.  I had forgotten how therapeutic making a card of condolence can be.  As I worked on the card, I sorted through memories and plans that will never transpire for us as couples.  

The card was created on a card blank using scraps of paper.  The stamp I used is from Stampotique Originals.  I used a metal die (Poppystamps, Inc.) called "Weeping Willow Branches," to create the cascade on the left which I thought went perfectly with the tearful image.

Thanks for stopping by today and for taking a moment to leave a comment.  Both your visits and comments are important to me!

ART FROM THE MAIN HOUSE: a journal page

It has been since July that I have been without art supplies.  After selling our home and giving away, donating and storing our worldly possessions, we are finally settled in our "winter rental" in Rye, New Hampshire.  We are in a wonderful home on Ocean Boulevard, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean.  I can see it, hear it, smell it and even taste it.  It is a very peaceful venue in which to begin again to create!

Some number of months ago, an elderly woman died.  As often happens, what remains of such a person's possessions is left to the children.  It is up to them to determine the disposition of those items.  The son of just such a woman happens to be a friend of my sister.  One day, the son was lamenting to my sister that he had a file folder full of papers handmade by his mother and he was at a loss as to what to do with them.  His mother had clearly marked them "not for sale."  My sister shared with her friend my love of art and that she was sure I would appreciate them.  I am privileged to use one of those papers in my art journal project today.

The paper that I have used here is described by Cal Williams, the creator of the paper, as being...

Kozo - Japanese Mulberry Bark

Beaten but uncleaned

Due the rough, yet very beautiful texture of the paper, I wasn't sure that I would be able to stamp on it, but am pleased with the outcome.  The stamps I used are both from Stampotique Originals.  I highlighted the edges with Tim Holtz' Distress Ink in "Rusty Hinge."

I am glad that you stopped by today.  I hope you will take a moment to leave a comment!

Cheers!

FEELING SKETCHY CHALLENGE BLOG #125

It hardly seems possible that we could be halfway through the month of July already, but here we are.  The Feeling Sketchy Challenge Blog has posted a new sketch today: 

I had so much fun interpreting the last sketch in the form of a layout that I am going with that again this time.  My stepdaughter Sarah recently sent me a "selfie," and I absolutely love it!  She is pictured with her two cats Nikki and Sam (on Sarah's shoulder). 

First, the layout, then, a few detail photographs (a supply list follows):

Supplies:

• KaiserCraft paper
• Red cardstock (from stash)
• White Rick Rack (Wrights)
• Unity Stamp Set "Be Amazing" (sentiment)
• Die Cut Machine (Cricut)
• "Elegant Edges" font (Cricut)
• Xyron 1.5" create-a-sticker
• Tombo mono permanent adhesive
• Carl 12" rotary trimmer

PolkaDoodles is our sponsor for this challenge.  I hope you will pay them a visit.  I appreciate both your visits and your comments here. They are important to me and keep me inspired!

TAG ALONG CHALLENGE BLOG #96: BOYS

Audrey is the host this week at the Tag Along Challenge Blog.  Audrey is looking for "boy-themed" tags, so I immediately thought of my favorite boy image from Stampotique, "Twinkie!"  

I used some patterned paper from my stash for the tag background, cutting a snippet from it to give my image a place on which to stand so that he did not appear to be floating.  

Now, I suppose to many my sentiment needs no explanation, but, since my husband never heard of this expression (surprisingly), I will share Wikipedia's explanation:  "Pull my finger is a joke or prank regarding flatulence in which a mark is asked to pull the finger of the joker, who simultaneously expresses gas...."  Farting seems to be a pretty common pastime for young boys, so here's my contribution to this theme!

I appreciate your visit today!  Please come by and join in on the "boy" fun at the Tag Along Challenge Blog this week.

TAG ALONG CHALLENGE BLOG #95: ALPHABET

The Tag Along Challenge Blog has posted a new challenge and it is called "alphabet."  It is my pleasure to serve as guest host and I am challenging even me because I have never participated in an alphabet challenge!  What I learned is that I could choose any letter of the alphabet and create something--in this case a tag--with that letter in mind.  Since I had just purchased Dina Wakley's "Scribbly Birds" stamps, I went with B is for BIRD!

I chose a postcard-sized tag (4" x 6") and polka dot paper from my stash.  I used Tim Holtz's "Caged Bird" Alterations die and decorated it with two sizes of silver brads.  The bird image I stamped on heavy white cardstock and overstamped the image with one of the background stamps from Dylusion's "Graphic Backgrounds" (another THANK YOU to my friend Barbara). 

My sentiment was taken from the title of a book written by Maya Angelou, one of my favorite authors and a wonderful woman I would have been pleased to know.  A piece of washi tape (to allow my free bird a place to sit), a red ribbon from my stash and done!

Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate both your visits and your comments.  I hope you will take some time this week to join us in creating something for this alphabet challenge at the Tag Along Challenge Blog!

FEELING SKETCHY CHALLENGE BLOG #124

Can you believe that July has arrived?!  Feeling Sketchy Challenge Blog says that it has and has posted the challenge for the first half of the month.  Here's the sketch:

This was a tough one for me.  I just couldn't see a card in there anywhere, but, what I did see, was a beautiful layout sketch! So, I went with that.  I have taken great liberty with this sketch.  Although all the elements are present, they have been artistically rearranged just a bit!  

First, the detail shots:

And the reveal:

I hope you like my layout.  It's been a while since I have created one and actually found it quite fun.  The background paper is brand new and is from BoBunny (Garden Journal Gratitude).  The lighter cardstock (called White Smoke) is from a new company called My Colors Cardstock.  The burgundy cardstock is from my stash, as is the doily.  Both sentiments were created using a Tim Holtz Alterations die from Sizzix.

I hope you will take some time to create something for this Feeling Sketchy challenge.  Our host is Bugaboo stamps, so pay them a visit and check out their great stamps!

Thanks for both your visit and your comment!  Both inspire me to keep doing what I am doing!

TAG ALONG CHALLENGE BLOG #93: ROAD TRIP

Anne continues as the June host for the Tag Along Challenge Blog and she is taking a retro road trip!  I had the perfect Stampotique stamp called "A Car Full."  I used a #10 Ranger tag and covered it with a scrap of My Mind's Eye patterned paper called North Pole.  It was a bit of a bear to fussy cut the stamped image, but I got it done! I adhered it with pop dots to add a bit of dimension.  The quote is from a sticker sheet by Reminisce called Travelogue.  I then used a blending tool to apply Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to the edges of the tag to age it a bit.  I used the same ink to color my ribbon and done!

I hope you like the tag!  It was a fun and quick make since I am home for the day and got some play time in my studio.  I hope you can find some time to play this week, too.  Join us at the Tag Along Challenge Blog!

Thanks for your visit and for taking a moment to leave a comment so that I will know you were here!  I love that, you know!

TAG ALONG CHALLENGE BLOG #92: BEACH DAYS

A new week and a new challenge from Anne at the Tag Along Challenge Blog!  With warmer weather arriving, those of us in the northern hemisphere are thinking beach days, whether the river, the pond, the lake or, in my case, the ocean!

I am at the campground with only limited art supplies, but I still wanted to participate this week in the Tag Along challenge.  I was able to find a beach scene in a magazine I had on hand, then brought in one of my favorite stamps, Young Ignis, from Stampotique.  The quote, Forget Not, is also from Stampotique.  A piece of twine and done!

I appreciate both your visit and your comment today. Both are important to me. Thanks, too, to Anne, for another great challenge this week!  Try to find some time to play with us this week at the Tag Along Challenge Blog.

FEELING SKETCHY CHALLENGE BLOG #123

It's the 15th of the month and, by now, you know what this means!  Yep, another sketch has been posted by the Feeling Sketchy Challenge Blog!  This one was a true challenge for me. Today's sponsor, Kenny K Stamps, wanted all of the Design Team members to use one of his digital images in our creations!  Well, I have never used a digital stamp before, so there was a definite learning curve here.  However, once I got the hang of it, I found an image I loved and pushed right on to create another fun card.  But, first the sketch:

At first glance, it appeared to me to be a very busy sketch, but, by moving some of the elements around in my head, I became inspired by it.  The image I choose is of a very voluptuous woman.  And, I immediately looked through all my text stamps and came up with the perfect one!  

Before showing you my card, I want to be completely up front with you.  I have accumulated just under 100 Copic markers!  I do use them, but I have no idea how to use them as they are intended.  So, when I saw that Kenny K had some pre-colored images, I jumped all over that!  For just 50 cents more (it was my choice to purchase an image rather than use one of the free ones), I got a perfectly-colored image and saved both my time and wear on my markers!  It was a no-brainer for me this time around!   (I have since taken two Copic classes and am getting better and more comfortable using them!)

OK, my card . . .

Again, I used paper scraps for this card.  The stamped sentiment is from Stampotique Originals and is called, "I'm not fat..."  Both the heart and the circles were created using my Cricut.

Please find some time to get crafty and play with this versatile sketch.  I mentioned that Kenny K is our sponsor this week, so please pay him a visit and check out both his "real" stamps and his digital offerings.  You won't be disappointed!  To see the prize donated by Kenny and to submit your artwork, check out the Feeling Sketchy Challenge Blog here.  

TAG ALONG CHALLENGE BLOG #91: CELESTIAL

It is Anne who has brought this great challenge to the Tag Along Challenge Blog this week.  I was afraid I was not going to have enough studio time to make a tag, but I didn't want to disappoint Anne, so here is my rather simple tag:

The background came from a simple "cloud" search on the internet.  My angel is from Stampotique Originals and is simply called Angel.

I also searched for related quotes and came up empty.  Since I couldn't find what I wanted, I wrote my own!  It's not that I don't believe in heaven, but what I do believe in is first striving to make heaven on earth.

I am so glad that you came by today.  I hope you will try to find some time this week to get crafty and play along with the Tag Along  CELESTIAL challenge!