First Day of College

My first born went away to college today.  Something we've planned for since he was in kindergarten.  He's studied hard and got fantastic grades; passed his SAT's with way above marks, just so he could join the ranks of incoming freshman this year.  I'm so proud of all he's accomplished and I so look forward to all he'll achieve.  We packed him up early, got to college earlier than his check-in time and had him moved into his room, helped him unpack a couple of items (he didn't want it all unpacked just yet), had lunch with him and said our goodbyes, in no time at all.  That's what it felt like today.  No time at all.  Where did the time go.  Just yesterday, ok, maybe the day before yesterday, I held this newborn in my arms, who became my whole world.  And now, he's gone.  I know he'll be back on some weekends, and holidays and summers, at least my head knows it all.  My heart doesn't seem to understand and my eyes seem to have sprung a leak.   How long before my eyes dry up, I wonder.  In the meantime,  I miss my boy.  I just simply miss my boy.

4 x 4 Canvas - Sailboats

It's been a while since I posted, but I have been doing a bunch of art.  I was fortunate enough to be able to go an art retreat in Rochester, NY this year and was busy preparing for that and then recouping from that when I came back!  We traded a lot of ATCs and Journal Pages there and I'll post some of those pics soon.  In the meantime, I had a swap to catch up on for a 4x4 canvas at Stamp-Shack in the theme of an Ocean.  A few steps to follow, but still leaving it free flowing.  Loved that!  First step was to add color with no thinking involved, so I did a shade of blue and mixed it with white.  I added a bit of yellow for some contrast and pretty soon it looked like an ocean with a horizon.  I really wasn't aiming there, but I guess the subconciousness knows what it wants.  Then the next step was to add texture, so I added some paste which made it look like waves.  Next step was to add more texture and found objects.  So, I added this jute netting that someone had given me, some fish I'd cut out of the magazines, and some bird punches I had in my stash.  Next step was to add a stamped, color it and collage it onto the background.  I realized that I'm woefully lacking in ocean themed

stamped images, so I asked the hostess if I could just draw and paint them.  She was fine with that, so I then did the sailboats freehanded.  Next step was to add some writing and the last was to add doodling.  I added the saying across the horizon line and doddled some leaves at the corner.  Taa Daa, my 4x4 canvas masterpiece! lol.  Hope the ladies like it. 

Watercolors 10 minute Challenge ATC

I've had a bit of a creative block going lately.  Same story as so many, too many things happening and not enough time or more precisely energy left to create for self.  I'm lucky enough to be going to an artistic get together again this year in NY and wanted to get some cards made to trade.  So, trying to get out of my creative funk, I tried something I'd read some time ago about watercoloring in 10 minutes.  Basic concept is to plop down layers of color without thinking about it.  After the first 2-3 washes of color, start looking for a face shape and adding more colors with that in mind.  Once the colors are laid down, draw a face with what you've got.
I laid down quite a bit of layers of watercolors and thought I was ending up with an Indian Chief with feathers!  As you can see, once I started to ink the drawing, nary a feather in sight!!!  This face was a bit of a surprise for me, because I rarely do faces that aren't facing totally front.  So any kind of angle in the face is a new thing for me.  Unlike acrylics or oils, because this is in watercolors, I don't think the scan or the photos do justice to the translucency of the colors in the real card.
The exercise did do the job though.  I feel my creative mojo back again and can't wait to get the laundry and the cooking and the cleaning done, so I can get back to my art room! lol

Wings

I joined a "Wings" swap on the Scrapbook News and Review Site.  I was playing with these two and I love how they both turned out.  So now the decision, which one to do for the swap.  The Butterfly Wings card might be a bit dark around the bottom edges, but next time, I'll try not to be so heavy handed! lol.  Both the cards are done with stamps and distress inks.  I added the white dots which I'm adding to nearly everything I'm doing at the moment!

Cuttlebug - distress look?

Wow, I hadn't realized how long it's been since I posted.  I've been playing quite a bit with the new cuttlebug folders I got for Christmas.  I haven't created a lot of finished projects with them, but having fun experimenting and seeing what I can do.  I did this one with the cuttlebug birthday folder.  I distressed it with white pigment ink and did the edges with a dark brown marvy ink.  I ran the blue cardstock through the cuttle folder too and cut out some of the words to help pop out the word "Happy Birthday".  The cupcake is done with Martha Stewarts punch/stamp combo.  What cool gadgets she makes!! Love this one.  The candle is just made freehand with a bit of ink.  Did I overdo the distressing?  Distressing is just not my forte! 

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Wishing all my friends the very best the new year has to offer.  I hope all your dreams become reality and all your wishes come true.

We had an incredibly relaxing holidays.  I've never been home during this week in all the years of my marriage.  We've split this week half between my folks and half between my husband's family.  This year, we stayed home and it was simply marvelous.  In the meantime, I've been quite busy this past month and will be posting my art projects that I did in the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, I've been playing with the gifts I got on Christmas.  One of the gifts I want to give myself is playing with a photo editing program.  In some of my past jobs, I jused to do a lot of creative work with painting programs, but I've been a SAHM mom for more years than I can remember!  There are so many new programs out there and I just want to get back into working with some of these programs again.  I love looking at all the pictures people can do special effects and drawings with.  This year I really look forward to expanding my skill base and techniques and I hope you'll be there with me through this journey!  I wish you all the best on your artistic journey too!!