Snowflake ATC

This was another one of those free form, fun cards to make. It's for a snowflake swap at ATCsforall. I used a collage of stamps and added white dots to highlight certain areas. I'm really enjoying these stamped collages, and definitely plan to be doing more!

Blog Award

I received this award from Jennifer at Trial and Error. To participate in this one, I am to list 5 addictions and then pass the award onto 5 bloggers. First my addictions:
1) Taking photos...of my kids and anything else I see through my camera lense!
2) ATCs
3) Coke or Pepsi, for some reason, it's the only sodas I'll drink
4) Reading
5) Indian Food

O.k. now for 5 bloggers:
1) Running on Ink
2) Sir Pumpkin
3) Land of the Lost Luggage
4) Thimbles, Bobblins, Paper and Ink
5) Far North Designs

I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I do.

Red Tailed Hawk

I joined a partner swap for a 1/1 card. In this swap, we had to check our partner's profile and do a card based on what they were interested in. I picked "bird" out of his profile and did this red tailed hawk. I love how he turned out and wish I'd made one for myself too. Though, I do have to say, I wasn't totally original in this. I'd done a 8 1/2" version of this in a mini-class before, and was thrilled to be able to duplicate it without the instructor talking us through it. It's done with just two colors, brown and blue, except for the touch of color for his eyes. The hardest part then and now was drawing it free hand. The curve of that beak is a lot harder to do then it looks!! Well...at least for me.

I did these beauties for a "Hand Drawn or Painted Fantasy + Background" swap on ATCsforall. I love doing fairies and mermaids. They are my favorite characters. I ended up doing these at the very last possible second. Seems I've been doing that a lot lately. Probably because I can't resist all these really wonderful swaps going on. Once all my swaps and trades are accounted for this month, I think I'll be able to do them during the sunshine hours! Then again, I'll probably hit a bunch more "join" buttons between now and then!! I was up until 3:00 a.m. last night and part of today to finish these up. They're done with acrylics and a bit of sparkle added with stickles. I have a hard time letting go of my cards when I'm done, especially the hand drawn ones. They're usually one of a kind. Oh well, I never made these to stay home anyway. Fly away!!

It's all about the Eyes ATC

This is my first art project for the year 2009. I'm quite pleased with the final piece. I created this ATC for a swap I'm in for eyes. I say final piece because I've tried numerous versions of this and some coloring schemes. This was my favorite. I played on the word "eye". See if you can spot all three "eyes" I used. I'll give you the answer at the bottom of this post.

I used five different stamps to create this collaged image. The face stamp is by Queens Ink, the feather and the swirls are by Judikins, the two clear circle stamps are by Inkadinkado. As you can see, I only used a portions of the stamps. This is an ATC afterall, and the whole stamps just don't fit! I colored it with green and blue. Heavy handed in some areas and lighter in others.

I've been experimenting with doing collages and I really like how this turned out. What do you think. Too busy or hopefully just right?

O.k, did you figure out how many eyes there are? First, there is the girl's eyes, then there is the eye of the peacock, and finally the bullseye. Did you get them all? Perhaps you found an eye that I had not thought of. If so, let me know.

Happy New Year

This is my favorite day of the year. I feel excitement in the air, a shiver of joy as the new year stretches out in front of me. An opportunity to learn something new, improve on something old and enjoy what I already know! I love Christmas too, but I feel so tired by the end of the season that this day makes me feel refreshed and young again. There are 357 days of shopping left! That alone makes me think that perhaps this year I might get things done ahead of time. Lol. Then again, I'll probably wait till the very last minute. I don't think it's because I'm lazy or I procrastinate too much (perhaps a wee bit), but I know it's because there is so much to do and learn out there. I'm a very curious cat by nature. I like to veer off the beaten path and see and take pictures of everything I can. By the time I get back on the path again, I'm late. Like the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, I'm always saying ..."I'm late, I'm late, I'm late". This year my resolution isn't going to be to be on time or to stay on the path more often. This year my resolution is going to be "MORE". Does that make me sound greedy. Perhaps, it is. This year, I want to have more off the path adventures, more being late because life is so full of interesting things, more of my kids hugs, more of my husband's kisses, more of being creative and especially more of being me! I look forward to every new year and I look forward to this one too. I wish for all of you new adventures in life and the time to enjoy them!

Welcome

Welcome to my Virtual Open House. Come in and warm yourself. It's a cold 36 deg. outside at the moment and will be about the same when Santa comes to deliver his presents. The house is decorated with lots of lights outside, Christmas tree inside, and many of my most favorite items on display for everyone to enjoy. Santa is one of my favorite images for Christmas. I think he embodies for me much of what Christmas is all about. Not because he brings presents, but because he gives from the heart and because he doesn't expect anything in return. Well, perhaps some cookies and milk and a carrot for his reindeers!

So to make sure Santa has his cookies, my DS and I baked a bunch of cookies today. Think there'll be one left for Santa?

Upon entering my foyer, you'll be greeted by three ceramic Santas I painted way back in the late 80's. There were so many ceramic shops then, but now, it's hard to find any. I barely did any type of crafts then and my hubby spent all his spare time detailing model airplanes. My mother-in-law pointed me in the direction of ceramics and I did these as one of my first few pieces way back in the late 80's.

From my foyer, we enter the living room. My collection continues. Here are some store bought Santas I have. I add one each year to this.

Times changed, and the ceramic stores closed. I still wanted to do art, so I did some paintings on my own. Here are three santas that I painted once I couldn't find any ceramic stores.

ornaments my son and I made

and more Santas. This time as cards I sent out. There are no art stores close to me here, so I turned my creating to scrapbooking, cards and ATCs. Now that my local scrapbooking store is closed, I wonder where my art journey will take me.

I hope you enjoyed a little bit of the time you spent in my home. It's been my pleasure to show off my collection. I'll be giving a hostess gift to one person picked at random from those that leave me a comment here. I don't have a pic of my gift, but it will be one of my coasters. There is an example of it further down in one of the other posts. Of course, it's a Santa! I've got a selection of images you can pick from and I'll make it especially for you. Thanks for stopping by. Next on the tour is Tami's house. Just click on her name and just like magic, you'll be whisked away to her home. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a very joyous New Year.