steampunk collage

soooooo, i saw a cool set called "steampunk glory" at the dezinaworld blog.  i decided to get the collage sheet because i have a desire to play along with all the steampunk folks but i don't have much by way of supplies.  meanwhile as i was hopping around blogland i saw a steampunk (or earthycolors) challenge at soartful challenges blog.

these creations are done entirely using the PNGs from the dezinaworld steampunk glory sheet; the women are from the autumn beauty sheet.  i will probably take these to "phase 2" by printing them and using for a card or canvas.  but for now i am kind of enjoying the fun results from my time spent playing in photoshop with these images.  the only other thing i did besides lay out the images was to create a gradient background in photoshop and then gave them a colorful frame with "stroke".

enjoy; love to all.

cheerful stamp pad challenge #44- "the sweet life"

what makes life sweeter?  things you eat?  things you do?  things you see?  we are starting a new two week challenge at the cheerful stamp pad and the theme is "the sweet life."  create around this "sweet" theme in whatever way you like.

i love this collage stamp from stampotique originals designed by artist amy wilson.  it got me reflecting on the sweetness (sometimes bittersweetness) of being a woman.  there's a lot going on with this stamp...  i used a technique junkies technique from the august/september 2005 newsletter called "background pop."  the main image is stamped in raisin colored ink on beige card stock.  the flower outline stamp i used to "pop" the word "femme" is from connor's collectibles stamps.  the stamped image is further outlined with a marker and then matted with some pink designer paper with a subtle bubble pattern.  all is placed on magenta card stock, with some sparkly flowers and a button added for embellishment.

our challenge sponsor is stampotique originals.. all kinds of juicy stamps and supplies on their site!
you've got two weeks.  i hope you'll find time to participate.

one more thing, two weeks ago while i was not paying attention i obtained my 100th follower and then 2 more after that.  THANK YOU everyone who stops by to read, comment, enjoy and follow.

as i am also approaching my second year of blogging (in june) i am beginning the process of putting together my first blog candy. given all the graduation celebrations and general craziness ahead in my june watch for the candy in july. sweet stuff indeed!  stay tuned...

love to all.

a color challenge at the cheerful stamp pad

the new challenge at the cheerful stamp pad is "black, white and a dash of yellow."

my ATC features an image from our challenge sponsor altered pages. yep, from the "gypsies, tramps & thieves" collage sheet! she is dancing so joyously that i realized she must be dancing with a butterfly...  so she is placed on two bits of designer paper, one is black and white, the other has black, white and yellow with additional distressing with a mustard yellow distress ink.  ok, so the butterfly has a some green in it.  it was for the sake of art...

hope you'll join us.  unlike most cheerful stamp pad challenges this one lasts only one week.

love to all.

pink saturday ATC

as i am still enjoying playing with images from the altered pages "gypsies, tramps & thieves" collage sheet i thought i'd dash off an ATC in celebration of the weekly pink saturday link up.
and while at it to play along with passion parade friday since i can't get enough gypsy images or ATCs!

enjoy; love to all.

feeling special

one of my pieces using images from dezinaworld  has been featured on the dezinaworld blog along with some really lovely gorgeous pieces by two other artists.

please have a look over there if you will.  in my not quite two years of art-blogging i've learned a lot and found amazing friends and cool companies offering delicious goodies. i'm still in awe when someone likes what i do enough to want to feature it or when i win a challenge.  makes me feel special indeed.

now here is a tag for you, one last bit of inspiration as we are in the very last couple days of the "tag" challenge at the cheerful stamp pad.

the image is from the challenge sponsor vintage image madness.  you have 'til sunday night to link up!

love to all.

little bits of art

somehow i never managed to post the last two twinchies i made for the gingersnap creations swap a couple of months ago.  oops!

well i know i didn't post the first one and i'm feeling a little fuzzy about the second.  these 2 inch by 2 inch creations were a hoot to make.  i don't know if i would ever have tried it had it not been for the swap.  images by lynne perella.  plus random papers and embellies.

enjoy; love to all.

another tag for the cheerful stamp pad

this is week two for the "tags" challenge at the cheerful stamp pad. any and all tags are welcome, whether single tag, a tag book, whether stamped or mixed media.  just come join the fun.  the challenge sponsor is vintage image madness. the randomly selected winner will get some vintage goodies.  i've got another tag featuring a vintage image madness image here.

i have a beautiful blue tag which i stamped with a french script stamp from stampin' up.  i have some designer paper, the vintage image, the butterfly, a flower, etc.  i know, i know, another gypsy like image.  i'm obsessed!

love to all.

blessings to all mothers

to all who nurture others, happy mother's day!  i've been blessed with a loving mother, a host of precious grandmothers, darling aunts, and many others who have helped me to become the woman i am today.  i salute them all.

digital image by robert jackson. special thanks to beebeebabs for telling me about robert jackson.
entered in the "anything goes" challenge at jacksons digital expressions,
and of course, pink saturday.

one last thing-- i scanned the card that came in the mail from my son just today (he's away at college).  this is also a sweet pink saturday appropriate item!
love to all!

this worldly gentleman

a blog challenge i haven't played along with for awhile is the take a word challenge blog.  this week the challenge is "gentlemen."  i was hopping along blogland and found a delectable free image at olde curiosity shoppe and i had to use it.  see why?

is he not the BEST?  that look!  i think i kind of love him but know i'd do well to stay away...
so for this i covered neutral card stock with designer tissue paper, tore off a bit of old map and added that, put the image on another piece of designer paper, threw in a few more embellies and added my favorite crow stamp from silver crow creations which i stamped on paper, colored and then cut and glued to this piece.

i would really encourage you to visit the olde curiosity shoppe. it is actually another of generous June from dezinaworld's blogs and she posts free images several times a week.  consider becoming her blog follower and then you can stay up to date on the free goodies.

i very rarely make masculine pieces but i am pleased with this one.
okay, til later.  love to all

wistful woman

i've returned to the black americana heritage sheet from moonlight journey.  it has been awhile since i've created with these images.  here is a wistful woman, reflecting on events in her life, choices she's made, and people she holds in her heart.

brown card stock, book page paper, designer paper, lace, flowers, beads.  and a thoughtful, beautiful lady.  i sent this one to my mother.

i'm also happy to enter this in my first ever unruly paper arts challenge --"use lace."

love to all.

tag time at the cheerful stamp pad

the challenge for the next two weeks at the cheerful stamp pad is "tags" and our challenge sponsor is vintage image madness. so break out a tag with some vintage flair and join us!

i started with a blue tag stamped with a word stamp by stampendous.  i've added designer paper, lace and other goodies.  the girl blooming from the flower came from vintage image madness.  for some reason the phrase "bloom where you're planted" has been on my mind.  maybe this image got to me.  anyway, those are wise words!

enjoy; love to all!

many challenges, one piece

it has been a long time since i've participated in a challenge at the gothic arches blog.  right now the challenge is to use a photo image.  in my ventures around blog-land this week i noticed several challenges that might nicely fit together for one piece.  so i am happy to submit this little one for the following:
gothic arches "snap" (use a photo image)
soartful challenges "butterflies or fairies"
myric andreasen's blog "passion parade friday" (anything you are passionate about -- creating!)
AND PINK SATURDAY!

my fairies are from a photo collage sheet by dezinaworld.
with lots of background layers with everything from designer paper, tissue paper, tissue tape and other stash items.

enjoy.  love to all.

it is time for the queen's tea...

hello precious friends.  there is still just under a week left to participate in the cheerful stamp pad's latest challenge: time for the queen's tea.  include "time," "tea" and "queen" (at least two of these) in your creation.

my beautiful queen here is an image from french kissed postcards. the clock stamp is from inkadinkado and the little teacup stamp is from catherine moore's character constructions.  the rest is stash.

the challenge sponsor is pollycraft digis.  a randomly selected winner will get some free digis.  now here's a tip -- so far there are only FOUR entries in the challenge.  challenge closes sunday.  if you enter soon there's a great chance of getting free stuff!  so i hope you'll think of joining in.

happy may day and happy spring.  love to all.