Colourful vintage blobs and other things...

The challenge today over at Crazy Amigo is to do colourful vintage, and the challenge over at Created by Hand this morning is to create art with blobs and splatters. Okay, do you have ANY idea how LONG it took me to do these "background blobs!?" I guess I need to practise blobbing (lol). I guess that's what challenges are all about...trying new things! I blobbed here with Ecoline Watercolour Inks (#'s 390 and 656) on Ranger Mini-Misted Arches watercolour paper. I stamped the Quietfire Design sentiment in Versafine black pigment ink. The background printed paper is Overton House from EK Success.

Since the colour schemes are similar, I decided to post haveboth these cards in the same post. The Timeless Tuesday challenge is to use a sketch provided by Cindy, the challenge host. This is the card I created with her sketch. I used this stamp from Crafty Individuals, and the beautiful damask background from Flourishes as an accent strip. The gorgeous flower from Prima was part of a birthday gift from a sweet stamping friend.

Okay, so now I've decided to post all the cards I do during the day in the one post...hope that's ok! This one's for a challenge on another board I visit (Stamp Shack). This last card for today was for a challenge on Stamp Shack, which was to create a one layer stamped card. I created a mask with a Nesties Labels 1 die, then used three colours distress ink to fill in the centre. The stamps are all from Crafty Individuals. I outlined the edge with Krylon 18 Kt Gold Leafing ink.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my "colourful vintage blobs" and other things today.

Challenges and some exciting news!

Kianel gave us a delightful sketch this week over at Ismaki, which I used to create this card. Theme Thursday's current theme is famous faces. Over at One Powerful Hour, the theme is black backgrounds. I LOVE black! I'm sure everyone knows this famous face...right? It's one of the fabulous photo stamps from Stampsmith, stamped on glossy cardstock with Ancient Page Coal Black Ink. The sentiment stamp is from Quietfire Design. The silvery strip on the left is tinfoil, glued to cardstock, Cuttlebug embossed with the Textured Textiles embossing folder, painted with black gesso, then sanded lightly to distress. The rose at the bottom right is paper pieced and pop dotted for added dimension, then lightly glittered. Now here's something you might be interested in: Stampsmith is starting a design team! My uber talented stamping friend Kim Prince is working with Estelle of the Stampsmith on a wonderful new blog. If you enjoy photo stamps, you can get all the details of the design team call right here, and you can see the beautiful stamps Estelle has to offer right here.

This is a second version, using a lavender rose instead of a pink rose, to meet Ismaki's optional challenge requirement. I think I like the pink rose version better. It's softer, like the lady herself.

Thanks so much for visiting today, and as always, for your thoughtful comments.

Dream...

This beautiful image from Femmy is the basis for the Artarazzi challenge this week, while the Saturday Surprise theme is dreams. I've done a digital hybrid, using the spring overlay from Doris Castle and the shabby picture frame by Laura Deacetis. After printing it, I stamped the Quietfire Design "dream" at the bottom, with StazOn ink. I'll actually be sending this to a newly pregnant young friend; just loved the serenity of this image, and the "eggs-in-the-nest" theme. Thanks for visiting today!

Recovering...

A friend of many, many years is struggling to recover from a catastrophic illness. I wanted to create a special card for her, which I'll do on a regular basis, just to cheer her on and to let her know she's in my thoughts, even though we live far from one another. I used this beautiful sentiment stamp from Quietfire Design, butterflies on acetate from Crafty Individuals, and corner flourishes from the Siberian Iris set from Flourishes Stamps for her card. The border punch is Stampin' Up. At Created by Hand, the challenge theme is to use sand and blue. The Crazy Amigos challenge this week is to use proverbs or sayings. At Timeless Tuesday, the challenge is to use acetate. Thanks for stopping by today.

Challenges

This card is based on Isa's current Ismaki sketch, and the One Powerful Hour theme, which is to use circles. I used stamps from Crafty Individuals (birds postcard and white embossed butterfly on vellum from this beautiful multi-butterfly stamp), Stamp It Australia (branch) and Amuse (sentiment), and paper scraps from K & Company. I'll send this card to keep in touch with up a long-time friend who's struggling with some health issues.

Thanks for visiting today!

Gothic Arch

It feels like it's been SO LONG since I participated in any challenges! I was away visiting family for several weeks, and now have my precious five year old grandson Avery visiting with us for a month. Needless to say, he keeps me occupied from morning till dusk, and I just love every minute of his company! I posted a pic at the bottom...he's such a wee gem!

So, today I made time for a challenge! This week's Gothic Arch theme is "Home is where the heart is..." what a PERFECT sentiment stamp I have from Quietfire Design for this one! ;) The oh-so-dainty flourish stamp is from Crafty Individuals. I used a Thomas Kinkaid image from a old calendar.

Thanks for stopping to visit. I love it when you do!

And here he is...heart of my heart...

Created by Hand Challenge

This week's challenge is FRUIT...so here are some cherries on my cupcake(lol). Flowers on vellum stamps from Darkroom Door, available in North America at your local stamp store Canada through Artytart Inc. Cupcake and sentiment stamps available through Quietfire Design.

Stamping again!!

The Friday Focus over at Flourishes is paper piecing, for the "Swing into Spring" challenge, and this week at Created by Hand, the challenge is also spring. I've been away from home (and my stamping supplies!) for several weeks now, so it was GREAT to come home to all kinds of new stamps delivered while I was away! This spectacular iris stamp from Flourishes was one of them. I have several iris stamps, and grow dozens of varieties in my spring gardens, so I was particularly thrilled to use this beauty. This beautiful embossed paper is available through Quietfire Design. I seem to be using it alot this week, it's one of my very favourite textured papers.

Flourishes has a new release party starting on April 10th, so make sure you stop over to their blog to share in the fun!

Created by Hand and Flourishes

I enjoyed a crafty night last night with several uber talented stamping friends. We always swap cards, and this time, the theme was to use chipboard. The challenge at Created by Hand this week is spring...my favourite gardening season! The Timeless Tuesday challenge is to use your favourite Flourishes stamp. The stamp on the chipboard frame is "Damask," which I absolutely LOVE! It's so elegant! The sentiment stamp is from Stampamania. That gorgeous embossed paper in the background is from Quietfire Design. Thanks for stopping by!

Crazy Amigos Challenge

The challenge over at Crazy Amigos this week is to use anything from Tim Holtz's creative brain! This card used distress inks on the photo and the stamped background. Stamp is Damask by Flourishes. Sentiment is computer generated. Thanks for visiting!

Artarazzi and Saturday Surprise challenges

The current Artarazzi digital challenge is to use this photo of a seagull.

The Saturday Surprise challenge is childhood.

All my childhood memories are visually connected to eastern Canada, where I was raised. I'm actually sitting in a hotel room right now, halfway home to Nova Scotia, after being away for several weeks, so my composition reflects my home province...and my insomnia! (lol) Thank heaven for online challenges and travelling laptops.

I imbedded several seagulls in my composite photo of one of my favourite places in Nova Scotia, with Nova Scotian spring lupins in the foreground. This is the "Cabot Trail," part of Cape Breton, where ambitious cyclists converge in the thousands to "do the trail" every year, and where so much wonderful Celtic music is recorded.

You can click on the title of this song Farewell to Nova Scotia, to hear a digital version of the music while you read the lyrics. It's a folk ballad lament about leaving, and I think it'll give you a "flavour" of the love that Nova Scotians feel for their home, and what was on my mind as I played with this challenge. My favourite recording of this particular folk song is by Catherine MacKinnon, but I couldn't find one for you to hear on the web, more's the pity. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her sing it, DO, she has the voice of an angel!

This was SUCH a fun challenge to do! Thank you for visiting, and for reading my away-from-home-insomniac-ramblings...

Art Creations and TGIF Challenges

This week's Art Creations challenge is to use Hermine's precious wee bear...one that she'd made herself years ago. This week's TGIF challenge is "Secret Gardens." So here's Hermine's bear, in my secret garden at our summer place in Nova Scotia! I've been away from home for several weeks now, visiting my grandchildren in Quebec, and I'm leaving to drive back home to Nova Scotia...and to my spring gardens...tomorrow!

Digital elements designed by Phuong Ton at Scrapbook Graphics, Manuela Zimmerman at Scrapbook Graphics, balloons by Faith True at Shabby Pickle, and ribbon by Vendula Sediva (designing as Natali Design) over at Scrapbook Graphics.

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit today. I love it when you do!

Sunday postcard art challenge

This week's challenge over at Sunday Postcard Art is "Life is good." This collage uses a photo of my husband and our grandson, and digital elements by Irene Alexeeva, and a tag designed by Manuela Zimmerman. I was so pleased to know they accept digital submissions at SPA! I'm still away from home, and the only way I have to participate in challenges is to do them digitally. So THANKS challenge folks!

Art on the Dark Side Challenge

The current theme over at the brand-new-to-me "Art on the Dark Side" blog challenge site is to use this park bench image.

Here's how I used it, with digital elements and the worn overlay designed by Manuela Zimmerman, and a vintage bride I found web searching.

Thanks for visiting. I know I've been posting a lot of digital stuff recently, because I've been away from home, and all my artsy supplies. I'm going back home this weekend, so I'll have access to my happy room again!

Artarrazi digital, Crazy Amigo and Mixed Media Monday challenges

I found a digi challenge blog! Over at Artarazzi, the current challenge is to use this image:

The Crazy Amigo challenge is to use butterflies, and the Mixed Media Monday challenge is "Come fly with me," using anything with wings. I hope it's okay to participate in these challenges digitally, as I'm travelling and away from all my artsy supplies. I've combined the three challenges to create a digital piece with elements designed by Jofia Defoe, Sussie M and Ireena Alexeeva:

Thanks so much for stopping by today!