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!