valentine ATC

here's another valentine ATC using images from gecko galz. 

love to all.

decay, or the passing of time

we have a challenging theme at tag tuesday this week, it is "decay."  i had many thoughts of where i could go with this theme and nothing was resonating.  i started looking for quotes that included the word "decay."  i came across several things but it was shakespeare's sonnet xv that drew me.  the sonnet speaks to the passing of time from youth to old age, the enduring nature of love, and the holding of memories, even the freezing of time in the lines of the sonnet itself.  the sonnet is below.  so my collage piece is less about decay and more of an exploration of the passing of time.  my tag template is based on a version of a gothic arch.

all of the vintage images are from the lunagirl shop -- including the background paper which is digital art by lunagirl's karen -- and then a few embellies (border, butterfly and the flower at top) from alphastamps.

love to all.

SONNET XV
When I consider every thing that grows
Holds in perfection but a little moment,
That this huge stage presenteth nought but shows
Whereon the stars in secret influence comment;
When I perceive that men as plants increase,
Cheered and checked even by the self-same sky,
Vaunt in their youthful sap, at height decrease,
And wear their brave state out of memory;
Then the conceit of this inconstant stay
Sets you most rich in youth before my sight,
Where wasteful Time debateth with decay
To change your day of youth to sullied night,
   And all in war with Time for love of you,
   As he takes from you, I engraft you new.
William Shakespeare

victorian tea party

get out your best china tea set for the victorian tea party at lunagirl moonbeams.  and since there is nothing quite like kittens drinking from teacups i'm starting off this new challenge with the following:

images from the lunagirl "tea party" collage sheet.
love to all!

snowy ATC

here is a little something for week two of the "snowy day" challenge at the cheerful stamp pad.  the main image is from our challenge sponsor vintage image craft.  although our randomly selected challenge winner will get something from their main website, this image is a freebie from their facebook page.

i used some pretty designer paper for this ATC and embellished it with some other goodies.  if you are still feeling the wintry vibe then please link up a new creation featuring a snowy theme.

love to all.

love bingo

as i've promised to keep the valentine ATCs coming so here is another:

images by gecko galz.

love to all.

myths and legends

our latest prompt at tag tuesday is myths and legends.  i've always been fascinated by mermaids and i have a quite a collection of mermaid stamps.  according to wikipedia, a mermaid is a legendary aquatic creature with the upper body of a human and the tail of a fish.  mermaids appear in the folklore of cultures all over the world including the near east, europe, africa and asia.

for this tag i used my one and only merman, a stamp from meer image.

i started by creating a background on a large tag using alcohol inks and a polished stone technique. my end result was very dark but i was delighted with the backside of the tag which had more variety and subtlety than the front so that is what i used as the backdrop for my creation.  i stamped two different wave stamps (both from meer image) on the background.  i stamped the merman, dolphin (PSX) and sea star (PSX) on blue card stock, cut them out and glued them on the tag.  i also went over the sea star with an orange pro marker.  i stamped the bubbles stamp (G-rated stamps) last.  i love this fiber-ribbon i got at a garage sale next door last summer.

it is a nice fantasy scene i think.
love to all.

a snowy day at the cheerful stamp pad

depending on where you live it might be a pleasantly snowy day or for some in the eastern US it is a dangerous snowy day.  here in seattle we had one snow day in december and that may be all we get this year.  however you are experiencing your winter (or summer for some of you!) i hope it is safe and good.

i'm late with my weekly post but all this is to tell you that the new two-week challenge at the cheerful stamp pad is "snowy day.  link up your new creation featuring a snowy scene.

the central image here is from our challenge sponsor vintage image craft, actually this image was a freebie from their facebook page.  but our randomly selected winner will get credit to shop at their store.  i embellished with wintry feeling bits for this simple winter card.

enjoy; join us,  love to all.

meet me in paris -- an altoids tin

behold, my first attempt at an altered altoids tin.  the details are rather wretched i'm afraid -- including the fact that due to a bit of a mishap i can't actually close the thing!  but the cover collage is nice. and this is my way of reminding you all of the "meet me in paris" challenge over at lunagirl moonbeams.  other than the polka-dotted background DP, all images here are from lunagirl.  the challenge goes until sunday the 26th and the randomly selected winner will get credit for goods at the wonderful lunagirl shop.

today being the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. let me also share a favorite MLK quote: "i have decided to stick with love.  hate is too great a burden to bear." wise and true words to consider and live by, says i.

love to all.

valentine boot

another valentine ATC featuring vintage images from gecko galz and other goodies from my stash.
in addition to the valentine swap i entered, i decided to just make lots of valentine ATCs for friends this year instead of cards.  i'll have more to share in the coming weeks.

enjoy; love to all!

love girl

here is another ATC i've made for the gecko galz yahoo group valentine swap.  the girl and background are both from collage sheets by gecko galz.

i'm linking this up to the "hearts and love" challenge at wicked wednesday ATC challenge.
love to all.

meet me in paris

ooh la la for the new challenge at lunagirl moonbeams, it is "meet me in paris!"

for my DT piece i have three vintage images from lunagirl here -- the girl and the eiffel tower (only somewhat visible in the back) are from the "meet me in paris" collage sheet and then a bit of postcard from the "carte postale" sheet.  there is some beautiful french-feeling designer paper in the back along with some awesome rosette ribbon i recently acquired and of course, le papillon.

join our challenge with your french-themed piece for a chance at some shopping credit at the luscious lunagirl store.

love to all.

use some more ribbon...

ribbon is a fine way to embellish any creation and it can be used a number of ways.  for week two of the "use some ribbon" challenge at the cheerful stamp pad i have some ribbon bordering my valentine ATC.

the little girl and bingo images are from gecko galz and actually this is one of the ATCs i've made for a valentine swap at our gecko galz yahoo group.  i'll be sharing more of these ATCs in the coming days.

link up to the cheerful stamp pad challenge for a chance at winning a drawing for a prize from our sponsor sweet stamps.

have a wonderful week.  love to all.

shiny new year

it is not too late to wish folks a happy new year, right? because i made a card for two challenges on the new year theme -- the bonus "happy new year" challenge at drunken stampers and the week #1 "shiny new year" challenge at scraps of color.

i used lots of glittery paper and glittery stickers and a favorite stamp from the "party cats" set by lost coast designs which i stamped on shiny embossed paper from paper temptress.

of course it is not too late!  i'm wishing all a happy new year!
love to all.

home

i love it when 2 challenges converge at the same time on an interesting theme.  this week at tag tuesday our challenge prompt is to make a tag on the theme of home/shelter and at take a word the theme is "home."
i found a very simple and basic template to create a house and used some paper piecing and stamping to make my creation.

i really enjoyed making this.  in addition to using some different designer papers i also used some cool border pieces and the ladies in the windows are from stamps by inkadinkado.  they are the pensive sister and the fun-loving sister and i think it would be fun to visit them.  there is room for all in this little house.

i recently learned about the monthly anything goes patterned paper challenge at crafty hazelnuts patterned paper blog and i'm linking to that since my house is completely covered in different papers.

have a lovely week; love to all.

use some ribbon & mardi gras colors

hello lovelies, i hope everyone's january is continuing along in a happy way.  it is new challenge time at the cheerful stamp pad.  for the next two weeks you are encouraged to link a new creation and to "use some ribbon."  the randomly selected winner at the end of two weeks will get a prize from our challenge sponsor sweet stamps.

my DT sample is an ATC which i'm linking up to the latest challenge at wicked wednesday which is to use the mardi gras colors of purple gold and green.

the vintage image i've used is from the lunagirl collage sheet "art deco ladies."  i cut my ATC base from a purple patterned notebook cover.  i layered three ribbons at the bottom -- purple, green and gold and tied them with a multicolored piece of ribbon as well.  the green butterfly brad is from alphastamps.

love to all.

vintage winter sweetness

for week two of the vintage winter challenge at lunagirl moonbeams my DT piece features a sweet child from the lunagirl "christmas children" collage sheet.

this little sweetie is decorated with DP, flowers, beads and ribbon.  i might just add a "merry christmas" stamp to this card and have it ready to send for christmas time next year.

one week remains to link up a creation featuring a vintage winter scene.  the randomly selected winner will get credit to spend at the lunagirl shop, a delightful treat!

love to all.

something new

happy new year people!  may this new year be filled with good and enriching things for you -- art, health, joy and growth.  i was visiting shelly 's blog and saw a link to a perfect challenge for the new year, "something new" at sweet stamps blog.

one thing that occurred to me is that i have some new stamps which i've never used before so i decided to use them for this challenge.  so that is the first "something new."

the quote and cityscape are from a set designed by tim holtz for stampers anonymous.  the woman is from a hampton arts set which i got as a present for participating in a fundraiser at scraps of color. .  i stamped on designer paper and also covered my card stock with different designer paper.  i used several bits of left over border so there are 3 different borders at the bottom.  also a butterfly and flower from my stash.

in this first new post for a new year i'm renewing my own quest to stay creative and celebrate my own art while inviting you to do the same.

happy new year and love to all.