gothic arch tags

i'm the DT host for the next two weeks at tag tuesday and my theme is gothic arches. so what does that mean? a gothic arch is an arch with a pointed crown that meets at an angle at the top of the arch. it can be more pointed or more round. this architectural element was particularly important in gothic architecture. i'm choosing to make my tags in the shape of a gothic arch. but for this challenge you are welcome to just create on a gothic theme, so i want to make it easy for you to play!

and here is the template i used to cut all but one of my tags, from an old die cut i have but never used.

images are from tim holtz, gecko galz, and a variety of images cut from various retired mischief circus kits and then random items from my stash of goodies!

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so to recap, join us by making a tag either in the shape of a gothic arch or on a gothic theme generally. thank you very much!

love to all!

gothic

for take a word: gothic arch

images by ItKuPiLLi (architectural, celestial backgrounds) and songbirdy (haunting).

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

ooh la la for belly dance!

our new theme at lunagirl moonbeams is belly dance!  this is a beautiful form of dance and i feel lucky that i was able to learn it and practice it for a couple of years.  i'd love to take it up again.  until then i can satisfy myself with this challenge.  i hope you'll consider joining in as the randomly selected winner will get to shop at lunagirl for some vintage delight.

i made a gothic arch and covered it in beautiful papers from alphastamps.  i cut an oval and a rectangle out of one of the papers and behind them are two vintage images from the lunagirl "la danse orientale" collage sheet.  i framed those with pro markers, added vintage lace, belly dance charms and a banner (charms and banner from alphastamsps also) to finish the piece.

don't have any belly dance stamps or images in your stash?  here's a cool belly dance FREEBIE from lunagirl!

enjoy; love to all.

alice in wonderland at lunagirl and the words words words challenge

we are starting a new two week challenge at lunagirl moonbeams on a theme beloved by many crafters (and readers of course!) -- alice in wonderland....

i almost didn't succeed in getting my DT piece done as i had a touch of flu over the weekend.  bleagh.  i'm on the mend though and this is a theme i cannot resist.  i thought alice wanted to be in a gothic arch so i traced one with cardboard (a backing from a notepad), covered with DP from seven gypsies -- chosen specifically because of the wonderful combination of script along with the many eggs on it (even though in the end the eggs can't really be seen, but i like having it back there because the dodo bird is a key feature here) and then i collaged a number of images from two of the lunagirl collage sheets -- "watercolor alice" and "alice book covers."

i do hope you'll grab your alice stamps or vintage images and play along.

i also thought i'd link this up to the our creative corner words-words-words challenge as i feel the alice story is very much about playing with words and i also have plenty of words here.

enjoy; love to all.

vintage children challenge

"vintage children" is the new challenge at the cheerful stamp pad.  make any sort of creation you choose featuring vintage child images.  our challenge sponsor is twisted papers.

the central image in this creation was a free download from twisted papers.  if you subscribe to their newsletter you'll have access to the downloads they provide for free periodically.  i chose to make a gothic arch because i wanted to evoke the feeling that she was jumping rope in her own peaceful garden arbor at home.  i chose flowery designer papers to extend the garden feel and embellished the arch with lace and creatures from the vintage childhood garden.  as she jumps she is gazing off into the distance.  what is she looking at?

this challenge opened today so you have two weeks to play along!

love to all.

coming up orange part 2

delightful orange is the colorful theme for the latest cheerful stamp pad challenge.  you have one more week to play along.  our challenge sponsor is lunagirl vintage images.  can you say "awesome?"  you will if you go check out their images.  a randomly selected winner will get some goodies from their shop.

i decided on a gothic arch for my week 2 DT creation.  to make the orange in this lovely lunagirl image pop, i cut my arch from some green designer paper.  the sheet was one i got in a giveaway some time ago and was hand painted or inked.  i picked embellies from my stash that had the same vintage feel and which kept the orange connection alive.  there's a bit of script tissue tape behind the image as well.
the color orange is bright and inviting my my view.  if you like it as well, please consider joining the challenge.

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.