A Halloween Treat!

 Hand Painted Paper

Approximately 8"x8"

It's a crisp Halloween evening, and I have an unexpected art treat for you. Feel free to use this new background for your personal art or art that you sell in limited quantities. Print it out, and add more stamps or paint. Most of all, have fun with it and enjoy!!!
 

Hope you've had a Happy - and colorful - Halloween!

Friday Fun

 Photoshop Elements Fun

"Before" the Magic!

Studio time for art has been very limited this past week. However, my sweet friend Lynn (Her Creative Spirit) introduced me to Kim Klassen's blog a few weeks ago, and I signed up for Kim's FREE Skinny-Mini Photoshop E-course immediately. (Click here to go there!)

Having taken a few e-courses in the past, I approached Kim's class with apprehension. After all . . . how good could it be if it's free, I asked myself - on the other hand, what could I loose? I honestly have to say that I was hooked after the first video. My plain pics were beautifully transformed by using a few easy techniques.

"Before" the Transformation!

Kim is an awesome teacher, and her lessons are short and to the point. Best of all . . . the price is more than right! If you're into photos and Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, sign up for Kim's next free e-class. (Click here to go there!) You won't regret it!

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Your Friday "Freebie"

Courtesy of the Library of Congress

A PNG File

and . . .

A Jpeg too!

Wishing you a day filled with seasonal delights!

Final Envie Journal Page!

 Front

Back
(Click on any picture to see the details!)

Hip, Hip, Horray!!! Picture me doing a happy dance in my stocking feet!!!! I've made the deadline with little time to spare. I've completed all six pages - as well as the inserts - for my altered envie journal swap, and they're safely in the hands of the hostess.

 

Details - Front

Did you notice that I said they're "safely in the hands of the hostess"?!? I had a panic attack when my husband handed me the post office receipt for this swap. It read that the package was to be delivered  somewhere in New Jersey when, instead, it was supposed to be delivered to someone in Pennsylvania. Who knew that one digit could render this package "homeless"!

Details - Back

I didn't put the wrong address on the package. Apparently the post office person keyed in the wrong zip code, and my precious package containing month's and month's of work was delivered safely after all!

Insert

I've learned an invaluable lesson from this experience. The next time I post a size-able project, I will spend more money on postage and will get a tracking number!!!

 Shrinky Dink Charms

 

May you enjoy a "stress free" day!

 
Credit: Special thanks to Sherrie JD @ Deviant Scrap,Crowabout StudioB @ Deviant Scrap and Crowabout Flickr, to Marsha @ Tumble Fish Studio - Etsy, to Moonlight Journey and Dover Publications. If you'd like 'particulars', please send me an email.

Mail Art

 Altered Envelope

Front

Back

Something about making mail art always makes me happy. Maybe it's because I'm anticipating the recipient's reaction when they open their mailbox to find a colorful piece of mail art instead of an invoice that needs to be paid. This particular piece was created for a private swap.

Wishing you a day filled with happy, little surprises!

Credits: Thanks to Tumble Fish Studio-Etsy for the crown, clouds and the word, "Sing", and the Crowabout StudioB @ Deviant Scrap for the colorful zetti house. Butterfiles and bird courtesy of Dover Publications. Roses from Pringle Hill Studio.

A Blue Background

Deli Paper Background

8"x10" JPEG

Once again I found myself with very little time to make art this week. However, I did find enough time to make a few backgrounds. Use all of this or just a piece in your art projects. Or print it out and enhance it with additional paints, inks or stamps. Enjoy!

Hope you have a fabulous day!

Envie Journal - Page 5

 Front

 Back

Whoo Hoo! Now that I've finished journal page #5, I am a very happy camper. If you look closely, you'll notice that the background is crinkled. That's because I've used painted deli paper for this journal page. The previous pages were made using hand painted papers.

Additionally, this journal page is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week: "Wings on Things". Very serendipitous!

 

The picture shown above boasts another Shrinky Dink charm. This chunky journal seemed to lend itself to these whimsical embellishments, and they were a lot of fun to make. You know you're an artist when you use your oven and baking sheets for polymer clay and Shrinky Dinks!

  Inserts

May you enjoy an artful pleasure today!

 
Credit: Special thanks to Crowabout StudioB @ Deviant Scrap, to Marsha @ Tumble Fish Studio - Etsy, and Dover Publications. If you'd like 'particulars', please send me an email.

"Bewitched"

"Bewitched"

 An ATC

My last Halloween themed creation! This ATC was created by using a small piece of hand painted paper for the background and a few magazine clippings and doodles for the zetti face.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Credits: Thanks fo Moonlight Journey for the raven and to Lisa's Altered Art for the unaltered hat.

A Friday "Freebie"

 A PNG File

And . . .

A JPEG File

For your artful pleasure!

It's been a while since I've posted a "child" freebie, and thought you might enjoy this little sweetie pie. Have fun giving her wings or a pretty crown of flowers! Just remember . . . she's yours to use in your personal art only.

May you have a sweet weekend!

 
Credit: To my knowledge, this image is in the Public Domain.

Envie Journal - Page 4

 Front and . . .

Back

I've been hard at work trying to meet the end of month deadline for my envelope journal swap. These pages were inspired by beautiful Geisha images from Marsha @ Tumble Fish Studio - Etsy.

Part of the fun of creating this journal is finding elements and embellishments to "chunk up" the pages. I've used a paper drink parasol and a few fortunes from Chinese fortune cookies.

 

I save odd bits and bobs in a shoe box labeled "Treasures" and look through it occasionally to find the right detail for a piece. I've also been known to save dress tags and little pieces of packaging. You never know when a "find" might come in handy!  The faux ivory charm was found on our recent trip to Maine.

The Inserts

Wishing you a magnificent day!

Credits: Special thanks to TumbleFishStudio@Etsy for the Geishas, borders on both pages and fairy wings, the lantern insert, and the asian insert backgrounds. Also for the blue background under the world "love" on the lantern insert. and the tiny "40" ticket and crown. Thanks to Crowabout-Flickr for the word, "Beautiful" and to TumbleFishStudio@Etsy for "Joy". Butterflies and birds from Dover Publications. Roses from Pringle Hill Studio. Stylized flowers from Scrapbookgraphics.