Friday, November 29, 2013

Black Friday Shopping??

  For those of us who celebrated Thanksgiving on Thursday, the day after, known as  Black Friday, has become a tradition that is sadly now beginning to creep into Thanksgiving Day. It's a day when people become literally crazed trying to find the best parking spots and bargains for the gift giving Christmas holiday. I've only done it I think twice some years ago and decided it was in no way worth it! There's always online shopping. I plan on spending a relaxing day home after a wonderful but tiring Thanksgiving Day which I hosted for our son, my Mom and Bill's great Aunt Betty. Big thanks to Todd and Bill for taking care of all the dishes and clean up :)

  So on to art! First I will share the journal page I finished which I shared as a WIP last week. Thank you for your suggestions on finishing it!


 I chose a glitter rub-on butterfly which was in my stash and the perfect size, coloring and shape! I wrote in the words with a Micron pen and glued on some punched  black hearts. "Grace" is also the theme/word for the month in the 52 Weeks of Creative Abundance class and so I created my page and tag using the above inspiration.

  The page was painted with a light blue and lilac acrylic paint. The leaf border (Magenta) was stamped with Cactus Green Staz-On ink. For the tag I sprayed it with Dylusions ink sprays in Bubblegum Pink and Pure Sunshine. The image was resized and printed from my original journal page. I added some black splatters (which I think mucked it up and should not have done), and a bit of glitter glue to the butterfly wings.

  It is almost December and so I have finished my calendar spread for Kate Crane's 2013 calendar challenge. This is the second year I have participated and completed every month! I love looking back on my spreads but may do something a bit different next year.


  The background was done simply by placing a 12" x 12" snowflake lace cardstock on the pages and spraying with Dylusions Bubblegum Pink ink spray. December was stamped using a Making Memories foam stamp set and Folk Art acrylic paint in Fresh Foliage. It was outlined with a green Sharpie pen. The weekdays were stamped with  studio g alphabet set and Forest Green Staz-On ink. The numbers are from a Hero Arts set. A variety of glitter rub-ons and stickers were used and the squares were outlined with a green crayon. Here are two more views:



  I do wish you could see how sparkly it is!! I do NOT like the winter one bit so I needed to do something bright and cheerful (not that I don't usually do that anyway :)

  I received my first Christmas card and along with it-this gorgeous ornament!!


  What a lovely surprise-thank you so much Nancy!! And if you like Nancy's art and her gorgeous vintage style you are in luck! I mentioned it before but it's definitely worth mentioning again-

 " Speaking of Christmas if you love vintage style, if you'd love some beautiful projects to create as gifts for your friends and family, then please join me in the festive fun at Sugar Lump Studios where my friend Nancy Maxwell James is hosting  "A Very Vintage Christmas" Dec. 1 - 7 !  Nancy's gorgeously detailed projects are guaranteed to delight and inspire you to make your own! You can click the above link or that sweet  badge ( the" vintage" jar) on the sidebar. Hope to see you there!"

  Linking this week to Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Every Day, the 2013 Calendar Project, Glue It Tuesday. Please do visit these inspiring places, and even share your own art!

    "No-one is useless in the world who lightens the burden of anyone else."   Charles Dickens

30 comments:

  1. Beautiful tags, and love the calendar pages! Valerie

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  2. That turned out so well! Love the butterfly, and the lettering too! And your calendar is looking great. I love this idea and plan on doing something like that in my journals too.

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  3. Love the tags and pages. The calendar pages is lovely with the wine/purple and green, pops right out at you.

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  4. Linda your calendar page is so bright too, I love your little snow men, delightful and festive feeling! Happy PPF to you! xx

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  5. Always lovely creative art work here ~ very special and love your post about Black Friday and how so many are missing the point of the holidays ~ glad you had a good and restful one ~ thanks, carol, xxx

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  6. Beautiful calendar. I like the snowflake background you created!

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  7. Lots of smashing work Linda and love your tag from Nancy. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  8. Yes, indeed, very beautiful composition, beautiful colors!

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  9. 'Grace' is gorgeous. I like how you always organize your calendar pages, they are beautiful and so wintery. Big hugs to you beautiful and creative lady!

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  10. I too will skip Black Friday. It does not look like fun to me.

    I love your calendar page. It is so bright and cheerful. Enjoy your week and the beginning of the holiday season.

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  11. lovely page and calendar! Glad you survived Thanksgiving.

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  12. Gorgeous artwork and love the new calendar in all it's glorious magenta and green...my favorites!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  13. All your artwork is lovely. Especially like your calendar spread! Happy PPF!

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  14. I think the first one is bookmark? That's beautiful!:)

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  15. Beautiful work. I love the vintage piece :)

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  16. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! After years of working retail/florist I hide on "the day after Thanksgiving sales"...I really do not remember it being called "Black Friday" until recent years. It also makes me sad that many retailers are now opening Thanksgiving night.
    I love your beautiful art pieces! the colors are brilliant. And am also happy to see you enjoyed your wee ornament...many thanks for all the lovely things you have sent my way over the years! xoxo

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  17. LOVE Amazing Grace...a beautiful page.

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  18. Love your journal page. Very nice work. Thank you.
    gloria

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  19. Lovely finish to your journalpage! I'm glad you decided on the butterfly ... And your December-calendar is bright and cheerful. Just what's needed when it's winter ... ;-)

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  20. Wonderful journaling! So bright and cheerful :)

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  21. your woman with the butterfly is so wonderful! I love the angle of her head, that's such a hard one for me to get right, but you did it perfectly! Love your other pieces too! Lucky you, that the men did all of the dishes! xo

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  22. The calendar is gorgeous with its bright magenta and the cute snowmen and fluffy birds...love it ♥ Conny ♥
    Mix It Monthly

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  23. Hello Dear Linda - so lovely to have you visit and leave such a beautiful comment - thank you from my heart dear friend. I so love your "Grace" page with that gorgeous butterfly.
    Nancy sent you a little Christmas special to hang. Her work is superb!
    Thank God we don't have Black Friday but we do have huge sales on Boxing Day - the day after New Years Day - you will never find me within coowee of those shopping malls!
    Big hugs,
    Suzy

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  24. Stunning art work as always ~ very festive and delightful ~ thanks, carol, xxx

    Thanks for visit and comments ^_^

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  25. Nancy is not only talented but oh so generous too!
    Not sure how much time I am going to have this December...
    Mr M has a couple of plans to whisk me away again...

    we spent Black Friday in Aspen again this year popping into a great thrift shop and having gorgeous crepes at the Creperie du Village which has such a great European feel to it...
    Thanksgiving was spent soaking in the healing 104 degree pool at Glenwood Springs, CO

    Your Thanksgiving sounds wonderful with family gathered...I imagine you putting your all into creating a memorable and tantalizing feast :)

    Your December pages are such original colors ...
    I am wondering WHERE 2013 has gone....

    Happy December to you
    oxo

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  26. Love your bright contrasting colors of your December calendar!

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  27. Gorgeous tags and those pink snowflakes are amazing. :)

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  28. That's an unusual, albeit pleasing color combination you used for your December Winter Wonderland. Truly lovely.

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  29. Congrats on finishing 2 years of the calendar challenge. Beautiful bright colours for your December page and cute snowmen

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Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!