Friday, December 28, 2012

Two Final Challenges This Year

  I knew that once Christmas eve passed I'd again find more time for art. My last two challenges for this year are for the Fall fearless and Fly Challenge #6 and the 2012 366 Calendar Challenge.

  Here are the prompts for the Fall Fearless and Fly Challenge hosted by Jessica Sporn and Carolyn Dube:

Headline Prompt: Divided by God: What does “God” mean to you? How do you access”God” or the divine or the sacred in your life?
Color Prompt:
Metallics - gold, silver, copper, bronze, or all of them!
Quote Prompt:
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart, is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” The Dalai Lama

  I chose to work with the color prompt and the quote prompt (which I seem to have been doing with each challenge so far-a theme within a theme I guess). Just added some thoughts on the headline prompt too.


  I created these masks/stencils out of cardstock. Usually I use a manila folder but this scrap was convenient.

  Here is my finished page:



  Drops of Payne's Grey Golden fluid acrylic, Metallic Plum Folk Art acrylic, and Stewart Gill Byzantia jewel tone metallic paint were randomly applied on the page and sponged around to cover. I painted a rectangle shape in Lumiere Metallic gold using the temple shape as a mask for the center. The yoga pose was cut from white cardstock, edges sponged with black ink and glued down. I "sloppy" wrote the quote in the figure. The temple was decorated with a red paint marker and a rubber stamp painted with orange acrylic. I then drew stars using both a gold leafing and silver leafing pens. The main star and letters are grungeboard I filled in with silver leafing pen. Glitter glue was added to the star. I finished the page by giving the figure a pink sparkly heart sticker.

  In answer to the headline prompt, what I can say for myself is that I access the divine sacred into my life thru nature, thru worship, thru meditation. I have had the privilege of visiting a local Hindu Temple several times, attended Catholic services, Protestant services, a Greek Orthodox service and have been honored to attend a service presented by the Dalai Lama. In all  of these places I have felt a divine presence. I feel that no matter where you are, if your heart is truly open to it, you will feel it.

  I look forward to next week's challenge where the guest artist will be JoAnne Sharpe. Feel free to join us anytime-and you'll also have the chance to win some great prizes too!


  I have participated in Kate Crane's calendar project since the  beginning of January this year. I really am thrilled to have a whole year of little notes to look back on. It's a project I'm continuing for 2013 too so here is January:


  I added drops of Folk Art acrylics over the pages in Light Blue, Icy White, Purple Lilac and Amish Blue then used a credit card to spread the paint. I added some marks with sequin waste and Mustard Staz-On ink, and two different sized bottle caps with black and red acrylic. I used foam letters (Making Memories) which I finger painted with some red, black and white acrylic paints. The foam numbers (Stamper's Anonymous) were stamped with Jet Black Staz-On ink.


  And now it's ready for the New Year! I used white cardstock for the regular squares along with a snowflake-like die(which is actually a doily) using my Grand Calibur die cutting machine. The bird on branch image at the upper left is from Retro Café Art and the image on the bottom rt. page is from ARTchix Studio.
Those yellow sticky tabs you can see at the top right are pages earmarked for each month this year :) I plan on adding a quote next to the bird but I'm going to wait until something jumps at me.

  Before I go I'll share a pic of the two trees I put up this year (please keep in mind I am not a photographer :), along with a photo of Annie-who was thrilled with her new toy hedghog and apple treats:


This little tree is adorned solely with handmade ornaments I have received these last few years from the friends I have met thru art (sorry, except for the plug which I keep up on the table lest our dog gets into it and brings down the tree). I can't tell you the joy it brings me and what it does for my heart. Even that sweet topper was handmade by my friend Cat Dodt-Ellis with it's beautiful handfelted acorns . Thank you all!

 
  And this is our main tree. We used to have a floor to ceiling one but now that it's just DH and I we downsized. This year I added mostly gold and red- silk poinsettias, fruit sprigs, cardinals and my gorgeous peacock which I have used as a topper since receiving it as a gift a few years back. I LOVE that peacock! Simple, but pretty nonetheless.
 
   Annie, patiently waiting for yet another apple treat!

 I'm linking up to Fall fearless and Fly, Paint Party Friday, Art Journal Everyday , The Kathryn Wheel, and Show and Tell Saturday #32 at Artists in Blogland.

 Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. May 2013 be filled with abundance and creativity and whatever else brings you joy. Thank you all for making my first not quite year yet blogging experience the best!! XO

  "Be a good human being, a warm-hearted affectionate person. That is my fundamental belief. Having a sense of caring, a feeling of compassion will bring happiness or peace of mind to oneself and automattically create a positive atmosphere." Dalai Lama


48 comments:

  1. Your use of the stencil on your peace page is fabulous! Love that her fingers are pointing at the star! So glad you shared this with Fall Fearless and Fly!

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  2. Looking at your post I can bet you have been having real magical moments :) Love the peace posture !! Have a splendid 2013 :)

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  3. I LOVE your work and journal! Beautiful Blog!

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  4. Dear Linda, you put a beautiful Dalai Lama's quote. Thank you for sharing it. I am impressed with your work. You are so creative and I like that your art has deeper meaning. Have a lovely PPF!!! and magical 2013!!! Love and blessings to you.

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  5. Love your Peace painting, great feeling and love the colors and details! Your January calendar page looks lovely and fresh, perfect for a new year! Thank you for sharing the pictures of your awesome Christmas trees, so atmospheric and warm!

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  6. Merry Christmas Linda, your trees are so beautiful. And I LOVE your journal page! Happy PPF and Wishing you all the best in 2013!

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  7. Awesome pages, Linda!
    And Annie is adorable! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF and Happy New Year!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  8. Your journal and the art calendar are both lovely. Great stencils, too! Have a happy New Year! Hugs, Valerie

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  9. Beautiful pieces of work and I love the shapes you've used for the calendar lay-out! And I just adore Annie!

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  10. Congratulations for this interesting composition with great symbolism, Peace, I like. Greetings.

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  11. Hello Linda, I love coming here and checking out your lovely art, it's full of soul, your January calendar is wonderful, I love those snowflakes. Those last lines you wrote about being a warm hearted soul ring so true, we all need to be gentle with ourselves and others! Best wishes your way!

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  12. I can feel the power of peace in your yoga pose.

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  13. Art journaling calendar, what a great idea. You have a good start on January. I love the bird and look forward to what your quote will be. I enjoyed your blog tremendously. Blessings, Janet PPF (I've not tried art journaling yet.)

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  14. Beautiful! Dear Sweet Annie - waiting so patiently. I'm adoring that calendar! Wishing you a happy and creative new year.

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  15. Wow ~ wonderful creations and love your Xmas photos as well ~ all very creative ~ as always ~ Happy New Year ~ ^_^

    (A Creative Harbor ~ aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^)

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  16. This is a lovely piece, full of peace and compassion. Wonderful. I wish you and your family a joy filled 2013.

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  17. Beautiful works. I especially love the Peace art. And your gorgeous Christmas trees. Very nice.

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  18. This is a wonderful post Linda. Thank you for your comment on my FF7F. Your Peace , yoga, temple is beautiful. Thank you for telling about your color products and process. I am not sure what grunge board is yet, but I love all your metallics and glittery bits! Lovely Christmas trees and sweet puppy!

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  19. Wonderful interpretation of the Fall fearless and Fly pages. And I LOVE the cool, winter feel of the January calendar page.

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  20. The colors and stencil are fabulous. The calendar challenge sounds cool

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  21. Love the quote, the art and the Christmasy feel. Thanks for dropping by. Best wishes for 2013 and hoping that "Peace" touches us all this year.

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  22. Fantastic journal pages and your trees are beautiful! Very sweet puppy too♥

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  23. Oh my, your first journal page is just wonderful! the figure inside the temple...what a cool idea...and the colours fits so great together...looove!!

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  24. Love your page for Fall Fearless, what a serene image you have created, meditative just to look at and your calendar pages with snowflake entries is charming. xox

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  25. Your challenge page is incredible. I love it. And Annie...omgoodness.

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  26. Lovely page for the FFF challenge! And the trees are lovely too! Have a great year ahead!

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  27. What a warm fuzzy I have right now. I love your art, your encouraging and thoughtful words... and your beautiful English Cocker Annie... SOOOO sweet. Wish I could pet her! All the best wishes for you this year Linda. Your encouragement and kind words have been wonderful this year!

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  28. Love your beautiful art pages and trees! I stopped by to wish you a Happy New Year and many blessings in 2013. Looking forward to more of your art and friendship in 2013! xoxoxo

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  29. Awesome journal page and I love your pooch. :) Adorable! Happy New Year!

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  30. Just beautiful Linda. I'm so happy you participate in Fall Fearless and Fly. Your work is always so inspired and inspiring. Lovely trees and Annie too! Happy New Year!

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  31. Hi Linda: I am so totally impressed by your yoga folder stencil. You inspire me! It is absolutely gorgeous and I really enjoy what you did with it as a whole. Your post is fascinating. Lots of great information about faith and spirituality. Much appreciated! have a great 2013 Linda!!! Blessings, Samara Navi

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  32. A really interesting post. I found you through 'Doris's Daughter' blog. I wondered why you said you were 'not quite there yet' with blogging. You are very inspirational.
    Glad I found you, and "I'll be back".

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  33. Wow Linda :) You are very busy creatively....how wonderful. I love your very wintery January. Happy New Year xX

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  34. Love your January page it's so pretty especially the journal blocks. I am also inspired by your awesome yoga page, so creative. Ilove your cocker spaniel too I had one just like Annie same colour etc they are so sweet. Great Christmas trees too especially the main tree. Thank you for your comments on my blog.

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  35. I came because of the calendar, but have to say I love your work for the Fall Fearless and Fly Challenge (which is new to me). I have a friend who says that friends confirm prejudices....which seems just a cynical way to say friends agree with similar beliefs. And I believe as you do....the spirit is everywhere and if we are open, it comes. I mean really, how cool is that? I started yoga in 2012 so I love that image as well.....I have been "off" for the holidays and am looking forward to class on Saturday! Best wishes for a happy new year, and I look forward to seeing your work in Kate's challenge and around the web.

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  36. Linda- thank you for stopping by. You live near the Crayola Factory? How wonderful- we are in Bucks County, if you know the area we are near the Buck Hotel in Feasterville. (about a little over an hour's drive) I think I have as much fun as my kids there, even though I haven't gone since the bigger kids were little, I am planning on another trip in February. I love your page for January, the little doily squares are wonderful.And the finger painting on the foam letters came out wonderful- I really like that idea. I am planning on making my pages today. Thank you also for the wonderful links to the challenges- I will check them out also. Sorryfor the long post- just very excited that you live so near me!

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  37. Happy New Year, Linda!!. I enjoy your post today sooooo much, so many beautiful photos and subjects you'd shared. I already feel much love reading this post, thank you so much. For inspiring notes, thoughts and much love you'd share through your creative endeavors :). The journal pages/calendar are totally gorgeous, love the masking yoga asana :). Beautiful trees, my cats would be mad with excitement :). I hope you have a great year and a blessed one :). Hugs.

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  38. Your calendar is beautiful. I love how you accented January. Beautiful.

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    1. I really love your journal page -- the use of the cut out shapes, the writing on the person, the stamping, the colors -- all of it!

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  39. Hi Linda

    What a beautiful post...... I love your Christmas trees they look stunning.

    I love 'Peace' too the shape with the writing on it is wonderful as are your calendar pages. Adore the doily shapes you made!

    Hope you had a lovely Christmas and that you have a happy, healthy and creative New Year

    Karen x

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  40. i like your prayerful meditative celebrative piece, very much.

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  41. It's a great January page, great post. Nicely done. Happy New Year! Thanks for sharing.

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  42. You have an amazing spirit!! This is such a heartfelt beautiful post! I agree with you one hundred percent... I to, have been to many denominational churches. Love and kindness are always the answer! Being a good person is also my motto!! I love ppf and all the wonderful loving people here! Thank you for sharing you heart with authenticity!! I appreciate you!! And your artwork should go on cards...beautiful!!

    Happy New Year!
    Hugs Giggles

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  43. So much inspiration and eye candy each time I come to visit dear Linda!
    We took a little trip after Christmas and that threw me off visiting favorite blogs and friends.
    Thank you for sharing your heART and beautiful spirit all ways!
    oxo

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  44. Linda, you said, "I feel that no matter where you are, if your heart is truly open to it, you will feel it."
    I could not agree with you more. When I dance in Nia class on the beach barefoot, watching the waves, feeling the wind between my fingers, watching the majesty of the birds swooping and soaring, or the clouds changing AS we move to the music . . . I feel what you are speaking of. I have come to realize that the reason this activity is so important to me is because it is a very spiritual thing for me. We often dance with an intention and we start and end class in a circle. I am really glad you wrote about this and the art piece you made for the challenge is so very beautiful. Your feelings are pouring out of it! xoxo lenna

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  45. the peace page is wonderful - so much movement! - and the doilies adorable. Also thanks for sharing re. religious experiences - I truly believe along these lines as well.

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