Out Of Chaos...

  What a week it's been..like being on a roller coaster ride at the top and then plunging down, desperately waiting to go back up. (The art part is below this if you want to skip down).

   It began mid Sunday when I suddenly got the worst stomach pains and spasms I had ever had. Then I got so cold (mind you it was a hot, humid 90 degrees F here) I was in sweats and wrapped in a fleece blanket all day and eve. Barely sipped on some Gatorade. That continued thru Tues AM. But, on Mon. I attempted to do some laundry. Uh oh-something doesn't sound right. Got to the basement to an awful smell and smoke. Oh  #%&*!! Flipped off the  laundry machine both literally and figuratively, unplugged, looked around, then ran up to get hubby (who had only an hour before gone to sleep after working the night shift). Frantically we both went around checking to be sure there was no fire. Opened basement doors and put on some fans. Def. came from machine. Rung everything out and hung outdoors. Kept checking in basement just to be sure. Hubby gets up and prepares to make toast. Oh #%&*- the toaster went!! The clip that holds down the knob you press to toast broke. Tues. still only eating saltines but had to meet at Mom's with insurance rep. Came home and decided I needed to make some art.

  On Wed. AM Bill replaced the belt on the machine which was bad. Started to run a mini load to test. So far so good. But then at spin time the smoke began....Holy  #%&*!! Flipped off the  laundry machine both literally and figuratively then unplugged it. Actually felt good enough for coffee and some light food today (even tho stomach muscles feel like they went thru 3 sets of 150 sit ups) so off I went for a new washer and toaster. Good news!!! Picked out a high efficiency Maytag I really liked. It was on sale, delivered free and the old one hauled away free. And would you believe-still manufactured, made and assembled in the US of A!! Off to another place. I really wanted a Cuisinart toaster-love their products. Bingo! New model coming out soon so this one went from $75 to $34. And it matched the appliances I have- done deal :)

  On to art challenges :) First up are some more CAS cards :

 I'm linking this one to Inspiration Avenue where the theme this week is "outfits for all occasions" and to Simon Says Stamp and Show where the theme is "stripes", and the  Simon Says Stamp Challenge-"anything goes".
 Products used: white note card; patterned papers-DCWV Matt Stack Classic Prints; vintage image-Top Hat Designs; topstitch ribbon-Offray; red card stock; blue pigment ink-Colorbox; antique brass jewelry findings.

 I'm also linking the following two cards to SSS&S and SSSC:

  Products used for both: white note card; patterned papers (source unknown); VersaFine Onyx Black ink (Tsukineko); UM Clear Stamps(Inkadinkado-Just Saying Set); 2 1/2" and 2 3/4" punch (Paper Shapers).

  It's week 3 at Kristin's (Twinkle,Twinkle) Summer of Color Challenge and the color combo that had the most votes this week was Lime Green and Purple. Here's my project:

   This is a 5" x 7" canvas. Music paper (Paper Studio) was glued to substrate. Excess trimmed and edges were sanded. Dry brushed African Jade Silks Acrylic then added a bit of Ocean Wave twinking H2Os. Dry brushed some white acrylic paint over that. Sharpie paint pens were used to doodle the border frame after using sequin waste and Staz-On Mustard ink (Tsukineko) in the background. Live your Dreams stamp (Hero Arts) stamped on tissue paper then glued in place. Lastly I used Golden's heavy matte gel medium to secure the butterflies. It just so happened I had a baggie of these butterflies I was going to put away since I had them for so long and was rearranging some space in a drawer. Good thing I hadn't done it yet :)

  Lastly I have a new calendar spread to share for Kate Crane's (the Kathryn Wheel) Calendar project. July is just around the corner!

  Red, Med Blue acrylic paints were brushed over the pages with a foam brush. White dots were added with Dylusions Dotted Flower stencil and Snow Cap Adirondack Acrylic Dauber. Stamped letters with white gesso and harlequin with balck gesso (stamps-Dylusions Basic Backgrounds). Circles added with a bottle cap and gesso.

  And here is my calendar spread ready to go:

  Sticker letters(Me and My Big Ideas), numbers (Making Memories rub-ons). Stars punched from white card stock, edges sponged with Memories Midnight Blue dye ink and glued in place. Added days of week (Magenta set of foam stamps). Finished with a Dylusions stamp image colored with markers, sticker circles and metallic star stickers.

  Linking up to Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every day, Kate Crane's Calendar Project, Summer of Color and of course, Paint Party Friday!

  Here's to a happy,sunny,creative and fun weekend !

                    "A degree of chaos can be liberating to the creative spirit." Anonymous