Artful This And That

   We've been having such heat,humidity and rain that I've been able to get more projects completed than I thought I would this time of year. It's invigorating to be challenged by new things...like Kristin's Summer of Color challenge!  We're at week 4 and the color combo voted in for this week is charcoal grey and pale pink. Wasn't so sure about where I'd go with it at first but I ended up getting two projects done :).

  This is in my watercolor journal. I brushed and painted a light coat of Americana Pink and Warm White acrylics on the page. I added the circles with a stencil and Americana Warm Grey and Warm White. Glued the B &W image (Dover) then smudged edges which I lined with a charcoal pencil. I stamped words (Another Stamp Company) and quote (Invoke Arts) using Stone Grey Staz-On ink (Tsukineko). Finished by edging circles with the charcoal pencil and smudging with my finger.

  The second project I made is a card for my Mom for her birthday next week.

  Products Used: white card stock; patterned paper (Stampington & Co.); pink paper flowers (Paper Studio); grey paper flowers (Michael's; pink rayon ribbon (Michael's); white paper ribbon (K & Company); pink organza ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Grand Calibur die cut machine and Lacy Squares die (Spellbinders); clear UM stamps -Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink); Jet Black Staz-On ink (Tsukineko); corner rounder (Marvy Uchida); pearl stickers (Queen & Co.) Since the theme at Simon Says Stamp and Show is "anything goes" I'm linking up there also.

  Our orange tiger lilies are in full bloom so I couldn't resist taking a few photos for Lori's Mandarin Orange Monday challenge.

 I love their bright color and the fact that these perennials grow  abundantly requiring little to no care :)

 And now for some French inspired fun! My friend Lynnie and I have been making a point to visit local art museums and exhibitions every so often lately and it has been so much fun to have a friend along who knows and appreciates many styles of art! This past week we visited the Allentown Art Museum to see a very special Toulouse- Lautrec exhibit! This museum is one of the first venues outside of Europe to host this collection on loan from the Herakleidon Museum in Athens Greece. Here are some newspaper excerpts and the brochure and newsletter about it (no photographs were allowed) :

 

 It was fascinating!! Hopefully you can click on the pics for a closer view and read. In addition, Lynnie and I both purchased this book:

 It's a wonderful small book of 176 pages full of facts, art, documents, family photos depicting M. Lautrec's very colorful life! The exhibit will be in town thru Sept. 1st so I'm hoping to go again-this time with hubby in tow since he's been reading the book :) .

 And here's a journal spread inspired by this exhibit:

 

   These pages were done in an altered board book. I began by adding texture to the edges of the pages with a sea sponge and modeling paste.. Once it dried I added copyright free images, actual stamps, stickers and postcard stickers to the pages. I then painted Lumiere metallic paints in gold, green and sunset pink over and around the pages and images. I used a variety of French rubber stamps and black Staz-On ink to finish.

  What's been inspiring you lately???

  Linking to Art Journal Every Day, Creative Every Day, Mandarin Orange Monday, Paint Party Friday, Simon Says Stamp and Show, Show and Tell Saturday, and Summer of Color 3. I'll be seeing you :)

  "To the dull mind all nature is leaden. To the enlightened mind the whole world sparkles and burns."

                                                                                                     Ralph Waldo Emerson