Artful Challenges

   I'm back with a few projects I'll be linking up to: Creative Every Day, Inspiration Avenue, Mandarin Orange Monday and  Glue it Tuesday. I do like a challenge when I have the time to get something done for it. And it's nice to know that whether or not you contribute, or how often, you can be inspired by what others share. So please do take some time to visit and say hello.

  First up are two cards I recently made:

  The heart grass (an old Hero Arts stamp-I cut away the words that were part of this stamp) was stamped on a panel with Antique Pewter pigment ink (Colorbox). Two hearts were colored in with a red marker. Sentiment (Stampa Rosa-another oldie) was stamped using the same red marker. The panel was adhered to the card with foam tape.

  Products Used: 5" x 7" white note card (Canvas Corp); white card stock; hydrangea patterned paper (Paper Studio); birthday greeting (source unknown); Onyx Black Versa Fine ink (Tsukineko); Heather Flower Soft; hand dyed ribbon; felt butterfly (Michaels); Grand Calibur die cut machine and lattice die (Spellbinders).

  This altered book spread I thought fit perfectly for Inspiration Avenue's "harvest" theme:

 The background is a paper napkin that depicts some harvest fruits. The images are vintage, except for that luscious dessert I clipped from a French magazine. The words at bottom left translate to "my little sins". At top left it is French wines, and top right is French cuisine-yum!

 I have two special ATCS to share next:

  Back in March I had a giveaway. Shahrul ( who lives in Malaysia) was one of the winners. Sadly, despite the fact that I made sure the envie was flat, correctly addressed and stamped Shahrul never got her mail. We emailed back and forth and decided to swap two ATCS-she having chosen a pink and green theme. These are the two I created for her . I know how she loves her kitties so I knew I wanted to use the one on the right by ARTchix Studio. She never got these either. And this time I specifically did not decorate the envie and typed the addies to look more business-like. I also added a note about how sorry I was that if it was not the intended recipient opening and keeping this , that how would they feel if they had a far away friend or family member that wanted to be in touch but never received the mail (something to that effect). I was so hoping I'd hear from Shahrul telling me she received my mail even after so many months. NOPE. I never received hers either. Sad. So dear Shahrul  enjoy your cyber art. XO

 And here are a few digital plays for Mandarin Orange Monday (Lori got me playing with photoshop again:)
Not much time to get in depth with layers but I still liked  the bit I did.

 I started with this abstract painting I did on watercolor paper and India ink (inspired by Jane Davies):

On the following one I chose the color, then under the layer tab I chose "render":

  and on the next one below I chose a color then under the layer tab chose "Vivid Light". Each time I began with the black and white version at the top.

 I think these would make great papers or fabrics-so much fun and so many things to explore yet! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to inspire me. Have a great last week of August!

" Love is to the heart what summer is to the farmer's year- it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul." Unknown