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