This and That

 Hope all who celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday had a wonderful time, and for those of you who DID go Black Friday shopping  I hope all went well and you didn't overdue it:)

 Our turkey day was fairly low key-just 6 of us.

  My table was set with pretty much the usual - mostly vintage tableware, decor and tablecloths from family. And here's a peek at the desserts after dinner:

 There were 5 pies all together-for 6 people!! Clockwise from top-apple pie, funny cake,(both made by my Mom), pumpkin pie made by me ( the other was in the fridge), and a cherry crumb pie that Aunt Betty brought. I couldn't touch a piece of any so I saved mine for my coffee at breakfast the next morning.
 Oh, and since we're on desserts, I promised a few blogging friends I'd post my recipe for Pumpkin Rolls (photo here). You can find it at the end of this post :) Joining my peeps over at Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog for T Stands For Tuesday.

 For  the Simon Monday Challenge (theme is "Oh Christmas tree") I made this card:

 another view:

 I had seen a demo for making these folded trees on a tv show last year. Unfortunately I don't recall what show it was and have no links but perhaps these pics will help-it really is pretty easy:

 Use 2 sided card stock. This measures 5 1/4" along the bottom and just about 3" at the peak of the arc.
 The folding:

 I have this last journal page for Art Journal Journey, the theme this month being "collage with a twist". Thanks so much Susi for a fabulous theme! Looking forward to seeing next month's theme and host. Also linking to Paint Party Friday:

                                                     Nighttime Cityscape

 Those buildings look like they're leaning a bit don't they? Oh well...
 Now it's off to the next holiday preparations, upcoming getaway, wedding, etc. Busy time, but I'll see you soon!

     " Find a way to express what moves you."      Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi


                                        Pumpkin Rolls (recipe makes 3)

Cake: 2 c liquid egg substitute(such as Egg Beaters)    2 Tbsp. canola oil
          2 c sugar    1 16oz. can pumpkin puree   2 Tbsp. lemon juice    2 1/4 c. flour
          1 Tbsp. baking soda   1 Tbsp. ginger       2 Tbsp. cinnamon    1 tsp salt

Filling: 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar    2  8oz. pkgs. low fat cream cheese
             1/4 c. butter      1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract


To make the cakes: In lg bowl beat egg substitute 2 1/2 min. Add oil and sugar and mix well. Stir in pumpkin and lemon jc. til well blended. In separate bowl combine flour, soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt. Add to pumpkin mix and blend well. Spread 1/3 batter into into each of 3 pans (15" x 10" x 1") that have been generously sprayed with cooking spray (such as Pam). Bake 12-15 min. in 375 F. oven. Cool in pan 5 min then turn cake onto dampened cotton tea towels. Fold edge of towel onto one cake edge then roll up along with the towel tightly. Let stand until cool.

To make the filling: beat all ingredients together until smooth.  

To finish the rolls: Unroll cake from towel and spread cake with 1/3 of the filling. Roll up cake around filling. Repeat for remaining two cakes. Wrap and refrigerate or freeze.












                                                       

Kindness and Gratitude

 Keeping this post short so I can work on Thanksgiving preparations the next few days.

 My journal page is a combination of collage and paint and meant for T Stands For Tuesday, Art Journal Journey (collage-with a twist), and the Simon Monday Challenge (Trio-Tastic). My trio - three shades of yellow paint for the background: Banana Yellow, Dark Yellow, and Yellow Ochre.  I glued pieces of text and music washi tape to the page before sponging on the paints.

Wishing those of you who will be celebrating - a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving. My special prayer of gratitude is for the friends and family near and far including those of you I have never met in person. Thank God for cyberspace!


 " Gratitude can transform common days to thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."   William Arthur Ward

Fueling The Creative Fire

 Well, hello lovelies! Happy end of the week. Next week will most likely be busy for many of us as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the US...and then oh boy, Black Friday shopping frenzies (tho I WON'T be part of that mess!) So before things get so busy with all the cooking and cleaning I'll be doing, I took more time this week to play along with a handful of challenges. I do hope you'll check them out as there is nothing like a good challenge to fuel the creative fire, n'est-ce pas?

 First up is a card for Freshly Made Sketches and I actually have it done to link up in time-unlike last week...(you can still see that sketch and my card in my last post)

 this is the sketch:

 I used a clear stamp set by Inkadinkado for my card.

 My next card is for Moo Mania (theme is "stripes"), the Simon Monday Challenge (theme is "thanks/Thanksgiving"), and Try It On Tuesday (theme is "trees are green ...or any other color"):

                                      rubber stamp image is by Inkadinkado

and I have another card for Moo Mania and Try it On Tuesday:

                                 tree rubber stamp is by Stamp In The Hand.

 For the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Christmas Critters is the theme) I have these gift tags:

 Ok, Santa isn't a critter but I  included him in the photo:) These are OLD rubber stamps from my stash- Santa (PSX), moose (Hero Arts), and cardinals (Stampa Rosa). Hard to see but they are all glittered up.

 Finally, for Art Journal Journey (theme is "collage with a twist-no faces, no wings, no leaves") I have this journal page:

 Pretty much everyone knows of my love for the ocean/beach. I created this simply with a large brush and washes of three blue acrylic paints then added the torn pieces of deli paper Gelli Plate prints. I felt this was all that was needed (except to pencil in the word bliss). You can see another collage in this post.

 And just for fun I doodled a sea themed page in my smaller doodle journal:

 I am also joining in at Paint Party Friday  hosted by Eva and Kristin. It's a great place to meet up with artists using many different styles and mediums! Will be around to visit as many as I can over the next few days. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment here. XO

" Wherever you look there are inspirations, books, literature, paintings, landscapes, everything. Just living is an inspiration."         Gavin Rossdale

ABC - Art, Baking, Collage!

 Well, since my last post we have a new president. And the only thing I will say is "People, we need to work together!!" Since the election ended there has been continued news of arguments amongst groups, and protests sparking more fights. Really, this has got to stop if we want anything to improve. Nuff said on that topic.

 Art helps me breathe.  My first card was inspired by this sketch:

 and here's my card:

  I used some of my new stamps from Altenew- Painted Flowers and Painted Words. Washi tapes and rhinestones are from Recollections. I also used Distress inks in Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries, and Versafine ink in Onyx Black and Green Tea. I rarely seem to get something done in time to link up  at FMS but I really enjoy working with the sketches the DT comes up with each week.

 My next card is for both the Simon Monday Challenge and the Simon Wednesday Challenge which is "Thanks/Thanksgiving"

 Background was made using the gesso resist technique, several Distress inks, and stamps from Magenta and PSX. I added a silk leaf. Sentiment is computer generated.

Baking:

 With autumn in full swing I have been baking lots of things pumpkin-pumpkin squares, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and most recently pumpkin rolls of which I'm happy to share along with a cup of coffee in my fall mug for T Stands For Tuesday. I love the flavor and the scent that fills the air- and who doesn't love pumpkin??? Really, is there anyone reading this who doesn't like pumpkin? I'd love to know!

 Collage: Susi is hosting Art Journal Journey with the theme this month being "collage-with a twist". The twist is no faces, no wings, no leaves. I am thoroughly enjoying this theme and playing with my stashes of papers and bits! So here is another completed journal page and I have two more in the works:)

 I glued down lots of paper scraps, used  stencils and black acrylic for the heart and sentiment, then edged the page with washi tape. Hope to see you join in at any of the blogs or challenges mentioned. Have a super week ahead!

 " You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will be as one."   John Lennon

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

 Oh yes, time changes - it is dark now an hour earlier :(. We are on the brink of having a new president with Election Day Tuesday which is certainly going to bring about changes! I WON"T be watching or listening to the news all day and will only tune in once all is said and done. Instead I will listen to music and have an art day. What about you?

 The new theme this month over at Art Journal Journey is "collage-with a twist. No faces,no wings, no leaves."  The theme was chosen by the very talented Susi who has been sharing so many beautiful collage spreads almost on a daily basis! And  Valerie has come up with a super clever way to work around the "no faces" aspect. Do have a look and see!
 I've been working on a few pages at one time and have my first one to share today. Here's how it began:

 Look at that messy desk! For T Stands For Tuesday you can see my covered tea mug to the right. Tulsi Honey Chamomile tea :)

                                               Majestic Landscape
 A few detail pics:

      whoa- the color on this is really off-it's the bright orange part on the lower right in the above shot!

 a combination of handmade papers, patterned papers, vellum paper, and  book page. I didn't really plan out the pieces before gluing them down-which is what I hear you should do but I think it worked out just fine and am very happy with it! Looking forward to making more landscapes:)

 And I just realized that some of my papers in the collages I am still working on may have bits of leaves in them-in fact I know they do, as well as in this one but I hope this doesn't eliminate me...

 For something different I added more art to my Doodle Journal:

 I had drawn this face before so I just traced the profile and then filled in using alcohol markers and a white gel pen. Cheek blush is chalk. It's only for play while watching TV but I am still thinking about painting over the awful way my writing looks!

 Wishing you a great week ahead, and days filled with sunshine. Linking with Paint Party Friday at the end of the week. Won't you join in too?

 "I work in whatever medium likes me at the moment".    Marc Chagall