A Red Rose, Red Wine, and a Redhead

 Well, February is almost over and at least here in NE PA it has been a warm record breaking month-yippee!! It should be like this every year I say.

 All last week it was in the 70's F and I certainly took advantage of it! One of two early evenings was spent this way:

  Feet up and soaking in nature along with a glass of merlot. Even painted my toes a pretty pink for the occasion:) Just listening and watching the birds. Cheers to my T Stands For Tuesday peeps!

 For Tag Tuesday I have created a tag for  the theme of "Spring Flowers". It started like this:

 I used Dreamweaver Embossing Paste through the Tim Holtz Lace stencil.

 The finished tag:

The tag was spritzed with Dylusions Bubble Gum ink spray and Distress Spray Stain in Fossilized Amber. I added a bit of gold rub-on with my finger. Finished tag with a vintage image, ribbon, Paris charm, rhinestone, turquoise metal roses and fibers. These items have been in my stash quite awhile and I don't think they are available any longer.

And alas, my position as host at Art Journal Journey this month  for the "Fifty Shades of Red" theme is about over so I have one more project to add.:

 I had done a similar redhead for one of the Summer Of Color Challenges and decided to paint her again. Here's a closeup of the hair:

 Also linking to Moo Mania and More (theme is hand painted) and Paint Party Friday.

 I want to thank Susi, and ALL (over 140 entries) of the glorious red entries this month at AJJ! The art is truly amazing and uplifting!!  Looking forward to the new host and theme for March.

 Stay tuned for a special series of posts beginning next Monday-another lovely art surprise that has gotten me so inspired to create some special projects and tutorials for YOU!

  " If one says 'red' - the name of color -  and there are fifty people listening, it can be expected that there will be fifty reds in their minds. And one can be sure that all these reds will be very different." 
                                                                                     Josef Albers

A Mélange of Things

  Another week, and another crazy weather week to boot! Remember my last post? It has now gotten warm again and we had a weekend of glorious sunshine and temps up to 67 F. YES!

 For T Stands For Tuesday:

 Not long ago my friend LuAnn and I went to our favorite Irish place again for a lovely lunch. She had the cottage pie and I had the chicken boxty. We chose a decafe apricot and peach tea and it was delicious-not at all sweet like I was afraid it would be!

 And speaking of LuAnn. I was supposed to go spend time with her in the Adirondacks during this time but it was postponed. LuAnn and her husband had to make that heartbreaking decision to put their beloved cocker Ginger to sleep and understandably need time to heal. I know. I knew Ginger from the time they brought her home over 15 yrs ago. In loving memory:

                                                   Christmas in NY 2016

 For Moo Mania and More I have another postcard for the theme of "music":

 The challenge for the week at the Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog is Fantastic Florals so I am entering this card:

  Products: white, black cardstock; Clear stamps (Sending You set-Papertrey Ink); Warm Red Fluid Chalk ink(Clearsnap); Staz-On inks- Cactus Green, Mustard, Jet Black-Tsukineko); fern seam binding (Martha Stewart); red ribbon - Offray).

 My next card is for the new challenge this week at the Simon Monday Challenge Blog and the theme is Transport It:

 Aqua, white, navy cardstock; patterned map paper- unknown; air mail stamp from post office; typed sentiment; felt heart; sewing machine; Spellbinders large circle dies; Moonshine sequins-Simon Says Stamp Shop.

 And for Art Journal Journey (Fifty Shades of Red theme),  Paint Party Friday and Try It On Tuesday I have a "messy" journal page:

 "Art-it's a messy job but somebody's got to do it". That's the stamp(Stamping Sensations) I used. Other products: Pan Pastels,  Dylusions ink spray (Postbox Red), Versamark ink pad, black Stabilo All pencil, Desert Turquoise, Titanium White acrylic paints, black Fude Ball pen, unmounted alphabet (Stampers Anonymous), black Archival ink pad.  The technique was taken directly from Dina Wakley's book Art Journal Courage. And getting messy on a page is what I needed to do to get out my emotions about losing Ginger. It does help.

 So, do you go to art to deal with things life throws to you whether good or bad? And isn't it interesting what comes out of it?

 Thanks so much for your visits. I love hearing from you!

" Do not try to predict or manipulate the avenue through which your good will come. Be true to your dream and the universe will show up to support you in amazing ways."   Alan Cohen

True Love

 Well what a CRAZY weather week we had last week in the northeast US!! One day I was sitting outside in the sun reading, wearing flip flops and thoroughly enjoying the record 63 F. The next morning we woke up to this:

  I just had to be dreaming....but, nope. It was coming down and looking like a blizzard! What????
We ended up with 6 inches on the ground and it got bitterly cold and windy... thus the second part of my February calendar pages:

    The theme at Moo Mania and More is "music" and the new theme this week at the Simon Monday Challenge Blog is "use your favorite tool". So I created this postcard for both challenges:

 Patterned music paper was glued to a watercolor card. I then used printed deli paper from my stash of Gel Printing Plate prints (my favorite tool-love the plate!!) and glued a piece on the left. I then added the vintage image(Retro Café Art) and sentiment (Paper Whimsy) after sponging the edges with another favorite tool- Tim Holtz Blending Tool. Another bit of printed deli paper was added at the bottom of the image along with some fabric lace. Edges were sponged using the blending tool and Distress Vintage Photo ink.  I embellished the lace and flowers on the image with Stickles glitter glue - you have to take my word for it as it doesn't show at all:(

 For T Stands For Tuesday - and Valentine's Day, I am sharing not only a beverage, but a celebration, as it happens to be our son's birthday too! We just had some family over for dinner on Sunday.

 As usual I made a meatloaf dinner along with a dark chocolate cake (with coffee in it) and a dark chocolate icing, the same request pretty much every year:)  Here he is with his girlfriend Kyra whom we also adore. 29 years old-where DOES the time go...

here he was at 9 months old:

 I know how much he loves when I share baby photos:):) Happy birthday Todd!

 For Art Journal Journey (Fifty Shades of Red theme all month!) and for Paint Party Friday I made this page in my watercolor journal. I used a wet on wet technique along with Peerless watercolors for the background.  Vintage image from my stash along with patterned paper scraps. Felt heart is Martha Stewart. I added a heart button, then completed the page with a rub on.

 Wishing those of you who celebrate it- a Happy Valentine's Day!

" What you love to do the most is the shortest distance between where you are now and your dreams."
                                      Emmanuel ( Pat Rodegast)

A Red Filled Post

 How are you lovelies? Anyone into making and sending Valentines? Personally I can't get enough of it! But if you're not into it how about creating a journal page using the powerful color RED?
As guest host at Art Journal Journey I have chosen the theme "Fifty Shades of Red" and am thrilled with the gorgeous entries so far! You have all month so please consider joining in.

The background paper is from Basic Grey.Vintage image is from ARTchix Studio. Found paper poppy, typed and fussy cut words  outlined a bit with charcoal pencil.

I have a few more vintage Valentine cards I am linking to The Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog theme of "The Color of Love":

Vintage images (Retro Café Art), kraft card stock, patterned paper (American Crafts), heart stickers (Mrs. Grossmans), fabric ribbon (Celebrate It), Tim Holtz mini stapler.

Simon Says has a sister challenge blog too . And this week's challenge at the Simon  Monday Challenge  Blog is "Young at Heart". My entry:

 Vintage images (Paper Whimsy), red paper heart, gold metallic card stock, brass flowers, word, rhinestones, gold embroidery floss, German  scrap, red and clear seed beads from my stash. I used a tiny hole punch all around the gold heart then hand sewed the beads on. I am also joining Try It On Tuesday for the theme of "Hearts and Flowers".

 The Simon Says Challenge blogs both offer a $50 GC to their amazing online store every week and who ever can get enough free goodies to art with?

For the T Stands For Tuesday gang:

 On the days I just can't stay warm I bring out my Henley teapot and sip on hot herbal tea throughout the day. Today it is chamomile. And our dear neighbor brought over a warm dish of  -well-it's like an apple crumble-or- apple pie without the crust and it was absolutely delicious!! Very little brown sugar, lots of apples, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, oats, cinnamon. Now hop on over to Bleubeard and Elizabeth with a cuppa and see what everyone else has to offer. It never disappoints!

 I also tried another bit of abstract play in my watercolor journal:

 These practices were about using only a few like colors (I used acrylic paints here), blending and adding mark making using black oil pastel, black pencil, and black gel pen. 

 Linking also to Paint Party Friday later this week. Wishing you all a happy, creative and fun filled week!

                         " Just the color red makes me smile."

Fifty Shades of RED!

  Welcome to the new theme for the whole month of February at Art Journal Journey!

I am delighted to be guest host and have chosen the theme:

 "Fifty Shades Of Red"

 

Whether or not it is a color you typically use think about changing it up and challenging yourself.  Would love to have you join in and share your journal pages! Just be sure that red is the dominant color. Any subject or style is welcome!

A huge thank you to Susi and Valerie for hosting the AJJ blog and wowing us continuously with so many of your fabulous journal pages!

 A special thank you to Valerie for all the time you have put into AJJ for so long. Although you are stepping down from your role as host I know you will continue to inspire us with your art.

This is the rest of my journal spread for the beginning of the month:

Next time I'll share the other half of my February calendar. And perhaps some more valentine art too:):)

Also linking to Try It On Tuesday with the theme of "hearts and flowers", and Paint Party Friday. I'll be looking for you!

      "There is a shade of red for every woman." Audrey Hepburn