Playing Around

 Hello! Hope all is well with everyone. Warning: this is a fun filled post but it's also going to be photo heavy. Enjoy!

 First up is some alcohol ink play. I was inspired to break out those inks again after seeing some beautiful alcohol ink backgrounds on glossy paper on Jennifer's blog and Carole Dion's blog. I felt like experimenting with vellum:

 I cut down 2 different patterned vellum sheets and began applying inks on the back side using a foam applicator. I used Adirondak alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue and Sunshine Yellow, and Distress ink in Worn Lipstick (which is NOT an alcohol ink). I then began tapping over the paper and got this surprising very cool effect.

 These are the dry backs:

 
 And these are the front sides:

I quite like the vibrant backs as well as the softer patterned fronts. What do you think?

 Here they are backed with dark card stock:

and with light card stock:

And I did make a card using the vellum on the left:

 The thank you die is from Our Daily Bread Designs. Joining the Simon Wednesday Challenge for the theme of 'Make Your Own Background'.

 Next I have some fun photos (and a short video or two if it works:) to share from the birthday celebration dinner for hubby at the Aladdin Middle Eastern restaurant:

                                         Love the decor!

 We went with friends Andrew (hidden) and Lynn and our son Todd and his GF Kyra. Wine on the table to share with T Stands For Tuesday :)

  We all shared 4 appetizers to start: hummus, vegetarian grape leaves (shown), spinach pie and Arnabit (fried cauliflower). Then came the entrees:

                      Shrimp kabobs-my choice

                steak and shrimp kabobs (hubby said the steak was perfection)

                  chicken and shrimp kabobs

                                   a falafel platter

                       and lamb stew. We all agreed our meals were excellent!

 And then came the belly dancing:

 There were two dancers who came around to the tables offering special skirts for anyone that wanted to come up to the front and join them. Well of course we made Bill go , and Andrew went along:

 It was hysterical- and boy, does Bill have a new career ahead of him?? :):):)  Just look:

  A springtime card:

  Products: white note card; white, leaf green cardstock, Choose Joy, Showers and Flowers clear stamp sets (Simon Says March Card Kit- Simon Says Stamp); alcohol markers; colored pencils; Archival Jet Black ink, Buttercup, Leaf Green; Tim Holtz Rays stencil; foam dots; Stickles glitter glue; Moonshine Sequins (Simon Says Stamp).

 Joining the Simon Monday Challenge (In My Garden), and Moo Mania and More (Think Of Spring).

 One last entry for the theme of 'Animals A - Z' this month at Art Journal Journey (thank you Rike!):

 Products: Tim Holtz Thinlits Wildflowers dies, Scribbles and Splats dies; Cover a Card stamp - Graph Paper (Impression Obsession); Tangerine Fluid Chalk ink; Archival Turquoise ink; various collage sheet ephemera; washi tape (Recollections)

 Linking to Paint Party Friday too! Thanks for getting thru this long post. I hope you leave with a smile or two.

" Hope and faith flower from the cheerful seeds of the old year to the sprouting garden of the new year's dawn."        Terri Guillemets

A Mixed Bag

   of  weather and art this week. The crazy weather continues- we had 6" of snow which came down quickly and caused some hazardous road conditions Saturday evening. And now it is warming up and expected to reach 72 F by Wednesday! Keeping the flipflops next to the boots :)

  Grab a cuppa and snack, enjoy the art, and join in on the challenge blogs won't you?  For T Stands for Tuesday hubby is having Turkish coffee and baklava at the middle Eastern restaurant we ate at recently ( more pics to come).

 I'll start with some tags:

Products: hand marbled manila tag; white card stock; gesso; Archival Jet Black ink; dry chalks; gel plate deli paper print; sentiment stamp (Inkadinkado); face stamp (Dina wakley); Americana Indian Turquoise acrylic paint; Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers; paper flower; brad; Moonshine sequins(Simon Says Stamp).  Joining Tag Tuesday (theme is "use a quote"). 

 My next tag is also for Tag Tuesday along with the Simon Monday Challenge ("Grunge it Up"), and Try It On Tuesday ("vintage"):

 Products: hand marbled manila tag; black card stock; Versafine Onyx Black ink; washi tape (Recollections); Tim Holtz Paper dolls, mini stapler, Distress tool, Thinlits Scribbles and Splats die set; quote sticker (Cosmo Cricket); ephemera from my stash- ribbon, twine, rusty heart.

 Next up a card:

  Products: white, grey/green card stocks; Simon Says Stamp Dot Scallop Border Die; Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp and die set; tiny dot outline stamp - Altenew Floral Frame stamp set; 3 dots stamp - Magenta; Anita's Art Stamps pigment ink (Mint); Colorbox pigment ink (Pink); Distress ink (Worn Lipstick); Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink (Gray Whale); Archival Jet Black ink; Moonshine sequins - Simon Says Stamp. 

 Joining the Altenew February Inspiration Challenge; and the Simon Wednesday Challenge ("Add a Diecut").

 Finally, a journal page:

 Products: Tim Holtz stencils (Mosaic, Honeycomb); Basically Bricks stencil,  Circle Collage stamp (Stampers Anonymous); bird stamp (Dina Wakley); Wall Art Stamp (Wow!) Distress inks- Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen; Distress Oxide inks-  Pistachio, Broken China; Archival inks- Buttercup, Jet Black; charcoal pencil.

 Joining Art Journal Journey for the theme of "Animals A-Z" hosted by Rike this month, and 

                                    PAINT  PARTY FRIDAY!

 Thanks so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. I'll be visiting you too!

              " I would like to paint the way a bird sings."     Claude Monet

Love Is In The Air

 What a holiday filled week this is- Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day, Flag Day (Canada), and the Chinese New Year! I'm going to focus on a love theme for Valentine's Day- my favorite holiday ( and also my son's birthday:)

 I'm going to begin with something sweet:

 You may recall I made one similar to this in blue for hubby's birthday last month. This one was for a girlfriend. Altenew cupcake stamp and die set; white card stock; Altenew halftone circles stencil; Distress inks-Worn Lipstick, Squeezed Lemonade; Staz On Chai Latte ink; Marvy Ochre ink; Archival Jet Black ink; Stickles glitter glue.

 And how about a spot of tea with that sweet:

 white note card; tea tag made from card stock in Tea Time paper pack (Craft Smith); handmade background paper; Bakers twine; black thread; felt heart sticker (Dollar store).  Joining T Stands For Tuesday.

 An anniversary card:

 white card stock; glossy gold card stock; patterned vellum ( K & Company); love die set (Simon Says Stamp). Joining the Simon Says Stamp Flickr Challenge (love/hearts) and the the Simon Says Stamp Blog Work It Wednesday challenge (love themed projects).

 Giving you a valentine break with this journal page meant for Art Journal Journey (theme is "animals A-Z") :

 A journal page in my calendar journal:

                                That beautiful background is a napkin!

 and one last love themed card:

patterned note card (DCWV); Neena Classic Coat 110lb. Solar White paper (Simon Says Stamp); Floral Frame stamp and die set (Altenew); assorted alcohol markers; Archival Jet Black ink; stitched rectangle dies (Our Daily Bread Designs); Stickles Diamond glitter glue (Ranger); foam tape.
Joining the Altenew February Color Inspiration Challenge along with the Simon Wednesday Challenge (It Must Be Love).

 I will also link one of these projects to Moo Mania and More (Love theme); and Try It On Tuesday (Love is in the Air theme). And I'll definitely be there for Paint Party Friday!

 So what will you celebrate this week?  "See" you soon :)

    " Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love."  
                                                               Mother Theresa

Gratitude, Etc.

  I want to open this post with my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your thoughtful expressions of condolences on the passing of my brother, for sharing your own personal and sad losses, and for your support from near or far. You have lifted my spirits more than you'll ever know.Thank you.


  Any of you watch the Superbowl game? Not a football fan myself but I did watch with hubby while doing some crossword puzzles. Congrats to the winning team - the Philadelphia Eagles!!

                                                           Cheers!
 Lifting a glass to share with the T Stands For Tuesday peeps. Actually that was hubby's choice of beverage. Mine was a glass of merlot ;)

 Yesterday was dark and grey with a mix of snow and rain-kinda like this journal page:

 Well, at least it looked like the grey background which was a deli paper gel plate print I glued to the page. I added the magazine pic, cardinal sticker, some washi tape and the stamped sentiment (Hero Arts). If I'm not pushing the envelope too far I'd like to join Art Journal Journey hosted this month by Rike with the theme of "animals A - Z".

 a Valentine tag:

 I made several of these to send out with cards to some of my friends. I love Valentine's Day, which also happens to be our son's birthday!
 Products: tag (Recollections); felt heart (Celebrate It! Michaels); baker's twine; metallic sewing thread; black Micron#1 pen.
 Linking to Tag Tuesday (have a heart); the Simon Monday Challenge ( Love is in the Air);  the Simon Says Stamp Blog Work It Wednesday Challenge (love); and Try It On Tuesday (love is in the air).

 These are my completed January calendar spreads:

 I've been able to keep up so far even adding a bit of color to the blocks by drawing or stamping or adding stickers :) And I'm working well ahead making the art  pages on the right side pages for each week- I think I'm up to the end of May!

 Linking my post also to Paint Party Friday! It's a very welcoming , varied group of artists and such a treat to visit and get to know their styles etc. Do have a look and please join in. Speaking of Paint Party Friday, one of the regular participants, the lovely Gillena Cox asked me if I wanted to trade ATCs with her. But of course! Now, I only wish I could have hand delivered them as she lives on the island of Trinidad:) This is what I received:

 Along with the two beautiful ATCs on the lower left I received a postcard made by her and a card showing her book (yes, she has published a book-Pink Crush!) and of course I always keep postage stamps for collage:) Thank you Gillena, and thanks to Kristin and Eva our Paint Party Friday hosts for bringing us together!

"Friendship is a bond of love, a medal of trust, a shoulder in sadness, a hand in darkness, something that doesn't cost, and a jewel never to be lost."  unknown