Sunday, September 30, 2018

Back In The Game!


 Hello peeps! I have missed you all and all your latest meanderings whilst I dealt with  a long stint of back pain (which thankfully is now pretty much over-yay!), and a special anniversary vacation too.  But first...

 I am honored to be back as a guest host this month of October here:


  and the theme I have chosen for the month is "Creature Comforts". You can go so many ways with this theme such as Halloween, rich autumn colors, whatever brings you comfort... I do hope you will link your art journal pages and share with us all!

 Here is my first page for the theme:


 My page was inspired by a You Tube Video by "Painting With Jane".  I will admit I had a bit of a time with the head, shoulders area but I'm happy with the end result. One can learn so much by watching other artists paint, don't you think?

 As I mentioned, we recently celebrated our anniversary. It was another trip to the lovely Cape May, NJ. Although I was quite ill the first day (medications, perhaps?) after that I was about 100% and enjoyed every minute of our stay! I made this card for Bill:


 Linking to the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes)

and he totally surprised me with this:


 a dozen red roses on the table in our hotel  room when I walked in!!! I never once thought they were from hubby because although he is very kind and loving he is also very practical and I can't remember the last time he gave me any flowers ;) To this posting the babys breath and greens are thriving along with half the roses!

 And here - a pic of the day we married and below it our recent anniversary dinner at the Merion Inn (which we have been going to for 25 years now and is just as romantic and good as the first time) in Cape May:


 and with this photo (water and wine at table) I am joining the peeps at T Stands For Tuesday.

 I just have gotten back to spending more time in my art room so I made this tag for Tag Tuesday (Autumn/Halloween),  Moo Mania and More (Food/Treats and Sweets), and the Simon Monday Challenge (Tag It!):


 I just brought out my container of Halloween materials to put this tag together. The tag is one of several  hand marbled backgrounds I made some time ago.

 I will also be joining Paint Party Friday with this post. It will be so good to catch up with you all again! Thanks for coming by, I will visit you too :) Be well, be creative, and be happy!

" Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts. This is the secret of success."
                                                         Swami Sivananda





Monday, September 17, 2018

Fun Stuff

  Hi there! Brief post this week as I am still having difficulty sitting comfortably anywhere or bending and turning which makes it difficult to do much art. It's improving slowly so that's a step in the right direction. Thanks to all for your thoughts and wishes for healing. Now, on to some fun!

 A few weeks ago we got together with friends, our son and gf for another record (vinyl) party:


 This time our son Todd and Kyra hosted at their apt. Lots of good food, drink, and of course music!

Hubby and I each chose one album from our collection to bring and play:


  Ever hear of these? I played that Gary Lewis album SO much growing up that I'm surprised it still plays as well as it does-lol!

 Joining in with Bleubeard and Elizabeth and friends for T Stands For Tuesday. And I am also sharing this photo with them:


 Some of the gals that link each week began a conversation about washi tape collections and have dared us all to show just how many tapes we have. So here's my box of them. If I get any more though I'll have to buy another jeweler's bead case to store them in :) The tapes in the two top right sections are fabric washi tapes.

 And I do use them often- as in this card and envie. I am linking to the Simon Wednesday Challenge for the theme of "pop it up":


 I popped up my flowers with foam tape. Washi tapes- Recollections, Peony Bouquet stamp and die set and Painted Words- Altenew, Moonshine sequins- Simon Says Stamp, Archival inks.

 And this is a journal page from my calendar journal meant for Art Journal Journey with the theme of "A World Of Fantasy" hosted by Yvonne (Meggys Way) this month:


 I simply painted the background then glued down the magazine clippings. In my fantasy I am spirited away to a beach on a magic carpet ride whenever I want:)

 That's it this time around. Thanks for popping in , have a great week, and happy First Day of Fall on Sunday the 23rd to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere!

       "Music is to the soul what words are to the mind."  Modest Mouse

Monday, September 10, 2018

The Heat Wave Is Over


 Well hello lovelies! Our heat wave of record breaking highs has ended only to descend down into highs of only 52 F and feeling even colder with a wind chill and rain. No wonder I had a nasty OA flare up in my knee and back for this past week. The sciatica pain has been so bad I wasn't able to sit in any kind of chair for at least several days(standing or lying flat only). I  didn't think I'd get a post typed for this week cuz I have a desktop and sit to use it but things are slowly getting better with meds (which I hate taking, but sometimes you just have to). And this little guy is cheering me up:


 We are dog sitting Riley again for a week and he has been such a love.

 For T Stands For Tuesday I'll share the lunch I had with some friends the other week:


 It was a last minute gathering and we went to Va Va's Creperie Café - a place I've shared about (and raved about) before. This time I had the Mediterranean crepe. My friends had not been there yet and were so happy to finally go. They loved it!! (and Carol R., as long as my back is improving and I can sit we are still going Wed. :)

 This card is meant for the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Stamp On It):



 I made this a few weeks ago but never posted it here. 
Products: Simon Says Stamp August Card Kit; Neena Classic #110 cardstock; alcohol markers; stitched rectangle dies (Our Daily Bread Designs); Stitched Banners Dies (Simon Says Stamp); Stickles glitter glue (Ranger); Versafine Onyx Black ink.

 For the Simon Monday Challenge (Use More Than One Stencil) I made my first Artist Trading Coins:





 These trading coins seem to be all the rage on Instagram so I decided to make some myself:)

 Have you seen or heard of these? made any? traded any?

 I used  #90 watercolor paper. Glued dictionary paper down then dry brushed over it with white paint before adding all the stenciling. I then used my circle die (Spellbinders) to die cut the shapes. These are just a tad over 2 1/2 " each. I used images, words, and stickers from my Halloween envelope stash then used a black Posca pen to add the dots around the edge.

 I also have a journal page (detail photo is at the opening of this post):


 Distress Oxide inks, gold and black calligraphy ink, Archival black ink, stamps, washi tape and star stickers. I also used a Wink Of Stella pen for sparkle to fill in the moon but it doesn't show in this photo.

 Sharing with Paint Party Friday and Art Journal Journey hosted this month by Yvonne with the theme of "A World Of Fantasy". Have a wonderful week- always good to hear from you! I'll be around to visit as I am able.

" Live each season as it passes, breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each."  Henry David Thoreau

Monday, September 3, 2018

Welcome September!


 Well, it still feels very much like summer, here at least, with another heat wave of temps in the 90's F for several days and I'm hanging on to it despite working on some fall themed art;)

 Here are my August calendar spreads:







 For the T Stands For Tuesday peeps I have a special gift/favor to share from a recent baby shower:



 Isn't this the cutest? Sorry about the reflection of me taking the pic but I wasn't able to do anything about that:) What a  sweet kitchen timer!

 Simon Says Stamp is having a huge month long birthday celebration filled with inspiration, new products and special gifts, and y'all know I do love to stamp and make cards... so this card is for the Simon Wednesday Challenge  (Anything Goes), and the Simon Monday Challenge (Stamp It On):


 and I never send out a card without some envelope decor:):)
Products: white notecard and envie (Recollections); Neena classic white #110 cardstock; Altenew Layered Cupcake stamp and die set, Label Love stamp set; Versafine Onyx Black ink; StazOn Chai Latte ink; Archival Wendy Vecchi inks- Aquamarine, Rose Madder, Buttercup; Marvy Uchida Ochre ink; Distress Worn Lipstick ink; Ranger Stickles glitter glue.

 A fun tag for Tag Tuesday (theme is Time/Clocks):



Tim Holtz Distress tag, layering stencil- Clockwork, Paper Dolls, Quote Chips, Distress ink- Vintage Photo;; Dylusions ink sprays- Dirty Martini, Lemon Zest, London Blue; modeling paste; hemp cord (Darice); washi tape (unknown).

 And lastly I will share what I call an "ugly " (to me) page. It can't always be pretty, right? This journal page was inspired by the sunset photo at the top of my post. I gave myself only 10 min. to grab a few supplies and complete something:


 A few paints, gelli plate print deli scraps, tissue paper scrap, pencil, and a lovely washi tape from Eileen which I sadly covered up pretty much (I have more though:) Not sure if this counts towards the new theme of "A World Of Fantasy" hosted by the lovely Yvonne this month at Art Journal Journey(my fantasy/dream is to live at the beach) and if it doesn't  you can just delete my entry. Also joining Paint Party Friday! A bientôt...

"We know that in September we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghosts."     Henry Rollins