Holiday Wishes

Well peeps, ready or not and regardless of which holiday(s) you celebrate they are truly upon us now! Cookie baking is all I have left to do;) How are you doing with everything?

 The above journal page is in my Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal and meant for Try it On Tuesday (Christmas is Coming), and Art Journal Journey (Words and Numbers). I added some extra color and stamping on the printed background then used paper scraps, stickers and bits from my Christmas stash.

 This is where I spent much time the last two weeks making and addressing cards that needed to get out:

 I had my coffee to keep me going in this cute Christmas mug along with a variety of Christmas music playing. Fa la la la la and cheers to the T Stands For Tuesday gang!

 For the 'Year Of Gratitude' Challenge hosted by Ranger Ink and Dina Wakley(you can read more about it here) There are two random drawings each month for a prize package of Ranger/Dina Wakley products. I have won one already and they are very generous!!
 The prompt for December is "I am grateful for creativity" and here is my journal page:

 And a detail pic:

This was done on a kraft page in the Dina Wakley Media Journal and I used Dina Wakley paints, images from her Collage Collective Book, and Collage Tissue Words.Sewn and layered with ephemra from my stash.

And finally, more loose watercolor practice- this wreath inspired by Andrew Geeson which I will share with Moo Mania and More (Anything Goes), and Paint Party Friday:

 I may be taking a bit of a blogging break from Christmas Day through New Year's Day so whatever you celebrate, whatever you will be doing, I wish you love and a most joyous holiday and Happy, Happy New Year!

" Christmas is forever, not just for one day. For loving, sharing, giving, are not to be put away."                           Norman Wesley Brooks

It's Looking Festive Around Here!

 How's everyone doing with holiday decorating, shopping, baking, etc.? I finally got our trees up and home decorated over the weekend not without a few lighting glitches to tend to though (ugh!). But, this is the last year for these tree lights then it's time for new ones for next year;)
 Now it's a matter of finishing and mailing the Christmas cards!

 Wanted to share this candle I just stumbled upon in Bed Bath and Beyond and of course I had to have it!!

  I had only opened the lid to smell the candle before buying it, falling in love with that burning wood scent. I've always wanted to have a fireplace. And since I can't have one I always wished someone could make a candle that truly smells like wood burning. When I got home and lit the candle to my surprise it also crackles like a fire!! I love it!!!

 And now that there's a sweet little fire going, grab a cuppa and join in at T Stands For Tuesday won't you?

My cuppa today is in the form of a journal page in the Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal:

 I cut the teacup from an old calendar. That lovely quote is from Chaim Potok.

 Most of my art time is being spent on card making right now. As I've said this year I'm using up things from my stash along with two Christmas paper pads. Keeping it pretty simple this year. Like this more traditional card I made with the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Traditional Christmas) in mind:

 Ivory notecard and envie (Recollections); holly and berry stamp (Magenta); Christmas Paper Pad (Authentique); Stickles glitter glue - used on the berries and around the card (not visible in the photo).

 Lastly I have a journal page that I made a little while back when Tamara LaPorte offered free online art lessons by a variety of artists. And by the way, she is sharing these Lifebook Summit videos again for a short time:) This page was from a tutorial by ScrapWitch Lisa :

                                        these are the beginning layers

Finished Page:

and a few detail pics:

 Joining Art Journal Journey hosted by Yvonne this month with the theme of (Words and Numbers), and Paint Party Friday. 

 Thanks for stopping by!

" Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."     William Thomas Ellis

Welcome December!

 And December came in with a LOT of rain, some snow, and freezing rain too. As I am typing it is flurrying a bit and thankfully that's all it will be rather than the 6 inches they originally predicted! I spent this past dreary Sunday working on Christmas cards and in between I took a break to watch a You Tube tutorial by Ellen Crimi-Trent and created the above snowman watercolor painting. It is 4" x 4". I plan on following a few more of her tutorials as they are pretty easy to follow and a delight to make:)

PS Eileen if you're reading this- she works wet on wet which is what I have been learning from Laura Horn Art also to create some lovely effects with the watercolors. It really is a matter of play and practice:)
Speaking of practice here is an abstract watercolor  page I did following Laura Horn's Watercolor Explorations online class:

 I also used Posca pens and a pastel crayon for added mark making. Love these colors!


 For T stands for Tuesday I'll share these two food photos from a record/vinyl party hubby and I hosted recently. If you are a regular here you know that every few months our son and future daughter in law and friends Andrew and Lynn get together to play old vinyl records and take turns hosting. It's always such a fun time!

 Lots of pick foods- and there was even more when they arrived with some extra snacks and drink;)

Tag art:

 My tag was cut from a large sheet of card stock I inked and stamped over a year ago. The snowman and silver snowflake are from Michaels. Sentiment is Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions Stickers. Joining in at the Simon Monday Challenge (Let's Sparkle); Moo Mania and More (Use Your Scraps); and Tag Tuesday (White Christmas).

 The photo just does NOT do this card justice! Using up my stash of holiday papers for CAS cards this year. The note card, envie,  and patterned papers are all an ivory color but it doesn't look that way here. Papers are Authentique two sided 12" x 12" Paper Pad. I added gold and Diamond Stickles glitter glue to give it a lovely sparkle. And I always somehow decorate the envies to somewhat match. Stamps used on envie (Magenta). Joining in at the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Anything Goes).

 A journal page done in my Dina Wakley Media Journal:

 This page was inspired by an old Lesley Gore song - "You Don't Own Me".  Dina Wakley Collage Papers, acrylic paints, pencil, black Fude Ball Pen, black crayon. Joining in at Try It On Tuesday (Inspired By a Song); the December theme of "Words and Numbers" chosen by Yvonne for Art Journal Journey;  and Paint Party Friday.

 That's all for this time peeps. Be well, be happy, be creative!

" What you call freedom is still nothing but choosing how to steer straight into the heart of what chooses you."        Kate Gleason

A Fun Ending To November

  It's a new week and finally I am feeling better after a nasty upper respiratory virus. This is a detail of the only piece of art I managed during that time. Here is the full journal page:

 I aptly titled it "Achooo!" This was a quick and fun page to do with random watercolor marks, scribbling with a pencil, splattering and dripping, and then adding the collage papers and threads which were on my table at my fingertips. No actual sneezing or coughing was done on this page:):)

Linking to Paint Party Friday.

 Sunday I felt good enough to go to a special exhibit and then  dinner. We went to a local art museum and this is what we went to see:

 You can read about it here. Do any of you remember Gene London? Both hubby and I watched his weekend morning show when we were kids. There were at least several write ups about this special exhibit and we knew we weren't going to miss this as we are HUGE OLD MOVIE lovers!!! 

                                     The cover and two pages from the brochure.

 Upon entering the museum we saw this stunning replica (one like Vivien Leigh wore) from Gone With The Wind. Look at that teeny, tiny waist!!!

These are also replicas from the movie - Rhett Butler's and Vivien Leigh's. Up on the second floor we went to see all the authentic costumes on display. Photos weren't supposed to be taken but as we were among only a few people there since the museum just opened for the day (and I saw a few others taking pics with their phones) I managed to sneak in just three. It began to get crowded quickly  and there were security people in each room watching. There must have been about 50 costumes and I was in heaven!!!

My top two favorite actresses have always been Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn (but my list goes on and on...:) and this is a gown Bette wore in the movie "Elizabeth of Essex". The photos I managed don't even begin to capture the opulence and shine and intricate details! 

And here is one Katharine Hepburn wore in "Sea Of Grass":

 and the last one I just had to get a pic of:

 The waitress outfit Joan Crawford wore in a favorite movie of mine- "Mildred Pierce". And again- that teeny, tiny waist-wow!!! I was completely mesmerized by every costume I saw and was surprised at just how small and tiny these actresses and actors were - they looked so much bigger on the movie screens! There was a Trevor Howard suit that looked like it belonged to a young teen, and the same with a suit worn by James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy"!  Most of the movies had been done in black and white, so to see these costumes in full glorious color too...wow!! There were small screens on the walls that you could touch on a photo of some of the displayed costumes and they'd show a film clip of the actors wearing them in the movies. There was a framed bit next to each costume that said who wore it, who designed it, and what movie it was from. I had seen almost every single movie that was represented here and was just in awe the whole time!! Hubby and I have already decided we want to make another trip to see this before it leaves on Dec. 22nd:) Oh, and Sundays are always free!

 Afterwards we had a nice dinner at a place that we had a GC for and wanted to use. I had been to the Marblehead Chowder House a few times for lunch some years ago. 

 I thought I had a pic of the reverse side (the actual menu) but I guess not...

We both had a nice Caesar salad, warm rolls, water. I also had a glass of Merlot and hubby had a Guinness. Cheers T Stands for Tuesday peeps!

 We also both chose the crab cakes(delicious) and a side of grilled asparagus which was done perfectly. We were too full for dessert but asked to see a menu anyway:

Our waiter brought this to our table and when I opened it up...

 voila! candies, and the dessert menu:) Tempting as it was we did not indulge. Nice atmosphere, generous portions, really good food, really good service. We'll be going there again for sure!

 I have just begun Christmas cards and for this year my plan is to go CAS (clean and simple) using gorgeous paper packs I recently got from my friend Maureen! It has been SOOOO tempting to order the gnome dies from Simon Says Stamp but I'm being good despite all the gorgeous cards using them showing up everywhere;)

 Half of this paper pad has gold glittered papers which are so pretty and sparkly like the one I used for this card:

 Products: white card stock; patterned paper (the Paper Studio); washi tape (Nicole- AC Moore). Joining the Simon Says Monday Challenge with the theme of "tape it up".

 Lastly, I have one final journal page for Art Journal Journey with the November theme of "fruits and veggies":

 Thanksgiving in the US is this Thursday and I will be hosting a small dinner with my hubby, mother, son and his fiancé.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

" Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."        Charles Dickens

The Last Of The Holidays Are Upon Us

 First of all, I know I missed visiting some of you this past weekend and I do apologize. My hubby has kindly given me his upper respiratory infection so besides losing my voice and coughing I have been unusually tired. These viruses do seem to come with this time of year don't they...
 At the moment my focus is on Thanksgiving which we will celebrate next Thursday. This is a time I do send out some cards and share my gratitude for having these people in my life.  And speaking of... I have this journal page to share that I made for the IG or FB 'Year Of Gratitude Challenge' hosted by Ranger Ink and Dina Wakley. The prompt this month is "I am grateful for friendship":

  My friends are my family and I truly don't know what I'd do without them.  And whether they are close friends of many years, newer friends, or even long distance friends I've not met in person they hold a special place in my heart.

  In keeping with the thankful mode I made this card meant for the Simon Wednesday Challenge (Thanks/Thanksgiving):

 Products: white cardstock; patterned paper (Paper Studio); Versafine Onyx Black ink;  sentiment (Hero Arts); dies- Clustered Leaves, Wonky Rectangles (Simon Says Stamp).

 Grab a drink and join us for T Stands For Tuesday won't you? Share something drink related and join the link party, or just take a bit of time to visit everyone. It's such a lovely gathering of diverse posts each week! Thank you Bleubeard and Elizabeth for hosting. My ticket for linking this week:

 One of the breakfasts I had at our favorite breakfast place Oceanview Restaurant during our recent trip to Cape May. Some of you may recognize this veggie wrap which I get every time we're in town. SO good! I only ever can eat half the wrap and a few of the potatoes at one sitting. I love too that you get unlimited coffee refills- I mean if I want to stay long enough to drink a whole pot worth I can- for the price of one cup of coffee - $2! :)

 The challenge at Art Journal Journey this month is "fruits and veggies". This page was done in my Dylusions Creative Dyary Journal:

 The background is a napkin. Vintage label from my stash.

And finally I have a card (it's just slightly bigger than an ATC) which I will link to Try It on Tuesday(cold,cold,cold!); Moo Mania and More (peace and tranquility); and the Simon Monday Challenge (recycle):

 I began by recycling corrugated cardboard from a box, and the packing tape Ranger uses to seal and ship their boxed products. I love this tape!

 Dimensional trees, star rhinestone (ACMoore); modeling paste; Vintage Photo Distress ink; Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions stickers; Falling Snow stencil (Simon Says Stamp).

 That's all for this week. Linking to Paint Party Friday with this post too!

" It does not matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters."        Amit Ray