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

 

Another Summer-Like Day!

  Well, we were treated this past Sunday with another gorgeous, sunny, 80 F day! Got back into shorts, tee and flip flops and sat in the sun reading until I had to go in and create the joy of this day in my journal. I chose summery colors and played with stencils for this page.

 Saturday we went to La Morena in Hatboro again - an hour or so away- with our friends for dinner. It never disappoints!

     They were all decorated for Halloween. And there was SO much food at our table!

            We started with nachos and margaritas...and then came the main courses:

                              chimichangas and fajitas-oh my!
the lovely but shy waitresses:) who helped package not just our leftovers, but take out orders for friends and family:

 With food and drinks in tow I am joining  in over at Altered Book Lover for T Stands For Tuesday!

The other week I won a gift card for Altenew - an online shop for stamps, dies, inks, paper crafting supplies! I only recently discovered this site through a blog hop and was captured by their unique stamps. So of course along with the gift card I added a few more items:)

 I was practicing layering the flower and leaf stamps with different inks. And then I made this card:

  I used Distress inks for the colors and Versafine Onyx Black ink for the outlines. Can't wait to play with these flowers some more! Linking to the Simon Wednesday Challenge- anything goes.

 Another journal page:

 Dina Wakley inspired:) The words are hand carved stamps.  Linking to Paint Party Friday at the end of the week. It's a great party you can attend without leaving home- and the variety of art entries is always so inspirational-do have a look!

 Have a happy week, and see ya'll soon:)

" All art, whether it pleases us or not, helps to add color, excitement, joy, or sadness and, most often, a sense of awe to our life experience."    
                                                    Henry O. Dormann

Autumn Winds

 My apologies for not getting to many links at Paint Party Friday last week. We had a three day weekend at the beach with our friends and stayed unplugged.  Thanks to all who took the time to stop by and leave comments-I'll def. be by as many link ups as I can this week:)

   We arrived at Fenwick Island , DE  Friday
  just in time for lunch on the deck with our friends.
  It was 80 F and just gorgeous!  Luckily we did
  bring one set of  summer clothes.

               

 Along with another couple we all went to Fagers Island in nearby Ocean City , MD on the bay for dinner but unfortunately the sun set behind a horizon of clouds. Still beautiful and we all had a great time catching up!

 By the next morning the temp had dropped 30 degrees , it was cold and windy with heavy gusts of wind. The ocean looked completely different:

 but Lynne and I braved a beach walk anyway while Bill and Chad worked outdoors to close and winterize for the season. Lots of good hot coffee hit the spot,

                                  (one of the mugs I used during our stay)

along with a hearty Italian take out dinner from Mancinis-and it was fabulous!

                              (for my T Stands For Tuesday friends)

We also got to enjoy a spectacular sunset!

 Sunday before leaving we bundled up and took one more walk on the beach before heading home:

 I had several layers on under my jacket but HAD to put my feet in the water despite the cold and wind. Hubby has taken to calling me Jasmine girl because I had plucked a sprig and put it in my hair. It smelled heavenly so I just had to:) There were many seagulls and sandpipers, and we came upon lots of shells including large conch shells (some of which we brought home to edge an area by our patio).

 And now to catch up on the art part. I recently made this tag and ATC for the challenge blog  More Than Words ( Oct. mini challenge-use the word 'Boo!') which I'm entering in for the first time:

  Also linking to Moo Mania and More (theme is Halloween Party).

 For Art Journal Journey (Indian summer/golden October-autumn theme) , the Simon Says Monday Challenge(autumn), and Paint Party Friday- a journal page:

 The page began with a deli paper Gelli Plate print onto which I added more stenciling. I then painted the tree and added the printed words, outlining them with charcoal pencil.

 Looking forward to catching up with you throughout this week and weekend. Have a great week!

" All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within."  
                                                             Horace Friess

                          
                                                                                         

Simply iRESISTible

 Wow another week has flown by and I am very happy to report all has gotten fixed since my last post. The new furnace is a dream but we actually don't need it on at the moment as we are having our true Indian Summer with highs in the upper 70's and -get this-80's F tomorrow!!! Yippee!

 First a bit about the alpacas I shared last week. I have since learned that they will only spit either when they feel threatened or want to show their dominance. An easy way to tell if you need to beware is if they have their ears down/back. Wish I had known sooner:) Looking back at the photos it was very evident which one was going to be a problem:)

 For my T Stands For Tuesday peeps:

 This is a 5" x 5" calendar that came along with the large one I got at the Dollar Store. Perfect to have by my computer. Already starting to fill some things in for 2017:)

 Had some time to play and make a mess in my art room yesterday...

 I made some gesso resist backgrounds for cards. A favorite technique of mine and perfect for the Simon Wednesday Challenge this week which is "Totally Resistible".

 Here are a few of my finished cards:

 I used too many stamps (old ones too) to mention as well as lots of Distress inks. Tags, stickers and embellishments are Recollections. You can see more cards along with a tutorial about the technique in this post. 

 And for Art Journal Journey (theme is Indian Summer/Golden October/ Autumn); Moo Mania and More! (theme is drips and splatters); and later this week Paint Party Friday I have this journal page to share:

 Definitely inspired by Dina Wakley:) The large leaf stencil in the background is Balzer Designs from The Crafters Workshop.

 Thanks for stopping by-see you soon! Leaving you with the quote I wrote on the silhouette:

         " The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence."    Blake Lively