This has been a busy summer and I can't quite seem to get into the grove.  I thought I better update before folks think I have dropped off the planet.  Here are a couple ATCs I did for a watercolor swap that I had to drop out of.  I wasn't able to hit the deadline that was the first of August.   The scan for the lighthouse isn't so great.  The colors don't look right.  Of course, I could use that excuse for any creation that is not to my liking....LOL  I'll try not to be gone so long this time.  I do have some ideas in the works, I just need to get them executed.  Time, I just need more time...

Donna, over at atcsforall.com, was instrumental in figuring out the woven paper art.  I wove the shapes from her instructions and added some copper wire, turquoise bead and ovalite beads to complete the pins.



The next one has a stamp that I applied after the woven rectangle was finished:



I had been feeling pretty museless lately but things are starting to turn around.  I went on an "art retreat" with my DFW ATC group last weekend and it really helped me get moving again.  I had such a good time!  There were 8 of us and each one had their own way of working their talent into some fabulous works of art.  We laughed, we created, we ate, and we created some more!  No time for resting, in fact, on Sunday we created for 20 hours!  It was so nice not hearing "Are you going to do that all night?"  "Are you going to spend any time with me?"  LOL  I have pics of the event and I'll post them next time.  We are already planning our next sleepover in January 2009.  I hope I can wait that long...

This one is just one I did while playing around with my new set of Twinkling H2Os.  I hate to think that I have found a new addiction.  I fear I will decide I need to collect ALL of the colors...OIY!  The paint is very twinkly and the gold looks just like my Krylon gold paint pen.  I used the Krylon pen on the outer border.



Now, just a few more to catch up on....

A break from art to honor and thank my wonderfully creative mother for encouraging me since I was a youth.  Here is a picture of her (in the middle) with my siblings and I (I am the one to her right).  The second picture is how she sees us to this day....LOL






I LOVE YOU MOM!  Happy Mother's Day!

Here is my last one, just in the nick of time as the swap takes place tomorrow!  This was the hardest theme for me, for some reason.  I'm not too sure about the beads on the bottom...

 
This page is for Andreananda.  Her theme is Secret Hiding Places.  I choose a forbidden lovers secret hiding place as my page for her:

Here is the secret inside:

This is the Queen of Hearts for Blueskysunburn...ssshhh...it's a secret, she doesn't want to see it until Saturday. :-)

This one is for OriginalYouth.  Her theme is Art Supplies with the use of turquoise and red:


I still have 2 more to go.  I'll post them when I finish.  Ta ta for now...

My favorite site, atcards.com shut down this past week. The pain of that closing is behind me now. The old saying about one door closing and another one opening rings true. When the site closed rather suddenly the entire community banded together and it was a mass movement on the Internet like none I have ever seen before. We moved to a temporary group on flickr (thank you blueskysunburn!) and many took it upon themselves to hunt down members who may not be aware of where we all were. They were even searching for all the new people who had just joined! Several folks were determined to keep our special community together and created a new site for us to converge...in only ONE week! On 2/21/2008 a brand new site, www.ATCsforALL.com , opened. I am thrilled and honored to be a part of such a gracious and committed group of artists (and friends!). It is rare on the Internet to find a site where all members are kind and respectful to each other. I think this is one of them. I welcome anyone who reads this to check out this wonderful, creative site. It is mostly Artist Trading Cards (ATC) but lots of other art projects are happening.

Here is something I was working on during that stressful week. These are inchies with a twist...they are round. An Internet friend, PurpleRealm, calls them "Rinchies". LOL What a cute name! These are for a swap at the sister site that also closed down. I am looking forward to that one opening again too!

I love the funky art dolls.  I've only made 3 but I hope to have time to make more soon.  These were loads of fun to make.  This first one is called Dream.  I think the blues are soothing.

This one is made from shrink plastic.   I call her Shopping Sue.  She is celebrating her crafty shopping spree with a martini.  :)

This last one is my favorite.  This is the Mona Diva.  She is the Queen of hearts.  I transferred her face to a domino.  I used my goddess bead that I have been saving.  Every Diva is a goddess...LOL

I think it is time for me to get moving.  Here is an acrylic ATC painting I did for a challenge a few months back.  I'm not much of an acrylic painter but it was fun to play.  :)