Sunday Stamper - Living in a Box

Yes, it's confirmed....I'm a hoarder. I pick up little treasures with no real plan of what they will become and they sit around, sometimes for weeks and sometimes for years. Then one day, out of the blue, inspiration strikes. At that point, I'm not sure where I've stored the "perfect" item and I spend an inordinate amount of time searching for it. Unfortunately, sometimes my search is futile....the said item has not made the "cut" somewhere along the line. This wooden box is actually one of three that were nestled together. I lined the box with shredded sheet music and built a vignette complete with fairy and birds. This is my entry for the Sunday Stamper challenge this week.

Saturday Surprise Challenge - Christmas in Unconventional Colours

I confess, I do not like shopping so Christmas has always presented a bit of a challenge for me. Just thinking about malls and large department stores at this time of year makes me itchy. When I arrive to find that there isn't a parking spot in sight and that I have to trail around after other shoppers laden with parcels in the hope that they are leaving, I want to turn around and go back home (and I have). Then I discovered online shopping. You can surf around at your leisure, in your p.j.s if you desire, click a few buttons and await the arrival of your treasure. Let's just say treasures have been arriving on my doorstep all week. This is my entry for the Saturday Surprise challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Christmas - Holiday Creations

Visions of altered tins nestled in my Christmas tree have been running through my head lately. This one was actually created for an ornament exchange that I'm participating in but I'm thinking that I should make some for myself. I have a tendancy to give all of my artwork away to others. Are you the same? This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Time

Can you honestly believe that we are coming to the end of another year? I remember when I was younger, the older and wiser folk would tell me that the older you get, the faster time flies. I don't think I really believed them then but now....A year can bring so many joys, sorrows, unexpected surprises, adventures. I always begin a new one with excitement and just a tiny bit of anxiety. This is my submission for the Three Muses challenge this week.

Wednesday Stamper - 3

When I think of the number 3, I think about fairy tales in particularly....likely because I am a children's librarian! Three is so prevalent in these tales....3 Little Pigs, 3 Billy Goats Gruff, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Two would be two few and four too many but three is just right. This is my entry for the Wednesday Stamper challenge this week.

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Little Girls

I'm thinking that this group of friends are posing at a birthday celebration for one of them. Do you remember birthdays with your friends when you were young? I remember "Pin the Tail on the Donkey", goody bags for guests and of course chocolate layer cake with money wrapped in waxed paper between the layers. This is my submission for the Crazy Amigo challenge this week.

Created ByHand Challenge - I'm Blue

I'm very taken by these German dolls from Retro Cafe Art Gallery. This particular one is from a sheet with a "nature" theme. I decided that she needed a crown of pressed flowers, a pine cone to hold and a smattering of mica flakes to coordinate with her "egg" dress and the fact that she's standing in a nest. This is my entry for the Created ByHand Challenge this week.

Think Monday, Think ATC - Blue Bird

Our backyard is in essence owned by the sparrows of the neighbourhood. They arrive about 8:00 a.m. seemingly from nowhere to pillage the birdfeeders. They flit in and out of the blue spruces in the garden and take turns bathing and drinking out of the water sititng on top of the pool which has been covered for the winter. I could honestly sit and watch them for hours because they are both humourous and intriguing. In honour of the birds in my life, this is my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.

Mixed Media Monday - Playing Cards

I participated in a very interesting swap. We were all sent two playing cards from the same deck and were asked to alter them and send them back to the host. She, in turn, copied them and distributed a set to each participant. These are the two that I altered and are my entry for this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge.

Saturday Surprise Challenge - From the Forest

A sweet and very talented friend of mine, Marilyn Rock, posted this photograph of an owl named Aries on her blog. This lovely bird had been injured and was now living in a sanctuary that kept him safe. It is so rare to have the opportunity to see an owl at such a close distance and to study his beautiful markings. Marilyn found herself very drawn to Aries. I decided to take a photocopy of the photo to the encaustic collage workshop that I attended in September at Southampton School of Arts. I learned how to use it to make a transfer onto a smooth surface of wax. I then embedded pressed flowers and leaves around the image and dripped a fine layer of coloured wax around the outside to border the piece. This is my entry for the Saturday Surprise challenge this week.

Theme Thursday - Lots of Colour Skinny

Yes, beeswax is my current obsession and I used it again on this skinny. I choose my background paper, usually printed in some way, then add a layer of stamped tissue. I apply the beeswax on the top with a brush then heat it to smooth. Very soothing to me and my art room smells divine! This is my entry for the Theme Thursday challenge this week.

The Three Muses Challenge - Keys

I have recently discovered the joys of using napkins with beeswax. I gently pull the layers apart and use the top one in my artwork. It soaks up the wax and just seems to become one with the paper beneath it. This image is one of my adopted relatives (aka a vintage photo that I purchased) . I was attracted to this woman's dress and can only imagine the time it takes to get into it in the morning and the swishing sound that it makes when she walks. This is my entry for the Three Muses Challenge this week.