Okay, I admit it, I am not a big fan of clowns. In fact, I'm not very enthusiastic about costume either on myself or on others. I'm not quite sure whether this is some deep seated issue or not? These little clowns seemed less than frightening though so I created a big top tent for them and allowed them to play. They are my entry for the Sunday Stampers challenge this week.
It is nearly impossible to think about Paris without contemplating fashion, sophistication and romance. Those are precisely the sentiments that I tried to convey in this gothic arch commemorating the beautiful city. This is my entry for the Gothic Arch challenge this week.
I must admit that I am still a bit intimidated by working on canvases but I'm determined to conquer my fear. They just seem so much more permanent to me and it's difficult to even get started on them. This one was created as a result of a blog challenge. We were to create a canvas that included a childhood photo. This picture was actually in the local newspaper as I was in a fashion show as a little girl. I was actually posing with a little boy who was handing me a flower. Unfortunately, he was eliminated for this piece and the real flower replaced by a paper version. This is my entry for the Lots to Do challenge this week.
This is my entry for this week's Think Monday, Think ATC challenge. Is anyone else out there a fan of "So You Think You Can Dance?" I have been moved to tears by some of the choreographed routines. The dancers tell such poignant stories with their bodies and their movements.
The Theme Thursday challenge theme this week is "Girls!" so I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try on a little zetti style. I purchased these images from Lisa's Altered Art and they just begged for vivacious and energetic backgrounds so that's just what I gave them. 
Well, I have been down and out with the flu for a couple of days and let me tell you, the squirrels that call my backyard "home" are not at all pleased with me. One stood on his hind feet on the fence outside our kitchen window this morning with a dusting of snow on his nose looking right at me shaking his tail. I took the hint and scurried out with the peanuts! 
She's glamorous and elegant and dreaming of exotic places that she's visited and adventures she's had while doing so. This is my entry for the Think Monday, Think ATC challenge this week.
I dug out my beeswax and spent a lovely while layering tissue and scrapbook papers to create the background for this card I'm giving to my DH. This is my entry for this week's One Powerful Hour challenge.
When I was a child my Mom thought it would be interesting for my Sister and I to collect stamps. She diligently purchased albums for both of us including a beautiful one for first issues of Canadian stamps. We were both mildly interested and with prompting would use the little sticky flaps to affix the new stamps to the pages. Occasionally we would purchase one of those bags of stamps and sort through them to see if there were any "gems"....countries we didn't have or particularly old stamps. In fact, in Grade 6 I wrote a speech and completely a project on philately that earned me high marks. I think, in the end though, it was really my Mom who found stamps so fascinating. As an artist, I look at them in a whole new way but I still can't bring myself to rob my books of stamps for my artwork....maybe some day. This is my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week.
I made a little promise to myself that I would make Valentine's Day "somethings" to send to my loved ones. As I previously confessed, my Christmas cards were NOT handmade. I actually think I prefer to send Valentine's Day wishes because folks aren't necessarily expecting them so they are a lovely surprise in a month that needs a few. I finished these tags on Saturday and will actually have them to my friends and family just in time. They are my entry for the Created ByHand challenge this week.
Yes, 'tis the week that ends with Valentine's Day. Cards, chocolates, flowers will abound to celebrate love and romance. I always think of it as a time to also celebrate all of the wonderful people that I'm blessed to have as friends....and that includes all of you in blogland who devotedly visit and leave me lovely comments. You brighten each and every day. Happy Valentine's Day. These two calendar pages are my entry for Mixed Media Monday this week.
I wear a lot of black because I find it so versatile. Just by adding a dash of another colour in the form of a blouse or a wonderful necklace the whole look becomes quite striking. The same is true for artwork. In this case, pink is the primary colour but the splashes of black seem to just jump from the page. Well, obviously this little fairy is having a "moment". This is my entry for this week's Theme Thursday challenge.
Our backyard is like a three-ring circus most days. There are times that I look out there and there are "packs" of sparrows, grackles, mourning doves, blue jays, a nuthatch or two. They sweep in and out stopping briefly to feed or rest. However, if a crow makes an appearance, rest assured there isn't another bird in sight. Those fellows are imposing, self-assured yet very beautiful in their own way. These journal pages were created for a round robin that I'm participating in with the obvious theme for this book of "Ravens and Crows". They are my entry for the Three Muses challenge this week.
What would a carnival be without a clown? Don't you just love the handmade costumes on these wee ones? These atcs are my entry for this week's Crazy Amigo Challenge.
When I read the theme of this week's Mixed Media Monday challenge I immediately thought of this photo of baby and dog because the expression on the pooch's face, to me, is priceless. Perhaps he's hoping that the baby won't tug too hard on his ear or maybe he's imploring the photographer to quickly get on with the photo taking so that he can run away. 
