Day 58 - Gray & Turquoise Kitty

Who says kitties have to be drawn and colored in their original shades of color?  Not me! My daughter was drawing cats tonight and asked me if I could draw a cat that she found in a magazine.  I started drawing the kitty and then asked myself what it would look like in different colors.  I definitely like the gray and turquoise and thought it turned out rather interesting.  

I am going to be practicing drawing cats more as I am totally in love with them.  Since we have 3 cats, they may end up being my live models!!  

I recently reviewed a video I saw from an amazing artist that uses layers to draw the details of cats and hope to use her techniques for drawing cats more realistic to their true colors.

This is Day 58's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 57 - Mr. Wizard

This is a wizard that I drew with triangle shapes.  While exploring new options for things to draw I often reference a book of shapes that I own.  I think the hardest part for me with drawing is coming up with things to draw.  I am currently unemployed, but my days are filled with cooking, cleaning, laundry, and kids!  Who would have thought staying at home would result in ample work with little time for anything else!! LOL

This is Day 57's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 56 - Greek Lady 0001

Well I'm not really sure what to say here.  So, this is Day 56's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 55 - Pretty Lady 0001

I was thinking about some artwork that I had done in high school and I remember drawing a side view of a woman and thought I would try this on an artist trading card (ATC).  I am still learning how to "fit" art on ATCs, but I believe that is the fun part of it.  Since I am still learning how to draw hands, arms, legs, and feet, I prefer just drawing a head shot.

This is Day 55's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 54 - Balanced Diet

Who doesn't love cookies?  I know there are those who may not, but it escapes my mind that there are people who do not love cookies.  Those of us who are dedicated to losing or maintaining our weight will appreciate this card.

This is Day 54's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 53 - Coffee Fiction

This has to be to date one of my favorite cards.  As most of us share not only a love for coffee but the need to be able to wake up in the morning with it, is felt in this here artist trading card (ATC).

This is a card I had originally created for the 6 word fiction swap, but I just couldn't part with it.

This is Day 53's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 36a5.

02/25/2010 EtsyBEAD Street Team Treasury

I rarely get excited anymore about anything, however, today I received notification from a fellow etsyBEAD Street Team member that I was in a treasury.  (This treasury will expire in 22 hours) I've been taking a sabbatical from making jewelry due to total discouragement, but this may be just what I need to get motivated again.  If you don't have an Etsy shop I can honestly tell you that if you decide to open one up be prepared to work it like a full time job.

There are so much information out there on how to be successful selling on Etsy, but I just don't have the 8+ hours a day to dedicate to making something, taking pictures, posting the item on Etsy, and then promoting.  I am trying to do the "list" thing for each day and am using my "diary" like journal, which seems to be helping.

Anyhoo, make sure to stop by my shop and check it out!  Thank you for taking the time to stop here and read my blog; I really appreciate it.

Robin's Egg Blues Giveaway

Robin's Egg Blues is giving away some amazing stuff.  To find out how you can enter for a chance to win, simply visit her blog for the details.  I love any and all things vintage, so when I saw this I had to enter and blog about it.

Also, she is giving away a free image: Dream Piano Music Sheet.

I Recieved A Sunshine Award for My Blog!

i have some awesome news to share with you all!

I so needed some sunshine in my life, so I was ecstatic when I received the Sunshine Award from Beadwright!  Just what I needed on this bone chilling day.   She is so wonderful and I love her work, so make sure to go over and check out her blog!

The rules are pretty simple and I am definitely pleased to share this award with others. The rules are as follows:

1.  Place the Sunshine image on your blog or within a post.

2. Pass the award onto six fellow bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within the post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

FEEL THE SUNSHINE!  Here are the six blogs I gave the award to:

Me, Myself, & Us! 

Naked Heart Art 

Off the Avenue, Against The Grain. 

Stamperosity 

Stampin' Mama 

Clearly Inspired

Day 52 - Sparkle Girl

Just something fun for the shopper in me!!

This is Day 52's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 36a5.

Day 51 - Girl Meets Boy ATC

This artist trading card (ATC) was created based, again, on the 6 word fiction.  Simply put is this: "Girl Meets Boy. Seed Planted. Due?"

This is Day 51's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain! Excercise 1

I recently purchased The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards in hopes of improving my artistic abilities.  The 1st exercise was to look in a mirror and draw my self portrait.  This was really hard for me because I am not only trained to use the right side of my brain; I also have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, which means I see everything.  You might be thinking sure you see everything, but I DO.  This can be quite frustrating when trying to draw, because everything has to be just right and I could spend days trying to perfect something that should have just been left alone because it was fine the way it was.

Anyways, I enjoyed the "Post-exercise remarks" as Betty she reassures those of us using the book that what we see is ok.  We are learning to draw and this is just the first of many exercises to help train our brains to think like artists.

Here is the self portrait drawing I did last night and the little critic inside is screaming out all of the flaws, but I refuse to listen!!

Day 50 - Dead Rockin On

I'm not really sure what to say for this ATC other than I secretly like doing art with skeletons!! LOL

This is Day 50's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 49 - Eiffel Tower

My friend was telling me about a place in Paris that has a platform designed for visitors to stand, hold out their hand, and it looks like the Eiffel Tower is actually in the palm of your hand.  The day before she told me this I had already been working on trying to practice my hand drawing.  She had purchased the "Destinations" Cricut cartridge and the Eiffel Tower was on it.  So, I cut out image and the word "Paris", colored in my hand, and made this really cool collage.

This is Day 49's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 48 - Got Rocket?

In an earlier post I wrote about 6 word fiction.  This is the "Got Rocket?" artist trading card (ATC).

This is Day 48's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 47 - Asian in Beeswax

Today I learned how to use beeswax and that you shouldn't use it on wax paper or parchment paper as whatever you are heating the beeswax on will stick to it.  Since I didn't have a "non-stick" crafting surface I ended up using foil.  However, I did learn that it is much better to just heat the beeswax onto the surface that is on top of the card that I am working on.  This creates a tight bond between the material and makes for easier clean up!  LOL

This is Day 47's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 46 - Egg Shell Seedling

This is an image transfer and paper collage artist trading card.  I love the little plant coming out of the open egg.

This is Day 46's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

6 Word Fiction! Say What?

It has been said that Ernest Hemingway made a bet with his colleagues that he could write a story in only 6 words. While, this has never been proven to be true, it is still something that individuals today set out to do. There are a number of sites and one magazine that actually lists these types of writings, but the question remains about Hemingway being the first to establish this.

There is NO proof anywhere of a napkin with the story "For Sale. Baby Shoes. Never Worn." There is proof, however, that the words "baby shoes, never worn..." were used in an advertisement from 1945, which stated:

None the less, "flash" fiction has come up in an artist trading card (ATC) swap that I was going to participate in and I thought I would share with you what I came up. I do have to admit, though, writing these can be addictive and fun!
 

6 Feet Under
Man's future: boy, man, maggot food!

Planets 4 Sale
Got Rocket? The planets are showing.

Unexpected Delivery
Seed planted. Girl meets boy. Due?

Caffeine Kick
I drank coffee. Everything makes sense.

Wasted Time
Sun Rose. Day Came. Day Gone.

Shopaholic's Dying Wish
Reincarnated? Shopping is never done right!

Braininess Dilemma
Knowledge is power. Or is it?

By-the-way, if you would like to find out what Snopes says about this, you can visit "Baby Shoes" for more detail.

Day 45 - Oh Opposum!

This is a drawing I did last year when we found an opposum on our front porch!  I think they are cute in an ugly sort of way!

This is Day 45's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 44 - The Mommy Dream

 

This card was done originally for the "Oh, Mom..." Swap that I participated in.  It says "I Dream of Being a Mommy..."

This is Day 44's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

Day 43 - Unique Kitty

So, we had to give up one of our vehicles, which was an automatic, and the other one is a stick shift (5 Speed).  I haven't driven a stick in over 20 years and was really afraid of driving one.  After two weeks of procrastination I told my husband to just give the extra set of keys and I will re-teach myself how to drive it.  

The day before yesterday I had to go to town and decided that it was now or never.  I have to admit that I was a little stressed out, but overall, I had a blast driving the Mustang!!

Yesterday and today I drove the car again and I think I am getting the hang of it.  Yay! Now I won't be stuck at home until my husband's days off!

This is Day 43's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

Day 42 - Lady In Waiting

I am really excited about my Lady In Waiting cards as they turned out just peachy!!!  I collaged some rice paper, scrapbook paper and an image of a lady that my friend gave me.  I then proceeded, for the first time, to apply Diamond Glaze to give the image in the middle a "glassy" effect.  This turned out well but was extremely difficult as the diamond glaze wanted to keep going off the edge of the image.  

My 2nd card was easier as I learned not to use so much Diamond Glaze.

Finally, when the glaze was dry, I glued some decorative yarn around the outside.  I used to use the Diamond Glaze for my pendants and this is what gave me the idea of adding it to my artist trading cards (ATCs).

This is Day 42's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...