Day 88 - PEACE

With the economy the way it is and then everything else seeming to go downhill; I think we could all use a little "PEACE" in our lives.

This is Day 88's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 87 - Santa Fe Adobe

I miss the desert and found a tiny picture of some Adobe houses and decided to blow it up and add some baskets and peppers with mountains.

This is Day 87's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 86 - Sinbad

Inspired by one of the Sinbad movies I watched this weekend.

This is Day 86's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

2010 Project 365 ATCs - Playing Catch Up!

Day 82

Day 83

Day 84

Day 85

Day 81 - Panda In Woods

Here is another paper collage I did with my new Provo Craft Cricut Pagoda Shape Cartridge.  I love this cartridge and was thrilled when I saw that they had Panda bears.

The paper I used for a background was vintage paper with bare trees.  I took some light green acrylic paint and added "leaves".  Then I added the Panda and lantern, which I thought turned out really cute.

This is Day 81's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Modish Toy Camera Giveaway From Four Corner Store

If you love photography like I do or are just getting started then you might be interested in this fun giveaway.  Modish is hosting a camera giveaway from Four Corner Store and there are 2 different prizes.

1st place is an awesome Shironeko (white cat) camera! Yes, you heard right: a "cat" camera.  This is what I want to win!  It lights up and even meows!  If you love cats you know how exciting this prize is.

2nd prize is a Golden Half Camera!  This camera is cool, because it takes two frame shots.  This would be a fun camera to take anywhere and I love the colored stripes.

Both camera come with a grab bag of 400 speed film.

So, to get your entry in go to Modish and leave a comment.  For an even better chance of winning you can blog about the giveaway, Twitter it (@modishblog), or Facebook it and let them now.

I'm off to get put my blog post down!  Good luck!

Day 80 - Firefly Tree

Trying my hand at working with acrylic paint and mica powders I created this firefly tree.  I'm not sure if your supposed to mix the mica powders with the paint or, do like I did her, throw them on top and swish them around.  Well, I do believe that is what art is all about; learning as you go!

This is Day 80's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 79 - An Ant's Thoughts...

This is simply a paper collage I did after I found the first ant of the season on my art desk.  I hate ants, especially the ones that bite, but most importantly because i hate the groups they travel in.

This is Day 79's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 78 - Pretty Purple Flower

My daughter brought me in this pretty purple flower and asked me to draw it.  So, I did and here it is!!

This is Day 78's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 77 - Chihuahua with Sunglasses

This is a hand drawn artist trading card I made of a Chihuahua with sunglasses.

This is Day 77's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 76 - Robot

I am just trying to get caught up here and won't be actually posting anything "text" wise as I am currently taking care of a sick kid.

This is Day 76's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 75 - Happy St. Patty's Day

Today is St. Patrick's Day and I am making "Irish" stew with beef instead of lamb.  I'll be adding potatoes, carrots, and cabbage to my Crock Pot to simmer all day with wonderful smelling and tasting spices.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and don't forget: if you know someone Irish GIVE THEM A KISS! Céad Míle Fáilte

This is Day 75's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 74 - Male Superior Fairy Wren

This is a drawing of a Male Superior Fairy Wren.  I love the colors of this cute little bird.  Any Female Superior Fairy Wren would be lucky to have this guy!!

When I was looking for larger "Public Domain" photos to draw from I ran across this website called "Cool Melbourne" that had the following statement to make about nature:

"When we talk about wildlife we’re talking about all of the mammals, birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, sponges, jellyfish and bacteria: we’re talking about all the walking, flying, hopping, swimming, slithering and squirming creatures that make up the wonderful mix of creatures that we share our planet with." (Our Environment - Wildlife, 2010)

"Can you even begin to imagine if they weren’t here with us, if we had only human companions on our planet?" (Our Environment - Wildlife, 2010)

To read more about what Cool Melbourne has to say about wildlife, the environment, and more visit their website!

This is Day 74's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Reference:

Our Environment - Wildlife. (2010). Retrieved March 17, 2010, from Cool Melbourne: http://www.coolmelbourne.org/our-environment/wildlife/?page=2

Day 73 - McCaw Parrot

This is an original drawing done by me of a McCaw.  Such wonderful and intelligent birds.

This is Day 73's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 72 - Garden Gnome

The legend of the Garden Gnome is not only mythological, but dates back centuries.  Earlier illustrations depict a twisted looking little old man with a long white beard.  They were even thought to look like little deformed dwarfs due to their small stature.

In Germany, gnomes were often depicted as miners. This is due to a theory that these miners, of small stature, came from the island of Crete around 1,500 BC to dig for gold and silver in parts of Europe, including southeast Germany, which may have led to the mining dwarf legend. These little people were often featured in German fairy tales, such as those told by the Brothers Grimm, and dwarf figurines were thought to bring good fortune to a home if placed in the house or garden which is why they were adopted by so many German homes.

Did you know that the pointed red hat that is often seen on garden gnomes today was formerly a depiction of the hat that was initially worn by the miners in the mountains of south-east Germany?

We don’t regard them as highly as they were historically.  The “painted” garden gnome originally came about in Germany towards the end of the 19th century when there was a large ceramic industry producing household and garden ornaments. Gnomes were extremely popular and many manufacturers started exporting large quantities around the world.

The image of the Garden Gnome did not change until 1937 with the Walt Disney Production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.  This film was based on the original Brothers Grimm tale of “Little Snow White”.  

At around the war between 1939 and 1945 is when production resumed of Garden Gnomes continued, but the image changed as well as the color.  The colors were brighter and looked more cheerful.

It was around 1960 that Garden Gnomes started being manufactured out of plastic somewhere in Germany. Now they were not only shatterproof, but weatherproof as well.  In no time at all the Garden Gnome was back on track as becoming a popular addition to household gardens everywhere.

This is Day 72's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 71 - Lucky Dragonflies ATC

This is a hand drawn artist trading card (ATC) that I did with pencil and marker.  While I like paper collaging my art passion is really watercolor and drawing.  I think I've gotten better at drawing and are actually seeing things in terms of shapes and lines instead of what is just there.

When I say that I mean this: A face is not just a face to me anymore rather an arrangement of lines, curves, and shapes.  If I draw according to this I notice that what I am drawing turns out better than if I just try to draw "what I see".

My other passion, one of many, are butterflies and dragonflies, so I really enjoyed making this card.

This is Day 71's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 70 - Lucky Steve The Leprechaun

This is just Lucky Steve! I felt it only appropriate to draw something for St. Patrick's Day since it is next week. The leprechaun is considered a mythological creature that appeared for centuries in Irish Folklore.

The Irish-American viewed the leprechaun much differently than how the traditional Irish viewed them.The Irish-American leprechaun is more of a silly made up person, while the Irish leprechaun is based on traditional folklore that goes back to the Celtic period. The Irish-American leprechaun was actually taken from cartoons that were used against the Irish and not at all based on the actual tradition. This includes the pug nose, batted hat, and fist in the air. The traditional Irish leprechaun was based on actual folklore of spirits that could be angered if one went near certain sacred places. I was used a method of controlling people and their behaviors. It was a way setting boundaries for Irish societies.

To see a video about the leprechaun and other Irish traditions visit the History channel.

This is Day 70's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 69 - Red & Green Kimono

Here is a collaged artist trading card (ATC) that I made using ribbon, vintage paper, and a picture of a Kimono that I colored in.  The Kimono was black and white and I colored it in to go with the colors in the ribbon.  I was really reluctant to use the vintage paper as it is one of my favorite pieces, but I just had to use it on this particular ATC.

This is Day 69's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 68 - It's All About Paris

When you think of Paris what comes to mind?  How about just the fact that anything comes to mind when you say "Paris"?  I think of beautiful faces, the Eiffel Tower, and history.

This artist trading card (ATC) was done by painting watered down acrylic paint over a vintage page of "The Taming of the Shrew", which I then proceeded to stamp with a background stamp and a star stamp.

I watercolored some of the wonderful inch measuring squares from a stamp that I borrowed from a friend and here you have it: It's All About Paris.

This is Day 68's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 67 - Gone Fishing

With the new season fast approaching I thought a "fishing" card would be appropriate.  I used to fish alot with my dad in my younger days and I really miss that.  I can't even remember the last time we went fishing.  When we lived in Colorado Springs he took my husband and kids fishing, but my 7 year old was like 2 or 3 then.  

I used to love catching them, but had to insist on releasing them afterward.  I remember when my 14 year old was like 4 and we went fishing in Colorado; I thought the fish was dead when he released it back into the water because it just laid there floating.  I turned my back to tell my dad that it was dead and when i whipped back around the fish was gone.  What?  My dad told me that they sometimes play dead and when you aren't looking they come back to life and swim away.  Since I don't get sarcastic humor I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious!

This is Day 67's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 66 - Feel The Sunshine

This ATC was made with a wallpaper background, colored in stamped image, and finalized with a swirly stamp in red.  I love how the blue really stands out and I hope that Spring is recognizing these types of images right now as we all hint to welcoming the new season.

This is Day 66's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 65 - Lucky 13

My birthday falls on the 13th every year!  But is it really lucky?  Tok Thompson states in the "STUDIA MYTHOLOGICA SLAVICA" that "The number thirteen has several strong connotations in a number of diverse cultures." He goes on to say that there are "surprising, and puzzling...similarities of associations (the moon, women’s magic, omens, etc)." (Thompson, 2002) His "paper attempts a cross-cultural view of the number thirteen, and arrives at a hypothetical explanation to account for the widespread occurrences of the phenomena." (Thompson, 2002)

"Several cultures have been investigated, but the ones in which thirteen is an “ominous” number are revealed to use, or have used, lunar-solar calendars. My hypothesis is that the number thirteen’s connotations derive ultimately from a natural, and naturally observable regularity-- the 12.41 lunations per solar year. Hence, cultures with a lunar-solar calendar are forced to reckon with an odd thirteenth month every year, and this month is, in this hypothesis, what has given the number thirteen its unique and widespread cultural properties." (Thompson, 2002)

So, why do we think that the number 13 is so unlucky?  I for one believe in the unlucky part of the number as every birthday that I have had that fell on the 13th did not turn out well.  Maybe it was all in my mind, or maybe there is another side to the number!

This is Day 65's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Reference:

Thompson, T. (2002). The Thirteenth Number: then, there/ here and now. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from STUDIA MYTHOLOGICA SLAVICA: http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/En/SMS5/Thompson5.html

Day 64 - Lady In Blue

This artist trading card (ATC) was done by applying acrylic paint to a vintage paper from an art magazine.  I used oil pastels to color in the stamp of the lady.  Finally I Modge Podged everything including the rice paper.  I really liked how it turned out and how her blue eyes stand out.

I did learn that I am going to have to play with mixing the paint with water to make it lighter.  I really liked the image behind the paint and wish it would have shown up better.  Oh well, that is what is so wonderful art; experimentation is all a part of the game and you can always fix something.

This is Day 64's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 63 - Inca Mask

This is a picture I found in a 1983 Sewing Magazine that I picked up at the local Thrift Store.  It is knitted picture of an Inca Mask.  How cool is that?  

I used gold and black sequins that a friend of mine gave to me from her stash!

I just love diving into the bottomless pit of vintage magazines at the thrift store.  When I got to the bottom of the pile, there were 5 amazing 1980's sewing magazines.  It really took me back as the fashions were outrageous.

I kept telling my husband "I remember wearing that style", "OMG, check out that hair", etc.  We were cracking up and totally showing our ages!! LOL

This is Day 63's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 62 - Always Wonderful Friends

This is a stamped image colored in with colored pencil.  I dedicate this artist trading card to my artistic friends out there that I have made over the last 2 years.  Friendship is important to me and I only have a handful of really close friends.  Getting older puts a different outlook on relationships and how important family and friends really are.

Growing up I could care less about having friends because it seemed trivial.  I was happy to be alone and independent.  Of course, family was always important to me and I still stress this to my children.  I have lived in several states now and I can honestly say that the friendships I made in Colorado have turned out to be the longest lasting friendships I have ever had.

I tell my children constantly that "when your friends are gone; your family will always be there".  I also tell them things like "you can do anything you set your mind to" and my favorite; "I will love you no matter what and if you want to be the best waitress in a restaurant, I will be happy for you!"

This is Day 62's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Prima Prize Package

Prima prize package \ Prix Tirage Prima ............

That's Right! Prima is giving away two more AMAZING prize packages in conjunction with our BIG SECRET!

And we are getting closer and closer to revealing our secret-it won't be long now!

Just a couple more days of suspense!

We want EVERYONE to have a chance to win so we are changing the rules a bit.

Please copy this write-up and link us on your blog, Facebook, or any other site that you frequent (please follow their TOU).

One US and one International winner will be chosen on Thursday, March 4th, 2010.

And we are getting closer and closer to revealing our secret-it won't be long now!

Just a couple more days of suspense!

Day 61 - Funky Shoes

I LOVE shoes and am absolutely NOT telling how many pairs I own.  I also love drawing shoes so this artist trading card (ATC) was a cinch.  This ATC is an original pencil drawing by me and colored in with markers.  I have to at least 6 pair of Birkenstocks and just recently realized that there is a book regarding these very fine shoes called The Birkenstock Name in History.  They are comfortable and you pay for quality that lasts a lot longer than anything found at any "cheap" shoe store.

My favorite pair are my black open toes with red roses on them!

This is Day 61's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 60 - Smoky

This is a kitty that I painted with watercolors.   I love watercolors but am not sure I will ever really get the hang of it.  My favorite medium to use is markers!!  

Wow, I went over to "Shabby Blogs" to look at their really cool backgrounds and I forgot what I was originally doing.  You have to check their blog out as well.

This is Day 60's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.

Day 59 - Black Swallowtail Butterfly

This is a pencil/pen drawing of a black Swallowtail butterfly that I photographed last summer on a trip to the park.  There were some beautiful butterflies and this was just one of the one I was able to capture.  

Black Swallowtails pupate for approximately 9 to 11 days; this could take longer depending on if it is cooler out.  The adult butterfly will emerge from its chrysalis and depending on its sex will be either a colorful male or a more subdued colorful female.

The male has more yellow and less blue than the female.  They also have what appears to be eyes, which from what I have learned about butterflies is a way of protecting themselves from predators!  

I am NOT a big fan of insects, but I do love butterflies and dragonflies.  I hope to be able to capture more varieties this year as we head into spring.

This is Day 59's ATCs that I submitted in the 2010 Project ATC 365.