The Three Muses Challenge - Something old, something new

Apologies in advance to all those in the Northern Hemisphere who are FREEZING! Can't get away from the heat here in Oz.
I painted the background (beach huts Googled). The girl is an unclothed image from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics - dressed up and dressed down. I painted on the two swimsuits and used my background to take the two "photos". The waves in the photos are by Ruth Davis at E-Scape and Scrap.

Mixed Media Monday - Least favourite colour - ORANGE

I am a not a fan of ORANGE. I started with a profile of a face (from Flickr free to use images) and painted the dress on to it. The background and flowers are by Lorie Davison SBG. Strangely enough, I am happy with the result!

Sunday Postcard - Open Theme - Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends in Blogland. The past year has been such a joy, meeting so many wonderful people and sharing in their generosity and friendship.

I love this face which is a Suzee Que, Flickr-free-to-use image. I have given her a new hat and body (painted in ArtRage).

Three Muses Challenge - Home Sweet Home

The beautiful image (altered) is a SuzyQue freebie from Flickr. Other bits and pieces by SherrieJD and Fiddlette.

Sunday Postage - Christmas Greetings

Here in south-west Australia we are in heatwave conditions. The forecast for Christmas Day is 36 deg C which is 97F. Santa is enjoying a break on the beach but he is a little bit sunburnt.
May I wish all my great blog friends a peaceful and happy Christmas and a wonderful 2010.

Background cut from papers by Fiddlette at Scrapartist. Santa painted by me.

Theme Thursday - Legs

Thanks for the challenge, Kelly, and for the lovely inspirational sample. No matter what shape we are in, I think everyone yearns for new and improved LEGS.
Credit goes to Fiddlette at Scrapartist for images and embellishments.

The Three Muses Challenge - Mail Art

I found a large and colorful stamp honouring the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald. He had many setbacks in his life, most self-inflicted, and he died at age 42, a tortured genius. I imagined him receiving rejection notices from publishing houses so my collage took its theme from there.
The stamp was Googled. The body (coloured and altered a little, including decapitation) is a Flickr-free-to-use image. Ephemera is from Christina Renee and Trish Jones and the postmarks are by Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals.

Gothic Arches - Domestic Goddess

Enlarge for details. ( I am confused by the requirements for commenting at Gothic Arches (Mr Blinky versus ordinary blog comments) so haven't posted there.
We complain about our domestic chores in this modern age. Spare a thought for those who had to heat a super-heavy iron on a wood stove, hand wash everything - or boil it - and then use a hand turned wringer.
The image is from a Flickr-free-to-use submitted by Cassandra. Everything else from Kubivet freebies.

Art Creations Friday - Mirror, mirror.

" Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" Thanks to the ladies at ACF for a lovely picture and a great challenge.
Frames, background, lamp, table and book by Irene Alexeeva.

Theme Thursday - Vintage

Thanks to Kelly for a great challenge and sample picture. The image above is from a collage sheet by Maya at Scrapbookgraphics. Frame and other bits and pieces by Lorie Davison, SBG.

The Three Muses Challenge - Bottles and Jars

(Enlarge for better view)
Another true story from the annals of my colorful family history.
This picture reveals a secret rarely spoken of because few people pickle their ancestors and we do not want to be thought of as “odd”. Aunt Fifi is first on the left. The less said of her the better since her favourite pastime was parading around in her undies. Next, Maude lurks in the background. I always felt she harboured a dark secret. Great Aunt Nellie was a promising musician. Sadly her battle with the bottle shattered her dreams, although luckily for us she was already pickled so needed little special treatment. Grandpa Fred was larger than life, standing 7 ft tall and weighing a ton, which made it very difficult to find a bottle in which to pickle him. Great Uncle Leonard was a showman and a show-off and his “ great magician” status was very much exaggerated. Finally, Grandma Florence was a tiny lady with a will of iron and a knockout punch to match.

I apologize in advance for the lack of perspective in sizes but you will understand that my ancestors were not pickled at the same time and allowance must be made for shrinkage.

Fifi’s origins are cloudy, Maude’s photo is a freebie from our own Ali Mayes (thankyou Ali). Great Aunt Nellie is from a collage sheet by Maya at SBG. Grandpa Fred is a Flickr free to use image. Great Uncle Leonardo is a freebie from Terri Kahrs at Pringle Hill Studios (thankyou, Terri). Grandma Florence is from a collage sheet by Lunagirl.

Mixed Media Monday - On Wings of Love

I just love the bored look on the couple's faces! Image a Flickr Free (coloured). All other bits and pieces by Irene Alexeeva of Scraporchard.

The Three Muses - Fun and Games

The four images used are freebies from Graphic Fairy. The chess pieces and board were Googled. Background by Irene Alexeeva.

Mixed Media Monday - Bedtime Story

The girl in chair is from Google Images. She has been overpainted and given a pair of fluffy slippers. Background and other bits and pieces from Jofia Devoe.

Sunday Postcard- Let it snow

I have absolutely no experience of snow, except for a few days in the Canadian Rockies some years ago but on a day when the forecast is for 38 deg C (100 deg F) it is a very nice thought.
The image, altered and overpainted by me, is a Flickr-free-to-use. The little girl seems to be ready to take her coat off in spite of the cold. The background is by SussiM, the snowy tree by Lily of AfterFiveDesigns, the alphabet by Little Dreamer and the snowflakes by Ruth Davis of E-scape and Scrap.

ACF - Background with fish

Thankyou to the lovely ladies at Art Creations Friday for the beautiful background. The boy is a Flickr-free-to-use image (coloured).

Theme Thursday - Holiday Greeting Card

The beautiful image is from a freebie from Terri Kahrs (Pringle Hill Studio), originally from public domain. I have kept the face and hands and painted in a new body and hair. The background paper is by Irene Alexeeva and the border is from a collaboration kit at Scrapbookgraphics. Christmas bauble from Google Images.

The Three Muses Challenge - Time

I chose to create a dreamy collage of time gone by. Balloon and basket by Jofie Devoe. Clock face and hands by Jen Ulasiewicz at SBG, baby by Marretje, dancer from a collage sheet by Maya SBG. Wedding photo from my family album. Woman in basket a Flick-free-to-use image. Man's head Googled. Background Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard. Stars and yellow dots by Creativewings Designs.

Art Creations Friday - First Anniversary

Congratulations to the lovely ladies at Art Creations Friday on the first anniversary of their wonderful challenge.
I have used the image to wish all our American friends a happy Thanksgiving this month.
The face is from ACF, the costume painted by me, the turkeys and turkey dinner are Flickr-free-to-use images. The window is by JenU designs.
The lady is looking sad because, like me, she is a vegetarian.

TGIF - Femmes Fatales

I love old movies. Rita Hayworth always played the femme fatale with great pizzazz. The background poster and separate image (originally black and white) of Rita Hayworth were Googled. The film reel is by Kubivet and the aged film strip frame is by Irene Alexeeva.

Theme Thursday - Lots of Colour Skinny

Thanks to Kelly for a lovely, bright challenge - and for the stunning sample picture.
The lady was originally black and white. I have coloured her and added some overpainting. The gold roses are from my own garden. Background and heart stool by Irene Alexeeva. Poppies by April Mouse.

The Three Muses Challenge - Keys

Thanks to Bev for a great challenge and sample picture and thankyou to Ali Mayes for the beautiful image which she posted at Flickr-free-to-use. (Image coloured). The lock, key and flower are from Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

Mixed Media Monday - I am Woman

I got a little bit carried away with this one. I fear the lady looks as if she has her finger caught in an electric light socket. The image is from Stock.xchng. Everything else painted by me. Words and music by fellow Australian Helen Reddy with Ray Burton.

Sunday Postcard - Music

Thanks to Mandy and Donna for the challenge and to Cindy McMath for her great sample picture.
The image is from a collage sheet by Lunagirl (greatly altered and overpainted). The piano frame, music notes, butterfly and wings (altered) by Irene Alexeeva. Background by Fiddlette. Stamp edging by JenU Designs.

Theme Thursday - Patterned backgrounds

Thanks to Kelly for the great challenge and sample. The patterned background is by Jennifer Howland, the floral frame brush by Irene Alexeeva and the "friends" brush by 500ml Brushes.

The Three Muses Challenge - In your dreams

Image of sleeping girl from a Lunagirl collage sheet. Image of ballerina Flickr-free-to-use. Theatre overlay (recoloured) and background Lorie Davison SBG. Balloons, clouds, text Irene Alexeeva. Crackle overlay by Lauren Bavin.

Art Creations Friday - Little Sailor

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Art Creations Friday for the gorgeous photo of the little sailor. Image ACF, boat - Lorie Davison, waves - Julie Mead, background and sun by Fiddlette.

The Three Muses Challenge - Pairs

This week's challenge at the Three Muses is about pairs. The lovely pair (coloured and altered) above come from a collage sheet by Lunagirl. The background and paper moon are by Fiddlette/SherrieJD, the doorway by Dawn van der Stoep at Createwingdesigns and the piano keyboard floor Googled and altered .

Sunday Postcard - Edgar Allan Poe

I found this piece of trivia somewhere. It is called "Unknown facts about Edgar Allan Poe".
"Unknown fact Number #524 .... Edgar Allan Poe had a very good reason to be fond of ravens as his famous poem was an overnight success and brought him the comfortable income he had always been seeking. To repay his favourite birds, he opened a Raven Rescue Refuge in his home. The ravens embraced their comfortable new lifestyle with gusto and they prospered and multiplied. Soon Mr Poe had taken to wearing hat and raincoat for obvious reasons. Eventually, the problem grew to such proportions that he cried "Never more shall I take in these ungrateful birds, NEVER MORE". He called a pest exterminator and had them removed and declared in his last poem, which has never been published, that gratitude can be carried too far".

I have used an altered photograph of background and man from Flickr-free-to-use images. The head of Mr Poe was Googled. The raven is by Irene Alexeeva. (The unknown facts are a pack of lies).

Thank God it's Friday - Little Witches

My little witch is my two year old granddaughter. Well, it's her face!! Crazy frame, bird and pumpkin by Irene Alexeeva. Hat Googled. Legs Robyn England.

Art Creations Friday - Family Resemblances

When I look at old family photos I am often surprised at finding family resemblances between people now living and those going back three and four generations. I never knew my paternal grandparents. They both died very young and yet I can see my grandmother in the face of my daughter. They were born 100 years apart. I was thinking about this when I saw today's photo.
Background by Lily of After Five Designs. Body by Tangie Baxter Scrapbookgraphics. Image thanks to Hermine and the lovely ladies at ACF.

The Three Muses Challenge - Fowl Play

Enlarge for full effect! I had some fun with Joseph (and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat). He is made mostly from paper backgrounds by Berna Datema at Scrapbookgraphics with a little bit of painting from me.

Mixed Media Monday - Marvellous Moustaches

Perhaps depilatories did not exist in the 1920's! The image, outrageously altered, is a Flickr free to use from Suzee Que. The head of Petunia is from a Terri Kahrs freebie. Lace and berries, background and label by Manuela Zimmerman at Scrapbookgraphics.

Sunday Postcard - Halloween

My witch is an altered image from Flickr-free-to-use (Suzee Que). The hat and bats are by Irene Alexeeva. The tear is by Ztampf. The rest painted by me.

Art Creations Friday - Background

Thanks to the ladies at ACF for the lovely background. I have enhanced the colour a little and added some texture. The image is a Flickr free to use submitted by Suzee Que. The digital brushes are by Katie Pertiet. Perfume bottle by Irene Alexeeva.

The Three Muses Challenge - Long ago and far away

I think my collage qualifies for “long ago and far away” The soldier is my father who was in a cavalry regiment fighting in the Middle East during WW1 (nothing has changed except they don’t use horses now). In the background is his discharge paper which declares that he was discharged as “medically unfit”. He had suffered injuries and spent time in a military hospital in Egypt. The paper is dated October 1919. It took almost a year to return soldiers to Australia after the end of the war. In spite of being” medically unfit” he lived another 77 years and died at the age of 102.

Photo and paper are from a family album. Background, clock and clock parts and tag are by Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

Mixed Media Monday - Mothers and Daughters

Images Googled and altered slightly. Background, edging and stitching from Flergs at Scrapbookgraphics.

The quote is a Jewish proverb.

Gothic Arches - Risque and/or Tasteful Nude

The nearest thing to nude is body-suit-nude which I achieved by overpainting and adding a couple of darts and neck and sleeve bands! Image from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics. Background, butterfly hat, metallic thingy and feather all from Irene Alexeeva.

Sunday Postcard - Gothic Grunge

Thanks to Donna and Mandy at Sunday Postcards for something different. The image (greatly altered) is from a collage sheet by Maya at Scrapbookgraphics. Background, bats and cobweb by Irene Alexeeva. I found the quote at the Quote Garden and it is attributed to Usman B. Asif.

Thank God it's Friday - Pointy Hats

I found a vintage sepia image of a very proper little lady whose life looked very dull so I have given her some bright colours and a makeover. A different version of the Pointy Hat.
Image from Katilady at Flickr. The rest all cut from papers by Berna Datema at Scrapbookgraphics.

Art Creations Friday - Waiting for Halloween

I seem to be creating a series of Halloween pictures, featuring the images from the lovely ladies at ACF!! Some hand painting here and some bits and pieces, including background, from Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard. Shoes by Tangie Baxter.

The Three Muses Challenge - Hair

Image is from an old perfume poster (Googled). Background notepaper is by Katie Pertiet, crown by Dawn van der Stoep, Creativewing Designs.

I couldn't resist creating a tongue-in-cheek entry for this week's Muses so decided to post two versions of the theme.

The image is a Flickr-free-to-use, black and white and vintage, coloured with hair added. Wig was Googled. Most of the ephemera is by Tangie Baxter with some pieces Googled.

Mixed Media Monday - Think Pink

Diane has asked us to remember that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month in Australia and maybe other places. Thankyou for reminding us, Diane.
The images (altered) are from Suzee Que (Flickr-free-to-use). Background, stars and lamplight from Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard.

Sunday Postcard - Blackbird

Background and chair from Lily at After Five Designs. Keyboard from Irene Alexeeva.

Art Creations Friday - Halloween's (almost) here

Thanks to the ladies at Art Creations Friday for another lovely image. Background paper, bats and hat by Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard.

Thank God it's Friday - Rain

Thanks to Sandy for the challenge and to Anne for this week's inspiration.
The image (coloured) is from Outsider Artist Freebies. The background, umbrella and other bits and pieces are by Jofia Devoe.

Theme Thursday - Bird ATC - Altered Galahs

The galah (pronounced ga-lah with the accent on the second syllable) or pink and grey cockatoo is native to Australia and, I am pleased to say, native to my part of Australia where they gather in flocks and in profusion. They are very large birds so bear no resemblance to the small love birds or budgerigars also native to Australia.

My altered picture is a collage made entirely from bits and pieces by Fiddlette at Scrapartist.

Three Muses Challenge - Numbers

Thanks for the great challenge, Bev, at THE THREE MUSES. I went vintage for this one.
Image (altered) is from Art-e-zine and all other bits and pieces are from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.