Theme Thursday - Patterns

Thanks to Kelly for a great challenge.  I made this background some time ago when I obviously had nothing better to do.  It is just a series of semi-transparent coloured shapes overlapping each other.  The humming bird digital stamp is by Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals.

The Three Muses Challenge - Books

Thanks to Bev for a great challenge.  The reader is an image from my vast stash.  I have had her on file for many moons and I am afraid I don't know from whence it came.  Other scrumptious bits and pieces are from Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

Take a Word #9 - Music

The quote for this picture is by Thomas Carlyle.  The background is by Lauren Bavin (with added brushes) and the angel is by me (using image from Flickr-free-to-use and wings by Irene Alexeeva).

The Three Muses - Tidings of Comfort and Joy

It's difficult for the average Aussie to get his or her head around being all rugged up against the cold at this time of year so forgive me for throwing in a peek at what people are wearing down here in the southern hemisphere.  Santa was painted by me.  Credits for bits and pieces in the first picture go to Gypsy at Scrapbookgraphics.

Here is my Christmas story:

A Christmas Caper or “Seasonal Secrets”


This is a true story. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Christmas for my family means a lot of undercover operations, cloak and dagger work, great secrecy and subterfuge, much feverish plotting and even meddling with the calendar. It is dangerous but exhilarating. You may ask me WHY? Well, at least two members of my family fall into the bah humbug category at Christmas. They cast a gloomy spell and a pall over our celebrations. One who shall be called  Ebenezer T. Stooge has no excuse other than he is a surly piece of work or, as we Australians might say, a miserable git. The other has a bipolarized brain which leads to bizarre behaviour and streams of less than acceptable language in front of the children. The solution? We celebrate Christmas Day at lunchtime on Christmas Eve. We prepare the feast in secret. We organize ourselves with military precision. We invent alibis. We congregate at a neutral venue, hoping that there will be no unpleasant surprises. So far, so good. At last we can relax and have a great time. We open our gifts and enjoy watching the children open theirs. We eat our Christmas feast. On Christmas Day we have our happy memories of the day before. Hopefully, the unwelcome would-be guests are so self-absorbed they haven’t even noticed that we managed to have a good time in spite of them and practically under their noses.

Take a Word #8 - Celebrate

Let's hope the celebrations cheer her up a little bit!!  The face is from an ACF freebie of long ago (much altered).  I used a Lisa's altered art collage image for the body which has been overpainted by me.  Other bits and pieces (crown, wings, Zetti swirls and background) by Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard.

The Three Muses - Odd Couples

All my own work except for Googled vegetables.  Painted digitally in ArtRage software.

Take a Word #7 - Childhood

The two little girls are from Flickr-free-to-use images (coloured and altered).  Digital stamp is by Katie Pertiet at Designer Digitals.

Theme Thursday - Wings

Face (altered) from Suzee Que at Flickr.  Cat (also altered) by Irene Alexeeva.  The rest by me.

The Three Muses Challenge - Flowers

A Christmas card made from bits and pieces.  The image is from Wikimedia Commons (altered), the wings were Googled, flowers and background by Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

Take a Word Challenge #6 - MAIL

Decorating envelopes is great fun.  Why not surprise a friend by sending a message of cheer in an interesting/whimsical/funny/beautiful envelope?  Mine measures 4 x 6. 

The image used is a Flickr freebie.  Patchy background from bits and pieces, mainly from Createwing Designs.  Stamp Googled.

The Three Muses Challenge - The World of Movies

I couldn't go past Charlie Chaplin whose genius helped open a world of movies to generations of fans.  The quote is by Charlie Chaplin, the image was Googled, coloured and altered, the background and old film strip is by Irene Alexeeva and the ticket, film reel and camera are by Kubivet (freebies).

Take a Word #5 - Home

Here's my picture for this week's word HOME.  The lady is from Art-e-zine, the backgrounds, books and inks by Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics and overlays by Berna Datema at SBG and Vera Lim.

Three Muses Challenge - Shoes

Sometimes I use images from my family albums in my artwork.  The person who has featured most is my Uncle(by marriage) Paul.  He looks so arrogant and self-satisfied that he needs to be taken down a peg or two.  (The couple on the left are my parents, the bride is my aunt and my (real) uncle is to the right).
I hope BOOTS qualify as SHOES.  They were Googled as was the skyscape.  The balloons were painted in artrage, the rope comes from one of my software programs and the hat and bow tie are by Robyn England.

Take a Word #4 - MEN!

First of all, apologies to all those men who are not full of hot air.  We have a saying in Australia, when talking about a man who is arrogant and who has too much to say, that "he is full of hot air".  This provided a seed for my fertile mind and, all of a sudden, I had thought of the balloon approach.
Background by Createwing Designs.  Two larger males are Terri Kahrs freebies, altered and re-dressed.  The image on the right is a Flickr free-to-use (head only).  Balloons were made in one of my software programs.

The Three Muses Challenge - Automobiles

Mr Ferdinand J. Fussbucket purchased his first horseless carriage so that he could take his family on excursions.  Sadly, he didn't realise that it was a "one seater".  His wife and son were not amused. 
Man and auto picture from Graphic Fairy (coloured).  Boy from Art Creations Friday. Background by SussiM.  Lady from Lunagirl collage sheet.

Take a Word #3 - Moon

It's only a paper moon

Sailing over a cardboard sea

But it wouldn't be make believe

If you'd believe in me.

Yes, it's only a canvas sky

Hanging over a muslin tree

But it wouldn't be make believe

If you'd believe in me.

The background paper is by Irene Alexeeva, images from Graphic Fairy, moon and "muslin" for my tree from Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics

Dressmaker dummies from Kubivet freebies

The Three Muses Challenge - Blackbirds

The Poe image (altered into postage stamp pose) and blackbird were Googled.  The man in chair minus head) is from my own family album.  I have lost track of the added ephemera which I have had on my computer for years.

Take a Word Challenge #2 - ANGEL

My mind wanders off along peculiar pathways.  Would an angel have to be taught to fly?  Would she have ropes and nets?
The beautiful face is from a Suzee Que image, free to use at Flickr (and altered).  The background paper is by Irene Alexeeva as are the wings.  Other papers used in angel's  robe etc  and elements at top are by Createwing Designs.

The Three Muses Challenge - Showtime

Maybelle and Melvin could show them young'ns a thing or two!  Showtime was any time for them when the banjo played.

The image of the heel clicking Melvin is a Terri Kahrs freebie - altered and with lower part added.  Thanks Terri!  I am not sure where the lady's face came from. Man's legs and feet and lady's dress painted by me.  Background bits and pieces, banjo and lady's shoes by Lorie Davison at Scrapbook Grapphics.

Take a Word #1 - TIME

It's time for a new challenge!!  My collage includes two Flickr free-to-use images (head and body) originally black and white, coloured and altered.  Background pieces from Createwing Designs and brushes from Vera Lim.

The Three Muses Challenge - Hats

ENLARGE FOR MORE DETAIL

Her mother told her to always hold her head high but Gladys' taste in steampunk hats made that very difficult.

Image a freebie from Art Creations Friday, body painted on.  Hat and background made from bits and pieces from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

A New Challenge!! Take a Word

The list of weekly blog challenges that welcome all types of art has dwindled over the past year so we have decided to open a new one!  "Take a Word" will open on November 1.  Its theme will be simple - just a one word prompt - and it is welcome to one and all.  There are no rules or rights or wrongs.  This is a challenge to have fun with.  So mark down Mondays on your challenge calendar.  Each week a Sneak Peek will be posted for the following Monday to give everyone time to complete her (or his) artwork.  Here's the link:

http://takeaword.blogspot.com/

ACF - Toadstools/Mushrooms

Thanks for the ladies at ACF for the beautiful toadstools.  The colours are wonderful.  The image is a Suzee Que Flickr free to use picture and I have added the hat and dress.  The flower effect in newspaper clipping is by Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

The Three Muses Challenge - Things with Wings

My butterfly lady is a collage of bits and pieces.  Her face is a Suzee Que free-to-use picture from Flickr.  Her body has been cut from various papers.  The newspaper background with door effect is from Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

The Three Muses Challenge - Vintage

Tattered remnants are all that are left of this romance!  Bits and pieces by Lorie Davison at SBG.  I am not sure where the image comes from.

The Three Muses Challenge - Say it with Music

My musical collage is made from Googled bits and pieces, greatly altered.

The Three Muses Challenge - Victorian

I thought it might be a good idea to give Queen Victoria a zingy, zetti look but it didn't quite come off!!  Somehow I don't think she would approve.  She certainly wouldn't be amused!!
I Googled the Queen's face and painted in her body.  Sceptre also Googled.

Mixed Media Monday - Art

I was in the mood for doodling yesterday so what better than the great quote (above) from Pablo Picasso to use as an excuse.

Background and cat (greatly altered) Irene Alexeeva.  Image by me.

The Three Muses Challenge - Art Envelopes

This is my art envelope created in vintage style but any type of art suits this challenge.  Ephemera and other bits and pieces by Katie Pertiet and Anna Aspnes at Designer Digitals and Createwing Designs.

The Three Muses Challenge - The Printed Word

In the newspapers, literally!  The faces are from Land of Nod collage sheets and the newspaper bodies have been cut from coloured newsprint by Maya at Scrapbookgraphics.

Art Creations Friday - Daisy, Daisy.

Thanks to the ladies at Art Creations Friday for the lovely image and the book pages.  I colorised the face and over-painted the rest of the image.

The Three Muses Challenge - Numbers

The orange image is from a collage sheet  by Moonlight Journey.  Old bottle Lorie Davison Scrapbookgraphics.  Background and poster by me.

Art Creations Friday Challenge Sept 3

Thanks to the ladies at Art Creations Friday for the lovely image.  (Welcome back, we've missed you!)
I used the face from the ACF picture and blended it into a painting that I found on Wikimedia Commons (copyright free).  I finished off with a photo of flowers given to me by my friend Ann (Taluula) and I have blended this into the background.

The Three Muses Challenge - Back to Nature

In my part of the world, south-western Australia, seasons don't change dramatically. One merges into the next with very little fanfare.  However, September 1 marks the end of our mild winter and the start of spring. 
The image I have used is from Wikimedia Commons, copyright free.  The lovely background is a photo of lobelias and petunia by my friend Ann (Taluula).  Thanks, Ann!  Ephemera collected over the years, no credits available.

The Three Muses Challenge - Zetti

The lady's face (altered) is from Wikimedia Commons, the top part of her body is by Irene Alexeeva, legs, swirls and flower by Fiddlette and the rest by me (side bars, patterned blocks and background).

New arrivals in my Mailbox

Creating art envelopes is proving to be addictive.   Here are three wonderful envelopes that I received in swaps with Taluula (Ann), Indybev (Bev) and Junibear (June).  Thankyou ladies!!

Sunday Postcard - Odd Bods

Yes, my mind does work in mysterious ways.  Often I have no idea as to where I am going when I start doodling!  All my own work.

The Three Muses Challenge - Wheels

All my own work!  I enjoyed some doodling silliness for a change.

Sunday Postcard - Mushrooms

I apologize for the terrible pun in my poem!!  (Those for whom English is a second language may not get the joke.  It is a play on words for "There's not MUCH ROOM in here".
The image (greatly altered) is a Kubivet freebie.  The background and mushrooms are from Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

The Three Muses Challenge - Doors

My door (greatly altered) comes from Wikimedia Commons, a great source for copyright-free images.  I have used a collection of Berna Datema (Scrapbookgraphics) overlays and computer bells and whistles to achieve the (hopefully) grungy effect.  The image is a pen and ink drawing (from Flickr free to use) which I converted into a digital brush/stamp.

Mixed Media Monday - Memories

I don't know if I have succeeded but I wanted this envelope to look "aged".  It is still waiting for an address and a postmark.  Enlarge for small details.  The image is from Wikimedia Commons and other bits and pieces by Irene Alexeeva at Scraporchard.  Grunge overlays by Lauren Bavin and Manuela Zimmerman.

Sunday Postcard - Houses

I have noticed that pictures now being posted to the blog are losing a lot of definition.  I don't know why but I am sure this is the case.  This one looks better when enlarged.

Birds spend a lot of time finding material for their "homes".  Boothroyd Blackbird has taken his talents to a new level!  Paper and cardboard maybe but very sophisticated - for a blackbird.
Bits and pieces from Lorie Davison at Scrapbookgraphics.

Three Muses Challenge - Love is Blind

Well, Penelope is a very pretty fish, you must admit!  She is an Ozstuffe Originale, painted in ArtRage as is Freddie's suit of clothes and bow tie and the background.  Freddie's face is from a collage sheet by Tangie Baxter.

Sunday Postcard - Patchwork

I made my patchwork digitally in a painting program.  The image is a Flickr free to use from Suzee Que.

Theme Thursday - Word - UNDECIDED

The images are from Graphics Fairy, some ephemera from Sherrie JD.

Three Muses Challenge - Odd Birds

Enlarge for more detail.
My Odd Bird is made from a Googled peacock, head and hands from a Terri Kahrs freebie (thanks Terri) body by me and background (altered) by Lauren Bavin.  Words by Carly Simon from her great song "You're So Vain". 

Sunday Postcard - Owls

Sorry!  I couldn't resist having some "ouch" moments.  My scrawny owl is my own work.