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.