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.