art from the well

oh what a busy autumn season it is already!  much work and not enough art or blog hopping...
and i almost forgot to keep sharing my tombstone ATCs made for the swap at retro cafe art.  the swap is closed now so in a week or so i'll be receiving some ATCs from other players.  here are two more of the ones i made.


my base is one of the masonite tombstone bases from retro cafe.  i gessoed it, stamped it with script and added this image from gecko galz, a rather spooky little trick or treating girl.  i added some "scary words" and a black flower with a pearl.

i adhered hallowe'en themed designer paper to this masonite base, used another gecko galz image, a stick on raven, black pearls and black magic mesh.

more soon!  now i'm working on ATCs for yet another swap -- the eerie ATC swap at unrulypaperarts.  there is still time to join that one!

have a wonderful week; love to all.

here is a sneak peek at one of the tombstone ATCs i made for the retro cafe art hallowe'en tombstone ATC art swap.  the only criteria is to use the special masonite ATC bases available from retro art cafe and then whatever other spooky goods you wish.  the deadline to get the ATCs in is september 22 so there is still a bit of time if you want to participate.

for the swap you provide 4 tombstone ATCs.  i've made 6 total and will decide this week which 4 i'll mail off.  i won't share any more until after the swap is complete but i decided to share this one now as i'd like to also enter it in the drunken stampers challenge #96: "the birds."

details: i gessoed the tombstone base and stamped it with a french script stamp.  i distressed around the edges in black.  i used a torn scrap of designer paper from my stash.  the poe image and also the black wings came from a free collage sheet at retro cafe art.   i added a raven sticker of course!  it is a raised, textured sticker.  it is a sombre little creation!

this will be my first retro cafe art swap and i'm excited.  it isn't my first time joining the drunken stampers but i was recently pleasantly surprised to get their "life of the party" badge for participating in their last challenge.  thank you drunken stampers!

have a happy week; love to all.

this piece is for a challenge at the drunken stampers challenge blog: "think peach for endometrial/uterine cancer month." 
unfortunately there are too many in my world who are receiving treatment for various cancers.  i will send this card to one such person.  the stamp sentiment here is from penny black and it is stamped on origami paper (with cranes, for hope)  the background butterfly paper was a free sample from dover publications.  

enjoy; love to all.

i saw an awesome tutorial on making paper bead bobby pins at wendylynn's paper whims.  i seriously thought i would make some.  instead i visited her etsy shop and for a very reasonable price got some already made!
and while i was there could not resist this steampunk skull necklace for hallowe'en!

and let me tell you it is gorgeous in person. i'll take my picture wearing it later.  anyway, just wanted to share -- especially because the bobby pin tutorial is such a great idea and i still might get around to making some of my own!

love to all.

one of my favorite art teachers is carla sonheim.  i found her when looking for independent art teachers in my area. interestingly enough the class i took from her, a drawing class called "the art of silliness," was an online class and i've never actually met her even though we do live in the same city!  she is all about freeing yourself up, being silly, being happy, loving your artist within.   i continue to follow her blog and found this fun "animal in tape" tutorial. 


you start by randomly placing tape and then you examine your random placement for an animal hiding in there -- her blog post gives all the details.  on this first piece i don't think i quite followed her directions but i still had fun.  anyway i gave it a second go:


so yeah, silly indeed, but very enjoyable.  her post offered a wonderful invitation for playtime and today was a good day to play.  check out her blog post and her blog (there is also a giveaway...) and notice her book on my sidebar on the right.

happy week folks.  love to all.