Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Second on the 2nd: Altered Playing Cards

 

Blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  I cannot seem to get rid of the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I am very frustrated and hope you realize I DO keep trying.  Thanks for sticking with me.

This post is for Second on the 2nd.  If your second look and your T Tuesday post are the same, please add it both places.

 

As most of you know, I like my second look each month to reflect our host at Art Journal Journey's (AJJ) theme. That means I needed to find something related to Winter

In 2014, I made the mistake of joining a 16 week, 52 card altered playing card group.  We altered two playing cards every week.  Most of the supplies the host Claudine used and asked for, I didn't have.  I had to improvise a lot of the time.  Below is the post in its entirety when the prompt was Winter. BTW, Claudine hasn't posted new content on her blog since 2016.

This is Week 11 of Claudine's altered playing card (APC) challenge, and we are in full winter mode.  Not just because the APCs are inspired by winter, but because winter has hit my front door with lots of snow, below freezing temperatures, a few record lows, and high, blustery winds.  And mine isn't the only place.  It seems every state in the US, except Hawaii, and much of Canada, had freezing temperatures Monday night.

So, yes, my APCs have a definite winter feel to them this week.

As usual, I had practically none of the supplies Claudine asked for.  In fact, I was thrilled when I found this partial piece of dyed paper towel, all that was left after I used most of it earlier this year  (As an aside, if you want to see how I dyed it, please go here or here, and how I used the dyed paper towels here).

Supplies, from back left clockwise:

Dark blue acrylic paint
White glue, although I ended up using a glue stick instead
White pigment ink
Paint brush
Foam snowflake stamp
Dyed paper towel using printer ink
Computer generated cup, which I fussy cut
Two gessoed playing cards

So why, you ask, did I simply show the supplies and not take any more step out photos?  Because it's so cold in my craft room and my hands (and entire body) were shaking so hard when I tried to take a photo, I decided to simply explain what I did and save photos for when my craft room warms a bit.

For the first playing card, I made something similar to Claudine's card that used a dyed paper towel.  However, Claudine's paper towel had been dyed with spray mists, which will bleed when wet, while mine was made using printer ink, which did not bleed.   I colored the cup and found a small piece of scrap paper I'd dyed with some of my shimmering mists and wrote the sentiment by hand.  It reads "Make mine cocoa please."

For my second card, I knew the paper towel wouldn't bleed like Claudine showed us.  So I opted to paint my playing card with dark blue paint, then add pigment ink snowflakes after the paint had dried.  Once the snowflakes were dried, I once again found a scrap piece of paper and wrote the sentiment: "Snowflakes are winter's flowers."  I used a black Micron 25mm pen for both sentiments.

I realize these are rather simple altered cards this week, but by the time I had finished these two, I was definitely ready to warm my numb hands and get to my less cold office to document the process.

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I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your own Second on the 2nd.  Be aware, this link is for your second look only.  If you are also sharing a T Tuesday post as your second look, please add your link both places.

 

 

 

 

 

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Monday, December 1, 2025

T Stands For Signs Of The Times

  

In case you haven't read, blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  I cannot seem to get rid of the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I am very frustrated and hope you realize I DO keep trying.  One of these days, I'm sure they will publish.  Probably when I am about ready to give up and move to WordPress.

This post is for T Stands For Tuesday.  If your T post and your Second on the 2nd posts are the same, please add it both places.

I'm keeping this short and sweet today.  This is definitely a sign of the times.
 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book, as I have done.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time. 
 

 

Please remember.  This post is for T Stands For Tuesday. 


Today's Forecast

 

Blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  I cannot seem to get rid of the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I am very frustrated and hope you realize I DO keep trying.  Be aware, I read each of your posts and am thrilled many of you are still sticking by/with me, regardless.

I want to thank Wendy for hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) in November.  I had lots of images left over from my Time altered book, but I was so busy trying to get comments to work, I didn't have time to make art.  This has been a very frustrating month for me.

Today we welcome a new host, as we do each month on the 1st. It is a second time host, Sharon from "That Girl Fritchey!"  Sharon wants us to share anything Winter.  She gave us several examples on the AJJ blog.

Sharon and I have a thing in common.  We both love a good play on words.  Details below.



The inspiration for this piece started with a 12 inch X 12 inch (30.48 centimeters square) napkin.  I began with a sheet of cardstock to which I glued a portion of a newsletter on cholesterol.  I then glued the napkin over the newsletter and adhered the excess to the back of the assembly.  Once secured, I added the computer generated focal sentiment and the snowman.  Finally, I added the plastic snowflakes.

Please remember we welcome art journal pages that meet the theme requirements, altered book pages, canvases, loose, or stand alone pages including fabric and digital art.  I (and the administrators) cannot leave comments on Facebook, TicTok, or Instagram entries.  We do not allow cards!!!  Period! We also don't allow tags, index cards, ATCs, or ATCoins, unless they are part of a journal page, and as much as we don't want to, will be forced to delete your entry.  Please remember if your blog is not in English, we ask that you translate it for us since the translation tool doesn't work on some blogs, including mine.  Finally, we do not allow back-links to any journal page published prior to the start date of this month's challenge. Hope to see you and your Winter inspired art soon at Art Journal Journey.
 
Thank you so much for visiting today.  I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey with your own interpretation of Winter.
 

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Treasure Trovember Week Four

 

Blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  I cannot seem to get rid of the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I am very frustrated and hope you realize I DO keep trying.

These are my final entries for Treasure Trovember.  I am SO grateful that you stopped by and let me know, even though I can't reciprocate.

Another year complete.  These are the images I found using the prompts (below) I was given.These are the prompts for Days  23 through 30.
 
The map is of New York, Vermont, and Quebec, Canada.
The number, which I glued upside down, is part of a shipping/packing slip label. 
The beep comes from the truck with the tree on top.
The sign is a 1972 ad from the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon.
Thurston's was apparently a well known department store in Wichita, KS (USA).
The blob came from my pink Posca pen.
The salad and baked potato were from an ad in a 1972 Ladies Home Journal.
The cardinal was from a Christmas card.

Thank you beyond belief for sticking with me through these four weeks, even if I can't seem to leave comments.


Monday, November 24, 2025

T Stands For More Spice Merchant Mugs

 

Once again, I must apologize. For those of you who only visit on the occasional T Tuesday, if you wonder why you haven't heard from me, it's because Blogger has once again chosen to rear its ugly head and forbid me from leaving comments.  I get "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later."  I keep trying every so often.  This is more frustrating than you can imagine and my stress levels are extremely high.  One of these times, I'm hopeful my comments will get through.

Now let's return to The Spice Merchant. 

Several of you wanted to see the Christmas mugs on the lower shelf I showed two weeks ago.  I cropped several photos in hope you will be able to see them a bit better.

 



 

And possibly my favorite mug is the Christmas tree.  For those of you who are new to my blog, I decorate my home in all different types of tabletop Christmas trees each year.  I had to laugh at the description.  Basically, the tree becomes a carcass that sheds needles you find and pick up all over your home the rest of the year. 

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book, as I have done.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time. 
 

 

 
Don't forget it's time to dig up your Second on the 2nd.  Any style, any genre, any length, as long as it has been published sometime before 2 December, 2025.
 

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Treasure Trovember 2025, Week Three

 

Blogger is STILL not allowing me to leave comments.  ONE comment made it through yesterday and I was dancing for joy until I tried it a second time and got the dreaded "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later." Please understand I am very frustrated and hope you realize I DO keep trying.

 These are the images I added based on the prompts Kelly gave us.

To make sense of the images, here are the prompts I was given for Days 16 through 22.  Explanations are below.

You may find Cascade in many kitchens, although not in mine.  I'm the dishwasher here.

My three triangles were from a rug in a 1972 Home & Garden magazine.

I am terrible at asemic writing and made a big mess by using a yellow Posca pen.

What is better than HOT chocolate?  Box found in a 1975 Ladies Home Journal.

The money was Chinese and from my stash.

Blueberry pie is just sweet enough for me.  Image found in a 1972 Home & Garden magazine.

Blue is one of my favorite colors.  Copper is the other. I used a blue felt tip pen and a stencil to create the circles.

Thank you beyond belief for visiting today.  I am grateful, even if I still can't leave you a comment.


Monday, November 17, 2025

T Stands For Triple Chocolate

 

If you wonder why you haven't heard from me, it's because Blogger has once again chosen to rear its ugly head and forbid me from leaving comments.  I get "Failed to Publish, Try Again Later."  I keep trying every so often.  One of these times, I'm hopeful my comments will get through.

Now let's share some drinks.

Not just double the chocolate, but triple the chocolate for T this week at my dining room table.

The first chocolate is the drink, a chocolate protein drink.

The other is my double chocolate "muffin."  There is chocolate cake with chocolate chips mixed in, not just on top, but all the way through.  To be honest, it was so rich, I couldn't eat it all in one sitting.

I've shown you mine, now it's your turn to share your T entry this week.  The rules are extremely simple.  Your drink related post may be anything from a photo of a glass, cup, or mug, to an actual drink.  You may choose to share a sketch or a digital, hybrid, or traditional page in your scrapbook, art journal, or altered book, as I have done.  Maybe you'd prefer to share a tag, or wow us with your photography.  You might choose a postcard or decorated card.  You might even draw an image on a used tea bag.  Or perhaps you prefer to review a place you visited, a movie, or book.  It makes no difference as long as it's drink related.  And don't forget that the more unique and outside the box it is, the better we like it.  Please tie it back here, and please link only to your T post, not your entire blog.  When you link, Bleubeard, the T gang, and I will be by to visit.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.