Important holiday and dates today

  

You surely know by now that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

Be aware please, even though I read each post you link through AJJ, I can't leave comments on any blog, including my own.  I believe it's a blogger problem.

And because I have a ton of media, I'm also joining Creative Artiste and their 123rd Challenge (their theme is always Anything mixed media goes), even though I can't leave any comments to my visitors from their blog, either.

This is an important day, culturally.  Both Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year (CNY) land on this date in 2026.  Details are below.

 

I began by adhering Joss papers to the 8.5 X 11 inch (21.59 X 27.94 centimeter) 110 lb. cardstock.  I adhered the NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana) court house and statue to the page.  I glued the Mardi Gras masks in place.  I then adhered the lanterns, which are German scrap.  Next, I added the sentiments and the date.  

 

Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Lent begins, traditionally celebrated by eating pancakes to use up rich ingredients like eggs and milk before the fasting period. There is a famous celebration in Olney, Buckinghamshire, England and Liberal, Kansas (USA).  The friendly competition between Liberal and Olney, with women running 415 yards down the streets of each town flipping pancakes, has been going on for 73 years.  It is still the only race of its kind on the planet.  As of Pancake Day, 2025, there have been 42 wins for Liberal and 31 for Olney.

 

For the bottom half, I adhered the 60 symbols Joss paper which doesn't contain any gold or silver.  As an aside, Joss paper is also known as incense paper.  It is meant to be folded and burned.  Joss paper is traditionally made from coarse bamboo paper, which feels handmade, although rice paper might also be used.  Traditional Joss paper is cut into individual squares or rectangles.  Never burn these papers, even though they were meant to be burned.  Joss paper emits toxic components from the gold or silver.  This causes health risks because there is a significant amount of heavy metals in the dust, fumes, and ashes.

 

For the center of the Joss paper, I included a Chinese coin to which I added a piece of wood which I wrapped in fabric.  I then added the red envelope, which is traditionally given to children on CNY.  To the envelope I adhered a Chinese yen coin.  Finally, I added the sentiments.  This is the year of the male (yang) red Fire Horse.  Today is also the start of year 4723.

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly delighted you stopped by on this holiday, and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey and Creative Artiste (even if we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone or Anything mixed media goes. 

 

 

T Stands For Mug and Kisses

 

I want to reiterate PLEASE don't think I'm a bad host because I don't leave you a comment on your blog.  Unfortunately, even though I read each post, for some unknown (to me) reason, I am unable to leave comments to anyone, even on my own blog.

You probably know by now that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

I love a good play on words and that is what I've created today for T.  Details are below.

 

I began by eating a plethora of Valentine Hershey's Kisses.  The sacrifices we must make for art (grin).  I then laid down both pink and red wrappers from the kisses.  Unfortunately, unlike the kisses, that narrow strip of paper called a plume, the aluminum foil wrappers were not all the same size.  Plus, they tore easily when I adhered the glue stick.  They tore even more when I adhered the kisses plume.

 

Now, please join me at my dining room table.

 

My art and mug are shown above.

 

This is my Love mug and a few Valentine kisses.  The mug sits on a gifted (by Elle/eotc) mug rug.

 

My art on the dining room table probably looks better on my scanner.

 

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, although I'm sure I won't be able to comment.   Bleubeard would also like to remind you that your photos may be taken any time.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presidents' Day in the USA

 

I'm sure by now you are tired of reading I am unable to leave comments on any blog, including my own, even though I visit each and every link left at Art Journal Journey (AJJ).   It's true and frustrating.  Even Google AI isn't able to help me.

If you live in the states, today is a Federal holiday. It is a celebration of George Washington's birthday, but has been changed to Presidents' or President's Day.  It is always celebrated on the third Monday in February.  

Originally it was intended to be a three day holiday for Federal workers, but has turned into a weekend of commercialism, with discounts of big ticket items such as appliances, furniture, and especially mattresses.  This is so retailers can clear their inventory by taking advantage of tax season. 

Today is Presidents' Day in the USA.  And what better way to recognize it than to visit Mount Rushmore.  Details are below.

 

This is the first time I noticed I was running out of toner in my black-only laser printer.  It became obvious when I printed the Mount Rushmore image.  

I colored part of the sky with a blue watercolor pencil and the trees with a green watercolor pencil.  I outlined the sentiment in black dye ink.  Note the mistake in the first paragraph.  I didn't until it was already glued in place.

Bleubeard and I are incredibly pleased you stopped by on this holiday, and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even if we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone. 

 

Etretat, France

 

As some of you know, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Please be aware, however, I am unable to leave comments on any blog, including my own, even though I visit each and every link left at AJJ.  

Today we are headed back to France. 

We are visiting Etretat, a resort on the northern coast of France today.  Details are below.

 

 

I began by creating one of my favorite backgrounds: a turquoise Staz-on reinker and 91% isopropyl alcohol.  Sadly, it doesn't show that well hardly at all in the scan.  I was lucky to find two different views of Etretat showing the cliffs, the golf course, the arch, and the Needle.  I computer generated the words and printed them on my black-only laser printer.

 

Bleubeard and I are incredibly happy you stopped by and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even if we can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone. 

 

 

Valentine's Day

 

As you probably know by now, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Please be aware, however, I am unable to leave comments on any blog, including my own, even though I visit each and every link left at AJJ.   

Today we are celebrating Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine. Over time, it has evolved into a cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of love and affection in many parts of the world.  Details are below.

 

 I began by stenciling the hearts which are punchinella, also known as sequin waste, over the entire 5.5 X 8.5 inch (13.97 X 21.59 centimeter) cardstock using red dye ink.  I then stamped and fussy cut both stamped images. I stamped the larger Tim Holtz stamp which is by Ranger (Stampers Anonymous) several times, to no avail.

 I believe I got such a good deal on this stamp which was originally $11.99 (USD) because it had been returned to the store defective.  I didn't use any green ink or paint on the stamp.  I bought it that way.

 

Thank you so much for visiting today.  I hope you will join Bleubeard and me at Art Journal Journey (even though we can't leave comments) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.   

  

 

Blame it on the cat

 

As some of you know, Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Please be aware, however, I am unable to leave comments on any blog, including my own, even though I visit each and every link left at AJJ.  

Since it's Friday the 13th, we have a post about a cat, albeit not completely black. 

Bleubeard is offended by today's entry.  He believes the dog is to blame.  Detail images are below.

 

 I began by swishing a balloon in both green and blue fluid acrylic paints left from a previous page I created.  While the paint was still wet, I attached the yarn to the page, which was 110 lb. cardstock.  Once dry, I added the cat and the computer generated words to the 8.5 X 11 inch (215.9 X  27.94 centimeter) page.

 

Bleubeard and I are simply delighted you stopped by and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even if I can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

 

Giverny

 

You may know by now that Bleubeard and I are hosting Art Journal Journey (AJJ) this month.  Our theme for the entire month is Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.

Be aware please, even though I read each post, I can't leave comments on any blog, including my own.  It may be a blogger problem, or one I accidentally created myself.

Today Bleubeard and I are off to Giverny, where we will visit the amazing gardens created by Claude Monet.  Details are below.

 

In case you didn't know, Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter and a key figure in the Impressionist movement. He is renowned for his innovative approach to capturing light and color in nature.  In 1883, Monet moved to Giverny, where he created a famous garden and water lily pond that inspired many of his later works.  Monet is credited with giving the Impressionism movement its name through his painting "Impression, Sunrise" (1872).

 

I started by laying down turquoise dye ink through a stencil.  When dry, I added the computer generated words and the image I found in a travel brochure.  Finally, I added the see-through stickers I found in my stash.

 

Bleubeard and I are simply delighted you stopped by and hope to also see you at Art Journal Journey (even if I can't leave you a comment) with your own interpretation of Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.  Thanks beyond belief for sticking with me!