Mandala Monday prepares for T Stands 4 Tuesday

Today I'm joining Dawn at Girl Unwinding for Mandala Monday.

I agree that this is a bit wimpy, and I might have found more things to add to this mandala, but it's cold in my house, and I simply didn't have the energy and ambition to add to these tree mugs and plate.  Sometimes simple is (hopefully) good enough.  After all, there is a center and points radiating away from that center.  And that defines a mandala.

Now for a few close-up photos.

These two will be used whenever a couple visits
I can't decide if this one reminds me of the silly images I used to make with the help of my old dot matrix printer from the late 80s, or if it reminds me of country style decorations.  I'll let you decide.

This glass used to be a candle holder, but since it was immune to heat, it could be used for hot items in a pinch.  I like its elegance.

Don't forget to join Dawn for Mandala Monday.  I know she won't disappoint.

I'm also showing this on Creative Every Day (CED).

Summer of Color 3, Week 5: Candy Apple Red and Yellow

I want to begin by saying I tried to make it around to everyone, but time was not on my side this week.  With a holiday, out of town visitors, trips to the airport, and a massive clean-up in my yard, I was off the computer more than on it this past week.  For that I apologize.  Now lets get on with the SOC colors of the week.

I couldn't believe it.  This was the color combination I not only wanted, but a slight variation of it was what I suggested to Kristin, our wonderful hostess at Twinkle, Twinkle, before SOC3 began.  I had a plan.  I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  Then I thought about the NAME of the colors, and a competing thought came into view.  So that was when I knew I had to make two entries for this challenge.

For my first page, my supplies include (from left):
Clear acrylic block  (you can substitute glass, but you must cover or tape off the edges first)
White card stock
Yellow card stock
Plate for holding paint
Brayer
Red and Yellow fluid acrylics

Allow me to explain this photo.  The white card stock is located BELOW the acrylic plate which is rather hard to see in this photo. The card stock will help me guide the top card stock so I don't get too far off course.  And I know this red paint doesn't look red, but I assure you, it is red, and not on the pink side of red, either.  This camera must have a thing for twisting colors around while giving me really unclear shots, too.

I laid a stencil upside down on my acrylic plate and got a good load on my brayer.

But I've mentioned before that I am brayer challenged, and even this new brayer doesn't work well in this situation.  Instead, I ended up "stenciling" the paint onto the acrylic block using a paint brush.

I removed the stencil and laid my yellow card stock on the inked plate.

As I began removing the paper from the plate, I got this sinking feeling that the paint had dried on the plate and now the paper was stuck to it.  If you look closely at the acrylic plate, you can see bits of yellow "fuzz."  Then it was time to clean the mess I had made.  And my disappointment was beginning to show.

After cleaning for what seemed like hours, I finally got the paint off the brayer and the acrylic block which was drying in my kitchen when I took this photo.  A closer look reveals I have outlined each letter using a red ink pen.  Although not originally planned, I will sew this page to the other one I intend to make.  This will be the "back" side, which leaves room for punching holes on the right side of the card stock above.  My disappointment has now lifted.

Next,  I got out a rubber stamp and my Staz-on reinkers, since I didn't have the requisite ink I needed for this stamp.

And although you can't see it very well, I used the glittery Stickles on the side of the Candy Apple.  BTW, I told you that paint was red.  I am sure you believe me, now.  I call this piece "Apple for the Teacher."

My other piece began with what I think of when I think of red and yellow.  Although it looks more like pink and gold, it is really red and yellow I'm getting ready to spread around the white card stock using a plastic gift card.

I love how this simple technique makes such an amazing background.

Same red as before, this time paired with bright yellow on white card stock.  Lots of Asian influenced imagery.

I admit, when I had finished this piece, it felt not quite finished, so before I scanned it, I added the bit of joss paper in the lower left corner of the page.  When I scanned it, I felt it was now out of balance.

So I revised the piece by painting over the offensive joss paper.   Although you can still see a bit of it, at least, in my opinion, it's not quite so offensive.  Which version do you prefer?

Don't forget to visit Kristin for the links to all the other players this week.  I know they appreciate your visit as much as I do.

ICADs from June 24 to June 30

I'm happy that I've made it through an entire month making ICADs with Tammy at Daisy Yellow. 

Day 24

Continuing with my series on Hearts, I've sewn felt, an eye chart card, and a painted deli paper heart onto the IC.

Day 25

For this IC, I started with some crepe paper I spritzed with my handmade color mist.  To that I sewed the heart cut from scrapbook paper, then the stamped binding tape, then two birds (although not doves).

Day 26

Bits and pieces of collage fodder made up this IC.  I've found one of the variations I create on these cards is when I write the date and Bleubeard's and my names.

Day 27

More collage fodder was sewn to this IC.

Day 28

This started with a grey painted IC (did you see this on my WOYWW desk?), over which I sewed part of a map.  I then selected a butterfly from a gift from a friend, and a heart I made with scrapbook paper, over which I stamped Bleubeard's and my logos.

Day 29

Another bit of map was added to the leftovers from yesterday's heart.  I colored around the cut out portion of the heart.

Day 30

FINALLY!!  One month down, one to go.  Sewing, collage fodder, felt, and computer generated text make up this final card for June.

I've also decided to stop posting my ICADs on Sunday, so next week (or rather at the end of this week) I'll start posting on Friday, the day the links go up on Tammy at Daisy Yellow's site.  See you next month (hopefully) with more ICADs.

I'm also joining Creative Every Day (CED) later tonight.

Summer of Color 3, week 3: Lime green and purple

It's time once again for Summer of Color 3, or as those of us playing along like to abbreviate it: SOC3.  This is week 3, and if I read correctly, our colors are lime green and purple.  Gotta love how Kristin our hostess from Twinkle Twinkle has given us choices this year.  Now I'm not sure who all those people were who wanted these colors, but I thought they were especially difficult.  Difficult not just to work with, but also to come up with ideas for.

So I started with wooden stamps I made during my annual April recycling.

To those stamps and lavender card stock I added both purple and green-gold fluid acrylics and two shades of purple acrylic paints, along with iridescent white, titan buff, and black fluid acrylics.  I wanted to have the option to tint (lighten) or shade (darken) whatever color I was working with at the time.

So, did I not mention these colors reminded me of puke?  OK, maybe not puke, but certainly not Colors of Summer.  As a result, I created a mess.

I tried to make an abstract piece using card stock as my substrate.  I plan to turn all my 8.5 inch  X 11.5 inch (21.59 centimeter X 27.94 centimeter) SOC entries this year into a book.  I'll add the three holes at the end of the SOC collaboration and decorate the book covers.

Things I learned while making this piece include:
1.  Although I had a definite design idea in my head when I started, I quickly learned I can't draw using a paint brush.  Instead, I made a horrible mess and had to figure out a way to make it salvageable.
2.  I'm not very good at abstract art.
3.  As I suspected when I first saw these colors, they quickly turn to "mud" if not used properly.  After all, they are practically across the color wheel from each other.  And when you mix purple with green, there's a good chance you're going to get brown "mud."

However, I was NOT about to only show that horrible abstract after my beautiful butterflies last week.  So, I first looked in magazines, then in my scrap paper, and when neither of those produced any viable images, went to the internet and found a lovely watering can at The Graphic Fairy's site.

After printing three images and fussy cutting everything, I came up with The Watering Can.  For the background I used some of my handmade shimmer mists.  The lighter color is supposed to be lime green, but looks more like lemon yellow when mixed with the darker red/purple.  Remember what I said about "mud?" 

At least I feel better about this one and they look more like what would pass for Summer of Color colors, this time being lime green and purple.  And of course, the watering can is just what we need to water our flowers on these hot days (if you live in the hot northern hemisphere like I do, that is).

Please don't forget to visit Kristin for links to others who are also playing in this Summer of Color.

ICADs: June 17 through June 23

This week found me quietly sewing away on my ICADs or index cards we make every day.  There are many people making them this year.   The idea was conceived by our host, Tammy at Daisy Yellow.  According to Tammy, it's never too late to start.


Day 17

This one was simple.  I found three pieces of ribbon, then cut them to size and sewed them to the IC using variegated thread.  Then I printed the word "Soar" and colored it.

Day 18

When I find anything that even RESEMBLES the Wizard of Oz, I am drawn to it.  I layered the ruby slippers and dictionary page over two layers of scrapbook paper (thanks Annette).


Day 19

It took longer for the glue to dry than if I had sewn these collage elements together.  A bit of color was added to the silver circle and letters.

Day 20

Possibly my favorite IC to date, I started with a dictionary page, then layered a Baby Bell cheese wrapper over that.  In order to cover up the words and logo on the cellophane wrapper, I cut a heart from scrapbook paper, then added a face over that.  I added the lace just because it was on my table.

Day 21

This element came from a strip of hand dyed fabric to which I tried to add writing.  I should leave the words and doodles to others!

Day 22

You probably can't see the words "Live in the moment," because I sewed over them, not realizing I had covered them beyond recognition.  But, after the lovely heart I made on Day 20, I got an epiphany.

Day 23

I decided to create a series of hearts.  Sewing them to the ICs made it even more enjoyable.  Here I started with red felt, then painted gray cardstock, collage fodder, and finally, a painted heart.  I really MUST learn to cut those hearts better!

I hope you enjoyed this week's worth of ICADs.  I've now renewed my interest in this project.

I'm also linking to Creative Every Day (CED) later tonight. 

And please don't forget to visit other ICAD players.  Each person brings her/his own perspective to this project, and it is a delight see what others have made.

ICADs: June 10 through June 16

I'm back from my friend Kathy's, but something has gone terribly wrong with my camera.  I can no longer get photos off it.  So, for now, I must hope for the best and see what I can do to correct the problem.  Sadly, that means I have no photos readily available from this week with Kathy, or the visit I had with Joseph over the weekend. 

Other than that, once again I'm linking to Tammy at Daisy Yellow.   These index cards, one made every day, was her concept, and she has shown us it can be done.

Day 10

Some surreal flowers made from paper I colored, a Baby Bell cheese wrapper, and some inked dictionary pages.

Day 11

To prove I'm not really a stamper, you can see the mess I made while trying to stamp this piece I found in a book.  It had nothing to do with love, but I made it appear that way when I added the hearts.

Day 12

This was a photo my friend Kathy gave me.  It is on photo paper, so I was surprised it scanned so well.  The name was stamped, but not by me.  I did, however, punch out and color the fleur-de-lis.  The background was made using some of my handmade color washes.

Day 13

I found these people on a card and cut them out.  But then, I couldn't made them fit unless I either cut them in half or turned them to the portrait position.

Day 14

These were cut from a collage sheet and it shows who made this card.

Day 15

Seasons change, and so do the weekly prompts.  Nearly in time for summer, I'm now ready to sew for awhile, as I did on this card for Day 15.  The hand dyed fabric is actually lavender, but it came out grey when I scanned it.  I used Kathy's sewing machine to make it, too.

Day 16

I love working with variegated colored threads, and although this looks similar to Day 15, the spools are actually different.  This is some leftover felt I tried to color awhile back.  I cut the piece to size and added the "9"  after I got home Saturday.  I started to write my name and the date in yellow, then realized the color wasn't going to show up, not even in a scan.

I hope you found at least one of these ICADs fun.  Some were fun to make, others a bit of a chore.  It's starting to get hard.

Before I leave, I want to remind everyone that today is Father's Day in the US, UK, and Canada.  I suspect my dear friend Voodoo Vixen (Annette) might be confused, since Father's Day is not celebrated until September 1 (this year) in Australia and New Zealand.  Regardless where you live, be sure to hug your father or someone who IS a father, today.

I'm also linking to Creative Every Day (CED).

ICADs for June 3 through June 9

Today I'm posting my Index Cards for Days 3 through 9.  If this is your first visit, you can catch up on the first two ICADs here and here. As promised, Silent Sunday is on hiatus through July 31, 2013.  To see what other ICAD participants have made, please visit Tammy at Daisy Yellow.

 Day 3

The prompt for Day 3 was faux sewing.  Since I'm better at my sewing machine than I am at doodling, I created this.  I began by laying white gesso, along with black and purple paint onto the substrate.  After the IC was dry, I swiped a dry brush of turquoise acrylic over that.  Then I sewed the two colors together over the IC.  Since I have trouble writing over gesso with my ink pens, I used a Sharpie for the sentiment and the date, but got brave and added my name using a Zig ink pen.

Day 4

I followed the Day 4 wallpaper prompt and cut a piece of wallpaper.  I then cut the butterfly from another sheet of wallpaper from the same manufacturer.

Day 5

My entire craft room is an exhibit and example of recycled/repurposed materials, Day 5's prompt, but I got the idea to cut a banner (known as a bunting to my British friends) from leftover ATC fodder.  Simple?  Yes, but I don't want to spend hours making these ICs each day.  Between coming up with the concept, finding the materials, putting the card together, and scanning the card, even this "simple" card took nearly an hour.

 Day 6

I spritzed an IC with some of my handmade mists, then painted white cardstock using bingo dabbers, which are much cheaper than the name brand dabbers a famous company sells.  I then cut the cardstock into crowns, Day 6's prompt, and affixed them to the IC.

Day 7

Here is where I stopped using the prompts.  I'm simply not a paisley kind of gal.  So, I spritzed two ICs with my handmade color mists, and cut one into pieces, and sewed the background.  I placed an image of a vase on top.

Day 8

I thought I might try the weekly prompt for this one by using pens to outline the words.  In case you can't read it, it reads "Dream in BLACK and WHITE with splashes of RED."

Day 9

I sprayed some commercial color mists, and one of my handmade color mists on a sheet of vintage sheet music.  I adhered the music to the IC, then found an image.  The lyrics read:

Her name was Lola
She was a showgirl

I have no idea what the rest of the song's lyrics are because that's all I know of the song.  However, ever since I made this IC late last night, I've been humming those two stanzas!

Thanks for visiting.  I'll be back next Sunday with ICADs 10 through 16.

Later tonight I'm also linking with Creative Every Day.  Little did I realize last Sunday that Leah had changed the link-up day to Monday.