Memorial Day Canvas Shrine

While making my shrines for the swap over at Paper Whimsy, I came up with this idea to use the poppy that I got earlier in the day at the store. I loved the color of the poppy and had originally wanted to use a turquoise to accent it...but found these PW images and really loved the colors.

Just feeling a bit proud of what our servicemen and women have done for our country and wanted to add it to some of my art.

Thank you to those who have or are serving.

PW Canvas Shrine - The Best Day

Over at Paper Whimsy Chris T. is hosting a Canvas Shrine Swap. I've never done this before, so I decided to join in.

I try to do my homework before I start a new project, so I looked on the internet for ideas. Found very few, but was able to come up with some ideas from what I saw.

I used a very light-weight spackling compound to add texture and fill in the crack on the back of the canvas. I only textured three sides of the canvas just in case I wanted to "stand" the shrine. After I completed this I used a rubber stamp to add more texture and depth and then let it all dry.

While it was drying, I narrowed down which images I wanted to use and decided upon this little paper doll. It's hard to tell from this picture, but I made her 3-D. There's lace behind her high collar, her hat head and neckline are 3-D, and her umbrella is 3-D. I added a copper handle and peg to the umbrella too. Her broach at her neckline I used Paper Glaze to make it look gem like, and added glitter to the wings.

I sprayed the whole canvas with black spray paint, and after that dried started layering the colors. The niche behind the paper doll is a copper color and I used a piece of vintage measuring tape. The title of this work is "The Best Day"...and I finished that out on the back by saying..."The Best Day is measured in happiness, not inches".

The flourish handle above the paper doll is also vintage...these items are from my personal collection of savings from over the years. The key I found in my junk drawer.

I hope my swap partner likes it!

Audrey Hepburn (Amelia) Goes to Prom

This is the year that my daughter graduates from High School. In these last two weeks of May and first week of June she attends her Senior Prom, turns 18, and graduates High School.

The dress that she wore for the Prom was her grandmother's dress from 1957. Sondra wore this dress in a wedding for one of her friends. The dress went over the shoulders, but Amelia wanted a strapless dress so Carol Anderson was able to help us out and alter the dress and take up the length just a bit.

Amelia is wearing two crinolins to get the "full" affect. She found a hairstyle that was one that Audrey Hepburn wore in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and decided that was how she wanted to wear her hair. She wore her Great Great Aunt's pearl necklace and some pearl earrings she borrowed from me. Her date was a friend from school. They went with a group of friends and ate at the "Cheesecake Factory" before Prom.

The following day was Amelia's 18th birthday and she and 4 other friends headed to Ohio to spend the day at a local Amusement Park. They met up with other friends from school and spent the day riding roller coasters.

Now we just have to get through Graduation Open House and Graduation itself.

ART Blast

Here's one of the Art Blast cards I put together for the Art Blast Swap through ARTchix. I was having a difficult time getting inspired to do the Swap...I just couldn't imagine coming up with something different. BUT, as the deadline draws closer...I knew that I had to come up with something.

I have learned so much since I started in January. I look back at my first creations and see a lot of growth. Part of the problem for me is that I like immediate gratification....so I don't dwell on my art after I've started creating it. Sometimes I look back and think...I should have....BUT, I do spend a lot of time BEFORE I start a piece looking and looking at it....moving things around, change this, changing that. Usually if I need to create 6 of something I can get the first 4 with no problem and the last two are not my favorites...loss of inspiration maybe...or sometimes it's that I've used up my favorite pieces on the required collage sheet.

Wow! This has gotten wordy....I think I will stop at this and tell you that I plan to do 6 more. That's my plan anyway...wish me luck!!