Art Smorgasbord - My Creative Escapades

Being in the full swing of Summer, I've been very busy working around the house.  However, I always find time for my daily creative escapades.  They're so much fun!

The tag above was inspired by Tim Holtz's Americana Woodlands post, where he transformed his woodland trees.  I translated the concept into my original tag design.  I cut a tag from a K&Company Americana striped print using a die and then distressed it.  Next, I glued terminology tissue wrap to grungeboard and used a die to cut a pine tree.  I divided the tree into 3 diagonal stripes by distressing the opposite ends with red and blue.  I covered the foliage area with star dust stickles to add some texture.  Next, I hand lettered the text and sketched the miniature landscape on a scrap of cardstock, which I also distressed.  I stapled it to the tag and tied some baker's twine with a button to the bottom portion.  I attached the tree using foam dots, as well as a game piece and a bottle cap decorated with a circular USA Flag design.  I added some coordinating distressed ribbons as ties.  I am submitting this piece to Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Stripes, Three Muses Challenge - Numbers, and Diana Evans' 10 Minute Warm Up.

The patriotic assemblage above began with the free hand paper cut of the beach tents.  Since I won't get to sit at a sunny beach and read this Summer, I can at least reminisce about it - LOL!  When I saw Tim's Patriotic Rosette Ribbons, I decided to design one of my own to place in my assemblage.  However, I used a Martha Stewart scoring board and Fiskars pinking shears to make mine.  I did use the tissue tape and tinsel twine, but I combined it with K&Company Americana prints and did not do any stitching.  I cut the center piece with the mini bottle cap die - the glittered star was store bought.  Finally, I arranged the latter two pieces along with some old USA stamps to make the assemblage.  I am submitting this piece to Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes, Crazy Amigo Challenge: Sun, and Manon Visser's Paper Saturdays.

I designed the Church stained glass window tag above for my Tag Tuesday: Letter Y post this week.  My inspiration came from the phrase "young ones," which is sometimes used to refer to children.  The  drawing is based on Matthew 19:14, which reads  - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  I used the same techniques as in the letter X tag that I made last week.  (By the way, this drawing and the one I used last week came from some doodles I did in my art journal back in 2001.)  I am also submitting this tag to Jennifer McLean's Artist's Playroom #63 - Go Doodle and Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #86.

Since I used Tim Holtz dies in the 3 previous projects, I decided to compose a photographic montage showing how I store them.  I stack two vintage bicycle baskets, a shallow one and a deep one, as you can see in the upper left hand shot.  The top tray has my repositionable magnetic dies, a small wire basket with embossing folders, and some of my Bigz dies.  (My family's new kitten jumped in the top basket when I was playing around with arrangements, so I took the picture in the upper right hand corner.  LOL!)  In the bottom basket I have the rest of my Bigz dies.  I am submitting this photograph to Julia Dunnit's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 212, Jen Price's In The Studio, and Inspire Me Monday - Week 78.

The last three photographs are of other creative endeavors I've been working on.  The office supply collection is a photographic composition I did for 52 Photos Project: Gallery 10 {Neon Color}, Maria Cochino's Orange You Glad It's Friday #44, and Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday #48.  I had fun looking around my studio for items I could incorporate into the composition and then adjusting it digitally.  The grilled portabella mushrooms and onions is of one of the dishes I've made this summer.  I placed them in a bun with slices of swiss cheese, tomatoes, and avocado to make nutritious vegetarian burgers!  It brings me true happiness to cook for my family, but don't get to do it much during the school year.  I am submitting this photograph to Collage Obsession: You, Sarah Evan's Inspire, and Take a Word Challenge - True Happiness.  Last, but not least, is a 14"x18" acrylic icon of "Joseph with the Child Jesus" that I'm currently writing.  I love the reflective and prayerful process of working on this type of pieces.  As an artist, the intricate highlights and shadows in their robes can be very engrossing too.  I am submitting this work in progress to Inspiration Avenue: Outfits for all Occasions, Paint Party Friday Week 16/Year 3, and Alexandra's Sunday Sketches.

I hope you enjoyed my creative escapades as much as I did.  I want to thank everyone who took the time to leave words of encouragement during my last two posts, as well as those who chose to follow me.  Blessings!