Swimming, Dancing, and My Girls

I am very proud of my two daughters, and truly believe they are God sent.  Although they are quite different in looks, temperaments and taste, I love them both the same.  To them, I dedicate this post.

© Arnoldo L. Romero

Abby is my youngest and the athlete in the family.  She is in her high school's cross country team, as well as in a city swim team.  (I designed the logo above for her swim team.)  She's quite good at both sports and has earned several recognitions, medals and trophies.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Since Tag Tuesday's theme is Swimming, it was the perfect opportunity for me to make her a tag in honor of one of her passions.  I began by coating the tag using two shades of acrylic blue paint.  When it was dry, I taped a strip of beaded fringe to the bottom of the tag.  Then, I cut strips of a blue-green print to simulate waves, and glued them on the background.  I also punched three swirls out of a light blue print and pasted them between the waves.  I lettered in her name and dotted the waves with a silver Sharpie marker.  Next, I sketched Abby swimming with a pencil, inked the sketch, and illustrated it with water colors.  I attached the sketch to the tag with foam dots.  As a finishing touch, I made a tassel using 3 types of ribbon and a blue gem.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Carolyn Saxby and the other artists at Tag Tuesday for their continuous words of encouragement.  I am proud to be a part of such a talented team.  And Lynn Holland, if the team ever gets together physically, I'll be glad to bring a cake in celebration of having my "Seaside" Tag being post number 1000.  LOL!  (I am also submitting this tag to Take a Word Challenge - Blue.)

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Ana is my oldest daughter and the dancer in the family.  She's been in ballet, jazz and tap classes since she was in second grade, and was a member of Dance Company in High School.  Due to the intensity of her courses at A&M University, she didn't take dance during her Freshman year, but hopes to join a team this school year.

Since Collage Obsession's theme is Dancer(s), it was the perfect opportunity to make her a tag in honor of one of her passions.  I decided to use the Play Date Cafe's PDCC #139 color story of gold, nude and silver, because one of her solos was to the music of "Black and Gold," by Sam Sparro.  I began by creating a background on a piece of black paper by doodling flowers using gold, bronze and silver Sharpies.  I cut it into strips and glued them on the tag, along with a piece of dictionary print featuring the word "splendid."  Then, I added a strip of gold rick rack, a strip of silver sequins, and a nude colored flower in the bottom area.  I also wrote her name with the sharpies and outlined it in black.  Next, I sketched Ana with a pencil, inked it, and illustrated it with sharpies and colored pencils.  I attached the sketch to the tag with foam dots.  As a finishing touch, I created a tassel using nude, silver and gold ribbons.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I am submitting the next tag to the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 - July, who is celebrating the 4th of July with this month's tag.  I used all the techniques that Tim featured, but stapled an ATC featuring a watercolor marker scene I did of my girls with a tiny attacher.  I sprayed the ATC with a red mist and distressed the edges to fit the feel of the tag.  I also made a few changes in the embellishments.  First, I used a bottle cap with a ceramic star pin that my daughters used to wear when they were little.  I also substituted the metallic "4" with one of Tim Holtz game pieces; added color coordinated beads to the safety pin holding the Tim Holtz muse token; and used baker's twine, white ribbon, and blue rick-rack for my tassel.  I am posting my original sketch on the tag to the Twenty-Minute Challenge, and entering the tag to Simon Says Stamp and Show - Layered.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  As usual, you are invited to leave a comment and/or follow my blog. Blessings and remember...

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands.How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. 

Psalm 127:3-5