Friday Art Smorgasbord - Summer's Over

Well, this is my last week of Summer, since I go back to school on Tuesday.  It's been one of the best Summers ever and thank the Lord for it.  However, I am ready to go back and work with my gifted and talented students.  They are truly a delightful group of children, so they make it worth my time and effort.  May God be my guiding light through my work with them during the school year.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Anyway, I finished my tag inspired by the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 - August techniques last weekend.  I loved Tim's background, so I cut, embossed, painted and distressed it almost exactly as he did.  However, I substituted some of the tools, because I don't own the ones he used.  As I mentioned last week, I designed my own rose and leaf patterns, as well as painted the papers with which I made them.  Since I didn't have the silhouette stamp and frame either, I designed a paper locket with a hidden magnet closure.  I arranged a corsage with the roses for the outside and used my hand-cut daughters' childhood silhouettes inside.  Finally, I added a filigree earring drop for my topper, along with some vintage ribbon, pearls and a key.  I glued a gold ribbon trim along the bottom as a finishing touch.  I am also submitting this tag to Simon Says Stamp and Show - Favorite Technique and Paint Party Friday Week 23.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I designed this second tag for my Tag Tuesday - Theatre and Cinema post, which was inspired by my dates to the movies with my 2 girls, as well as by Hispanic Actors and Actresses.  For more details about my inspiration and to see the amazing tags by my team members, click on the blog's link.  I used an actual popcorn box panel for this tag.  The glittered stars were store bought, but I glittered the slide mount.  The photographic collage was done digitally, printed, cut, and attached with glue and strips of Tim Holtz washi tape.  I used my Tim Holtz tiny attacher to staple the tickets.  I am also submitting this to the Order of the Opus Gluei Challenge #137 - Red Hot and to Inspire Me Monday - Week 32.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

This Twenty Minute Challenge art journal entry was inspired by Inspiration Avenue - Fairies and Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Animal Antics.  Gnomes are one of my favorite kind of fairytale characters, especially the ones illustrated by Rien Poortvliet.  I based this drawing on an illustration in his 1970's book.  It reminds me of Civilla D. Martin's hymn, "His Eye is On the Sparrow."  Just like the gnome is looking over the sparrow, the Lord's eye watches over us and all of his creation.  I did the drawing in 20 minutes, but added the title and the "Smash" date tape afterwards.

What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday #167
Vintage Metal Boxes and Coke Crate for Punch Storage
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

My soul mate for life'

Precious favor from the Lord,

Lisa, my true love.
© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

I am submitting this photograph of my wife to 52-Photo Project - Gallery 17 {A Moment of Life} and Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #41.  I took this photograph during a trip my wife and I took when we were dating to visit some friends in the Texas Hill Country.  It is one of my favorites, so I keep a copy of it framed in my studio.  According to Proverbs 18:22, "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord."  That is exactly what I realized during that trip.  Therefore, I also proposed during that trip and truly feel blessed to have her in my life ever since.  As a complement to my wife's photograph, I wrote the poem below it, which I'm submitting to Haiku Heights #157 - Soul.

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Jenn had a true challenge for me at the Artist Playroom #22 - Make me laugh!  I love humor, but writing it does't always come easy to me.  Fortunately, Sunday Postcard - Travel and Three Muses - Invitation Mail Art helped me come up with an idea.  Neither my wife nor daughters know how to travel lightly, so it's always challenging to transport luggage when we travel, since I'm often the one in charge of this task.  The faux postcard that I illustrated is of me carrying all the luggage.  The invitational text reads, "Wish you were here... because I can't find the Bellboy!

© Arnoldo L. Romero 2012

Last, but not least, I designed a Celtic Angel card inspired by the Take a Word Challenge - Wings and the Card Positioning Systems - Sketch #278.  I also used The Play Date Cafe Challenge #145 color story of burnt sienna, mustard, and slate, because it worked perfectly with my design.  I began with a Tim Holtz print for the background and cut the wings from metallic slate cardstock.  I drew the wings details with black micron pens and an slate Prismacolor pencil.  I used a circle punch to cut the face and illustrated it with the micron pens, as well as burnt sienna and mustard Prismacolor pencils.  The "believe" stamp is from a kit by Magnetic Poetry, and the mustard jewels are from an Art-C ephemera kit.  I love the ephemeral feel of this card.

As I mentioned at the opening of this post, I'm going back to school next week.  Therefore, my "Friday Art Smorgasbord" will be on a diet for a while.  However, God willing, it will be able to keep its nutritional value (or quality) - LOL!  As usual, you are invited to leave a comment and/or join my list of followers.  That truly motivates me.  Thank you for all your encouraging words on my last post.  Blessings!