It's Still Easter!

According to the Gregorian/Christian calendar, which is used by Catholic and Protestant denominations, Easter Sunday is just the first day of Easter.  After a little research, I now understand that the celebration is officially over on Trinity Sunday.  Therefore, I felt it was appropriate to do an Easter tribute this week, since we are really only 4 days into it.

I started planning for my daughter's Easter baskets above a month ago, when I made a pair of Tim Holtz inspired flower broaches.  After the latter, I designed the cards using some EK success paper doll templates and DCWV prints.  To dress them, I traced various pieces, and modified some, to fit my design.  To do the background, I also used Tim Holtz tissue and a K&Company Stamp.  I finished my design by punching the corner design using a couple of EK Success punches.  As to the Easter egg ornaments, I used some scroll cut wooden forms.  I sponged the background using various acrylic paint colors.  When they were dry, I hand lettered the Bible verse from James 4:10, "The Lord shall raise you up."  I varnished and embellished them with a hand made Sculpey flower, a metallic number, Martha Stewart rhinestones, a mother of pearl cross, and various trim ties.  I arranged all the elements in the baskets along with some candy and ribbon ties.  I am submitting this project to Simon Says Stamp and Show - April 1 (A Very Strict Challenge), Pin & Tack: Challenge #8 Anything Goes, and Blog Dos Desafios #12 Vintage.

The photograph above is of my family's Easter Sunday celebrations.  Of course, we began the day by attending church, which includes the flowering of the cross.  My girls have been taking part in this tradition since we first moved to Del Rio 13 years ago.  Once we got home, the girls took care of dinner, and I set the table.  Did you notice the  rabbit napkin holders I made?  I got the head idea from Digs Digs, but I used teacups to simulate the rabbits' bodies.  Since I used some old wooden eggs, they were very easy to make.  By the way, I made the photo collages above using the "Strip Design app" on my iPhone, and matted them in orange because of its feeling of warmth.  I am submitting this last photo to 52 Photos Project: Gallery 50 {Tangerine}, Orange You Glad It's Friday #32, and Mandarin Orange Monday #36.

I was challenged to do the art journal page above by my friend Jennifer McLean, during her Artist's Play Room #51 - Peacocks.  She apparently has fond memories of these animals.  I've been fascinated by their beauty, so I have a trio of their tail feathers sitting in a cup in my studio.  I used one of them as a model to illustrate it using Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens.  Next, I found this Bible verse which I thought completed my art journal page perfectly - don't you think so?  I used the same type of pen to do the hand lettering.  I am also submitting this art journal page to Art Journal Journey - Landscape Within Me and Sunday Sketches.

This next page was primarily inspired by Illustration Friday - Egg.  I began by designing the 3 eggs using various hand painted paper scraps that I had from previous projects.  I used a Fiskars Shape Cutters template system to cut the oval shapes.  However, the flower designs were all cut free hand.  I shaded the edges with an ink pad to give them a little dimension.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the eggs, so I moved them around my page as I visualized various ideas.  When I found a photograph of a little girl holding a basket online, I knew I wanted to do a Twenty Minute Challenge micron pen sketch to complete my page.  It actually only took me about 15 minutes to do it - LOL!  I am also submitting this page to Inspiration Avenue - April and Inspire Me Monday - Week 66.

Last, but not least, I want to share this ATC size mixed media piece that I made of "The Lamb of God."  Jesus was the sacrificial lamb who served as the atonement for our sins.  Therefore, the lamb is truly the best symbol for this special celebration in the Christian calendar.  I began this page by using a watercolor washes and salt technique.  When it was dry, I did the drawing with a pencil first, and then traced it with micron pens.  I used oil pastels to highlight the drawing.  I did my lettering with the micron pen too, and then went over it with a Sharpie poster-paint marker.  I am submitting this piece to Crafting By Designs: It's All About Animals!, Word Art Wednesday #74, What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 200, Paint Party Friday - Week 4/Year 3, and Sweet Saturdays Week 94.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my celebration of Easter through art.  Thank you for all your kind comments last week, and don't forget you are cordially invited to follow my blog if you are not already doing so.  Blessings!