Art Smorgasbord - Struggles

Between two financially draining home repairs, my oldest having bronchitis, and an extremely stressful work situation, this was a difficult week for me.  What's worse, the destruction and deaths caused by the tornadoes in Oklahoma last Monday broke my heart.  They TRULY had a difficult week.  Therefore, I know many of them may be comforted by Psalm 43:5, which says, "Why am I discouraged?  Why am I restless?  I trust you!  And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God."  It is hard to be creative during times like this, but on the other hand, it is a blessing that can help us cope.

Friends

Last month I purchased the Tim Holtz Pediments die, but hadn't had a chance to use it.  With the thought of friends being of great comfort during life's struggles, I came up with a little series to use all 3 pediments.  For "Friends," I began by cutting a mask for a card and embossing it using the Tim Holtz bricked folder.  I distressed it to bring out the pattern.  Next, I used a Fiskars shapecutter template to cut the windows.  I marked the position of the windows on my card base and sketched the cats using a sepia Pentel color brush within the marked area.  I attached the mask to the base and proceeded to decorate it to simulate the facade of a building using the pediment, orangey flowers, foliage, a number sticker, a pearl, and a "friends" label.  I am submitting this piece to Order of the Opus Gluei: Challenge #157 - Chat Noir, Diana Evans' 10 Minute Warm Up, Maria's Orange You Glad It's Friday #39, Paint Party Friday Week 11-Year 3, and Lorik's Mandarin Orange Monday #43.

Friend

For "Friend," I began by cutting an ATC sized piece of re-purposed cardboard and distressing it.  I cut the door shape using a Fiskars shapecutter tag template.  I attached the threshold and pediment, as well as a star enhanced with distress stickles to complete the doghouse look.  I made an origami puppy dog using a folding technique I learned from Paul Jackson.  I  drew a simple face on my version using a micron pen, as well as added a handmade collar and tag.  You may recall the puppy from a card I designed for my March 4, 2012 post.  I arranged my pieces on the card base, and finished the card by tying a dog paw print bow on the side. I am submitting this piece to Collage Obsession - Choose One Word, Crazy Amigo Challenge: Templates, What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 207, Manon Visser's Paper Saturdays,  and Alexandra's Sunday Sketches.

Blue Skies Up Above

With a feeling of faith and hope in the Lord, I came up with the tag shaped card design, "Blue Skies Up Above."  This was one of those card designs that developed as I was working on the tag, since I didn't have a clear idea of what I was doing when I stared.  I began by cutting the rectangular shaped portion of the birdhouse and embossing it with my Tim Holtz woodgrain folder.  The cardstock I used already had a painterly looking print, so I enhanced it by using various distress ink pads in brown shades.  I punched a hole to create the entrance and highlighted it with a micron pen.  I completed the look with a vintage button, rickrack, a tiny attacher, 3 layered flowers, a fleur, an Industrial Chic number charm, as well as a K&Company bird die cut and phrase.  I finished the look by punching a hole to the top and tying some ribbons.  I am submitting this piece to Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge: Favorite Ink, Jennifer McLean's Artist's Play Room #58 - Do What You Want, Tag Tuesday - T is for Tableau.

Waterdrops

In closing, I leave you with a photograph I took with my iPhone 4S of my wife's African Violets.  I sprayed them with some water to create the feeling of dew.  (I am submitting this photograph to 52 Photos Project: Gallery 5 {Waterdrops}, Word Art Wednesday #81, and Artists in Blogland: Show & Tell Saturday.)  May this beautiful purple, which is the color of royalty, remind us of Psalm 9:9, "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble."  Thank you for taking the time to stop by, for leaving a comment, and/or for joining my list of followers.  Godspeed!  ¡Vaya con Dios!