Three Muses Challenge - Oriental

A new day and a new challenge!  This one is from The Three Muses.

I have to admit that I am in awe of Geisha.  Western culture doesn't really know what do think about Geisha.  The American occupation of Japan saw a troubling change in the perception of what Geisha were.  Geisha literally means Art Person.  It is a woman who dedicates her life to the pursuit of beauty and art.  When we think of Geisha we think of the alabaster white mask, red lips, swaying obi and beautiful kimono.  That picture is actually a Geisha in training; a Maiko.  These women traditionally started training at a very young age, learning the very strict protocol of a Geisha, working on her chosen art form - dance or music.  Learning to keep conversation flowing, but never interjecting her own opinion but able to listen and keep secret what is being said.  She is the most perfect of hostesses, making sure that her guests are supplied everything they need without asking.  It is not about sex or love, it is about art.  This life is as difficult as it is rewarding.  It takes a very special person to take on the endless training that it takes to the business of being Geisha.  That is partially the reason that the numbers of Geisha are declining.  Another reason is that Geisha is not understood by those outside of Japanese culture.   They are mysterious, even to glimpse one walking to her evening appointments is a special treat for Japanese and tourists alike.
This is an ATC (artist trading card).  The images on the card are from Nice Crane Designs.  The buddha bust is a brush that I downloaded free from the internet.

Transformation Deck - Tend your Garden

I suppose that could be a polite way of saying "mind your own business".  But for anyone that has spent anytime working in a garden, veggie or flower, it is a reminder that where you put your energies and attention will grow, prosper, and be successful.  You look for weeds, removing them so that what you really want will get the space and nutrition to get stronger, healthier.  Well, I'm no different than anything I helped my Grandkids grow this year.

There is an alchemy in working with what nature has given you; learning the natural laws of cause and effect.  The symbolics contained in this card are fairy = magic, serendipity, luck, whatever you want to call that special something that happens when you least expect it.  The Sun = warmth, nurture, nature, energy of life.  The butterflies and dragon fly = the butterflies are a symbol of transformation by their own life cycle. (A beautiful flying insect from a caterpillar?! )  I just threw the dragonfly because I like them.  The green fertile hills are just that but they also hold that which I have planted and which to harvest.  That would be patience, happiness, creativity, and strength.  In one way or another, I feel as though I am lacking in those areas of my life.   While some may argue with me, it is my heart that dictates what I need to focus on.
I want and need to thank Beth Rimmer from Deviant Scrap for her kit  "Secret Life of Woodlands".
Lori Davidson for her kit "Fairily Moonlit Mystics."  Many of her elements are hand drawn and painted.
Irene Alexeeva for her "Curves" template.  Since I use Photoshop Elements 6, I have to cheat and use templates for things such as this.  One of these years I'll become a big girl and get the full version of Photoshop.
Nicole Young for her kit "A Gypsy's Tale".  I only used one piece from this wonderful kit, but I made a promise to always give credit for anything I use from any designer.  (I keep my trusty notepad beside me for taking notes just for that reason.)

Thank you Ladies!

Transformation Deck

Over at Deviant Scrap there along is a special group of prompts similar to Sunday Postcard Art.  This is the Transformation Deck.  What these cards are is simple; 5x7 over sized playing cards displaying text and images that are meaningful to the designer.  So far there has been one prompt a month this year.  And in true style, I am now just discovering them.  It is so like me to play catch up.  (sighs deeply)  I am
finding these prompts useful in kick starting me into action.  While many different challenge sites offer the same prompts over and over again (don't pretend you don't know what I mean....it goes along with the sepia baby with wings and crown club) I have to say that "Release the Reins" presented we with a prompt that I really had to think about.  I even went font hunting so that I could get the "Wanted" poster feel.

"Release the Reins" - October prompt

"Balance"- June prompt

Believe - November prompt

In my head, I see me using this as a deck that helps me get over the creative "humps", those days when I don't want to do anything at all.  I am only working on imagery that "speaks" to me, in the hope that when I pull the card, I can feel the power of letting go, or remembering to believe in those things that you can't see but you can feel in your soul.  

I'm excited to dig into my library of images to see what I can come up with.  I have no doubts it will take a little bit to get them all done since I'm only working on a theme when I feel inspired and have a direction to go in.  

Stay tuned!

Remembrance Day- SPA

Today in the UK is Remembrance Day - here in the US we have a parallel holiday, Memorial Day.  In the  wonderful Wikipedia, it says that this day originally was set aside to remember the sacrifices of those who fought in World War I.
My maternal Grandfather fought in WWI, my paternal Uncle in WWI - dying in Okinawa on the first day of battle there. Another Uncle, fought in Korea.  I even have research to so a Great Grandfather in the Civil War.  And who knows, with further research I may have relatives in the Revolutionary War.

So, for Sunday Postcard  Art I present my family, proudly serving to protect freedom here and abroad.

Dia de los Muertos - SPA

Dia de los Muertos, the day of the Dead, is coming.  A day that asks the living to remember the dead (usually family members) with food, flowers, candles, song, and prayer.  Good times are celebrated as something wonderful in the cemetery.  Tombs are decorated with flowers and candles along with the favorite food of the deceased.  Family spends the day and night in the cemetery - its not a place to be afraid of, but to be drawn to.  Sugar skulls abound.  Skeletons are shown in art still participating in every activity of life as a reminder that we all walk with death every minute of our lives.
I really enjoyed working with the bright colors and great images that were provided by Tangie Baxter (Scrapbook Graphics ) and Sherrie JD (Deviant Scrap ).  Both of these kits are Dia de los Muertos by name...easy enough to remember!
This postcard in its full size will be printed out and made into a mailable card and sent out as part of another web site that I am a member of...PostCrossing.  I'll make another post about my experience with PostCrossing, but for right now, suffice it to say that I am enjoying sending my own creations around the world.

Mothers' Little Helper

There was a time when Mothers' Little Helper was Valium.  That was during the 60's when a womans' role was changing from stay-at-home wife and mother to the in-the-workforce, no-holds-barred, glass-ceiling-breaking force to be reckoned with.  Valium was the answer to the silent scream that millions of women were harboring in their hearts as their foundations were shook to their core.
Now, that we are more accepted in the workforce, politics, and in the hierarchy of some churches, life seems to be moving faster.  The haven from the insanity of the world that women had once created in their homes is now a check in station for the family unit as each scurries off to their activities.  The family table is the cell phone, a letter in the mail from friends and family is now a post on your Facebook wall.  We seem to run like hamsters on a wheel, scrambling, but never really getting anywhere.  And we are tired.
So I now present to you my newest postcard creation.
I love my profession.  And I love to laugh.  But in truth, Viagra is one of the more prescribed meds for Medicare recipients.  Its out of the closet and into the medicine chest.  This is a sad chuckle at the state of our society that we have to have a pill to make love and feel the closeness of our beloved.

ATC - Blue

I completely forgot!!!  This digital ATC is for the ATC swap over at Deviant Scrap.  The theme was "blue".  So I put in the blue bird of happiness and the blue moon watching over the happy couple.  All of the elements are from Crowabout B Studios over at DeviantScrap.com.  Now I just have to go get a black ink cartridge for my printer and get it finished.  This one gets mailed to England.  It seems that art really does bring people together!

Time for Tea - SPA

Sunday Postcard Art strikes again!

This time its Time for Tea.  With the Alice-mania out there, I thought I would put in my digital 2 cents in.  Everything except the pin-up girl is from Nicole Young from her kit "Lost in Wonderland"  I did re-color the bottom layer to black (aren't I talented? LOL).  The pin-up girl is from Revallsay over at  Deviant Art.

Steampunk Princess - SPA

FINALLY!  Finally, I've gotten the oomph to create something...ANYTHING!  Oi, I was getting depressed with all of the thinking, wanting, wishing, and dreaming of starting again, but never having the energy or drive to start.  I don't care what it is, laundry, gardening, painting a room or a masterpiece, we all go through it, of that I am certain.
Well, this one if for Sunday Postcard Art - the theme is Steampunk.  That wonderful Jules Verne/Sherlock Holmes (the new one)/Victorian science meets invention and whimsy.  Gears, gizmos, whatnots, and whingdings all in one neat package.  I love it.
The elements I have used come from College Obsession and Digital Scrapbook Place.  The picture is of Sarah Barnhart.   College Obsession used it as one of their challenge pieces under the title of "Worn".  The rest of the elements are from Lauren Bavin and Erica Belton "Steampunk Fun", "Steampunk Grunge", and "Seriously Steampunk" kits.
Thanks for peaking in!

Eternity in your Eyes

Eternity is the theme for this weeks Think Monday, Think ATC challenge.  THAT is a big challenge.

I was able to use papers from Giny Scrap Designs.  The kit is "Universe"  The eye was a clip art downloaded from the internet.  I extracted it from the back ground and put the milky way in the pupil.  I ran a few extra effects on the eye and on the text so that it would stand out a bit.    I really like the way this turned out!

SPA - Cats!

I will be one of those women who have lots of cats when I get old.  I feed strays....at my age I should really know better.  So I present CATS for Sunday Postcard Art.

If you can't see the small print, it says "Cats are evil, mean, sneaky, and nasty, with many other fine qualities."
For this lovely creation I used elements from Tangie Baxter (I used stuff from Junque Journal), Cottage Arts (I used their Soldered Sentiments which includes the ribbon attachments in the kit), and Irene Alexeeva (I used FaLaLa and Whispers).
I am thinking about putting together these SPA's that I am creating and putting them into notecard form for gifts and personal use. (I don't have commercial license to use them for profit)  I think they would make great notecards.  Wouldn't you like to receive Mimi (the "eyeglasses girl" in your mailbox when your feeling a bit down in the dumps?  What about the "whats on your mind?" when you've had an especially bad week at work?  I think we truly disregard our art work a little too much.  So I don't have the commercial success of Irene or Tangie, I am still a success in my own little circle of friends.

Japanese Beauty

There is this wonderful designer that I know by the name of Nice Crane Designs.  I really like Japanese/Asian design and he does a wonderful job.  So I have used 2 of his backgrounds to make this 4x6 postcard design.

The background papers come from his Beautiful Japan series.  I blended them together using a clipping mask from Marcee Dugger (Maskee 6 available at Digital Scrapbook Place) The charcoal colored border is from Suzanne C. Walker's Grey Day (also available at DSP).  The pic of the Geisha and the stamp of the Buddha were both downloaded from the internet.  (The Buddha brush is from Deviant Art.  I'm sorry,but you're gonna have to use a search on this one...they have WAY too much stuff there!)
Thank you for looking in!