Just Playin' Around

I just have a few more weeks until my summer vacation is over, and then back to the kindergarten classroom! I love having summer off! I try to create something each day. I did these digital collages on my laptop, while enjoying the beautiful (yet hot!) summer in Texas. I didn't know how much I would adore my laptop. I always worked on my home computer. I put all my photos and digital kits, along with photoshop on my laptop, and now I can create anywhere!

Here I am, many summers ago, so carefree...too young to even know that my curly hair was getting all frizzy in the Texas heat!Here's a floral pretty of my mom...And to round it off, here are a couple of little birdie collages. I used my new "window" and "birdcage" digital brushes.

BEST purchase of the week...my new MOO Business Cards! I have loved my MOO mini cards, and when I found out that they do the larger ones too, I ordered immediately!
You can have a little picture or banner on the back too, along with information. I love the quality of the cards.

Vintage Finds This Week!

Oh Boy!! I hit the the antique market this week and got these vintage goodies....

Darling French Box...

My BEST deal...a set of 20 French Language Records for the Linguaphone, in the original case!

SSSHH...$5!Hig School Notes from the 40's for $1.50!
Set of white glass spice containers sitting on a wooden shelf...Sweet little Black Poodles...
One of two shoe embellishments...Set of earrings and a fab door knob...
Some photos and a cute card for hubby!
Bought a hat and took off the flowers!Festive gold birdie trays...Fun!

Tweet Tweet-- It's The Weekend!

Hurray!!! TweetyJill just put my "French Girl ATCs" on their amazing site, with materials and instructions on how to make them. On the site, you can also see me on the page of TweetyJill designers. Check out all of their incredible books, stamps, and other goodies, and tell them Mendy sent ya! And speaking of things that go "Tweet Tweet," here's a few new digi birdie creations! Mixed in a little digi flocking with this one...
One more digi piece:

I did a little challenge posted on the Christina Renee site and had so much fun! __________________________________________
I want to thank my talented friend Lori Oles for sending me this little treat!! Isn't it gorgeous? I had to hang it on my special crown hook.

Pretty Papers!

NON-DIGI entry today!! I actually worked with REAL paper! :)

I love decorating little notebooks with paper scraps. Here are some of my favorite textured papers from my stash. My favorite is the book with the tabs. On the pages with a tab, I added a vintage music sheet. My tab punch is my very favorite punch!

I am moving my little altered books that were tucked away in my art studio, and putting them in an antique box in my living room. This way I can open the box and enjoy reading them any time I want! Here are a few of the books I did within the last year. Some are round robin books I did with art friends. The last book is still blank...I even put tabs in it. I will work on it this summer.
___________________________________________

My very creative and magical art friend Lisa of Faerie Enchantment has given me the BRILLANTE WEBLOG PREMIO 2008 award! I am so honored to be chosen by such a talented artist! You are so sweet Lisa...

I am now nominating seven other blogs that deserves the blog award. The winners are:
Lia, ArtJunkGirl
Dede, Dream Create Share
Lilia Flea Market Studio
Sarah, Vintage Lily
Lori, Vintage Flair
Britt, Sparkle Vintage Charm
Carrie, PaperButterfly

For the BRILLANTE WEBLOG PREMIO 2008 award The Rules Are:
1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Have fun!!

A Few Collages

Birds of a Feather....fit on collages together!Felt like working with "a little RED" today! Although sometimes scary, Little Red Riding Hood has been a favorite of mine, especially when I can find vintage print and photos of it. I thought I'd pop a pic of me in this digital scene! Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me! I think digital brushes/stamps are my favorite right now. Making a specific brush into a stamp that you can save forever is easy! Open up a blank new transparency file in PS 6.0. Click on the brush tool, and you will see a little arrow. Click the arrow, and click "Load Brushes." You will see the brushes you have saved in your documents. Click on the brushes you want to work with. Your selection of brushes will appear in the brush box. After you pic a favorite (mine was the sketch of Red on the green sketch pad above), save it in your pictures. I like to make a special file in my pictures for digital brushes made into stamps. I call it "Digital Stamps."

Lots of Reading!

I know I just blogged about the last Somerset Life...but the next issue is already out, and I am so lucky to be a little part of it! A while back a group of us had a fun paper doll swap. Several of us were asked to put our dolls in the Paper Doll Article, written by my friend Lori Oles. She didn't know which ones were going to be picked by the editors of the publication. I was so excited that my little "Party Girl" was selected!
__________________________________________

I am all into catching up on art books these days...it's that summer thing! Just got the new Postmark LA book, and read it several times already! Rebecca Sower, Charlotte Lyons, Pam Garrison, Carolyn Peeler, Amy Hanna put it together. It's fantastic!!I also finally got a copy of my Texas art friend, Sandra Evertson's Book! Fanciful Paper Flowers is amazing. I got so many ideas from it!
___________________________________________
I started something fun for my etsy store this week. Lori of Vintage Flair asked me to make some personalized labels for her. She wanted her artwork to be shown when she sent packages out. I digitally designed several size labels for her, including a return address label. The digital labels can be printed at home or sent off.

Here are some that I made for myself. Click here for more information!

Happy Friday!

Week of Inspiration

I had a great time reading and being inspired by the latest Spring Somerset Life. I want to thank one of my fav Texas artists, Sandra Evertson, for letting us use her "Les Modes Francaises," for our artistic fun. Her spread in the issue was one not to be missed. I had to get my hands on the images!

I made some all occassion cards, using the "ladies." I think I'll use them for birthday cards...

Thanks again Sandra!

____________________________________
I sold my first items on ETSY this week! Hurray! I did a series of Fairy Girl cards:

Have a creative week!