First Attempt at Digital Collage

Yesterday I started a digital collage class through Creative Workshops, hosted by Gail Schmidt. Oh my goodness.....I was a basket case yesterday. First of all, I could not find my pictures for class, the volume was turned down on my computer, so I thought the video for the workshop was messed up. The phone was ringing off the hook with one problem after another. It's a good thing, I had some time to "rewind," get some sleep, and push myself into the unknown world of Photoshop Elements this morning. Gail is just a peach, answering all of my crazy questions, and I am quite proud of my first attempt. I guess if you are learning, there is some amount of frustration. There is still time to join all of us! Classes began February 24th.

Victorian Style Chalkboards

You just have to check out these fabulous chalkboards from Spell It Out Designs. I missed out for their amazing giveaway, but still wanted to share. The drawing is today. Wouldn't they be so sweet for jotting quick phone messages, or to decorate your craft room? Or, they might even bring new meaning to the refrigerator magnet!


Click link to be whisked away to Spell It Out Designs blog giveaway post to find out how you can purchase one of your own!

Thanks, Heidi, of My Hiding Place in Cyberspace, for sharing!

My Sincere Gratitude

I was one of the lucky ones to win a prize during the "One World-One Heart Giveaway." Thank you so much, Inka Heaton, from Inkaland in Idaho, for this gorgeous "Captured Fairy" necklace charm. She is delicately handcrafted in a miniature bottle hanging from a black satin rope, and labeled so. What an awesome present to hang around my neck. She is my creative spirit!



Photo from The Magical World of Lisa Jane, "Enchanted Childhood."

Life Is Art

"Art is the one form of communication with which you can not argue...ever. No matter what the medium, art just is. You might not like a piece, you might not agree with what a piece stands for, but the work of art itself doesn't care how you feel...it simply exists in all its glory broadcasting its own personal message to everyone who sees it." words by Georgiann Carlson

"Art can help us find our way, if we choose to look...because the one thing that art does extremely well is expand our vision...to open our minds...give us hope and show us very clearly just what it is that we have to lose."

Check out this artistic video. It is just too beautiful not to share!

And the Winner Is....

I am honored that so many of you have stopped by my blog and left such beautiful comments. I tried to visit all of the wonderful bloggers that participated, but it was challenging. I am truly glad I joined in this fabulous event and giveaway, and will be looking forward to next year's caravan. I have added so many amazing artists to my favorite links and added myself to countless blogs. This was one of the highlights of my year! Thank you for sharing all your brilliant artwork.

And now, for the winner of my hand knitted mittens...

Congratulations to Anji Gallanos!! of Juneau, Alaska.
I will contact you soon for your delivery information.
Hugs,
Nancy

Deadline for One World One Heart Giveaway

I will be cutting off sign-up for the One World One Heart giveaway at 12:00 o'clock Midnight tonight, so I will have time to post and contact the winner. I will be out of town over the weekend, so your package will be leaving my home by the first of next week. Sorry for this short notice! I can't wait to see who wins.

Hope you are the lucky winner!

Altered Valentines

Did you know that valentine greeting cards date back to the late 1800's? Here are my contribution for today's special "one-of-a-kind" dimensional valentine greeting card. During the One World-One Heart event, I found this gorgeous web-site called Outsider-Artists. You can easily order downloadable sheets of these amazing winged sweethearts by visiting one talented gal, Becky Loyall from Whymsical Musings.







Happy Valentine's Day!

Love Letter Tin

Making this romantic Valentine tin, inspired me to post this sweet love letter written by Ronald Regan to his wife, Nancy. I have a few classic "love notes" and a heart-shaped ring from my youth that now have a place to rest. These nostalgic images can be downloaded from Lisa Vollrath's "Original Printable Holiday Collection." Enjoy!

Nancy

Aboard Air Force One

March 4, 1983

Dear First Lady,

I know tradition has it that on this morning I place cards, Happy Anniversary cards, on your breakfast tray. But things are somewhat mixed up. I substituted a gift and delivered it a few weeks ago.

Still this is the day, the day that marks 31 years of such happiness as comes to few men. I told you once that it was like an adolescent's dream of what marriage should be like. That hasn't changed.

You know I love the ranch but these last two days made it plain I only love it when you are there. Come to think of it, that's true of every place & every time. When you aren't there I'm no place, just lost in time & space.

I more than love you, I'm not whole without you. You are life itself to me. When you are gone, I'm waiting for you to return so I can start living again.

Happy Anniversary and thank you for 31 wonderful years.

I love you.

Your Grateful Husband

Snow Queen Paper Snow Globe

Lately, I have been concentrating on exploring artwork with shaped pages and three-dimensional objects. I now use more fibers and embellishments than I have ever used before. Sometimes I even focus on the edge of my project. This "Snow Queen" was a free downloaded image from Dover. I used paint, colored pencils, and extra thick glitter snow on the rounded edge and extravagant feathers. Endless possibilities.... saved treasures waiting to emerge with deep personal meaning. I am hoping this Queen will wave her wand to make all this cold and snow go somewhere other than here!

Cupid's True Love

For me, the month of February truly celebrates the season of love, one of the most enchanting times of my heart. This is my latest journal page.


Do you know the make-believe story of Cupid? It was said that once you were shot with an arrow from Cupid's bow, you would fall in love with the next person you met. Sometimes, Cupid would toy with others affections by matching up couples with opposite qualities just to see what would happen. One day, Cupid was given a dose of his own medicine and would soon learn his lesson about true love.

A certain king and queen had a daughter with the most astonishing beauty named Psyche. When news spread of her beauty, Cupid's mother, Venus, felt threatened. She felt she must seek out her competitor and put her in her place by ordering Cupid to find Psyche, pierce her with his arrow, and make her fall in love with the most hideous monster he could find. Cupid obeyed his mother and set out to find Psyche. Once Cupid found Psyche, he was so overcome by her beauty that he accidentally pierced his own body with his arrow and fell madly in love with Psyche.

It was thought that her beauty was so great that she was not meant for just any ordinary man. Psyche was moved to live in a castle on an isolated mountain. Cupid only visited her under the darkness of night, and insists that she never be able to look upon his face in daylight. While back at her palace, stories began to surface that Psyche had finally married. For fear that she had indeed married a monster, one night Psyche held a lamp over Cupid's face. Startled to see who he was, Psyche also accidentally pricks herself with one of Cupid's arrows and falls deeply in love with Cupid. Cupid leaps from a window, flies away from Psyche and goes into hiding from being seen. After searching for Cupid far and wide, she beseeches the help of Cupid's mother, to help find her true love.

Psyche goes through many ridiculous tests of faith, trying to please Venus so that she and Cupid could be united and live happily for all eternity. After successfully completing every impossible test put before her by Venus, Cupid finally comes to the aid of Psyche. Cupid's wish is granted and the two have a baby girl named Delight. Cupid and his love, Psyche, finally live happily ever after.