Some Artsy Stuff

Here's the lastest installation from the Paper Digital Arts Design Team. We were provided with a collage sheet of Theda Bara pictures. Theda was a silent screen actress, and from what I've read, there are NO recordings of her voice anywhere. (you know, how some silent screen actors made the transition...)

To start with, it was a difficult subject for me. I'm just not that into this type of subject. However, I gave the old college (or should I say collage) try, and I came up with this banner. Normally, I would try to do the "odd" number thing to keep it visually balanced and interesting, but it just wasn't happening... mostly because the word I chose to use was 4 lettered- VAMP. Theda earned the nickname for her femme fatale roles. She made more than 40 films between 1914 and 1926, but complete prints of only six still exist.

The parameters for this month's Design Team challenge, besides the pictures, was to use only ONE other color. I chose purple- a very regal color, don't you think? I started with two sheets of black and white patterned paper. The white pattern was a flower motif on one sheet, and butterflies on the other. I embellished it Zentangle style with a white gel pen.

Each photo was matted in purple paper, and the chipboard letters were covered in tons of glitter.

I wanted to add some further sparkle, so I added clear and purple seed beads, as well as diamond glaze.

The ribbon that I strung the banner on is vintage black rick rack. The V in it holds the pieces exactly where I want them. Plus, I thought it added some visual interest.

I have to talk to Kim, the wonderful woman who runs PDA, but I'm thinking this banner should be given away.... what do you say??

It's Been Hectic

So, bear with me...

We had another bout of a terrible GI bug. After two days or running back and forth to the doctor and the pharmacy, Jason ended up having to go to the ED for IV fluids. Let me tell you, even a a nurse, the hardest thing I have ever done is hold his hands while the nurse put an IV in. He cried, and yet he was SO brave! My sweet boy felt better two days later. Then the little guy Adam got it. Luckily, I had some awesome meds to help stave off a full blown bout. However, he was down for about 4 days. Both boys lost weight- but are now back in FULL eating mode!! Lord help me when they are teenagers.

Then I came down with a terrible cold, probably from the stress of it all.

So, the moral of the story is, I have nothing intersting to post.... BUT, come back soon and I'll try to have something cool, or profound, or something for you to read!

hugs- Lee

Photographs

This month's theme over at Paper Digital Arts Interpretations altered book group is photographs. Pretty broad, no? And you know, being a child of the 80s, all I could think of is the Deaf Leppard song...

Anyway, each month I try to do something different. I think it's wonderful to look outside of the comfort zone and try new styles or new colors. I'll be honest, I'm not sure everyone over there is, but that's my goal for this 13 month project.

So, my first thought was to do some type of pull-out, accordian photo album. I also drooled over looked at the mini tin-type albums on eBay. Those go for BIG bucks, even though they are about 1 x 2 inches big. I also liked the old vacation-souvenir albums too.

I recently purchased some digital collages of old cabinet cards to play with. Looking at the faces from so long ago can be very inspirational. I wonder what kind of lives they led, and what they were like as people. Did they flirt?  Did they fall in love? I went off to my stash of books and looked for phrases that I thought would work. Romantic Liaison.

I could not resist.

My second thought was to keep the pages monochromatic. I had seen a really great piece on Flikr that was all-white! My plan was to work in white too, but ended up more shades of cream.

I pulled out all of the stuff that I had, and spied some stars that I had cut out from some drop cloth (you know, the unbelievabley cheap and versatile material used for curtains, upholstery, pillows, and oh yeah, painting...). Although it's not a typical thing you'd see in a photo album, it was kinda cool.

The background is made from sheet music, with the edges painted white. I sewed the photos on, glued some names and words down, and glued on some remnants from a vintage wedding dress. The ruffles are handmade from dress pattern paper (I love that stuff).

And voila!

Enjoy!

An Etsy Treasury

Our sweet little hearts

were featured here:

I Was Feeling Purple and Aqua Today.

Etsy treasuries are a great way to browse all of goodies on Etsy, then group them together by theme. I've never done one myself, as the slots are rarely open... there's only so much room for your lists, and you have to wait for a slot to open. I think the expire after a certain amount of time.

Anyway, I thought I might put together a little TREASURY of my own:
A little blue dress:

Blue Earrings

Blue Mason Jar Pendant Light

Aqua Blue Fenton Glass

Enjoy!!