I've been Published

Wow…two times in a row! Unfortunately I did something wrong when attaching my instructions and name making me the “Artist Unknown” se la vie…

“A stitch in time” was my favorite that I turned in.

Venus of Urbino Altered

I wanted to send Sarah a thank you for hosting the Cinderella swap so I decided to make an ATC. However all of my creative juices went on vaca for the moment so I hopped over to Think Monday Think ATC to get a little inspiration and boy did I.

This fascinating video Women in Art prompted me to make women in art the challenge of this week. Let yourself get inspired by it, or by portraits that touched your heart, or maybe there’s a favourite painter you’d like to show on an ATC.

I selected Titian’s Venus of Urbino as my base for the ATC. I just wish more of it could have fit onto the ATC. The word inspirational is a rub on and the butterfly coveres the images womanly aspects :) I then covered the image with a Mica Tile and attached it to the image using fishing wire and seed beads. Lastly I added some micro beeds areound the edges.

A little history: taken from Gardner’s Art through the Ages 11th edition volumn II by Tred S. Kleiner, Christin J. Mamiya and Richard G. Tansey

In 1538, at the height of his powers, Titian painted the so-called Venus of Urbino for Guidobaldo II, duke of Urbino. The title (given to the painting later) elevates what probably merely represents a courtesan in her bedchamber to the status of classical mythology, Indeed, no evidence suggest the duke intended the commission as anything more than a female nude for his private enjoyment. Whether the subject is divine or mortal, Titian based his version on an earlier (and pioneering) painting of Venus by Giorgione. Here, Titian established the compositional elements and the standard for reclining female nude paintings, regardless of the many variations that ensued. This “Venus” reclines on the gentle slope of her luxurious pillowed couch, the linear play of the draperies contrasting with her body’s sleek continuous volume. At her feet is a pendant (balancing) figure-in this case, a slumbering lap dog. Behind her, a simple drape both places her figure emphatically in the foreground and indicates a vista into the background at the right half of the picture. Two servants bend over a chest apparently searching for garments. (Renaissance households stored clothing in carved wooden chests called cassoni) to clothe „Venus“Beyond them, a smaller vista opens into a landscape. Titian masterfully constructed the view backward into space and the division of the space into progressively smaller units. With his facility, he used all of the resources of pictorial representation to create original and exquisite effect of the sort that inspired generations of painters in Italy and the north.

As in other Venetian painting, color plays a prominent role in Venus of Urbino. The red tones of the matron’s skirt and the muted reds of the tapestries against the neutral whites of the matron’s sleeves and of the kneeling girl’s gown echo the deep Venetian reds set off against the pale neutral whites of the linen and the warm ivory gold of the flesh. Viewers must study the picture carefully to realize the subtlety of color planning. For instance, the two deep reds (in the foreground cushions and in the background skirt) function so importantly in the composition as a gauge of distance and as indicators of an implied diagonal opposed to the real one of the reclining figure. Here, Titian used color not simply for tinting preexisting forms but also to organize his placement of forms.

Cinderella Castles

Over at Alpha Stamps Yahoo group we are working on a Castle swap using the new Cinderella Grimm Fairy tale Collage Sheets…go check them out they are fabulous. I was not going to be able to participate due to way to many other projects and I didn’t have the supplies but the clouds parted and the sun shone down on me. I received supplies in my last Diva Box (see post bellow) and Sarah told me she pushed back the mail by date.

I had this weekend to finish up my 4 pieces…OMG, I don’t think I’ve ever worked that fast! And here they are, not bad in my opinion.

“Cinderella sings with the Birds”…I used an image off of the Cinderella and the birds collage sheet. First I prepared my paper using Weathered wood distressing ink. Then I stamped the paper with a music score stamp and the Doodle bird. Before I was done with that sheet of paper I singed the edges…in some places a little too much LOL. Next I tacked on the fabric images of Cinderella and the bird cage. To finish it off I added seed beads around one of the circles surrounding the doodle bird and then I covered the bird images with Diamond Glaze.

I feel like the collage images disappear so I decided not to make two of these and moved onto a different design.

“A Quarter till…” For this piece I stamped a tapestry type background and then aged the paper by dusting it with brown ink. Next I created the curtains using a solid yellow cotton, wrapping it around the paper and tacking it where needed. The Cinderella and Prince image are cut out of one of the many Ball collage sheets. I used shrink paper to make the clocks I stamped them with brown ink on white shrink paper colored them with yellow and put them in the Toaster oven until they were done. To finish this piece off I added bows at the top of the towers through the clocks.



































“Cinderella’s Love Birds” For this castle I used an image from the Cinderella and the Birds collage sheet. To create the shimmery paper (which alas, the effect is lost on the computer) I rubbed various shades of sparkeling H2O’s all over the paper. When it was dry I stamped the Tree Tim Holts and the bricks Stampington & Co. With embossing ink and covered them with various Tim Holtz distressing powders. When it was dry I sanded off the excess giving the images a weathered look. Next I attached Cinderella and the Spanish moss along the bottom. The birds are computer generated, A medium gage wire spanning from one turret to the next holds the birds, the space in between is covered with seed beads. I think this is my favorite.

Be sure to check back later when I get my swap pieces and next month we are doing Sleeping Beauty.

As always any and all comments welcome
Thanks
Caro

Secrets & Divas & Buddies, oh MAY!

Another month has come and gone which means another fabulous Diva exchange! And boy was I spoiled this month!

This month, you will have a secret buddy. Of course, you will know to whom you are mailing, but you won’t know who is mailing to you! For a fun twist, we are also having secret RAK buddies (random acts of kindness). You will be assigned 2 buddies. One for a Diva box ($25 minimum) and the other for your RAK buddy ($5 maximum). Please read the rules listed below.

Here is what I got and OMG is it Fabulous!

• $20.00 gift certificate to Altered Pages Link...do you know how hard it was for me not to spend this before telling ya'll about it LOL
• 2 Cinderella and Birds Link Fabric Collage Sheets from Alpha Stamps! (scroll down the page) This is so perfect b/c I am making Cinderella pillows for my sister for her birthday...and they sent a free gift a Transparency of a Fabulous Castle! (also on the same page Tall Castles bottom right hand corner of the sheet)
• 18 Marvy Brush Marker...that I really really needed! Yahoo Yahoo...
• 2 stamps from The Lockhard Stamp Company Broccoli and Bok Choy #2041 Link and Vegetable Shoe #2015 Link ...scroll down... I can not wait to play with these...I am going to make Recipe cards and paint the images with a sparkeling paint (surprise surprise)!
• Teaposy Blooming Flowers Tea Link Snow Dance with one Daydream Teapot and Box of Let is Snow Teaposies. This is even more beautiful in person than it is at Amazon! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!
• teaposy Flowering Medley teaposies. Link I don't know which one to make first???!!!
  
  I’ve already made one piece of art with the supplies I received, I added it to this post so everyone can see that I really do LOVE my Box!
  
  

Now for the box I sent. I made a lot of the items b/c the woman I mailed to loves hand made items. It was so much fun to incorporate her tastes into new and different art forms for me. I’ve never made cocktail napkins before…they took me an entire week but I think they look smashing…I hope she likes them!

Here is what she wrote upon receiving her box…

I was also her REOK buddy…I sent her lavender scented organic laundry detergent, she got it first and I had to bite my fingers not to tell her I was her Secret Buddy also!

it turns out that Caro is my secret buddy after all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow. I got a fabulous artsy crafty fantastiky box just like my dreams!!

• I got a fab plate from my kaboodle list: Link
• A unbelievable handcrafted pillow in yellow with Ms K's nickname Karoo stamped on it with an elephant border and elephant charm. too freakin fab!!
• A CD with divalicious music that Caroline complied.
• A set of fabulous cards from Caro ( 6 of them)-the diva face ones with stamps as well!
  the cutest ice cubes shaped like guitars and other jazz instruments. perfect for a summer cocktail.
  Link
• a wonderful handmade card.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Monochrome Swap

Well, the Circle of Friends have done it again! This time the ladies did a fabulous job with a really hard project, Monochrome.

Challenge: Create a piece using only one color and a sparing amount of black.

From Top to Bottom:

“Green Means Grow” ATC by M.D.

The colors on this one for some reason really didn’t turn out correctly. She used a lovely shade of lemongrass green. The flowers look hand drawn and then cloroxed to decrease the brilliance of the green.









“Purple Oh Happy Day” A2 card by S.M

The decorative paper she used on this is just absolutely fabulous…I can’t stop touching it. The flowers are all raised. For the O in Oh Happy Day she used a purple rhinestone which of course I love. The tag says “Garden flowers hyacinths, pansies, daffodils, larkspur and blue bonnets” and on the inside of that card is a corresponding shade of purple paper with “I’m glad to have a friend like you” stamped and flower shapes punched out…










“Red Fly Far” mini house shape by A.L

Gorgeous shades of brick red…one of my favorite colors. The bird is cut out of velvet that has an imprint of flowers on it, don’t know if it came that way or if she used the stamping technique that does that (hey girl if that’s what you did how hard was it?) The trim across the bottom is a felt sticker, you can get these at Alpha Stamp, they are fabulous and very easy to use.

On the back she used a transparency of a nature scene. A few projects ago she taught us all how to make these, did you make this one also? A feather that looks like it could have come right out of the bird accents the back.

“Blue Gothic Arch” is by me

Go here to see how I made the string paper.
Go here to see instructions on how to make the accent paper I used in the upper and lower corners.

The image is from Altered Pages. The heart is hand drawn using glue and then I sprinkled blue glitter on it. I used the same string to stitch the accent paper on as I did to make the string paper.














“Green Thinking of You” A2 card by E.O.

I just didn’t seem to have much luck scanning in the green contributions. This card has a fabulous decorative paper on it that has multiple hues of green that did not show up. The simplicity is absolutely perfect. She said she did not put her name on it so that we could send it out but I’m not so sure I’m going to do that…I like to be constantly reminded that someone is “Thinking of me”!

You can see more of E.O’s work HERE



“Orange Prom Dress” 4 x 4 by H.S.

Orange is one of H.S.’s least favorite colors but boy did she do a fantastic job! The background paper is made using Tim Holts distressing ink. The dress is embossed on book print, also died using Tim Holts distress ink. The lace in the background was colored using the same ink. She used a two sided tape to attach the lace and covered the openings with orange glitter.

Note: she did this before she got married b/c the initials on the back are H.D J











“Shades of Turquoise” ATC by J.R.

This is an absolutely intriguing ATC. She covered the entire thing with Bees wax and we are all anxiously awaiting for her to give us more details as to how she did that and how she got it soooooooo smooth. The 3 hearts on the right hand side are 3D and I have absolutely no clue what she used if I had to guess I’d say they are a 3D paper with some ink rubbed on and then covered in wax…JR. is that right???















“Brown Tag” by N.P

And last but not least b/c I think this is my favorite is our ode to brown. It looks like she dry brushed on some acrylic paint and then stamped the images highlighting portions with brown marker. The paper on the left side is decorative and cut with decorative scissors. The paper along the bottom looks like she used Tim Hotlz distressing ink and then stamped giraffe pattern over that. She accented the piece with various brown shaded buttons, a copper arrow and lovely ribbons.

You can see more of N.P’s work HERE

I hope you enjoy our work. Our April project was to artistically interpret our favorite song. This one was a real challenge for me…hope you come back to check it out!

Thanks
Caro

Gothic Arches…my interpretation

Back in January Caspiana described how to make her fabulous Gothic Arches string paper. I just had to try it out and the Monochrome project with Circle of Friends (posted above) was the perfect opportunity.

Here is a link to Sarah’s fabulous paper

I followed her instructions to a T except I used Blue paint. Because the paint colors are so close it is a bit more difficult to see the fabulous salt result on the back of my arch but trust me it is there.

This technique is really really easy but yet it looks like it takes forever which works for me!

Hope you enjoy and try it!
Caro

Dolphin Dreams

A few weeks ago, Anna, one of my fabulous SBS12 Sisters, posted a lovely card. I absolutely fell in love with the image, Dolphin Dreams by Stamp Oasis. Anna being the fabulous woman that she is mailed me the stamp so that I could play with it.

Life got pretty hectic at the time the stamp graced my home so I am just now getting around to creating my pieces. I almost forgot what it felt like just to let go and stamp…thank you Anna for giving me the tool to take my mind off of life for a weekend.

Here is what I came up with.

The first piece is my favorite, “Under the Sea” I used a background stamp from Stamp Out Cute to create the underwater plant life effect. The paper is various shades of Sparkeling H2O’s sponged on, so of course it is all shimmery. I painted the Dolphin Dreams image using the same shades of H2O’s. Cut everything, mounted Dolphin Dreams on black cardstock and 3D mounted the plant life. I added round page pebbles to achieve the bubble effect.



The Second one is my DH’s favorite. “In the Stars” I silver embossed the stars, hero arts, all over a dark blue piece of cardstock. On a separate sheet of white cardstock I stamped Dolphin Dreams multiple times. I painted all the dolphins using sparkeling H2O’s, one of the images I colored the woman in using colored pencils. I cut out that image in it’s entirety and attached 3 blue star charms. The other images I cut the dolphins out. Along the bottom of the card I weaved blue toile, in attempt to look like clouds, and have the dolphins jumping out of them mounted with 3D tape.



And the last one, my least favorite and the one I spent the most time on…always works out that way…Anyway, I glued wood sticks together and painted them with green and blue alcohol inks. I then painted over that with blue shimmery paint. Next I stamped various shell’s from Paula’s Kit Club using a dark blue ink. I sanded this down.

On a separate sheet of paper I stamped Dolphin Dreams numerous times, colored one image with color pencils and another I painted the dolphins and coated them with Diamond glaze. I cut the dolphins out and mounted them on the colored image. I then mounted that onto the blue planks and surrounded the image with various sizes of blue rhinestones. DH drilled small holes in the plank for me to place wire through, I added some beads and thread then curled the exec wire and placed a dolphin where the wire meet at the top.

I think that I will continue playing with this last piece…I have some ideas that may make me happier with it.

Thank you Anna for allowing me to play with your fabulous stamp.
Enjoy
Caro