Paper Bag Swap and Spring Peonies

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers and these are from our garden.

As promised, here's the paper bag book I received from Cathee from Art and Soul, my swap partner from the Yahoo Altered Art group.

Beautiful, right?  Love the colors and ribbons she used.

 I love that she celebrated all the beautiful things of Spring.

 Thanks again, Cathee for this awesome keepsake and to Dee Moran for organizing the swap.

Hope you are inspired by the Spring and are creating.

Spring Banner

Back from the depths of winter blues with a bit of Spring thanks to Terri of Artful Affirmations.  Enjoy!

Spring Banner Video

Here's some things I've been working on for my niece's wedding.

Wedding shower thank you cards

Have you seen these free online workshops?  Awesome tutorials!!!  The first workshop is ready to be viewed now and 2 others will start soon.  Thanks to Strathmore and the fabulous artists Pam Carriker, Linda Blinn and Roz Stendahl

I so very much appreciate the generosity of these folks for sharing their knowledge and on their own dime!  

Thanks for visiting,

Miss Mary Challenge -- Natural Beauty

As part of being a preferred blogger for CSN Stores, I am doing a product review in the next few weeks.  I'll be reviewing an office chair which I'm looking forward to trying out.  CSN has become quite known in blogland, so its no surprise that they has over 200 website stores offering just about everything you need.  But did you know they even have headboards as part of their arsenal of products?  

Well, stay tuned for my review and see how their office chairs are, perhaps you need one too.  

Mary Green of Green Paper is hosting the Miss Mary Challenge for which she provided 3 delightful images to be used in the creations.  So, I decided to join in and I'm offering this as my entry.

 Tin bucket which I painted pink first and collaged all around. Front side.

Back side.  I added a rub on border at top and a piece of lace upcycled from a wedding gown.

Here's one of the other images given for the challenge with a rub on I used with a memories quote, memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose.

Another rub on with C'est La Vie and a paper rose

Glitter for the dress and metal bling for the waist.  The metal butterfly is decorating the stamp which I cut in 2, another of the images given by Mary.  Both metal beads are from an upcycled bracelet.

Pink rhinestones, more upcycled bracelet beads for the handle applied with thin wire

Lots of pics, thanks for indulging me.  Now, go to Mary's blog, Green Paper and check all of the entries so far.  I've seen some exceptional pieces.  There's a prize.   Wish me luck!

Have a wonderful day,

Pink, Flowers, Weddings, New Work & Free Images

There's just something about beautiful pink flowers!

  

The cards below are for a wedding save the date card.  I'm working on my niece's wedding stationery and this was a one of the samples. Isn't that image adorable?  I got it from Altered Pages.  Jackie has an awesome selection of beautiful images and many altered art supplies at her shop, Altered Pages.  I'm using some of her images to feature here on my blog in the next few months.  So stay tuned.

 

Here's another version with the same image

 

If you're in the mood for pink, flowers and weddings, or not, check this awesome, and so easy tutorial from

 Shelley from House of Smiths: Hanging Roses!

I finally made one of these cool pedestal dishes.  I saw some beautiful ones on blogs that got me inspired.  

So these 3 bowls and candle holders from Goodwill and a little E-6000 glue and DONE!  So easy and wonderful use of things we love and can be practical too.

I'll leave you with some free images. Remember you can click to enlarge.

via Marie's Freebies

via Magic Moonlight Free Images

via Magic Moonlight Free Images

I wish you a happy and creative weekend!

More Wins!

More of OWOH giveaway winnings came in the last few days!  Barbara of  Vintage Bunty sent me her exceptional ATCs and beautiful ephemera and ATC supplies:

 

  

Isn't her work exquisite!!!  I love all her 3D elements and lace.

 

And this prize from yet another extremely talented artist, Heather from BluhmStudios:

  She created this beautiful fabric cuff just for me.  The colors, the trims, the fabric all my favorites!!!!!! Truly, exquisitely unique.  And do you see that sweet card.  Her's also.

How beautiful is this!

Thank you both, Ladies.  What an honor to receive your beautiful creations!  What a bright moment, in some dark days for me, it was to receive your art.  You're so kind and generous! 

2009

Remember this giveaway from One Creative Queen? It was a total suprise; not even Katherine remembered what she had packaged a year ago that didn't get used as a gift. Well, I was the lucky recipient and so here's what the surprise was.

Taaadaaa..... it was a neat blue bracelet. Check out the cool charms on the closure. I love it! I'm so lucky. Thanks again, Katherine.

In the spirit of "Being Creative Each Day", I'm showing you 2 items I have been altering these past few days.

This is a ceramic vase from Ikea about a year ago which I wasn't using much. I will now use it for my new cubicle at work. The black scrolls are a big rub on and I glued a flower trim at the top.

This was a plain pine wood frame that I covered with wallpaper and a sticker I embellish with some frilly yarn.

Thanks for stopping by and have a creative 2009!