Scrapping a random palette

Instructions were to generate five random six-digit numbers and then use a palette generators on one of them and finally to scrap a page using that palette. My numbers strings were:
285403
853435
549236
200972
129368
The colors included some greens a purplish blue and a reddish color. I went with the middle green one and found a nice palette generator creating this:

It reminded me of some photos from last year of Japanese iris in my sister's garden. I'm pleased with this result.

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Designer Credits:
-background, leaves, butterfly, charm, bow, word art: Spring is in my garden by MoosScraps Designs
-black paper, other elements: Granny's Garden by NBK Design
-photo mask: PhotoMasks No I by NBK Design

fonts: Jellyka, End_less Voyage, Memorandum, DK Garden Bed

Still Scrapbooking Too

I see I've only posted drawings for some time but I've been doing the old digital scrapbook pages all along. I've put together a book of images from our May trip to Oklahoma. I've got a couple of other recent pages that I rather like.

The first is in response to a challenge to create an "art doll." It was a novel concept to me but I had a very immediate idea. It seems a little ominous looking back knowing that soon after I spent a week ill, for much of the time not knowing why. Everything turned out fine, but I wonder how it relates to the page.

Second is one with photos I took of Buff-breasted Sandpipers a very long time ago. It results in part from Dick having all our old slides scanned last year. Hope you enjoy them.

Designer Credits:
by Maya de Groot
-arm, stitched frame, paper piece, gesso: Art Doll It Yourself Freebie
-background, legs, circles, red arch, corners, rectangles, buttons, wings: Passion for Paper
-border: Zen & the Art of: Borders
-lace, leaf: Travelers Treasure Box
-crow: Miss Luna
-face (from angel), flower, tag: Christmoose
-alpha: Altered Cutouts Alpha
fonts: Courtney Dorkling, Problem Secretary

 Designer Credits:
by Blue Flower Art
-background, envelope, flower, tape: Letters From Far Away
-ribbon, string, paint: Across Time
-pale paper: Imari
fonts: Vtks Boutique, Ziggy Zoe, Minya Nouvelle

Celebrating Blue Sky

The last day of February we had brilliant sun and blue sky. Visiting Lake View I took photos but espeically liked small seedpods against that sky. A challenge this month called for using a certain technique (that I don't seem to have in PaintShopPro) to remove an unwanted bit of a photo. I had bits of (out of focus) twigs from another plant that I didn't want. Here's my celebration of that blue sky and the before and after photos..

Designer Credits:
by Studio Romy
-papers, bead, scallop border: Naturally
-frame, stitching, overlays: Painterly
-button, circles, doodle: New Beginning
fonts: Dali, Harrington, Corbel

BEFORE

AFTER

 

GSO on Heritage Page

I did a heritage page following a tutorial and it has taken off in the comments and then garnered a Gallery Standouts listing. Pretty exciting stuff. The photo includes my brother and sister and some of our father's relatives.

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Designer Credits:
tutorial from Anna's blog on heritage photos: [link]
all by Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Tangier
ArtPlay Palette Family
4 X 6 ArtsyKardz Traveler
Trees No. 1
fonts: Amherst, Brush455 BT

Frozen Expanse, Subtle Signs of Life

These photos are from the lakefront yesterday. Today we have light rain and snow is trying to melt, but it has a long way to go yet. The page used a template from this month's copycat challenge.

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Designer Credits:
-template: Copycat Challenge by Timounette based on Paddling by Ann06 
-background, gesso, stamp, bead: Nevermind by Studio 68
-edge: Surround It - 1 by Merkeley Designs
fonts: James Fajardo, Lithograph

Fun With J. M. W. Turner's Painting

This month there is an art journaling challenge to alter a work of art. You might like to check it out here. I chose to go with a watercolor painting by Turner. This was a fun way to portray an idea and experience from my school days.

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Designer Credits:
painting: Lake of Zug, Early Morning, 1843
photo: by Vélocia, Creative Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/27089900@N00/2834643153/
kit: Oscraps Collab It's A Wonderful Life
fonts: Engravers MT, Vladimir Script, Doodle, Vintage, Corbel

Beginning 2014

We have a tradition to bird on New Year's Day and start a new list of birds seen for the year. We aren't obsessive about lists (anymore) but it is a fun way to the start the year. The last few years I've scrapped a page about our birds on the 1st. Wednesday morning we had more snow falling but by afternoon it was pretty nice. We enjoyed two hours out. Since then we've had more snow then some sun. We're going to get more snow and then super cold temperatures. Here's the 2014 page. Please click on the image to see it larger and perhaps read the text.

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Designer Credits:
-background: Stylish Canvas No. 1 by Lydia Designs
-darker paper (blended): WoodShop MapPrints Paperie No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-white transfer: ArtPlay Palette For the Record by Anna Aspnes
-number alpha: 52 Inspirations {2012} Week 24 by Vicki Stegall
-black stitcing: Be Grateful by Sabrina's Creations
-mother-of-pearl button: Changes by Tracy Martin
-staples: Oscraps Collab Soiree by Vicki Stegall
-black frame: Oscraps Collab Journey by Anna Aspnes
-brad: Oscraps Collab Journey by Merkeley Designs
-pale frame: Like A Bird by Maya de Groot
-buff frame: ArtPlay Palette Christmas Magic by Anna Aspnes
-silvery frame: ArtPlay Palette Wish by Anna Aspnes
-stitched border: Art Book My Star by Val C. Designs
-white button: Contrast by Maya de Groot
-fabric button, metal button: ArtPlay Palette Remember by Anna Aspnes
-gold staple: Autumn Pieces by Paula Kesselring
-title frame: Trim It Edges #7 by Merkeley Designs
fonts: Stonehenge, Ziggy Zoe

P.S. It was a challenge to use 14 different frames or fasteners on the page.

Memory Saved With an Enhanced Photo

We have a challenge this month to take an old photo with color problems and improve it then scrap with it. I have a super picture of Dick on the beach in Seattle in 1969. The print has an odd color cast but I got it to look a lot better. See what you think.

The original scan of the print

My correction of the color cast

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DesignerCredits:
-background, photo mask, transfer: ArtPlay Palette For The Record by Anna Aspnes
-brush, transfer, shells, twig: ArtPlay Palette Salty Living by Anna Aspnes
fonts: Serial Sue, Mystical, Catriel

Cousins Revisited

In an October challenge to do a subdued page with a touch of red I revisited a photo of Dick and his cousin when they got together two years ago. I love the result without the distraction of colors.

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Designer Credits:
-background, gold pieces, red flower: Merry by Dido Designs
-border paper (blended), tape brush, thread, butterfly, brush: GreenLeaf by Dido Designs
-photo mask: WaterColor FotoBlendz No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
fonts: Lemon Chicken, Pea Beth

Butterfly and Moth from our travels

The butterfly is called a Buckeye. I think they are boldly beautiful. They can be migrants in the fall, this one seen on asters at a nature preserve in Missouri 24 October 2013. The second creature is a day-flying moth that acts much like a hummingbird, its wings constantly whirring. It is such a treat to see and a challenge to photograph. This was at a botanic garden in Oklahoma.

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Designer Credits:
lift of 'Autumn Promenade' by 'casbury' 
by Anna Aspnes:
-background: ArtPlay Solids Viaggio
-photo mask: Original FotoBlendz No. 12
-frame: FineEdge Frames No. 1
-stitching: UrbanStitchez No. 3
-line: ArtPlay Palette EnRoute
-brads, transfer: ArtPlay Palette Socialize
-word art, glow: Roots Sampler
-bright color: ArtPlay Palette Bask
-brush: ArtPlay Viaggio BrushSet
fonts: Mystical, Sybil Green

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Designer Credits:
AnnaLift of ‘let us ENJOY’ by ‘Lilly-10’ 
by Anna Aspnes:
-background: ArtPlay Palette Christmas Nostalgia
-photo mask: WaterColor FotoBlendz No. 1
-frame: ArtPlay Palette Tapestry
-transfer: ArtPlay Palette Vintage Rose
-brush: ArtPlay Palette Socialize
-bead: ArtPlay Palette Barren Sunrise
font: Boopee

Art Journal for a Song

Maya de Groot's monthly challenge featured a template and word art to use in a page based on a song. I had fun with it going back to music from a long time ago, "When the Music's Over" by Jim Morrison and The Doors. I'm especially drawn to the dark lyrics, moody sounds and focus on the end.

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Designer Credits:
by Maya de Groot
-template, end word art: Express Your Creativity Challenge: Songs
-dark paper, paint: Contrast
-reddish paper: Passion for Paper
-music paper: Music Sheet Papers
and
-deep red paper: Autumn Sonnet by Mary Pop
fonts: baby dont worry bout it!, Sybil Green, Vogue

Creating with pink hibiscus

A creative techniques challenge called for creating our own mask with brushes. I chose a photo of my sister's large pink hibiscus. They are lovely even though pink (not my favorite color). I used brushes of my own and am very pleased with the result.

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Designer Credits:
-ArtPlay Palette Vintage Rose by Anna Aspnes
mask created with 3 of my own brushes (house, appleseed, grass)

Chuckle with the Chickens

When I hitched a ride with a friend, I was along when she made a rural stop. I loved all the chickens and seeing them foraging and going in and out of their coop. I used this photo in a challenge to use only Oscraps freebies.

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Designer Credits:
(all Oscraps freebies)
-background, paint: Prego by Maya de Groot
-black paper: Solid and Understated by TaylorMade Designs
-frame, black flower: Rock On {sneak peek} by Vicki Stegall Designs
-house, word art: Home Sweet Home Add On by Maya de Groot
-brushes: ArtPlay Palette Saffron Villa by Anna Aspnes
-embossed flower: Emboss It Flower (sample) by Merkeley Designs
-feather: Epehmera Feathers Freebie by Crafty Button Designs

Bees in the Flowers

While at the GRIP class I took some photos of bees in the flowers. They were great for a lift and a challenge for soft colors. I'm pleased with the results.

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Designer Credits:
AnnaLift of ‘tranquility,’ by ‘taxed4ever’ (Trudy) 
ArtPlay Palette Tapestry by Anna Aspnes
-photo mask: ArtPlay Viaggio BrushSet by Anna Aspnes

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Designer Credits:
by Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Lush
-word art: Roots Sampler

A Family Tree Design

I'm working on another drawing but in the meantime wanted to share a design I did of a small family tree. I'm thinking of it as a possible cover design for a family history book. This names my mother, her parents and grandparents. I always think about my mother when July 1 rolls around as that was her birthday.

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Designer Credits:
-background, brush, transfers: ArtPlay Palette Epic by Anna Aspnes
-leaf shape: Like a Bird by Maya de Groot
-leaf papers, brush as photo mask: ArtPlay Palette Lush by Anna Aspnes
-tree: Trees No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-overlay: SkinnyLined Overlays No. 2 by Anna Aspnes
-journal boxes: Spray-ons {journaled 2} by Studio 68
fonts: KG Skinny Latte, Pristina, Celtic Hand

Dogwood in Spring

Flowers are such a special part of spring and one of my favorite sights is blooming American dogwood. Our neighbors have a tree that I often photograph. One recent photo seemed perfect for a web inspiration challenge. It featured black and white with a touch of red.

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Designer Credits:
-background: Not so basic: Whites by Maya de Groot
-black and white solid papers and elements: Contrast by Maya de Groot
-small red flower: Home Sweet Home by Maya de Groot
-large red flower: Oscraps Collab Tango
fonts: Edwardian Script ITC, Kidnap, Corbel

Celebrate Winter Gulls on Icy Lake Erie

This page is another painting my photo. This is a January scene of gulls at a power plant warm water outflow. They gather there when the lake is freezing up. Unusual ones show up then.

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Designer Credits:
-background: ArtsyBlendz Snow Paperie No. 2
-brush: ArtPlay Palette No. 10
-brushes: ArtPlay Palette Sophistica
-word art, stars: Oscraps Collab Winter Wonderland
font: Vladimir Script

Celebration of Color -- in Birds!

There is a challenge to use a quote about color. I chose one that lent itself to a display of bird colors. Two photos are Dick's and two are mine. This felt so very good to do during these gray days of March, waiting, waiting for spring to come.

Hope you didn't need your sunglasses for this!
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Designer Credits:
-background: Oscraps Collab Firefly Nights
-splats: Woodland by The Hidden Heart
-stitching: KrissKross Stitched Overlays No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-bird stamp: One of Those Days by Val C. Designs
-alpha: I Love Alphas by The Hidden Heart
fonts: Penguin, Biondi, Celtic Hand, Blue Highway

Christmas Letdown: Back in Time

I'm not positive of the year, but this is part of my brother's family in the midst of the post-unwrapping debris. It is not a good quality photo, but I finally think I have a way to make it work. I was surprised to realize the purse in the lower right was mine, one I only remembered when I saw it in the photo.

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Designer Credits:
all Anna Aspnes
-background: ArtPlay Palette Family
-tree transfer: ArtPlay Palette Christmas Tree
-transfer: ArtPlay Palette Christmas Nostalgia
-brushes: ArtPlay Night Before Christmas BrushSet
-star: Acrylic Christmas No. 1
font: cinnamon cake

Painting My Photo

A wonderful tutorial and beautiful inspiration kicked off last Friday's AnnaLift. The tutorial was even one I could follow in Paint Shop Pro (PSP), often not the case. The result looks like a painting of my photo from a park along a river. It was late November, but we could sit on a bench along the river in the sunlight. I'm still amazed at how still the water was to create such reflections.

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Designer Credits:
Lift based on 'harbor' by Ang
using tutorial by Chris Asbury
kits by Anna Aspnes:
-background: ArtPlay Palette Salty Living
-card: ArtsyKardz H20
-transfer: ArtPlay Palette Vitality
-overlay: GoldPaint Overlays No. 1
-line: ArtPlay Palette Socialize
fonts: Dali, BenguiatGot Bk BT