MEET MY LITTLE RED HEAD

They aren't quite finished...Still in the need of a little more detail but I wanted to share them anyway..They sure were fun.  ENJOY........................DIANE

Happy Hands

These were made for a swap that I joined.  If you haven't traced you hand since you were in grade school you just have to do it...all those memory's of your youth will come flooding in. The Art Quote is on the back so you are looking at both sides of two hands.  This swap was 6 for 6 and I think I will make alittle book.
Today was my morning to read the blogs of my friends and leave a note so they will know that I stopped by.  It is so fun to feel the connection of others even thought we have never met face to face.  It is a wonderful time we are living in.  And for a short time we can pretend that all is right with the world.  Peace.......DIANE

Art Comes in All Sizes

Working on the smallest size has never been easy for me.  These are 2.5" x 3.5".  I finally got around to buying some clip art from "iTkUpiLLi"  I have  been following her work for over a year and just love what she does.  I would like to learn how to use the Adobe program or one of those photo pro. I have been playing a little with Adobe but it frustrates me and seems difficult.  I got to be pretty good with Windows Picture It, but it wouldn't work with my new Windows 7 PC.  I will keep trying until I get it, she has a tutorial here     http://itkupillishop.blogspot.com/2010/01/paint-shop-pro-tutorial-how-to-cut.html She uses Paint Shop Pro.

Anyway I bought a sheet with backgrounds, a sheet with fish and a sheet with lady's and butterfly wings. I added some rubber-stamping and some gel pens and carefully cut her elements to add to my design.  I have two more on my table that I will share soon. Meanwhile have an artful week...........DIANE

I'm A WINNER

Hooray.......I am the lucky winner of a Journal page print from one of my very favorite Artist the Rock Star herself.............Roc. You can view my page by visiting here http://whatsuproc.blogspot.com/2009/07/win-free-print.html
Thank you for holding this contest Roc and making my day....Now I am off to work with a smile on my face. HUGS, DIANE

WHAT A FUN SWAP

I received my returns from the latest swap I was in and boy was it fun. I just love my returns they are all so different. It was fun doing a bird shape. I wasn't sure how I would put them together. Some people were going to make a mobile and some a book, where do you bind them? They were facing in different directions and I had thought I would ring them at the top but didn't like the way they would flip because of the different direction of the head and tail. So I choose to ring them at the tail, I like to bind them because then I can hang the whole group together and flip through them anytime. I made one for myself to keep and since I am into STEAMPUNK at the moment I made the BROWN BIRD with the watch parts and the heavy metal beak which was a rusty something-or-another I found in the backyard. Have a Art full weekend.............DIANE

Jackson Commission Sold

I just wanted to share this with you. The lady that ordered it picked it up the other day so I am able to share. I didn't want to post it until she saw it in person. Well I am glad to say she loved it and just squealed with joy when she saw it so that was worth more than all the money. Then this weekend she brought her little grandson in to see me and I was just tickled to see him in person. It's funny.....I was missing him after working on his portrait and looking at that cute little face. The canvas is 20 x 24. Her daughter E-mailed me four pictures she liked and ordered his favorite car from the movie Car's, and this is what I came up with. Welcome June with a song in your heart and art in your soul. Diane

Tuscany Sunshine

"Tuscany Sunshine" This is a commissioned canvas I made for someone after my art show. It is 9" x 14" I hope she likes it...she is a quilt artist and designs some very fantastic quilts of I am a little intimated. This is a lot harder than I thought. I think I would rather just make something and sell it if they like it instead of a special order.....a lot of pressure. I am working on the second canvas and it is commissioned also. Even more stressful as it is someones grandson with a specific theme...STRESS.....I have to admit tho, it is nice to finally be making some money with my art after all these years. Anyway it is really still fun and I think she will like it..I had her e-mail me three photos so I could pick the one I wanted and also get a little personality from them. It is in progress but I will share it with you when finished. Have a Artful weekend. Diane

Gypsie's, Tramps and Thieves

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves is the theme for the latest swap that I am in.. The work that everyone it putting into this swap is fantastic. A group of very talented artist that I am proud to be associated with. A fun group full of banter and laughter. Lots of ideas to keep the creative juices flowing.

Well I have lost a few things in the mail lately. After two years of swapping art through the mail it has finally happened to me. I just sent a postcard inside an envelope for protection and it didn't make it to the person. She thinks maybe someone is taking it out of her mailbox so it is no fault of the U.S.P.O.

ART ON PEOPLE.....Diane

Monochromatic Swap

These are the 4 X 4 Chunky pages that I made for a swap I am in. I mailed them the other day. I like to take pictures of my work before I send it off. I always have a picture of the individual page and sometimes I do a group shot.. The red just had to have a group shot. I often post the individual pages a few days apart, but my blog time has been rather limited lately so this time I figured I would just show them all.

I have spent most of my computer time at Etsy looking for Collage sheets to use in my art. Let me tell you there are many to choose from and you can really eat up the time searching. And like most things, it is easy to get sidetracked. Isn't it great now between downloads and paypal you can have your new collage sheet within hours instead of days through the mail. Saves money on postage. The first sheets I bought a few years ago were mailed to me now just a click away...almost too easy. Seek the beauty of today....tomorrow is here soon enough. Diane

P.S.

If you haven't heard of Tim Holtz you are more than likely not into altered art or if you are and haven't heard of him I am glad to be the first to tell you about him. Better yet check out his site here. http://www.timholtz.com/index.html

FAIRIES IN THE WOODS

Fairies in the Woods is a 4" x 4" page for a swap I am in. There are 6 players and each person picks a picture that they like and every player makes them a page using that picture. It can be altered in any way and you can use all or part of the picture anyway you want...This is the girl I picked and it will be fun to see how the other artist use her in their art. I will show you the other pages I do and when it is done I will show you the pages the others have made for me...Happy Art day to you...Diane

Zetti Art

Here is another Zetti I made for a swap. I thought she was fun. She is sorta floating above the rest. But look at those wings why wouldn't she flutter above the rest...

King of the Circus

Yes I do love my 4 x 4 Chunky book pages...they are so fun and all the fluffy yarn and beads. When you get them all together with a ring binder they are so cool. Six or seven make a really fun size. This was part of a 6 x 6 swap I am in.

Love Blooms

This collage is 12" X 16". The saying is from Walt Whitman. It is on a stretched canvas.

ATC'S Artist Trading Cards

These are the first ATC's I have made in awhile..I have been working mostly on larger sizes so this was a fun project. They are all made for a swap I am in at another site. These exchanges keep the ideas flowing and the challenge always on. It is a way to exchange ideas and art with others and make new friend. The ATC is 2.5 x 3.5, the same size as the baseball card that have been traded for years. I have done a new size 5 x 5 just for fun and will share them with you later. Meanwhile ART ON PEOPLE.......................................DIANE

IMAGINE

This is the last in a series of six for my"Man in the Moon" project. This is my favorite. I am not sure what is next on my studio table...I have a funny beach scene in progress, it is a 6" X 12" canvas.


I have taken a little break and started making a baby Quilt. It is about half finished. It is bright and fun and I can't wait to finish it..........................Seek Joy Today......Diane

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Well these little 4"x 6" Chunky Houses are really fun to make..I have been moving in between working small and a few larger pieces. I enjoy different sizes of work. Larger sometimes gives me more freedom. Have a beautiful weekend................................Diane

House of the Rising Moon

House of the Rising Moon. I am having so much fun with these little houses. You just have to get on a kick when you find something that is fun, and when you get to a point that you are having fun and like the end result you should just challenge yourself to think of a lot of ways to use the image that delights you...This Moon does that for me..It is being used a lot in the world of Altered Art. I have a few of my favorite artist that use the moon in their creations and I just love it and wanted to use it too but I didn't want it to be the same as theirs so I thought and thought of how I could use it and make it mine....I hope I don't see it popping up everywhere but if I do I hope it is original.......Diane

Messy Day

Yesterday took me back to my Mother's home when I was 16 years old...I was working in my bedroom doing a large collage and spilled a cup of glue on her carpet. What a mess...I was rushing around trying to clean it up and get it out of the carpet. Maybe she wouldn't notice. Ya right!! I could never sneak anything past my Mom....Anyway yesterday I put the lid on a brand new 32 oz. jar of GOLDEN MATTE MEDIUM and you know the rest...the lid was not on tight and the whole jar fell to the floor and B O U N C E D--------spreading the white stuff everywhere even the bottom of my chair, the magazines on the floor everywhere!!! I just about cried. I grabbed a sheet of stiff card stock and scooped the biggest pile up and back into the jar. Along with all the other little bits and pieces that an art room floor has, thus contaminating the whole jar I am sure.........My dear husband heard me scream or cuss or something and came in and helped me clean the mess up...Oh well...S tuff happens and then more S tuff happens.
This little house shaped card is 4" X 6" I made a set of six in all and will share them later..CREATE and SHINE.. Diane

Seek Joy and Laughter

Laughter is a healing force that leads to JOY. December is a month to seek Joy and Laughter with friends and family not stress of shopping and cooking and cleaning...Learn to say no to stress by just letting something go. If you are running out of time and didn't get the refrigerator clean just pass a warm wet cloth over the most obvious shelves and do the deep cleaning after the first of the year....make food dishes that can be prepared 2 or 3 days ahead. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a family member. They may not do it just like you but let some control go....it will be good enough. And really....how perfect does vacuuming have to be? Most of all save time for yourself...Do your nails. Get your hair done. Do some Art. You will enjoy your family more if you are stress free and relaxed. The laughter will come easy and Joy will be with you through out the new year..........Hugs, Diane

Odds and Ends

I haven't had much time for art the last few days.........guess it will pretty much be that way until after the new year........the two houses are ATC size 2.5 x 3.5...........they were traded away at ATC for All. The little charm bracelet was a swap at the same site for ALTERED CHARMS. I put all the charms that I received on a bracelet. They are all so unique I love to get it out and look at it......Have a blessed Sunday. Diane