Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up

Time once again to share some of the things I have been doing the past week. As we have started a new month, I created a new calendar for April.

April showers bring May flowers - hopefully!

Collages

I created several collages this week, a couple for challenges, and one just for fun using scrap gelli papers.

Inspiration Avenue - the theme this past week was marigolds. I used a gelli paper background and marigolds from some wrapping paper. The quote seemed appropriate:

For the Craft Barn, the theme of travel :

Journal 52

I completed a page for this challenge:

A Day in the Life of ...  I chose instead to show a perfect day., one that includes art and writing and time with loved ones.

I am starting a new challenge with ROW80  and thought this page would fit in well with the writing goals I am setting for this challenge. It starts tomorrow for 80 days and also counts for my first for this week - first time I have ever done this kind of challenge.I have set my goals on my writing blog here. (If you are looking for more info about ROW80, there is more info on my blog)

ATCs

I created one set of APCs for a swap - butterflies on 7s. By the time I am finished I will have created and received a complete set of butterfly cards.

Photography

We once again have doves nesting on the ladder on our back porch. They always seem to make such funny looking nests. I will share their journey here each week.

Also Linking With:

Creative Every day

Inspire Me Monday

Made it Monday (Jamie Ridler Studies)

Art Journal Every Day

February Calendar

February 1 means a new calendar, for a new month. Heart Health month means hearts, so after painting a pink.purple mixed background, I added white hearts, encircled with red and black.

Be sure to check at the Kathryn Wheel for other wonderful calendars.

Mixed Media Challenges

This week I started Journal 52 and the first prompt was "Up, Up and Away".

First I looked for suitable quotes and found two I liked.
I had already gessoed and painted the backgrounds, then added stars with modeling paste and the quote.

The second quote called for a butterfly and I used the paint blot technique to create it.

I am also participating in Daisy Yellow's Creative Experiments Challenge.
I used the journal pages above to:
1. use a technique I am learning (using modeling paste)
2. create something to use in my journal (the butterfly)



Calendar Challenge
I have also decided to take part in the Calendar Challenge at the Kathryn Wheel. I have tried this challenge but did not complete it. I hope to this year.
I stamped snowflakes over the blue background and used handmade pink and lt. blue rectangles for the days.

ATCs
I also completed some ATCs today for a swap and they fit the challenge at Collage Obsession:

2014 -Year of the Horse

(These horses are the Canadian stamps for Year of the Horse.)

Sunday Weekly Wrap Up and Shadow Shot Sunday

Yesterday we had rain and dark clouds.

Today was a beautiful day - sunny and warm with a bit of a breeze. Yet I was inside, for a few hours buried in a book. It kept me awake til 2:30 last night and then I had to finish it this afternoon. "The Year of Fog" by Michelle Richmond -it was gripping and very readable. I would recommend it.

Shadow Shot Sunday:

I wasn't able to get great shadows outside yesterday but I did manage a few inside shots of plants:

Today with the bright sun I got a few shadows - my favourite on our porch with the cat in the background.

The 100 day challenge has begun and altho it got off to a bumpy start, I am trying to concentrate on healthy habits and creativity.

I finished my June calendar this week for "The Kathryn Wheel's" challenge and altho it isn't quite what I wanted, I have been keeping up!

I found an interesting download at "A Holy Experience" - A Hundred Day calendar. It has a place for three things you accomplished each day. I love the idea of keeping record for those 100 days but with just a few items to check off.

Did I :

exercise/ eat healthy/create/read/declutter?

These will be what I try to focus on each week.

ATCsI continue to work on ATCs. They are quick and fun, and pose at times, a bit of challenge.

These were for a PAT - where each person in the swap Picks a Theme (try to guess the different themes!)

A Sharpie flower:

Children's Book Characters:

And of course my favourite - zentangles:

Tomorrow starts the colour challenge at Twinkle, Twinkle and I am looking forward to that.

I am so looking forward to the end of school as well! lol This week all the Grade 3s in Ontario will have done or will be doing the Gr. 3 and 6 EQAO Assessment. My class will be writing it Tues - Thurs. for several hours a day. What a bloody waste of money! I can still remember the little girl who looked up at me a few years ago and said, "But you're a teacher - you're supposed to help me!" For the reading section (there are 2 other sections - math and writing!) we can offer no help at all. And I have several students who are not reading at grade level. We will get through it though as we always do.

Have a wonderful week, full of creativity and laughter - we all need both!

Sunday Wrap-up - Giveaway, Postcards, calendar, photos

It has been awhile since I posted a Sunday Wrap-up. Sundays seem to have gotten busier lately, usually trying to complete schoolwork Sunday evenings.

But I have had a creative week -finally! I took part in I-Hanna's Postcard Swap and mailed the 10 postcards off this week. I had fun creating them, playing around with paper, paint, stamping and collage.

The backgrounds were mostly subdued colours to represent the dullness of late winter, with just a touch of pink to represent the promise of spring to come.

Then yellow and green were rolled on to represent the coming of spring.

I added photos and stamping, as well as a quote to complete the postcard. Here are a few of my favourites:

 

Calendar Challenge
I finally finished the April calendar for "The Kathryn's Wheel" calendar challenge.











March was partly filled in. I hope to do better this month!




Spring has finally sprung! Warmer weather, robins and crocuses were all signs this week!

Our gardens are blooming with yellow and purple crocuses:

Our robin has returned to nest on the big ladder on our back porch. Here is a first look at the nest - a day's worth of work! It wasn't there yesterday when we left at noon. Today it was!

500th + Post and Giveaway

This marks my 500th + post! I have also passed my second year blogversary! Hard to believe. As I looked back on my very first post in March 2011, I realized that I have achieved what I set out to do and as well, have added so much in the way of creativity, community and challenge to my life. I look forward to so much more in the year to come.

I have "met" so many wonderful bloggers and admired their work from afar. I have taken courses, responded to challenges and created my own challenges. I may not have completed all of them, but they were so enjoyable. Art has become more central to my life and I want to keep learning and doing.

To thank those who visit and who I visit, for their support and kindness, I am hosting a giveaway! Leave a comment below for your chance to win!

I will draw winning names on the evening of Easter Sunday! Be sure to leave a way to get in touch!

I will be giving away 2 postcards similar to the above, as well as 3 ATCs. If more than 50 leave a comment, I will add more cards to the giveaway!