Within Arm's Reach

That's what they said.  The Poobahs, that is.  At The Order of the Opus Gluei.

The challenge ACTUALLY is to make stuff out of whatever is

lying around from your last project(s).

Easy Peasey (WHERE did that saying come from anyways?) for me, cus I have bits and pieces

EVERYWHERE!

I

Mean

EVERYWHERE!

I'm not kidding.

So as soon as I saw what the challenge was, I sidled up to my worktable and rooted around and made ATC's.  Lots of ATC's.  Well, maybe not as many as Jana made, but pretty darn close, I would guess.

anyways.

And I only used what had been piling up on the table.

If you don't like ATC's, go have a cuppa somethin.  Cus you're about to be inundated.

1,2,buckle my shoe.

3,4, shut the door

5.6. pick up sticks7,8, um, who do we appreciate?

Hell, I don't know

9.10, I love men.

OK, it's become obvious I don't know the nursery rhyme.

But I do love to make ATC's.  Now what am I going to do with these?

I could paper my living room.

Hey, did you know when my daughter was little, she pronounced it "Livering Room"?

True story.  it was so darn cute I never corrected her.

She's smart though, she figured it out.

There's probably an ATC in this story somewhere.

Thank Poobahs for the inspiration.

Electra had a good time with this.

The Order of the Opus gluei.

Check it out.

{PS, I won't give all credits, but feel free to email me if  you want to know about an element.  I will give a shout out to Maggie Hurley who created the sweet little owl in the armchair, and to Phenomenon1859 for the dress mannequin and the fairy in the jar.  They are both wonderful works of art.)

I don't have a title for this

But it was WAY fun to make.

Green

That's the theme for this week at Take A Word

I couldn't do all green, but mostly.  It was the best I could do.  I'm not Irish.

The Mannequin is by Zine Manne, the furniture is from Clem Uptown Girls, good old Betty is from the internet, the top hat is by Dezinaworld.

That's the best I can do.

Thanks for looking.

Three Young Ladies

Jeanette of Soartful Challenges

has challenged us to use an image of three lovely ladies this week:.

Can you tell where they are?

(snicker)

All of the antique elements are by Petoos, the background paper is by CatherineDesigns.

I've added a couple of texutres by Kim Klassen.

There is an abundance of talent over there, I hope you go visit!!

Umbrellas

One of the 100 themes for Kimmie's 100 Theme Challenge is "Umbrella".  I  had no idea

a. where to get an image of an umbrella and b. what I was going to do with it when I did get one.

Peggy Gatto's Friday Foto Collage solved both problems for me.  She gave a us a number of different umbrellas this week that we could use for our collage.  First, I had one.  then another, then another.  and long story short, my mojo kicked in:

All of the younguns and the words are by Lisa's Altered Art. 

Compendium of Curiosities #35

We've come to the end of Linda Ledbetter's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge.  I'm so sad.  The ONLY good thing about this ending is that I no longer have to spell "Compendium of Curiosities".  I struggled with that, big-time. In fact, I feel like I should spell it wrong, just to show you how hard I found it.  I won't. But you need to know that is the ONLY good thing about the end of this.

I would like to send a

HUGE HUG

to Linda for all her hard work.  I can't imagine how she's managed to do it all.  but she has.  and if you didn't take part, it's your loss.

Cus it was wonderful!!

Here is my last effort Design Details from Page 67:

Thank you Linda, for inspiring me!

100 Themes.

I'm in the mood to post some more of the digital art I'm doing for Digital Whisper's 100 Themes.  Remember, I told you about it?

What, you don't remember?  Well, geesh, pay attention, will ya, there's going to be a test.

Good Grief

1.Cemetery

The photo is one of mine, the border is by Digikeepsakes, I've added PSE textures and adjustment layers.

2.Mirror
Googled book, unknown photo mask, frame and papers, personal photograph, sherriejd art start paper, assorted PSE textures.

3. Desolate

Personal photo, googled ad, unknown frame, assorted textures brush from brusheezy

and 4. Window

frame by diannerigdonedesigns, background paper byDIkeledidesigns, textures by ZEN, woman in window by Cemerony

OK, I'm done.

For now.  lol

And you thought I was just layin' on the couch eatin' bon bons.

Friday Fill-ins

1. Oh gross! I thought it was _snot!_.

2. _I watched someone bungee jump-_ well THAT's off my bucket list!

3. No, _I did not say I would do your work for you_.

4. When I make art, I use my whole_ heart and soul.

5. And then _I nap_.

6. I can't forget _my address, how would I find my way home_?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _doing nothing which requres a brain_, tomorrow my plans include _speaking at a conference_ and Sunday, I want to _go out for a fattening brunch with my girlfriends._!

See more Fill Ins here.

Heart Art Coaster Swap

Another swap, Electra?

Yes, I'm afraid so.  This one is for a Gingersnap Creations group I belong to.

Four.

Coasters.

With Hearts.

I won't give any details of the processes of these works or art (hah!), 'cus I'm just too lazy, but I will give credit to Julia Van Der Werf of Cemerony for her wonderful hearts that I used.  I could use her work every day, all day and these hearts are no exception.  Hmmm, I should go to her website and buy some more...........

Blissful ATC Swap

It's taken me such a long time to get around to posting this-I acutally posted a digital version of this a while ago, but I've made (and put in the mail) a real live version. We had to use all or part of this image provided to us by sweet Wendy:

And here is my version:

This is a fun swap run by a fun lady.  You may want to check it out!

Blissful ATC Swap.

The lady is a Dover image.  I think I'll be using her a lot.

Party Like You Mean It!

You know the Poobahs, right?  Well, they thought I should toddle over to their Challenge #93-Show Us Some New Tricks and share my experience with felt-making with the gang over there.

BUT NO.

I'm stubborn.

I wanted to try something else new.

And then along comes Gingersnap Creations  with their shout-out for Mardi Gras and it came to me!  Just like that.

OK, "What's new about this?" you ask.

"It's just more of your usual mish mash, Electra!"

Well, no, it's not, actually.

See when I was blurfing yesterday, I came across my buddy Lori's "Perfect Stamping" technique that she learned from the talented Wendy Vecchi and I loved it!

So I tried it.  And no, you cannot see it on the background of this gorgeous ATC, so I'm sorry about that.  But it's there. You'll have to trust me on that one. It involves distress inks, Perfect Pearls mist and a stamp. 
But since you can't see the wonderful sparkle in it, you'll have to go see Lori's.  Or Wendy's
.

I tried to get a good photo of the sparklies, trying all sorts of different lighting and different angles and then I realized, I pretty much covered it all up with stuff.  duh.

The stuff I used is Peeled Paint distress ink on the background, Perfect Pearls (right, I said that)  in gold, the glasses are a stamp by "Declassified", covered with stickles of course, gold embossing powder on the edges.  Oh let's see, her dress is scrunched mulberry paper I've had since 1982.  Saving it JUST for THIS project. Um, assorted bling.  And the piece de resistance, the gold mask that was in my delightful matchbox that came from Jan's Arty Journey...then a feather from some poor chick's butt and the brooch.  Oh, the brooch.  Isn't it gorgeous!  I just had to buy it at Mikey's.  It called my name.  And here it is.

So now go visit the Poobahs, cus they started this.

DID YOU COUNT HOW MANY LINKS I PUT INTO THIS POST?!?!?

Holy cow.

I'm exhausted.

But not too tired to sing along with American Idol.

C'mon you do it too.  You know you do.

And the background is green.  I don't know why it doesn't look green.  Cameras do that, you know.

I'm not stupid, I know the Mardis Gras colours!  I went to New Orleans once.

But I don't remember much of it.

That's a whole other blog.

One you probably should not read.
Not if we're going to stay friends.

WOYWWED

Ever since I cleaned out my studio, and found out what I have, I've been happily using up stuff I've had for years and forgotten about.  this wooden dragonfly is oneof those had-for-years items.

The finished LO:

There are lots more Workdesks so see here. 

It is after all, Wednesday!

I made some felt.

Well, not felt EXACTLY, I lost patience before it got to that point.  I think I"m going to put the big bale of roving I bought, on Kijijii.  Do you know anyone who wants to buy some roving?  I'm going to stick to paper-ish stuff. 

 It's a good price.  (read: I wish-I'd-never'bought-this-cr@*-cheap)

Since I never got to the "felt stage"...do you know how long that takes????...

I decided it looked like it wanted to be a flower.

Having said that, it did not have a strong enough personality to be a flower alone. 

 It needed friends.

Friends and family.  Brightly coloured family.

roving.  one bale.  cheap.  call me.

More mail-love

I got more treats in my mailbox today!  Whistle, Clap, Cheer!! First, here are some really elegant ATC's I won from Ros of Rossylalah.  All the way from Australia!!

Woo Hoo!

NOT ONLY THAT,

the wondrous Poobahs over at The Order of the Opus Gluei sent a parcel of goodies that positively curled my toes! 

OK, that's a bad visual. 

 Bling (of course), stamps, rub-ons, Tim Holtz' masks, rooster teasures, and,

GET THIS!

A postcard of their logo!

Well, I don't know if
"Logo" is the right word, but it is so cool!  I have it proudly displayed right beside my puter.

Thank you Poobah's, you're da bomb!!

Bird Life

What do birds do on their days off?  I know what I do.  Well, besides make stuff in my studio of course. I know what they do!!!

The birds are Gypsy Uppity Puppets and the home appliances, including garbage can and other non-motorized instruments of torture are by Wish Bliss Studio.

And you will find lots more bird-related goodness at

Take a Word

They don't look real happy, do they?  Do  you when you're doing housework?  They probably want to be playing in their studios just like we do.

"AIR"

I made this for the theme "Air" for the Digital Whisper 100 Theme Challenge.  I tried to make her look like the wind was swirling around her.

AND

"CAVE"

Care for some tea?

"B" is for

Baby Bum.

BEAUTY

This is for a digital ATC swap-theme:  BEAUTY.

Soartful Country Lane

Soarful Challenges

Big fun

Friday Foto Collage

before:

Friday Foto Collage

after:

That's only a la Electra of course.  Peggy  has given us a

whole bunch

of lovely images to work with this week.

You'll want to try it yourself.

Big fun.

Really BIG.

I love my mailman

or should that be "mailperson?"  Ak, I don't care, I love him.

I recieved two One World, One Heart prizes this week-lookeee!!!

First from Anna McCurdy of QuiltMom's Journey, a lovely bracelet

(which I promptly wore to work today).

Isn't it wonderful?  I asked for black (she told me I could choose) cus that's what I wear mostly.

Lucky, lucky me!

And here's the funny part.  After flying all around the world for the OWOH Magic Carpet ride, Anna lives about a three hour drive north of me.  That cracks me up.

THEN, from across the ocean (and it arrived in the same amount of time, which I will NEVER understand), from Jan of Jan's Arty Journey I received this precious matchbox chock-full of little treasures.

(I've photographed it on the tissue paper it was wrapped in, as I love it and plan to do some encaustic art with it!)

Did you  hear my squeals of joy as I explored it?  Well, actually, the squeals started when I unwrapped it.  You must have heard them.  And I am so NOT a squealer.

Lookit the tiny beer can!  How cool is that?  Who knew they drink beer in the UK?

Like I said, Lucky, lucky me.

I love my mailperson.

I really do.

Friday Fill In

1. Bring your favorite _jammies_.

2. _Movies and popcorn _ are included.

3. _A pyjama party_ is exactly _what the doctor ordered_.

4. Well, you see, _it's been a long cold winter_.

5. _And I'm going to crack from the cold_ soon!

6. But what if _we light a fire and cuddle up in quilts in front of it?_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _relaxing_, tomorrow my plans include _buying some runners that aren't ugly clunkly grannyshoes_ and Sunday, I want to _sleep in_!

See more Fill Ins here.

Party On!

with Art Creations Friday!

The lady is by sum of All Crafts, the gentleman is the image we were given by Art Creations Friday, the background is by Kim Klassen.

Thanks for looking!

Goin' Postal

Challenge #92 at The Order of the Opus Gluei is just that: 

Goin' Postal.

The base is one of Tim Holtz' Faded Texture Dies (at least I think that's what they are called).

It's a natural for this theme, don't you agree?

It's been inked with Ranger's Distress Inks.

The doily, which I glimmer-misted is one of Martha Sterwart's. Well, not one of her VERY OWN.  I was turned onto them by one of the OG Poobah's Rosemary, so it's only fitting I use it here.  Plus I found it at the bottom of a drawer where I stuck it when I bought it and forgot about it.  Have you ever done that?

No?  Never mind then.

I have no idea where the black frame came from, I've had it since the Inquisition.

The heart, oh, the heart! is by Cemerony and I LOVE IT!!!  I covered it in Utee and then cracked it a bit. The curly glittery thingie is from Mikey's.

Even though I am currently detoxing myself from Mikey's, I did accidentally find myself in there one day and (also) accidentally bought this.  Must have been in a black-out.  I'm sure of it.

Has that every happened to you?  No? Never mind then.

Bu-Bye.

WOYWDWED

I'm working on some heart coasters for a swap.

And I've used a couple of these flocked background that my friend Chat Noir in Australia sent to me quite some time ago.  Are they not so cool?

I love them. But I WILL part with a couple (grudgingly) for this swap.

Thanks Chat Noir, you're the best!

Check out more WOYWDWED:

http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

I'm on call tonight

and the stupid phone keeps ringing.  AND we're not done yet.  SO, while I'm looking after this, I thought I would add another of my Digital Whisper 100 Themes Challenge
pieces.

  I give you:

JOURNEY

The photo is one I took as we were floating down the river in Bangkok, just before (you'll like this) we came upon 3 other longboats at an intersection and had a "traffic jam".

I've added four or five different textures, played with the saturation and added a bird brush, and there you go.

Oh what the heck, had one more call and am waiting for another, so I'll give you another piece.  Let's see...

UNDERWATER

Gosh, I can't tell you the parts of this one, what I CAN tell you is I DID NOT take this photo.

NOR is that me.

AND the situation at work is resolved. 

God's in his heaven and all's right with the world.

Or somethin like that.

Are you impressed that I can blog and talk on the phone at the same time.

Well, I certainly am.

Just sayin.

Dimensional Collage Fragments and

Jewel tones and Gold!!

What is she babbling about now?  You ask.

Well, it is week 34 for Studio L3's Compendium of Curiosities Challenge

AND

Gingersnap Creations Colour Challenge #92 is "Jewel Colours plus Gold.

Did you follow all of that?

Cus there WILL be a test.

Wait for it...

TaDa!!!