MERRY CHRISTMAS

Before this year comes to an end, I thought it would be appropriate to wind it up here to wish everyone a blessed Christmas. 

I have kept busy with my painting and cardmaking since the last blog post,  but found it easier to post my cards in a gallery for quick access without having to create a blog with them.   Please feel free to visit my gallery at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/studio25/, and see my collection.  Here are a couple of the latest posted for Operation Write Home.

 

 

 

 

Plus, want to share three of my  miniature paintings that are currently on exhibit at the Strathmore Gallery's  Miniature Painting show in Bethesda, MD.  The top one is a pastel painting of a field of sunflowers in the Dakotas, bottom left is an untitled acrylic abstract, and on the right is a pastel painting of a scene in Alaska.

 





Please feel free to scroll down through some of my older posts over the past year, and I'm now making a New Year resolution to post oftener on this blog, so do check back here in January.  As always,  your comments on my works would be appreciated.  Thanks for stopping by.... and do wish you all the best in the coming new year.....2013!!

~Dolores~

MEMORIAL DAY
Can't believe it's here already, and I've missed blogging since Valentines Day.  However, I have been busy both with my paintings and cardmaking for Operation Write Home.   So want to welcome you back here with these patriotic cards for the occasion.   Let's all think about and honor, in some way, all of our veterans past and present...our true heroes.

 

Just for fun, made this next one using the new stamp by Stampers Best that was designed by my own daughter, Sandy for OWH and kinda follows their sketch #63 where Ciara is all decked out in patriotic colors, and the other follows sketch #122 for Ciara in camouflage.

 Also want to share at least one of my latest pastel paintings below.  I had an old sketch of this barn located on the fairway of a local golf course.

Fairway Hazard....11 x 14

Wishing everyone a beautiful summer ahead.  Thanks for stopping by.

~~Dolores~~

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope you're having a LOVEly day!

Thanks for visiting...................................................................

                                                                         ~Dolores~~

Wintertime

Where is the snow in MD?  .... other than a few "conversational snowflakes" (as our TV weatherman says) .... we've had just a couple dustings and  an unusually mild winter so far, although I know many of you in other parts of the country are not so fortunate. 
But.... I've missed seeing that white stuff, and to keep away the cabin fever, I got busy creating  a snow painting that I'll share with you before framing.

It's done in pastel from a photo of a nearby farm.  That lonely bare tree stood tall and proud in the dead of winter, so I cheered it up with a dusting of the white stuff.  Just don't know what to call it.... maybe "All Alone" might suffice? 

Also have been keeping busy with cardmaking, thinking of spring and Easter on the way.  Here's a clever funky fold card that I made after seeing the OWH tutorial for it... turned out pretty well after I finally figured out how to do the folds.

If you've checked my earlier posts here, I posted a photo of  my small solo show going on at the local art center now, and happy to say that I've made a sale of a miniature there, which always is encouraging. 

That's about all for now.   Thanks for stopping by.
~~Dolores~~

WORKSPACE ORGANIZATION

If you haven't seen the great Tuesday Tutorial presented  January 17th on the  Operation  Write Home Stars and Stamps  site  entitled "Organizing Your Space", check out the ideas presented by Jen Muller from The Sparkle Within and the response photos from other crafters sharing their craftroom ideas. 
I am a bit jealous to say the least as I don't have a room dedicated for crafting, but have a small sunroom dedicated to my painting, which gets mighty messy.  So since cardmaking needs some clean space,  I use just a small corner of my dining/livingroom with a 6ft. narrow table that holds my tools and supplies for cardmaking, and fashioned a perfect workspace with a TV tray table:

As you can see, it holds a 12x12 Martha Stewart scorer, with a cutting mat on top of it, and the Martha Stewart papercutter fits perfectly next to the scorer.  The supply table is on the left, so I can sit at the tray table to work on a card, plus still have the diningroom table on the right to spread out papers or emboss with the cuttlebug.  It's more compact and handy for me this way, and easy to clean up when I'm finished. 

I wanted to share this with anyone who might be like me with limited space for cardmaking.  We all must organize the space we do have, so hope this helps someone out there.

Till next time.... thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments.

~Dolores~

HAPPY 2012

As the new year begins, I'm realizing that I haven't added my good wishes here for any visitors.  Do hope the past month since Thanksgiving have been filled with your family/friend celebrations, and that you were blessed with a happy Christmastime.  Now we must look forward to the new year and what it might bring.

I have been busy not only with Christmas preparations, finishing some paintings for an exhibit, and getting those Valentines ready for Operation Write Home heroes which had to be on their way in time for them to write their love messages to family and friends as February is just a month away.

The Frederick County Art Association's exhibit begins the year at the local art center, and I am entering the Alaska oil landscape that I've posted here last July...it was finally dry and ready for entry.  

I've taken a photo of the small solo Foyer Gallery exhibit for you to see which has five of my pastel and acrylic paintings.

The new year is having a good beginning for me as far as exhibiting my art.
Here's hoping you all will be blessed with good health and happiness in this new year....and as always, would appreciate you comments and visits again.

                                               ~Dolores~

HCBC Day 10

It's now down to the final day of boot camp, and I've ended with a card inspired by Lisa Spangler's sparkling holiday card.

This was an interesting experience for me, but a bit disappointing too.  The photo cards seemed to be the focus and the cards with gift cards, which I will probably never use, however, the sketch/design could be used for other cards I guess.  I would have preferred more reproducible holiday cards and some other techniques instead.   Another thing was the poor videos during the second week ... ten minutes took four times as long to view and was annoying with it's stopping every few seconds and restarting.  Still, I did learn a few new things and have these designs to adapt for other cards later.

HCBC Day 9

Continuing to catch up, Day 9 had examples of cards with gift cards, and I wanted to try Kristina's idea on how to create a slit within the 4-l/4 sq. card to hold a gift card, which was clever. My card front turned out to be "warm wishes" and tiney pine trees heat embossed in white on navy cardstock.

HCBC Day 8

I really need to catch up here with the class sessions, and am finally up to #8 which featured some new techniques.  I was inspired by Debbie Olson's card and Copic coloring instructions and used a fun stamped image sent to me by someone last year.  I colored the cute little snowball figures with Copics and used matching papers to put it together for a happy little card.

HCBC Day 7

During this class, Jennifer presented another photo card, creating a collage  of photos into a bookmark attached to a card front.  I wanted to try making the bookmark, but instead of photos I used some Disney characters cut out of a Disney paper full of them and adhered them to a cardstock strip then inserted it into a slit on the card front to hold it in place. 

HCBC Day 6

Three sketches were presented, and I chose to follow Kristina's Merry Bright card, but made a simpler version with supplies on hand.

HCBC Day 5

This was my favorite session .... reproducible cards.... just what I need.
I started with the Peace card embossed on blue base, embellished with white ribbon, a snowflake and bling, and sentiment to finish.

HCBC Day 4

Cards with newsletters were featured this day, but since I rarely send them anymore, here's my take on the tree newsletter card.  I liked the white heat embossing idea on a dark blue cardstock...clean and simple.

HCBC Day 3

Here's my version of the Merry Christmas card without the faux letterpress heat embossing technique featured by Jennifer on Day 3.  I just embossed a white base with a Cuttlebug snowflake folder, and cut out the circle beneath which I placed a winter scene stamped image that I colored with Copics.   This was adhered to a dark red notecard, and the sentiment stamped in white onto a red strip just below the circle.  I'll have to try the new technique at another time.

HCBC Day 2

Day 2 of the Holiday Card Boot Camp featured cards with photos, but since I don't send photo cards, I thought I'd use a stamped image of a nativity scene in place of a photo.  Followed the Christmas cheer card somewhat, but instead heat embossed a "Joy" sentiment with gold across the bottom of the image and linked it up with a swirly snowflake at the end.

Holiday Card Boot Camp

When I heard about the online card class with Jennifer McGuire, I just had to sign up for it.  I need all the help I can get to learn new techniques and ideas for creating my own cards.   It's my first online class, but from the start I can see it's well planned and thorough in presenting everything clearly.  I'll have to take my time absorbing all this new information so I don't expect to keep up with posting cards in the gallery, but it's good to know that it's okay as I'll have access to it forever. 

So for the next two weeks there are daily online classes, with videos and instructions to make holiday cards, and this may get me started on doing some of my own for Christmas.  I'll be sharing them here as I attempt to case the designs,  but they'll most certainly be different since my supplies are meagre and I can't duplicate the techniques.  However, I can adjust and adapt by using what I do have on hand.   Here's my attempt from Day 1.
 
I didn't have the diecut ornament, so had to print out the file onto  cardstock, then cut it out as a template.  Love this Coredinations Pearlized cardstock for the base and the blue shimmer paper worked well with it.  I cut out the ornament from the same gold paper, but instead of the snowflake design, I added some sapphire blings down the center, and tied the top with gold tinsel cord.  Sorry that the  blue"Joy" sentiment isn't too visible on the gold in the photo, but the Martha Stewart  border punch picks up the blue beneath it which added a nice accent.  Do like this card and may create a few more like it, or adapt the design for other occasions.
Thanks for visiting and leaving your comments for me.

OWH Birthday Challenges

Happy Birthday to Operation Write Home.... and what a way to celebrate... daily challenges to make cards for our heroes, plus last weekend's Virtual Cardmaking Party!   Certainly keeps us busy, as well as providing a lot of inspirational mojo!  I haven't been able to keep up with them, but will share a few of my cards here as we celebrate throughout September.



Challenge #4....Miss you - Love you cards being  sponsored by Inspired Stamps all month long.

Challenge 13 VCMP#3....Unique Christmas - non-traditional colors...hosted by Paper Therapy Ponderings






Challenge #14 VCMP 4..... Pick a number from the OWH sketch list... hosted by Handmade by Julie 
I picked sketch 22 for a Christmas scene.




Challenge #21 VCMP 11....Keep it Clean (CAS) hosted by Sparkle Within..... this can be a Valentine or just a love card.



Challenge#22 VCMP 12.....Daddy's child sponsored by Tami's Craft Connection 

May get around to doing more as the month goes on, so check back later.  Thanks
~~ Dolores ~~

Summertime

We are in the midst of a scorching July summer here, and it's best to stay indoors to keep cool.    I've been keeping myself busy with painting, cardmaking, reading, etc.....anything that doesn't require much effort to stay cool.

Way back in October I posted a blog of some of my paintings, and in particular a work-in-progress of  Alaska--an oil on canvas.  It's been a frustrating piece that I've been picking away at all this time.  Well, being forced to stay in the cool house, I vowed to finish this painting, and happy to tell you that I did.  Here's the result:

It's still drying before I can frame it, but would appreciate any comments.   I feel it's finished and don't dare to touch it again. 

It's also been a good time to work on upcoming holiday cards for Operation Write Home, but all I can get in the mood for now are fall themes.

The "Grateful" card in front was actually done with a piece of an acrylic abstract painting I had set aside for more work, but decided instead to crop pieces of the rich fall colors as background for a couple cards.  Sure didn't need much embellishment, and I'm kinda happy with this.  May try it again
soon!

Thanks for stopping by..... hope you all are enjoying your summer.

~~Dolores~~

A WINNER!

My sincere thanks to everyone who stopped by and left me a comment during the OWH Memorial Day Bloghop.

As promised, I made a Random.org pick from all comments received, and the winner of my blog candy is:  LOUISE at Trinity Paper Arts. 

Congratulations Louise....I'll be in touch with you later this week for mailing instructions.

Do hope everyone enjoyed all the inspiration at the hop and is now busy creating the next million OWH handmade cards for our deployed heroes to use.

~~Dolores~~

Welcome!                                         

So glad you've stopped by to visit my corner studio.   Normally I share some of my paintings with you, and since I posted a couple just a few days ago, today it's dedicated to the Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop.  If you've arrived here from Lisa's blog, Stamping with a Mission, then you're in the right place, but if you need to start at the beginning, just click the bloghop badge shown on the right -------------   

Since we are honoring Memorial Day this weekend, our mission is to make a "missing you" card for a deployed hero to write home on, and here is mine:

This is an example of the "Dimensional Ruffle card Tutorial"   posted by Sandy on April 29, 2011 on the OWH Stars and Stamps blog, and can be found under the Tutorials section,  along with a great U-Stream video.  I used scrap pieces of blue and white design paper for each of the ruffles trimmed with a scallop punch, then glued onto a blue base front and attached to white cardstock.  I felt it only needed a small flower and a little butterfly punch to finish it off with blue ribbon.  Amazingly enough, it really levels out with each row and isn't too bulky.

BLOG CANDY
To entice you to leave a comment for me on what you think of my attempt with this card, I'm offering some sweet blog candy for one lucky person:

A winner will be chosen through random.org on Wednesday at 9:00 pm EST, so check back then to see if you've won. 

But, before you leave here now, please scroll down to see a previous post of some paintings I've done recently in my studio and let me know what you think of them.  I'd really appreciate that.

NEXT STOP!
Then you can proceed to the next stop on this hop which is Nancy's blog Scrap Happens!!!  You won't want to miss Nancy's inspirational work, as well as those who follow.  This is fun and a great way to get new ideas for your own creations.  Enjoy the hop and have a great Memorial Day weekend!

~~Dolores~~