Finding JOY - The Giving Tree

Yesterday, I was invited to participate in a Secret Santa.  I hesitated.  Last year my daughter was hospitalized over the season, and this year my father-in-law will be as he is losing a battle with cancer.  I realized for me, this season accentuates emotions, both of joy and of sorrow.  My Mom also passed away on December 1st, 2000.  I still can't believe she's been gone that long.  So, my reaction to this invitation initially was one of sadness.  Until,  I brought forward a memory of my Mother-in-law who for me, embodied the spirit of the season and the joy of giving.  I decided I owed it to her and to myself to focus on continuing her legacy hoping I may infect my own family and friends...and even perhaps YOU.  Because....happiness is a choice we make every moment.   

Thinking of both my Mom and my Mother-in-law, I was  reminded of Shel Silverstein's book "The Giving Tree".  I decided to then create my own "giving tree " as a way to pay tribute to my DECISION TO EXPERIENCE JOY and to my special angel "Mom's". 

Please take this little collage sheet I made with the wish that you TOO will find some JOY that I believe this season was intended to bring.   LEFT CLICK on the tree top star to enlarge the image, and then RIGHT CLICK "SAVE AS."

Oh- I think I'm catching the spirit!  Are you?  Here's another one (they are folded 'baby joy cards') :

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One more NEW Ready Made Blog Banner with Buttons

 Available on Etsy here

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New Blog Banner with Sidebar Buttons

                   

I decided with Christmas just around the corner (where did the time go?) it was due time I created a few new ready-made blog banners.  Wouldn't it be fun to surprise someone with their own ready to go blog? Both available on Etsy here.

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As requested - more pages from "All Things Poe" Traveler's H'art Halloween Deck 2009

Click on image to view large  *NOTE COPYRIGHT*
  click here to visit Capolan

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"Got Milk" - Unplugged - Sent to Yvonne as Blog Draw Prize

I hesitated to post this, since I've already posted the digital and the cloth versions of this same collage.  I promise this is the final version!  This is the 'paper, scissors and paste' version with an embossed, stamped and painted background.  I still wrestle with numerous comments I see posted on other sites regarding digital versus cut and paste collage.  I printed the images one by one, cut each of them out, created a textured background to adhere them to, and added Swaroski crystals as buttons, and sewed on  a vintage optometry lens.  Apart from the embellishments, and  a few of the clumsily cut edges, the essence remains the same.  Theoretically, it does however become one of a kind.  Thanks for indulging, yet again. 

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"The Duck Whisperer " - Unplugged

Transition from digital to cloth -

From the flat blue screen to 3D with beading and embroidery floss

My first attempt at making french knots -

The bird cage - with a button as the door -

Embroidering "leaves of grass" -

Almost ready to mail - :0)

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This morning's digital musing -

"The Star Collectors" - digital  7.5 x 11.25 inches

Credits:  Dover Publication Free Images

Here are the six images I used to create this collage - the earth, stars and moon are all brushes, and I digitally painted the colors -

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Maude, the Grandpuppy and Jillian in Banff

If you look very very closely, you can see Maude...oh and, ya, my daughter, Jillian., she's the bigger of the two.  I can't imagine what I might be like if I  ever have a real grandchild. I'm quite happy with this arrangement for the time being.
p.s.  Now, isn't this just the prototypic and stereotypic Canadian photograph - snow, mountains and a Kokanee beer?  I'd be more inclined to be inside the lodge  snuggled under a down-filled quilt with a glass of hot-mulled wine...looking at photos of frozen waterfalls.  

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Sunday Post Card Art - "Crackle"

Below,  my entry for this week's Sunday Postcard Art where the 'application' is "crackle."   My hat goes off to those artists with submissions of  the real 3D crackle technique - I've taken a FAR less time consuming approach  here with a simple digital crackle brush overlay.  Underneath, is a 4 x 8 inch rendition of the same images.

Sunday Postcard Art - 4 x 6 digital

"Guess Who" - 4 x 8 digital

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Nette - The Duck Whisperer

"Nette - The Duck Whisperer" - 4 x 8  inch digital on cotton

Credits:  Paper Whimsy, Two Peas, Dover

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