Tea Stands for Tuesday - 1/17/22

 The Bay Area is still pretty soggy but the sun is breaking through today which gives me hope.  I think Wendesday is going to give us a little more rain but after that we are looking at a good streak of dry days.  I'm ready for that.

"We're made of star stuff" Carl Sagan

This is a card I made for my adult Grandddaughters birthday.  We both share an interest in the study of space and Carl Sagan's work.  I couldn't get a great photo since there was such poor natural light.  The background square is a gelli print and the drawing/writing is done with Poska pens.

Today I'm trying to dye some papers with beet juice made from leftover beet skins.

Here you see some regular copy paper drying.  I'm drinking my tea in a cup said granddaughter sent me some time ago.  I really like the color of the paper although it will probably lighten as it gets dry.  I did try a sheet of caligraphy paper which turned to mush almost immediately as it got wet.  Always something new to learn.  

Please join me and visit our Tea Party Hostes here.  There are some great people posting there.

Tea Stands for Tuesday - 10/27/2020

 

Hello to all my tea party friends.  I am trying a new herbal tea.  It has a nice peachy aroma and color and a decent amount of peach flavor.  I think I will put it in my herbal tea rotation.

Since this is the last time for a tea party before Halloween I want to share my wishes for a safe and happy Halloween with you.   This is a collaged card I made some time ago using a copy of a baby photo.  In fact it appeared on my old blog.  I wanted to give it another outing.

Grab your drink of choice and join me in visiting everyone at Elizabeth's tea party.  

Stay well everyone.

Monday Morning - 10/9/17

Time to get up and get going.  No matter how long I've been retired, Monday still signals the start of the week, the day to get organized.

Here's a card I made  recently.  I needed something "happy".  I think I achieved that.

water color and pen on

watercolor card stock.

Today is Columbus Day here in the U.S.  One of those confusing holidays where I'm hard pressed to figure out which services and shops are on holiday and which are not.  I do know there is no mail so the card waits to go until tomorrow.

What are your plans for this wonderful Monday?

Art bits

We've been at the river without internet as some of you might have guessed by lack of posts here.  I did have time to create a bit though.  Funny how that works.

I continued making cards to replenish my supply.    

watercolor on watercolor card stock

Flowers can be all purpose but hopefully cheery

watercolor on watercolor card stock

A bit hard to see the detail on this one.  I will write a sentiment in the center when the time comes to use the card.  I like options.

Then I got out the sketch book.  I frequently like to try a sketch I have in mind in my book before deciding to make a card.

pen and ink in sketchbook

I'm calling this one "LBD" (little black dress).  I think it would make a fun card.  The head/hair is a little out of proportion in this sketch.  That's one of the reasons I like to try ideas out before committing to a card.  

What did you do this past weekend?

Making cards

I attempt to make all the cards I send instead of using commercial cards.  Sometimes I fall woefully behind.  I needed to send a couple of cards so I got out the supplies.

stencil on watercolor card stock

This one was made for a man's birthday.  I find it a little difficult to make cards for men.  No fussy flowers, etc.  I used a small stencil that I've had for ages.  I don't even know where I got it.

watercolor  on  watercolor card stock

You have seen cards similar to this one before.  Made using masking tape and watercolor.  It is an idea I return to because of the abstract quality about it.  It can be used for almost anyone for almost any purpose.

Do you make your own cards?  Do you have a design you frequently use?

Restart the art

It has been months since I've attempted to do any art.  It has been hard to get back into the spirit but finally I said - Enough!

I needed to send a birthday card.  I needed to send it to someone who always appreciates something handmade.  I can post the picture now because the card has been delivered.

Simple design created using masking tape and water color.  A technique I've used before.  Then I cut the front layer of the card around the shapes and the message is written behind that.

It felt good to get out the card making supplies. Hopefully I've broken the creative dry spell I've been in.

Another Owl

Speaking of owls, as I was a couple of days ago, here is a card I made some time ago.

I was going through some of my older art pieces.  Trying to get some inspiration.  The owl is a hand carved rubber stamp I created during a brief period of stamp carving I went through.  

I seem to like to try different things, like stamp carving, and then move on to something else.  Maybe it is curiosity or maybe I have a short attention span.

I think I will get those old stamps out. This is the perfect time of year to use the owl stamp.

Anyone carve their own stamps?