March 2016 Calendar Journal

And March went along like so...

I'm almost completely happy with this calendar journaling style.  I've only one struggle left to overcome.  I can't use markers or gel pens of any kind, as they can be seen through the paper to the previous or next month.  I have been searching for colored ink pens that write well and have tossed quite a bit of money into the trash can.  The pens come home with me, they either don't write nicely or the ink blobs up at the tip, so off to the trash they go.  Any suggestions?

Now on to my birthday month.  I've already spent some enjoyable time purchasing a few new toys for myself.  I love me an Amazon rewards gift card!

Happy Spring!

xxx

Annie

Spring Button-winged Birdie

The theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art is SPRING.

Spring is the most wonderful time of the year!

I "drew" (amazement in itself) my birdie based on the great mixed media birds I found on Pinterest created by this blogger: http://www.erinbassett.com/creativite/2012/04/bird_canvas.html. I gave mine a faux button that is just a fabric circle.

This cute little guy will be taking flight to travel to his new home on Monday when I can get into the post office to have his postage stamp hand cancelled.

I couldn't decide whether to make him with fabric or paper.  So I made him in both mediums.

This paper button-winged birdie has a faux button made from glitter paper.

Happy Spring and Happy Easter!

xxx

Annie

Altered Dictionary - G

This fortnight we are illustrating words for the letter G on The Craft Barn challenge blog.  

I had my Ms. Skellie Bride stamp out, and its graveyard section caught my attention.  So I went with "graveyard" for my word to illustrate.

It's the two hundred year old graveyard complete with black cat and bats.

xxx

Annie

Bad Neighbor Postcard

At the Sunday Postcard Art challenge blog, we are to use a photograph on our postcard.  I went for some humor.  The photo is of the house where my grandfather was born in Czechoslovakia. 

And the address side...

xxx

Annie

Altered Dictionary - R

The Craft Barn letter to illustrate in my altered dictionary is R.

I normally look for my letters from the back working my way forward.  This time I decided to see what would be on the first page of the R words.  I couldn't resist adding the White Rabbit to my dictionary.

When I turned a couple of pages, I found a ripped page and wanted to fix that before the page comes out completely.  The raincoat was not going to be enough to save the torn area, so I taped it with ticket stub Washi Tape first...with the idea that one might be going out to the theatre in the rain.

No new words to have fun with this time, but I'm looking forward to the next letter.  It's just fun looking for images to use as illustrations.

xxx

Annie

Mad March Hare Postcard

This week at the Sunday Postcard Art challenge blog the theme is Mad as a March Hare.  This theme worked perfectly for my Mad March Hare Easter postcards.  

The fun White Rabbit needed to be on the address side of my postcard this time.

I did not think up this idea.  I saw it on Pinterest and the only link I could find to the envelope artwork and artist was Here .  You will need to scroll down until you come to the envelope.

This is what I've done for the message side.  I will write a personal message in the center.

I just couldn't resist recreating this art piece for my Easter postcards.  Of course my Hare is a rubber stamp, White Rabbit Late by Deep Red Clingstamps.  

xxx

Annie

Calendar Journal - February 2016

What was I thinking when I decided on this journaling plan?!  Kind of a pain to finish once I was started, but at least it turned out fun looking.  I kept notes and typed a bunch of days at once three different times.  Adding all the Washi Tape and Hearts was the most fun.

I got through it and I'm glad this journaling plan is over.

I do hope I won't need to go looking for anything documented in this month.  It's pretty much a lovely jumbled mess.  

On to March now.

xxx

Annie

Watercolor Mail Art

I keep trying to make watercolors work for me.  When something happens that I like, I'm always shocked and pleased.  I did these envelopes and card fronts with Tombow markers and water.

When I tried to recreate the same look, of course it didn't work.  That is not always a bad thing.  But this envelope below and card really needed some help.  I pulled out my neocolors to fix both.  I forgot to take a photo of the fixed envelope.  This one isn't totally lacking, but it was much brighter when it was mailed.

The marker watercolors were really lacking on the card, but the neocolors blended well.

I did the brush lettering with the Tombow markers.  They were reviewed on amazon that their brush tips hold up well.  I don't find that to be true, so I'm pretty disappointed on that point.  With some practicing and writing the envelopes with black, then a bit more practicing play, the tip on the black marker is done.  I need to work on how not to let that happen. 

Wishing everyone a good mail day.

xxx

Annie

Altered Dictionary - L

The alphabet letter assigned to us this time is L

My word is LORGNETTE

I knew of these glasses but I did not know what they were called.  I do now.

The image is from a book titled Butterick's 1892 Metropolitan Fashions.  

(This book has a copyright date of 1994.  It is documenting patterns from 1892 with style description, pattern number, yardage required, some notions suggested and the pattern prices ranging from 10cents to 40cents.)

I couldn't believe my luck in finding this single fashion image with the lorgnette glasses.  She is photocopied to tracing paper, colored with a distress marker and colored pencils and spray glued to the dictionary page.

For the previous challenge I had done the word LOOK.  Here is the open book page spread.

Had I chosen these words in opposite challenges, I might have illustrated a man looking at the woman instead of daydreaming out the window.  She obviously isn't interested in him though!  LoL

xxx

Annie

Love Postcard

This postcard is my entry for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week.

The challenge theme is Love Gives You Wings.

I thought the words were perfect.

The address/correspondence side.

I thought I wouldn't play this week as I couldn't think who I would send this card too.  My postcards are not digital, they are real and I don't like to just keep them, I want to mail them.  But I've never added wings to anything and wanted to give it a try.  Maybe I'll find someone to send it out to next Valentine's Day.  Wait!...it doesn't have to be just for Valentine's Day, so I'll be watching for any love opportunity to mail this one out. 

Happy Valentine's Day

xxx

Annie