December 29, 2011

coffre des affirmations

The New Year is looming before me.  It's a clean slate and I want to make the most of it.  I created this Chest of Affirmations to remind myself to be kind not only to others but to myself as well.

Whenever I feel sad or unsure of myself, I can open a drawer and pick out an affirmation - oh joy!



A base coat of gesso applied to 6 drawer chest then several coats of acrylic paint were applied sanding between coats; rubber stamped around the sides and top.  Wings made of a metal Christmas ornament - no easy task separating it into two pieces - but so perfect, don't you think?!  (I used Apoxie Sculpt for the first time and really like that stuff.)

The head is needle sculpted cotton t-shirt; alpaca for hair; crown made of paper-fabric and bling.

The drawers are stuffed with plenty of affirmations, ink-jet printed and aged.

This piece is a keeper - I love it so!

-Frames from DesignerDigitals
-Kim Klassen Textures

Linking to:

Pink Saturday
Texture Tuesday
Creative Exchange
Katherine's Corner
What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday
It's a Hodgepodge Friday
Inspire Me Fridays





December 24, 2011

Oh Christmas Tree...

I built my own Christmas tree.  (Actually I made several and gave them as gifts to dear friends.)  It was easy to do and they are adorable.




Drill hole in 2 inch wooden block.  Prime, paint and collage block; use E6000 to adhere glass pebbles on bottom of block for feet.  Attach assorted bits of paper, book pages, ribbon, lace, candy wrappers and the like on a 16 penny nail.  Build up layers and add a topper. I used a swizzle stick I saved from my recent cruise and added a bead.  Adhere the nail to the block using E6000 (insert in drilled hole).   Wait 24 hours for it to cure and voila! a Christmas tree!






December 23, 2011

The 12th Day of Christmas

This recipe may sound a bit odd, but trust me, it is absolutely delicious!  The combination of salty and sweet is an unexpected surprise.
Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  (I used Kim's "Lola" texture.)


For more inspiration visit:



December 22, 2011

What Christmas Means To Me...

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

I created a text collage at Wordle.Net and used Kim's new "More Magic" texture over top with screen blend mode.





For more inspiration visit:




December 21, 2011

Away in the Manger...

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

I added clip art, various filters, blending modes and frame to "Away in the Manger" sheet music.  I also used one of Kim's new "Lola" texture.


The Tenth Day of Christmas


For more inspiration visit:


December 20, 2011

The 9th Day of Christmas

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

I created a headdress for this darling little girl; added a new background and applied Kim's "wonderful magic stars" texture over top.  (Below you will find the photo I started with.)



Some exciting news - I've been given the "Versatile Blogger Award". 
It was presented to me by Ann of Ann’s Art StudioHydeThank you Ann!
According to the rules, I have to:
1.  Nominate 15 fellow bloggers
2.  Inform the bloggers of their nomination
3.  Share 7 random things about myself
4.  Thank the blogger who nominated me
5.  Add the Versatile Blogger Award Pic to my blogpost
My random things:
1.  I am happily married and the proud mother of a daughter, son and two stepsons
2.  I have 7 granddchildren
3.  I have run 3 marathons
4.  I exercise everyday
5.  I spend 6-8 hours at least 6 days a week in my studio
6.  I am a self-taught artist
7.  I love to talk about, look at and create art!
My 15 nominations for the Versatile Blogger Award are:
1.  Kia at Italian Cozy Corner
2.  Pat at Bailey Road
3.  Leann at The Old Parsonage
4.  Hanna at Honi-Soit
5.  Marilyn at Studio 274
7.  Johanna at Mixed Media Fun
8.  Alexandra at Wort Schmid
9.  Kathyrn at Listening to the Whispers
10.  Rosie at Rosie's Art Blog
11.  Synnove at Seraphina's Phantasie
12.  Dana at Sinderella's Studio
14.  Agnes at Magic of Agnes
15.  Kelsie at Our Country Home
Merry Christmas and Happy Blogging!


December 19, 2011

The 8th Day of Christmas

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

Photo of a quilt I made entitled "Just Another Day in Paradise".  I used Kim's "wonderful magic scripted" texture with screen blend mode.


For more inspiration visit:



December 18, 2011

A Snowman in Naples

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

I used various filters on a photo I took of the Naples Pier; built my own snowman in PSE10 and added Kim's "more magic scratched" texture over top.



For more inspiration visit:


December 17, 2011

Stone Angel Bearing Gifts

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  

I took the photo in the garden of the Nassau Art Museum (the Bahamas).  


What I did:




For more inspiration visit:



December 16, 2011

The 5th Day...

Kim's 12 Days of  Texture Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  

I made this card for my husband.  I kept it simple since fussy is not his style!


Kim Klassens' "Zuzu" texture
Font:  Mountains of Christmas
Playing with Brushes texture


For more inspiration visit:

The 12 Days of Texture
Pink Saturday

December 15, 2011

Vintage Christmas Tag

Kim's 12 Days of Christmas Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  

I used Kim's "annabelle" texture in combination with a tag from Designer Digitals and a photo of my daughter Jennifer when she was a little girl.  This is one of my favorite photos of Jennifer.



Visit The 12 Days of Christmas Challenge for more inspiration.

December 14, 2011

The third day...

Kim's 12 Days of Christmas Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.

This little snowman adorns the Christmas wreath hanging on my front door.  I layered Kim's new "Cosmo" texture over top with multiply blending mode.




For more inspiration visit
kimklassencafe








December 13, 2011

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Faux...

Kim's 12 Days of Christmas Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  

I live in Florida - no snow here.  I added snow to a photo I took in Freiburg, Germany last year.  Kim's new "Annabelle" texture was clipped to a photo frame.  The addition of a drop shadow to the frame really adds depth to this piece.

Visit Texture Tuesday for more inspiration.

December 12, 2011

First Day of Christmas

Kim's 12 Days of Christmas Challenge - use any one of the new 12 Days of Christmas textures on any photo.  

I took this photo while in Nassau, the Bahamas a week ago.  I was walking through a maze of shops when I espied this delightful antique store decorated for the holidays.  



Visit Texture Tuesday for more inspiration.


December 9, 2011

Portugal Pinks...

It's been quite a while since I posted on Pink Saturday.  Lucky me - I've been traveling!  First Spain and Portugal then the Caribbean.  I've been busy, busy since I returned home getting ready for Christmas. 

I took a picture of these pink and white beans at the Flower Market in Madeira, Portugal.  The fruits and vegetables were displayed beautifully.  I don't know the name of these beans, but they were so pretty I had to take a photo of them.  Surely someone will include these beans on their Christmas dinner menu!


more flower market pinks!


Go to Pink Saturday for more inspiration!

December 6, 2011

Divas at Sea

Is it possible to have too much fun?  My dear friend Tanya and I cruised for the first time.  Our destination - the Caribbean islands of St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Nassau.  It was an experience I won't soon forget.  We enjoyed our time together on the high seas.  I'll share more about our adventure soon.

This week's Texture Tuesday challenge is to combine one of Kim Klassen's textures with any photo.  I used Kim's texture "shades of november".  The theme for this week's challenge is "celebration".  While our ship was docked in Nassau, I noticed the Celebration ship just outside our stateroom balcony - very appropriate for this week's challenge, don't you think?




original photo

November 22, 2011

Early Riser...

On Saturday I returned home from a fabulous trip to Spain and Portugal.  I'm still jet-lagged and rising earlier than usual.

I took this picture on the Island of Madeira (Portugal).  There was a rooster and number of chickens wandering around near the bridal veil falls on the western side of the island.

This week's Texture Tuesday challenge is to combine one of Kim Klassen's textures with any photo.  I used Kim's texture "extreme grunge".


Bridal Veil Falls

November 15, 2011

Fun in Funchal

The name Funchal was given by the first settlers that landed on its shores due to the abundance of wild fennel growing there.

Early morning view from our hotel room

We did the all the usual touristy things yesterday.

Cable car ride up to Monte - built in 2000, the ride takes approximately 15 minutes.  The distance to the top is 1.5k at a height of 560m.

View from the cable car

Friends Janella and Jane on the basket toboggan sled ride.  It's about 1.2 mile ride down the streets high up in Monte.

The sleds are pushed, steered and braked by two sturdy men.  I wonder how many pairs of shoes they go through each year.  One could smell the scent of burning wood from the sled on the road. 


flower market

fish market - this is a sword fish - (the knife looks like a sword, doesn't it?)

interesting fruits and vegetables

Hand-painted tile murals are found on walls all over the city - not only in Madeira, but throughout Spain and Portugal.

We couldn't pass up the chance to taste several different types of Madeira wine.

It was a fun-filled day!