The Newest ICADS

Hi, Friends,

This will be a quick post, with my latest bunch of  ICADs.  I confess that I have not kept up with them every day.  I do try to make up for the days I've missed.

I've had some rough times these past few weeks, mostly about my struggle to find a job.  I've had a few interviews, but nothing has worked out.  I try not to complain on this blog about my personal life.  I want to keep it focused on my art.  But at times, I am very, very afraid about the future.  I don't qualify for any further unemployment compensation benefits, and I do not qualify for public assistance.  I'm overqualified for most clerical jobs (I was a secretary for 13 years) yet I don't seem to be qualified for a "better" class of jobs.  I can't lie about the fact that I earned a bachelor's degree--in fact, I'm damned proud of working through night school to earn one.  So, I feel rather stuck at the moment.  There have been many tears and hopeless thoughts.

But I keep trying.

Art is one of the only things that is getting me through it all.  That, and my pets, friends, and family.

So, without further adieu, here are my cards.

Le Lapin.  Materials used:  Pencil

Bubbles.  Materials used:  Rubber stamp, Faber-Castell Gelatos and Big Brush Pens.

Green.  Materials used:  Stickers, mulberry paper, paper leaves, sewn scrapbook paper.

Map.  Materials used:  Scrapbooking paper, transparency, image from my collection, postage stamps.

Stripes.  Materials used:  Images of Jack and Meg White (a/k/a The White Stripes), UPC code, various ephemera, PaperMate Permanent Markers. 

Owls 2.  Materials used:  Scrapbooking paper, ephemera, image from Alphastamps, faux postage from Artchix Studio, tissue pattern paper. 

Patriotic.  Materials used:  Vintage postage stamps, Faber-Castell Gelatos, vintage text from atlas. 

Postage Stamps.  Materials used: Vintage postage stamps, Faber-Castell Gelatos.

Pear.  Materials used:  Colored pencils.  This is a freshly picked pear, one of a bunch my husband picked.  Our pets have really been enjoying slices of these fruits of summer (as well as the branches and leaves from the tree). 

You'll notice I've been using a lot of postage stamps in my ICADs.  I plan to do a post on postoids, or faux postage, very shortly.  I've been creating some of these stamps in Photoshop Elements, and having a lot of fun.

Until next time, take care and stay cool--

I'm Psyched!

Dear Friends,

I am so thrilled! My Feather ICAD card was included in one of Daisy Yellow's Mosaics as No. 14.  I feel like I did when I was in grammar school and one of my photos was pinned on the school bulletin board. Or when I was a teenager and my mom taped one of my charcoal portraits of Debbie Harry on the refrigerator along with my little sister's drawings. 

I am still doing my index cards, and will have a new bunch for you a bit later.  The sciatica that's been bothering me for over a week now has slowed me down a little. Plus, I've been working on a paper bag book through a class I took with the lovely Sarah Whitmire through Joggles.  My book has a seaside theme.  Lately I've been obsessed with seashells, coral, and the ocean (I do so wish I could visit the sea this summer).  Joggles offers excellent online classes, as well as tons of luscious supplies.

I'm also working on other online classes, including Martha Lever's Color Drop Flowers, which I started way back in May (OK, I'm a slow crafter), Liv Lane's blog class (see the badge at right), and Gina Rossi Armfield's Daily Sketchbook Class (I am pleased to say I won a place in the class!).  I won't even go into the various UFOs I have lying around the art room!  I am hoping for my birthday, I will get to take Jane Lafazio's Sketchbook and Watercolor on location class at Joggles.  I've always wanted to keep a watercolor sketchbook, and maybe this class, combined with Gina's, will give me the impetus to do so.

Anyway...enough of my nattering on.  I'll be back later with some artwork.  In the meantime, stay cool in these warm temps!

It's All in the Cards

Hi, Friends,

This will be a quick one, as I am sorry to say I am suffering from sciatica at the moment, and sitting at the computer for any length of time isn't easy.  But!  I wanted to share with you my latest batch of ICAD creations.  I hope you like them!

Feather:  Materials used: tissue paper, sticker, flash card, paper lace tape, scrapbook paper, rubber stamped image. 

Colored Pencil:  Materials used: colored pencils (of course!), washi tape, vintage image. 

Collage:  Materials used:  Vintage image, paper scraps, paper lace tape.

Magic Marker

Acrylics:  Materials used:  Ranger acrylic paints, scrapbooking papers. 

Masking Tape:  Materials used:  Ranger acrylic paint background with washi tape.

Caran d'Ache:  Materials used:  Caran d'ache Neocolor II water soluble crayons. 

Till next time,