Merry Christmas!

 

 

May your day be Merry and Bright!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

 

 



Play Time!

Haven't had many opportunities to get in my art room but I did manage to play with some paints, distress inks, stencils, spray inks, and paper to create background on these tags. Sometimes the shortest times in my art room are wonderful!

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Christmas Gift List Tags

This year I decided I would do my Christmas gifts list a little different. I don't have very many gifts to get although it looks like I do (mostly gift cards) and thought this would be easier. So far this has been a wonderful way for me to complete my gift list.

I took manila tags and distress inks gave them some Christmas colors. Then I stamped every one's name on the tag and added them to a ring with ribbon. On the back I wrote what I was buying for each and I added some blanks just in case.  Once the gift is bought and wrapped this tag is attached to a larger green tag and tied to the gift. There are two tags on her for what I need to pick up for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day parties, too.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Art Journal Every Day

We all have plans during the holidays but sometimes the best plans have to change. You just have to remember that if Plan A fails there are 25 other letters!

Here is my journal page for Julie's Art Journal Every Day.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Celebrate Every Day

Today I have a collage tag to show you.  I carry art supplies with me when I travel. This time I only brought tags with me.  I over pack so I was trying to not bring that many supplies. It's so hard!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Tag #12 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

I finally finished all my tags. I didn't think I would be able to do it.  Linda's last tag is beautiful but I didn't know what inspired me at first. I walked away and came back with a large cup of tea and then it hit me....Happy Holidays.

While in Chicago for Thanksgiving I took my camera took many black and white photographs. This one is one of my favorites and when you are in a big city you mostly see Happy Holidays not Merry Christmas in the windows. In this picture is Macy's and another photographer with the same idea as mine. I tinted the picture blue and added it to the tag. I decided to add the word Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. I also used the Tim Holtz small easel die which I bought from The Funkie Junkie Boutique. She's moving right now but you can order from her boutique after January 20th.

This is my favorite tag out of all the 12 tags.

 

Thanks Linda for another year of 12 Tags of Christmas.

I had so much fun!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Art Journal Every Day

I haven't played in my art journal in a long time.  I was in a bad mood and need some art therapy so the journals are perfect.  First you should go over and see Julie's Daily Pages and all the links to some wonderful journal pages.

Here is my journal page - Choose Your Attitude

 

I used a stencil, gel matte medium, gesso and modeling to added texture then used spray inks. I let is all dry together. The little tag I used what inks where left over on my table and stamped the quote.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Tag # 11 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Here is Linda's Tag - HERE.  Linda has a rosette wreath on her tag. I decided to add a poinsettia on my tag.  Its a flower I made a while ago. I make flowers and keep them in a clear box and use them as needed.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Tag #10 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Tag #10! I am almost done. Here is Linda's tag HERE.  My tag just happened and all I can say is maybe Linda's tag inspired with with all the colors on the tag especially red and white. I used lots of distress inks, die cuts especially the deer and stencils and stamps.

 

I hope to post the last two this week.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Tag #9 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Tag #9 - Here is Linda's tag - click here.  This tag has lots of inspiration for me but I only decided to use one small thing. The word hope.  I chose the word Peace.  You will also see on the tag that I made a mistake in the word. I stamped the "e" sideways and then stamped it correctly on top. I was going to put paper over the top but that would have ruined the look I was going for so I decided to leave it.  Peace is a struggle all over the world so that way I left it.

 

Lots of distress inks inks in the background and I used a white correction fluid pen for the snow. Linda has me hooked on this deer die from Tim Holtz.  You may see it lots with the next few tags.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Tag #8 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Tag #8 - click here for Linda's tag. What I liked on Linda's tag was the stamps in the background. I decided to add some Christmas words to the background with distress ink and use the same color for tag. 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Tag #7 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Tag #7 - Click here for Linda's tag.  What inspired me on Linda's tag was the trees. I love trees and have many tree rubber stamps.  Here is my tag.

 

 

I decided to do a winter scene with snowflakes in the background. The silver sticks in the background are dazzles from Paper Wishes. I used distressed inks and acrylic inks for the background which was a happy accident after spilling a little silver acrylic ink.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

Tag #6 - The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas

Tag #6 - Click here for Linda's tag.  At first I didn't know what I was going to do until I realized I had the clock die.

 

It's Time for Santa

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

Tag #5 - Funkie Junkie Challenge

What inspiration did I get from Linda's tag?

 

Music Notes and Snowflakes

 

 

I decided to use the same for my background.

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

Tag #4 - The Funkie Junkie Christmas Tag Challenge

I am a little behind in this challenge so I'm going to do a quick post for each tag. What inspired me for Linda's Tag #4 was the plain the in the background and the colors red and green. I didn't have plain paper so I used an embossing folder and distressed inks to make my background.

 

I like the plaid background but next time I'm going to add a little green. Don't you think silver and gold on a black tag would look great?

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

Thanksgiving in Chicago and Street Photography

I wanted to try my hand at Street Photography while I was visiting my daughter in Chicago for Thanksgiving. I love street photography but it didn't go well but only for fact that I chickened out LOL!  Trying to take a shot and looking like your not sneaking around is hard. Also, I thought I would just ask to take a picture but couldn't do that either.  So I focused on decorations, signs or buildings.

First here is my daughter's first turkey. I know it's a weird picture to put up on my blog but I'm so proud of her. It was very yummy.

 

We watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and other Christmas videos.

 

 

On of our traditions is going to Chicago's Christkindlmarket in Daily Plaza.  Here is the history of the event and the link with take you to the site with more information.

 

History and Tradition

Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, the Christkindlmarket Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Chicago's largest open-air Christmas festival was first held on Pioneer Court in 1996. By special invitation of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Christkindlmarket Chicago moved to Daley Plaza in 1997 and has become a staple event on the plaza ever since. Together with the support of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Christkindlmarket Chicago has grown to become one of the most popular winter attractions in the heart of the city.

 

It was cold on Saturday so we bundled up and headed over for brunch.  First stop crepes and they were so yummy. They were huge and gave us a good start to the day.

 

 

There is much food sausages, bratwurst, candy, soup, potato pancakes, strudel, etc. We ended up having some dark chocolate covered raspberries and I had strudel.  The spiced hot wine in little boot cups was wonderful on a cold day.

 

 

There are shops to buy beautiful ornaments, wool sweaters, wooden toys, handmade clocks, etc. Here is what the vendors were using to sell their goodies. They all look like little houses.

 

 

Three building housed tons of ornaments and two were just glass ornaments. We are tempted to buy quite a few but I'm afraid they won't make it home in one piece.

 

 

 

 

For my street photography here two pics I love.  The decorations outside of Macy's and I happened to include someone else taking a picture of the same thing.

 

 

A couple raced across the street because he had a surprise for her. They were in front of the Chicago Tribune (one of my favorite buildings).  I don't know if she liked the gift because a bus went in front of my view and when it was gone they were too.

 

 

 

Downtown wasn't that busy this year. Last year we had to squeeze through the crowds to get anywhere but it wasn't like that this year.

 

I decided to practice taking pictures of buildings at night. I'm not that great but I need to practice. Here are a few shots.

 

 

 

Remember the cartoon The Jetsons. This looks like the building they lived in.

 

 

City from Navy Pier (too much light)

 

 

This made me laugh. Picture from our hotel room!  Can you hear me now?

 

 

The reflection of the building made it look like the building was crumbling.

 

 

Thanksgiving weekend went by so fast and every year it gets harder and harder to say goodbye to my daughter.  On the bright side we had lots of fun and she is coming home for Christmas!!  Oh and her boyfriend is coming for the first time!

 

I should have a post full of Christmas tags soon!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Tags - A pink Christmas

I think I'm in a pink mood. I've been making a few Christmas tags and cards and they all seem to have the same thing in common, Pink.  Here is a very layered tag that I haven't decided what to do with next but it's pretty so I thought I would show you.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!