Victorian Story Book Cards

                                                            

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend.  I was busy with a Copic color workshop, and during this time I got an idea for a new series of cards using Pre-Raphaelite art images.  I have long been an admirer of Pre-Raphaelite art, and love the intense colors and imagery of Medieval and Renaissance culture.  There is also the element of fantasy and nature in Pre-Raphaelite art which makes it so compelling.  Looking at a painting is like reading a story, and this was my intention when I set out to make the cards.  In fact, after I was finished, they looked like distressed covers of Victorian books.             
                                                 

 

 

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I hope you can look at each card and imagine Once Upon a Time.....and They Lived Happily Ever After.

                                                  

                                                 

 

Life Is All About Plan B

                                                    

 

The above card is my entry for the steampunk challenge from the team.  It was only by chance that I already happened to have this digi stamp designed by Rick St Dennis.  This digi stamp can be purchased from Rick's Zibbet site under the Steampunk category for anyone interested. Since I am still new to Rick's team, I was not planning on participating, but I not only had a stamp, but also an idea, so decided to go with it. 

The card is 6 1/2" x 6 1/2", and the background prints and vintage tag are from the Timeless Type collection by DCWV.  The sprocket dies are from Spellbinders and La-La Land Crafts.  I added a tiny cameo and a clock as final touches.  The image of Ephasia I colored with Copic markers. I worked as many steampunk elements as I could into the card, but the sentiment really says it all, and it's so true.  Nothing is constant in life; as what we plan may take another turn, thus....life is all about Plan B.  In other words, we have to learn to adapt and to improvise in life.  I think of it as going with the flow.

Shady Ladies

                                                    

Hello everyone,
For those of you that do not yet know, I was recently asked by Rick St Dennis to become a member of his Design Team.  I was very flattered, as this is my first time being part of a design team, so this is all new to me as I navigate my way around. Many thanks not only to Rick himself, but to fellow team members Aletha, Monique, and Helen for being so helpful.

Rick's new hat series is called Shady Ladies, and as you can see, they are not very nice girls LOL! Rick did ask Aletha and I to make them evil, but I couldn't help giving them my touch of glamour.  Still, they do look dangerous!

            

                                        

There Was A World and I Was Queen

                                             

 

Queen Elizabeth I is one of my favorite historical characters, and a woman I admire in so many ways.  I can't tell you the number of books I have about her, written by authors with different perspectives.  She truly was an enigmatic woman and a fascinating one. 

Not too long ago, I purchased an odd looking Spellbinder die called Gold Majestic Circle.  At the time I was not sure what I would do with it, but it looked like an unusual frame to me, so I knew that somewhere down the road I would find a use for it.  Soon afterwards, I saw a new paper pack called Uncharted by Paper Studio. This 12 x 12 pack is made up of antique maps redefined, some in colorful hues.  I decided to use the maps as a background for a card showcasing Elizabeth in the Spellbinder die.  I then went looking for images, and spotted this artistic version, that although very idealized, is perfect as a card.

This is one of those "just because" cards, since it's not really meant for any special occasion, like a birthday, for example.  I look at it as perhaps an empowerment card for someone that needs a little confidence or push in the right direction.
                                               

I made two versions, each with a different background.  The sentiment stamped inside is:

"There was a world and
I was Queen
A world where I created
all things seen"

I can't think of a better way to describe Elizabeth I.  It truly says it all.