Elfsisters' Art Adventure - Circles and Spirals - Week 3

Hey everyone! How are you? Are you having fun? I know I'm having lots of fun! This is week three and we are slowly building momentum :) So here's what I did with my projects this last week!

This week's Journal Assignment was the "Write/Scribble on the edges" page:

I only did two sides of the journal this week. I started by putting my real name on the top - Ruthie. I used a purple marker for the words, the pink is also marker, and I used crayon to do the background green. You can also see that on the corners I took the orange marker and marked them. The long side says "Marrikala" and has some spirals :) Marrikala is my Jedi name, that's a long story, but that (or Marri which is shorter), has been my user name for a long time! I don't use it for jewelry stuff, but I use it for a lot of other things! Like games :) The third side is going to be my Elvish name - but we're working on figuring out the proper script, so I'll be adding that in later! 

This was the assignment page, and I couldn't leave it blank! So I colored in the edges of the book picture with purple crayon, did spirals down the side of the page in pencil, the op is some more spiral type things in purple pen, and I did some more crayon and marker on the remaining two sides of the right page. The left side has a bit of a zentangle in the middle and then kinda scribbly stuff around it. And look! You can see my orange page edges :)

This Week: At the front of the book you'll find the assignment "Add Your Own Page Numbers," so go for it! Have fun! Think out side the box, I know what I'm going to do! There are also some pages in this book that really aren't assignable to just one week. I'll do a post about that tomorrow and add a link here.

I was a good girl and actually did some knots this week!

The one on the top left was inspired by one that my elfsister Meri did last week, and the bottom right is a very traditional triskele. The coloring was random, just pulled things out of bags and went for it :P I'm very proud of them :) I was scared! It took a few tries, and you can see one of the first mess ups in the top corner peeking out, but I did it! 

I took the elements in one of the knots I did above, and played with it, to make this one. I don't think it's very true to Celtic Art, more modern, but I used the techniques, and I it's the first thing I did knot wise where I wasn't copying it all, I added my own touch :) I also have another work in progress, but it needs a lot of work before I show it off! 

What are you going to do with your Celtic Art Adventure next week?

The link program isn't working properly, I'll try to add it to the post later tonight :)

Tears of Joy

There are multiple meanings to today's blog title. The first one is very literal! I got a text message from my brother yesterday after he went to the doctor, and I did literally start crying and jumping up and down! And dancing of course. Why? Gordon is in remission! No more cancer! It's all gone! 

Definitely worth dancing about don't you think? 

The other reason I titled this post Tears of Joy is that yesterday was also a sad day. My hubby's Aunt Janet passed away about two weeks ago, and yesterday was the memorial. We spent the afternoon at my Mother in Law's house with just the family, and then we headed over to the Portland Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate her life with all her friends! 

Aunt Janet helped start the Tears of Joy Theatre with her husband many years ago, and not only created a successful company that has touched the hearts of thousands with their puppets, but she has been a major part of the arts community in Oregon and the Northwest. I didn't have a chance to get to know her that well between when I married into the family and when we lost her suddenly, but she was a wonderful person, and was incredible to see how loved she was an by so many people! It was a wonderful celebration that included everything from people sharing stories, to poetry, to puppets, to opera! Aunt Janet, you'll be missed.

Aunt Janet

Go check out the Tears of Joy Theatre company.

Another Quick Update!

I have a memorial to go to today, so no "real" post :P Just a reminder that last weeks giveaway was extended through this week :) so go check it out! 

Quick Update

Hi guys! Sorry I haven't been around. Because of that I'm going to run this week's giveaway for an extra week! Yay! It'll be up until the 21st - so if you haven't already - go enter! 

I also haven't had a chance to share about the Etsy Beadweavers contest! There's another day left to enter so go check it out!  My entry is number 16, but don't feel like you have to vote for me, vote for your favorite!

Elfisisters' Art Adventure Wk2 - I Revisit my Childhood!

Before I get started with showing off all of my fun stuff for this week, I just want to remind you that we have a group on Flickr! So make sure you go join, upload your pics, and join in the discussion!

I have more that I want to do to these two pages, but it's a secret! Muwhahaha. You'll see soon :) For now I just took my trusty purple pen, filled in the letters with zig-zag lines, added some flowers, blurred the word "destroy," boxed in the authors name, circled the "A perigree book" and added "Woot!" cuz I am excited! Aren't you?

I didn't do much to this page, I wasn't feeling inspired. I did fill in the "warning" so that it's a solid purple. But this page wasn't assigned so I guess that doesn't matter :P I may come back and scribble on it at some point...

Sometimes I don't follow instructions very well. So when it said "write your name in white" I wasn't satisfied with it! So I colored over the white crayon with pencil so you could see it :P I filled in my address, but I scribbled over it in purple cuz I don't want to share it with every random person on the internet! Oh, and when I was done following the instructions I covered the page with a light rubbing from a purple pencil :D Didn't do anything to the face page, hmmm, I should go back and do that at some point...

I think this was my favorite! I filled in "instructions" with some purple zig-zag lines, then I started coloring. I don't remember the last time I pulled crayons out! There's something soothing about it though isn't there? I have a bag of crayons so I just randomly pulled them out one by one until the bag was empty, refilled it, and started all over! I "messed up" at the top and colored the end of "Carry" and the beginning of "this" with the same color, so I made that my thing for this page. I used the same crayon to end one word and start the next :)

Yay! The spine is cracked! I have to admit I did this one I was little sometimes to books that were too stiff while I was reading them. I never cracked books this bad, but I still did it, which makes me a bad girl :P

I lost a few days to migraines this last week, so instead of trying to learn some thing with Celtic Art I decided that I would color! And I'm so glad I did! I love how this turned out :D I used purples to represent me and greens for Meri :) I promise I'll be a good girl this week and actually do some drawing myself.

What did you do this week? Head over to Meri's Blog to drop off your links and join the party!

Giveaway Feature - Memories for Life Scrapbooks!

This Giveaway is Closed.

Check back each Monday for a new Giveaway,

And each Wednesday for the Elfsisters Art Adventure!

I'm having so much fun doing these giveaways! I hope you are too :)

Please note that some things are wonky on the blog right now because

we are under construction! Hopefully I'll have it finished soon :)

Now for our featured giveaway artist! 

1. Where can we find your work and what do you create?

I create Custom Scrapbooks and Laser Engraved Art. I can be found at: http://memoriesforlifesb.etsy.com and http://memoriesforlifescrapbooks.blogspot.com

2. What's your favorite part about being an independent artist?

I love coming up with new designs and creating something truly special!

3. Where do you find your inspiration?

Lately everything has been an inspiration! Since buying my laser engraver in February, I've been looking for anything and everything to put in there! I've come up with so many new ideas because of it!

4. What advice would you give to other artists?

My personal motto is: "Enjoy the Process". It really should be about having fun and enjoying what you do. Create what you love and you will never tire of your craft/hobby!

Like the picture says you can win:

Your choice of Laser Engraved Pendant or Magnet Set

1.5" Pendant or 4 1" Magnets Both Laser Engraved with Love :)

Valued $5-9

How can you win? Keep reading!

1. Comment on this entry
2. Share your favorite item from her shop (scroll up for links)
3. Plurk or twitter about it and leave a comment with link.

4. Promote the item on Facebook.
5. Blog about it and leave a comment with link
6. Purchase an item from her shop (for 5 entries) (link above)

7. Comment on the Artfire thread (link to be added when I have it up) for one entry a day.

Important: All entries must be submitted by comments on this blog post.

I'm keeping track of the entries, so telling Edi about them won't help :P

Giveaway Ends Saturday Evening 5/21

Important: I need more artists to feature! Please let me know if your interested :)

Happy Mother's Day and Giveaway Winners

Happy Mother's Day!!!

What are you doing with your Mom's today? Or are you a Mom? What are you doing with your kids? Don't have either? Well then here's my *hug* to you! 

I'll be getting together for lunch with my inlaws and then heading over to my parents house for dinner :) 

Now for what you want to know...who won this week's giveaway? Sorry I didn't get to announce the winners yesterday, it was just not the best day for me, but I'm here today and that's what matters :) So...

Congrats to first place winner:

jhitomi!

And second place winner:

Lyudmilla!

I'll be sending you guys an e-mail here in a moment. Before I sign off here though, I want to let all of you know that both of this week's winners regularly enter the giveaways I host on my blog, and looky, it paid off! So keep checking back and entering, you never know when you might win :) And check back throughout the week for lots of other fun stuff!