AEDM and a New Canvas

I finished my four altered CDs yesterday and have a good feeling about them. The themes are music, art, beauty and Gold Rush. I wrote over the Gold Rush text in the upper right with a Zig marker because it kind of got lost in the Mica D'Lights. I've never worked with these little flakes and really like them, but I think a little less would have been better. I added the musical note to the music themed CD and am pleased with how it looks. Now all I have to do is decide what kind of paper I am going to adhere to the back so that it is decorative, but not too busy to put my info onto.


Later last evening (I seem to get creative late at night), I started an 11 x 14 canvas panel. I didn't have a plan, I just started playing with color and collage and I think this one is asking to be called Play. It is not done yet. I think it probably wants more layers and maybe the players not quite so isolated.


However, today I am babysitting both girls most of the day. I have promised the 5 year old that we will work on an art project (I think I will give her a small, blank canvas and some water soluble oil pastels) so I won't be working on mine until later or Friday. We are doing Thanksgiving at our house so there is also some cleaning to do.

I'm not sure I will be getting any art done in the next day or two, but you never know. These little girls have to sleep sometime. *-)

Until I see you again, don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and CDs and My Little Artist

Late last evening I started the 4th CD. So far I have covered it with a variety of tissue paper, some as is and some embossed. I tried to wrinkle it a bit as I pressed it into place and then realized that when doing the embossed one, this flattened out the emboss. I didn't flatten too much of it, so I am using it as is. I think the flat area adds a little interest. How's that for a little rationalization!?


I'm also working slowly on a mandala. I am doing mine in pencil. I think you are supposed to do it in ink, but when I tried on the reverse side to do ink, it smeared awfully. Maybe I don't have the right kind of pen. I would appreciate some ideas of what pens to use in artwork that do not smear, if such a thing exists.

At any rate, my little artist in residence, my 5 year old grandgirl, saw what I was doing, and she needed to make one also. I used a CD to draw the circle and then used a protractor to mark it off in 30 degree increments and then used a straight edge to connect some lines between the marks. What I especially like about hers is that she is not afraid to use any symbols she wants. I'm just loving the lips, butterfly, carrots, houses, suns, 4s, snowmen, smilies. Sure wish I had that much courage to try anything that occurs to me. As a matter of fact when she chose carrots and only made 2 big ones and I asked her if she wouldn't rather fill up the space with a bunch of smaller ones, she replied, "Nana, I am the artist and I decide what to do when I am drawing. There isn't a wrong way, you know." I must be saying all the right things to her when she is complaining that she isn't a good artist. For that, I am really pleased to hear her parrot me. I hope she internalizes that and doesn't lose it like so many do somewhere in the growing up process.


Don't know for sure what is on the agenda for today, but I will take it as it comes. It is a blowing, snowing day so I will be glad to hunker down indoors whether it is to work in my art room or babysit.

I'll say bye for now and don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and More CDs

It is much too cold here already. We seemed to go from unseasonably warm weather (70s in October - wonderful!), to unseasonably cold weather and snow in mid-November. It feels like January or February. There is really no point in complaining - it is what it is.

I have been reading many nice comments some with good suggestions when I am unsure of how to move on in my altered CD project. Leah suggested using some ink to bring out the sun in one of them, which led me to pull out my Permapaque markers (no they are not ink, but still her idea led me to that) and I really like the result. I think this one is done.



I was really stuck as to what direction I wanted to go on the third one. So I randomly reached out for a product and my hand landed on some stucco I purchased on sale at JoAnn's a couple of weeks ago. Just so you know, it is not unusual for me to make a decision randomly. About 30 years ago, I was living in the UP and my life was not as it should be, so I spun the globe and reached out. My finger landed in Arizona - so I moved to Phoenix. But I digress.......

I am not sure I like where this is going, but I am going to add some color over the stucco and maybe add some fiber----I don't really know. I am so pleased with how Leah's suggestion turned out, I would welcome any thoughts or comments on this one, too.



That's it for now, until the next time don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and Kernel Panic

My computer has gone into kernel panic 4 or 5 times over the course of the last couple of days. I have tried disconnecting the peripherals and have checked the status of my hard drive (which is a S.M.A.R.T drive) and it says it is okay. Still my computer is panicking. Needless to say, this makes the user a little panicked. I am planning to spend the day burning CDs and DVDs of my collage folder, my scrapbooking folder, my pictures, etc. I have ordered a new computer which should arrive in the next week or so, and hope to have the important things on this one burned to disk and removed by then.

Meanwhile, I am trying to make art. Here is a picture of another of the altered CDs that I am working on. I have not yet adhered them to the CD, but this is the placement that I am planning to use. I think all this one needs besides the words is maybe a little fiber or some kind of edge treatment. If you click on the picture, you will get a larger one and be able to read the words.



Until next time, don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and Altered CDs

I didn't have much art time yesterday, but I did spend a bit of time on one of the altered CDs I am currently working on. And I have been doing a lot of planning for art in my head (the world looks so different when I am in my "art" mode.).

Tweetie Peetie has no school today, so I will probably not get any art done during the day - I will spend some time getting her started with art. She is interested in altering a CD, too. I'll have to see how that goes. Her Mom gets home around 4:30 PM today, so I should be able to get some art time later this evening.

For now, I have a bit of progress to show on one of the CDs. I am totally unhappy with the sun. I will either have to cut one out of card stock or maybe use some gouache to get a better differentiated one. This one just looks like a small spill of light yellow paint. I am happy with the picture of the girl and the words.



That's all I have today. Don't forget to live in the moment.

AEDM and Altered CDs

I am trying something new. It is something I have been thinking about doing for some time now. Of course, when I was thinking about doing this I was thinking along the lines of Christmas tree decorations. And as much as I am enjoying this process, I think I may have to try some when I am done with these.

These are for a swap through ATCs for All. I stayed up WAY too late last night (this morning) working on these because I didn't want to stop. The due date is February 1, so I certainly have time and needn't stay up into the wee hours, but I really am a night owl at heart. Unfortunately, I am also a morning person. In my youth that combination worked because I didn't need much sleep and I like to think I can still do this. However, burning the candles at both ends is no longer a realistic option for me.

The one on the left began with a piece of scrapbook paper with a blue background with concentric circles. I next applied a thin layer of gesso. When that dried I stamped it with a paisley stamp using a purple stamp pad. The one in the middle began with a layer of purple paint. When that dried I added a bit of teal paint and while it was wet I used a round plastic item that I found at a recycling center through it to create interest. I then collaged a torn piece of paper out of a German novel to it and lastly stamped in black with a script stamp. The one on the right began with an old baby wipe that I used to make some backgrounds this past summer. I kept it knowing that someday I would want to use it. I then collaged a piece of music to it and then stamped with a music stamp in black. As a last step I applied a wash of iridescent pearl fluid acrylic. These are not finished, but I am loving them so far. I will continue to add pix as I make changes to them.

I've also signed up for a Wacky Packages swap that is not due until the 16th of February. I am anticipating that I will love making those. I like to think of myself as something of an accomplished punster and this will give me a chance to try that persona on.