The last of my postcards went out end of June...

I was at my son's home for a graduation party and noticed these beautiful hand-dyed daisies. Daisies have always been a favorite of mine, so I just kept staring. Soon, I decided I was going to use them in the last of my post cards. I took pictures and put them through a PhotoShop filters and once I had what I wanted...all I had to do was send them to my neighborhood Walgreens for 1 hr. developing.

One had a green layer over it where I "uncovered" a few choice flowers, the next pic I left just the way I photographed it, then for the last 2 pictures...I added a colored pencil filter and just loved the results! HOWEVER...what I loved the most is the actual flower that I lathered in my all-time favorite...Yeah you got it... Mod Podge®!! I very delicately brushed the petals being careful not to tear the flower. Although as they dried, a few petals stuck together and it seemed as though someone played..."He loves me...He loves me not...yeah...he loves me" on it. The trick is too flatten the daisy, carefully, then brush gently...let dry, then brush again. If you move the flower or try to reposition...you run the risk of that involuntary reshaping of the leaves... and well you know... it plays that game again... "He loves me...well if only he would love me!" LOL! 

...and here they are...

PhotoShop layer in green with choice flowers erased so they would peek through from the original layer

Original photograph with a real daisy and stamped with Peace!

Giving art life! This is a Colored Pencil Filter in PhotoShop,
just what the card needed to show-off the real daisy.

Same print with a blue daisy embellishment! I hope the recipients enjoyed the cards I made,
they were mailed off in protective little cardboard boxes to protect the flowers! Did you get one? Please let me know how it arrived---hopefully in 1 piece! Did you like it? Hope so!!

 

 

 

Look at these real daisies! I think they're absolutely gorgeous...

 

They're really beautiful. No drying involved...just Mod Podge® and keep them in one position. If you move them around...look at the flower in the foreground... It looks like I played "that game"...but I didn't: I simply moved it...and the petals to cover by sticking to each other and this is the result. So Mod Podge® in place until they're absolutely dry. What do you get...pliable, shiny, colorful flowers...who would have thought one could do this...and mind you it was only an experiment. If you look at previous blogs you will see that I experimented with roses and that was absolutely stunning. One rose card recipient wrote me and said the flower arrived intact and she just loved how beautiful it was.
She loved the idea! Want to try this and have questions? Just ask... 

Have a great evening...crafters and non-crafters everywhere! 

Sculptor, Artist, Costume Designer...Part 2

I left off with Jacob's attention to detail...

Isn't this cool?

This is the inside of the mask and oh BTW...he tailored to fit his head.

I believe this is a side view. Medium used after

cardboard construction

 and masking tape - Plaster of Paris.

Phase 3: Paint and some embellishments

Additional embellishments! Phase 4: Another coat of paint...

Stay tuned - Part 2 coming up next! Have a great evening everyone!

Sculptor, Artist, Costume Designer...or all of the above?

My grandson, Jacob, is at it again. I just luv it when he begins to work on art. One never knows what he'll create. But create he will and you'll wish you had his innate talents!! I encourage him to work on art at least once or twice a week, especially now during summer vacation. However, Jacob needs no encouragement: He has a ton of ideas in his little head and I am convinced and so proud to say---he can do anything - at any time!

Phase 1: Jacob began sculpting his art with cereal boxes and paper
towel centers. His favorite adhesive is masking tape and uses a lot of it. LOL!

Every once in awhile Jacob recycles cereal boxes and various cardboard pieces. When he has enough stashed away, he begins his project. See what he's done now... 

Phase 2

Jacob used plastic curvy straws and bamboo rolls

Jacob pays great attention to details!
Check out the facial grid!

Join me tomorrow to see the next phase of Jacob's creation! Tonight...I think I'll go to sleep early!

Sorrow is hard for anyone and expressing what you want to say and how you feel when someone close loses a beloved one... well the transition is alarming and words don't come easily. However with art anything is possible and between my grandson and I we have once again managed to put another gift together to ease the pain of loss.

I enlisted, my grandson, Jacob to draw another tree of life [expression of his choice] and I added my own quote... It brought calm and piece to the survivors of this special family and for the new angel in heaven...he can look down and see that his parents have a visual expression of peace and tranquility when they recall his memory. Rest in peace young man!

Jacob doing what he does best! He rocks art!

 Today will give you strength for 

all your tomorrow's...

Lisa Izumi

No. 4 arrives in time for me
to send out my next card!

I was delighted to receive my 4th card in the swap from Janie in TX! Really cute choice in words and images...Thanks Janie!

Sent my Asian-y card this morning! I used newsprint from the Rafu Shimpo, the Japanese newspaper purchased in the Little Tokyo community of Los Angeles as the background, then cut out an image of a Geisha from a favorite fabric I've had for sometime. A bit of Mod Podge to give her a stiffening and shine and then added some fun stamps! To finish it off a portion of an art-deco sun glows from above while Hope and Believe are written in Chinese characters and off she went.

The flash came a little too close and made her face looks a

 bit faded...I assure she is glowing!

 Tonight, I'll craft with my grandson! Oh and speaking of my grandson, Jacob...look at his latest sketch...pretty snazzy! Enjoy!

Jacob Ngo, my 1st grandchild, is just 13 1/2 years old and soooooooo talented!
Don't you agree??

My third card arrives and it talks to me all the way from Washington State!

Julie must have know what my favorite color palette was because she designed a card that speaks to me. From her design, style, and rainbow of colors she chose - they are all exactly what I am drawn to. It came in a cellophane envelope so all who handled it along the way could see it.

Thank you so much for sending me this beautiful card! 

Front

Back -- I covered her email address for privacy!

I think I'll dance tonight...

These wings can fly

Along with the organic and colorful and super shiny, I had this urge to continue making 3D type cards so I ended up with this...

I figure the recipient might get a kick out of it and possibly sit it out on a desk or in a cabinet between a few great craft books. No matter where it ends up...it made me smile and I hope it brings a smile or two when the recipient opens the box... That's my wish!

Good night!