Rainbow Connection

How can I not post all my cards from our Rainbow Connection Project!  I've got a couple ideas where I might display them....but that's for another day. I do want to hang them all in a long row...but displayed this way the two cards from the same artist are stacked.  The first two are Brenda's...then Tracie's, then Becky's...then mine.  I love these shared art projects that celebrate all our artwork.  

I wonder what's next!

Tracie's blue card is two sided....I'll have rotate it once in a while.

And in honor of our finished Rainbow Connection Project... here's a late summer nature rainbow from our morning walks....and my garden.  It's hard to find aqua in nature....so I included a doodle I did with acrylic paint.  I started to fill in the spaces....but haven't got back to it.  

I can't seem to get enough of this acrylic doodling.  Once the fine line applicator is flowing well...it's hard to stop. Here's the aqua doodle I did on a gelli print.

And I haven't done anything with this one yet....but it should be fun to paint.

And I think this dot one will be pretty in a collage once it's painted....

and I can't stop painting swirls.  These are bigger ones in the background....I have plans for them.

Purple Hydrangea

I was excited to get Becky's purple Rainbow Connection card in the mail today...it's a delight!

It features purple hydrangea....but also has several elements and layers giving it a lot of interest.  Becky painted the dresses on these little paper dolls....and I love how one little girl is sitting on the frame.

The whole envelope and packaging featured purple....

and I noticed and appreciated every detail!

 

Here's the back....I'm wondering if these hydrangea petals 

were punched from my punch when she was visiting.

As I was taking the photos...I realized I was dressed

 appropriately for the occasion with my purple skirt.

And speaking of hydrangea....I've been keeping an eye on 

these in my neighborhood...the colors just keep deepening.

 

And we came across this beauty on a morning walk a few days ago.

There's nothing quite like a purple hydrangea!

Pink Connections

I am excited to share Tracie's pink card for our Rainbow Connection project.  She's going to do something on the back that she'll share sometime....but she is pausing for now.

Almost all of us have had some life events that have slowed us down....and that's just the way life is.

Once I get my purple card from Becky I'll share my whole rainbow.....and I'm still figuring out where I might be able to display it.  And I'm guessing the others will share their whole rainbow too...and it will take as long as it takes! We're savoring the end.

Tracie's flower reminded me of this showy hibiscus I saw on our walk this morning.  It was massive...as big as my outstretched hand.....and the center was amazing!

And I also came across this Strikingly Pleasing view with all the different shades of pinks and greens.  The new growth on this shrub is pink....and there were several other blooming shrubs around it.  

My Picture This app tells me that this is a Japanese Andromeda Mountain Fire.

I love that the leaves are as pretty as a blooms....and have as much coral as they do pink so perfect for this Rainbow Pink Connection post!

The Backside

I think I'm finally on the backside of this COVID thing.  I'm not symptom free yet.....but this is the first day that I had glimpses into feeling more like myself. I tended to a few household chores, completed a few Condo Board Committee tasks....and puttered around in my studio. I'm going to keep taking it slow.

Speaking of backside....I also did a simple design and quote on the back of my Rainbow Connection pink/coral card.  I knew I needed to circle back to Kimberly's childhood comment about how it wasn't fair that pink wasn't in the rainbow.  It will always be in mine from now on!

I could have done better....but I'll take done over better.  

Here's another look at the front.

This beautiful owl was right outside Roseanne's back deck this morning. 

I've only seen a handful in my whole life.

And these were Alyson's photos from last night's exchange...

they took my breath away!

 

Pink!

Brenda made a cherry blossom stamp to use for her pink/coral card.  

She printed it with acrylic paint and added gold and white highlights.  

I love it! It's bright and cheery and such a perfect blend pink/coral!

Well done Brenda!

Speaking of pink.....I came across this lovely cosmos on my walk yesterday morning. I won't be getting out in the next several days....I tested positive for COVID this morning and have been laying low all day. I don't even remember the last time I was sick.....feels so strange. Paul is much better and Sam is still testing negative. It will be a good day when our whole household is healthy again.

Auditioning

When I first trimmed up my starburst....I started auditioning centers.  This was a cutout from some commercial paper that I had painted pink. It was a little underwhelming.  

The card is just sitting on a 4 inch piece of cardstock at this point...it's not glued yet.  It's just helps me visualize when there's a frame.

I liked it better with a black and white striped border....but still not quite right.

So in hopes for something better....I painted some gold swirls with a fine line applicator on pink gelli print last night. And just for fun....I painted some dots....because you never know when you might need them!    

The minute I cut one out this morning...I knew it was right.  It was that "in light of day" thing again.    

In hindsight....I actually might have liked the white border better.  Or maybe cream or a very light pink or coral would have been nice.  But I used a darker pink...and I'm happy enough with it. The front is done!

Anything with metallic accents is hard to photograph...it looks so much better in person. The whole things just glows....and I actually love it.

Now I just need something for the back....

....and I think I know what I want it to say. 

Stay tuned.

In The Light Of Day

Paul is holding his own...no better and no worse...and Sam and I are still fine and testing negative.

When I start an art project late at night...I never know if I'm going to like it until I see it in the light of day.  Sometimes I like it.....and sometimes I don't.

It was time to start my final card for our Rainbow Connection exchange. But this time there's no exchange....we're keeping our pink/coral cards.  Since it's a keeper...I can share my process as I go along.  There's no one to surprise.

I'm excited that we added pink to the end of the Rainbow Connection project...and I'm thinking about Ann and her granddaughter Kimberly as I work on this card.  I explain why....here in this post:  https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2023/05/collecting-pink.html

My card was inspired by these metallic strips that came in a scrap pack from Mulberry Paper Store.  Beautiful pinks and corals...with splashes of gold...and I knew I wanted to use them somehow.

Skinny strips? Quilt like? Weaving? Part of a collage? I wasn't sure.  But then I had an idea....something I've done before.

Late in the evening a few nights ago I drew a rough 4 inch square and started gluing long skinny triangles into a starburst.  I worked on my lap....using just a glue stick while I watched TV.  It was mindfully mindless....just the project I needed.

I mixed in some solids and painted papers....and just kept cutting and gluing. I I pressed it under a book overnight...and hoped for the best.

In the light of day I was relieved that I actually liked it.

And once I cover the center....it could be a pretty card!

I was ambivalent about stitching...but I thought the lines needed definition.  

I started with off white thread skipping around where I stitched.

Then I switched to metallic thread and that was a game changer.  

It kind of woke it up...bringing it to life and giving it texture and sparkle.

 

I've trimmed it up....and I'll share more in the next day or two. Who knows...maybe I'll work on it tonight....and see how it looks in the light of day tomorrow.

Speaking Of.....

I was mesmerized as I watched this bumble bee collect pollen from my meadow rue....nature's worker bee....busy at work.  

"The hum of bees is the voice of a garden." Elizabeth Lawrence

Speaking of meadow rue.....

Tracie sent me a photo of her robust plant...which appears to be quite  happy.

Speaking of Tracie....

here's the "purrfect" purple card she created for Becky.

I love that all the cats are looking up at the blue speckles stars.

Or is it rain?

And...I'm pretty certain this is a nod to "Purple Rain"...

....so I'm going with rain on the cats.

Speaking of rain....

there are more white rain lily buds coming...and one new one is in full bloom.

I deadheaded the first bloom this morning....I love this full circle of life moment. Linda let me know that her white rain lily has 8 buds!!!

 

Speaking of full circle moments....here's Branda's card she made for Tracie. A beautiful mandala circle made from layers of acrylic paint, stamps, and penwork.  Well done Brenda!  I especially love the center!

Speaking of layers.....

I had fun with this layered "speaking of" post. It started with just one.....and it took on a life of its own. Sometimes I even make myself smile....and that's got to be a good thing.  

Speaking of good things....

Paul has been away for a week on his annual trip to the Rocky Mountains with his seminary buddies....probably the most restorative week of his year.  I've missed him....and the week has flown by pretty fast.  Sam and I have have been holding down the fort..and it will be a GOOD THING to have my partner back. 

Speaking of partner....

just kidding.  I could go on and on. 

I actually have a partner story...but I'll save it for tomorrow.