August Art Elements Theme Challenge-- the Octopus

Photo of octopuses by Gary Sandoz on Unsplash

This month's Art Elements challenge theme is - Octopus! The hostess Claire Fabian selected the octopus because this creature is so wonderfully weird and strange. She loves them and shared what they inspired her to create for her home and just for fun on her blog.

Photo of Octopus by Bryan Burgos on Unsplash

This challenge is wide open to interpretation of media and subject. You could use the theme literally or broadly. You could use colors, shapes, materials inspired by the ocean. The idea of creating whimsical fantasy creatures - mermaids with tentacles, steampunk octopus are all possibilities.

Octopus tentacles Photo by Adam Muise on Unsplash

I decided to make a couple of octopus themed handmade cards. I had a lot of fun with a new stamp and die set.

Octopus Card by BayMoonDesign

This octopus card is a perfect card for a birthday, thank you, thinking of you, or anniversary. There is an under the sea scene with an octopus, starfish, and ocean reef.  "You're One of a Kind" sentiment makes this a personal and special greeting. I love the pop of the turquoise and purple colors. The purple was hand stamped on the octopus. The inside the notecard is blank which makes it a very versatile card.

Reaching Out  Card by BayMoonDesign

My second card has a very different color palette. I sponged a very pale aqua color on the white card stock and sponged pale shades of blue and green on the octopus. The sentiment  "Thanks for Reaching Out"  makes this a very special notecard.

This is a blog hop so take time and enjoy the wide variety of creations inspired by this theme.  We love to read your comments. A special thanks to Claire Fabian for this perfect summer inspiration.

Guest artists:
Cat
Evie and Beth
Hope

Karen
Kathy
Melissa
Michelle
Rozantia
Sarajo
Tammy

Art Elements Team:
Cathy
Claire
Jenny
Laney

Lindsay

Marsha

Happy Labor Day!

July Theme Challenge: Flowers

Water Lily Photo by BayMoonDesign

The theme of the July Art Elements blog hop is flowers.  The sponsor Marsha Neal thought behind this theme is that there are participants in this blog hop from all of the world and it will be fun to see what is in bloom in different areas.  I totally agree.

I decided to photograph a new flower in my own backyard in Lewes, Delaware, USA.  I have a small manmade pond in my backyard with some goldfish. Our first water lily is in bloom and it looks very pretty floating in the crystal clear water. 

Garden container at local pool

My next flowers to be photographed are in a garden container that I have been admiring all summer.  It is located at a pool in Lewes, Delaware where I swim laps in the summer. This photo will help remind me to try this combination of flowers next year at my house. I love all of the yellows and greens. This combination of flowers does well in a shaded area. It is a combination of begonias, pansies, and a snake plant. These flowers thrive in the shade and bloom all summer long. These plants are all are hardy and have a striking appearance when combined. Even those without a green thumb will find these plants easy to care for. These plants can put up with almost anything! That makes them perfect for me.

Humorous Crown Card by BayMoonDesign

This challenge inspired me to use some of my newest floral paper to make some hand stamped cards. I made this sassy floral card that could be sent to cheer someone up. I am fond of the sentiment that I stamped on this card --"Sometimes you just have to throw on a Crown and remind them who they're dealing with!" The inside is blank so that you can personalize it.  The magenta colored card stock is layered on top of white card stock. The regal crown has tiny "diamonds" Who wouldn't get a kick out of this fabulous floral card.  This is a fun card for a special person!

Floral and Bird Birthday card by BayMoonDesign

Next, flowers  inspired me to made a cheerful floral birthday card with the words "Just for You" on the front. A trio of birds are layered on the floral paper. I decided to add it to green and orange card stock. Happy Birthday is hand stamped on the inside of the flowers with birds birthday card. There is plenty of room on the inside for you to add your own special words.

Make a Wish Floral Bracelet by BayMoonDesign

My floral bracelet features a pale green leather and aqua blue ceramic with "Make Wishes" on one side and a dandelion on the other. This flower bracelet also has the word bead "Kindness" and it is adjustable. It fits a 7 to 8 inch wrist. Size adjustments can be made easily by adjusting the amount of leather that you pass through the floral.  The ceramic word beads are by Scottish artisan Grubbi.  

This is a blog hop so take time and enjoy the flowers and what see what they inspired. We love to read your comments.  A special thanks to Marsha Neal for this perfect summer inspiration.

Here is a list of our Visiting Artists:
Alysen
Cat
Divya
Evie and Beth
Jill
Hope
Kathy (here)
Linda
Louise
Martha
Melissa
Michelle
Rozantia
Sarah
Sarajo
Tammy

And our Art Elements Blog Contributors:
Caroline
Cathy
Claire
Jenny
Laney
Lesley
Marsha
Susan

Enjoy!

We're All Ears :: July Inspiration :: Blueberries

Blueberries -- Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

July's We're All Ears challenge is to create a pair of earrings inspired by blueberries.  Blueberries are perennial flowering plants with blue– or purple–colored berries. As soon as I thought about the blues and purples in these luscious berries, I knew what I would make.

The blueberries we eat today are a more or less recent invention. Prior to the 1900’s, only North American natives utilized the berry, which was only found in the wild.

Today there are three types of blueberry: highbush, lowbush and hybrid half-high. Blueberry harvesting season can be anywhere from late May through mid-August, depending upon the variety and your local climate.  When blueberries are in season, there are many farms that let families pick these plump, sun-ripened morsels.  It is fun to do some research and find a patch near you and plan a fun day with family and friends.

Some Picked Blueberries-- Photo by Farsai Chaikulngamdee on Unsplash

There’s no great secret to picking blueberries. Beyond the actual picking of the blueberries, there isn’t an easier fruit to prepare and serve. You don’t need to peel, pit, core or cut plus they freeze, can or dry for long-term storage if you don’t make short work of them as a pie, cobbler or just a snack. Best of all blueberries are low in calories and high in nutrients.

Store fresh blueberries in the refrigerator as soon as you get them home, without washing them, in a covered bowl or storage container. If refrigerated, fresh-picked blueberries will keep 10 to 14 days. Freeze berries in freezer containers without washing to keep the skins from toughening.

Blueberry inspired earrings by BayMoonDesign

The colors in blueberries are what inspired my blue and purple paisley ceramic earrings. The handmade earrings make fun statement dangles. These are vibrant and tropical in this seasons freshest colors. I added lavender and blue freshwater pearls as well as aqua crystals. The bell shaped ceramic by Scotish artisan Grubbi. These statement earrings have sterling ear wires.

Fresh fruits are one of the best parts of summer.  What is your favorite fruit?

Photo by chen zo on Unsplash

I plan to spend some time in doors this weekend and read the blogs of the other participants in this blog hop! Join us and leave comments in your travels through them.

June Art Elements Challenge --Selkies

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

The theme of the June Art Elements Challenge is Selkies.  Selkies are not mermaids. In Scottish mythology, Selkies or Selkie folk  mean "Seal Folk".  They are mythological beings capable of changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin. They are found in folktales and mythology originating from Orkney and Shetland.  

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

In Orkney lore, selkie is said to denote various seals of greater size than the grey seal; only these large seals are credited with the ability to shapeshift into humans, and are called "selkie folk".   The type of large seals that might have been seen on the islands include the Greenland seal and the crested seal.   Something similar is stated in Shetland tradition, that the mermen and mermaids prefer to assume the shape of larger seals, referred to as "Haaf-fish".  The legends of the selkies are found in Ireland, Scotland and Wales; coastal tales as selkies are from the sea. return to the sea.

Photo by Joanna Nix on Unsplash

Having Scottish roots and having red hair and having a ceramic pendant made by Jenny Davies-Reazor who is the originator of this challenge,  I was eager to use the Reazor pendant for this. 

Selkie ceramic by Jenny Davies-Reazor

I love to make crochet necklaces because I enjoy crocheting and I love the organic look.  Copper wire was selected because it helps to draw attention to the red hair of the selkie on the ceramic.  I crocheted a variety of pearls because they come from the sea just as the selkie.  Glass chips that look like sea glass seemed like a natural fit. Other beads that compliment the copper wire.

Copper Wire Crochet Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I made this statement necklace by stringing beads onto copper wire, crocheting 4 strands and then weaving them together.  Lastly, I  attached the pendant that I put together. 

Photo by Nsey Benajah on Unsplash

From seal to woman, from sea to land - join us this month by visiting the blogs as we take inspiration from these transformative creatures of mythology and folklore!  We love to read your comments!

Guests: 

Paisleylizard.com/blog

Anordinarymiracleday.wordpress.com 

 Ebbeadandmetalworks.blogspot.com

Bay-moon-design.blogspot.com  (here)

AE team: 

Lesley

Jen

Caroline

Claire

Laney

Cathy

Niky

Lindsay

Jenny