Mandala as a Design Theme

                                                                             

A  monthly theme challenge with the theme of mandala inspired me to make some handmade greeting cards.  I am showcasing them in  Facebook Group for Art Elements Community and they are in my online store for purchase.   Here is a link to the August: Mandala Theme Photo Album if you would like to see what everyone created.

Mandala (which comes from the ancient Indian language Sanskrit and means circle) is basically a circle containing a geometric design built around a single central point which are heavily symbolic in many eastern cultures. We may know them as decorative creations but they have a deep meditative meaning also.

Large Mandala Stamps and ink

I went through my stamp collection and found I had a number of stamps that I could use for this theme.  I started with a large mandala stamp that proved to be a challenge to use.  I have always found it difficult to get a good image with a large stamp.  I found that putting the paper directly on top of the stamp and applying pressure to this paper with my hands worked much better than the traditional applying the image.

Thank You Card by BayMoonDesign

This handmade blank thank you card with a mandala is perfect to express gratitude say thanks, or just drop a line. The mandala is stamped with black ink, cut out, and layered on the high quality black card stock paper. The card is embellished with hand stamped inspirational words. There is also a phrase "Thinking of You with a Grateful Heart added to yellow and orange paper with black ink. A yellow ribbon adds a pop of color.  Inside of the card card is blank so there is plenty of room to write a special note.

Thinking of You Card by BayMoonDesign

I used this same stamp to make a  thinking of you greeting card has a mandala and bright fall colors.  The card is embellished with hand stamped inspirational words. There is also a phrase "Thinking of You with a Grateful Heart" added to yellow and orange paper with black ink. A tangerine ribbon adds a pop of fall color. Inside of the card card is blank so there is plenty of room to write a special note.  The handmade card comes with a high quality white envelope with the mandala sign on flap of envelop.

Valentine Card by BayMoonDesign

This card uses the same Mandala stamp but it is inspired by Valentine's Day and used red as the accent color.  

                                                    Thanks So Much Card by BayMoonDesign

This blank thank you card with fall colors is perfect to express gratitude say appreciation, or just drop a line. The cheerful mandalas and geometric patterns are stamped with yellow, green and orange ink, and layered on the high quality bright tangerine card stock paper. There are the words "thanks so" much added to a tag with green ink. A yellow ribbon adds a pop of fall color.

I enjoyed this challenge.  It gave me an opportunity to make some cards with stamps that I haven't used in a long time.  I love the geometric patterns!  I hope to use these stamps again.  They have proven to be very versatile.  What are your thoughts on these designs?

Art Elements July Challenge-Hollow is the Theme

Tree Photo by K V on Unsplash

The current Art Elements monthly theme is hollow. This monthly theme can encompass things you see, feel, and create revolving around hollow. Objects that create negative space, draws you into the hollow space and your imagination can take over.

Textured Green Earrings by BayMoonDesign

I had some ceramics made by Marsha Neal that came to mind immediately. 
I made these handmade green earrings with a pair of her textured ceramics that have negative space. I stacked three green beads above the round ceramics onto hand forged sterling silver. I love how the blue and greens in the ceramics look with silver. These boho earrings are 2 inches and are light and comfortable to wear. 

Round Blue Textured Earrings by BayMoonDesign

I created another pair of earrings using the same design.  These blue earrings have pair of differently colored ceramics by Marsha Neal. Three shinny blue crystals are stacked above the round ceramics. I love the blue and creams in the ceramics. I hand forged the silver to create the earrings which are 2 inches. 

Iridescent Navy Blue Floral Earrings by BayMoonDesign

This pair of earring makes use of iridescent navy blue flowers. The iridescent navy creates a color that reminds me of a deep pool of water that draws the viewer in.  Once again I used the same design with a couple of crystals added to the ear wires for some sparkle. 

Photo by Laura Pratt on Unsplash

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope it helps bring positive light into your day. I would love to hear your thoughts.

June Theme Challenge-Summer Solstice

Beach Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash

Summer solstice fell on Saturday June 20, 2020 and marked the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. It is only fitting that the current Art Elements monthly theme is Summer Solstice. It marks the longest day of the year, and it always reminds me that daylight decreases afterwards. I don't like loosing daylight.

There are so many signs and symbols that I associate with midsummer--green man, flowers, bees. beach, and sand are a few of my favorites. The theme is broad and allows for a wide range of ideas and inspirations.

I began the month by thinking of a few occasions that I needed some handmade cards for and used the theme to come up with new designs. When I think of a summer flower, the sunflower is the first floral image that comes to mind. Fields of sunflowers are a special summer delight.

 

Sun Flowers Photo by Aleksandr Eremin

  I used a large and detailed sunflower stamp to make this sunflower and bee note card. This floral greeting card has a large bumble bee on it. The card is blank on the inside. I think that the card makes a great thinking of you card or thank you card.

                                          Sunflower and Bee Note Card by BayMoonDesign

June is a popular wedding month so it follows that it is a big anniversary
month. I celebrated 49 years of marriage this month. I created this
anniversary card for my husband. My husband and I sailed for many years and still enjoy life by the water. There are two sailboats with a bright yellow sun on the front. The sentiment "Happy Anniversary" is stamped on the front in matching blue ink.

Anniversary card by BayMoonDesign

I rarely make just one card at a time. I added a second anniversary card that I made to my online shop. The theme also inspired several pieces of jewelry to my summer collection.

Turtle bracelet by BayMoonDesign

I am all about the beach and nature so my summer collection centers on those themes.  I used a collection of handmade unique ocean beads like a ceramic turtle, a yellow lampwork seashell and sand bead, sand dollar charm, and aqua blue Czech glass beads for this ocean turtle bracelet. 

Salt in the Air, Sand in My Hair Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I love the saying "Salt In the Air Sand In My Hair" so I when I found it as a ceramic focal I new it would make a great pendant on Ball Chain. I added an artisan yellow lampwork bead with sea shells and sand. The natural brass ball chain is 18 inches long and brings out the browns in the jewelry.

Starfish necklace by BayMoonDesign

This ceramic starfish pendant makes a unique casual beach necklace. Perfect for summer! The aqua blue starfish focal by Lisa Boucher is surrounded by one of a kind handmade art beads and a natural brass elongated oval cable chain and clasp.

Green Man Cab by Susan Kennedy

I saved embroidering this green man cab by Susan Kennedy for my last project. It didn't go smoothly and I didn't finish. In fact I am going to take it apart and start all over!

Summer solstice is a perfect inspiration for me and I am happy with all that I got done this month.

Butterfly Theme Art Elements Challenge

Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash

In May I took part in the Butterfly Theme Challenge created by Art Elements Community. Butterflies were the theme for the Art Elements design challenge. The Art Elements Team has made some changes to the monthly theme challenges, including moving the reveals from a blog hop to a photo album in a new FaceBook group - Art Elements Community - for all challenges or to Instagram. I decided to stay with my blog and to test the waters of Instagram.

People of a certain age have much more difficulty with programs like Facebook and Instagram then you might think. I struggle with both. I have somewhat mastered Facebook and still have work to do on Instagram. I decided to use this challenge and the 100 days project on Instagram as motivation to accomplish both challenges. In the 100 Days Project you post your creations each day for 100 days on Instagram. I used some of the creations I made for this challenge as the subjects for Instagram posts and motivation. It was a win win. This has gotten me to post my work on Instagram on a regular basis and that should help promote my jewelry and cards. This will be a real life experiment for me.

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

This challenge allowed me to take time to create with a beautiful swallowtail stamp that I had never used.  I also discovered a wonderful tutorial that shows how to create stunning black and white cards with the stamp.  Even if you don't have this stamp, the technique that was used can be applied to many large stamps.  The tutorial shows the card being made with black ink on white paper and I loved the look so I used the color palette on my card.

Thank You card by BayMoonDesign

With an elegant black and white butterfly sitting on this card, the card can be appropriate for lots of different occasions. I used a detailed butterfly stamp with black ink to create a 3 dimensional butterfly by layering part of one butterfly on a portion of another. I added a clear gem to the body of the butterfly. To make a thank you note, I stamped the sentiment "A special note of Thanks to You" in black ink.

Wedding Card by BayMoonDesign

The same card with Congratulations stamped on it, is perfect for a June wedding. I have also made this card as a sympathy card by adding the text "With Sympathy". 

Thinking of You card by BayMoonDesign

I was interested to see how the butterfly stamp would look with white craft ink. I like how the white craft ink looks with brown card stock.  It has a totally different look--much more earthy and less formal.   It reads "thinking of you" on the front and is blank on the inside so that you can add a personal note. This thinking of you card can be used as a sympathy card, get well card, breakup card, or note card.  Both cards make add nicely to my Online shop.  I am eager to try another color palette.  I have been thinking of some pink on pink but I haven't found the time.  

Handmade Mother's Day Card from 4 month old grandson

Both of my adult children are on Instagram but not Facebook as much. They noticed my posts to Instagram had focused on butterflies. My son even commented that he noticed how much I like butterflies. My daughter helped my 4 month old grandson Petey make this butterfly Mother's Day card for me. I think that my Instagram posts planted the Mother's Day card in her mind.  I know she planted Petey's foot in that paint.

Vintaj Embossing plates and butterfly blanks

I just happened to have some Vintaj butterfly blanks and embossing blanks in my stash. I sandwiched them together and ran them through my embossing machine. I loved how they turned out.

Vintaj Embossing plates and embossed butterflies

Once again I was interested to compare some color palettes. Next, I got out Swellegant Tiffany Green/Rust Patina and Ranger Vintaj Patina. I decided to see what the butterflies would look like with different patinas.

I used a Swellant Patina on these butterflies.  

I really like the results that I got with the Swellegant patina on the butterfly pieces.  I was hoping for a more Tiffany green shade than rust and that is what I got.

blanks painted with Ranger patina

I also put a couple of shades of Ranger Vintaj patina on the same embossed blanks and went with a very different color palette that I also liked.  I especially like the small orange butterfly on top of a filagree piece that was a silver colored metal that I used the Swellegant on.  I have to admit that I was hoping to get more of the Tiffany Green color, I was surprised that it was similar to rust.  I love it paired with the small orange butterfly.  I am sure that this will be part of a component for a necklace some day.  Making more of my components and beads rather than making more jewelry is another one of my goals for the next couple of months. 

necklace component by BayMoonDesign

I am glad that I participated. This challenge helped me move forward in a couple of areas. I still am resistant to Instagram but I am determined to keep it up at least for the 100 Day Challenge. I am hoping I will see the benefit of it by then and get better posting. A blog takes longer, but I enjoy is more both reading and writing, but I do see the time savings of Instagram. I am just not sure my mind is wired that way.  Maybe with more time, I will love Instagram.