Mushrooms and Toadstools as an Inspiration

 The Art Elements inspiration for November is Mushrooms/Toadstools. Initially I thought about bagging this challenge. I hasn't crazy about the theme.  I couldn't think of anything I had that would fit with the theme. I am resistant to buying anything new! I decided to change my negative attitude and dig through my stash of papers and beads.  I located the remainder of a sheet with mushrooms leftover from a prior project.  Yes!  I had made something with mushrooms awhile ago. I decided mushroom themed greeting cards were a possibility.

I decided to go through my stash of paper that I made with a gelli printing plate and see if any of the prints would work with the mushrooms. I used acrylic paints on card stock when I made the prints.

I found some paper that worked with the colors in the mushrooms.  I had some card stock that was a complimentary color.  I stamped "for a very special someone" on the front of both and added a tiny stamped mouse.  One is a thank you card and the other is a birthday card. 

The last mushroom had lots of reds in it so I pulled out this card stock with reds. It is surprising how well everything used works so well together.  It is also an indication of my stashed supplies.

I stamped  "A Very Special Day" on the front of this card and I used the same mouse and added a happy birthday on the inside of the card.  I am glad that I pulled these papers out.  I am very pleased with how all of the colors that I created with acrylic paints worked with the mushrooms.  

I have lots of handmade cards in my BayMoonDesign store. Many are inspired by nature as this set was.   These cards are headed to the Biggs Museum of American Arts in Dover, Delaware where I also sell my cards.

Fall Gift of Thanks Inspired by Nature

 

I love the idea of greeting cards as a gift. If you have someone in your life that likes nice things but is VERY practical? That’s who I buy greeting cards for. Everyone needs cards for different occasions and having a nice set of stationery on hand is a welcome gift. Who really likes buying cards though? No one! That’s why these make such a great gift, especially as a set.

                                                     Thanksgiving Card by BayMoonDesign

Send a handmade and hand stamped card like this one to your mother, father, brother, sister, or friend. It is blank so that you can personalize with expression of appreciation, gratitude, thankfulness. It is cream colored on the inside and blank.  It is perfect for Thanksgiving.

                                                                          Fall Birthday Card by BayMoonDesign

I love the squirrels and fall leaves.  With a log slice and a squirrel sitting on top, this is a perfect nature inspired card for an animal lover. The front of the green card has paper with acorns and leaves and a log slice. It has " for a for someone special" hand stamped on the front. The inside of the card reads "Happy Birthday Day" and there is room for a personalized note.

                                                                         Log Slice Note Card by BayMoonDesign

This handmade log slice note card is perfect to express gratitude or say thanks. It has the word grateful in copper lettering with a log slice and yellow and copper leaves.  "Inside of the card is blank so there is plenty of room to write a special note.

Fall Thank You Card by BayMoonDesign

Express gratitude or say thanks with this handmade blank note card . It has the word thankful in teal lettering with a woodland fall scene of leaves printed on high quality paper. The card is embellished with hand stamped and die cut leaves. Inside of the card is blank.

         Blank Mandala Note 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.

You can purchase 5 of any of BayMoonDesign cards to create a personalized gift to be sent as a gift or as a gift to yourself to have on hand for the fall . These handmade cards will cost just $4 each with the free shipping offer on a purchase over $35. This is a nice savings to you and shows your appreciation of nature and quality.

Fall Light + Fun

Rays of sunlight on the Fall landscape create a very special look this time of year.  As the change in time in the United States approaches on November 1, 2020,  those of us on the East coast can appreciate that there is still light at dinner time or the drive back home after a long day at work.  Even those working at home will soon be missing this after work fun or stress relief that can be had when there is still some daylight.  The changing color of the leaves and sight of pumpkins add lots of cheer as the light decreases this time of year.

                                                Happy Fall Y'all Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These Happy Fall Y'all Earrings combine handmade ceramic pumpkin charms with lamp work in the Fall shades of oranges, greens, browns.  The handmade ceramic charms are by artisan Grubbi and the lamp work beads are by Susan Kennedy.  I love the saying "Happy Fall Y'All"  on the dangles.

The copper ear wires highlight the oranges in the beads. The earrings hang about 2 inches from the top curve in the ear wires.  I think they have an organic and natural look to them and would make a great Halloween treat or Thanksgiving Hostess gift or addition to your accessories. 

                                                         Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

It wouldn't Halloween without some fun scary skulls, skeletons and ghosts.  

                                                         Skull Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These are long skull earrings that are perfect for Halloween and Dia de Muertos. The skull is pale gray with piercing black eyes.  This Goth skull jewelry is hung on sterling silver ear wires, and  include black and orange Czech crystals, and metal spacers. These are light weight earrings.  These light weight earrings are about 2 inches long.  

                                               Halloween Skull Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These same skulls are incorporated into long black and orange skull earrings that are perfect for Halloween.   These are great fun! They are light weight earrings and are hung on gunmetal ear wires. I selected black and orange crystals to add sparkle. The skulls are 12x10mm and are gray with piercing orange eye sockets. 

These dangles are perfect for a Halloween Zoom party.  Did you know that statement earrings are perfect for Zoom.  Who doesn't love to see something fun or eye catching!  Sometimes it is the little things that we do that can add some humanity to those Zoom meeting which are  necessary during this pandemic.

                                               Fall Inspired Birthday Card by BayMoonDesign

This is a fall inspired birthday greeting card for someone special who loves nature.  With a log slice and a squirrel sitting on top, this is a perfect nature inspired card.   It has " for a for someone special" hand stamped on the front.  The inside of the card reads "Happy Birthday" and there is room for a personalized note.

                                                     Photo by David Kovalenko on Unsplash

                                       Log Slice Blank Thank You Card by Bay Moon Design

I used the trending log slice in this note card.  This is a great way to express gratitude or to offer appreciation. It has the word grateful in copper lettering with a log slice and yellow and leaves. "Inside of the card card is blank so there is plenty of room to write a special note.

I hope you will visit my online shop and pick up a few handmade pieces of jewelry and cards for this Fall.

It's a Blue September

                                                              Photo by Paul Gilmore on Unsplash

The theme of the September Art Elements Challenge is BLUE.    Literally you could just use blue paint,  find blue objects or beads, use the ocean or the sky as inspiration.  Perhaps blue as an emotional inspiration is a possibility.  There are so many shades of blue to consider.  Art Elements members are hosting this on their Facebook Group for Art Elements Community.  

                                                  Long Casual Blue Earrings by BayMoonDesign

I decided to make a few pairs of blue earrings.  These are modern blue geometric earrings. The statement earrings have blue ceramics with a light brown that shows. The ceramics are made by Marsha Neal Studio.  Some brass beads, tiny seed beads, and Czech crystals dangle from chains and make the earrings about 3 inches in length.   The chain also creates some movement in these casual, everyday earrings.  

                                                             Teal Blue Ivy Earrings by BayMoonDesign

The next pair are trending teal earrings with turquoise ivy leaves on large sterling silver ear wires.  I added teal crystals which have a hint of purple as do the leaves.  The handmade artisan ivy leaves by Gardanne Beads are enameled on both sides and are 25 x 16mm.   Sterling silver ear wires are used. These are long earrings that are 2 inches from the curve at the top of the ear wire.  Both pairs are available for purchase in my online shop.  

                                                                          Petey age 7 months

I added a photo of my grandson who happens to be sporting a pale blue outfit.  It is only fitting that he be included in the blue blog.  He is the object of much of my time now that I am helping with his care while his parents work from home.  Glad I have Grandpa to help.  Being in your 70's and doing a daycare gig is a challenge physically but a real joy.