My Winning ATC

I've just had another wonderful surprise! I joined the monthly contest in ATCs for All and guess what! I won for the month of February! My entry was a mixed media collage of two trees (The theme was "Trees"). Here's how I made it...

1. First I cut the card to standard ATC size -2.5" x 3.5"

2. Then I gave the card a coat of gesso. This makes for a nice texture when you color it.

3. I gave the card a light wash of acrylic (or was it watercolor?) in varying shades of light blue.

4. Then I made a light pencil sketch of the two tree trunks and branches. I wanted to let the trees form a heart since the month of February is Valentine's month.

5. I painted the trunks and branches with acrylic paints, trying to put darker shades on the right side of the trunk. When painting I like to have different shades, mixing a little bit of different colors so that it's not just one flat trunk with one color.

6. I painted book paper in varying shades of green (again) and cut the paper up in leaf shapes.

7. I pasted the leaves to the branches, making sure that I kept the heart clear of leaves.

8. I used colored pencils for the hills and background. Again, I used different colors. The gesso gives the colored pencil a nice texture. I also gave the edges a darker violet color to sort of frame the card.

9. Almost done, just a few flowers at the base of the trees and two birds in the distance, painted with acrylics. And although it can hardly be seen, a heart carving on the trunk. Inside the heart, it says "ATCs".

10. Then, I pasted a backing on the card with the title of the card "February Trees", my name, signature, and email address and the date.

Trading Cards

It's been a while since I last posted in my blog. After joining ATCs for all and looking through the gallery, I marvelled at the wonderful cards that were up for trading. I found myself offering to trade cards with some very talented artists til I had nothing left to trade. Since they offered to hold the cards I was interested in for me til I had new cards, I found myself having to make more cards to trade out. Having that goal and "deadline" really encouraged me to sit down and create something. I think ATCs are a wonderful way for artists and would be artists to develop their talents and skills. Since it's such a small size, just 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches, you can just leave a card you're not that happy with it and start another one. Or bring along a blank card to draw on while waiting for an appointment. You can even use recycled materials, cardboard boxes or old invitations. Even children can make ATCs! Although I haven't received the cards yet, I'm excited to receive the cards and I look forward to learning techniques from the artists I'm trading with.

Take Time to Listen

A few days ago, I went on a prayer walk. With my bible and journal in hand, I took a walk in a nearby park early in the morning.

As I walked, read the words from Jeremiah 29:11-14a,

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the LORD, and I will change your lot..."

In the early morning, there are not that many people around. It is peaceful and quiet and I thought, "in silence, I will find Him." I could hear the crickets singing, the rustle of dry leaves beneath my feet... "In silence, I can hear things I don't ordinarily hear." And so it is that I need to take time to sit in silence and seek the Lord.

Often times, our day to day lives are full and noisy. These days, especially, there are many voices that say all is not well, and the future looks bleak. But this verse promises that God wants a future full of hope for me. For you. As He promised, "when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you...and I will change your lot..."

Trading ATCs at ATCs for All

I visited ATCs for All the other day to learn more about ATCs. After reading the tips and instructional posts and posting a message in the welcome thread, I was surprised to find a private message for me from Kat, who was offering me an ATC from New Zealand! How exciting, my first trade (of course I offered her one from me as well)! Her topic preference is a native animal, so I found myself thinking about native Philippine animals. I think the Philippine tarsier would be a good subject for an ATC since it is also very small (just like an ATC).

Artist Trading Cards

Last November, my sister had an "Artist Trading Card" birthday party. After dinner, she brought out cards, paints, pens, glue, papers and all sorts of other materials and she introduced us to ATCs. She told us they should measure 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (she pre-cut them for us) and had all of us making (or attempting to make) our first one. Here is mine.

Yesterday, I decided to make another one for Valentine's day (see my previous post). Maybe one day I can really make some to trade with other artists around the world. For now, I'll do some practicing first!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have been thinking about generosity since I visited the One World- One Heart blogs of so many generous people these past few days. Some of them gave away things that had obviously taken them so long to make, that I wondered how they could part with those beautiful handmade things. And visiting those sites made me feel like giving something away as well. Generosity is contagious, I thought. That's one of the reasons I started this blog. I decided I wanted to give something away in next year's event. But also, I decided I wanted to share a part of myself throughout the year - my thoughts, my art, my stories, my faith.

And the best example of generosity is God himself, who, as the often quoted verse in John 3:16 says, "gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." And why? Because He "so loved the world." It is not easy to give away something so precious, and as a parent, I know how precious my children are to me. How awesome to think about how much God loves us to have given us His Son. And God's love is far different from what many think love is when they say "I love you" to someone, especially on days like Valentine's day. And I wish that you will experience God's generous love in your life, and that you will strive to give this kind of love.

It is not always easy to love this way, generously, unconditionally. But I believe that we should strive to love this way. Generosity is contagious. Let the words in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 be our guide: "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

Happy Valentine's Day!

Surprise Blessings! One World - One Heart

I visited all 911 sites participating in One World - One Heart, and after finding so many great blogs and making comments about the fantastic giveaways they were offering, I wondered if I would win even one thing. After all, I don't usually win anything.

Well, today has been a wonderful day of surprise blessings and I won some great giveaways!

I was so excited when I opened my email and saw Melanie's email with the subject: "OWOH winner". I am thrilled to be the winner of one of her multicolored glass bead necklaces and a surprise giveaway of a digital scrapbook. She will make the pages, have them professionally printed, and put them in a book all for me. Isn't that so wonderfully generous of her? Thank you so much, Melanie! Visit Melanie's blog at 88 Designs By M.

That would have been enough! But a few minutes later (yes, I admit I kept checking my email every few minutes), another email sent my heart jumping again. It was from Char (PawsN2Stamp) and it's subject was "Winner of OWOH giveaway." Wow! By then, I was practically jumping up and down with delight. Char decided to add 2 more albums to her giveaways and picked my name for the third one! Thank you so much, Char, for deciding to give away 3 of those wonderful flip flop albums!

As if that wasn't enough, I also won a lavender bouquet, lavender hydrosol/distillate, and mohair (which can be used for dolls' hair) from Cindy Jones of the Sagescript Institute. Isn't that great?!!! Thank you so much, Cindy!

And finally, another surprise (I could get used to this!) I won one of the "add-on" giveaways Susan decided to give. And I can even have a choice between 10 bookplates featuring the initial of my choice, 10 bookplates with a generic design or 2 bookmarks. She'll be sending me some pictures for me to choose from. How exciting!

Thank you, thank you, everyone who participated in this wonderful event, and thank you also to Lisa Swifka, the creator and host of One World - One Heart. All of you have encouraged and inspired me and it has been an amazing experience. I will be back to visit the blogs, and I hope to offer my own giveaway in next year's event!

Blog Candy

My journeys through blogland have brought me to visit so many warm and generous folks. They offer what is called "blog candy." And oh, what delightful papers, and ribbons and all sorts of embellishments they are offering. How exciting to think of winning them and using them for some projects! I've added some of their links in my sidebar and I'm crossing my fingers!

A Mother's Day Card Illustration

I made this by first drawing the outlines in pen and ink. Then I colored it in with watercolors.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been busy, busy, busy these past few days, spending late nights trying to visit all the blogs that have participated in One World - One Heart. And as I think about being busy, I remember another lesson I learned from my daughter. When she started walking, she often practiced and practiced and practiced. When I tried to hug her, she would squirm away. When I called her, she wouldn't come. She was just too, too busy. "How like me she is, Lord", I thought. "You long to spend time with me and I squirm away. You call me and I do not come. I am just too, too busy. Forgive me, Lord for the times I have been too busy for you. Teach me to be still and enjoy your love". "Be still and know that I am God". Psalm 46:10