Art- DPP 9-13 and AJT2

   I took some time this week to continue playing with my art challenges. Here are the daily paper prompts.
DPP9- Game

 DPP 10 is stitching. I don't have a sewing machine. Although I would really like to try this, I think it would be a really bad decision for my hand/elbow problems lately. I might have to pass on this one. :(

DPP11- Ogee. I have a problem with drawing symmetrically. Any suggestions?

DPP12- Round

 DPP13a and b- Grid. I like grids- very mathematical.

   I also followed Tammy's art journal tangent for a half empty/half full page. I stepped outside my comfort zone and went to a page of watercolor paper instead of using an index card. The left side shows my biggest "half-empty" issues and my right side shows things I know I have that make me happy. I also have some little things written in in black on the half full side but you can't see them too well. Laughter, mail, chocolate and music are a few of the things written in black. 

    This was my favorite part of the night- David saw me doing some painting and he asked if he could sit down and work with me. He did a book report for school. Well, actually it's a summer reading program run by a bakery. The kids write a report and bring it in. They get a "book buck" and can trade it in for baked goods. Talk about incentive. Anyway, he loves to draw and color so it was really cute.

DPP/6-8, 2 postcrossing cards, currently reading...

My Daily Paper Prompt cards have been fun but I had to rush 2 of them this week. Prompt 6- Certification. I feel this is appropriate. (I got the image from this page. )

DPP7- Leftovers. I made this from a bunch of mop up paper and other various scraps around the kitchen table. 

DPP8- Faded. I read about a technique to paint something and then immediately spray it with water to let the paint fade and drip. I really like how this one came out and I will definitely experiment more with this technique.

   The mailbox has been pretty slow on personal mail this week but I did get some nice cards. (I hear Monday is going to be a good mail day ;) )  This card is from Sanne in Holland.

I received this card from Ines today. She is from Berlin.  I would love if my yard was this cute.

     As for reading, I just finished reading through the book of Hebrews in the Bible and I'm going to spend some time in Psalms for my devotional time. I'm also reading a book called "An Incomplete Education" (check out my Goodreads page if you want info). For school this summer, the staff and students are reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio. I just started but I think it will be a quick read. I ended up buying the hard cover in case Timmy would like to read it after (if it's appropriate.)   I have heard great things about this book. If you have read it, what did you think?

Catching up and new art challenge

   My kitchen table has become a pile of "to register" Postcrossing cards and wayward art supplies. God bless my husband for being patient with me. I received lots of great postcards this week. From Belgium:

From Sochi Russia:

From Taiwan. The sender is a 16 year old girl who plays the piano and the erhu.

From Finland. Is this a close up of a grape or something totally different? Where are all my Finnish friends? I love this card!

From the USA. "Ember- the Fire Sprite" by Ruth Thompson

From Australia. For some reason the picture of the stamp she sent doesn't want to cooperate. It's a stamp of the royal visit from Prince William and Kate with their son. I've never seen that before.  Also, she told me about the Aboriginal singer Gurrumul Yunupingu. Check him out. His voice is so soothing. 

From Italy, also with pretty stamps that I hadn't seen.

From Poland

Colorado, USA

Russia:

China, I'm not sure I'm holding the card right. 

2nd card I received from a Penpals&Letters Swap back in July. Thanks, Kirsty!

I finished my Index Card a Day Challenge and since I had so much fun being creative, I joined the next challenges. One is a daily paper prompt- which is basically a create based on a prompt project, no other rules. I'm continuing on with the index cards though many people are moving to an art journal. (This would be easier for size but I would never get anything done at home or for the challenge.)  The Art Journaling Tangents &Tactics is a set of techniques, tutorials and creative prompts. I'm really looking forward to this. I would love if you checked out Tammy's page at http://daisyyellowart.com/    She's pretty awesome. 

     Speaking of awesome.. lol, I am growing a bit in my comfort level with trying to create. I'm usually pretty rule oriented so these prompts are so helpful to me. I am finding, however, that I'm able to come up with more than 1 idea rather than just taking it literally or feeling totally incapacitated. Here are my first 5 (6) daily paper prompts:

DPP1- Rainbow  AJT1- Starburst

DPP2- Window. I'm disappointed with this a little. It's a stained glass window. I wanted the painted outside of the window to be a lighter grey. The window "glass" is painted wax paper. 

DPP3- Drips. I really like this one. It's flicked/dripped watercolors

DPP4- Flowers- inspired by the daisies my nana gave me for my anniversary on Friday. They're much prettier than these. Mutant stems. Oops. 

After my stem issue, I thought maybe I should just do that one over.  So, I tried my hand at collage. DPP4b

DPP5- Linear