Happy Valentine's Day!

A Vintage freebie image for you to use in your art...please leave a link to your post and share how you used it :0)

How could it be? Let me check...Sure enough! MY 100th POST! YIPEE!!!!!

It really came at a great time for me...I am growing and changing in so many ways...as an artist and on a personal level!
You know when there are times in your life that things don't seem to change much, you get in a routine and stay there doing the same thing? This past year has definitely NOT been that kind of year for me...When someone asks me how things are going, I honestly have reason NOT to say "same-0l' same-ol' "...but I CAN honestly say "I am blessed"...

Much has happened this past year and without going into great detail; I was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer but because of catching it early, after a little surgery,I am fine...
My 14 yr. old son was diagnosed with celiac disease( cannot have even a speck of wheat/gluten) for the rest of his life; which was a blessing it was caught at his early age, but I have had to learn to cook separate meals, can't cross cross- contaminate when I am in the kitchen, etc...
I also went back to work for the first time in 13 years and that in itself was an amazing adventure (which I will have to share another time) and am doing floral design...
and seriously that is only the very TIP of the iceberg!!NO kidding!
OK enough of the personal raz-a-ma-taz...I really just wanted a chance to say how much blogging has meant to me and that when I first started out blogging I had no idea what to do and where it would take me...I have to say that I have met some of the most incredible and special kindred spirits that could have shared my computer waves...it is like this big world of ours is a little more friendly and a little less scary...a little more creative and a little less harsh!

Thank you my blogging friends for making my corner of the blogging world a little brighter and my heart a little a little lighter for having crossed your paths..........


Please join me on my new blog at http://analteredlifeblog.blogspot.com/ I plan on continuing my artful journy there and I would love it if you would join me!

Happy New Year and an update of sorts...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!!!

Looking back on this last year for me has been one of many changes...many of them good and some not so much! But through it all I am finding that I am counting my blessings and growing closer in my faith and stronger as a person...

With every frustration in my life I purposely try to find a blessing to counter-act it...I have even been accused of being a "Polly-anna" at times and just smile and am thankful, it is more of a compliment to me than the person knows...

With returning to work, I am finding I have much less time to create than I want...but I guess that just means the projects I pick will have to be that much more meaningful that I choose to spend my time on...

My New Year's Resolution is to be better organized so I can spend my time more wisely...and one of the things I wish to do is allot some time to blogging!
Many blessings in the New Year! and stay tuned for new changes to come...you won't be disappointed!!!

Life leads me by the hand...

and all I can do is go...

My life has taken a few new turns in the last few months...I have had to take a hiatus from blog land to catch up on things around the home...

I have created, but have not posted and have truly missed all of you!

I will post more very soon...

all is well...counting my blessings!

To have and to hold...

Most of my summer has been spent refining my floral designing skills...I have been working full time managing a floral shop... (ie. completely running the shop...)

These are photos from a recent wedding that I did. I hope to get more photos from the photographer when they are finished.

For now I hope you enjoy these, and I will share more when I receive them...

Whispers Of Inspiration...something new

Don't you just love this little photo of this darling girl and her doll...I couldn't resist and just had to use it as the photo for this ongoing theme...as if she is sharing her innermost secrets...

At times I have had little whispers of inspiration from things I have either seen or heard...maybe a movie, something in nature, an ad in a magazine, a song verse...you get the idea...don't ya???

Well I have decided to finally do something more than just use the old noodle file system which more than not seems to fail me when I really need it... so I am starting this on-going chapter of sorts on my blog called Whispers Of Inspiration.

I will be adding to it whenever and whatever strikes my fancy at the moment...please feel free to comment or add to it as you wish, the more the merrier!!!

another digital quickie..."Ode to Spring...

digital collage done with paint.net...still learning, still playing :0)

...hoping your spring is glorious!

Countdown to Mother's Day...

Just a few more days left to Mother's Day!!!

...so with Mother's Day on the horizon I digi-layered several photos together for you to enjoy!!!I have never had very good luck with Photo Shop even though I kind of occasionally hobbled along...I just never found it very user-friendly for me...but amazingly I downloaded a program called Paint.net and Surprise Surprise! I can actually pull something together and use some of the beautiful vintage photos that I have stored on my computer.

Hope you like it! This is my first attempt, and I am sure I will be playing with it more in the future!

I visited my Mother who is in failing health and deep cleaned her house...that was my Mother's Day gift to her...I would love to hear what you did for your Mother this year or what special gifts you received...please feel free to share :0)

Blessings to all and hope YOUR Mother's Day brings you great Joy!!!

Susan and her Garden...New Art on my ETSY site

Here is a peek at my new altered art piece done on deep edge gallery wrap canvas...

I have been wanting to do more personal inspired original art and well frankly, I just sat down and picked out a few art supplies and with the Muse of the beautiful Central Oregon sunshine this is what came about! It turned out quite playful with the use of several mediums...

You can see the listing at my new ETSY shop here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5246949

I would love to know what you think!!!

MAY SPECIAL : If you mention that you saw the link on my blog you will receive the shipping on your purchase for free!

Far too long...

I have really missed creating and posting...Since the first of the year I have been working a part time job at a floral shop and after not working for about 13 yrs. ( staying home and raising my kids) it took all my energy just to rearrange our schedules and responsibilities...but we are doing better than ever now!!!

I have the next few days off and I couldn't wait to jump in here and try to catch up...

First of all, I hope everyone is doing well...There were a couple of new blogger friends visiting in my absence and I would like to welcome them...

Bill http://lovingherbeautiful.blogspot.com/

Bill is having a challenge called... I never got to thank you..

(taken from his blog)..."I want to tell you about a writing project I’m working on that I think will interest you. I’m gathering a collection of Thank You Stories. A Thank You Story is a thank you letter written to someone who’s had a life-changing impact on you. The letter tells the story of how your life has developed because of that impact.I plan to publish the Thank You Stories in a book, titled I Never Got to Thank You. And I would love to include your letters."

Read more about it here...http://lovingherbeautiful.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-never-got-to-thank-you.html

I am submitting a Thank you letter about my childhood Dog Tip...

and Mindy Sommers http://www.vintageartdownload.com/

Be sure to check out her site as it is packed full of great stuff to play with!




Also, I couldn't stand not creating art and put everything aside yesterday and created a fun new piece, I will show you tomorrow...so please check back...

bye 'til then...

Freebie image for St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patricks Day! Boy Easter is just around the corner and will be here before you know it!

I have been in the throws of change and will have some fun news to share soon...stay tuned!

Vintage postcards

I am selling some of my beautiful 1900's original vintage postcards at my Creative Call Studios shop.

Click here to see them and while you are there don't forget to click on some of the other wonderful artists shops and take a look at what they are offering as well.

Gothic arch challenge- Gypsy

This is my first attempt at a Gothic Arch :0) I know you are saying "Where has she been?"...but up until now I have resisted the urge because I knew I would really like to work with this shape...Yep, I was right---what fun!

The challenge group GOTHIC ARCHES had the theme Gypsy and I thought it was the perfect time to jump right in and get my feet wet!

PW banner project...Work in progress

Before the end of the year I wanted to create some vintage banners with inspirational words and suggested it to the Paper Whimsy mods...they agreed that it would be a fun swap and set it up...I signed up for the "y" in JOY with a pastel color theme!
I have two other swap partners and we were asked to make a third for charity...( I will post a link when I have it for the auction)

Here are some W.I.P. photos...I have been working on the last of the details and should have these finished by this evening!

These are the basic banners: Home Decor/upholstery banner shapes in light green...satin swags and pom-pom trim...hand-made paper background...Paper Whimsy images that have been embellished with chalks...hand-drawn "Y" letter, covered in tissue...and pencil embellishments... Starting to assemble: added lace and flower trim at bottom tip...pink paint dots around frame...embossed the letter Y in gold and clear...added a few other details and will show you the finished product soon...

Creative Call Studios:
A gathering of Christian Artisans
Creative Call Studios has brought together a diverse group of independent artisans whose work reflects their Christian beliefs and offered that work for sale to the public in a unique virtual market setting.
At Creative Call Studios, you will find the best work of juried artists in a variety of genres, including mixed media, collage, altered art, dolls, bears, primitives, folk art, contemporary art, wearable art, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, and pottery.
http://www.creativecallsstudios.com/ The artisans at Creative Call can’t wait to share their goodies with you!

Stop in and see some of my art at An Altered Life http://www.creativecallstudios.com/analteredlife.html

two-4-one challenges...hand made paper background

hand made paper background
Originally uploaded by createdbyamber

This background paper was made for a yahoo group challenge
called Designer Paper Challenge and this is how mine turned out :0) (photo at right)
I stumbled across a new challenge blog http://ismaki.wordpress.com/
They had such a fun template to work with I just couldn't resist!
the photos below are a result of that challenge...
I guess I should have moved them to a different area to snap these photos but my camera batteries were dying and I was lucky to get these...The photo below (left) is a work in progress using my hand made paper (above) for the larger tag and the smaller tag some hand made paper that I recently made for a PW group project...
...and finally the finished product all put together in the center photo!

The weather outside is frightful...

My daughter got back to college just in the nick of time before this new snow storm hit...
Jack frost has deposited more snow since I took this photo this morning.

I hope you are all nice and cozy and creating art this afternoon!!!

...the rule of thumb at our house is if we get more than an inch of snow, the boys get hot cocoa! I have some happy little boys at my house today!)

...hot cocoa hugs to all!!

*****UPDATED

I just got back in from a wonderful snowball fight with my two boys and the two neighbor boys...we built up snow forts for protection and got busy forming snowballs, then the countdown and KAPOW! Let them fly!!!

Way too much fun had by a 40 something yr. old LOL!

I felt like a kid again, catching snowflakes on my tongue and tasting fresh snow...hearing the scrunch-squeak-whoosh of my footsteps and throwing snowballs!!!! Ahhh what a fun day!

Happy new Year!!!

Just a quick greeting to wish you a Very Happy New Year!!!

I wish you all the best in the New Year...health, happiness and a year full of creative art and smiles!!!

blessings,

Amber

A very busy December...

Boy, I bet you wondered if I fell off the edge of the planet or something LOL!!!

Some of the highlights of what kept me too busy to post much this December:

Remodeling our 2 bathrooms...

Celebrated 20 yr. anniversary with hubby...

Hubby on a 2 week vacation from work...

Daughter back for a 3 week Christmas vacation from college...

Smallest son celebrated 7th birthday...

These are all good things but kept me very busy :0) I do hope January brings me a more quiet schedule...so I can spend more time creating!!!

...more to come soon...in the mean time enjoy the vintage image freebie from my collection!

I hope you all had a Blessed Christmas and a wonderful December!

Santa Claus Fest...image freebie

I found a wonderful blog dedicated to St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6th and to participate we are to share something...

I found this lovely vintage image in my special Holiday file...I hope you can use it and enjoy St. Nicholas Day and the coming Christmas Season!!!

Visit the blog here ...scroll down and check out the links on the left hand side...enjoy!

Also over on Tim Holtz's blog he is demo'ing the 12 days of Christmas tags, with all kinds of wonderful ways to alter the tags...Don't miss this great free resource!