MORE BACKGROUNDS

Still playing with backgrounds. Yes, even with all the paper I own, and I will confess, I have a serious paper addiction, I still like the background challenges. This was a hair style that I work on for around 30 minutes, for our little girl. It did turn out well, considering I am not in anyway a beautician.

I worked with zig zag stitching, stencils and glimmer mist of several colors, stamps and then crystal lacquer covered with liquid acrylic paint. And though you can't see it, I used different liquid acrylics to splatter on the lo. The chip boards were laid down after I played with some shadowing techniques. And some beautiful buttons from Courtney, who swapped them to me. Thanks Court. Love the colors.

Trying to do more challenges than swaps right now. Challenges push me towards new discoveries. {And leave my studio a mess}

Peace.

Elaine

TIME FOR DAD

Father's Day is approaching, and time for me to make those cards and some fun lo's for my hubby. Here is one with our oldest daughter, and daddy, a few years back. It's always important to me that the girls have time with dad, alone. The girls get date nights with daddy. Quality time is so important.


TFL.
Elaine

WILDERNESS MENTALITY

I've followed this web site for awhile, reading the catalyst and finally decide to join in on catalyst 65.

http://creativetherapy.wordpress.com/

My journaling states Eleven days, not forty years. In some areas of my life, I want to stop running around lost in the wilderness , and just use my faith to go forth and achieve my goals, no more lost and found in the wilderness. Time for a new journey. The eleven days push forth.
Peace. TFL.
Elaine

SURF ADVENTURE

A trip to Aunt Sue's in Ocean City, NJ was a hit years ago. My little surfer girl was trying so hard not to get wet, but daring to run in and out of the waves. Holding those shorts high, but sigh, at the end, they were wet. Now, when we go to the beach, just to walk, I bring an extra pair of clothes and towel, since I know we will end up in the water. Surfs always up in our world.

I created this background instead of using the tons of paper I had. Mixed media challenges me, and I love to find things to add to a picture.

Thanks for looking.

Peace,

Elaine

Old, New, A Layout Coming Soon...

Oh the joys of living in the New England area, where snow plows exist for reasons, and destroy for other reasons. Here is my old mail box, that Lisa has a perfect name for. And voila, our new mail box, untouched by the snow plow for now. Hopefully, I will not be showing you a picture of the new box with duct tape, bungee cords and cracked studs after the winter of 2010. I'll have a layout coming soon. Need to finish my swaps first.

Peace.
Elaine

Dogs...

Oh I am indeed a dog lover. But after my precious Sedona passed away, we went a few months and ended up adopting two labs from a rescue organization. They have been a loving headache.

This is Miley Elizabeth, she is nothing but a brat, who thinks she is a cat and rules the world. When she is sleeping, she is the cutest thing in the world. And the places I find her sleeping and her positioning makes me smile. She is so cute in the picture, asleep with her front arms tucked under. Ahhhh...too precious.

And then there is Kota Bear, the big black lab, who is not allowed on the sofa. But when I leave, he sneaks up there and when I walk back in to the room, he slides off in guilt. Obviously at this moment, he wasn't feeling much guilt.

I do love my dogs, regardless of all their lack of manners at times.

Blessings.

Elaine

ANOTHER CARD SWAP

I joined a no stamp card swap and this is my card. Using the Big Shot background folder, then hues of the colors for flowers, ribbon and pearl alphabet letters, adhered on a back card of distress edges. Still working on design and dimensional. I do love the elegance of monochromatic schemes (leaves excluded) it is such a clean color scheme to play with.

Hope your day is full of love.

Elaine

Monochromatic colors are all the tints and shades (called hues) of a single color. Using these hues, the result is subtle, peace, due to a lack of contrast. Using monochromatic colors can be boring, unless you use diversity with your design.

DREAM

Another card for the monthly card swap. I'm trying a different approach, no distress, vintage, a clean simple style. Incorporating dimensional and items I have hidden deep in the drawer, drawing the focus on designs. Hope your dreams come true.

Have a blessed day. Dream, believe, create, live.
Elaine

Change your background

Backgrounds are always fun, and even more entertaining when you make your own. Here I used glimmer mist, stamps, ink, Stickles, grunge board, crystal lacquer, partial piece of paper and then a matchbox that I made. And keeping to my purple passion. Grab some paper, and make your own background designs, it's refreshing in so many ways.

Peace.

Elaine

And even more...

Sea horse...

Lady at the beach...

I miss you...

Happy thoughts...

Thanks for looking.

Blessings.

Elaine

Art history trivia: When Monet was older, he settled in Giverny, and painted his pond and water lillies. Amazingly, he was nearly blind and painted very close to his canvas. Water Lillies is an example of one of his finer paintings.

More tags and cards for the G45 swap

Hello, just like the card states. Hello to another viewing of cards and tags.

Have fun viewing them. I hope you enjoy them. Still a few more to download.

Blessings,

Elaine

Card and Tag Swap

If I am going to swap, it's best to do one with the G45 swapsters...that way I see my favorite papers and how others use them.
Here are a few tags and cards. Still more to come. I enjoyed making these, so much fun to play with all the details on the papers.

This is one of the cards, I am having fun making different styles of flowers to utilize in the designs. Many who know me, will recognize that I actually used one of my velvet flowers...and am finally letting go of them. (Found out where I can buy more, truth be told.)

A baby card, that I tried very hard to sew on. I wanted to sew with my machine, but that machine went on a unplanned vacation. Oh well, gets the creativity juice flowing. I was going to call Lisa and ask her to sew some stitches on it, since she is sewing happily on her cards now. But it was her birthday (Happy Birthday again, Lisa) so I didn't bother her, but next time.

Off to download some more.

Thanks for looking.

Elaine

s

BABY LOVE

It just doesn't get better than this. Mother holding her newborn baby and dad sharing in the emotional blessing.

Yet another photo from the massive Knies family box of treasured photos. In fact, my husband brought more back from Texas last week.

Please reflect on all the wonderful men and women who gave their lives protecting our country. Happy Memorial Day.

Blessings,

Elaine

Memorial Day info:It is a federal holiday celebrated the last Monday in May. Also known as Decoration Day. It commemorates United States men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War and went to include any American causalities of war or military action.

DAISIES AND PEONIES

My daisies are so happy after the long night of rain. Floating high up, waving in the wind. So simple, so fresh. One day, I will do an album of flowers. Maybe two!

Uplifted petals, praising another beautiful day.

Peony time, brought to you by my stepmother, Kat. She loves peonies, but they don't like living in Texas. So she ordered me three plants, and finally, three years later, they are big bushes of flowering pastel pinks and yellow peonies. Here is the first bloom. With promises of at least 20 more to follow, so far.

Hope you have a blessed day.
Elaine

Inspirational quote: "Despite the changes that have come into our lives, and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days-as much as we can-with those things which matter most." --T. S. Monson

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day

to

all the wonderful women

who give their

hearts and soul

to the children of the world

and to a very special mother

Peggy

my mother

I am blessed to have

I love you

Happy Mother's Day

CHURCHILL

I created this almost a year ago, for a circle journal swap, theme: favorite quote. Afterwards, several friends requested one, as they loved the quote. Thus begins another journey in my work, to recreate something I previously made. I see this layout and love it, but know that the next one will not be the same. But still, the idea will surface of a man, who spoke such powerful words. A statement that still drives people to obtain their goal. In this day with so much uncertainty, I hold on to my faith, and to many inspirational quotes. This is one of my favorites.

Never ever ever give up.
---Winston Churchill

Keep the faith.

Elaine

But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period--I am addressing myself to the School--surely from this period of ten months, this is the lesson: Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy

---Winston Churchill

October 1941

KITCHEN AND KIDS

Have you ever noticed how kids love to help in the kitchen when they are young? Well I took this picture of our little dd 7 years ago, making a sandwich for herself. She was so proud and even cleaned up afterwards. Both of our girls are very talented in the culinary world. Always nice on days when you don't want to cook.


Thanks for visiting.
Elaine
Art history trivia: Rembrandt lived extravagantly with his wife, Saskia. When she died, he received fewer commissions. In 1657-58, his house and goods were auctioned off to pay his debts. His son, Titus, and girlfriend, Hendrijke formed an art dealing company that hired Rembrandt and saved Rembrandt from complete bankruptcy.

MOTHER'S DAY CARDS

I finished the Mother's Day cards. Whew just in time for the mail. They are all tags, vintage, distressed and ready to inscribe many sincere words on the back.

This one, is a picture of Bill's mom, after the birth of her first daughter, Bill's oldest sister. This will be her Mother's Day card. I love the picture.

I had fun making this one, a bit whimsical for a wonderful step mother in law who loves to garden.

And finally, one for my mom. Yes, that is really me as a newborn. All girlie girl pink lay out and mom will smile looking back at the photo of one of her seven children.

Blessings.

Elaine

Art history trivia: Vincent Van Gogh had a brother, Theo. Theo suggested that Van Gogh should be a painter. He sent Vincent money for canvases and paints. Theo, the younger brother supported Vincent all his life. Vincent died in Theo's arms and six month later, Theo died.

CURB DIVING

Good day to all. Curb diving? Dumpster diving? Have you tried it? Here was my find yesterday, while walking the dogs. Tile samples and some beautiful expensive samples at that. I told my husband I wanted to do a fun mosaic in our little bathroom. He vetoed that. But long ago, he taught me to use the wet saw! Then I thought, maybe I will add this to the mosaic I am planning that runs up a tiny stairwell wall, of Lincoln photo's and then this tile. Some of this, I will incorporate into my mixed media work. And then a few pieces in the garden. To me, I hit the jackpot. To others it's just trash. It's all a matter of what you see. If you look closer, it's not all ceramic, use your geological brain cells and see what you can find!

Wishing you a blessed day.

Elaine

Inspirational quote: "My painting is finished when I rejoin the first emotion that sparked it." --Matisse

ANOTHER WAY TO SCRAP

My newly married daughter, Blair, created yet another way to scrap pictures and use as decor. Sometimes it's hard to put your layouts in the scrapbook, there are so many memories that you want to share. This is a great idea that Blair composed and is now selling on her etsy shop.

Hope you see different ways to utilize your creativity.

Peaceful blessings to you.
Elaine

Remember: Appreciate your specialness, believe in yourself, discover God's love.

VINTAGE ADDICT

I am a hopeless romantic, hopelessly in love with anything old, distressed, weathered, stained... My husband is well trained in turning around for tag sales and curb diving items that I love to alter. Lucky me.

This is a card I made for my friend, Carrie. It's her birthday today!{Happy birthday again, Carrie.}

And it's that time of year to commence the making of Mother's Day cards and a massive amount of May birthday cards. Here's the first one for my mom. And more to come. I am considering making tags this year for Mother's Day cards. Something different is always fun to receive.

Blessings.

Elaine
Mother's Day and motherisms: Celebrating Mother's Day dates back to ancient Egyptians who held annual festivals to honor the goddess Isis (Mother of pharaohs.) Some motherisms you should know and probably use now:

If everyone jumps off a cliff would you do it?

Brush your teeth and wear clean underwear.

Do I look like an ATM?

M is for Mom, not for maid.

And yes, I will love you forever no matter what you do.

WHAT A GUY

The other half of my name, Knies (pronounced like niece) is from marrying a wonderful man. Bill is not only a trained artist, but a natural one. He received his BFA with a specialization in painting. I call it the starving artist degree. Then back to graduate school two times, for degrees that pay the bills. In his spare time, he paints again {yea} and this time with acrylics. He loves oil, but it is a stink bomb in the little cottage we live in. Here are a few samples. This one is of our girls 6 years ago, walking on the Atlantic shore.

The clay sculpture of the hand. I received this for my Christmas present one year. {Neat, eh!}

This is The Reverend Alfred "Ted" Knies, Jr. Bill's father. He was called home a few years ago. A wonderful man, father, grandfather, and Episcopalian Minister. And of course, another sculpture of Lincoln, to add to our shrine.

There are many more, that I will share with you later. It's a blessing to be married to such a great guy. Off to walk the dogs. Thanks for visiting.

Joy,

Elaine

Art history trivia: In the late 1940's, acrylic paint was used as house paint. The drying time of acrylics is short. Oil paints take longer to dry. Artist who preferred a shorter drying time turned to acrylic painting.

NICKNAMES

Why a nickname? I don't know. I believe my desire to create nicknames came from my dad. I'm just following the family tradition. Our oldest daughter, was simply "Baby." And then when the younger daughter was born, she called "Baby" "Doo." Don't ask what comes out of the words of babes. But the younger one, well she (running from the room as I write this) received "Skibby." My husband would tickle her belly with goofy words, and one was skib or something along those lines. I said, "Skibby!" And the rest is history.

Thanks for visiting.

Elaine's nickname trivia: Lainey and Ladnie

SIGNS OF SPRING

After 6 years in CT, I finally know the signs of Springs. {Coming from Texas, Spring is a blink into Summer}

Buds on my trees. And a clear blue sky. And not a coat on anyone!


Chives, not even shy, popping out! Ground covering of flowers that bloom overnight and last 3 weeks.

Handstands on grass, not snow.

Of course, checking out the damage the snow plow did to our annual mail box. Time to install a new one. When we first moved here, I was shocked to see my destroyed mailbox. Now, I think I am immune...I think... And the sweetest sign of Spring. Our younger daughter picking flowers, tying a pastel ribbon around them and dangling the bouquet on the glass door.

Spring time blessings to you.

Elaine

A little trivia: The word Spring is dated before the 12th century, several means, but I like "to come into being."