School Daze

 Happily, my children and I survived the first week "back at it"--homeschooling, that is.

The highlight of the week for me happened yesterday, just after breakfast.  As I tidied up the kitchen dishes I was vaguely aware that there wasn't the usual amount of chatter around me.

Ten minutes later, Laurel (13) informed me that Liam (my newest kindergartener) was patiently sitting, hands folded and resting on his desk, waiting for class to begin.

I clambered down the stairs to the classroom and spied my baby, just as Laurel had described.  I thought I'd die from the sweetness.

We got right to work after a big smooch and an apology from me for making him wait.  He was very forgiving (whew).

For today's ATC I was challenged to use a piece of school notebook paper as the background.   I stamped the girl on plain card stock and cut-and-pasted her to the foreground.  She's contemplating her studies, and questioning the meaning of it all.

Stamps Used:  100 Proof Press (girl), The Octopode Factory (star, small spiral), Too Much Fun (sentiment), others unknown.

Angelic

I fell in love with the main image shown here when I saw it in a composition on the cover of RSM (March/April 2007 #152, for the curious.)

I ordered it (from Lost Coast Designs) as soon as humanly possible.

I created this PC for my first-ever-ever-ever swap on swap-bot, which was to create ten "handmade" postcards for ten partners.

I spent lots of time masking and coloring, but the result was just what I was going for.

Could she be someone's Guardian Angel?  It looks like she's praying for someone special.

Stamps Used:  Lost Coast Designs (angel w/arch), Magenta (floral borders), Leavenworth Jackson (clouds)

Bump In the Night

Booga! Booga!  Halloween will be here before you know it.  How about a spooky ATC to put you in the mood?

The theme for this ATC was "Things That Go 'Bump' In the Night".  Mr. Bones does seem to be bumping and bouncing around with his disembodied eyeball.  Ewww...

Stamps Used: Leavenworth Jackson (eyeball), Picture Show (skeleton), Unknown (cat)

Don't Try This at Home

Who thought leaving the baby with the clowns was a good idea?

Looks like baby doesn't mind, so far.

Stamps Used:  Mars Tokyo (Shocked Couple), Diva Rubber (Single Guy), Coffee Break Designs (Clowns), 100 Proof Press (Baby), Unknown (grass, clouds).

There Goes the Neighborhood

We've gotta get OUTTA HERE!

Mr. and Mrs. Mouse are beating feet to get away from their new neighbor, Mr. Cat who looks ready to gobble them up!

Run, mousies!  Run!

The prompt for this PC was "travel".  Instead of going for a destination-inspired theme, I went for a bit of whimsy, hoping to add a little variety to the mix.

Stamps Used: 100 Proof Press (mice, cat), Beeswax (all others)

ATC Saturday: Postage

Nature + Postage

For this swap, participants were required to use a postage stamp depicting an item from nature.

I decided to run with the postal theme, and added a few cancellation marks and the "Par Avion" stamp.

Butterflies from an Entomology UM Set were stamped in brown all over the background to echo the postage stamp's design.  I added a bit of yellow with Prismacolors to brighten up the background and to tie it in with the central image.

Stamps Used:  RBBB/StampFrancisco (all)

Fantasy PC

Stamps Used:  Beeswax (maiden, courtyard), Picture Show (monkey)

Prompted by the word "fantasy", this is what emerged.

Renaissance-gal stands bemused by the trained monkeys parading before her.

Dressed in their brightly colored, modern clothes, these monkeys provide a stark contrast to the dank castle courtyard and the muted colors of the maiden's dress.

This one was just for fun.