Word Art Wednesdays - From Mid-August

Alas, I have been riding the roller coaster of life of late, and as a result have done very little art. Earlier in the month, though, I did do a couple of Word Art Wednesday pieces, but I didn't get around to blogging about them. I think I will simply post them together now, since the challenges are long over:

Here are the verses should you wish to download them and use them in your own art:

Thank you for your continued prayers for my health!

Word Art Wednesday - July 25, 2012

Once again, the word art for this week's challenge is very relevant to my life! I found out that I am no longer a candidate  for a stem cell transplant because my PET scan showed a mixed response to the latest chemo: some tumours got smaller, but others grew. When you confront obstacles like that, it's sometimes tempting to throw in the towel and just give up. But that's not a healthy response! We should "never, never, never give up!" Here is my art to convey that sentiment:

Feel free to download and use the word art in your own work:

If you'd like to share your inspirational art at Word Art Wednesday, you could win an adorable antique floral frog from Karen Letchworth from My Cup Runneth Over. 

Word Art Wednesday - July 18, 2012

The text for this week's Word Art Wednesday Challenge is from a hymn I remember from my childhood:

It's a good reminder, isn't it? A comforting thought. Feel free to download and use the text in your own art if you'd like.


For my collage, I used two texted papers and some vintage bird graphics from The Graphics Fairy -- a wonderful resource for vintage pictures, blog backgrounds, and project ideas. I don't know that those little birds are sparrows -- but you get the idea ;) 


If you'd like to join us in the WAW challenge, be sure to link up so you can have a chance to win a little something from Detailed 4 U Collections. And don't forget to read the featured bio on the WAW page -- it's about me! :) 

Word Art Wednesday - July 11, 2012

It's amazing what one can accomplish from the couch! I've been feeling pretty yucky the last couple of days after my last round of chemo, but sooooooo desirous of being creative. I'm in art journal mode these days, so this piece has a very journally feel to it. 


I started by just doing a bit of photo editing, resulting in this picture:

Then I just started doodling with gel pens on the printed copy! A bit of collage, gesso, and bling -- and voila!

I like the verse for this week:

While it is our responsibility to train our children in the ways of the Lord, in this verse, the onus is on God! He will teach our children! And with that teaching will come peace! Isn't that a wonderful promise?! I also appreciated the context of this verse -- promises to the barren woman! As an adoptive mama, it speaks volumes to my heart!


Have you considered participating in this week's Word Art Wednesday Challenge? If you link up, you might just win a little treasure from Whimsy Stamps!

Word Art Wednesday - July 4, 2012

First of all, Happy 4th of July to all my American friends! :) 

This week's Word Art Wednesday verse is from Deuteronomy 6:5:

I like to use imagery drawn from the verse, but outside of a heart, I drew a blank. So I decided to use the opportunity to explore a new technique for me. I recently spent some time watching youtube videos about art journaling (cuz that's about all I had the energy to do!), and I came across this one, which was a new twist (for me) on an old art activity -- "scratch art". I've done it before with crayons and black paint; this employed coloured oil pastels covered in black oil pastel. I meant to start by priming my library index card with gesso, but I forgot. As a result, I think my colours are less vibrant because they had nothing to grip and got scraped off with the black. I used a little stencil to scratch out a design -- but it's quite subtle. I thought it needed a little more of something, so I went with a heart that I created using a molding medium, red paint, and red glitter. For me, this was another piece that was more about the process than about the product. I really enjoyed the process even though I wasn't as  happy with the results as I had hoped. 


Would you like to play along and make a piece of art with this verse, another verse, or an inspirational quotation? Check out the WAW Challenge! This week you have the opportunity to win something from Isabella's Sketchbook OR Our Daily Bread Designs (2 prizes -- two winners) if you decide to link up at Word Art Wednesday. 

Word Art Wednesday - June 27, 2012

I'm not one to make art focused on myself -- but the verse for this week is just so applicable to my life that I decided to make myself associate it with me in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge:

This cancer journey is not fun. Sometimes it's very discouraging. It's easier to have a happy heart about it all when I'm feeling well -- but lately I've been feeling pretty lousy. When I feel lousy,  hope is less bright. But this verse reminds me that God has GOOD plans for my life, and the future holds the fulfillment of those plans!


I'm sure that this verse has significance for your life, too! Create a piece of art about it (or any other inspirational verse), and you could win something from Eclectic Anthology.

Word Art Wednesday - June 6, 2012

The text for this week's Word Art Wednesday was Ezekiel 36:26:

There is not a lot of symbolism in my piece this week -- it just kind of came together the way it did as I was puttering in the art room. Well -- the heart is symbolic of course -- and I chose sandpaper for it to represent the stoniness described in the verse. But beyond that, it's just layers and textures that appealed to me in the moment. 


This week there are two prizes available for two WAW participants! Crop Stop is offering a $10 gift certificate for their online store to one winner, and MilkCoffee Digi Stamps is offering 3 digis to a second winner. Why not enter? 

Word Art Wednesday - May 30, 2012

I'm trying to get back in the groove here with Word Art Wednesday! This week's word art challenge offers the text of Matthew 5:16 (you're welcome to use it for your own art):

My "light" is Christ in me, and I really do want it to shine so that others can glorify God because of what they see in me. Any of my "good works" come from Him. 


Simple art is the necessity for me these days, so I started with a piece of my children's old art as a background. (I like to honour their work -- even if it's just "play with paint" -- by doing that. Is it just me, or do you see an accidental Pooh Bear reaching into a beehive in the top left corner?!?!?) The drawing is more basic than I envisioned -- but like I said, simple is the necessity. I wanted the heart to be the focal point, and the heart-shaped gem served that purpose -- and covered the poorly done hands I'd drawn! I used glitter glue to create the illusion of light shining. I like the fact that it sort of obliterates the drawing when it is held at an angle that catches the light because when the Light of Christ shines through us, our fleshly selves, our selfish carnal parts are diminished and people see Him instead of us. 


Once I uploaded the photo of my art, I played a bit more with it using Picassa. I love the funky results:

If you'd like to participate in this week's challenge, you might just win a little loveliness from our sponsor, Nicecrane Designs. 


In the meantime, I encourage you to read this guest post at Chatting at the Sky entitled 3 Ways to Leave an Honest Legacy. "Just so you know, whether you realize it or not, you're an artist." Believe it!

Word Art Wednesday - May 23, 2012

My youngest daughter and I spent a few minutes out on the porch today playing with art stuff. Although it's a day late, I decided to do something with this week's Word Art Wednesday text as I love the significance of it. I wanted to try an idea I saw on the net (but can't find now!) -- drawing with non-permanent markers and then using water to create a watercolour effect. While I'm not happy with my actual drawing, I liked the effect of the water on the marker:

If you'd like to participate in this week's WAW Challenge, you could win a little something from Lisa's Altered Art. Feel free to use this clip art of the text:

Word Art Wednesday -- April 18, 2012

Well, I've been out of commission for a couple of weeks, but I'm back for another WAW! :) This week's verse is:

I didn't really have a lot of original ideas for this verse -- outside of doing another one of my ladies -- so I decided to just do a bit of collage with some bits and pieces from around the art room. Do you recognize the background "paper"? It's a Wonder Bread bag fused together with an iron! (I had done it, oh, probably a couple of years ago now, intending to use it like a fabric, and hadn't found a use for it!) The circles made me think of bubbles, which make me think of joy (bubbling up and over). I stamped the word "JOY" behind the verse, though it's hard to see that. It all looked a bit droll, so I added some bling from an old necklace at the top and bottom. 


It's a perfect verse, really, because that's what I want to do :)


If you would like to join us this week in creating some word art, you might just win something from Whimsy Stamps. Why not give it a try?

Word Art Wednesday - March 28, 2012

Every week I wonder if I'll be able to meet the Word Art Wednesday deadline -- doubting it most of the way . . . and yet here I am again. 


Tonight I had a surprise visit from my friend Helen, so I figured I'd forgo participating in WAW this week because I hadn't had a chance to create anything yet. But on a whim, I invited Helen down to the art room with me . . . and she helped me create this week's word art! It was so much fun working with her! 


The word art is from I John 4:19:

The verse makes me think of God's ultimate expression of His love -- the death of Christ on the cross. So my original concept was to incorporate a tree inspired by some trees in an Easter book called On That Easter Morning -- and to make the trunk and branches the silhouette of Christ on the cross. However, my hand-drawn silhouette seemed too feminine for my liking, so Helen suggested using the actual image of Jesus on the cross so the piece would reflect the two people referred to in the verse (Him and me). I liked that idea and cut the appropriate image from an old children's bible story book (the text of which is too wishy-washy -- but I like the art). The woman/tree is suggestive of the growing Love that exists because of His sacrifice.  The jewels are the seeds of Love that fall and will grow -- because of Him (Helen and I tried several options before settling on the jewels!).

Now, it turns out Picasa (the free editing software I use) has updated its tools -- so after I scanned my piece, I spent a few minutes playing with the new features. Look at these cool images that came from that one scanned piece of my art: 

Are those not fun?!?!? I love how easy it is to make something new with the click of a mouse!


Anyway, if you'd like to participate in this week's Word Art Wednesday -- please link up with us! If you do, you might just win something from this week's sponsor, Shelly's Images. 

Word Art Wednesday - March 21, 2012

This week's word art is a well-known verse:

When I walked into the art room to create my piece with this text, my eyes fell on DD9's Valentine art -- and it inspired me to incorporate a clay heart and a dynotape "love" label! 

The background is an old piece of art I'd created while playing in the art room with paint and stamps with DD9 at least a couple of years ago. (DH and I will star on an episode of Hoarders one day -- you watch!) A bit of ink and some appropriately worded ribbon -- and voila! 


If you'd like to join us in the Word Art Challenge this week, grab the word art verse above -- or use a verse or encouraging text of your choosing in a piece of art, and link up. You could win something from Eclectic Anthology if you do!

Word Art Wednesday - March 14, 2012

This week's Word Art Wednesday word art is another quotation from Mother Teresa:

I thought it was the perfect opportunity to use some of the old dress patterns I have stashed in the art room -- you know, with "measurements" and all :) Inspiration was limited beyond that, so my art for this week is pretty simple: 

Would you care to join us in creating word art this week? If you link up, you could win something from our sponsor, Shabby Cottage Studio.