Another Freebie Background Texture

Have fun with this one =)

Sunday Postcard Art - Open Theme

For the Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week we have an Open Theme - so I decided to go with a "colorful" digital piece. The images I used came from the Collage Images Group on Flickr, and the frame and colorizing/texturizing was done thanks to Paint Shop Pro X2. Please visit the Sunday Postcard Art blog to see more entries.

A Magic Christmas

Hoping everyone had a blessed and beautiful Christmas Day! I was so happy we finally had a white Christmas - it snowed last night and today, and it looks like we ended up with about 4 or 5 inches. So nice! It was a wonderful day spent with family, good food, thoughtful gifts and lots of laughter and music ... here are some pics! Merry Christmas! Love, Peggi

Merry Christmas and an ATC Collage Sheet Freebie

Hello everyone! I am wishing each of you, and your families and loved ones, a most beautiful Christmas and holiday season! May your hearts be filled with joy and peace at this precious time of year.

Here is a digital collage sheet that I created, and would like to share with you as a Christmas Freebie. Feel free to use it in your artwork, and if you could give me credit for the background texture I'd truly appreciate it. (Also, if you use one and would care to email me a copy of the image I'd be happy to post it here, with a link back to your blog or website. Would love to see how you use the images =)

Have an awesome Christmas - I hope the man in the red suit is very good to you!!! Much love, Peggi xoxoxo

For the Flickr {Echo} Week 28 - White

Here is my first ever response to the Project {Echo} Flickr Group's Week 28 prompt: White - so I hope I am doing this right ;) This is a photo I took at Forest Park in St Louis, Missouri ... I wanted to create a lot of contrast in the image, making the white parts of the photo "pop".
Susan's Blog - ilkasattic.blogspot.com
Chrysti's Blog - alwayschrysti.com/always-chrysti/

A Lovely Print by Shawna Erback

Image Copyright Shawna Erback

I was so excited recently to win this lovely print by the talented Shawna Erback. I was visiting her Facebook page and saw that she was offering a print of this image to whoever came up with a good title for the piece - the first thing that came to my mind was "A Starlit Wish", and ... lo and behold, she selected my entry!!!!! I was so happy! The print arrived super fast, and I am heading to the frame shop today to get this precious image framed and hung in our hallway before Christmas. Please check out Shawna's work - it is delightful, and clever, and she has an incredible style all her own that she brings to each piece she creates. Here is a link to her website: http://www.shawnaerback.com/ I'm sure you'll be happy you visited! Thank you again, Shawna - xxoo

For the Take a Word Challenge - Celebrate

Here is my submission for this week's Take a Word challenge. The background was created using a photograph I took and playing around with the colorizing and textures in Paint Shop Pro; the image of the dancers and the image of the sheet music are both from the Flickr Collage Images group. The frame is from Paint Shop Pro. Please stop by the Take a Word blog to see all the wonderful submissions this week! Hope everyone is having a very happy almost-Christmas xxoo

For the Take a Word Challenge - Childhood

Hello ~ Happy Monday =) Here's my entry for the Take a Word Challenge. This week's theme is Childhood, a lovely subject with so many possibilities...

Credits: To create this collage I used a vintage image of the little girl from Art-E-Zine; the fairytale wall paper is from Robert Kaufman. the house is from rubyblossom, the doll mannequin is from playingwithbrushes, the cat is from normafrances, and the other elements are from Paint Shop Pro.

Please visit the Take a Word Challenge, to see more entries this week. Hugs, Peggi

For the Sunday Postcard Art Challenge - Robins

Here is my entry for the SPA Challenge this week. The robin image is from The Graphics Fairy, the image of the lady is from katinthecupboard at the Flickr Collage Images Group, the white flowers are PSP picture tubes, and the frame and other flowers are from a postcard which I believe is also from the Flickr group. Please visit Sunday Postcard Art to see submissions from all of the artists this week ~ you'll be glad you did! =)

For the Three Muses Challenge - Flowers

Here is my entry for this week's Three Muses challenge, Flowers. The orchid image is from a free stock photo, the "snowflakes" are a background that I created in PSP, the angel wing is from a photo I took in St. Louis, MO, and I cannot remember where the image of the fairy reaching to the star came from (I believe it is probably from the collage images group on Flickr; but I have had it here in my pic files for a long time and can't say for sure.) Hope everyone is doing well, and enjoying this exciting time leading up to the holidays =) xo

My son's new painting ...

Just had to show you my son's new painting ... he does such awesome work! He did this one for his AP Art class at school and is hoping to go to college or art school next year and major in Art. I'm a very proud Mom =)
Acrylic painting by James Graminski

3 ft by 2 ft.

For Sunday Postcard Art - Wishlist

Here is my submission for the Sunday Postcard Art challenge this week, "Wishlist". For this piece I used picture tubes and a frame from Paint Shop Pro X2, the Jane Austen font, and a collage that I created several years ago of a vintage lady (probably from the Collage Image group on Flickr where I find most of the vintage images I use in my collages) combined with a photo I took of our Christmas candles one year. I don't really have a Christmas list this year, I'm ashamed to say I have way too many "things" and the time has come to donate a lot of items to the Goodwill; so for myself and my family I am praying mostly for good health, happiness and togetherness (and hopefully the opportunity to create a lot of art =).

New Abstract Piece Listed on Etsy

Just listed this is my Etsy shop today. I am having a sale from now until Christmas, where you can purchase one item at the regular price and then get another item of equal or lesser value for 1/2 price. Shipping is free, and I will be glad to wrap and send the item to someone if you are giving it as a gift. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks! xo

For Art Creations Friday - Bride

Here is my submission for the Art Creations Friday challenge this week - the photo selected this week was this lovely bride. I altered her by colorizing some parts of the photograph, and the combining the image with several images I've collected from the Collage Images group on Flickr. Please visit Art Creations Friday to see more artwork submitted by other artists this week. Happy weekend to all!!!! xo

Our Lady of the Winter Woods - Digital Collage

A vintage image, combined with a photo I took of a forest scene in winter, using Paint Shop Pro X2. Hope everyone had a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday - we even got a light dusting of snow here today. Love it!!! =)

Abstract Forest - Huachuca Canyon, AZ

Altered in Paint Shop Pro - a photo I took in Arizona a couple of years ago...

For the Take a Word Challenge - Men

Here is my submission this week to the Take a Word challenge. Images are courtesy of the members of the Flickr Collage Group, as well as riandesign.eu (image of lady), xela66 (image of the men). Created in Paint Shop Pro X2. Please visit the Take a Word challenge blog to see more submissions this week! xo

For the Take a Word Challenge - Moon

My first submission ever to Take a Word. All of these images included in this collage are courtesy of the Flickr Group "Collage Images". I collaged them together, and altered the colors and textures in Paint Shop Pro X2.

Think Monday - Think ATC Spotted

Here is my submission for this week's TMTA challenge, Spotted. It is a digital and mixed media collage done in Paint Shop Pro, combining various images, and then giving it an altered and distressed appearance in PSP. Please visit Think Monday - Think ATC to view

the other submissions this week =) xxoo

Different Looks for the Same Image

And this is why I am totally loving Paint Shop Pro - it is so much fun to see how many different looks you can give to one image. (Of course I had to add a bit of "snow" into the second one =)

My Story is Featured on Crescendoh This Week =)

Hooray! Yippy!!! Several weeks ago I submitted my Reader's Share story to Crescendoh, Jenny Doh's new amazing on-line website, and this week it is being featured. I am so happy and thrilled that it was published! The theme is Art Saves, something I have very much come to believe in - I know that Art has helped me over and over again, through many valleys and dark days; and I am confident that it is an anchor I will be able to rely on throughout my life. If you get a chance please take a look at the article. I would be happy if it in any way helps someone or gives them encouragement to get through their own "dark days" by tapping into their creativity, and their artful self ... Here is the link: The Healing Power of Art

A couple more digital/altered pieces

These are photos I've taken and then altered in PSP - playing around with making it snow =) Lots of fun!!!

Abstracted

Digital collage - created in Paint Shop Pro

Illinois Landscape

Altered photo - Illinois landscape

Snowy Pond

Can you tell I am seriously looking forward to some snowy days this winter? =)

Angels in the Snow

Altered Photo - now listed in my Etsy shop (a variety of sizes available too =)

Number 3 in Fragments Series

French linens and lace
Altered and distressed digital image

First Two Images in my new series "Fragments"

Hellooo! Here are the first two images in my new series entitled Fragments. There will be 10 images at least. Most of them will be photos that I've taken of some lovely old French linens and lace that I purchased a few months ago at a local antique shop. I just listed these in my Etsy shop, so check them out when you get a chance. Hope everyone is enjoying a nice October, and getting ready for an awesome Halloween =) xo

Three new altered photos

Trying out a variety of new techniques with Photoshop and PSP ... leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Roses - Digital Collage

I think this is probably my favorite one so far - ya gotta love pink roses =)

Daisies and Lace

Two photos combined in Paint Shop Pro, and then I made some color and contrast adjustments. I'm pretty happy with how this baby turned out =) Happy weekend everyone - I hope Fall is beginning to be noticeable around your neighborhood. Love this time of year!!!

Magic

Altered photo - Illinois countryside

Crimson

Fine Art Photo

Waiting for Sir Galahad II

Digital Collage 8X10 inches available from my Etsy shop

Girl on the Bridge

Digital collage - altered photos

Blue Moon

Photo taken at SIUE campus (again! love that place! =) and then altered in PSP for depth and illumination.

Golden Forest

Photo taken in Edwardsville, Illinois at the SIUE campus - and then altered with Paint Shop Pro. Working on some fun "bokeh" effects =)

Red Leaves - Two Different Views

Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri

Butterfly - Digital Collage

This is one of my favorite vintage images - the girl is so lovely, but also seems very sad. I decided to "give" her some wings - perhaps she can fly away somewhere fantastic and leave her cares behind ...

Digital Collage ACEO

'Tis a very spooky woman, gearing up for the Halloween season (this ATC/ACEO is listed in my Etsy shop)

Ghost Lady on a Train

Digital collage ACEO/ATC